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Dragon of Denmark
Dragon of Denmark
Jennifer Ivy Walker | 2024 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
these vikings are violent!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Skarde is the illegitimate son of the Danish King, Harald. Ylva is the illegitimate daughter of the Viking Duke of Normandy, Richard the Fearless. Thrown together in a marriage of based only on political power and sheer strength in numbers, the two are left to navigate the seas of their new marriage. But there are other forces at work, and they must tread carefully.

For the most part, I did enjoy this.

There is much description about how both Skarde and Ylva lived, separately and then together. I liked the way their marriage grew, and how they came to know each other better, in truth, rather than the image they had of each other before.

It isn't overly explicit, but there is violence. These are Vikings, after all, fighting for the things and people they love.

I liked that both Skarde and Ylva have a say, along with some other characters who I did not expect to hear from! So I really did enjoy that, hearing from the bad guy!

There are great descriptions about the runes, and what they mean, along with the herbs and plants, and the Gods that these people pray to. This is what I felt was a bit too much. The explanation of things is repeated, over and over and it really did get a bit annoying being told who was the God of what, and what certain gems did.

BUT

I did enjoy the tale, and it is the first I've read of this author. I liked the way she told her tale.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona #5)
Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona #5)
Margaret Izard | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked that we heard from Evie, Aodhan and Munix
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 5 in the Stones of Iona series, and I think *I* maybe should have read them first. I'll try to explain.

Evie has met Aodhan before, but we don't get a full recap here. I felt it was kind of glossed over: they met in Egypt, Aodhan gave Evie a stone, says to call when she needs him, and then promptly disappears. I would have liked a much more detailed recap, especially as this book is a sort of starting point to join the series, if you haven't before.

And I think that's my biggest thing. I asked if I needed to read the other books first, and was told that it wasn't strictly necessary. But I would say, you DO need to read them. There is a huge back up cast and I wasn't fully able to place everyone, and fill in a mental timeline for everything.

The world building was good, but I still missed something. I wasn't able to fit the bits and pieces together to get a full picture.

All that aside, I did like this book. It's fast paced and I liked that we heard from Evie, Aodhan and Munix, the bad guy (sorta!)

It's dark and deadly in places, the romance is a bit of the sweet side, and not very explicit.

This is the first I've read of this author, I'd like to read something else, not this series, but a series from the beginning, so I can fully appreciate the world building and the writer's skill.

3 good stars, but only because I felt I missed a lot by not reading the others.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Meet Me at the Top
Meet Me at the Top
S.H. Pratt | 2022 | Contemporary, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
a wonderful short read!
Oh this book? Its so good, but too short! I need more, I really do! I do hope Alicce and Sam get a follow up, I really do!

Alice's parents treat her to a trip of a lifetime, to see all the places in her favourite movie, Sleepless In Seattle. She bumps into Sam, quite literally, and he gives her an unofficial guided tour. It's clear they get along, and the few days they spend together are the best either have had in a long time, but Alice lives clear across the country. Can they make it work?

What I loved most about this book, was what's missing in my usual reads: there is none of that explicit sex I usually like. Now, don't get me wrong, a good sex scene works in the right place in all manner of books, but this one? Does NOT need it. At. All. I really did love that all that was not here.

Sam and Alice are well suited, both carrying some baggage and both not really looking for anything, but finding each other at this time and in this place really was the right thing.

Like I said at the beginning, it's only short, and I really hope Ms Pratt will find time for a follow up, cos I want to know, no, I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED to know, that Alice and Sam really do make it work. So PULEEEEEEEZE???

Oh, and I really should comment on the cover of this book. I loves it, for almost the same reason as I loves the book: lack of nekkid man on the cover. So please, don't ever change your covers, I love them all.

5 warm and fuzzy, too stinking cute, far too short stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere