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Debbiereadsbook (1611 KP) rated Controller's Obsession (Obsessions #2) in Books
Dec 8, 2024
it suits this book, that it is low on the steam factor!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Obsessions series, and you should probably read book 1, Demon's Obsession before this one. It sets the scene as to why Merihem is banished to Earth, but also tells how RARE the Blissful Ones are. And you know, it's bloody good!
Now, this is IS good, but it doesn't quite hit the spot that Demon's did and I've no idea why! *insert wailing!*
What I DID like about it, though, was the beautiful way that Merihem, quite literally, flipped on a Peni (oooh see what I did there!), and was devoted to Peni, from that very first meeting, even if the goat kicked him in the nuts!
Merihem takes his pleasure when and where he wants to, but meeting Peni? No one else will do. Once Peni bites Merihem, and he can hear Peni's thoughts and, more importantly, his GOAT'S thoughts, Merihem is able to modify his behaviour to suit Peni, even if he wants to do all sorts of dirty things to his little pygmy mate!
I found it relatively low angst, and so flipping cute, and low on the steam factor. It suits THIS book that it is written that way, given Peni's past and his aversion to full on smex. The smexy times that are here, are wonderfully written, and absolutely perfect for these two.
I loved that we caught up with Dakata and Silas, and their news! We get a bit of Wanda's book, who is Silas' sister and of Scott's book, who is Dakata's assistant. I was surprised at the route that Wanda's book takes, and I look forward to seeing how Sayle and Oliver deal with that, given they write MM rather than FF books!
A thoroughly delightful addition to the series, I really did enjoy it!
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Obsessions series, and you should probably read book 1, Demon's Obsession before this one. It sets the scene as to why Merihem is banished to Earth, but also tells how RARE the Blissful Ones are. And you know, it's bloody good!
Now, this is IS good, but it doesn't quite hit the spot that Demon's did and I've no idea why! *insert wailing!*
What I DID like about it, though, was the beautiful way that Merihem, quite literally, flipped on a Peni (oooh see what I did there!), and was devoted to Peni, from that very first meeting, even if the goat kicked him in the nuts!
Merihem takes his pleasure when and where he wants to, but meeting Peni? No one else will do. Once Peni bites Merihem, and he can hear Peni's thoughts and, more importantly, his GOAT'S thoughts, Merihem is able to modify his behaviour to suit Peni, even if he wants to do all sorts of dirty things to his little pygmy mate!
I found it relatively low angst, and so flipping cute, and low on the steam factor. It suits THIS book that it is written that way, given Peni's past and his aversion to full on smex. The smexy times that are here, are wonderfully written, and absolutely perfect for these two.
I loved that we caught up with Dakata and Silas, and their news! We get a bit of Wanda's book, who is Silas' sister and of Scott's book, who is Dakata's assistant. I was surprised at the route that Wanda's book takes, and I look forward to seeing how Sayle and Oliver deal with that, given they write MM rather than FF books!
A thoroughly delightful addition to the series, I really did enjoy it!
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Music Box (Dark Carousel #4) in Books
Nov 23, 2020
I've loved the Dark Carousel series by Anya Allyn. I couldn't wait to dive into Music Box, the last book in the series, but at the same time, I was saddened that it was coming to an end. Music Box was definitely a thrilling read!
Cassie has given up hope of not being Balthazar's bride. She's about to just give in to it when she finds a way to the tower where the spooky figure she has seen lives. Scared as she is of the figure, she decides to investigate and is shocked to discover who the figure is. Cassie, with the help of her friends, must find some way to defeat the serpent shadows before they take over the Earth all while battling the humans and spirits of the castle. While she and her friends put their lives in great peril, they never give up hope of returning the Earth to its former glory.
The plot of Music Box did a fantastic job of holding my attention throughout. While there are some parts of this novel that are a bit too fast paced like in previous books in the series, for the most part, the pacing is easy to follow along with. There are a few plot twists that I wasn't able to predict. There was so much action going on in Music Box, and I loved it. It wasn't overwhelming, and it was underwhelming. Anya Allyn did a fantastic job with getting the ratio of action to narrative perfect! I did have a feeling that one of the characters in the Dollhouse would make an appearance, and I wasn't wrong. I liked the way all the loose ends from the previous books in the series were all tied up nicely. While I wasn't really a fan of how the book ended, I will say that it didn't have a rushed ending feel. I just wish things would have turned out a bit differently. However, I did love how the author explains more of the ending and what she believes happened to all the other characters in the afterword, so definitely don't skip out on reading the afterword!
