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Smith's Corner: Storm & Stone (The Heartwood Series #5)
Smith's Corner: Storm & Stone (The Heartwood Series #5)
Jayne Paton | 2022 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
love it when Stone fully lets go!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 5 in the Smith's Corner series. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend that you read the other books before this one. It will give you a better and bigger picture of this family group, and how Stone's brothers have fallen one by one. It will also show you just how long Stone and Storm have been dancing around each other.

Storm needs honesty, and she will walk away if she thinks she isn't getting it. Stone, on the other hand, was burnt, badly by his ex when he was honest, so tries hard to keep it all in. Storm can see right through Stone though! And I loved that she could.

Because that ex does try hard to get to Stone and what I especially LOVED about this book, was that Storm never once doubted Stone. She knew, KNEW that he was a good man, and the ex just wanted to destroy him. Ex doesn't, just so you know, but Storm makes sure that Stone sees STORM, rather than the ex.

It's quite emotional in places, but equally there is laughter. Stone messes up, but his heart is in the right place! I loved that, when Stone lets himself really go, they are so great together! He really needs to trust Storm.

We catch up with the other brothers and their ever-growing families, and we get a taste of what's to come with Hunter and Holden. Cos ooooooeeeee those boys are getting close to breaking!

A lovely edition to this series, I am thoroughly enjoying them all.

4 solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
A Fallen Spark (Windows to the Soul #1)
A Fallen Spark (Windows to the Soul #1)
Stephanie Beverly | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A FALLEN SPARK is the first book in the Windows to the Soul series and my review is a 3.5 star rating.

This is a long book, told from different perspectives and at different times. As such, it can be a little confusing to stay with the story as it jumps timelines and people. I would say this has romantic elements, but it certainly isn't a romance. Also, if you are sensitive to subjects, then I absolutely recommend you read the TWs as there are some horrible moments on page.

Adler is the prophesied dragon child, here to save the world. Unfortunately, choices he wasn't even aware of were taken away from him, and he became the villain of the story. But don't worry, there are plenty more in here, and a lot worse than Adler.

Mark is his childhood best friend, the one he loves, and the one he will die to protect. There is also Tabitha, Mark's sister. Skye, a journalist who lives with their brother, Darren, also has a role to play, as does Darren.

Laine is a wild card, kept apart from everyone, and forced to do experiments to keep her parents safe. I'm not sure if she is supposed to be a character you sympathise with or not, but I didn't. I found her to be quite spoilt and close-minded, unwilling to even try to see the bigger picture.

All in all, I found this book to be interesting, with a unique idea of things costing spells in a world where magic is fading, and the effects that would have.

** 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!
Nov 27, 2023
  
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After (Bridgertons, #1.5-8.5; 9.5)
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After (Bridgertons, #1.5-8.5; 9.5)
Julia Quinn | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a lovely end to a series that I have enjoyed the whole way through and I am sad to be leaving the Bridgertons behind… for now, as I’m sure I will be revisiting them time and time again.
This book is a collection of second epilogues for each of the books in the series, starting with Daphne’s story and ending with a novella about Violet’s life. It was lovely to have some questions answered, like what on earth did Gregory and Lucy call their nine children? Did Francesca and Michael ever have children? And most importantly did Hyacinth ever find the hidden diamonds in the house? All of these questions are answered in the second epilogues contained within this book. Julia Quinn also writes a little foreword at the start of each of the second epilogues which either sums up the previous book and the questions she has given or gives a little insight into what you are about to read.
As ever, Julia Quinn’s writing has been so easy to read that I have found that I have not wanted to put this last book down, wanting to find out more about this family and their lives, but I also definitely did not want to get to the end because it would be over. A very rare feeling when it comes to a book series in my opinion.
I will be looking into Julia Quinn’s other series to see if I can fall in love with her other characters as much as I have fallen in love with the Bridgerton family, and I am very much looking forward to watching it play out on screen with the next Netflix series that is going to be released this year. Hopefully it will live up to the source material!
  
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1)
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1)
Sarah J. Maas | 2020 | Film & TV, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
112 of 230
Book
House of Earth and Blood ( Crescent City book 1)
By Sarah J Maas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.

I absolutely loved it from start to finish! It was one emotional journey and yes I had a tear escape! For me the book flowed well it kept me interested and I loved the characters. I’m totally in love with Ruhn. I was expecting the slaughter so soon in the book it was definitely a deep breath moment! I do love Sarah J Maas.
  
Thunder Hunter (Viking Soul #1)
Thunder Hunter (Viking Soul #1)
Rachel Medhurst | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thunder Hunter (Viking Soul #1) by Rachel Medhurst
Thunder Hunter starts off many years ago, with Loki and Thor fighting. Freya is there too, plus many others, all of whom will die unless something changes. What changes is Loki kills Thor, but Freya puts Thor's power inside his grandson. Trygger must find all of the Fallen Ones before he can die, no matter how long it takes. Once that has happened, Thor will live, and Trygger will die at last, and live among the gods. Fast forward a few years, and Trygger only has five more to find. He as lived through many assassination attempts by Loki's descendants, and has killed more than his fair share too. And then Freya decides she will help him, by sending one of her descendants, Chloe.

I have to be honest, there were parts that I really enjoyed in this book, but there were also parts that I didn't like. Trygger has been by himself for a long time, and has focused only on completing his task so that he can die. Along the way, he has lost most of society's "niceties", but that doesn't stop EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. from throwing herself at him. Even if her job is to kill him! Sorry, but I don't get that bit. Also, he said that he never had women stay over at his place, but he has on hand a little black dress from someone he has killed just lying around!

This was an enjoyable book if you don't look to deeply at it. I'm not entirely sure where the story is going, which is a good thing, but I don't think I'll be reading any further along. If you enjoy tales of Norse mythology though, I would definitely recommend it to you.

* 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!