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Loving the Enemy (7 Forbidden Arts #0)
Loving the Enemy (7 Forbidden Arts #0)
Charmaine Pauls | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lily is on the streets of South Africa when we first meet her, not knowing the story behind how she ended up there. Jacob comes along as her saviour, but is he really, or just a wolf in sheep's clothing?

The chemistry is there between these two from the start, but Jacob does a good job of restraining himself. Jacob is most definitely an alpha male, and Lily, although she comes across as incredibly naive, almost ditzy in places, she is the perfect match for him.

This is one helluva fast-paced, action-filled, and steamy in places, book that will delight and enthral you from start to finish. There is an introduction to a group of people that will fill out the paranormal side of things, I'm sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. However, the tiny blood-thirsty part of me was hoping for Lily to get her own back against her father and step-brother. I guess I will just have to wait and see if she shows up in further books.

* 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!
Jan 23, 2016
  
Alpha Shaman (Bad Oak Boys #2)
Alpha Shaman (Bad Oak Boys #2)
Erin M. Leaf | 2015 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Josh thinks that he is human, although he is aware of the werewolf gene in his family. However, when he starts having strange dreams and shedding fur, he admits he might be in trouble. He rings Ryan (his brother) who sends out a Shaman who will help him. When Josh and Gerwulf first meet, the wolves both agree that they have found their mates, although the human halves still need convincing. Evil is on the way though, so they may not have as much time as they would like.

This is the first of the Bad Oak Boys that I have read, although I didn't feel that it negatively impacted my enjoyment in any way. Alpha Shaman is full of action, romance, and yes, even grief. I could understand Gerwulf's hang-ups from his past and liked how he worked through them, with Josh's help. Josh and Gerwulf are both excellent characters, well-rounded and with their own quirks.

I have enjoyed this story, and am now looking forward to reading Rock Star Baby, which is book one in this series.

* 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!
Feb 11, 2016
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2506 KP) rated Crime and Parchment in Books

Oct 3, 2024 (Updated Oct 3, 2024)  
Crime and Parchment
Crime and Parchment
Daphne Silver | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Family and Lost Books
Rare books librarian Juniper Blume is surprised when she gets a message from her ex-brother-in-law claiming he has found a clue to where the covers for the Book of Kells might be. She’s even more surprised to see he thinks they are in the small Maryland town of Rose Mallow. But Juniper is also intrigued, so she returns, even if it means dealing with some complicated family relationships. But when she goes to the meeting, she finds a dead body. Can she figure out what is going on?

This book received lots of praise when it came out, and I can see why. There’s a lot packed into the beginning, but I was able to follow it, and it pulled me into the story. It did make the book feel a little slower later, but maybe that was just my expectations. I was definitely intrigued the entire way through, and the ending answered my questions. I also appreciated that the author did a good job of making us believe that the treasure hunt Juniper found herself on was believable. The characters were good, and the subplot involving Juniper and her family felt realistic. I liked how that played out. I’m looking forward to seeing what is next for these characters soon.
  
The Glassmaker
The Glassmaker
Tracy Chevalier | 2024 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This imaginative story begins in Murano, 1486 at the height of the Italian Renaissance, and ends in the modern day - and all with the same characters. And the thing is, never at any point did I feel that it was far fetched.

Murano comes across as a magical place, both in its ability to make beautiful pieces of art from glass, and also its ability to keep those who live there in a kind of time warp or stasis. If you live on Murano, you don’t age.

Such is the case with the main character, Orsola Rosso.

We join her family when she is 9 years old and her father dies suddenly. Her brother struggles with the responsibility and skills needed to run the business - that is until a rival matriarch teaches the Rosso women (via Orsola) how to make glass beads.

I loved how real people from history were brought into the story (Casanova and Josephine Bonaparte, amongst others), and how when time jumped hundreds of years, Orsola only aged a few in that time. We see how Italy changes over time, how it modernises and how climate change endangers both lives and livelihoods.

The story and characters felt as vibrant as the glass beads. This was such a refreshing, different read. Just outstanding 🤷🏼‍♀️