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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Mulled to Death in Books
Oct 21, 2021
Parker’s Valentine’s Getaway Hits a Murderous Snag
Parker Valentine and her boyfriend Reid are planning a romantic Valentine’s weekend trip to a ski resort. Parker is hoping to take a few minutes to sell the resort on her mulled wine, and is star struck when the owner, Olympic gold medalist Annmarie Bauer, sits in on the meeting. But the next morning, Parker is nearby when Annmarie has a deadly skiing accident. Parker saw some things that make her question whether it was an accident or not, and as she begins poking around, strange things happen to her. Can she figure out what is really going on?
Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was looking forward to checking in with Parker again. I did feel that Parker’s motive for looking into this as much as she did was weak until late in the book and the plot relied a bit too much on events over investigation, but overall, this was a good mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Parker and Reid are joined by another couple, Parker’s brother Liam and her best friend Sage, who have recently started dating. These four characters are the core of the series to me, and I loved seeing how they developed here. As always, the books are written in first person present tense. I love how the author works in tidbits about wine making as metaphors for what Parker is going through. We get three delicious sounding recipes and suggested wine pairings at the end. Fans of the series will have fun with the newest in this series.
Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was looking forward to checking in with Parker again. I did feel that Parker’s motive for looking into this as much as she did was weak until late in the book and the plot relied a bit too much on events over investigation, but overall, this was a good mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Parker and Reid are joined by another couple, Parker’s brother Liam and her best friend Sage, who have recently started dating. These four characters are the core of the series to me, and I loved seeing how they developed here. As always, the books are written in first person present tense. I love how the author works in tidbits about wine making as metaphors for what Parker is going through. We get three delicious sounding recipes and suggested wine pairings at the end. Fans of the series will have fun with the newest in this series.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Winterwood in Books
Apr 4, 2024
63 of 220
Book
Winterwood
By Shea Ernshaw
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Be careful of the dark, dark wood…
Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.
Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he���d been missing.
But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.
This was an interesting little YA read and an easy one to get along with. A young Walker(witch) finds a book in the almost enchanted forest that is her home. She’s waiting to find her power and hoping she does actually have one. It’s a little predictable if honest but still a good little read.
Book
Winterwood
By Shea Ernshaw
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Be careful of the dark, dark wood…
Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.
Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he���d been missing.
But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.
This was an interesting little YA read and an easy one to get along with. A young Walker(witch) finds a book in the almost enchanted forest that is her home. She’s waiting to find her power and hoping she does actually have one. It’s a little predictable if honest but still a good little read.
Merissa (14046 KP) rated What Fools These Immortals Be (The Wild Hunt #1) in Books
Jun 20, 2025
WHAT FOOLS THESE IMMORTALS BE is the first book in The Wild Hunt series, but I would recommend you read it after the Monsters of London series, as it follows on from the events in those books.
We have previously met Njáll, but Maurice is someone completely new. Njáll is the new crai and doesn't feel up to the job, even though everyone else seems to have faith and confidence in him. Maurice is a vampire with fae magic, courtesy of The Huntsman, who is charged with 'babysitting' Njáll. He is overjoyed* at the idea (*sarcasm! 😉)
Their relationship isn't immediate, but grows over time, which I loved. Njáll has reasons for doing what he does, the same as Maurice, but when these two actually talk to each other and secrets come out, that's when the heat is turned up.
The thing I love about these books is you get normal situations with paranormal twists. Nothing is ever straight forward and it is talked about from every angle, so you know exactly just how complex something might be, that looks so simple at first glance.
I did absolutely nothing else once I had started this book, and I read it in one sitting as I was physically incapable of putting it down. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I can't wait for the next one.
** 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 12, 2025
We have previously met Njáll, but Maurice is someone completely new. Njáll is the new crai and doesn't feel up to the job, even though everyone else seems to have faith and confidence in him. Maurice is a vampire with fae magic, courtesy of The Huntsman, who is charged with 'babysitting' Njáll. He is overjoyed* at the idea (*sarcasm! 😉)
Their relationship isn't immediate, but grows over time, which I loved. Njáll has reasons for doing what he does, the same as Maurice, but when these two actually talk to each other and secrets come out, that's when the heat is turned up.
