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Merissa (11646 KP) rated His Holiday Fate (Christmas Omegas) in Books
Dec 10, 2023
HIS HOLIDAY FATE is part of the Christmas Omegas series and features Andrew and Dylan. Andrew has been hurt on Christmas Day in the past. To heal himself, he threw himself into work. Dylan is an omega with alpha traits. He is a businessman and an extrovert, he doesn't want to be a house-husband. No, he has his own things to do. It was so much fun when these two met!
This is a low angst, funny, warm, and spicy story about two people who, at first glance, may seem opposites, but in reality, have more in common than they realise. The biggest thing they have in common is that they both want the other to be happy and are willing to do things that might not necessarily be high on their list of things to do. I loved both of these characters equally, as well as the nicknames they had for each other!
This was a great seasonal read where I was rooting for the two from the get-go and loved being a part of their courtship/relationship. A brilliant read that I 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2023
This is a low angst, funny, warm, and spicy story about two people who, at first glance, may seem opposites, but in reality, have more in common than they realise. The biggest thing they have in common is that they both want the other to be happy and are willing to do things that might not necessarily be high on their list of things to do. I loved both of these characters equally, as well as the nicknames they had for each other!
This was a great seasonal read where I was rooting for the two from the get-go and loved being a part of their courtship/relationship. A brilliant read that I 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2023
Merissa (11646 KP) rated A Little Christmas: Blake in Books
Dec 19, 2022 (Updated Dec 19, 2022)
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS: BLAKE starts off the A Little Christmas series for me. In it, Blake is left in a dire situation through no fault of his own. Luckily for him, a Christmas miracle called Eliot makes everything just right.
The thing I loved so much about this book is that neither of them were really in the lifestyle. Neither of them knew for sure, not until they were together and then it clicked. My heart broke for Blake as he recounted some of his experiences of being laughed at, whilst my heart melted (and broke) for Eliot and everything he wanted and needed to do, plus his poor dad. I'm really hoping these guys show up in future books, just so I can find out about his dad.
The pacing is perfect, the focus on these two characters, and the story flowed, keeping my attention from beginning to end. Low angst but high feeling. This was a sweet and loving story that gives you the warm Fuzzy's. I loved every word and have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending this book.
** 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!
The thing I loved so much about this book is that neither of them were really in the lifestyle. Neither of them knew for sure, not until they were together and then it clicked. My heart broke for Blake as he recounted some of his experiences of being laughed at, whilst my heart melted (and broke) for Eliot and everything he wanted and needed to do, plus his poor dad. I'm really hoping these guys show up in future books, just so I can find out about his dad.
The pacing is perfect, the focus on these two characters, and the story flowed, keeping my attention from beginning to end. Low angst but high feeling. This was a sweet and loving story that gives you the warm Fuzzy's. I loved every word and have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending this book.
** 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!
Right Place, Right Time (The Pilsdale Chronicles #1)
8.0
Rate It
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Sometimes the path to true love twists so much that you end up right back where you started. Ben...
Contemporary MM Romance Age Gap Best Friend's Dad
Merissa (11646 KP) rated Winning Move (Clover Hill Romance #1) in Books
Aug 18, 2022
Clover Hill is a wonderful place to be!
WINNING MOVE is the first book in the Clover Hill Romance series and we are introduced to a queer-friendly small town. Gina retreated back there when her divorce came through and she's happy with her life. She isn't interested in dating or having a partner. Her life is shaken up when she rescues Marek from the side of the road. He is everything she likes but doesn't want.
Told from both perspectives, it is Gina in the driving seat. Marek knows what he wants but respects Gina's decision. I loved the back and forth between the two of them, the easy camaraderie tinged with heat.
The pace is smooth and the story flows, giving a little suspense regarding Gina's niece in amongst the low-angst relationship drama. The conversations all seem natural and easy, whether it's between Gina and Marek or any of the other characters.
