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The Hellion is Tamed (League of Lords #4)
The Hellion is Tamed (League of Lords #4)
Tracy Sumner | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE HELLION IS TAMED is the fourth book in the League of Lords series. We jump forward a few years in this one, to ensure Simon is now an adult. It is made very clear that he has spent the past years searching for a way to find, and bring back, Emma. Although, saying that, he is still hurt by her not coming back to him after stealing the stone from Sebastian. As for Emma, well, she did return but, being as she doesn't have full control of her gift, she caught Simon in a compromising situation and hightailed it out of there.

Miscommunication and avoidance are the two words I would use to describe this book. Now, of course, if love ran smoothly then there would be no romance books to read but Simon and Emma seemed to take it to the extreme.

The focus is also on Emma's gift, not so much Simon's. I would like to have learnt more about him and his gift. How the ghosts see him as their benefactor/protector. Why? How? What does he do? And how do they protect him in return? We saw one example but are there others?

I would definitely recommend reading this as a series, rather than a set of standalones as I do feel the other books help set the situation up for the next one along. And as Simon and Emma are fourth, then it was good to have some background information on them, and the world they inhabit.

Still, a good addition to the series that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

** 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!
  
Cabbages & Kings
Cabbages & Kings
Morgan Sheppard | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
wonderful retelling of a local legend
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

As a Nottingham girl, I grew with tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. So, finding this tale having tipped those tales on their heads was a delight!

The story tells of Alana Dale, and her new husband, Will Scathlock and how they came to suffer at the hands of Robin and Guy, and just how, after all that, THEY came to be the bad guys!

This is a delightful tale, set in places in and around Nottinghamshire, so I know these places, and I love reading books about places I really know.

It's wonderfully written, with detailed descriptions of the things needed to get by, with Alana having ideas wise beyond her years, especially when it comes to health matters.

Alana is a strong-minded young lady (only 16 here!) and she will stand up for herself in a time when it wasn't the done thing. I loved Alana, and her teasing of Will, but to be fair, he gave as good as he got. Alana's deepest fears come to life here, and how she manages to hold it together to keep Will safe BEFORE she loses it, I have no idea.

There is some violence, Alana and Will's village is destroyed in the beginning of the book and the attack's aftermath is described in some detail. Because of this, I would class it as upper young adult, maybe 14+.

Tipping the Robin Hood legend on its head, Ms Sheppard made new heroes, and new bad guys. She tells of everyday life in Medieval England, and just how the common folk survived.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Immortal (The Awakening Series #2)
Immortal (The Awakening Series #2)
Dean Murray | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So what happens when you start reading a book and find out that not only does it involve insta-love but also love triangles - both of which you hate?! You carry on reading, that's what! Because by the time you realised, you were already hooked into the story and there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell of putting it down until it was finished. That's what happens when you read a book by Dean Murray.

Immortal is the second book in The Awakening Series and continues exactly where Reborn finished. You find out that Kyle and Selene were actually together WAY before Jace and Selene were. So how does Kyle fit into the scenario? I was fully prepared to dislike Kyle, after all, Jace and Selene were the ones that needed to be together, right? The trouble is I couldn't actually dislike him. You will have to read the book yourself to understand why but trust me, he's not a straightforward "villain".

There are quiet times when Selene (and you) find pieces out of the puzzle and there are also times of action, fighting and battles. Then there are the emotional times that you become invested in.

This story continues to be intriguing and complex with plot twists and turns that keep you on your toes. It was completely un-put-down-able and I loved every moment. Even though this book deals with tropes that I usually find irritating, the way Immortal has been written makes it a pleasure to read. Highly recommended to all fans of Young Adult, Contemporary Paranormal.
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
March 5, 2015
  
Superman and Lois
Superman and Lois
2021 | Action, Adventure, Drama
I don't know about you, but when I think of Superman I tend to think of his Clark Kent early Daily Planet days, back when he was a reporter and when Lois didn't know his alter-ego.

That seems to be the period in which most of the Superman films have been set in (and is probably why I think of that), with his earlier teenage/Young Adult days explored more in TVs Smallville.

I'd never come across a 'mainline' story with a hook just like this before: Clark Kent is no longer a reporter at the Daily Planet, is now married to Lois who knows his secret and has kids (teenage twin boys) of his own.

Yes, I know that's been covered in the comic books.

Anyway, this is another entry in what-is-sometimes-known-as The Arrowverse, with both Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane having previously 'popped up' in some of it's sister shows - I think first appearing in the second season of 'Supergirl' - before putting in an appearance in some of the crossover events.

Having said that, this is largely a self-contained series (post Crisis), although there are points where you just have to wonder why Kal-El doesn't put out a call to his cousin Kara Zor-El to help! Setting that aside, however, this is beautifully shot (and generally written/performed better than most of the other Arrowverse shows), with Tyler Hoechlin continuing to prove himself a far lighter, more comic-accurate (I feel) version than that shown by Henry Cavill in 'Man of Steel' and 'Batman Vs Superman' or 'Dawn of Justice', and with Elizabeth Tulloch also winning me over as Lois Lane.
  
Learned by Heart
Learned by Heart
Emma Donoghue | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Learned by Heart is the fictionalised account of two women who really did exist: Eliza Raine and Anne Lister (also known as Gentleman Jack). I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator Shiromi Arserio, really brought the characters, all teenage girls for the most part, to life. Together with Emma Donoghue’s impeccable, compassionate writing, it made for an emotional and heartbreaking novel.

Both girls are outsiders: Eliza is an orphan of an English doctor and an Indian mother. Anne isn’t like any of the other girls, and doesn’t want to conform to expectations. They end up sharing a room and forge a close friendship. They eventually fall in love.

Anne is the person that Eliza is too shy to be. Eliza looks different - she’s darker skinned, and everyone knows that she was Indian. So she tries to avoid too much notice. Anne doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Together they are able to make school more bearable.

Interspersed in the story of their time at school are Eliza’s letters written to Anne. Letters that are never sent. Eliza is in an asylum at a point in the future, and she doesn’t want the doctors to know about her relationship with Anne. These were such desperately sad parts - Eliza has lost Anne, perhaps partly due to her illness.

I thought the writing reflected the emotional inner life of teenagers so well. The overwhelming emotions and the fact that these were still children who were being forced to act as adult women in a regimented, emotionless setting.

I loved this. It was meticulously researched, and this enriched the story right up to its heartbreaking end. This really is well worth a read (or a listen!).