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Journeyman (Raven Series #2) [Audiobook]
Journeyman (Raven Series #2) [Audiobook]
Heather Atkinson | 2022 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Having listened to and thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series, Raven, I was intrigued to see what further escapades the assassin/bounty hunter was going to get mixed up in.

Now Raven was good but Journeyman is better!

Damien, Raven's brother, receives a coded message from their father One-Eye (aka Nik) that means he is in trouble. Unable to contact him and with only a vague idea of where he was going, they set out to try and track him down somewhere in Scotland.

One-Eye is being tracked by a killer from his past who he thought was dead. He is injured and has to 'hide out' in a small Scottish village on the Isle of Skye. Whilst recovering, One-Eye is getting to know the eclectic residents of the village when one of them is found murdered but who did it and why?

With good, strong characters, loads of action, a great and unexpected twist and quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, this was a really enjoyable listen and I look forward to the next in the series.

The narrator does a great job with all the different characters; she really had her work cut out with this one and did it well.

Thank you to W.F. Howes Ltd and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to Journeyman and share my thoughts.
  
Murder on the Iditarod Trail
Murder on the Iditarod Trail
Sue Henry | 1991 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Race to Stop a Killer
The Iditarod Race, the 1100 miles dog sled race between Anchorage and Nome, is a hard a grueling endurance event, but it has never been deadly for humans - until now. First, someone falls asleep on his sled and winds up crashing into a tree. State trooper Alex Jensen is brought in to figure out what happened, but before he can make a complete determination, another body turns up dead. He takes the offer of help from musher Jessie Arnold willingly. But will that be enough to keep anyone else from dying?

I read this book on my recent Alaskan cruise, and I think that helped me get into the story. I found all the facts about the race and the various setting fascinating. Outside a couple of characters, I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but I really did care for Jessie and Alex. I did find some of Alex’s behavior unrealistic, but I do get the dramatic tension it was creating. The race takes over from the mystery as the main driver of the plot at times, but I got caught up in the action and the climax was a page turner. Overall, I enjoyed this one, and book two came home from my trip with me as a souvenir. Hopefully, I can get to it soon.
  
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Kindle
Vivid Avowed ( Evelyn Maynard trilogy book 3)
By kaydence Snow
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

Evelyn's secrets have all been revealed, even questions she never thought to ask. Despite the turmoil surrounding her childhood and true identity, she knows one thing for sure: she belongs with her devoted Bonded Variants - Ethan, Josh, Tyler and Alec.

But the truth hasn't set Evelyn free.

The division between Variants and humans continues to widen. Nowhere is safe. Behind all the chaos is one man - Davis Damari. He's the truth she's been chasing her entire life, and the only one capable of destroying the life she fought to build in Bradford Hills.

Davis will stop at nothing to get Evelyn. Her Bond will stop at nothing to protect her.

Evelyn must find a way to embrace her immense power, or risk losing it all.

I was a little disappointed in this last book I have loved this trilogy up to this point. I found myself skipping through this one getting so bored in parts. The action parts were so good but the rest sort of got lost for me. I’m not sure why but it just didn’t work for me. The first two books were brilliant and the conclusion was a good one which is why it’s a 3⭐️ and not a 2!
  
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Merissa (11619 KP) rated Consumed (The Emrys Chronicles #1) in Books

Jul 5, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)  
Consumed (The Emrys Chronicles #1)
Consumed (The Emrys Chronicles #1)
E.E. Everly | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CONSUMED is the first book in The Emrys Chronicles and we learn about a land with dragons and emrys. But they are part of a different realm, far from the mortal one that has been tainted by darkness. So what happens when the darkness tries to claim a soul that straddles both worlds?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story - from the very beginning, right through to the end. I knew Brenin wouldn't be in it for long, simply because of how the story skipped along. The backstory of the others was brilliant, adding a depth that I enjoyed.

There was plenty of action and adventure here, with a healthy dose of revenge. The big ending caught me by surprise (as it is meant to) but I loved it. The reason for 4-stars and not 5 is simply because of the speed of Aneirin's declaration of love. I would have liked to have seen more development between the two, even though I understood why.

A brilliant start to the series that I can definitely recommend.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 5, 2021
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2057 KP) rated Spoon to be Dead in Books

Dec 16, 2023 (Updated Dec 16, 2023)  
Spoon to be Dead
Spoon to be Dead
Dana Mentink | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Is Trinidad’s Ex a Killer?
As winter sets in, Trinidad Jones is concentrating on figuring out how to keep her shake shop going through the cold months. But that takes a back seat when her ex-husband walks through the door of her shop one morning. No one had informed her that Gabe had been let out of prison. Even more surprising, he announces that he thinks he just killed someone before collapsing on the floor. What could be going on?

The book starts that quickly, and I got caught up in the action. The pacing was a little uneven in the middle, but things pick up for a fantastic climax. Since this is (sadly) the final book in the series, we get a wrap up for the characters. Some of that was a little abrupt, but overall, I liked it. Gabe being in town provided a great way to see different sides of several of the characters and watch their relationships grow. Considering how much I love the characters, that was nice. The Christmas setting didn’t really kick in until the second half of the book, but it was strong then. We also get some festive recipes to enjoy later. Fans of the series will be satisfied with this book, and if you haven’t started this series yet, you’ll want to do so today.
  