The thing I love about these books is you get normal situations with paranormal twists. Nothing is ever straight forward and it is talked about from every angle, so you know exactly just how complex something might be, that looks so simple at first glance.
I did absolutely nothing else once I had started this book, and I read it in one sitting as I was physically incapable of putting it down. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I can't wait for the next one.
** 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 12, 2025
Fortune Favours the Brave (Rifleman Dando #1)
5.0
Rate It
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India, 1857. Joseph Dando, a resilient young Cockney, finds himself on Delhi Ridge in India fighting...
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Unfettered Fey (Found & Freed: The Unfettered #7) in Books
Jun 9, 2025
UNFETTERED FEY is the seventh and final book in the Found & Freed series. I haven't read any of the others, but thought I would try this one after the author said they could be enjoyed as standalones.
Jade is the last of the paranormal boys to find love, and to be honest, he doesn't believe he deserves it anyway, not after nearly opening a Fey portal. That changes when he runs into Flyn, an old work colleague he had a crush on. It turns out that the crush was reciprocated, and they reconnect, albeit only as friends(!!!) We all know how that's going to turn out!
Jade and Flyn are total opposites but complement each other in pretty much every way. Although they try to take it slowly, events happen that speed things up. I loved that Flyn searched for Jade, not happy until he knew he was safe.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book as a standalone, as I feel there were events mentioned in here that I knew nothing about. I also found it a little difficult to fully grasp the connection between the boys, as I wasn't 'there' for anything they went through. And trying to remember who was with whom was just too much, and I stopped trying.
Saying that, I still enjoyed this story and would definitely read this series from the beginning. Recommended for those who have read the previous books.
** 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 2, 2025
Jade is the last of the paranormal boys to find love, and to be honest, he doesn't believe he deserves it anyway, not after nearly opening a Fey portal. That changes when he runs into Flyn, an old work colleague he had a crush on. It turns out that the crush was reciprocated, and they reconnect, albeit only as friends(!!!) We all know how that's going to turn out!
Jade and Flyn are total opposites but complement each other in pretty much every way. Although they try to take it slowly, events happen that speed things up. I loved that Flyn searched for Jade, not happy until he knew he was safe.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book as a standalone, as I feel there were events mentioned in here that I knew nothing about. I also found it a little difficult to fully grasp the connection between the boys, as I wasn't 'there' for anything they went through. And trying to remember who was with whom was just too much, and I stopped trying.
Saying that, I still enjoyed this story and would definitely read this series from the beginning. Recommended for those who have read the previous books.
** 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 2, 2025
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Master Zane's Boys (Club Sensation #1) in Books
Mar 26, 2025
MASTER ZANE'S BOYS is the first book in the Club Sensation series but can also be read as a sort of prequel to Born Daddy for reasons that become clear once you start. You don't have to read it that way though, you can just enjoy it as is.
And I did! Zane and Ryan already have their relationship and it's solid. Ryan meets Ty first when he volunteers at a shelter before Zane gets to meet him a couple of months later when Ryan brings him home. Not only is Ty new to the scene but he also has a lot of baggage in his past that he has to share and deal with.
Zane is a caretaker Daddy for most of it, rather than a Master. I loved the emotional side to things as Ty works things out, Zane and (sometimes) Ryan give him the time and space to do so, and then the three of them together.
Bill was a nasty piece of work but I didn't really feel it in the way I think I was supposed to. So it meant that when the quick ending to the Bill problem happened, I wasn't as invested as I could have been.
This was a great read that I enjoyed and definitely recommend. I look forward to continuing with the series.
** 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 26, 2025
And I did! Zane and Ryan already have their relationship and it's solid. Ryan meets Ty first when he volunteers at a shelter before Zane gets to meet him a couple of months later when Ryan brings him home. Not only is Ty new to the scene but he also has a lot of baggage in his past that he has to share and deal with.
Zane is a caretaker Daddy for most of it, rather than a Master. I loved the emotional side to things as Ty works things out, Zane and (sometimes) Ryan give him the time and space to do so, and then the three of them together.
Bill was a nasty piece of work but I didn't really feel it in the way I think I was supposed to. So it meant that when the quick ending to the Bill problem happened, I wasn't as invested as I could have been.
This was a great read that I enjoyed and definitely recommend. I look forward to continuing with the series.