This was a great little story and I can't wait to return to Clover Hill and see what happens next. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Told from both perspectives, it is Gina in the driving seat. Marek knows what he wants but respects Gina's decision. I loved the back and forth between the two of them, the easy camaraderie tinged with heat.
The pace is smooth and the story flows, giving a little suspense regarding Gina's niece in amongst the low-angst relationship drama. The conversations all seem natural and easy, whether it's between Gina and Marek or any of the other characters.
This was a great little story and I can't wait to return to Clover Hill and see what happens next. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Merissa (11646 KP) rated Oh Buoy (Voyagers #1) in Books
Jun 5, 2023
OH BUOY is the first book in the Voyagers series and we start with a really cute couple! Both of them have issues to contend with, but both of them also realise just how special things are between them. It starts with Drew getting soaked by one of the deckhands. Sarcasm abounds before he realises that is actually his billionaire boss.
Drew and Rowan make a fantastic couple, even if they can't actually relax for the majority of the book. The tender moments they share make it sheer bliss for a hopeless romantic like me. They are ably supported by a cast of top-notch characters, some of whom I already know have their own stories to come and I honestly can't wait.
This is a sweet and sexy read with low angst. Absolutely perfect for what I needed right now and would definitely be on my list of summer reads! With plenty of character- and world-building, this book was delightful and I can't wait to continue the series. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Jun 5, 2023
Drew and Rowan make a fantastic couple, even if they can't actually relax for the majority of the book. The tender moments they share make it sheer bliss for a hopeless romantic like me. They are ably supported by a cast of top-notch characters, some of whom I already know have their own stories to come and I honestly can't wait.
This is a sweet and sexy read with low angst. Absolutely perfect for what I needed right now and would definitely be on my list of summer reads! With plenty of character- and world-building, this book was delightful and I can't wait to continue the series. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Jun 5, 2023
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Last Holiday [Audiobook] in Books
Jun 11, 2023
![The Last Holiday [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/634/86651570-1252-41ec-b241-209829bf0634.jpg?m=1686481353)
This is the first book I have listened to/read by Amy Sheppard and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.
The story centres around a group of friends on a camping holiday to celebrate one of the groups daughters 18th birthday. It becomes pretty clear early on that the group is full of secrets and angst that ends up having deadly consequences.
The narrator did a great job but due to the amount of characters with each chapter being from a different point of view, I did find it difficult to keep track of which character I was with. You wouldn't have this problem with a physical book but dipping in and out of an audiobook (as I tend to do), made this a tad confusing and did reduce my enjoyment just a little but not by much.
The characters were an interesting and eclectic bunch most of which I found not particularly likeable so didn't have a lot of sympathy with what befell them but I loved the twists and turns that I didn't see coming which kept me listening intently until the whole story was revealed.
Overall, a good audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the physical book but I must thank Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Last Holiday.
The story centres around a group of friends on a camping holiday to celebrate one of the groups daughters 18th birthday. It becomes pretty clear early on that the group is full of secrets and angst that ends up having deadly consequences.
The narrator did a great job but due to the amount of characters with each chapter being from a different point of view, I did find it difficult to keep track of which character I was with. You wouldn't have this problem with a physical book but dipping in and out of an audiobook (as I tend to do), made this a tad confusing and did reduce my enjoyment just a little but not by much.
The characters were an interesting and eclectic bunch most of which I found not particularly likeable so didn't have a lot of sympathy with what befell them but I loved the twists and turns that I didn't see coming which kept me listening intently until the whole story was revealed.
Overall, a good audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the physical book but I must thank Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Last Holiday.
Merissa (11646 KP) rated Out of Focus in Books
Apr 29, 2022 (Updated Jun 23, 2023)
OUT OF FOCUS is a short story about two men working behind the scenes in a Welsh theatre. They are opposites in the fact that one is charming and one seems almost dour. There are reasons for it, of course, but they don't come to light immediately.
I loved how we met other characters too, getting a hint into their lives, not just the main characters. Alex and Luke take centre stage though in this low-angst slow-burn-but-not-quite romance. The attraction has been there for a couple of years without either of them acting on it, but once Alex is injured, all bets are off.
