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Merissa (13169 KP) rated Good Karma (Strong Karma Trilogy #1) in Books

Apr 7, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Good Karma (Strong Karma Trilogy #1)
Good Karma (Strong Karma Trilogy #1)
Donya Lynne | 2014 | Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I first fell in love with Donya Lynne's characters when I read her All The King's Men series so when I heard she was releasing a contemporary romance novel, I really wanted to read it to see if it could be as good.

Good Karma starts off with a sassy red dress and attitude, even if it is veneer. Mark Strong is attracted to that dress as it calls for his attention but then is swept away by the woman inside it. Karma is playing at being someone else for the evening and can't believe that she has caught the eye of one of the most handsome men there. Full of her own insecurities caused by her past, she thinks she is ready to let it all go but realises that she is not. This story follows Mark and Karma as they serendipitously meet up again, this time as work colleagues for a short-term contract.

This story is beautifully written and the characters have their own issues and pasts to deal with which makes them 'real'. Mark is an alpha male through and through but has also learnt to embrace his sensitive side. Karma is a strong female lead who is the perfect match for Mark but will need his help to deal with her own issues.

A fantastic story that entwined itself around me and yes, tissues were needed at some point but it wasn't because I was crying. Oh no, it's just my eyes were leaking!

If you have read AKM then rest assured that this book still has the Donya Lynne stamp and will sit happily next to each other. Definitely as good but just a different genre.

Recommended to all.
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
July 31, 2019
  
Eternal Flame (Guardians #1)
Eternal Flame (Guardians #1)
Valerie Twombly | 2013 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book has a twist on the tale of vampires in that they have been chosen by the gods as protectors of the human race and actually dwell in an alternative realm. They are all hot and some have special skills. They all have a weakness, which are silver bracelets, as we find out with Marcus.

There are too many excellent characters in here to name them all but I will admit to having a soft spot for Seth and Baal! An excellent book and, I hope, the start of a new series. How it ended leaves it wide open for the next book along, whilst also neatly tying off this story.

There are a couple of reasons I haven't given this 5 stars. For one, there is insta-love and... bonded mates or not, this bugs me. For someone who has not been in a relationship for 5 years and has been so hurt in the past, it just beggars belief that she would fall into bed with Marcus after the first date, no matter how big the attraction.

I would also liked to have known more about the gods, who they are and what their role in this is. I get the feeling they have a big part to play in this but we don't really hear much about them. Are they Egyptian? I'm not sure although Egypt plays a big part in this.

On the whole, a totally enjoyable paranormal romance with a twist. If you enjoy hot alpha males, demons and shifters all in one book then I can recommend this one to you.
 
* 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. *

July 23, 2016
  
Mending the Dragon's Heart (Heartstone Rescue #1)
Mending the Dragon's Heart (Heartstone Rescue #1)
Minerva Howe | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MENDING THE DRAGON'S HEART is the first book in the Heartstone Rescue series. We start off with an introduction to both worlds - the dragon world where Lake is escaping from, and the human world where the dragons hope to live in peace.

Oh, boy! This was an amazing start to a series. Lake is from a noble family and gets matched (betrothed, basically!) by a seer to another noble. He's an omega and capable of getting pregnant. He is happy with his match until Norbert dies in a freak accident. Then the dragon world shows how cruel it can be. He has his heartstone broken and discarded, leaving him to fade away - quite literally.

Boone is an alpha dragon who has also escaped the dragon world and, together with other dragons, is in the business of helping those who need it. The sparks fly between Lake and Boone from the start. I loved the responses from his team members - Reno and Durango. Reno is his bond-brother, and Durango is his actual sibling. I honestly can't wait for their stories. I know Reno's is going to be a hard one, just from the hints given.

I can't wait to return to this world and see how it is changing. I'm also hoping to find out more about these heartstones and the traditions involving them. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and have no hesitation in recommending it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some more of Minerva Howe's dragons!

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 24, 2023
  
The Omega Merger: A Reverse Harem Omegaverse
The Omega Merger: A Reverse Harem Omegaverse
Roxy Collins | 2023 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE OMEGA MERGER is a Reverse Harem Omegaverse with MM and MF elements and is the first book in the Billionaires in Heat series

I enjoyed the story and the different characters although I did have some issues with it too. It was one of those books that absolutely drew me in whilst I was reading it but, after I had finished, questions and reactions started coming to light.

For example, Alain after he drops a bombshell at dinner when he comments about Maddie and Kel checking in with their boss because he keeps them on a tight leash. He was just being an a$$hole, there was no reason for that. No wonder Maddie didn't think he liked her!

In one respect, the book was actually true to life. After all, things happen every day that don't move our stories forward, and that's what happened here with the bomb threats and stuff about Maddie coming out. It made for fun reading but I don't really know why it was in there. If you take it out, you're not missing anything. Or with Finn Viser or the Lyall Brothers too. It makes me wonder if things will tie together when their stories come out.

I really feel as though Lucas got the short straw. He was the one alpha I was interested in and he got the least amount of page space.

This was an omegaverse with a twist that I did enjoy and would definitely read more in this world.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 6, 2023
  
No Free Lunch (Hal Spacejock #4)
No Free Lunch (Hal Spacejock #4)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Harriet Walsh (0 more)
What happened to the rest of the Peace Force characters?? (0 more)
No Free Lunch.

The fourth in Simon Haynes Hal Spacejock series (following A Robot Named Clunk, Second Course and Just Desserts), and the first where Harriet Walsh (from the author's other 'Peace Force' series) cross-overs with Hal.

As I knew that 'going in', I read the first three Hal Spacejock novels before the four Harriet Walsh novels (Peace Force, Alpha Minor, Sierra Bravo and Foxtrot Hotel) before reading this.

Which, unfortunately, proved to be a mistake as I spent a good portion of this novel - well over the first half! - wondering where Harriet's 'sister' Alice or even some of the other characters (with the notable exception of Bernie) had gone, or even why they weren't mentioned at all!

I only found out later that, whilst set beforehand, the Peace Force novels were actually prequels, written later than this one but set before (think like the Star Wars prequels, compared to the original trilogy).

Once I got past that, uhhh, 'disassociation' - once the action primarily moved off the planet of Dismolle to the neighbouring planet Forzen, things did pick up a tad, with Hal and Harriet (and a hint of romance between them) both getting caught up in a murder mystery whilst investigating the disappearance of a wealthy citizen of that planet.

I don't want to give anything away, but I could definitely see elements of the later seasons of Stargate SG-1 here. If you know, you know!

So, yeah, all-in-all, a pleasant enough read but not one that, for me, matched the earlier novels in the series or even the Peace Force novels.

I'll still probably read more of these.