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Lindsay (1693 KP) rated Beyond Love (Beyond, #2) in Books

Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
BL
Beyond Love (Beyond, #2)
D.D. Marx | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beyond Forever is done nicely. It more of the conclusion of the series. Though it leaves with guessing Finn best bud Mac and his wife Jules lives are like. It more to do with Finn and Olivia life is like a little before and after having their little one.

We get this feeling and how all their plans start to change. There are twists and turns throughout the book. Olivia sister Jane states they are moving to Austin, Texas. All family starts thinking about that and pondering their moves.

Finn has a surprise plan for Olivia and his little girl. He seems to be traveling a lot and his business and they want to expand their business. Finn and Tex decide to create a surprise plan for their wives.

Jules brother mentions a few time throughout the book and his ASL fundraisers. Do you realize the family is more important or not? Will Olivia get her own home that sees dreams of? Part of it that her friends are a bit important to her as well.

DD Max does a sweet job of finishing off Olivia and Finn story. I now wish to read about Mac and Jules and find out what they have. It so was like seeing how their little girl and learning more about the guardian angels are about.
  
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Lindsay (1693 KP) rated Beyond Forever (Beyond, #3) in Books

Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
BF
Beyond Forever (Beyond, #3)
D.D. Marx | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beyond Forever is done nicely. It more of the conclusion of the series. Though it leaves with guessing Finn best bud Mac and his wife Jules lives are like. It more to do with Finn and Olivia life is like a little before and after having their little one.

We get this feeling and how all their plans start to change. There are twists and turns throughout the book. Olivia sister Jane states they are moving to Austin, Texas. All family starts thinking about that and pondering their moves.

Finn has a surprise plan for Olivia and his little girl. He seems to be traveling a lot and his business and they want to expand their business. Finn and Tex decide to create a surprise plan for their wives.

Jules brother mentions a few time throughout the book and his ASL fundraisers. Do you realize the family is more important or not? Will Olivia get her own home that sees dreams of? Part of it that her friends are a bit important to her as well.

DD Max does a sweet job of finishing off Olivia and Finn story. I now wish to read about Mac and Jules and find out what they have. It so was like seeing how their little girl and learning more about the guardian angels are about.
  
Mortal Kiss (Mortal Kiss, #1)
Mortal Kiss (Mortal Kiss, #1)
Alice Moss | 2011
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
DNF on page 63 of 300 and odd.

Moved way too slow for me and I wasn't keen on the continual switching between characters; Faye, Liz, Finn and Lucas, plus the odd little bit from whoever was following them, at every chapter.

It didn't grab me at all.
  
Bring Me Back
Bring Me Back
B.A. Paris | 2018 | Thriller
7
7.9 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bring Me Back – hailed as “The gripping Sunday Times bestseller with a killer twist you won’t see coming” – is B.A. Paris’ third novel, but did it live up to its hype?

I have to admit as much as I tried to avoid reading other reviews of this book, I soon discovered that to my horror, many people were in shock that this was not as good as her previous two books, and that kind of put me off reading it at first. However, I finally got around to reading it only to discover it’s not that bad! Now I kick myself for not picking it up before. haha!

There is, however, quite a contrast to B.A. Paris’ previous two books. I think the shocking end was a little unbelievable, although it was deliciously evil of the author to spring on us!

I also thought the ending then went on to ‘wrap up’ with a confessional letter revealing all, which went on for far too long and made the earlier shock ending fall a little flat afterwards.

The premise of the story is that Finn and Layla went on holiday to France but only Finn came back. The boyfriend Finn was a suspect for a while, but since Layla just went missing and no body was found the case was eventually closed due to lack of evidence.

But if Layla went missing in France, then who is sending Finn emails and leaving little Russian dolls all over the place – seemingly from her – twelve years later?

Not my favourite book by B.A. Paris, but I am pleased I read it. The mystery of who is messing with Finn is definitely worth finding out!
  
WHo We Truly Are (Enhanced #2)
WHo We Truly Are (Enhanced #2)
Victoria Sue | 2017 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wanted to punch Talon so bad!
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the AUDIO copy of this book.

This is book two in the Enhanced Series, and you really SHOULD read or listen to book one, Five Minutes Longer, before you start this one. It's a continuation of Talon and Finn's tale, and not all is repeated here.

