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Skin and Bones (London Love #3)
Book
Hugo Burrows has life under control. He has a decent job, a long-term relationship and a flat in...
Contemporary MM Romance Hurt/Comfort Grumpy/Sunshine Eating Disorder

Joint Penetration (Hot Under the Collar #3)
Book
Liam Kelly is in love with his best friend. His straight, freshly divorced best friend, who wants...

Debbiereadsbook (1327 KP) rated Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024) in Books
Nov 1, 2024
I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This book is part of the Road to Rockoberfest 2024, but can be read as a stand alone to the other books in the series.
Owen is the fiddler in Flightless, an up and coming rock band. Jared joins as a stand in when the keyboard player takes some family time. But time is short for Owen and Jared.
For the most part, I liked this book.
Both Jared and Owen have a say, and they say a great deal. I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal.
It's not overly explicit but there are smexy times. No real angst or drama, I didn't think.
I did like the way it all played out.
It's an easy read, a Nice book.
*insert sigh*
I just felt I was missing MUCH information. About both men, and their history. Case in point: these guys met before, The Beer Guy incident. I needed that explained. I don't fully get that and I wanted it. I also found it was a little . . . flat . . .on the romance. They meet, they kiss, and they are in love. I wanted more build up.
BUT like I said, I did enjoy it, I'm just saying what I wanted that I didn't get.
3.5 stars, but rounded UP for the blog.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This book is part of the Road to Rockoberfest 2024, but can be read as a stand alone to the other books in the series.
Owen is the fiddler in Flightless, an up and coming rock band. Jared joins as a stand in when the keyboard player takes some family time. But time is short for Owen and Jared.
For the most part, I liked this book.
Both Jared and Owen have a say, and they say a great deal. I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal.
It's not overly explicit but there are smexy times. No real angst or drama, I didn't think.
I did like the way it all played out.
It's an easy read, a Nice book.
*insert sigh*
I just felt I was missing MUCH information. About both men, and their history. Case in point: these guys met before, The Beer Guy incident. I needed that explained. I don't fully get that and I wanted it. I also found it was a little . . . flat . . .on the romance. They meet, they kiss, and they are in love. I wanted more build up.
BUT like I said, I did enjoy it, I'm just saying what I wanted that I didn't get.
3.5 stars, but rounded UP for the blog.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere

Merissa (12404 KP) rated Wake Me Up Inside (Mates #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2017
Wake Me Up Inside (Mates #1) by Cardeno C.
Wake Me Up Inside is the first book in Cardeno C's Mates Collection that I have read, although it is not the first book by her that I have enjoyed. Her style of writing is smooth and flows consistently throughout the book, drawing you into the story and the minor angst that is in there.
Zev knows that Jonah is his true-mate but views are not very forward-thinking in his pack, although he is doing his best to move that along. No one seems prepared to accept that Zev can mate with someone other than a female to keep his humanity. Jonah has no idea about the wolves or Zev, but instead, just knows that Zev is the one he has loved and wanted for as long as he can remember.
This is a bittersweet story as Zev and Jonah spend their time apart for at least half of it, for reasons explained. Although I understood why Zev wanted to give Jonah his space and time to get his degree, I was also very impatient for them to get together. Once they did, the action and story move along quickly and quite a few different story threads are pulled together and tied off. I would loved to have had more about Zev and Jonah, the pack's reaction etc, but then I'm just greedy.
Thoroughly enjoyed this and can definitely recommend it!
I received this book from WLK Book Promotions in return for a fair and honest review.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Zev knows that Jonah is his true-mate but views are not very forward-thinking in his pack, although he is doing his best to move that along. No one seems prepared to accept that Zev can mate with someone other than a female to keep his humanity. Jonah has no idea about the wolves or Zev, but instead, just knows that Zev is the one he has loved and wanted for as long as he can remember.
This is a bittersweet story as Zev and Jonah spend their time apart for at least half of it, for reasons explained. Although I understood why Zev wanted to give Jonah his space and time to get his degree, I was also very impatient for them to get together. Once they did, the action and story move along quickly and quite a few different story threads are pulled together and tied off. I would loved to have had more about Zev and Jonah, the pack's reaction etc, but then I'm just greedy.
Thoroughly enjoyed this and can definitely recommend it!
I received this book from WLK Book Promotions in return for a fair and honest review.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated All Grown Up in Books
Jan 3, 2018 (Updated Jan 3, 2018)
Entertaining, a more realistic Sex and the City
This is a fictional but all too real account of one woman’s voyage through life, battered by family, societal pressures and her own inner demons. Andrea, the character at the heart of the book, is absolutely clear that she does not want a child of her own.
Her life is spread eagled across the pages for the reader to pick over. Each chapter is a snapshot of an episode in her life, whether it is looking back over some of her chaotic childhood years - Dad was a drug user who died too early; Mum, once on her own again, runs bi-monthly dinner parties in the 1990s attended by only men, who of course try and hit on Andrea, a teenager at the time; or whether it is an examination of her relationships with her friends, lovers and acquaintances who pass through her life now.
Andrea also has a brother who in turn has a daughter, only tiny, who was born with a congenital problem and her life expectancy is only around four years. Yet, our self absorbed protagonist does not really visit to offer support because she is so wrapped up in her own world. She simply does not have the mental capacity and resources to give to her brother and little niece.
This is an interesting read, on-point in many ways – it smacks of New York and of lives lived in the city, Freudian Angst, neuroses and all the shtick of metropolitan Manhattan. At times, it did feel a little cliched but may be we all repeat the same patterns?
Her life is spread eagled across the pages for the reader to pick over. Each chapter is a snapshot of an episode in her life, whether it is looking back over some of her chaotic childhood years - Dad was a drug user who died too early; Mum, once on her own again, runs bi-monthly dinner parties in the 1990s attended by only men, who of course try and hit on Andrea, a teenager at the time; or whether it is an examination of her relationships with her friends, lovers and acquaintances who pass through her life now.
Andrea also has a brother who in turn has a daughter, only tiny, who was born with a congenital problem and her life expectancy is only around four years. Yet, our self absorbed protagonist does not really visit to offer support because she is so wrapped up in her own world. She simply does not have the mental capacity and resources to give to her brother and little niece.
This is an interesting read, on-point in many ways – it smacks of New York and of lives lived in the city, Freudian Angst, neuroses and all the shtick of metropolitan Manhattan. At times, it did feel a little cliched but may be we all repeat the same patterns?