As always, Anya Allyn was amazing at making her characters come alive. It was so easy to relate to all of them (bad guys and girls aside). Cassie was even more hardcore in this book! I loved how Cassie was willing to sacrifice everything to protect her friends and others. Ethan was the same as Cassie. He tried to protect innocents from the bad guys. While I liked Molly, I still don't think her character was needed, same with Frances. Don't get me wrong, they are great characters and written really well, but they seemed a bit pointless. I was happy about Aisha in this book. (I won't go into greater detail due to minor spoilers.) I absolutely loved Zack, and I was always secretly hoping that Cassie would end up with him. Zack turned out to be such a gentlemen from the second book. I loved how he was willing to cut ties from his family to help Cassie even though he knew it was an unrequited love. Henry was another character that I really loved. I felt that he wasn't all bad and that there was some good in him. The book he was seeking in the novel was what brought out the bad. He did have a bunch of redeeming qualities though. I was overjoyed that Jessamine was finally featured a bit more in this book! Jessamine has been my favorite character throughout this series. I was thrilled with how her story ended. I always knew she'd turn out to be awesome!
Trigger warnings for Music Box include violence, death, murder, suicide, attempted rape, minor swearing, the occult, and imprisonment.
While I'm devastated that the Dark Carousel series has come to an end, I am so grateful that Music Box was a great read. All of the characters were still so amazing, the story was thrilling, and everything was so nicely explained. I would definitely recommend Music Box (and all of the Dark Carousel series) by Anya Allyn. If you want a book with lots of action and a great cast of characters, this is your book. Do be prepared to suffer from a book hangover when you're done reading it though!
Cassie has given up hope of not being Balthazar's bride. She's about to just give in to it when she finds a way to the tower where the spooky figure she has seen lives. Scared as she is of the figure, she decides to investigate and is shocked to discover who the figure is. Cassie, with the help of her friends, must find some way to defeat the serpent shadows before they take over the Earth all while battling the humans and spirits of the castle. While she and her friends put their lives in great peril, they never give up hope of returning the Earth to its former glory.
The plot of Music Box did a fantastic job of holding my attention throughout. While there are some parts of this novel that are a bit too fast paced like in previous books in the series, for the most part, the pacing is easy to follow along with. There are a few plot twists that I wasn't able to predict. There was so much action going on in Music Box, and I loved it. It wasn't overwhelming, and it was underwhelming. Anya Allyn did a fantastic job with getting the ratio of action to narrative perfect! I did have a feeling that one of the characters in the Dollhouse would make an appearance, and I wasn't wrong. I liked the way all the loose ends from the previous books in the series were all tied up nicely. While I wasn't really a fan of how the book ended, I will say that it didn't have a rushed ending feel. I just wish things would have turned out a bit differently. However, I did love how the author explains more of the ending and what she believes happened to all the other characters in the afterword, so definitely don't skip out on reading the afterword!
As always, Anya Allyn was amazing at making her characters come alive. It was so easy to relate to all of them (bad guys and girls aside). Cassie was even more hardcore in this book! I loved how Cassie was willing to sacrifice everything to protect her friends and others. Ethan was the same as Cassie. He tried to protect innocents from the bad guys. While I liked Molly, I still don't think her character was needed, same with Frances. Don't get me wrong, they are great characters and written really well, but they seemed a bit pointless. I was happy about Aisha in this book. (I won't go into greater detail due to minor spoilers.) I absolutely loved Zack, and I was always secretly hoping that Cassie would end up with him. Zack turned out to be such a gentlemen from the second book. I loved how he was willing to cut ties from his family to help Cassie even though he knew it was an unrequited love. Henry was another character that I really loved. I felt that he wasn't all bad and that there was some good in him. The book he was seeking in the novel was what brought out the bad. He did have a bunch of redeeming qualities though. I was overjoyed that Jessamine was finally featured a bit more in this book! Jessamine has been my favorite character throughout this series. I was thrilled with how her story ended. I always knew she'd turn out to be awesome!
Trigger warnings for Music Box include violence, death, murder, suicide, attempted rape, minor swearing, the occult, and imprisonment.
