The Summary

Despite being extremely intelligent and single, Lucy Valentine is ineligible to start a matchmaking business. But Lucy must step up and assist in the name of love when her parents temporarily leave the family company, Valentine, Inc.

The Summary

Gilley is devastated by the breakdown of his marriage, but Cat has the ideal solution: a three-week vacation in Italy. However, the pair must first assist a distressed customer in making her own fresh start before they can pack their bags and enjoy a glass of prosecco on the sunny Costa del Sol. Rich Scarlet Rubi is frantically looking for a bigger purpose and a quick break from her toxic ancestors. The gravity of the matter isn't quite apparent until Scarlet makes positive steps in the right direction before dying.

After finding new life, the affluent family's grandmother was slain in her own house. When Cat learns that Scarlet was determined to cut off her children and grandchildren each of whom is more materialistic and dependent on financial support than the last she has even more reason to be suspicious. While getting ready to depart the East End for Europe, Cat and Gilley look into a number of flimsy explanations and specific motives from the depraved Rubi clan. They soon come to the conclusion that the true question isn't who had a lethal grudge against Scarlet, who it's didn't?

My Review

This is the fourth installment in Victoria Laurie's Life Coach Mysteries series, while being my first.

This mystery, I must say, was intriguing and fascinating. The book was excellent. Numerous suspects and clever story turns.

I place a lot of weight on the characters' reality since, in my opinion, it improves the novels' ability to be believed in. Mysteries are intriguing, storylines are always expertly told, and novels are always well-paced.

Spending time with Cat and Gilley was enjoyable. Up until the startling conclusion, the mystery kept me guessing, and I can't wait to find out what awaits them in the next book.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

The Summary

Siobhan is a life coach with way too much on her plate and a short fuse. Miranda, a tree surgeon, is accustomed to being treated like any other man doing the job. Jane is a soft-spoken charity store volunteer in her community who has no sense of worth.

The Summary

Evie O'Shea, at five years old, made a commitment to love her neighbor, who would grow up to become the source of all of her misery for the rest of time, when she married him in the wedding of the century. Or that she would begin a protracted and confusing process to a final endometriosis diagnosis in ten years.

Evie O'Shea is now 26 years old and juggles her life in Paris dangerously close to her Charlotte Lucas birthday. Evie's mundane life has to be shaken up because she is a burden to her parents, has no prospects, and has no money.

Let's introduce Liam Kelly, the guy Evie wed at age five and divorced at age seven after he had the audacity to fling a muddy football at her as she was reading Eloise in Paris. Evie is resolved to resist her greatest temptation as she fumbles madly through life, love, and endometriosis on the banks of the Seine, dressed in a Henley and armed with toned forearms and eye crinkles that equal Gene Kelly himself.

But weeks before her brother's wedding, Evie's world is rocked by a family news, and she turns to Liam for support in order to survive the event with some semblance of sanity.

her demand? phony date

Making a deal with the Devil, however, always has a price, and when Liam's requirements, which include elaborate backstories and practice dates, rekindle passions that her disease long since stifled, Evie must learn to fight for her dreams and break free from a life measured in ibuprofen pills and heating pad settings. Or else run the risk of only existing but never fully existing.

My Review

The narrative is so fluffy and charming. It complements the cover exactly.

Given that it is well-written, the writing in this book is superb. I like that this story also focuses on endometriosis because the female main character, Evie, has been struggling with the illness and is trying to find a journey that is right for her. The book has everything a reader could ask for, including the childhood-enemies-lover trope, related characters, romance, and great development. Additionally, it educates us on chronic illness.

In general, I adore this tale! Thanks to the imagery, I had a great time losing myself in the sights, sounds, and smells of Paris. Additionally, many French sweets are mentioned, so please control your appetite.

I wholeheartedly suggest this if you want stories that are both heartwarming and candid about the ongoing problems brought on by chronic disease while also giving you a surreal sense of being in the city of love.

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours & Sunset and Camden Creative for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honestly review.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

The Summary

The hospital haunting poses the largest obstacle yet for thirteen-year-old psychic Alex and his paranormal investigator companions in this spooky fun mystery.

The buddies are sure that this increase in paranormal activity is far more sinister than the "scientists" believe it to be, and that the only thing that can extinguish the ghosts is the old magic of a shady swamp witch. Finding the witch requires navigating the gator- and snake-infested Louisiana marshes, but if Alex and his team fail, New Orleans might turn into a wasteland.

My Review

To be very honest, I felt the tension as soon as I began reading.

The investigation into a hospital haunting is being conducted by thirteen-year-old psychic Alex and his friends. Because I adore Susan McCauley's writing so much, I keep wanting to read more of it. Because the story met my expectations, I really enjoyed reading this book.

This is a fantastic book for a middle schooler or anyone who like the supernatural genre. A frightening book that will be ideal for Halloween shortly.

I thank NetGalley and Celtic Sea Publishing providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

The Summary

Deathly storms have decimated Mina's homeland for generations. Her people think that the Sea God, who formerly protected them, has cursed them with death and hopelessness. In an effort to placate him, a maiden is cast into the sea every year with the hope that one day the "true bride" will be chosen, putting an end to the misery.

Many people think that Shim Cheong, Mina's brother's adored, is the fabled real bride. However, Mina's brother follows her on the night Cheong is sacrificed despite being aware that interfering would result in death. Mina jumps into the river in place of Cheong to save her brother.