Merissa (12404 KP) rated A Vampire's Embrace (Blood Rose Time Travel #2) in Books
May 18, 2017
A Vampire's Embrace (Blood Rose Time Travel #2) by Caris Roane
A Vampire's Embrace is the second book in the Blood Rose Time Travel series, and we meet up with Rez and Holly as they become the latest pair that the Invictus target. This world is firmly established, and yet Caris Roane has managed to introduce a new set of rules to their world - that of time-pathing. Only a certain few have this talent, and Holly is one of them. She has been pushed hard by Vojalie but still has things to learn. One thing she doesn't need to learn about though, is Rez. Holly thinks that she knows him, the same as he thinks that he knows her. Both of these are in for the shock of their lives as they realise that the real them is very different from what the other thought.
With a fast pace and steamy situations, it was with delight that I found the softer, more gentle, side of Rez and his quest to find his missing daughter. This was exceedingly well written, with enough angst to make it real, rather than overly dramatic. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. I would totally recommend not only this book, and the first one is this series, but the whole Blood Rose set. With characters mentioned from previous stories, you will definitely be in for a treat as you enter their world.
* 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!
With a fast pace and steamy situations, it was with delight that I found the softer, more gentle, side of Rez and his quest to find his missing daughter. This was exceedingly well written, with enough angst to make it real, rather than overly dramatic. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. I would totally recommend not only this book, and the first one is this series, but the whole Blood Rose set. With characters mentioned from previous stories, you will definitely be in for a treat as you enter their world.
* 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!