Talon and Finn are partners in all ways, it's just not common knowledge. When Finn is sent undercover to try to locate the missing Enhanced children, Talon has to dig deep within himself to let Finn do his job, and then for Talon to do his, when Finn turns up missing too.

For most of this book, I wanted to punch Talon in the face so bloody hard!! He's such an idiot when it comes to Finn doing his job, he really is! I get he cares for Finn, very much so, but Finn came into Talon's world as his WORK partner, and that has to be front and centre. But no, Talon's reaction to Finn going undercover is to bury his head in the sand, and ignore Finn. So much so, Finn thinks to leave Florida and find himself some who really appreciates him.

But in Talon's defense, he is dealing with his ever increasing powers, taking on the powers of the other team members, and it does take its toll on him.

I found this one a little more explicit than book one, as Talon and Finn's physical relationship seems to be the outlet for their work situations frustration, for BOTH of them. No complaining, min, no ma'am not at all! Even though I wanted to punch Talon, he does somewhat redeem himself when they get home!

The missing children has *some* conclusion, but there are still some unanswered questions. We meet some new people, both Enhanced and regular.

When Talon finally gets his head out his ass, and *literally* explodes, it's Finn that brings him back from the brink. Finn's words said to him, that words Talon longed to hear, and indeed say, manage to clear his mind and focus in time to save them both.

Nick J Russo again narrates. I love his narration again. His voices are clear, and consistent across both books, and I have no trouble following multi person conversations. His reading voice is deep and even, making it such an easy listen!

Russo gets all of Finn's emotions when Talon almost blanks him, and I felt for Finn, I really did. Listening to a book is such a different experience to reading, and the narrator makes listening to this book such a pleasure.

Of course, a narrator can ONLY reads the words he's given and if Victoria Sue continues to write about these guys, I'm gonna be listening! (I don't like to flip between listening and reading in a series, I find I lose something if I do!)

Off to listen to book three, Beneath The Mask. I've a feeling Gael is in a world of hurt and the guys don't really know how deep it goes!

5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Five Minutes Longer (Enhanced #1)
Five Minutes Longer (Enhanced #1)
Victoria Sue | 2017 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
different but brilliant
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the AUDIO file of this book.

Some 30 years ago, children began waking up with a mark on their faces and enhanced abilities: speed, strength, mental abilities. Talon, now given the job of setting up a human/enhanced task force within the FBI, was one of the first. He doesn't want to work with normals on his team, but this task force is his, and the other enhanced team members, last chance at becoming a useful member of society, not just a mark on his face. Finn wanted to join the FBI forever, and worked hard to get to apply, but he is not accepted. Instead he gets a cryptic phone and flies to Florida, and finds himself face to face with several huge enhanced, one of whom makes Finn want that boyfriend he never had. They have four weeks to make this team work, do or, quite possibly, die.

Oooooo-eeeee! Loved this! Different, very different and different is always good in my book!

The guys on the team really don't want Finn around, but know they gotta put up with him, at least for a little bit, but he grows on them, Talon especially but Talon fights that attraction all the bloody way, and when he finally gives up the fight?? Oh yes ma'am, that boy falls hard and he falls FAST! And when Finn gets caught in the cross fire at a bank robbery?? Talon goes all MAJOR Alpha-Male- Protect-What's-Mine!

I loved that not everything is fully revealed about the guys abilities, I think there is quite a bit more to come!

Nick J Russo narrates and he does a sterling job! He's a firm favourite of mine, and each and every time I listen to his work, it becomes my NEW favourite!

Russo's voices are clear and distinctive, even in multi person conversations. He reading voice is deep and even and I had no trouble, not at all, keeping up.

He gets cross all of Finn's emotions and his reactions to the guys, to Talon. His intense dislike of his brother and how his mum was with his dad. Russo gets across all of Talon's fighting, and that boy fights hard, his feelings for Finn, and you get just how much Finn means to him, when he thinks Finn is lost.

This is book one, there appears to be an underlying story arc running through these books, and I look forward to watching that unfold, and to watching these guys fall, like dominoes, one by one.

Off to listen to book 2, which is a continuation of Finn and Talon's story.

5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Star Wars: Before the Awakening
Star Wars: Before the Awakening
Greg Rucka, Phil Noto (illustrations) | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Star Wars: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka is a collection of 3 shorter stories, one each about Finn, Rey, and Poe that more or less leads up to The Force Awakens movie. While neither is reliant on needing knowledge of the other (if you've seen the movie, for instance, you don't need to read the book), the book does flesh out a little background on the characters before we're introduced to them in the movie, so if you like the movie, I'd say this would be a great companion piece to read.
  