While I'm devastated that the Dark Carousel series has come to an end, I am so grateful that Music Box was a great read. All of the characters were still so amazing, the story was thrilling, and everything was so nicely explained. I would definitely recommend Music Box (and all of the Dark Carousel series) by Anya Allyn. If you want a book with lots of action and a great cast of characters, this is your book. Do be prepared to suffer from a book hangover when you're done reading it though!
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated You Are Mine (Mine, #1) in Books
Jul 10, 2018
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to read this book because I had just finished reading [b:I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|17851885|I Am Malala The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|Malala Yousafzai|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375414895s/17851885.jpg|24987300] and I thought that this would be an interesting book to follow it. This book deals with many of the issues that I Am Malala dealt with (women, freedom etc.) and I liked that it was wrapped in a fantasy world with magic & some romance.
First of all, I liked the idea and the plot line of the book. I thought that the story was very well done and I liked that the character was a strong woman even if she was living in a very oppressive world. I loved that she was curious and spoke her mind even when it meant punishment.
The one thing that I found lacking was the editing. I understand that mistakes happen but I found various mistakes in the book which a better editor would have found.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars. I loved the premise of the book and I loved the world that Janeal Falor created. I will continue on in the series. If you're looking for a quick, easy read that deals with freedom, women, and a splash of romance, I would recommend this book.
I decided to read this book because I had just finished reading [b:I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|17851885|I Am Malala The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|Malala Yousafzai|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375414895s/17851885.jpg|24987300] and I thought that this would be an interesting book to follow it. This book deals with many of the issues that I Am Malala dealt with (women, freedom etc.) and I liked that it was wrapped in a fantasy world with magic & some romance.
First of all, I liked the idea and the plot line of the book. I thought that the story was very well done and I liked that the character was a strong woman even if she was living in a very oppressive world. I loved that she was curious and spoke her mind even when it meant punishment.
The one thing that I found lacking was the editing. I understand that mistakes happen but I found various mistakes in the book which a better editor would have found.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars. I loved the premise of the book and I loved the world that Janeal Falor created. I will continue on in the series. If you're looking for a quick, easy read that deals with freedom, women, and a splash of romance, I would recommend this book.
Leah (: (569 KP) rated Love (Keatyn Chronicles book 12) in Books
Aug 2, 2018
This is the final book in the series. As such it wraps up all of the storylines that have been running through the last 5 books.
It is nice to see the conclusion of all of the stories for the characters after their struggles instead of just being left with the idealistic hope that everything they planned at 18 has now happened.
Personally I really disliked the ending, this is because it was written as a series of news updates from an unknown narrator every time a big event happened. For me having spent 12 books getting to know these characters I wanted these events from their perspective so we could know their thoughts and feelings. It just felt a bit impersonal after all the emotional investment up to that point.
That being said I would completely recommend this series abs I totally love it and am contemplating a third read of it which is incredibly rare for me, I am not a re reader.
It is nice to see the conclusion of all of the stories for the characters after their struggles instead of just being left with the idealistic hope that everything they planned at 18 has now happened.
Personally I really disliked the ending, this is because it was written as a series of news updates from an unknown narrator every time a big event happened. For me having spent 12 books getting to know these characters I wanted these events from their perspective so we could know their thoughts and feelings. It just felt a bit impersonal after all the emotional investment up to that point.
That being said I would completely recommend this series abs I totally love it and am contemplating a third read of it which is incredibly rare for me, I am not a re reader.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated The Haunting of Hill House in TV
Oct 14, 2018
Not too bad
This Netflix original series turned out better than I expected. I started it with a hesitation... How could they make a series about a haunted house? I was sort of right in that it played out like one long movie and I don't see it being something that will carry on for more seasons. The acting wasn't bad-the characters well played. The effects and cinematography were pretty cool. The story was slow moving but interesting enough to keep me watching and the creep factor was definitely there. I never read the book but, as with most books-made-into-shows/movies, I'm sure it doesn't do it justice(they never do). However, I did enjoy it enough simply for what it was-an interesting haunted house story-to want to see it through to the end. While not the greatest series ever, it was definitely entertaining. Worth a watch.
David McK (3649 KP) rated Solo Command (Star Wars: X-Wing, #7) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Released pre Episode I, the Star Wars: X-Wing books are, I believe, amongst the first EU ('Extended Universe') novels that do not focus on the main protaganists of the films as their central characters, taking instead LucasArts X-Wing/TIE fighter games of the 90s (as an aside - somebody really REALLY needs to re-make those for modern machines) as their inspiration.
