Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

End of March #BookReviews- A Beggar’s Bargain @JanSikes3, Square Peg in a Round Hole @bakeandwrite, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision @GMPlano, Heart of Hope @Only_LucyScore, The Culling Trials @TheShannonMayer @KFBreene


Have I mentioned how much I love spring?

The photo above is our Asian Pear and the base of the tree is covered with the most gorgeous daffodils! I’ll post that pic at the end of the reviews. Every day is a feast for the eyes. It reminds me how grateful I am to live in this beautiful world ❤

Today, I have a couple of new release books from blogging friends, and the first three in a fantastic new fantasy adventure series. As usual, click the covers to learn more about each novel.

The posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase using a link.

A Beggar’s Bargain Kindle Edition

by Jan Sikes 

I am a member of the Author’s Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, Story Empire, and the Paranormal Writer’s Guild. I am an avid fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.

A shocking proposal that changes everything.
Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.
Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. 

Sweet and inspiring

A Beggar’s Bargain follows the story of two people who seem to have nothing in common but manage to create a home filled with love and a sanctuary to those in need.
When Sara Beth’s narrow minded father (a banker) marries her to a stranger fresh back from the war, she is justifiably frightened. But, her new husband’s unfailing kindness soon allows Sara Beth the freedom to realize her inner strength and ability to provide for those she loves.
Kaylen isn’t interested in marriage, but if it’s the only way he can hang onto his parent’s legacy he’ll do it. Sara Beth seems quiet and shy, but as she turns the old farmhouse into a home, and opens the doors to those in need, he realizes what makes a house a home has less to do with the building than those who fill its walls with love and laughter.
This is a sweet and inspiring romance with a cast of characters you’re sure to enjoy!

Square Peg in a Round Hole: Poetry, Art & Creativity by Robbie Cheadle Kindle Edition

by Robbie Cheadle (Author), Michael Cheadle (Author) 

Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published fourteen children’s books and two poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Square Peg in a Round Hole is a collection of poetry, art, and photography. The section, Life, demonstrates the author’s perceptions of life in a fast-moving world filled with work, ill-health, and other demands. 

Introspective, thoughtful, call-to-action.
Robbie and her talented son, Michael, take us on a poetic journey into the darker emotions of anger, loss, and helplessness from the human perspective and those of endangered African savannah creatures.
Many of the poems come with gorgeous pieces of art, such as the leopard in The Watcher. {shared in part}
The Watcher (freestyle)
Dear Ranger
I am sorry
I didn’t oblige you
And make an appearance
For your paying guests.
You can’t blame me
For being wary Of people.
After all
The guest farm
Right next door
Allows canned hunting
By wealthy tourists.

Cheadle, Robbie; Cheadle, Michael. Square Peg in a Round Hole: Poetry, Art & Creativity by Robbie Cheadle (p. 24). Kindle Edition.

And the heart-wrenching Imagine.
Imagine (freestyle)
Imagine
Taking your living
Beating heart
Putting it to sleep
With sweet-smelling strawberry gas
Handing it with care
To men in white
With masks
And glove-covered hands
To probe
And fix
And mend
Now imagine
Doing that
Forty-two times

Cheadle, Robbie; Cheadle, Michael. Square Peg in a Round Hole: Poetry, Art & Creativity by Robbie Cheadle (p. 83). Kindle Edition.

Two others that stood out to me were Death Fantasy and Life. My takeaway from this collection is one of pain and loneliness- hopelessness. It is a wake-up call. Wild animals deserve our respect. They are dying at the hands of humans, and we aren’t doing nearly enough to help them.
I also feel the stress patients and their loved ones experience while in hospital is detrimental to their health. Part of the treatment program should include psychological therapy. Depression is as dangerous as the disease.
This is an important, thoughtful body of work that is a must-read.

The Soul Whisperer’s Decision Kindle Edition

by Gwen M. Plano 

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Gwen’s academic background is in theology and counseling.

Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home.

A horrifying accident rips a young family apart and leaves a devastated husband and father to pick up the pieces in this emotionally fraught novel by Gwen M. Plano.

After a long day at the hospital, Sarah Jameson is happy to be home with her handsome husband, Jack, and their young children. Taking the kids to give him a break, she promises Jack a delicious dinner after she returns from the store. Smiling as her babies sing in the backseat, she contemplates the evening ahead and doesn’t see the truck barreling through a red light, instantly killing her babies while Sarah falls into a deep coma.

Jack kisses his beautiful wife goodbye after setting his children in their carseats, for what turns out to be the last time. He barely gets into the house before the crash reverbrates through the rooms-and his heart- and he’s running, running to what he senses is his beloved family.

With his kids gone and his wife hovering on the edge of death, Jack must search his soul and open his heart to faith as he prays for Sarah to live.

When Sarah awakens from her coma it is to a different world, empty without her husband, who is on his own grief-ridden journey, or her babies. The only thing that helps is the vision she had of her children in Heaven, safe and happy. Gifted with the ability to give council to the newly-passed, Sarah begins her journey of healing and prays her husband will return.

This is an emotional read that will tug on the heartstrings. I was T-boned by a drunk driver when my daughter was just a baby. We were thrown into a tailspin and ended up on a person’s lawn, only feet away from a cement wall. To this day, I can hear her screams in the backseat, so this story really touches home with me.

