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Consort (Nobel Reckoning #1)
Consort (Nobel Reckoning #1)
Rachel Grey | 2024 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CONSORT is the first book of two in the Noble Reckoning Duology and, boy, what it a good start!

Durin is a young fae - not noble and thankful for that small mercy. When he sees a noble fae mercilessly bully and kill a young shifter, he is enraged and works hard to hone his magic into a weapon, determined to enact vengeance on the shifter's behalf. He fulfils his vow but is made to pay in ways he never imagined.

During this time, Rue is trying to hide the fact she has just presented as an Omega. In her pack, that means she will be Alpha Mate and passed around for all the alpha's to share. Funnily enough, that's not a future she wants. So she does the unthinkable. She runs away, and her mother goes with her. They find a place to hide and life seems good.

Fate throws Durin and Rue together and he helps her through her heat, resulting in a pregnancy with Vaegon. If the name sounds familiar then check out Rachel Grey's Unnatural series and you'll find out why. Of course, life isn't easy and neither of them is in an ideal place, so prepare yourself for the cliffhanger because it's a doozy!!!

It isn't all about Rue and Durin though. There's a whole mystery in here too, with the Queen and her wicked ways. The world-building is phenomenal to get everything in and not leave you wanting.

This was a fantastic story that had me hooked from the first page. I really felt for both Rue and Durin and can't wait to see what happens next. Simply wonderful and HIGHLY 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!
Jan 1, 2025
  
Lynx (Wild Wolves MC #1)
Lynx (Wild Wolves MC #1)
Annabelle Jacobs | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
LYNX is the first book in the Wild Wolves MC series, set in the East Midlands, UK, which was my old stomping ground. I can't tell you how happy I was to read something set there, even if it is a fictional place.

Annabelle Jacobs writes brilliant British Urban Fantasy, and this one is no different. In a world where humans don't know about shifters, the pack came together as a group of outcasts and misfits, using the MC as a cover. Morgan is as human as they come, but his life changes in almost unrecognisable ways, starting off with his dad losing their home to gambling. Think of a snowball mixed in with personal choices, and you will see how it gets bigger as it rolls downhill.

I loved the relationship between Lynx and Morgan, and then between the two of them individually and the rest of the pack. This isn't a warm and fuzzy book, but it isn't unnecessary angst either. Everything that is in here is for a reason, and I was completely hooked with every word.

Although the time it is set in is quite fast, I found the pacing to be perfect, giving time with the pack, Morgan, and Lynx in between the action. It was a mix of dark (fight rings), emotional (Lynx and Morgan, Morgan and Luke, etc.), and funny (comments between the pack members), so if that's what you enjoy, I think you will love this.

There are a couple of possible couples that I'm hoping for, together with characters I want to find love, and I honestly can't wait for the next book, no matter who it features. Another fantastic world to lose myself in. Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY 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!
Sep 25, 2025
  
A Whisper of Claws (Steel Vanguard #1)
A Whisper of Claws (Steel Vanguard #1)
Jennie Lynn Roberts | 2026 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A WHISPER OF CLAWS is the first book in the Steel Vanguard series, set in the same world as The Hawks series, but in a different land.

And I made a mistake! A huge one! I had all weekend to read this book, and I started it on Friday night. I also finished it on Friday night. Well, technically, it was Saturday morning, but either way... I should have known better. I really should have. It's a JLR book, which means I'm never going to be able to put it down once I start.

Anyway, in case you haven't already been able to tell, this was a fantastic story that gripped me from the very beginning. There is no slow build-up to this story. It starts with a death and continues on from there, giving the backstory in a natural way as the story progresses.

The characters are all great, although some need to get their heads out of their a$$es. Yes, I'm looking at you, Luke and Shane! Okay, so Luka kinda did, but still... it took long enough. Izzy deserves a medal for putting up with him. She is a strong, independent character who was a delight to read.

You don't have to have read The Hawks series to enjoy this one. There is enough backstory and world-building for anyone. Plus, the overall story arc is going to be a good one, and I can't wait to read more in this series. The Steel Vanguard are bound to have a multitude of adventures, with love and loss along the way, and I am here for it! HIGHLY 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!
Apr 10, 2026
  
Dusty Ropes and Rusty Spurs (Bucket List Buddies #4)
Dusty Ropes and Rusty Spurs (Bucket List Buddies #4)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2026 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
DUSTY ROPES AND RUSTY SPURS is the fourth book in the Bucket List Buddies series. I would recommend you read them all, as there is an overarching story between Sven and Remy. If you don't want to read them all, then I would say at least to read Book 3, A Ballooning Display, as characters and situations from that book come up in this one.