** 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 26, 2025
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Future and Past (Ebb & Flow #2) in Books
Sep 3, 2025
FUTURE AND PAST is the second book in the Ebb & Flow series, and you definitely have to have read at least book one in this series, if not the other two books Quinn features in (as mentioned in my review for book one), as this one follows about three months after the first.
Quinn is sent back to Nova Scotia in the hope that being with his mate, Malachi, will help him deal with the trauma he is losing the battle against. Silas has hired some new guards in the interim, and Malachi is back to his old life, albeit with a phone and laptop so he can keep in touch with Quinn.
I really enjoyed this one, so much better than the first. Maybe it's because I was better connected to the characters, or maybe it just flowed better; I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that I was hooked from the beginning. And Malachi is now all in with Quinn. Phew! He is there for him when Quinn needs him, but won't push or pressure. My heart broke for Quinn as he remembered what his flashbacks were about and just what had been done.
Now I feel more comfortable in this world, and I am thoroughly enjoying their story. I will definitely be continuing with Malachi and Quinn's story. Absolutely 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 3, 2025
Quinn is sent back to Nova Scotia in the hope that being with his mate, Malachi, will help him deal with the trauma he is losing the battle against. Silas has hired some new guards in the interim, and Malachi is back to his old life, albeit with a phone and laptop so he can keep in touch with Quinn.
I really enjoyed this one, so much better than the first. Maybe it's because I was better connected to the characters, or maybe it just flowed better; I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that I was hooked from the beginning. And Malachi is now all in with Quinn. Phew! He is there for him when Quinn needs him, but won't push or pressure. My heart broke for Quinn as he remembered what his flashbacks were about and just what had been done.
Now I feel more comfortable in this world, and I am thoroughly enjoying their story. I will definitely be continuing with Malachi and Quinn's story. Absolutely 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 3, 2025
Debbiereadsbook (1772 KP) rated Make Them Obey (Pretty Deadly Things #5) in Books
May 16, 2026
doesn't quite hit the spot :-(
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 5 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, and you do need to read them in order. Much is not recapped and there is that on-going story arc. I enjoyed those 4 books, thoroughly.
But here's the thing. This one? Not so much, and I've no idea why! My book brain can't figure it out, and it's stressful!
Poe was the bad guy in the previous book. Given how tight knit this group are, it was always going to be something massive to make him switch sides. His sister being kidnapped did that. Poe's jailer sets off all kinds of bells and whistles, and not only the smexy kind. Orchid is hiding something.
This review will be short, cos I don't wanna bash this book, cos I did finish it and I really want to see an end to Seraphina and her trafficking ring!
I loved that Orchid was so dominant with Poe, but she does let her guard down a time or two. I think I saw what she was hiding coming at me, but still.
Given how this ends, it's got to be a happy for now/cliffhanger. I also said that, in my review for Hurt, that Ozzie and Salem's story felt unfinished and it would feel more finished in this book. Well, it doesn't. And there is what ever is going on with Salem's dad to deal with, cos that one has thrown me, completely!
3 good stars, but not sure what is so different!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 5 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, and you do need to read them in order. Much is not recapped and there is that on-going story arc. I enjoyed those 4 books, thoroughly.
But here's the thing. This one? Not so much, and I've no idea why! My book brain can't figure it out, and it's stressful!
Poe was the bad guy in the previous book. Given how tight knit this group are, it was always going to be something massive to make him switch sides. His sister being kidnapped did that. Poe's jailer sets off all kinds of bells and whistles, and not only the smexy kind. Orchid is hiding something.
This review will be short, cos I don't wanna bash this book, cos I did finish it and I really want to see an end to Seraphina and her trafficking ring!
I loved that Orchid was so dominant with Poe, but she does let her guard down a time or two. I think I saw what she was hiding coming at me, but still.
Given how this ends, it's got to be a happy for now/cliffhanger. I also said that, in my review for Hurt, that Ozzie and Salem's story felt unfinished and it would feel more finished in this book. Well, it doesn't. And there is what ever is going on with Salem's dad to deal with, cos that one has thrown me, completely!
3 good stars, but not sure what is so different!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Nightmare Alley (2021) in Movies
Feb 5, 2022
In short, Nightmare Alley is a sometimes plodding and bloated piece that gets by thanks to a hugely pleasing aesthetic, and a great cast.
