#BookReview: Unorthodox (A Kendra Spark Novel, Book One) by S. Peters-Davis #ParanormalSuspense

Unorthodox

A Kendra Spark Novel, Book One

S. Peters-Davis

Genre: Paranormal Suspense -Thriller Romance - Supernatural

Publisher: Books We Love Publishing

Date of Publication: September 15, 2017

ISBN 978-1-77362-303-0

ISBN 978-1-77362-304-7

EPUB 978-1-77362-300-9

Kindle 978-1-77362-301-6

WEB 978-1-77362-302-3

Amazon

Goodreads

About the Book:

Kendra Spark, suspense-mystery romance author and communicator with the dead, is requested to hop on the first flight to D.C.

Jenna Powers, FBI criminal analyst and estranged best friend of Kendra, gets ghosticized in a fatal accident before relaying all the details of the FBI killer case.

Derek Knight, a dedicated FBI Special Task Force agent, takes lead on the case.

The investigation into the FBI agent killings continues as Kendra, Jenna – yes, even after death – and Derek work together on the case before Director of the Special Task Force Jackson Powers’ number is up. He’s Jenna’s father and the end-game of the killer’s target list.

Somehow the elusive killer remains undetected, until Kendra’s unique ability produces results and a final possibility at stopping his killing spree before it’s too late.

My Review:

Kendra Spark is a Michigander that can see ghosts.  When her estranged best friend Jenna, an FBI criminal analyst summons her to D.C. Kendra is shocked to learn why.  Jenna is on a case trying to find a murderer taking out FBI agents who have worked with her father.  She wants to use Kendra's unique abilities to help track down the monster.  Before they get much more involved in the conversation, Jenna rushes into the street to save a boy and is mowed down by a car.  Now, Jenna must do all of her analyzing from the ghostly plane as she helps Kendra and FBI Task Force Agent Derek Knight chase down the murderer.

Unorthodox is an interesting novel that combines a ghost whisperer, an FBI agent, and a ghost into a crime solving team.  Kendra tries to keep her abilities to herself since almost everyone who discovers her secret either calls her a liar or a freak.  As the book progresses, Derek become more open minded about Kendra.  Jenna is able to help in dangerous situations by using a skill that she now has as a ghost.  Derek does the best he can in such trying circumstances that continue to hit close to home.

The author built up a low key romance but unfortunately I didn't really hop on board the relationship train.  It wasn't really believable to me.  I didn't feel any chemistry between Kendra and Derek - none at all.  I liked the characters as individuals but Kendra and Derek didn't spark for me.  Jenna's character flitted in and out as necessary and I found her to be nice and determined.  She wanted to protect her father at all costs and she paid the biggest price.  

The world building and character development was good and believable. I felt that the author's detailed descriptions of the setting, characters, and scenes were adequate and I was able to visualize the whole story from layouts to character details.  At certain points I felt like I was there in the story.  You'll be engaged from the very beginning.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

#ExclusiveExcerpt ~ Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth by Holly Bell (September 14-18, 2026) #WitchyCozyMystery #ParanormalCozyMystery #BritishUrbanFantasy #UrbanFantasyMystery @Saphs_Books

About Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth:

Amanda Cadabra’s life LOOKS perfectly normal...
But looks can be very deceiving.

In the picture-perfect English village of Sunken-Madley, a young covert witch is laying
low. Amanda Cadabra has her reasons.

Orphaned when her family’s van mysteriously plunged over a Cornish cliff many years before, Amanda is keeping herself to herself, quietly working for her grandfather’s furniture restoration company, hoping the world will leave her alone.

However, soon Amanda’s peace is disturbed by the arrival in the village of the inquisitive Inspector Trelawney, dogging her footsteps as he investigates the strange fate of her family. But the persistent detective becomes the least of her problems, as a restoration job at the Tudor manor propels the young witch into a swirl of mystery and intrigue.

Events quickly conspire to drag Amanda into the building’s murky past and its even more dangerous present. Armed only with her wits, her grumpy feline familiar, Tempest, and a wand, Amanda Cadabra is going in.

A body, ghosts, hidden passageways, and a host of unanswered questions soon emerge. Can Amanda dodge the inspector long enough to solve the Manor’s many mysteries and unravel her own past before the scandal of murder engulfs the village?