This review is a tricky one for me. There were certain parts I loved, and certain parts I didn't.

Rick is a fantastic character who knows what he wants and isn't prepared to settle for anything less. I honestly loved him from the beginning. It took me longer to warm up to Ian. I get being a people pleaser; trust me, I do, but he took it to the nth degree, and was then surprised when his family wasn't immediately on board. Don't get me wrong, his family were a lot to take, and I can't say as I particularly liked them.

And then there was the rodeo part. On the whole, I loved it. Rick had his reasons, plainly stated, and was doing it on his terms. I know the path to contented matedom isn't always smooth, and on the one hand, it was good that it was a work-in-progress. On the other hand, though, it felt like it was unnecessary angst.

I am so disappointed that Remy and Sven didn't manage to meet. I am on tenterhooks, waiting for that meeting, so my heart broke for poor Remy. But I also love being made to wait!

This was a solid addition to the series, and 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!
Jun 5, 2026
  
One Step Sideways (Enhanced World Security #1)
One Step Sideways (Enhanced World Security #1)
Victoria Sue | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
ONE STEP SIDEWAYS is the first book in the Enhanced World Security series, which itself is a spinoff of the Enhanced World H.E.R.O. series. I haven't read any of those, but I now want to! I don't feel as though my enjoyment was negatively impacted by not having read them, as enough details were given here that I understood what was going on.

Kane has had a terrible life. No two ways about it. My heart broke for him on so many occasions and when he first met Danny, I went full-on Mama Bear. Danny was a soldier who also had something terrible happen to him and his friends, which has left him with severe PTSD. He has a gorgeous service dog but immediately thought the worst of Kane in every possible situation when he thought Kane had hurt a dog in his past. He really was a judgemental pr!ck.

But then the story picked up, I became invested, and Danny and Kane worked things out and became the most important thing to each other, and I was okay with that.

This does have an overreaching arc so don't expect everything to be tied up in this edition, but it made for a fantastic read. Well-paced, with plenty of action, twists and turns, plus hooks dangling which left me wanting the next book immediately, it was already a 5-star read for me. But then Danny went above and beyond and had my eyes leaking for the last part of the book. That 5-star was never in doubt!!! An amazing story and HIGHLY 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!
Mar 18, 2025
  
Emil (Almstead Island: Newcomer's Club #3)
Emil (Almstead Island: Newcomer's Club #3)
Kerry Kilpatrick | 2026 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
EMIL is the third book in the Almstead Island: Newcomer's Club and was a fantastic read from beginning to end. If you're looking for a 'normal' Daddy/boy book, then this probably isn't for you.

Anders is a mixture of service sub and boy. The story begins with him in a bad relationship with John, who takes advantage of Anders need to serve, and basically is just plain nasty, to the point that Anders ends up in hospital. Luckily for Anders, Emil has just taken over John's family's business and is on hand to take care of him. John and his family are all cut from the same cloth, and delight in making things difficult for Anders, including framing him for stealing money from the company. Emil doesn't believe it and takes Anders under his wing as everything is investigated. This gives them both time to learn more about each other.

At the beginning, this story is described as a glacier-burn. It made me smile, but now I fully understand! It may be incredibly slow, but it's what Anders needs, and Emil is ALL about doing what Anders needs.

You do get to see the other Daddies in this series, plus some of the Littles and their Daddies from a different series (Just a Little), so although you can read this as a standalone, you will see characters you may or may not know.

This is not a traditional Daddy/boy story, and I loved it for that! I am so happy Anders got his HEA, and I hope they both appear in future books and crossovers. HIGHLY 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!
Jan 28, 2026
  
Through His Touch (Mind's Eye #2)
Through His Touch (Mind's Eye #2)
Deborah Camp | 2014 | Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Book 2 starts just before the ending of Book 1, Through His Eyes, which helps to lead you gently back into the story. Be prepared though, as that's probably the most gentle thing about this book. It is full of Levi and Trudy and the problems their relationship faces, most of which are caused by Levi to be fair! That book was a Paranormal Romantic Suspense. This book I would label this as Romantic Suspense with a bit of Paranormal thrown in. There is far less emphasis on the abilities of Levi and Trudy in this one than the first which I found to be slightly disappointing as I loved reading about them. HOWEVER, that said, this is still a fantastic story that is full of stalkers, murderers, history, and manipulators.

