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All My Mothers
All My Mothers
Joanna Glen | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
After reading ‘The Other Half of Augusta Hope’, I was so excited to read ‘All My Mothers’. And I was not disappointed. Joanna Glen is rapidly becoming an auto-buy author for me - and this book is full of the same heart as Augusta Hope.
Eva Martinez-Green has two pivotal , life changing moments when she starts school: meeting Bridget Blume, and her teacher reading a book called ‘The Rainbow Rained Us’. Bridget becomes a lifelong friend, Bridget’s mother helps Eva to learn just what a mother can be like: loving and interested in her, unlike Eva’s own mother who has some serious mental health issues. In fact, Mrs Blume steps in to a mothering role for Eva, when Eva moves in due to her own mother having a prolonged stay in a clinic. Mrs Blume is Eva’s benchmark for being a mother for the rest of her life. For that short time she shows Eva affection, treats her like one of her own. Mrs Blume, along with her childhood book, leads Eva to realise that her mother isn’t her birth mother. And so begins the quest to find her.

Eva’s life in London helps the reader to learn about the characters, and when she starts to study in Cordoba, the real task of finding her birth mother begins.

I don’t want to give anything away, because I want you to read it!! It’s beautiful. I pretty much sobbed through the last couple of chapters, so have your tissues handy. But DO read it!!
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Dead-Bang Fall in Books

Feb 2, 2023 (Updated Feb 2, 2023)  
Dead-Bang Fall
Dead-Bang Fall
J. R. Sanders | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Helping a Face from His Past
PI Nate Ross thinks he has a simple case when he’s hired for a penny-ante theft caper. But that’s before one of his suspects is killed in a back alley. While Nate didn’t witness the crime, he did see the victim go into the alley with someone that Nate helped put in prison five years ago. However, a few hours later, that man turns up at Nate’s office claiming to be innocent and hiring Nate to clear him before disappearing again. Nate buys most of the story, but he knows he didn’t get the whole truth. That feeling only grows as he starts to investigate. Can he figure out the whole truth?

This is a great trip back to 1939 Hollywood, and the setting comes to life. As a throwback PI novel, it does start out with a little too much jargon of the time, but fortunately, that calms down as we get into the story. It does have a bit more violence and foul language than in one of the cozies I read, but it doesn’t go overboard. The plot is strong with quite a few twists, compilations, and half-truths before we reach the fun climax. Nate much face his past here, and we are reminded about enough to make the growth real. Meanwhile, we get a couple of fun returning characters and a batch of great new ones. If you enjoy PI novels set in this era, this is one to check out.
  
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Merissa (11950 KP) rated Cato (Fueled By Lust #3) in Books

Apr 6, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Cato (Fueled By Lust #3)
Cato (Fueled By Lust #3)
Celeste Prater | 2014 | Erotica, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh my! This series has taught me that although I have liked getting to know the Emperor's son and his Royal Guard, my heart actually belongs to the tattooed and pierced I.T. guy. Cato is one hot mamma and he is just about perfect - a bit of a slob but still perfect.

Luna, my heart goes out to her. Abuse isn't just physical and unless you've been on the receiving end of mental abuse you will have no idea how crippling it can be. I thought Celeste made Luna's story absolutely heartrending.

Cato has had me in tears - both with Cato's emotions and with Luna's story. It is an absolutely superb book that I really can't recommend highly enough.

The thing that really ties it all up for me into one of the best erotic sci-fi series I have ever read is the attention to the timeline and all the details of the world and the men. The mannerisms and sayings that we take for granted that can be misconstrued... and frequently are by the 'newbies' that arrive. I love how the ending of one book leads into the start of the next.

There are so many stories I have yet to hear, I hope that Celeste has more than a couple of tales left to tell in this series!
 
* 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!
August 27, 2016
  
Her Wicked Angel (Her Angel: Eternal Warriors #3)
Her Wicked Angel (Her Angel: Eternal Warriors #3)
Felicity Heaton | 2013 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I thought that Veiron had stolen my heart but it appears that it is split in two and Asmodeus holds the other part! I will say that feisty, stubborn Liora is Asmodeus' perfect match. These two actually work together to move forwards. They know when they have hurt the other and take steps to say sorry or repair whatever damage may have been done. The interaction between these two is just perfect, whether it is witty or flirtatious banter or whether it is deep, soul-searching.

