Search
Merissa (14206 KP) rated Arctic Heat (Frozen Hearts #3) in Books
Sep 9, 2019
ARCTIC HEAT is the third book in the Frozen Hearts series, and although we stay in Alaska, we see a very different side of it. There is less emphasis placed on the beauty of the region, and more on the natural dangers that exist every winter.
In this story, we meet up with Owen, a cancer survivor, and Quill, a Ranger. Owen is out but Quill is firmly in the closet as he doesn't want to become the "gay poster boy" for the Rangers. They both have their own baggage from their pasts.
This is very much a slow-burner, filled with angst, and forced proximity. Like I said, there is less description of the surrounding area, and more detailing the kind of accidents that can happen, both natural and manmade.
Although I liked both Quill and Owen, I didn't connect with them like I have done with previous characters in this series. They both had things I liked about them, the same as they both had qualities I disliked.
On the whole, this was a book I enjoyed reading, but it didn't tick as many boxes for me as other books by Ms Albert. I would still definitely recommend it though, especially for those who like to meet up with previous characters when they make an appearance.
In this story, we meet up with Owen, a cancer survivor, and Quill, a Ranger. Owen is out but Quill is firmly in the closet as he doesn't want to become the "gay poster boy" for the Rangers. They both have their own baggage from their pasts.
This is very much a slow-burner, filled with angst, and forced proximity. Like I said, there is less description of the surrounding area, and more detailing the kind of accidents that can happen, both natural and manmade.
Although I liked both Quill and Owen, I didn't connect with them like I have done with previous characters in this series. They both had things I liked about them, the same as they both had qualities I disliked.
On the whole, this was a book I enjoyed reading, but it didn't tick as many boxes for me as other books by Ms Albert. I would still definitely recommend it though, especially for those who like to meet up with previous characters when they make an appearance.
The Adulterants
Book
From the wickedly funny author of Submarine comes a hilarious new tragicomedy - a screwball tale of...
B is for Beg (The Alphabet of Desire #2)
10.0
Rate It
Book
Blake Apparently I'm a disaster—no steady job, brothers who have to help me manage my money, and...
Contemporary MM Romance
Stanley's Christmas Redemption (Mission City #2)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Stanley I have life figured out—a good job, a nice car, and an ex-boyfriend whose heart I...
A Touch of Maple (Love in Maplewood #3)
10.0
Rate It
Book
After being traded numerous times over the course of his pro hockey career, all Bellamy Jordan wants...
Contemporary MM Sports Romance Found Family Hockey
Merissa (14206 KP) rated Something Cryptid This Way Comes (Love in Maplewood #9) in Books
Jul 11, 2025
SOMETHING CRYPTID THIS WAY COMES is the ninth book in the Love in Maplewood series and can be read as a standalone.
Bram and Trevor were best friends growing up, until Bram left Maplewood. They have remained long-distance friends and go on holiday together once a year. The only trouble is Trevor thinks a whole lot more of Bram than just Best Friends. And Bram is afraid to rock the boat and lose the friendship. Along comes some Maplewood Matchmakers!
This is a nice story with good pacing and low angst. Trevor and Bram don't wait for the closing act to get their thoughts in gear, giving some nice scenes where they realise who they are to each other. Most of the intimate scenes between them are, well, not fade-to-black exactly, more like fade-to-grey. And when trouble does occur, it is easily sorted with little drama.
And that, I'm afraid, is why I'm giving it 3 stars. It was nice. It didn't thrill me, it didn't sweep me away, and I didn't feel that connected with the main characters. It was just... nice.
** 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!
Jul 11, 2025
Bram and Trevor were best friends growing up, until Bram left Maplewood. They have remained long-distance friends and go on holiday together once a year. The only trouble is Trevor thinks a whole lot more of Bram than just Best Friends. And Bram is afraid to rock the boat and lose the friendship. Along comes some Maplewood Matchmakers!
This is a nice story with good pacing and low angst. Trevor and Bram don't wait for the closing act to get their thoughts in gear, giving some nice scenes where they realise who they are to each other. Most of the intimate scenes between them are, well, not fade-to-black exactly, more like fade-to-grey. And when trouble does occur, it is easily sorted with little drama.
And that, I'm afraid, is why I'm giving it 3 stars. It was nice. It didn't thrill me, it didn't sweep me away, and I didn't feel that connected with the main characters. It was just... nice.
