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Merissa (14003 KP) rated His Forbidden Obsession in Books
Oct 9, 2025
HIS FORBIDDEN OBSESSION is the first book in the Forbidden Mafia series. Although this is the first book in this series, I believe it's a spin-off series, and so has other characters, plus family relationships, in it that I don't know.
Niko is the sweet, innocent in all of this, with a secret submissive side that comes out to play with Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the protective grump who is more than happy to show Niko just exactly what he wants and what Niko enjoys.
Add to this a not-so-nice(!!!) couple of families, plus the family that Lorenzo works for, and you have a fast-paced Mafia romance full of action and wanting what shouldn't happen.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I do wish I had read the other series first. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 9, 2025
Niko is the sweet, innocent in all of this, with a secret submissive side that comes out to play with Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the protective grump who is more than happy to show Niko just exactly what he wants and what Niko enjoys.
Add to this a not-so-nice(!!!) couple of families, plus the family that Lorenzo works for, and you have a fast-paced Mafia romance full of action and wanting what shouldn't happen.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I do wish I had read the other series first. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 9, 2025
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Buried in Shamrocks in Books
Feb 25, 2026
Can Kate Make Her Ex an Ex-Suspect?
Kate Buckley and her daughters are back in Shamrock for the summer. They’ve arrived just in time for the Great Shamrock Fair. But then Kate finds out her ex-husband is in town with his band to perform at the event. And his new fiancée is in town, too. But when she winds up dead, the pressure is on to find the killer before it dampens the fair. Can Kate keep her ex-husband out of jail?
I was glad we got a return visit. Once again, the town and characters are charming. And I enjoyed getting to see some of the characters and their relationships grow. The mystery does have some pacing issues, but it does reach a logical climax that I really enjoyed. A couple of the subplots felt like they could have given us a bit more here while still leaving things open for the next book. But the characters made the pages fly by all too quickly. You’ll find them charming as well.
I was glad we got a return visit. Once again, the town and characters are charming. And I enjoyed getting to see some of the characters and their relationships grow. The mystery does have some pacing issues, but it does reach a logical climax that I really enjoyed. A couple of the subplots felt like they could have given us a bit more here while still leaving things open for the next book. But the characters made the pages fly by all too quickly. You’ll find them charming as well.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Death at Tidal Creek in Books
Mar 18, 2026
Murder is Garbage
Clark Thomas is slowing building a relationship with Andrea, who has just opened a business next door to his bookstore. So when two people are found dead near the garbage bins at Tidal Creek Brewery, near where Andrea lives, Clark takes note, especially when one of the is the president of Andrea’s HOA. But it’s only when Andrea finds herself involved in the HOA that Clark fully gets involved. It turns out the late president was up to some shady business. Is that why he was killed?
As always, this book had great beach vibes. I’m curious how the love triangle storyline is going to get resolved. We did get some good growth in Clark, interesting new characters, and a couple more tantalizing clues to his wife’s murder. The main mystery was good. I figured out a piece early but didn’t have it all put together. The ending was a bit exposition heavy as always, but my questions were answered. If you are looking for a beach vibe mystery, this is the book, and series, for you.
As always, this book had great beach vibes. I’m curious how the love triangle storyline is going to get resolved. We did get some good growth in Clark, interesting new characters, and a couple more tantalizing clues to his wife’s murder. The main mystery was good. I figured out a piece early but didn’t have it all put together. The ending was a bit exposition heavy as always, but my questions were answered. If you are looking for a beach vibe mystery, this is the book, and series, for you.
ClareR (6225 KP) rated Daughter of the Mists in Books
Nov 23, 2025
Daughter of the Mists is an enjoyable historical fiction novel with a slip in time. In the modern day, Hanna has returned home from China to live on a farm in Norfolk, and Brea is an Iceni girl enslaved by the Romans.
I’ve read and really enjoyed a couple of Barbara Erskine novels, and Daughter of the Mists is very much in that style.
Hanna has dreamt of a girl, a slave, since she was a teenager, and when she returns to Norfolk these dreams become much more vivid. I really enjoyed how the narrative seemed to slip naturally from one time to the other. I wasn’t left wondering what was going on, or where I was in time. I found the Roman/ Iceni timeline fascinating, and there were some uncomfortable descriptions of what life was like under the Roman rule. It was also good to see that the Iceni’s had a much more liberated view of the role of women than the Romans did!
This is an ideal book for those who enjoy historical fiction, romance and a bit of time slippage!
I’ve read and really enjoyed a couple of Barbara Erskine novels, and Daughter of the Mists is very much in that style.
Hanna has dreamt of a girl, a slave, since she was a teenager, and when she returns to Norfolk these dreams become much more vivid. I really enjoyed how the narrative seemed to slip naturally from one time to the other. I wasn’t left wondering what was going on, or where I was in time. I found the Roman/ Iceni timeline fascinating, and there were some uncomfortable descriptions of what life was like under the Roman rule. It was also good to see that the Iceni’s had a much more liberated view of the role of women than the Romans did!
This is an ideal book for those who enjoy historical fiction, romance and a bit of time slippage!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Slay Ride in Books
Dec 23, 2022
Why Is Kyle Missing Trends?
In the couple of weeks before Christmas, Samantha Kidd has taken a temporary job as a social media influencer. Her friend Kyle Trent helped her get the job and is acting as her mentor. But when he misses a planned morning photo shoot, Samantha begins to worry. As she starts to get contradictory information about her friend, she knows something is wrong. Can she figure out what really happened?
