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MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Hold Back the Dark (Bishop/Special Crimes Unit #18) in Books
Sep 27, 2018
I always love a good Bishop/SCU story.
Contains spoilers, click to show
** spoiler alert ** I was lucky enough to win a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway!
I love, love, LOVE the Bishop/SCU books. The characters are so familiar to me, it feels like coming home each time I start a new story.
I found HOLD BACK THE DARK to be just as good as the previous installments, with one exception: the ending felt rushed. Once the team found the cave, it seemed like everything moved very quickly and then -boom- the story was over. What happened to the people who were forced by the energy to do horrible things? Does the woman who killed her family ever come out of the coma, horrified at what she's done? Does the real estate agent who killed his clients ever "snap out of it?" In addition, what about the team members who were not SCU or Haven? Do any of them decide to finally join?
While I was completely engrossed in the story from the very first page, I do wish the ending had been fleshed out a bit more. Won't stop me from continuing the series, though! :)
I love, love, LOVE the Bishop/SCU books. The characters are so familiar to me, it feels like coming home each time I start a new story.
I found HOLD BACK THE DARK to be just as good as the previous installments, with one exception: the ending felt rushed. Once the team found the cave, it seemed like everything moved very quickly and then -boom- the story was over. What happened to the people who were forced by the energy to do horrible things? Does the woman who killed her family ever come out of the coma, horrified at what she's done? Does the real estate agent who killed his clients ever "snap out of it?" In addition, what about the team members who were not SCU or Haven? Do any of them decide to finally join?
While I was completely engrossed in the story from the very first page, I do wish the ending had been fleshed out a bit more. Won't stop me from continuing the series, though! :)
Merissa (13472 KP) rated The Music Box in Books
Oct 18, 2018
The Music Box by Alyssa Drake
The Music Box is a fairytale with an urban setting. It deals with sensitive subjects, such as dementia and work harassment. Gabrielle is spending her evenings with her mother in a care home, whilst during the day she is doing a job she doesn't like, with a boss who is abhorrent. The only bright spot on her horizon is Luciano, the grandson of another patient.
There is a lot of information in this book, packed within a few short pages, so you can imagine the pacing is quite fast. That being said though, the whole story is here. Yes, I would like to see it more 'fleshed out' in places, but the basics are here. Enough for me to enjoy the story and want to read more about these characters.
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, and have no hesitation in recommending it.
* 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!
There is a lot of information in this book, packed within a few short pages, so you can imagine the pacing is quite fast. That being said though, the whole story is here. Yes, I would like to see it more 'fleshed out' in places, but the basics are here. Enough for me to enjoy the story and want to read more about these characters.
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, and have no hesitation in recommending it.
* 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 (13472 KP) rated All He Ever Needed in Books
Nov 5, 2018
All He Ever Needed by Cate Ashwood
All He Ever Needed is a gentle friends-to-lovers story. Ethan has known he was gay for over a decade, but didn't say anything. Not only did he want to make it work with his long-term, high school sweetheart, but the man he loves is completely unavailable, so he thinks. However, you can only live a lie for so long, and this book starts when Ethan's life comes crashing down.
This was very sympathetically written - you get to see how it affected ALL of the characters, and none of them were unnecessarily angsty about it either. There is some angst here, as Jase needs to figure out just how to be with Ethan when real life invades, but nothing too much.
This was an excellently written story, with no editing or grammatical errors. With low angst, charming characters, and a tender love story, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Another winner by Cate Ashwood.
* 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 very sympathetically written - you get to see how it affected ALL of the characters, and none of them were unnecessarily angsty about it either. There is some angst here, as Jase needs to figure out just how to be with Ethan when real life invades, but nothing too much.
This was an excellently written story, with no editing or grammatical errors. With low angst, charming characters, and a tender love story, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Another winner by Cate Ashwood.
* 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 (13472 KP) rated Defensive Play (Boys on the Brink) in Books
Dec 5, 2018
Defensive Play (Boys on the Brink) by Jamie Deacon
Defensive Play is the first book by this author I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Davey knows he is gay, but he hasn't told anyone. He is a geek who has managed to earn the respect of his football team, and he is worried if he comes out, he will lose that. He thinks he has it all under control, until Adam shows up. With one glance, Davey starts to become unraveled.
This was a sweet story, with some angst in tune with the story. Mostly, it is about Davey and how he feels, what he will do, and what will the fall out be. It is a novella, so expect the pacing to be fairly fast. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow.
A thoroughly enjoyable story, and I look forward to reading more by this author. Definitely recommended by me.
