Title: The Duke’s Decision Author: Carolina Prescott Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: January 25, 2021 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
While gathering research for the puzzles she sells to newspapers, Vivian, the widowed Viscountess Rowden, literally stumbles across the arrogant Duke of Whitley. Whit, known to the ton as the Ice Duke, is spymaster for the Crown, and he has evidence of enemy agents using newspaper ciphers to send coded messages to Napoleon’s army. His mission is clear—less clear are his feelings for the woman he may have to destroy. While Vivian struggles to put the past behind her and find a future where her heart can be safe, the duke must decide whether the lovely and independent viscountess is friend, foe, or fate.
Review:
This was a great historical romance! I liked that Vivian was assertive and intelligent. She made puzzles for the newspaper, which no one suspected were written by a woman. There was some suspense, but there was also a steamy romance! Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I had fun reading this book!
The Duke’s Decision is a steamy historical romance!
Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this b ook as part of a paid campaign!
Content warnings: death, adultery
Have you read The Duke’s Decision? What did you think of it?
Title: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 7 – Steel Ball Run, Vol. 1 Author: Hirohiko Araki Genre: Graphic Novel, Manga, Historical Fiction Publisher: Viz Media Source: Publisher Format: Hardcover Release Date: May 27, 2025 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!
The legendary Shonen Jump series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions featuring color pages! JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor, and frenetic battles.
Riders from around the world gather in the Wild West for the race of the century! Johnny Joestar, a former jockey paralyzed from the waist down, comes to spectate, and momentarily regains the ability to walk while watching a duel fought by Gyro Zeppeli. Desperate to learn more about this power, Johnny joins the race alongside Gyro and embarks on the most epic and bizarre race to ever cross the American frontier!
Review:
This was quite an original manga! I’d never read any of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure stories before this one, so I didn’t know what to expect. This was a fun story, with many horseback riders racing across the U.S. in 1890 for a 50 million dollar prize! The graphics were very detailed, but sometimes it was difficult to figure out what was happening with so much happening in each panel.
Steel Ball Run, Vol. 1 is an exciting manga!
Thank you Viz Media for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Have you read JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 7 – Steel Ball Run, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?
Title: Shadows and Light Author: Tanya Cimone Genre: Romance, Fantasy Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: September 25, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Since childhood, Nyssa has been accompanied by ethereal melodies that haunt her and sinister Shadows that follow her every move. Shunned from her stepfather’s secretive business of curating art for the occult, her brother, Micah, and her best friend, Isabelle, are the anchors of her sheltered life.
But when demons crawl out of the underworld and capture Isabelle, Nyssa risks her own life to rescue her, determined to find the demon responsible. She quickly learns that trust is fickle as a demon’s bargain. When mysterious club owner Sam offers to help, and demons try taking her down, Nyssa hedges her bets.
She will dance with the Devil and bargain if it means saving her best friend. But will Nyssa save Isabelle and escape the Devil’s charm? Or will the darkness that’s always trailed behind finally claim her…revealing secrets that were meant to stay buried?
Review:
This was a great story! It had some fantasy, romance, and thriller aspects. There were some elements of a dark romance, with demons and angels, but it didn’t get dark or horrific. It was a fast-paced read with some exciting twists. The idea of fate and destiny was explored a little, as well as reincarnation, which I find interesting. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book!
Shadows and Light is a thrilling romance!
Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Content warnings: death, kidnapping, references to blood, knife violence
Have you read Shadows and Light? What did you think of it?
Title: Guardians of Glyndor: The Disappearing Creatures Author: Nicoleclaire C. Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Independent Source: Bookinfluencers.com Format: Ebook Release Date: April 25, 2025 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Jesse is always counting—the forty-two tiles in his café, the 37.8 percent chance of rain on Thursdays, and the stubborn minutes that keep him stuck behind the counter. It’s how he makes sense of a world that’s never quite made sense of him. Halfway across the globe, Emilyfeels too much, drowning in emotions that don’t belong to her, in a world that always asks her to be less.
Their lives change when a mysterious green-haired woman appears with an invitation to Glyndor, a prestigious school hidden in Eldora—the First Earth. In this world, magic is deeply personal. Jesse and Emily train alongside students from all over Earth, where quirks, traits, and personalities shape the magic they wield.
But Eldora is dying. Its magic is fading. The wealthy hoard what remains, while the Blanched are left powerless. As the Three Moons align, Eldora’s guardians start to disappear. Strange creatures emerge. Whispers of an ancient darkness grow louder. And amid it all, Jesse and Emily find themselves drawn together by something neither of them can ignore.