A must-read.

Heart of Hope: A Small Town Romance Kindle Edition

by Lucy Score 

Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author. Small town contemporary rom-coms are her lady jam and she enjoys delivering the feels with a huge side of happily ever after. 

“Why would a professional hockey player fly out here, seduce me, and then vanish again?”

I can’t believe I fell for a liar. I was an idiot. A blinded-by-lust, hopeful idiot who threw myself into bed with a sexy stranger, invited him to dinner with my entire family, and then woke up alone to a note.

I hope you can forgive me for lying.

Ha. Like that’s ever going to happen. If Beau French or Evanko or whatever the hell his name is ever shows his hot, bearded face in this town again, I’ll make sure he regrets it.

This story messed with my heart.

All the feels!

This book!
I’ve never cried so much through a story as I have with Heart of Hope.
Many years ago, we lost a nephew in a tragic accident and his family made the heart wrenching decision to gift his organs to those in need. I always thought they were incredibly brave, and prayed they would maybe one day meet a recipient like Alli. It hasn’t happened yet, but miracles happen, so maybe, one day…

Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials (Book 1) Kindle Edition

by K.F. Breene (Author), Shannon Mayer (Author) 

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband and son, on a farm full of animals. She has a tendency to write stories that blend action, unexpected twists, and humor with a touch of romance that leaves readers on the edges of their seats.

K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy novels.

You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.

I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already…

Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.

In an invitation.

My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive.If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed.

It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died.

The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another.

Whoa! This story is action-packed from the opening page on!


She’s concerned when a mysterious stranger appears at Wild’s (love her nickname!) family ranch with an invitation for her young brother to attend a private academy. This is especially concerning since the same invitation arrived two years ago for her older brother, and he died.
But then, a second envelope arrives insisting he attends or the family will be killed, and suddenly, Wild is in what feels like an alternate universe. Refusing to lose another sibling to this place, she masquerades as her brother and joins the Culling Trials- a set of life-or-death challenges to be overcome before any of the students are deemed worthy of the academy.
This series is addictive! I’m already into the third book and can’t put them down. It’s like The Hunger Games on steroids!

So many great books, so little time 🙂

This is one of the daffodils I mentioned above. Isn’t it beautiful?

47 Replies to “End of March #BookReviews- A Beggar’s Bargain @JanSikes3, Square Peg in a Round Hole @bakeandwrite, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision @GMPlano, Heart of Hope @Only_LucyScore, The Culling Trials @TheShannonMayer @KFBreene”

      1. We have blooms all year round but we are in a three year drought and this spring many didn’t bloom. On my walks I notice some of the bushes are dying. Kind of sad. I do container gardening so I’m able to water as needed. The palms and the cactus are doing OK.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Thank you, Jacquie, for sharing your beautiful photos of Spring and your wonderful reviews. I’m honored that you’ve recommended The Soul Whisperer’s Decision. Thank you. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I’ve heard such good things about these books, and I want to read them all!

    I love your flowers, Jacquie! Thank you so much for sharing them and your reviews with us. 🩷🌷🐱

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Well done, Jacquie. As usual, I have a couple of these on my Kindle. The never ending pile continues to grow.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Hi Jacquie, firstly, I must say how much I love your flowers. Spring is also my favourite season. I am enjoying being a virtual part of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Thank you so much for this wonderful review of Square Peg in a Round Hole. I am so appreciative of your support and delighted that you engaged with the poetry and pictures in this book. I have a few of the other books featured here on my kindle and will be starting at the beginning of the new book list later this month. Spring is a popular time to publish a new book – smile!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. “Hunger Games on steroids” Oh my! Shadowspell Academy sounds like a book I’d enjoy, Jacquie. You had a great end-of-month reading list, and your reviews of Jan’s, Robbie’s, and Gwen’s books matched my own enjoyment. Congrats to all the authors on the wonderful recommendations.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. You’re absolutely right, Jacquie – so many great books, so little time. You’ve read some fantastic ones – congrats to all the authors! I have a few of these waiting. Beautiful pics. I never knew Asian Pear trees looked like that.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Enticing reviews Jacquie. I have a few of these books already I’m looking forward to, and thanks for introducing us to some new to us authors and their books. Hugs ❤

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I have a brand new garden with young plants, Jacquie! When I’m done planting, I’ll have two apple trees, two elderberry -, three blueberry -, and four raspberry bushes. I’ll have several raised beds for vegetables. I planted lots of flowers for summer blooms.

        We have a warm spring compared to the cold and gloomy one last year. The daffodils and tulips were all over the city and were almost done. The cherry blossoms are beautiful and almost done also. All the trees turned light green all of a sudden. Yes, spring is here for sure.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. I love the metaphor, Jacquie! It’s so strange that I feel nervous about where to plant what especially trees and berry bushes. Only half of my yard gets more sun in the summer. The apple trees are in partial shade. 🙂

            Liked by 1 person

  18. I apologize for my lateness to this party! Thank you a million times over for reading and reviewing A Beggar’s Bargain, Jacquie. I deeply appreciate it. I’ve read several of the books shared here and can attest to the greatness of the stories and poetry!

    Liked by 1 person

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