* I received a copy of this book 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 was a sweet story, with some angst in tune with the story. Mostly, it is about Davey and how he feels, what he will do, and what will the fall out be. It is a novella, so expect the pacing to be fairly fast. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow.
A thoroughly enjoyable story, and I look forward to reading more by this author. Definitely recommended by me.
* I received a copy of this book 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!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Sweet Temptation in Books
Jan 1, 2019
A very sweet read
I’d been looking for something lighthearted and easy to read, and found this stored away on my kindle and figured it was just the read I was looking for. I could not have been more right.
This is a heartwarming and absolutely lovely read about 3 women wanting to lose weight. It’s very well written and so engaging. All 3 of the main characters are well developed and down to earth, and I’d dare any woman reading this not to connect with all of them in some way or another. I spotted a bit of me in all of them which made it such a delight to read. The plot may be slightly predictable, but this is one of those books where it doesn’t matter. In fact, when I reached the end I actually wanted to carry on, it was that entertaining. It’s funny, emotional and an all round engaging read. I also found it very inspirational and based around a subject very close to home (my New Years Resolution), and despite being fictional it really has motivated me to sort out my own life.
This is a heartwarming and absolutely lovely read about 3 women wanting to lose weight. It’s very well written and so engaging. All 3 of the main characters are well developed and down to earth, and I’d dare any woman reading this not to connect with all of them in some way or another. I spotted a bit of me in all of them which made it such a delight to read. The plot may be slightly predictable, but this is one of those books where it doesn’t matter. In fact, when I reached the end I actually wanted to carry on, it was that entertaining. It’s funny, emotional and an all round engaging read. I also found it very inspirational and based around a subject very close to home (my New Years Resolution), and despite being fictional it really has motivated me to sort out my own life.
Merissa (13472 KP) rated Jaz's Warriors (Bondmates, #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is the second book in a series which I haven't read, but that in no way diminished my enjoyment of this short but spicy Science Fiction read.
The story starts with the invasion of Earth, and then jumps forward to when Jaz is already a Matriarch, mated to two and meeting a potential third. Things are done very differently in this world, and some human females are having trouble adapting. Jaz's counselling experience is able to help her and others to cope with a way of living and loving.
Because I haven't read the first book, I'm not sure if Jaz is mentioned in that, or how she met husbands one and two. This isn't a negative, it's just that this is one fast-paced story so I would like to know more about these characters, just to understand all aspects of the story.
If you are after a short and steamy sci-fi romance with multi partners, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* I received this book from Barclay Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The story starts with the invasion of Earth, and then jumps forward to when Jaz is already a Matriarch, mated to two and meeting a potential third. Things are done very differently in this world, and some human females are having trouble adapting. Jaz's counselling experience is able to help her and others to cope with a way of living and loving.
Because I haven't read the first book, I'm not sure if Jaz is mentioned in that, or how she met husbands one and two. This isn't a negative, it's just that this is one fast-paced story so I would like to know more about these characters, just to understand all aspects of the story.
If you are after a short and steamy sci-fi romance with multi partners, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* I received this book from Barclay Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13472 KP) rated Spooning Leads to Forking: A Gay Teen Romance Story in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Spooning Leads to Forking is a very well written story about two boys who are figuring out just who they are. It is very fast paced, and you quickly get to the 'action'.
Dylan is a misfit, and happy to be one. Michael is the basketball star. One day their relationship changes in a BIG way, and you get the rawness, the nitty-gritty, the 'real' relationship two seventeen-year-old boys can have, including the insults, bitch slaps, and rough-housing. I would also say it is full of emotion and passion, bordering on obsession.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more 'real' story than one filled with unicorns and cupcakes (although they have their place too!). I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would like to see more of Dylan and Michael as they grow older. 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dylan is a misfit, and happy to be one. Michael is the basketball star. One day their relationship changes in a BIG way, and you get the rawness, the nitty-gritty, the 'real' relationship two seventeen-year-old boys can have, including the insults, bitch slaps, and rough-housing. I would also say it is full of emotion and passion, bordering on obsession.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more 'real' story than one filled with unicorns and cupcakes (although they have their place too!). I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would like to see more of Dylan and Michael as they grow older. 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The final part of Veronica Roth's 'Divergent' series, this takes a different path than the previous two in that it is not solely told from Tris's point of view, but that it alternates between hers and Tobias's.
As this starts, the Factionless are now control of the city, leading Tris to think that they have simply moved from one tyranny to another. When offered the chance to explore what lies beyond the city - offered that chance, that is, by rebels since the new rulers don't want anyone leaving - Tris, Tobias and a group of others seize the opportunity to do so.