In this coming-of-age tale of magic, love and friendship, Jesse and Emily must decide who they are and what they stand for—before all they hold dear is lost.
Review:
This is a fun fantasy story set in a magical school. There were a few main characters, including Jesse who was neurodivergent. One part of the book that I really liked was the illustrations of the characters throughout the book. I love being able to see exactly what the characters look like on the page. There were some exciting twists in the story too!
Guardians of Glyndor is an exciting YA fantasy!
Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Content warning: death, parental death (off page)
Have you read Guardians of Glyndor? What did you think of it?
Title: Bad Guy Author: Ana Diamond Genre: Fiction, Thriller Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: February 10, 2025 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Luke Daniels has done his fair share of bad things. But when the FBI offers him a deal in exchange for infiltrating the local Mafia’s infamous Costa Crew, Luke has no choice but to accept the challenge.
Beautiful, smart and tough, Sophia Costa wants out of the Crew. Appointed boss by her brother after he’s sent to prison, she wants no part in the murder, deceit and secrecy typical of Mafia life.
Just as things heat up between Luke and Sophia, a mysterious hitman targets Sophia, and Luke’s handler starts to wonder if Luke is up for the task.
As the lovers face the possibility of losing everything in order to be together, the line between loyalty and betrayal blur.
Review:
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fast paced mafia story, and it was quite short at under 200 pages. The events kept moving quickly. The characters were well developed from the beginning, which can be tough to do in a short book. There was also a bit of romance.
Bad Guy is a great mafia thriller!
Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Title: Haunted Gem Author: Gabriella Lucas Genre: Mystery, Romance, Contemporary Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: February 24, 2025 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
She talks to ghosts. He talks to God.
Gemma Martelli knows where all the bodies are buried—and she talks to their spirits to help detectives solve cases. All she needs is a piece of jewelry from the deceased to make contact. When a detective asks for her help on a cold case, the unsolved murder of Judith Walsh, she’s eager to get involved … until she finds out who the young woman was engaged to—Reverend Luke Bailey, the man Gemma is crazy about.
Luke wants to move on from the tragic loss of his fiancé, and he’s falling for Gemma. But how will he feel when he discovers that it’s Judith’s spirit she’s talking to?
Review:
I’ve always loved stories about people who can talk to ghosts. I liked the premise in this story, that Gem could communicate with ghosts through their jewelry from when they were alive. It was the perfect technique for a jeweler. The mystery she had to help the police solve was intriguing and fast paced. I really enjoyed reading this mystery!
Haunted Gems is a great mystery!
Thank you The Wild Rose Press and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Title: Archipelago (The Herb Society Mysteries #2) Author: E. William Podojil Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Science Fiction Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: April 7, 2025 Rating: ★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Following a tragic event, The Herb Society, along with Lukas and Taylor are unwittingly pulled into Baptiste’s twisted plan to not only find a lost continent but unlock the secrets to a precious material that is only found near an archipelago he believes to be the remainder of this sunken world. Baptiste knows this material is more precious than all the gold in the world and he has big plans for it. When The Herb Society discovers Pierre Baptiste’s nefarious agenda, they unlock a global conspiracy led by the world’s rich and powerful that would completely alter civilization to their advantage for generations to come. Now The Herb Society ladies, Lukas, Taylor, Tory and her boyfriend, Pepe are thrust into the plot and must fight the forces of nature and evil to save mankind from an unimaginable future. But will they be able to stop Pierre and his clever friends from initiating the countdown to an apocalypse?
Review:
This story had a bunch of twists and turns. The direction of the story kept changing, from what I thought would be a crime thriller to a story with some science fiction and fantasy. The science aspects were interesting, but it seemed a little far fetched at times. The story was fast paced and intense, which kept me excited to read it!
Archipelago is a fast paced thriller.
Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Title: War at the Ice Cream Store Mustachio Pistachio vs. Bully Vanilli AND War at the Ice Cream Store 2 Rocky Road vs. The Sundae Storm Author: Cheryl DaVeiga, Dave Gibson, Nate Fakes (illustrator) Genre: Picture Book Publisher: Waterhole Productions LLC Source: iRead Books Tours Format: Ebook Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis: Mustachio Pistachio vs. Bully Vanilli:
Action, laughter, and silly puns… this ice cream epic has it all!In the Frozen Frogg Ice Cream Shop, Bully Vanilli is the most popular ice cream and self-proclaimed king of the flavors. Lonely Mustachio Pistachio sits at the back of the freezer. No one ever picks him! Every night, after the store door is locked, Bully Vanilli begins his bullying and Mustachio is his favorite target. One night Bully kicks Mustachio’s bucket. Poor Mustachio falls SPLAT on the floor and it’s… War at the Ice Cream Store! And as the The War at the Ice Cream Storesong goes…🎵🎵 Biff bam booza, yowza wowza wooza, It’s a milk-shakin’ cone-breakin’ yabba dabba dooza! 🎵🎵A big scoop of action with sprinkles of laughter makes for a delicious treat in this story about kindness and acceptance. Read with your kids for a non-stop giggle fest and don’t forget to follow the author for more hilarious content and to access the song.
Goodreads Synopsis: Rocky Road vs. The Sundae Storm:
The Ultimate Ice Cream Showdown!
It’s a perfect sunny Sunday in July—the ultimate ice cream day! But—trouble is brewing at the Frozen Frogg Ice Cream Store! A swirly, twirly, category-five ice cream twister is out of control, threatening to turn this sweet day into a sticky disaster.
Could this be the first-ever summer Sunday without ice cream? (Say it isn’t so!) Or can the flavors and toppings team up to whip up a plan before it’s too late?
Packed with laugh-out-loud puns, daring dessert heroes, and nonstop action, this funny and flavorful adventure is a must-read for kids who love humor, teamwork, and of course—ICE CREAM! A delicious sequel to the fan-favorite and award-winning War at the Ice Cream Mustachio Pistachio vs Bully Vanilli (now available in a Collector’s Edition–reillustrated, with an enhanced story and bonus content).
This fast-paced and colorfully illustrated (by celebrated cartoonist Nate Fakes!) tale will have kids cheering for their favorite flavors and begging for an extra scoop of fun! Get ready for the wildest ice cream showdown yet!
Review:
These two books are fun, rhyming picture books about ice cream that comes to life in the ice cream store!
In Mustachio Pistachio vs. Bully Vanilli, the vanilla ice cream is a bully because so many people love him. He particularly bullies the pistachio ice cream because he is the least favourite flavour. All of the ice cream flavors and toppings have to work together to defeat the bully.
In Rocky Road vs. The Sundae Storm, there is a storm inside the ice cream store, preventing anyone from getting ice cream on a hot summer day. The ice cream flavors have to figure out how to stop the storm so the store can reopen.
Both of these books made me laugh out loud. I think kids and their parents will love them! They’re both available now!
War at the Ice Cream: Mustachio Pistachio vs. Bully Vanilli and Rocky Road vs. The Sundae Storm are fun picture books!
Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing copies of these books as part of a paid campaign!
Have you read War at the Ice Cream Store? What did you think of it?
Title: The Web of Time Author: Flavia Brunetti Genre: Fiction Publisher: Blue House Literary Source: iRead Book Tours Format: Ebook Release Date: May 20, 2025 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Far beneath the ground, a web quietly spins.The threads are keeping time, marking history. What’s done is done. Until now.
Protected by the gods and powering the three Great Portals of Kindness, Art, and Language, The Web of Time re-arranges itself as humans change their minds, fall in love, or cause empires to rise and fall. When the Great Portals close from the world, time begins erasing itself, histories start to disappear, Earth falls into chaos, and the gods don’t know how to stop it-until Jack meets Anna.
Anna is a passionate and solitary writer who is protected by her companion, Nafusa of Libya, the cat god. When Jack, a young painter harboring a traumatic past, falls through the Great Portal of Art in Tunis, he stumbles into Anna, and his fate.
Helped and hindered by a rotating cast of deities, the two embark on a journey that connects three ancient cities in different times: Rome, Tunis, and Tripoli. They realize that it is Anna’s gift for healing words and Jack’s natural talent for drawing places as they were that can reinstate the Great Portals and restore the world’s balance, but some of the darker gods who thrive on chaos will stop at nothing to derail their quest. As time tears faster than they can heal it, Anna and Jack must come together in time to save history, and the possibility of a future.
Review:
This is a beautiful story about the way that time works in the world. The gods interacted with Jack and Anna, who were stuck going through portals to different places and time periods. They showed how interconnected everything is throughout history. If one moment changed, it set off a chain reaction and changed all of history. I really liked the characters of Jack and Anna, and I would love to see what happened to them after the story ended.
The Web of Time is a beautiful story about time.
Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign!
Content warnings: death of parent (off page), child abuse
Have you read The Web of Time? What did you think of it?
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