This is the 7th book in the X-Wing series, and the 3rd to focus primarily on the activities of Wraith squadron, after both <i>Wraith Squadron</i> and <i>Iron Fist</i>. Unlike the previous novels in the series, this also includes a larger role for some of the characters from the original film series - the 'Solo' of the title actually refers to Han Solo, and not to Solo as in 'single'. As well, this also includes members of the first 4 X-Wings books (i.e. Rogue Squadron) in the story.
Blasted through this one in about 2 days flat.
This is the 7th book in the X-Wing series, and the 3rd to focus primarily on the activities of Wraith squadron, after both <i>Wraith Squadron</i> and <i>Iron Fist</i>. Unlike the previous novels in the series, this also includes a larger role for some of the characters from the original film series - the 'Solo' of the title actually refers to Han Solo, and not to Solo as in 'single'. As well, this also includes members of the first 4 X-Wings books (i.e. Rogue Squadron) in the story.
Blasted through this one in about 2 days flat.
David McK (3649 KP) rated Guardian (The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
3rd entry in Jack Campbell's (or John G Hemry) <i>The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier</i> series, so really 9th(!) book overall in </i>The Lost Fleet</i> series.
Having successfully found the frontiers of 'Enigma' alien space and started his journey back home in the previous 2 novels, this novel finishes off that journey, with 'Black Jack' Geary's First Fleet finally making its way back to Alliance Space, accompanied by the allied alien 'Dancers' they had previously encountered along the way, and with the captured 'Kick' super battle cruiser in tow.
The bulk of the novel deals with the final leg of the journey back home, with a section at the very end where Geary's flagship is sent back Home (with a capital 'H') back to the Sol system, where human life originated ...
In short, more of the same, with scope left open for even more entries in the series!
Having successfully found the frontiers of 'Enigma' alien space and started his journey back home in the previous 2 novels, this novel finishes off that journey, with 'Black Jack' Geary's First Fleet finally making its way back to Alliance Space, accompanied by the allied alien 'Dancers' they had previously encountered along the way, and with the captured 'Kick' super battle cruiser in tow.
The bulk of the novel deals with the final leg of the journey back home, with a section at the very end where Geary's flagship is sent back Home (with a capital 'H') back to the Sol system, where human life originated ...
In short, more of the same, with scope left open for even more entries in the series!
Originally published as a series of five novellas, this - as such, and very much like the previous collaboration of these two authors (Invader - is a distinct multi-part book, made up of the following five parts:
Pirata: The Black Flag
Pirata: The Gates of Stone
Pirata: Hunters of the Sea
Pirata: Sea of Blood
Pirata: The Pirate Chief
As such, each of the five parts have their own distinct start, middle and end, with the series - as a whole -following the orphan Telemachus as he initially joins a merchant vessel before becoming a pirate and (perhaps too) swiftly rising through the ranks - I say perhaps too swiftly as that is my main criticism of the novel, with Telemachus - despite having lived his life on the streets of Piraeus - suddenly, and in a very short time, taking to the life of a pirate at sea.
An enjoyable enough diversion, but not as good - IMO - as Scarrow's Macro and Cato series of novels
Pirata: The Black Flag
Pirata: The Gates of Stone
Pirata: Hunters of the Sea
Pirata: Sea of Blood
Pirata: The Pirate Chief
As such, each of the five parts have their own distinct start, middle and end, with the series - as a whole -following the orphan Telemachus as he initially joins a merchant vessel before becoming a pirate and (perhaps too) swiftly rising through the ranks - I say perhaps too swiftly as that is my main criticism of the novel, with Telemachus - despite having lived his life on the streets of Piraeus - suddenly, and in a very short time, taking to the life of a pirate at sea.
An enjoyable enough diversion, but not as good - IMO - as Scarrow's Macro and Cato series of novels
Conducting Case Study Research for Business and Management Students
Bill Lee and Mark N. K. Saunders
Book
Part of SAGE's Mastering Business Research Methods Series, conceived and edited by Bill Lee, Mark N....
Mastering Orthopedic Techniques: Knee Reconstruction
Rajesh Malhotra, Sunil Apsingi and Krishna Kiran Eachempati
Book
Part of the highly successful Mastering Orthopedic Techniques series, this book is a comprehensive...