Search

Search only in certain items:

Smitty's Sheriff (Hope #3)
Smitty's Sheriff (Hope #3)
Cardeno C | 2017 | Romance
6
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Smitty's Sheriff (Hope #3) by Cardeno C.
Smitty's Sheriff is the third book in the Hope series, and this series is one where I never know what I'm going to get. McFarland's Farm was a 4-star, Jesse's Diner was a 5. Each story is completely individual, and that is always a good thing.

Now, first off, I need to say that this story is of the same high quality as all of Cardeno C.'s work. The pace is smooth, the characters believable, and certain scenes are steamy enough for anyone.

The reason for my 3-stars is that whilst I enjoyed their story, I couldn't actually get with the relationship between the main two characters. I found myself getting quite annoyed whenever Rich spoke to Todd like he was a child. I know there is an age difference between them, but to me, their relationship was more father/son with sexy bits, rather than boyfriends/lovers/whatever you want to call them.

NOW, that is just my opinion, and I know that some readers will devour this story and love every word. I'm just sorry that I'm not one of them, although I did enjoy it. As it is Cardeno C.'s work, I have no hesitation in recommending this book, even if I didn't like it 100%.

* 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!
  
No Easy Catch (Cleat Chasers, #4)
No Easy Catch (Cleat Chasers, #4)
Jaqueline Snowe | 2020 | Contemporary, Romance, Sport & Leisure, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
No Easy Catch is the fourth book in the Cleat Chasers series, and the second one in the series I have read. You don't need to have read any of the others to get into this story.

This is an enemy to lovers story, set in the world of college with a whole host of dodgy dealings going on. To begin with, Jeff doesn't trust Ambar at all, even thinking she has been involved with it all. He soon learns she is innocent of all charges apart from being related to one of the men involved. This was a lovely tale, with a slow-build romance threaded through the mystery. As the reader, I got to see Jeff's first moments of realisation that Ambar was more than he had previously thought.

Although this is classed as a sports romance and Jeff plays baseball, it didn't take over the story, and there wasn't much there where he was actually on the field. The world is well established, with individual characters adding highlights to the story, or moving forward where necessary. The pacing was smooth and punchy when needed. I did find some words or phrases were used slightly repetitively but that's probably just me.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys a coming-of-age romance with sport elements.

* 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!
  
Fire in the Rain (Wraidd Elfennol #4)
Fire in the Rain (Wraidd Elfennol #4)
Morgan Sheppard | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fire in the Rain is the fourth and final book in the Wraidd Elfennol series and brings this fantastical series to a fitting end.

Afon and Necia are a married couple, which makes a nice change, who have been together for five years. They are both Chosen to bring back the balance once more although Necia copes with it easier than Afon does.

Just the same as with Of Land and Sky, time has moved on and we meet the great-grandchildren of Bran and Shyla, Rhosyn and Opal. I love how past characters are brought into the story whilst each story stands by itself, although I would recommend reading them as a series as there is an overall story arc.

This book has a faster pace than the others but it is just as nail-biting in places. Packed full of emotions, this story deals with self-confidence and self-worth as well as other subjects.

This has been a full-on fantasy series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to all fantasy lovers, especially if you have a love of Welsh mythology.

"The one thing that always remained true, no matter what other change occurred, was the love to be found within the silence of beats of the heart of Wraidd Elfennol."

* 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!
  
We Are Inevitable
We Are Inevitable
Gayle Forman | 2021 | Music & Dance, Young Adult (YA)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
"Fact: Dinosaurs still exist. Here's what they look like. A father and son in a failing used bookstore, spending long, aimless days consuming words no one around here buys anymore."
Life has left Aaron behind. He still lives in his hometown, running his family's bookstore with his dad, Ira. Running is probably overly enthusiastic--the bookstore is failing. And family is a stretch, too--both his brother and his mom are no longer helping. He thinks maybe his luck has changed for the better, though, when he meets Hannah, a beautiful musician. Could she be what he needs to turn his life around?

This book was not what I expected at all, but it's an engaging story that I consumed in two sittings. It's an ode to bookstores and book lovers, sprinkled with a lot of book related references. It also incorporates music into the story. It's truly very sweet and captivating. The characters are well-written, though Aaron frustrated me to no end in the beginning, as life has given him the inability to trust and he was unwilling to accept help or friendship from anyone!

If you're not able to embrace quirky tales (or many references to dinosaurs), this book won't be for you. It's not really a romance, even though it's sort of pitched that way, but more a tale of family and how the bookstore can bring people together. It touches on serious topics, such as the power of addiction. Still, I enjoyed it overall and the characters are still with me several months after reading it. 3.5+ stars.