This holiday entry, billed as a novella, is shorter than a typical novel in the series, but fans will hardly notice. There are still plenty of twists and turns that lead Samantha and us to the logical climax. Okay, so it was a bit rushed, but everything is explained. The characters, new and returning, are great, and we see more growth in Samantha. Along with that, we get some shenanigans from Samantha and plenty of humor. If you haven’t found this light, fun series yet, you’ll definitely enjoy it. And if you are a fan who hasn’t read this entry yet, you are in for a treat.
This holiday entry, billed as a novella, is shorter than a typical novel in the series, but fans will hardly notice. There are still plenty of twists and turns that lead Samantha and us to the logical climax. Okay, so it was a bit rushed, but everything is explained. The characters, new and returning, are great, and we see more growth in Samantha. Along with that, we get some shenanigans from Samantha and plenty of humor. If you haven’t found this light, fun series yet, you’ll definitely enjoy it. And if you are a fan who hasn’t read this entry yet, you are in for a treat.
ClareR (6225 KP) rated The Close (Maeve Kerrigan #10) in Books
Apr 9, 2023
We’re back with Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent in The Close, and they certainly have a full case load!
Maeve starts investigating the murder of a hospital consultant, whose body is found in his car in the hospital car park. She is also roped in to helping Josh on another case. One where they have to go undercover as a house/ dog sitting couple, whilst they investigate the death of a man with a learning disability. Oh, what a bind - to be stuck in a house with Josh Derwent for weeks!
Well, all doesn’t go quite as expected, but the tension is high with both Maeve, Josh and the case!
There are some great interactions in what appears at first glance to be an idyllic neighbourhood. It really isn’t.
The crimes are shocking, and it comes as no surprise that outwardly good people do terrible things.
I can’t wait to see what happens between Kerrigan and Derwent in the next book, but I suppose I’ll just have to!
Highly recommended!
Maeve starts investigating the murder of a hospital consultant, whose body is found in his car in the hospital car park. She is also roped in to helping Josh on another case. One where they have to go undercover as a house/ dog sitting couple, whilst they investigate the death of a man with a learning disability. Oh, what a bind - to be stuck in a house with Josh Derwent for weeks!
Well, all doesn’t go quite as expected, but the tension is high with both Maeve, Josh and the case!
There are some great interactions in what appears at first glance to be an idyllic neighbourhood. It really isn’t.
The crimes are shocking, and it comes as no surprise that outwardly good people do terrible things.
I can’t wait to see what happens between Kerrigan and Derwent in the next book, but I suppose I’ll just have to!
Highly recommended!
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated A Curse of Forever in Books
Dec 23, 2021
Laurel has gone back to her happiest place from childhood. Her reasons for the visit not so much, as she is there for her beloved grandfather's funeral. Wanting to feel close to him, she goes to visit the black bay lighthouse - the setting of a story filled with love, betrayal heartbreak and more.
It's a beautifully written story. There are some sex scenes in there, a couple are a bit harsh, but the majority are soft and sensual. I didn't quite expect the ending to go how it did and I was hoping for a bit more to be honest. Fair enough, the villain got what he deserved but I was expecting it to go in a different direction. There is a lot of detail in the writing but it seems rushed almost as you get towards the end, like I've got details to get down, I'll cram it all in now. That's the only bit that disappointed me to be honest.
I would still recommend this book
It's a beautifully written story. There are some sex scenes in there, a couple are a bit harsh, but the majority are soft and sensual. I didn't quite expect the ending to go how it did and I was hoping for a bit more to be honest. Fair enough, the villain got what he deserved but I was expecting it to go in a different direction. There is a lot of detail in the writing but it seems rushed almost as you get towards the end, like I've got details to get down, I'll cram it all in now. That's the only bit that disappointed me to be honest.
I would still recommend this book
Picture You Dead (Roy Grace #18)
8.0
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Harry and Freya, an ordinary couple, dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried amongst...
Silverview
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In Silverview John le Carr turns his focus to the world that occupied his writing for the past...
ClareR (6225 KP) rated A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom in Books
Sep 3, 2022
Once I’d recognised the trick to this book, I found it fascinating - it took a couple of chapters though, so I would encourage anyone contemplating reading this to keep going for at least three chapters. Or, you know, read this, have some idea of what’s going on, and then get the book, sit back and enjoy!
I’ve often thought that life must have some universal stories: things that happen in our lives that have happened untold times before throughout history, and will probably happen countless times in the future.
That is the premise that ‘A Traveller’ works from. And it’s done so cleverly.
We begin in the Roman world in 1AD, and swap between different continents and cultures. The story remains the same, of love, loss, betrayal, revenge and death. There’s a lot of births and deaths. It really puts in to perspective humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes - and we just keep on making them in to the future.
This is such a thought provoking, imaginative read. John Boyne just never seems to let me down.
I’ve often thought that life must have some universal stories: things that happen in our lives that have happened untold times before throughout history, and will probably happen countless times in the future.
That is the premise that ‘A Traveller’ works from. And it’s done so cleverly.
We begin in the Roman world in 1AD, and swap between different continents and cultures. The story remains the same, of love, loss, betrayal, revenge and death. There’s a lot of births and deaths. It really puts in to perspective humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes - and we just keep on making them in to the future.
This is such a thought provoking, imaginative read. John Boyne just never seems to let me down.