Book Review: The Little Bee by Nicola Killen

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The Little Bee  by Nicola Killen  is a children's picture book about a girl name Ollie who follows a bee to a magical, secret garden. But, the next day, the beautiful garden was gone, and the little girl misses her new friends. What will she do? This beautiful book has an expected publication date of May 5, 2026. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Beach Lane Books for approving my request for a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Little Bee . I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Nicola Killen wrote such a beautifully worded story that I found myself immersed in the story, and I'm not even the target audience. It's a charming tale that should encourage children to explore nature and make them want to plant their own secret garden.  Equally beautiful were the illustrations. I found myself taking the time to actually look a the pictures as I read. It's a great story to read   at bedtime  with ch...
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Book Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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Book Club Selection & Book Review of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows Evie Porter, a woman with seemingly everything she could want, but there’s a shocking twist ... Evie Porter doesn’t exist. Her life is a carefully constructed identity. First comes the persona ... Evie Porter. Then comes the mark ... Ryan Sumner. Finally ... the job. Evie only knows her boss as Mr. Smith, and after a disastrous previous assignment, she can’t afford to fail with Ryan Sumner if she wants to leave this life behind and reclaim her real identity.

Ashley Elston delivers a fast-paced, suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. First Lie Wins is full of twists, turns, and unpredictable moments that had me guessing throughout the book. While the story wraps up satisfyingly, the ending leaves room for a possible sequel, which I hope happens because I’m eager for more of Evie’s thrilling adventures.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of First Lie Wins is how it reminded me of the TV show Alias. Elston cleverly reveals only small pieces of Evie’s past at a time, gradually building a complete picture that ties the story together in a cinematic way. The narrative is so immersive that every time I had to pause reading and return to reality, it took me a moment to adjust; proof of how compelling and absorbing this book is.

I have nothing negative to say about First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. I give it a full five out of five stars. I can’t wait to read more from this author and will definitely pick up her next book without even reading the synopsis.

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