As with all of this author's works, I found the small details absolutely brilliant, and really help to make the story one that intrigues and compels you to keep turning the pages.
Although I'm not a huge fan of short stories, this one went down a treat, with all the information I could need, including a perfect epilogue to keep me happy. Absolutely recommended by me.
** 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!
Apr 22, 2022
I loved how we met other characters too, getting a hint into their lives, not just the main characters. Alex and Luke take centre stage though in this low-angst slow-burn-but-not-quite romance. The attraction has been there for a couple of years without either of them acting on it, but once Alex is injured, all bets are off.
As with all of this author's works, I found the small details absolutely brilliant, and really help to make the story one that intrigues and compels you to keep turning the pages.
Although I'm not a huge fan of short stories, this one went down a treat, with all the information I could need, including a perfect epilogue to keep me happy. Absolutely recommended by me.
** 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!
Apr 22, 2022
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Fragments of the Lost in Books
Jan 10, 2018
Different but enjoyable novel
When Jessa Whitworth's high school ex-boyfriend dies suddenly, it's as if the world stops. One moment Caleb is at her track meet, taking the butterfly necklace she handed to him, and the next, he's gone, his car washed over a flooded bridge on a stormy day. Caleb's mom eventually asks Jessa to pack up his room--she blames Jessa for the accident, since Caleb had gone to see her that day, and Jessa feels she cannot say no. She's left to clean out his room and winds up piecing together bits of Caleb's life as she does. Each photograph, article of clothing, and notebook reminds her of parts of her life with Caleb. Even worse, she realizes there is so much she didn't know about him. With that realization, Jessa wonders, what really happened the day Caleb went over the bridge?
This novel isn't really what I expected at all, though I should have realized that it would be less teen angst and more teen angst and psychological mystery combined, as the two Megan Miranda novels I have read, The Perfect Stranger: A Novel and All the Missing Girls, are more in the suspense/thriller category.
The biggest issue for me was that this one starts off really slow. It's hard to get into any kind of momentum as every forward plot movement is broken by Jessa finding something and immediately remembering back into her past with Caleb. I was a little frustrated in the beginning, wanting more to happen.
I really enjoyed the character of Jessa, though. She was a little hard on herself in relation to Caleb's death, but she was also a teen dealing with both the death of a loved one and a recent breakup (their split occurring not too long before his death). She came across as pretty realistic. The supporting cast was a little more nebulous for me--Caleb's mom was pretty harsh, and we didn't see too much of Jessa's family, though I liked her older brother, Julian. Caleb's best friend and neighbor, Max, was probably the other character that was easiest to get to know and he was rather well fleshed out. Caleb himself--whom we learn about through Jessa's point of view and flashbacks--is a hard one to figure out, but that only adds to the mystique of how he ended up at the bridge that day.
Overall, if you can bring a little patience, this book is one to enjoy. It eventually picks up and while the storyline is somewhat different (this whole novel is rather hard to describe), I really did enjoy it. I felt satisfied with the ending--it was worth reading. I enjoyed Miranda's two adult mysteries and while this is the first of her YA novels that I've read, I will definitely investigate others. 3.5 stars.
This novel isn't really what I expected at all, though I should have realized that it would be less teen angst and more teen angst and psychological mystery combined, as the two Megan Miranda novels I have read, The Perfect Stranger: A Novel and All the Missing Girls, are more in the suspense/thriller category.
The biggest issue for me was that this one starts off really slow. It's hard to get into any kind of momentum as every forward plot movement is broken by Jessa finding something and immediately remembering back into her past with Caleb. I was a little frustrated in the beginning, wanting more to happen.
I really enjoyed the character of Jessa, though. She was a little hard on herself in relation to Caleb's death, but she was also a teen dealing with both the death of a loved one and a recent breakup (their split occurring not too long before his death). She came across as pretty realistic. The supporting cast was a little more nebulous for me--Caleb's mom was pretty harsh, and we didn't see too much of Jessa's family, though I liked her older brother, Julian. Caleb's best friend and neighbor, Max, was probably the other character that was easiest to get to know and he was rather well fleshed out. Caleb himself--whom we learn about through Jessa's point of view and flashbacks--is a hard one to figure out, but that only adds to the mystique of how he ended up at the bridge that day.