Mina discovers the Sea God imprisoned in an enchanted sleep after being whisked away to the Spirit Realm, a mystical metropolis of lesser gods and mythological creatures. Mina sets out to wake him and put an end to the storms once and for all with the aid of a mysterious young man and a motley crew of demons, gods, and spirits.

A human cannot survive for a very long period in the country of the spirits, thus she doesn't have much time. Additionally, there are people who will stop at nothing to prevent the Sea God from awakening.

My Review

First off, I think a separate round of applause should be given for each and every one of the amazing covers of this book because, wow, there is not a single one that I am not in awe of! It was a genuine pleasure for me to read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.

If you've seen the movie "Spirited Away," this story should sound quite familiar to you. I like this, even though it made some things easier for me to foresee. One powerful story is told via beautiful mythology, a vibrant spirit world, and compassionate relationships.

The characters are appealing, and the protagonist Mina is a role model. Everything is taught in a beautiful and enchanting way.

Exceptional writing was used in the world-building, combat sequences, vocabulary, and narrative. The pace between the main character and love interest was excellent all the way up to the very end, when I thought it was a little rushed. Personally, I like books that have a little bit more character development and conflict. But even without that, this was the most endearing fantasy novel.

It was a lovely fairytale that was easy to read and interesting. YA readers and admirers of Studio Ghibli should try to pick up this book.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

The Summary

Feeling like a member of a family has been Emme Wynn's greatest desire throughout her life. She spent her childhood on the run with her con artist mother, moving from town to town, getting herself into sticky situations, and picking up bad habits that she has worked very hard to break. Emme is hopeful that she will finally be able to establish the roots she has always desired when her estranged grandmother contacts her out of the blue and offers her a job helping to manage her booth at an outdoor market in the small Alabama town of Sweetgrass. However, some habits are difficult to break, and by hiding one important truth, she jeopardizes her newly-found pleasure.

Volunteering, gardening, her career as a color consultant and designer, and pretty much everything else she can do to distract herself from her traumatic background, which has caused her to hold the majority of people at arm's length, are all priorities for Cora Bee Hazelton. Developing deep relationships and then having her heart shattered repeatedly is the last thing she wants. She quickly understands it will be hard to keep her heart protected or her secrets hidden once she realizes she has no choice but to let others into her life as a result of her injury.

Emme and Cora Bee discover some unflinching realities about their pasts and selves, the value of friends, family, and community, and most importantly the fact that real growth begins inside of oneself in the enchanted neighborhood garden in the midst of Hickory Lane.

My Review

I won't deny that the cover is quite alluring, and fortunately, I like the story just as much as I do the cover.

What can be said about the person in this book? They are truly great, and ever since I started reading, I have yearned to join them in their world and share in this lovely story. I couldn't help but love Emme, who has had a particularly terrible life, and Glory, who is so gentle and compassionate. Even Dorothy, whose dementia is making her worse, is a likeable character, and perhaps some of the strange things she says are more significant than her family is aware of!

When I consider magical realism in small-town fiction, I picture something like this. I want to live in a place where there are so many fascinating people that I feel like I've moved in. I'm looking for lies, fantastic individuals, sorrow, misunderstandings, and a sense of belonging. This book satisfies every need.

Each chapter begins with a header that offers a succinct explanation of the language of flowers and offers a few nuggets of knowledge. An added benefit and great touch.

I was very impacted by the story in In the Middle of Hickory Lane, which was endearing, sincere, and inspirational.

If any of you are interested in magical realism books set in a small community, I highly recommend that you start with this one.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

The Summary

A magnificent five-apartment cobblestone building may be found in the little South Carolina coastal village of Mallow Island down a narrow alley. Its moniker, The Dellawisp, is a reference to the little turquoise birds that coexist with its human occupants in an aura of enchanted secret.

When Zoey Hennessey visits The Dellawisp to take possession of her mother's apartment, she is greeted by a weird assortment of people, including a teenager on the run, a chef who is grieving but cannot be consoled by food, two separated middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. each with a unique narrative. Everybody has their own desires. Each has an unwritten conclusion.

The night Zoey moves in, one of her new neighbors passes away in mysterious circumstances, drawing her into the Dellawisp mystery involving missing pages from a renowned author whose work may be kept there. She quickly learns that the area is filled with unfinished stories and that those nearby require healing from past wrongs just as much as she does. They must learn to trust one another, face their worst fears, and let go of what haunts them if they are to find their way.

My Review

This book explores the courage it takes to let go and have faith in oneself to start over, as well as the melancholy and ghosts of those who had a profound impact on the main characters' lives.

This story includes a discussion on chosen family, one of my favorite subjects. These characters are authentic, raw, somewhat broken, partially healed, and have damaged pasts and are working toward new beginnings. There is grief, loss, and misunderstanding. They get together to help one another go forward along with a few ghosts.

I adored Mallow Island and felt as though the tiny turquoise birds and I were both there thanks to the beautiful words. This story's ghosts were equally fascinating. The ghosts weren't at all unsettling. There were a few shocks in this book, and I like the magical realism.

Additionally beautiful was the scenery. Everything was easy to picture, from the native foliage to the animals, notably the delightfully diminutive dellawisps, the island's indigenous birds that are "little bigger than ring boxes."

Words can't explain how I feel about these amazing people who were so exceptional, flawed, yet ultimately full of love. Each of their stories was unique, and ultimately all of their secrets came to light.

This story was very charming and adorable. It was actually spellbound.

I recommend it to everyone looking for a cozy mystery or simply a charming story to cheer them up.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.