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Merissa (13303 KP) rated Had a Great Fall (The Wish Makers #4) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
Desiree has been left in charge by Kaf, leaving her to deal with irate Guides and no clear idea of what to do or how to do it. Dara is there as the youngest Guide but is more interested in spending time with her family. And, Robin, poor Robin, he's the maker of the wish that Dara is in charge of Guiding.
Wow, this book had me in tears! For about the last 25% of the book, I had a massive lump in my throat as Robin did what he thought he had to. Dara was neglectful in her duties but then she didn't really make the choice to be a Guide anyway. I won't give anything about the story away as that would be unfair of me. Suffice it to say, this is another star in the crown of Shawn McGuire's Wish Makers series.
The story and plot line flowed smoothly and seamlessly. The characters grow and develop throughout the book, especially Desiree as she learns to find her own path and make choices that she can live with. There were no grammatical or editing issues that I found.
To get the best out of this series, I would recommend reading them in order. Although each story stands by itself, the characters mentioned and how other characters react are all down to the previous stories. I really can't recommend this series highly enough. I love it!
* 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 3, 2015
Wow, this book had me in tears! For about the last 25% of the book, I had a massive lump in my throat as Robin did what he thought he had to. Dara was neglectful in her duties but then she didn't really make the choice to be a Guide anyway. I won't give anything about the story away as that would be unfair of me. Suffice it to say, this is another star in the crown of Shawn McGuire's Wish Makers series.
The story and plot line flowed smoothly and seamlessly. The characters grow and develop throughout the book, especially Desiree as she learns to find her own path and make choices that she can live with. There were no grammatical or editing issues that I found.
To get the best out of this series, I would recommend reading them in order. Although each story stands by itself, the characters mentioned and how other characters react are all down to the previous stories. I really can't recommend this series highly enough. I love it!
* 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 3, 2015
Merissa (13303 KP) rated Remind Me (Mystic Beach Fantasy Rockstar Romances, #4) in Books
Feb 6, 2023
Totally invested with every word!
REMIND ME is the fifth book in the Mystic Beach series and it's time for Dicklan's story! And, oh boy, it's a good 'un. Remember that egotistical jerk, who loved all the groupies, and didn't ever think of anyone but himself? Remember him? Well, he's about to disappear for good as Declan reappears.
This is a long book, which I love. Aislinn Archer's stories always take me to places unknown, with a group of people who are their own found family. I love being the fly on the wall and seeing what happens behind the scenes with them. And Declan and Callie's story was no different. Both of them hurting for the same-but different-reasons.
There are mysteries in here. There are stories not yet told hinted at. There is literally something to keep you turning over every page and totally invested in the story. And one thing I need to add is the amount of research that has been put into all the different dishes. Either that or Ms Archer is a world-renowned chef in her own right!
I loved every word of this story. I love how the other stories intermingle and yet never take the spotlight off our leading couple. And I love the hints of what is to come. Absolutely brilliant, once again, 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is a long book, which I love. Aislinn Archer's stories always take me to places unknown, with a group of people who are their own found family. I love being the fly on the wall and seeing what happens behind the scenes with them. And Declan and Callie's story was no different. Both of them hurting for the same-but different-reasons.
There are mysteries in here. There are stories not yet told hinted at. There is literally something to keep you turning over every page and totally invested in the story. And one thing I need to add is the amount of research that has been put into all the different dishes. Either that or Ms Archer is a world-renowned chef in her own right!
I loved every word of this story. I love how the other stories intermingle and yet never take the spotlight off our leading couple. And I love the hints of what is to come. Absolutely brilliant, once again, 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The Lost Ones (Detective Jackie Cooke #1)
9.0
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The young woman was sitting as though she might get up at any minute, her dark brown hair hanging...
Debbiereadsbook (1536 KP) rated Dexterity Check (Dungeons and Dating #5) in Books
Feb 23, 2023
I wanted to punch Eli a time or two!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 5 in the Dungeons and Dating series. While not strictly necessary to have read books one to 4 before this, I strongly recommend that you do. It will give you a better feel of this group of people and their ever expanding found family. I loved all four of the previous books.
And while I liked this one well enough, there was something different about it and I can't put my finger on it and it pains me so that I can't!
I liked Arjun, and I liked Eli, both together and separately. I liked their interactions with the rest of the group. The progression of their relationship went as I expected it to. I loved Arjun's grandmother and how much love there is between those two! I loved how easy Eli fit into to that.