The Northman (2022)
The Northman (2022)
2022 | History, Thriller
5
7.9 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
M'eh.
So, The Northman.

Been quite a bit of hype for it over here in Northern Ireland (perhaps because some of it was filmed here), which might explain why the showing I went to was absolutely jam packed - the most people I've seen in a screen since even before Covid times.

Unfortunately, and for me, the film also fell rather 'flat': I actually spent more time scanning the background to see if I could spot any familiar faces (and locations) than concentrating on the (slow, plodding) action unfolding in the foreground.

It's no secret that the plot owes much to the Icelandic sagas that inspired 'Hamlet' (or, in more modern terms, 'The Lion King'), with Alexander Skarsgard Viking protagonist on a mission of revenge against his uncle, who killed his father and stole his mother.

Perhaps that is why I (and most of those I saw this with) weren't all that impressed: basically, we've all seen it before! Well, that, and the fact the the finale felt like something out of 'Revenge of the Sith' ...

(We were also all in agreement that it would have been better if the more supernatural elements of the story had been toned down).

All this is not to say that it's a bad film, per se: just not at all what we were expecting or had been sold on by the trailers.
  
The Forever Purge (2021)
The Forever Purge (2021)
2021 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
6
6.0 (12 Ratings)
Movie Rating
At this point, we all know what we're getting when a new Purge film shuffles it's way into the harsh light of day. Lots of shooting, CGI blood spatters, characters looking super serious as their protective shutters roll over the windows and doors of their houses, and some vague message about society and the state of America. All of this is present and correct for the latest installment of this ever popular franchise, and to be quite honest, it's entertaining as hell. It may be predictable, it may be on the nose with what it's trying to say, but it pulls off some genuinely tense action scenes (there's one extended long shot in particular, later on in the runtime, that looks incredible), shakes up the formula by showing us what a Purge night may look like from the viewpoint of immigrants, and delivers a film that not only portrays America descending into absolute chaos, but does a good job at making it feel legit.
The Forever Purge is hardly breaking new ground, but still manages to feel somewhat fresh in a horror series that is 5 films deep. It's also a decent recovery after the last film seriously stumbled. All in all, a popcorn movie that will surely be a bucket of bloody fun if you leave your brain at the door.
  
The Water King's Bride (The Descendants #2)
The Water King's Bride (The Descendants #2)
T.E. Ridener | 2022 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE WATER KING'S BRIDE is the second book in The Descendants series and follows directly on from book one, so I definitely recommend you read that first!

Heidi and Isaiah have stopped their constant bickering from book one as they both realise they have feelings for the other. That has to take a backseat though, as Heidi is desperate to find her father and missing people. We meet a multitude of new characters and reunite with some old ones, although whether that's a good thing remains to be seen.

As with book one, this is just as fast-paced and it is full of action. Whilst it fits with the story, I would like to see more about the characters, their backgrounds, the world they live in. Sometimes, it feels as though it's a spin-off from another series, one that explains about TimeKeepers, etc.

Saying that, this was a brilliant addition to the series that kept my attention and had me turning the pages. A fantastic story and I can't wait to see what happens next.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Resolve And Retribution
Resolve And Retribution
Michael W. Holman | 2013 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is an incredibly in-depth tale, which doesn't make much sense to start with. As the story progresses though, and you get more information on who Tabitha is and what she can do, it starts to make more sense.

Ben is a boy at the start of this book, and in his fifties by the end. I think this is one of the rare occasions when I have read about the main character ageing in such a way. It certainly made for a nice change, although it did get a bit confusing when the age changed with no notice or warning given.

There is action and suspense here, as well as courage, friendship and loyalty. The English that is spoken is from a few centuries ago. With a detailed backstory, you get the whole thing - beginning, middle, and end (of this book). It does end on a minor cliffhanger, so fair warning.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone who wants to read something to get their teeth into and likes vampires with a difference.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 17, 2016
  
Loving the Enemy (7 Forbidden Arts #0)
Loving the Enemy (7 Forbidden Arts #0)
Charmaine Pauls | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lily is on the streets of South Africa when we first meet her, not knowing the story behind how she ended up there. Jacob comes along as her saviour, but is he really, or just a wolf in sheep's clothing?

The chemistry is there between these two from the start, but Jacob does a good job of restraining himself. Jacob is most definitely an alpha male, and Lily, although she comes across as incredibly naive, almost ditzy in places, she is the perfect match for him.

This is one helluva fast-paced, action-filled, and steamy in places, book that will delight and enthral you from start to finish. There is an introduction to a group of people that will fill out the paranormal side of things, I'm sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. However, the tiny blood-thirsty part of me was hoping for Lily to get her own back against her father and step-brother. I guess I will just have to wait and see if she shows up in further books.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 23, 2016