What they discover outside, however, is a world obsessed with eugenics, of which her home city of Chicago is simply an experiment: an experiment in danger of being shut down.
As a trilogy, and over-all: I have to say that, while the first entry ([b:Divergent|13335037|Divergent (Divergent, #1)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328559506s/13335037.jpg|13155899]) did remind me quite a bit of The Hunger Games, as the series went on this seemed to get more and more its own identity. It also ended about the only way it could!
As this starts, the Factionless are now control of the city, leading Tris to think that they have simply moved from one tyranny to another. When offered the chance to explore what lies beyond the city - offered that chance, that is, by rebels since the new rulers don't want anyone leaving - Tris, Tobias and a group of others seize the opportunity to do so.
What they discover outside, however, is a world obsessed with eugenics, of which her home city of Chicago is simply an experiment: an experiment in danger of being shut down.
As a trilogy, and over-all: I have to say that, while the first entry ([b:Divergent|13335037|Divergent (Divergent, #1)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328559506s/13335037.jpg|13155899]) did remind me quite a bit of The Hunger Games, as the series went on this seemed to get more and more its own identity. It also ended about the only way it could!
David McK (3633 KP) rated The King's Assassin (The Outlaw Chronicles, #7) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
This, I believe, is the penultimate entry in [a: Angus Donald|584064|Angus Donald|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s 'Outlaw' series of novels dealing with the legend of Robin Hood.
If I'm honest, I also have to say that I read the title as meaning 'an assassin belonging to a King' rather than what proves to be the actual meaning: a (failed) attempt to assassinate the King (who, at this stage, is John).
As before, this is presented as the elderly Alan a Dale (now in a monastery as he has been since the opening of [b: Outlaw|17333533|Outlaw|Ted Dekker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364009572s/17333533.jpg|24064806], and by this stage dictating rather than writing himself) recalling his earlier life in the company of Robin and his men.
The main 'hook' of this particular entry in the series is the events leading up to the signing of Magna Carta, with King John proving to be an unpopular and failing ruler, especially compared to his older brother Richard ('the Lionheart'), and with Robin instrumental in bringing about the famous document.
If I'm honest, I also have to say that I read the title as meaning 'an assassin belonging to a King' rather than what proves to be the actual meaning: a (failed) attempt to assassinate the King (who, at this stage, is John).
As before, this is presented as the elderly Alan a Dale (now in a monastery as he has been since the opening of [b: Outlaw|17333533|Outlaw|Ted Dekker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364009572s/17333533.jpg|24064806], and by this stage dictating rather than writing himself) recalling his earlier life in the company of Robin and his men.
The main 'hook' of this particular entry in the series is the events leading up to the signing of Magna Carta, with King John proving to be an unpopular and failing ruler, especially compared to his older brother Richard ('the Lionheart'), and with Robin instrumental in bringing about the famous document.
David McK (3633 KP) rated The Blooding (Matthew Hawkwood, #5) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The most recent book (at the time of writing) in [a:James McGee|223959|James McGee|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1389430491p2/223959.jpg] Matthew Hawkwood series, this is primarily set during the 'forgotten war' of 1812 between Great Britain and the fledgling USA, with Hawkwood newly arrived in the country while trying to get home to London from his escapades in France in the previous novel ([b:Rebellion|11254850|Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders, #2)|Brandon Mull|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388247992s/11254850.jpg|16181497]).
I say mostly as, for approximately the first half, the novel actually flits back and forth - almost chapter about - between current events and those of Hawkwood's childhood (also in the States).
I also have to say that, as the series has progressed, it has seemingly moved further and further away from it's original Bow Street Runner in the Regency period: moving closer, perhaps, in mold (IMO) to the classic Sharpe stories of Bernard Cornwell, and - as a consequence - becoming in danger of losing it's own flavour that originally made it stand out.
Having said that, however, this - I felt - was an improvement on the previous book, which I personally struggled somewhat to connect with.
I say mostly as, for approximately the first half, the novel actually flits back and forth - almost chapter about - between current events and those of Hawkwood's childhood (also in the States).
I also have to say that, as the series has progressed, it has seemingly moved further and further away from it's original Bow Street Runner in the Regency period: moving closer, perhaps, in mold (IMO) to the classic Sharpe stories of Bernard Cornwell, and - as a consequence - becoming in danger of losing it's own flavour that originally made it stand out.
Having said that, however, this - I felt - was an improvement on the previous book, which I personally struggled somewhat to connect with.