Levi and Trudy work hard in this book to overcome some of the difficulties and obstacles placed in their way. The ending, whilst not as shocking as the end of the first one, will still leave you wanting to know more straight away. Personally, I can't wait to read book 3 as soon as it is available. Levi is working to deal with his past and Trudy is likewise working at it. She shows her backbone in this book which I loved. One of my favourite quotes is when she tells Levi to watch his tone as they left the dog back at the penthouse! Classic!

I have deliberately kept this review as generic as possible because I know that Debbie will kill me if I give away any spoilers. So let me just finish by saying that I highly recommend this book and enjoyed it as much as the first, albeit in a slightly different manner.
 
* 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!
July 20, 2016
  
Run with the Moon (Valen's Pack #1)
Run with the Moon (Valen's Pack #1)
Bailey Bradford | 2015 | Dystopia, LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have put this book in the dystopian genre because there is a hint of it within these pages. Humans have basically tried to kill each other off using biochemical warfare which has decimated their numbers. The shifters, which were a minority, were immune to most of the chemicals and have since thrived, being able to live off the land and generally in peace.

However, they have their own set of rules regarding alphas, such as when they're old enough, they have to leave their birth pack and start their own, or they have to fight their father for the right to rule. Now Valen loves and honours his father so even though he doesn't want to leave, he abides by their rules. Through circumstance, he meets Aaren who has never seen a shifter before. Aaren lives in a village, guided by his father, where sex is for recreation and gay is something that just isn't mentioned.

There is an instantaneous attraction and reaction between these two when they meet and it just continues to get hotter as we progress through the story. Valen, although having doubts about how to act as an alpha, certainly has no issues in the bedroom... or next to a river or by a tree. Aaren is very happy to learn whatever Valen wants to teach him and learns about himself along the way.

The story is fast-paced and well-written. There are characters to enjoy and those that annoy slightly (sorry goofball!) but it all makes it more 'real'. I loved how the story evolved and became more than just about Aaren and Valen, although they do make a fantastic pair.

Definitely recommended for all fans of MM Paranormal Romance.
 
* 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!
August 6, 2016
  
Lost Energy (Energy Series #2)
Lost Energy (Energy Series #2)
Lynn Vroman | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Book 2 continues where Book 1 stopped - Tarek is still Warden of Arcus and Lena is still on Earth. He can talk to her every night but she can't respond. What a heartbreaking way to start the book!

This book is building up to so much more than 'just' a romance. It is full of action, humour, double-crossing, rivalry and even loss. Lena has grown up a lot since the first book but still has some to do, and Wilma is more than happy to help set her straight. The pace of the book is fast although not frantic. There are events that need to happen, and they do. It is not all sweetness and light though.

I love the characters in these books as they all have depth and their own personalities. Farren's relationship with Lena is simply fantastic and they have the unconditional love and support of each other that nothing can break (I hope!). The emotional range in this book will draw you in before it tears you apart. I don't like talking too much about the story as you have the synopsis for that - but one that that I really need to say is that you NEED to read this series. I was in tears by the end of the book, totally side-swiped by an event that I just never saw coming because I was too wrapped up in the story. What happens after said event is even worse and I really, really need the next book, like now, just to ensure that all will be well.

If you like fantasy then get your grubby mitts on this series because, trust me, it's a brilliant one! HIGHLY 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!
September 2, 2016
  
Reclamations (BBS #3)
Reclamations (BBS #3)
Deborah Dorchak, Wendi Kelly | 2013 | Paranormal
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
O.M.G. Let me start by saying, if you thought the first two were full of emotion, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" I thought it was impossible for Loyalties to be topped, but it was by Uncivil Wars. Stupidly, I thought the same thing for this book - these are so good, surely they can't get any better? The only stupid thing with that sentence was me! Reclamations will grab every emotion you own and twist them until you are not sure how much more your battered heart can take before it will take you even further.

The Pack grows yet again, and it is proven beyond doubt, that this Pack is one of 'Blood and Spirit'. Who you are, or what you shift into, has absolutely no bearing upon the loyalty of your heart. Characters change and situations happen that they must react to, or instigate, for the better good.

Jake, Selene and Collette wind tighter than ever, and you will waver between wanting one thing and another. My head was spinning as my opinion changed with every lead given by the authors. The best thing about this is that I never resented that. I was so totally immersed in the story, I was happy to go along with it.

SPOILER ALERT - Something happens in this book that just about killed me. It's not at the end, so don't worry about that, but it completely sucker-punched me and I was in pieces with it for a long time. In fact, I don't think I have recovered yet!

Totally and utterly fantastic and I can't wait for the fourth and final book in this series... if my emotions can cope!

* 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 30, 2015