Erin and Veiron are also in this and continue to show just how wonderful they are together. I still love Erin's attitude and how she won't bow down to the male in her life but instead meets him toe-to-toe.

Amelia and Marcus also show up but Marcus appears to be more and more 'ghostly' as the series moves on. He is just fading into the background which is a shame whereas Amelia still feels that instead of the original angel, she is the ultimate matchmaker but no one is good enough.

Tears, laughter, sexiness - it's all here. I can't not give it 5 stars!

ps, does anyone know where I can get a couple of my own hellhounds? Romulus and Remus are brilliant!!!
 
* 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!
August 6, 2016
  
Rogue's Passion (Iron Portal #2)
Rogue's Passion (Iron Portal #2)
Laurie London | 2013 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Asher and Olivia actually make a very good couple, although Asher does come across as a bit of a tool to begin. In his defence, he is injured and worried about his dog... but still. Olivia is traumatised as a bomb has just exploded nearby and people are injured and dying. The ability to control her healing talent is hard at the best of times but in circumstances like this, near impossible.

Due to Asher toning down his attitude, Olivia realises that he isn't actually as bad as she originally thought. Just in time too, as two Army Investigative Unit officers arrive on the scene. An unregistered Healer talent and a Cascadian barbarian would not go down well. Luckily they help each other and are able to leave. Things heat up pretty quickly after that although they both agree that it is only for a week, to begin with. They both have a history that makes them wary of the thought of commitment.

Cameo appearances are made by Neyla and Rickert as well as a few others from Book 1.

Well-written and fast-paced, Olivia and Asher work well and play hard. This is an intense and sometimes steamy novella which carries on perfectly with the Iron Portal series. Definitely recommended and looking forward to the next one.

* 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!
Jun 21, 2015
  
The Kiss of Life (Soul Mate Rescued, #1)
The Kiss of Life (Soul Mate Rescued, #1)
Char Sharp | 2015 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a fast-paced and action-packed story involving a young widow and a senator, among others. Her husband was killed thirteen months ago in what she presumed was a mugging but it turns out to be something completely different.

Elizabeth is a strong character from the start. She is being chased by two men but doesn't just cower and whimper but is constantly fighting back and looking for ways to escape. Senator John comes to her rescue, but she threatens to kick his ass if he doesn't give her some answers. I loved this part! The story then continues with action throughout as they try to figure out just what is going on within the timeframe they have, as well as trying to stay alive and have a new relationship.

Personally, I found the dialogue between John and Liz to be quite stilted at times, and the timing seemed 'off' on a couple of occasions too. Not that what was said, wouldn't have been said - just, would it have been said at that precise time? At other times, it flowed and seemed perfectly natural so it isn't something that happens throughout the book!

There is plenty to enjoy about this book and I, for one, am certainly looking forward to seeing more from Char Sharp and her Soul Mate Rescued series. Definitely recommended.

* 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!
Sep 26, 2015
  
LG
Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)
2022 |
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A couple are shopping for registration gifts for their wedding, they appear happy. This woman named tiffany, however, seems to be hiding a dark secret as she keeps having flashbacks about her holding knives dripping with blood. Other than that, her life is good. She has a career in journalism and has hopes of a promotion.

One day a film maker approaches Tiffany to Interview her on her involvement in a school shooting, she claims she wasn't involved but a quick Google search by Tiffany shows she is being blamed for being involved, she needs to decide whether or not to do the interview.

Tiffany's past comes back to haunt her in various ways. Someone calls her a psycho on her Facebook page and she bumps into her old school teacher, who we find out in flashbacks helped her after a dramatic event at a party. It is soon evident that Tiffany has anger issues and still struggling due to what happened.

The whole movie is leading up to what happened on the day of the shooting, it keeps you guessing as to whether or not she was the shooter. It takes around an hour and 13 minutes to get to the actual event but it really did need that build up.

It's not a bad movie, the acting is superb and certain scenes are difficult to watch but executed so well. If you like dramas you are sure to enjoy this one, even if it's a one time only view.