Merissa (12404 KP) rated Finding Home in Books
Jul 5, 2017
Finding Home by Meg Harding
Finding Home starts off with Jared. He has lost his job, is living back with his mother as his husband cheated with someone else, and now he finds out that his grandma has died. His mother wants him out of the house so she sends him off to hell (Florida in May) where he finds more than he bargained for, and learns about just who he is and what he wants.
This is a sweet and steamy, low angst, story full of feel-good factors. Jared's brothers are all brilliant, and Chase is... well, Chase is Chase and I wouldn't change a thing. Jared's neuroses were a tad annoying to start with, but as his story became clear, all was forgiven as I literally couldn't see him growing up any differently given the circumstances.
One thing I loved in particular (without giving away any spoilers) is when Jared does something that others might not agree with, but he does it for himself, for his own reasons, and to find things out about himself. I LOVED THAT!!! He is aware of what jumping into something might be like, but he is prepared to work with himself to ensure that everything goes the way it should.
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this was a page-turner that had humour, family, hotness, and love. Definitely recommended by me.
* 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!
This is a sweet and steamy, low angst, story full of feel-good factors. Jared's brothers are all brilliant, and Chase is... well, Chase is Chase and I wouldn't change a thing. Jared's neuroses were a tad annoying to start with, but as his story became clear, all was forgiven as I literally couldn't see him growing up any differently given the circumstances.
One thing I loved in particular (without giving away any spoilers) is when Jared does something that others might not agree with, but he does it for himself, for his own reasons, and to find things out about himself. I LOVED THAT!!! He is aware of what jumping into something might be like, but he is prepared to work with himself to ensure that everything goes the way it should.
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this was a page-turner that had humour, family, hotness, and love. Definitely recommended by me.
* 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 (12404 KP) rated Hard Miles (Chisholm Falls, #1) in Books
Sep 20, 2017
Hard Miles (Chisholm Falls #1) by Trish Arcangelo
Hard Miles starts off with Laurel in a gas station. She is on the run from her ex, he has been beaten up after she 'snitched' on him to a drugs dealer and he wants to repay her! She is in her clapped-out old car, with just enough money to get her who-knows-where. Things take a turn for the worse (or better) when she is involved in a robbery at the gas station. She is saved from a bullet by the 'bad boy' she had her eye on, before she told herself she wasn't interested in anyone at this point - bad boy or not. Jase was immediately attracted to the woman at the gas station, but having lived under a cloud for so long, he is sure that she wouldn't be interested. Following the robbery, their lives become intertwined, with a little bit of help (read interference) from his loving big sister.
This was a nice and easy story to read, with enough angst to satisfy, without it overtaking the story and becoming superfluous. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The pace was smooth, and the storyline itself rolled along, with enough information being given so you stay fully involved with the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to see who is next. 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!
This was a nice and easy story to read, with enough angst to satisfy, without it overtaking the story and becoming superfluous. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The pace was smooth, and the storyline itself rolled along, with enough information being given so you stay fully involved with the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to see who is next. 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!

graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Coyote Moon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1, #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
<b>3.5 stars
A carnival full of odd workers comes to Sunnydale, Buffy's friends are preoccupied dating a couple of these workers, and a pack of strange coyotes are running amok in the streets. Buffy suspects all of these events are related but has no proof. What's a slayer to do?</b>
Set in the summer between the first and second seasons of <b>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</b>, <b><u>Coyote Moon</u></b> is a short and concise story that conveys the spirit of the show without too many noticeable inaccuracies. The major anachronism was Buffy staying in Sunnydale for the summer, which didn't happen during this time. Since this was written before any of the major angst occurred in the series, this has a lighter feel that carries through to the end. The author manages to get the characters and dialogue right via few lines and passages. The only misstep I caught was Giles' wrong definition of a blue moon -- I don't believe that's something he wouldn't have known. Otherwise everyone (Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles) rings true to their early incarnations, though more as a basic outline of their characters than anything too substantial. At first the plot reminded me slightly of the episode "The Pack," though this had to do with coyotes instead of hyenas, but once I got into it the story was completely different. The pace was brisk, and though the Big Bad's defeat was over in the blink of an eye, it was a solid read. I can easily see this fitting right in on screen and it's a good companion piece to read in between re-watching episodes.
A carnival full of odd workers comes to Sunnydale, Buffy's friends are preoccupied dating a couple of these workers, and a pack of strange coyotes are running amok in the streets. Buffy suspects all of these events are related but has no proof. What's a slayer to do?</b>
Set in the summer between the first and second seasons of <b>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</b>, <b><u>Coyote Moon</u></b> is a short and concise story that conveys the spirit of the show without too many noticeable inaccuracies. The major anachronism was Buffy staying in Sunnydale for the summer, which didn't happen during this time. Since this was written before any of the major angst occurred in the series, this has a lighter feel that carries through to the end. The author manages to get the characters and dialogue right via few lines and passages. The only misstep I caught was Giles' wrong definition of a blue moon -- I don't believe that's something he wouldn't have known. Otherwise everyone (Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles) rings true to their early incarnations, though more as a basic outline of their characters than anything too substantial. At first the plot reminded me slightly of the episode "The Pack," though this had to do with coyotes instead of hyenas, but once I got into it the story was completely different. The pace was brisk, and though the Big Bad's defeat was over in the blink of an eye, it was a solid read. I can easily see this fitting right in on screen and it's a good companion piece to read in between re-watching episodes.