Overall, if you can bring a little patience, this book is one to enjoy. It eventually picks up and while the storyline is somewhat different (this whole novel is rather hard to describe), I really did enjoy it. I felt satisfied with the ending--it was worth reading. I enjoyed Miranda's two adult mysteries and while this is the first of her YA novels that I've read, I will definitely investigate others. 3.5 stars.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies
Feb 10, 2018 (Updated Feb 10, 2018)
Mmm, Doughnuts
I had no idea I'd been waiting all my life for a film which combined juvenile sci-fi, plastic karate, diversity-friendly teen angst, industrial levels of product placement for Krispy Kreme, and jokes about jerking off bulls, but it turned out that I was and here it is.
A bunch of high school kids discover magic medallions that turn them into (basically) action figures, tasked with stopping the evil Rita Repulsa from locating a mystical crystal hidden in a vital location somewhere on Earth (the vital location may or may not be connected to selling a range of delicious fried-dough confectionary), helped by the ghost of an ancient alien hero (the producers must have some juicy dirt on Bryan Cranston and have blackmailed him into appearing).
Now, the high school kids are all played by actors who are clearly in their 20s, the tone is all over the place (to put it mildly), and long before the end it has quietly transformed itself into a massive advert for toys, but this is still a weirdly diverting and undeniably fun film, mainly because - underneath all the complete nonsense - the script is solid and no-one seems to be taking it too seriously. All right, much of it makes no sense at all, but it does so in a rather charming way. The finest kind of bad movie. Best line - Bryan Cranston: 'Have you ever morphed before?' Black Power Ranger: 'Only in the shower.'
A bunch of high school kids discover magic medallions that turn them into (basically) action figures, tasked with stopping the evil Rita Repulsa from locating a mystical crystal hidden in a vital location somewhere on Earth (the vital location may or may not be connected to selling a range of delicious fried-dough confectionary), helped by the ghost of an ancient alien hero (the producers must have some juicy dirt on Bryan Cranston and have blackmailed him into appearing).
Now, the high school kids are all played by actors who are clearly in their 20s, the tone is all over the place (to put it mildly), and long before the end it has quietly transformed itself into a massive advert for toys, but this is still a weirdly diverting and undeniably fun film, mainly because - underneath all the complete nonsense - the script is solid and no-one seems to be taking it too seriously. All right, much of it makes no sense at all, but it does so in a rather charming way. The finest kind of bad movie. Best line - Bryan Cranston: 'Have you ever morphed before?' Black Power Ranger: 'Only in the shower.'
Merissa (11646 KP) rated Borrowing Blue: Made Marian Series Book 1 in Books
Apr 3, 2018
Borrowing Blue (Made Marian #1) by Lucy Lennox
Borrowing Blue is the first book in the Made Marian series, and it has immediately made me want to go out and buy the rest of the series! Blue and Tristan are amazing, and I love them both so much! Jeremy is a douche, and I feel sorry for Brad. As for Tristan's brother and ex-wife, I tried to like them, I really did. In fact, I probably like her more than him, because at least she was nice to Blue! Set mainly in a vineyard, this book is a feel-good book, but with enough angst to keep you on your toes. There are also some laugh out loud moments, and plenty of steam coming off the pages too.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this book grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go until I'd finished it. Blue and Tristan are absolutely perfect for each other, although I love the Marian family as a whole. I really can't wait to read more. I just hope that Granny, Irene, and Aunt Tilly pay frequent visits, because they ROCK! Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this book grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go until I'd finished it. Blue and Tristan are absolutely perfect for each other, although I love the Marian family as a whole. I really can't wait to read more. I just hope that Granny, Irene, and Aunt Tilly pay frequent visits, because they ROCK! Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!