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The Sterling Acquisition (Manufactured Mates #1)
The Sterling Acquisition (Manufactured Mates #1)
Gale Ian Tate | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE STERLING ACQUISITION is the first book in the Manufactured Mates series, and introduces you to a dystopian Omegaverse. Dante works for Gensyn and has gone to the SVI sector, all in the name of corporate espionage. As part of that plan, he meets with Leo, an alpha who is well-known for having a troublesome omega, Orion. Leo is supposed to be his 'in' for the espionage, but instead, Dante becomes obsessed with Orion. What follows is a story of (literally) how one person can change the other.

This was a great, different story that I not only enjoyed but also appreciated. I don't know if I'd survive in that world, especially not in the corporate world, as their corporate-speak left me cold. In fact, I nearly gave up on the story because I didn't like it that much! Stick with it - it gets better, I promise. The corporate-speak is there for a reason, and you will easily see the difference it marks as the story progresses.

Evenly paced and well written, this story hooked me in. The main characters are great, and are also ably supported by side characters, all of whom have hidden depths. Well, most of them. I look forward to returning to this world and seeing more of how the Primal Triad develops.

** 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!
Aug 28, 2025
  
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ClareR (6225 KP) rated Medea in Books

Nov 23, 2025  
Medea
Medea
Rosie Hewlett | 2024 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We’ve all heard the story of Medea, and Rosie Hewlett has decided to tackle it from a different angle. History and stories of the time, written by men, aren’t particularly kind to women - especially when the woman in question is clever and has knowledge that the men don’t have. That’s why these powerful women in history and stories were portrayed as evil or as witches (and sometimes both).

Medea is shunned by her family because of her magic, so when the ever-so-attractive Jason turns up with an exit plan, Medea decides to help him escape and take her with him. She’s obsessed with him: he pays her attention, and she’s never had anyone pay her attention in a good way before. But as his ardour wanes and he realises that Medusa is a liability, he cheats on her in a big way - and Medea is enraged. She will have her revenge.

I don’t blame her.

I liked that we learn her motivation for her radical actions - and I empathised with her. The first person narrative certainly helped with that. I didn’t agree with how she went about her revenge, but it was effective 🤷🏼‍♀️. You don’t often read about Hekate, either. I’m hoping Nikita Gill’s new book will sort that out (and I have it on my kindle to read!).

This is a dark story. Medea is complex and flawed, but at the same time, she’s so interesting to read about. I’d really recommend this book! Female rage is always good to read about 😉
  
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Never Never in Books

Oct 23, 2022  
Never Never
Never Never
Serena Valentino | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Serena Valentino’s books are amazing. This is the story of Captain Hook that I never knew that I needed.
We find out how Captain Hook learnt of Neverland in the first place… when he was a child he fell out of his pram and ended up in Neverland. He then spent the rest of his childhood years trying to get back there, when he realised he couldn’t, he decided that he was going to become and pirate and spent all of his years in school learning everything there was to know about pirates and ships so that when he graduated, he could join up and live out his dream.
This book not only gives us a backstory about Captain Hook, but we also have some pirate tales added in, with stories of Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. This just helps to give the book a little more depth around the backstory.
We also get to revisit Circe and Lucinda again, with Lucinda being as deceitful as ever and Circe still trying to fix everything her mothers have messed up. Although I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, but that just made the book better in my opinion.
Although it’s a short book, I didn’t feel like the story was rushed in the slightest. And as with all of the other villains books, I started to feel some sympathy towards Captain Hook and understood how he became the person that he is in Peter Pan.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Gone for Gouda in Books

Jan 9, 2023 (Updated Jan 9, 2023)  
Gone for Gouda
Gone for Gouda
Korina Moss | 2022 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Preempts Author Event
Willa Bauer is thrilled to be hosting a stop for Phoebe Winston on her tour promoting her new cookbook. The celebrity chef is sure to bring in lots of people to Willa’s new cheese shop. However, when Willa meets Phoebe, she discovers the author is a bit of a diva, with demands that make the event a much harder prospect than Willa bargained for. Then Phoebe is murdered in the house she was renting in the area, with Willa’s employee Archie the last person on the property’s security system. Can Willa figure out what happened?

I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this was even stronger. We meet Phoebe long enough to know what a pain she is before she dies, but then we learn even more, opening up the suspect pool. The climax becomes a race to figure things out, and I was along for the twists that kept coming at that point. I was thrilled that the supporting players got a bigger role this time around. They are fantastic, and I enjoyed spending time with all of them. I grew up in Sonoma County, so I have a special connection with the setting even if I did have to move my mental map of the fictional town where most of the action takes place. This book will leave you hungry for cheese, so the three recipes at the end will be welcome. I’m already anxious to see what happens to Willa and the others in the next in the series.