Blood (The McLeod Brothers Trilogy #3)
Blood (The McLeod Brothers Trilogy #3)
Lorelei Johnson | 2023 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BLOOD is the third and final book in The McLeod Brothers trilogy and it's Finn's turn. He is the playboy brother, the one with a different woman every night. Fate matches him with Adelyn, a rare female vampire who is wanted by big bad Caine.

Adelyn is a great character, both strong and sassy even when her situation is dire. She will not be forced to bow to anyone, whether that is someone she loathes (Caine) or her fated mate. I loved reading about her solutions to problems and double-crossings with Caine as she tried to find out what he was up to so she could win her freedom.

Finn; well then. Finn, I had a small problem with. You see, there's been a lot made of him being captured by vampires when he was younger, and how he was changed when he came back. I wanted to know more about that - especially considering his fated is a vampire! Instead, I just got that he didn't feel the same about Adelyn. It felt a little flat, somehow. I never found out how he was captured, how he escaped/was released, how he coped with what had happened; things like that.

I also felt that Finn and Adelyn's personal story was a little overshadowed by Caine and their machinations to bring him to justice.

A good addition to the series but I was left wanting more.

** 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!
Jul 13, 2023
  
TT
Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Teagan is sure she’s just your average girl… until a horrible twist of events convinces her that she is being hunted by goblins, for a reason she doesn’t understand, and her father is kidnapped by them. She and her quirky brother, Aiden, and her cousin-by-adoption Finn set off into the world she never knew existed to try and solve the mysteries of her past.

And it would be a whole lot easier if Finn wasn’t so darn distracting. Because it’s really hard to concentrate on hiding and finding food and running from hell hounds when you’re head over heels in love.

I tore through Tyger Tyger as fast as Finn swept Teagan off her feet (very fast). The story is fast-paced, exciting, and irresistible, with a great combination of mystery, suspense, and romance.

Finn is the bad boy we all want… rough, tough, and willing to do anything from skipping a meal to breaking an arm for the girl he loves. His rough exterior and his cold demeanor only make his love for Teagan more special. He was certainly my favorite character, followed closely by Teagan’s little brother, Aiden. He’s a funny quirky sort of kid who seems to be able to cause problems and solve them at the same time.

The plot and the pacing were fantastic! There were so many secrets and questions, and the way they were revealed was perfect.

The things that weren’t perfect about the book were these: The writing was clear and descriptive, though a little hard to understand at times. The only thing that felt lacking was Teagan and Finn’s relationship. It felt like it just barely got started… and the book ended. But on the other hand, it was definitely real, and not any of that sappy love based solely on attraction stuff. Lastly, I don’t really think the title describes the book, and the cover—though breathtakingly artistic—doesn’t say much about the book either. But none of this really took away from the enjoyment and the satisfaction at the end—the end was really cute, by the way!

I adored Tyger Tyger and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
  
Adventure Time: v. 2
Adventure Time: v. 2
Braden Lamb, Ryan North, Shelli Parline | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second volume of Adventure Time comics! I loved it even more than the first!

So in these episodes, Finn and Jake go on a crazy time adventure, thanks to Princess Bubblegum's amazing invention. At first, it's all just a bit of fun - until PB decides the time machine is too dangerous and must be destroyed. Of course, Jake already had plans to use it and attempts to repair the machine. This leads to some strange outcomes...

The main characters in this volume are BMO and PB (other than Finn and Jake, of course). There are also mentions of several other characters, including a strange Finn-Jake hybrid named Tim. Oh, and there are a ton of robots. (Thanks, BMO.)

As usual, the graphics are superb. One of my favourite parts is still the "cover gallery" at the end, with alternate covers for each issue. I also like the little side-notes included at the bottom of some pages, often breaking the fourth wall and referring to the TV show. I do, however, sometimes feel like they're trying a bit too hard to be funny. Eh, I might just be a picky reader.

I really do love these comics - they're fun and enjoyable and relaxing to read. The art is lovely and the stories are just a bit of fun, really. Of course, there are some pretty meaningful morals hidden under all the jokes, too.

Easily 4.5 stars for this volume. Colourful and funny and unique!