Exclusive Excerpt:

Excerpt 1 — Senara meets Trelawney

‘Fresh blood,’ observed Mrs Cadabra.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Trelawney looked at her doubtfully. She registered that he was in his late thirties, tall, light-haired, grey-suited and attractive in a manner appropriate to a policeman.
‘Do come in.’
He stepped over the threshold and into the clean, bright hall. She closed the door behind him.
Trelawney’s boss, Chief Inspector Hogarth, was on the verge of retirement and had sent his junior to acquaint himself with a case that had remained open for 28 years.
Mrs Cadabra led the way into the living room, gestured to the sergeant to sit down, then decisively pulled a photo album from one of the stacked bookshelves flanking the brick fireplace. She laid it open on his knees and pointed to a portrait of a power-dressed couple holding a baby.
‘1987. Our darling Amanda, held by my obnoxious daughter,’ she uttered in clipped tones.

Follow the tour to read exclusive excerpts, interviews, and spotlight posts:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2026/09/book-tour-schedule-amanda-cadabra-and.html

Meet the Author:

Cat adorer and chocolate lover, British author Holly Bell’s life changed in a day. A best-

selling author friend convinced Holly that she could write cozy mysteries, after many years

experience with non-fiction, photography and video making.

Holly devoured all of the Agatha Christie books long before she knew that Miss Marple was

the godmother of the Cozy Mystery. Her love of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings meant that

her first literary creation in this area would have to be a cosy paranormal. Since then, the

series has grown to include the genre of urban fantasy mystery.

Having derived immense delight from the adventure of writing Amanda Cadabra and The

Hidey-Hole Truth, its 8 sequels and 1 prequel to date, Holly has more in the pipeline, with

the 10 th book in the series now in the making. The third in the series Amanda Cadabra and

The Flawless Plan has just come out on Audible in audiobook format, joining the first two

books. The World of Amanda Cadabra shop for bookish gifts on Redbubble has just begun

rolling out its Sunken Madley School collection.

Holly lives in London, somewhere near the place that inspired her quaint, peculiar but

apparently perfectly normal fictional village. Readers will know better.

Her favourite feline is a black cat called Bobby. He is black. Like her favourite hat. Purely

coincidental.

Holly loves to hear from readers. Find her on the contact page of the amandacadabra.com

website, or on Facebook as Holly Bell Author. She always responds in person.

Links:

The Amanda Cadabra Urban Fantasy Cozy Mysteries (in order):

Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth

Amanda Cadabra and The Cellar of Secrets

Amanda Cadabra and The Flawless Plan

Amanda Cadabra and The Rise of Sunken Madley

Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths

Amanda Cadabra and The Strange Case of Lucy Penlowr

Amanda Cadabra and The Hanging Tree

Amanda Cadabra and The Nightstairs

Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin

Prequel: The Grange Trilogy - The Philip Rayke Mysteries

Prequel Short Story: Tempest’s First Day (Free on amandacadabra.com)

Audio books:

Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amanda Cadabra and The Cellar of Secrets

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amanda Cadabra and The Flawless Plan

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The World of Amanda Cadabra Shop

#BookReview ~ Shadow's Protection by Chelle Bliss (Hurricane Heat, Book 1) ~ #MCRomance #Romance #OneYearAnniversary

Shadow's Protection by Chelle Bliss

One Year Anniversary!

 

About the Book:

ASIN: ‎ B0F4QXCN1F
Publisher: ‎ Bliss Ink
Publication date: ‎ September 2, 2025
Print length: ‎ 302 pages

Purchase from Amazon

Add to Goodreads

About the Book:

Shadow isn’t the type to mingle with people outside his world unless they owe him or the club something. But when his eyes land on a beautiful woman in need of a place to stay, he offers her shelter from the coming storm without a second thought.

Violet James needs a fresh start. She’s planned every detail—new job, new house, new city. But the one thing she didn’t expect was a hurricane to throw a wrench into everything. Stranded in a new city with no open hotel rooms for miles, she’s intrigued when a handsome biker offers her a safe place to stay.