Firstly, there is no reason for NA to be 150 minutes long. One could argue that it gives us more time with the many characters introduced, but it feels gratuitous. The first hour and a half has its moments for sure, but it sometimes feels a little direction-less before the last hour hits, and things kick off a bit. It's an issue that certainly impacts proceedings, and I feel it could have lost 30 minutes and been a tighter final product.
Thankfully, the assembled cast is stacked with royalty. Willem Dafoe and Toni Collette are two of my favourite working actors, so having them both involved is a treat. Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and Rooney Mara are great as the main leads, and the rest of the ensemble is rounded out by some fantastic character actors - Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn - good stuff all round.
The overall visual style is wonderfully Del Toro, from the gloomy and misty carnival sights pierced by neon lights, to the snowy city scape of Buffalo, New York. A lot of the cinematography is gorgeous as well, hats off to Dan Laustsen, and is truly bought to life by a beautifully haunting music score from Nathan Johnson.
All in all, Nightmare Alley ultimately suffers from its pacing, and feels like a slog here and there. However, there are enough positives to carry it over the finish line. I look forward to checking out the black and white version in the near future.
Firstly, there is no reason for NA to be 150 minutes long. One could argue that it gives us more time with the many characters introduced, but it feels gratuitous. The first hour and a half has its moments for sure, but it sometimes feels a little direction-less before the last hour hits, and things kick off a bit. It's an issue that certainly impacts proceedings, and I feel it could have lost 30 minutes and been a tighter final product.
Thankfully, the assembled cast is stacked with royalty. Willem Dafoe and Toni Collette are two of my favourite working actors, so having them both involved is a treat. Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and Rooney Mara are great as the main leads, and the rest of the ensemble is rounded out by some fantastic character actors - Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn - good stuff all round.
The overall visual style is wonderfully Del Toro, from the gloomy and misty carnival sights pierced by neon lights, to the snowy city scape of Buffalo, New York. A lot of the cinematography is gorgeous as well, hats off to Dan Laustsen, and is truly bought to life by a beautifully haunting music score from Nathan Johnson.
All in all, Nightmare Alley ultimately suffers from its pacing, and feels like a slog here and there. However, there are enough positives to carry it over the finish line. I look forward to checking out the black and white version in the near future.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated A Nun in the Closet in Books
Mar 9, 2022
Laughs and Thrills
The nuns in the Abbey of St. Tabitha are shocked when they are left a house and estate in New York State, several hundred miles from where they live in cloister. However, they must decide what to do with it, so Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe are elected to head up there and get a feel for what they’ve been left. Within hours of arriving, they’ve discovered a suitcase full of cash in the well and a man bleeding out from a gunshot wound in an upstairs closet. What is happening on this property? Why was it left to the nuns?
While I have loved the Mrs. Pollifax series for decades, I have never read any of Dorothy Gilman’s non-Mrs. Pollifax books. I’m glad I decided to fix that since this one was delightful. Yes, I had the broad strokes of the plot figured out early on, but I was missing a few pieces, and the twists along the way kept me highly entertained. The characters are good. They could be a little stronger overall, but they work to draw us into the story. Since the book came out in 1975, some of the references are dated, but that’s only worth noting in passing. I appreciated how one subject was handled without the book crossing into lecture mode. And the laughs were plentiful. I was smiling each time I picked up the book knowing that I was in for more fun. A lesser authors couldn’t have pulled this mix off, but Dorothy Gilman makes it look easy. I’m glad I finally picked it up.
While I have loved the Mrs. Pollifax series for decades, I have never read any of Dorothy Gilman’s non-Mrs. Pollifax books. I’m glad I decided to fix that since this one was delightful. Yes, I had the broad strokes of the plot figured out early on, but I was missing a few pieces, and the twists along the way kept me highly entertained. The characters are good. They could be a little stronger overall, but they work to draw us into the story. Since the book came out in 1975, some of the references are dated, but that’s only worth noting in passing. I appreciated how one subject was handled without the book crossing into lecture mode. And the laughs were plentiful. I was smiling each time I picked up the book knowing that I was in for more fun. A lesser authors couldn’t have pulled this mix off, but Dorothy Gilman makes it look easy. I’m glad I finally picked it up.