I did not like how Eli kinda strung Arjun along, when he was making a decision about moving, though! I wanted to punch him a time or two.
BUT! I do understand WHY Eli is the way he is. He has been hurt before, and they both went into this clear and up front as to what it was. It's just those pesky feelings doing their thing that throws a spanner in the works!
I enjoyed this; I really did. It's a welcome addition to the series. I just didn't love it as much as the other 4 books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 5 in the Dungeons and Dating series. While not strictly necessary to have read books one to 4 before this, I strongly recommend that you do. It will give you a better feel of this group of people and their ever expanding found family. I loved all four of the previous books.
And while I liked this one well enough, there was something different about it and I can't put my finger on it and it pains me so that I can't!
I liked Arjun, and I liked Eli, both together and separately. I liked their interactions with the rest of the group. The progression of their relationship went as I expected it to. I loved Arjun's grandmother and how much love there is between those two! I loved how easy Eli fit into to that.
I did not like how Eli kinda strung Arjun along, when he was making a decision about moving, though! I wanted to punch him a time or two.
BUT! I do understand WHY Eli is the way he is. He has been hurt before, and they both went into this clear and up front as to what it was. It's just those pesky feelings doing their thing that throws a spanner in the works!
I enjoyed this; I really did. It's a welcome addition to the series. I just didn't love it as much as the other 4 books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
ClareR (5991 KP) rated The Dog of the North in Books
Mar 3, 2024
I can remember reading Elizabeth Mckenzie’s The Portable Veblen when it came out, and thinking “What on earth am I reading? This is marvellous!!”. I felt exactly the same way when I read The Dog of the North.
Penny’s life is a mess - she will be the first to admit it. Her marriage is over, she has walked out on her job and her house, and now has nowhere to live. However, she finds herself rushing to her grandmother’s rescue when it looks as though Adult Protective Services are going to get involved in her life unless her house is cleaned. Along the way, she meets her grandmother’s accountant whose living conditions also leave a lot to be desired, her biological father makes an appearance, her grandfather needs her help because of his frankly awful second wife, and we get to see Penny’s sister in Australia as Penny and her grandfather make a last ditch attempt to find her mother and stepfather. They had gone missing in the outback five years before, and Penny is finding it difficult to accept that they’re really dead.
This is a really funny book, but boy is it dark. Whilst I was laughing at the predicaments that Penny found herself in, I realised that she seemed to be helping everyone else, and none of these people seemed to be helping or caring for her. She is a quiet voice amidst the shouting and misadventures of her family (her grandmother is really VERY entertaining!), and she just needs someone to take her side and give her a hug (if she’ll let them!).
It’s an uplifting story all in all, and well worth reading.
Penny’s life is a mess - she will be the first to admit it. Her marriage is over, she has walked out on her job and her house, and now has nowhere to live. However, she finds herself rushing to her grandmother’s rescue when it looks as though Adult Protective Services are going to get involved in her life unless her house is cleaned. Along the way, she meets her grandmother’s accountant whose living conditions also leave a lot to be desired, her biological father makes an appearance, her grandfather needs her help because of his frankly awful second wife, and we get to see Penny’s sister in Australia as Penny and her grandfather make a last ditch attempt to find her mother and stepfather. They had gone missing in the outback five years before, and Penny is finding it difficult to accept that they’re really dead.
This is a really funny book, but boy is it dark. Whilst I was laughing at the predicaments that Penny found herself in, I realised that she seemed to be helping everyone else, and none of these people seemed to be helping or caring for her. She is a quiet voice amidst the shouting and misadventures of her family (her grandmother is really VERY entertaining!), and she just needs someone to take her side and give her a hug (if she’ll let them!).
It’s an uplifting story all in all, and well worth reading.
A Small Case of Murder (Joshua Thornton Mystery #1)
9.0
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A Small Case of Murder is set in the quaint West Virginia town of Chester, where everyone knows...
Merissa (13303 KP) rated The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1) in Books
Feb 28, 2025
THE LONG WAY HOME is the first book in the Coming Home series and begins with Marcus and Cory, both broken characters in different ways.
Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.
I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.
I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.
On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.
** 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!
Feb 28, 2025
Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.
I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.
I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.
On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.
** 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!
Feb 28, 2025
A Code of Knights and Deception (Swords of Time #1)
Book
She thought it was real. She was wrong. When Sophia wakes up in 15th-century England, she expects...