** 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!
Jul 11, 2025
Merissa (14206 KP) rated Not That Guy in Books
Sep 15, 2025
NOT THAT GUY is an enemies-to-lovers story, featuring politician's son, Weston, and foster kid, Brenner. As you can imagine, having very different backgrounds means they grew up in different ways, but not the ways you might imagine.
My favourite part of this story was that both of them were more amazed at who they found attractive, rather than why. My least favourite part of the story, although it was absolutely necessary, was the sperm donor who called himself Weston's father. I felt as though I'd trodden in something whenever I read a scene with him in it, my mouth twisted as though I was sucking on a lemon. That man is a tool on the nth degree.
A steady pace and mostly low angst (unless you count the tool!), this was an emotional book about finding out how people can be different to how you expect, and having money isn't necessarily the best thing.
I enjoyed this story and have no hesitation in recommending it. I hope to see more of Grady and his brother in future books.
** 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!
Sep 15, 2025
My favourite part of this story was that both of them were more amazed at who they found attractive, rather than why. My least favourite part of the story, although it was absolutely necessary, was the sperm donor who called himself Weston's father. I felt as though I'd trodden in something whenever I read a scene with him in it, my mouth twisted as though I was sucking on a lemon. That man is a tool on the nth degree.
A steady pace and mostly low angst (unless you count the tool!), this was an emotional book about finding out how people can be different to how you expect, and having money isn't necessarily the best thing.
I enjoyed this story and have no hesitation in recommending it. I hope to see more of Grady and his brother in future books.
** 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!
Sep 15, 2025
Merissa (14206 KP) rated A Cowboy Holiday in Books
Dec 15, 2025
A COWBOY HOLIDAY is a standalone story, but with crossovers to another of the author's series. In this story, Axel is a single dad who is a qualified vet but also helps out on the ranch doing odd jobs. Tanner is the co-owner of the ranch. These two meet when Tanner wants to buy a herd of cows, and Axel is the vet caring for them. It is set at Christmastime, and they visit Christmas Town.
This is a well-written and well-paced story. Axel and Tanner get together fairly quickly, and the majority of the story isn't whether they love each other or not, but will Axel stay on the ranch, or will he go to Texas as planned? All in all, it is fairly low angst, with medium heat.
Told from both Axel and Tanner's perspectives, they are also ably supported by a great cast of characters, and most of them have four legs! Throw in some Christmas magic in the shape of a mysterious Santa, and you have an easy Christmas read that I enjoyed and can 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 15, 2025
This is a well-written and well-paced story. Axel and Tanner get together fairly quickly, and the majority of the story isn't whether they love each other or not, but will Axel stay on the ranch, or will he go to Texas as planned? All in all, it is fairly low angst, with medium heat.
Told from both Axel and Tanner's perspectives, they are also ably supported by a great cast of characters, and most of them have four legs! Throw in some Christmas magic in the shape of a mysterious Santa, and you have an easy Christmas read that I enjoyed and can 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 15, 2025
Merissa (14206 KP) rated What He Finds (Desires: New Beginnings #2) in Books
Apr 7, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
WHAT HE FINDS is the second book in the Desires: New Beginnings series but it can be read as a standalone, as I did. We meet with Quentin and Toby, two men who work in the same building. Toby has liked Quentin for months but hasn't made a move. Quentin has seen him but didn't think anything of it until Toby buys him a sandwich before it runs out.
This is a low-angst book with cinnamon roll main characters. Both of them have hang-ups from their pasts - Toby because he felt as though he pushed his college boyfriend away by being too needy, and Quentin by being too controlling. Put them together and you have an inexperienced sub who knows what he likes but is prepared to experiment and a Dom who knows exactly what to do to make his kitten shine. Although Toby has to deal with the death of his college ex, there is no real drama here.
A thoroughly enjoyable book I read in one sitting. I definitely recommend it and would read more in this series and by this author.
** 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!
April 7, 2023
This is a low-angst book with cinnamon roll main characters. Both of them have hang-ups from their pasts - Toby because he felt as though he pushed his college boyfriend away by being too needy, and Quentin by being too controlling. Put them together and you have an inexperienced sub who knows what he likes but is prepared to experiment and a Dom who knows exactly what to do to make his kitten shine. Although Toby has to deal with the death of his college ex, there is no real drama here.
A thoroughly enjoyable book I read in one sitting. I definitely recommend it and would read more in this series and by this author.
** 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!
April 7, 2023
Running From Darkness (Dark River Stone Collective #3)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Conall is on the run. Kyle wants someone who will want him for who he is. Can they find what they...
Contemporary MM Romance