Shadow never expected the woman to come with baggage in the form of an obsessive ex-boyfriend who will stop at nothing to get her back, including showing up at his club’s compound.
What starts off as a little fun to pass the time as a hurricane decimates the area around them turns into something deeper than either of them could’ve imagined. And Shadow will do anything to keep Violet safe, even if that means risking his life to save hers.

My Review:

Shadow’s Protection is the first book in the Hurricane Heat MC series and what a fantastic start to a new series. I’m a huge fan of MC romance and Shadow’s Protection checked all the boxes. Broody hero. Strong heroine. Crazy ex. Full protection. I loved Shadow and Violet. I was pulled into their story and captivated by their personalities, drama, romance, and complications. Their chemistry sizzles, the passion is raw, and emotions permeate the pages. I couldn’t put this story down. Perfectly composed, paced, and written, Shadow’s Protection will pull you in and keep you engaged.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Book Review: Unraveled (Elemental Assassin, Book 15) by Jennifer Estep ~ #UF Urban Fantasy ~ #TenYearAnniversary #PublishedForADecade

Unraveled

Elemental Assassin, Book 15

Jennifer Estep

Ten Year Anniversary!

Book Details:

Print Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Pocket Books

Publication Date: August 30, 2016

ASIN: B017I22DZC

Purchase from Amazon 

Add to Goodreads

About the Book:

What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?

As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.

So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.

Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight …

My Review:

Unravled, book 15, is another fantastic installment of the Elemental Assassin series. The entire series has pulled me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. These are the types of books that have me longing for the next one. They are written with vivid descriptions and genuine feelings, allowing the reader to become totally immersed in this world.

Gin, Finn, Owen, and Bria are headed out of town to Bullet Pointe, a Wild West theme park. After the fallout of book 14, Bitter Bite, Finn learns he inherited the theme park from his mother. The last time Gin took a vacation was several books ago and she's highly due for another one. Gin really should know better - nothing good ever comes out of going on vacation. When Circle assassins appear throughout the park Gin knows that Bullet Pointe isn't all fun and games.

Even after 15 novels in this series, Jennifer Estep knows how to keep the stories engaging and interesting. I've been a fan of the entire series. I've rated all of the books 4 or 5 stars. They are written with vivid descriptions and genuine feelings, allowing the reader to become totally immersed in this world. The world building continues and we learn a bit more about Gin's mother.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books but has been updated.

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

#BookReview ~ Hard Rules (Dirty Money, Book 1) by Lisa Renee Jones ~ #TenYearAnniversary #PublishedForADecade #ContemporaryRomance ~ @LisaReneeJones @StMartinsPress

 Hard Rules (Dirty Money, Book 1) by Lisa Renee Jones

Ten Year Anniversary!

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B015WAHK2I
Publisher: ‎ St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: ‎ August 9, 2016
Print Length: ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1250083869
Book 1 of 4: ‎ Dirty Money

Amazon

Goodreads

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About the Book:

How bad do you want it?

The only man within the Brandon empire with a moral compass, Shane Brandon is ready to take his family’s business dealings legitimate. His reckless and ruthless brother, Derek wants to keep Brandon Enterprises cemented in lies, deceit, and corruption. But the harder Shane fights to pull the company back into the light, the darker he has to become. Then he meets Emily Stevens, a woman who not only stirs a voracious sexual need in him, but becomes the only thing anchoring him between good and evil.

Emily is consumed by Shane, pushed sexually in ways she never dreamed of, falling deeper into the all-encompassing passion that is this man. She trusts him. He trusts her, but therein lies the danger. Emily has a secret, the very thing that brought her to him in the first place, and that secret could destroy them both.

My Review:

Brandon Enterprises has been mixed up in its fair share of shady dealings. Derek Brandon has his hands in many illegal ventures, thinking about nothing but financial gain and running the company when his father is no longer able. Shane Brandon has other ideas; it's time Brandon Enterprises walked the straight and narrow. He returns to Denver from New York to straighten up the mess his father and brother have made with the company. Shane may walk the line between darkness and the light but he does what he must to stabilize his family's legacy, keeping it from falling further into the pit of corruption. The intriguing woman he encounters in a coffee shop is only supposed to take the edge off, not leave him desperate for more.

