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Pennies (Dollar book 1)
Pennies (Dollar book 1)
Pepper Winters | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is very dark but very gripping.

It starts with Tasmin being held captive and prepared to be sold. Due to this some of the story is told through letters that she writes, these are used to fill in the backstory of how she came to be at this point. As well as helping to keep the storyline fast paced.

Once Elder Prest is introduced we get a split perspective, I enjoy split perspective as I like to know what both characters are thinking. However both characters still like to keep secrets so even at the end of a book much of Elder is a mystery.

This is the first book in the series so it definitely finishes with a lot of unanswered questions. I really enjoyed this book, so I have purchased the second one as I was that curious about what would happen next that I couldn’t leave it unfinished.

The full series is available, so if that normally puts you off don’t let it. Although the book has some very dark themes there are not very graphic scenes, most of it is mentioned afterwards and not described.
  
The Ice House (The Honours #2)
The Ice House (The Honours #2)
Tim Clare | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
It wasn’t until I was halfway through this book and adding it on to Goodreads, that I realised it was the second in a series. So I would say that it can be read on it’s own - but I’m going to buy the first book and read it now! I love this world building! It would be interesting to read about Delphine’s childhood, the discovery of the Honours and the gateway.
There’s a great cast of characters in this book - the females have great representation and lead the story. They’re strong, brave and don’t wait for someone else to do what they can do for themselves.
The Honours refers to a gift given to certain, chosen people from this otherworldly, accessed by the gateway, and it makes them immortal - which I thought was a great touch.
I feel that only the surface has been scratched, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series (there had better be one - we’re certainly left thinking that there will be one!). Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book - this is all my own, unbiased opinion, and I’m sorry for taking so long to review it!
  
Defiance (The Wolfborne Saga #1)
Defiance (The Wolfborne Saga #1)
Cheree Alsop | 2018 | Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Defiance is the first book in The Wolfborne Saga and you get a very different take on vampires and werewolves! It starts with Zev escaping in wolf form, from who or what you don't know. It's a close call though, nearly his last call, but he is saved by a young man driving a car. This opens up a whole sort-of-new life for those Zev meets and for him himself.

This was brilliantly written, with plenty of world-building and information given without it being an info-dump. There is definitely character growth from Zev but the others are just as interesting.

As the first book in a series you expect to get a lot of the ground-work, sometimes to the detriment of the story. Not so here. Ms. Alsop has provided a great start and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 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!
  
Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds, #1)
Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds, #1)
Marie Reynard | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ACCIDENTAL BONDS is the first book in the Elemental Bonds series and, as far as I can tell, is the debut book by this author. What a way to start!!!

There is everything here you could wish for - history, two sides uneasy with each other, a big bad, another who knows what. I loved every word! The back and forth between Victor and Elijah was almost like a dance, and I loved how it happened with reason, not miscommunication. It was for Victor and Elijah to figure out what to do next; not to have half-spoken words taken the wrong way. I loved it.

There is a HEA for our main two - although I'd still love more from them - and a HFN for the series. This one ends on a delightful note, leaving you wanting more immediately. I can't wait to see where we go next. A book to lose yourself in, I HIGHLY recommend it.

** 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 5, 2023
  
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Angel
Cassandra Clare | 2010 | Children
8
9.0 (37 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well I have to say that I wasn't as in to this book as I was the Mortal Instruments series, but that is not at all to say that it wasn't a good read. It was. I think where I got hung up was in trying to figure out how this series ties in to the Mortal Instruments. I think if I had been able to let that go I would have enjoyed it more.
Clare's writing is still very well done. The plot took a little longer to develop than in her other books, but once it got going it did hook me in. The characters weren't as interesting to me. They seemed a bit too similar to Jace, Clary, & Alec. I will give the next book a read, but I will be hoping that it either ties in better to the first series or that the characters become more themselves than copies of the previous characters in her books.
  
NC
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Athena College Library has a new director, and Oscar Reilly seems determined to drive all the staff away. The heads of the library’s departments hate him and Charlie’s friend Melba is ready to quit. In fact, Charlie’s issue, that Oscar is claiming allergies as a reason that Charlie can’t bring his cat Diesel to work anymore, seems minor. It’s not terribly surprising when Oscar turns up dead, but who actually killed him?

Those who like this series will love this installment. The characters are as delightful as ever, and we get some advancement on series plot threads. The murder is set up well with good suspects and motives that Charlie has to work his way through until we reach the logical solution. This is my favorite to date in the series.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-no-cats-allowed-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
War and Peach (Georgia Peach Mystery, #3)
War and Peach (Georgia Peach Mystery, #3)
Susan Furlong | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really enjoyed the last book in this series, Rest in Peach, but I think War and Peach is even better. When local farmer and mayoral candidate Clem Rogers is found in the debris of his burned-down barn, everyone suspects his political rival Margie of having done away with her competition. Nola Mae is sure that the woman isn’t capable of murder, but the rest of her small town don’t seem to agree. Sure that an innocent woman is being railroaded, Nola steps in to investigate.

I love the small town feel of this series, and the realistic, down-to-earth people. They could be your neighbors rather than characters in a story, and that might be what keeps drawing me back to Cays Mill. You can jump right in with this book even if you haven’t read the first 2 in the series, but you’ll probably want to go back and catch up if you do!
  
The second book in Michael Arnold's planned <i>Captain Stryker</i> series of books, all set during the time of the English Civil War.

Despite being one of the defining period in English history, it's actually a subject rarely touched upon: when I was at school, we were taught more about the American Civil War than about the English counter-part! Short of this series, I can't - personally - think of any other novels set in and around the same period.

Like Cornwell's [i]Sharpe[/i] series of books, the events of this are all set in and around real historical events: in this case, the storming of Cirencester, the siege of Lichfield and the battle of Hopton Heath. If I'm honest, I wasn't familiar with any of these events, which is something I've always enjoyed about this type of book: a chance to learn some new history while also enjoying a good read! :)