Emily has just settled down in Denver. She's been on the run from her past, present, and most likely, her future. Harboring secrets that she's unwilling to divulge to anyone, she also has a past that she could get dragged back into it at any time. She just needs to get a job and keep a low profile for now, but a chance meeting in a coffee shop puts a twist in her plans.

Shane's character is strong, ruthless when necessary, yet tender and affectionate. His feelings for Emily are evident from their first encounter. After they meet again, their one night of passion proves to no be enough for either of them - not by a long shot. Emily is also a strong character; she has to be in order to survive whatever secrets are threatening to eat her up inside. She truly cares for Shane on almost every level - except the one that tells her to trust him with her secrets. Emily and Shane compliment each other. Emily illuminates the darkness Shane must maneuver through.

Hard Rules is a wonderful blend of suspense, intrigue, and romance ~ at some moments - very steamy romance! I was enraptured by Emily and Shane's story from the beginning prologue and could not put the book down. I was pulled into the drama and romantic suspense elements of the book. Every element of Hard Rules was enjoyable, from Shane and Emily's first meeting all the way to the cliffhanger ending.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

#BookReview ~ The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne ~ #SportsRomance #ContemporaryRomance

About the Book:

I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.

Especially not Decker Davis.

Chicago Colts third baseman.

Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.

And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.

We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.

So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.

No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.

He broke every last one within the first week.

Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.

Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.

Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.

And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.

But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.

I won’t let my daughter pay that price.

My review can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram. 

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3KxNsjw

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon

Duet Narration by: Teddy Hamilton & Willa Jaymes

Also featuring: JF Harding, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Erin Mallon, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone

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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Recipe Preparation ~ Chicken & Dumplings ~ from Sloane Taylor's Date Night Dinners #Cookbook #AmEating #EasytoPrepare #Yummy @SloaneTaylor2

This post is in remembrance of Sloane Taylor who passed away in June 2026.

I enjoyed getting to know her many years ago during our Musa Publishing days. Our friendship continued even after Musa closed their doors. 

Thanks for everything, Sloane. You are missed.

Book Details:

Publisher: Toque & Dagger

Publication Date: May 29, 2018

ASIN: B07DD5HDVL

Page Count: 136 pages

Genre: Cookbook:

The recipe I chose to make for this stop on the tour was the Chicken & Dumplings recipe. The entire process is super simple and makes a very tasty meal. I actually made the recipe twice. The first time I prepared the recipe was August 8, 2018. One of the ingredients is chicken stock but I only had a carton of low sodium chicken broth. I also used heart healthy Bisquick for the dumplings. The chicken and dumplings turned out absolutely wonderful and delicious.

  

 The second time I prepared the recipe was September 4, 2018. I actually used chicken stock this time. I used heart healthy Bisquick for the dumplings again. 

I really enjoyed the chicken and dumplings using the stock and the chicken broth. There were subtle differences in taste but both were flavorful. We were able to get 2 days worth of meals both times I prepared the recipe. The dumplings were just as good the next day as they were the first. 

I highly recommend this cookbook! 

About Date Night Dinners:

Ready to ignite that old flame? Or perhaps spark a new one? Take your partner by the hand and turn on your stove. A true romantic, award-winning author Sloane Taylor brings her creativity to the kitchen with easy-to-make meals sure to spark the intimacy and quality time you want with your special someone. Cooking together is only the start of the fun!

Create 45 complete dinners for two or flavor your evenings with a new dish. These 80 recipes use everyday foods already on most kitchen shelves. The recipes are easily increased for those fun times friends or family join your table.

Date Night Dinners, Meals to Make Together for a Romantic Evening, is an ideal gift for engagements, bridal showers, anniversaries, or for anyone who wants to spice things up.

Goodreads

Amazon

Meet the Author:

Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy. Taylor currently has seven romance novellas released by Toque & Dagger Publishing. Her first solo venture into non-fiction is a cookbook with eighty of her favorite recipes DATE NIGHT DINNERS, Meals to Make Together for a Romantic Evening. Excerpts from her books can be found on her website, blog, and all popular vendors. Connect with Taylor on Facebook and Twitter.