Historical Time Travel Romance
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated I Have Lost My Way in Books
Apr 10, 2018
Lovely novel about three very different individuals
Freya, Harun, and Nathaniel. Three very different individuals whose paths are about to collide in New York City. Freya is an aspiring singer who has just lost her voice. Harun is running away-literally-from his loving, yet overbearing family. And Nathaniel is coming to New York following a misguided plan. Soon Freya will fall off a bridge and fatefully bring the three together. Each feels lost and alone in this giant city. Will accidentally finding each other change that?
I very much love Gayle Forman and am always excited when she has a new novel. This one almost felt like a novella, with my hardcopy clocking in at a little over 250 pages. It was a fast, easy read, as I quickly became immersed in the lives of these three different and diverse characters.. The book is told over the course of one day--the day these three individuals meet, but we get flashbacks into their pasts, as well. Each character gets a chance to tell things from their point of view.
Forman is a lovely storyteller, and it's easy to get lost in this book. If anything, the day--and the book--is over too quickly. I found myself drawn to each character for different reasons. They are each vulnerable in their own way, and it's easy to get lost in their stories. I loved how the characters had diverse backgrounds and ethnic origins, as well. It's a beautiful novel, really, with gorgeous writing. The storylines are often touching and heartbreaking, yet the book felt light and airy--buoyed by the unlikely trio's friendship.
The book seems brief and is over very quickly; it left me wanting to know more about all three individuals. It flies by, especially since you skip from one narrator to the next, limiting what you learn about each, and getting snippets doled out over the course of the story. It all comes together by the end, but at that point, I found myself still wanting to learn more about each of our three characters, or have more time in their lives. It's easy to get invested when the characters are so well-formed.
Overall, this is a very easy-to-read book as it flawlessly draws you in with its diverse characters and excellent writing. It often reminded me of another beautiful tale, The Sun Is Also a Star. It's over all too quickly, but is quite enjoyable while it lasts. Definitely a worthy read.
I very much love Gayle Forman and am always excited when she has a new novel. This one almost felt like a novella, with my hardcopy clocking in at a little over 250 pages. It was a fast, easy read, as I quickly became immersed in the lives of these three different and diverse characters.. The book is told over the course of one day--the day these three individuals meet, but we get flashbacks into their pasts, as well. Each character gets a chance to tell things from their point of view.
Forman is a lovely storyteller, and it's easy to get lost in this book. If anything, the day--and the book--is over too quickly. I found myself drawn to each character for different reasons. They are each vulnerable in their own way, and it's easy to get lost in their stories. I loved how the characters had diverse backgrounds and ethnic origins, as well. It's a beautiful novel, really, with gorgeous writing. The storylines are often touching and heartbreaking, yet the book felt light and airy--buoyed by the unlikely trio's friendship.
The book seems brief and is over very quickly; it left me wanting to know more about all three individuals. It flies by, especially since you skip from one narrator to the next, limiting what you learn about each, and getting snippets doled out over the course of the story. It all comes together by the end, but at that point, I found myself still wanting to learn more about each of our three characters, or have more time in their lives. It's easy to get invested when the characters are so well-formed.
Overall, this is a very easy-to-read book as it flawlessly draws you in with its diverse characters and excellent writing. It often reminded me of another beautiful tale, The Sun Is Also a Star. It's over all too quickly, but is quite enjoyable while it lasts. Definitely a worthy read.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Mother-in-Law in Books
May 21, 2019
Lucy was so excited to meet Diana, the mother of her boyfriend, Ollie. Lucy's mother died when she was a teen and she hoped for a good relationship with her hopeful mother-in-law. But Lucy and Diana don't get off to an easy start--Diana has a rigid set of views formed by her own life experiences. From simply co-existing to arguing about parenting to eventual fisticuffs, their relationship is volatile. Then, one night, Lucy and Ollie hear a knock on their door. The police arrive and tell them that Diana is dead in an apparent suicide. But as the investigation progresses, it looks as if there is more to the story. Everyone in the family has history with Diana; but did someone actually kill her?
"'Then I'm very sorry to inform you,' the policewoman starts, and I close my eyes because I already know what she is going to say. My mother-in-law is dead."
This was my first Sally Hepworth novel, and I have heard good things, so I was excited to read some of her work. I found it to be a fast read, with a set of engaging characters. The book alternates between Lucy and Diana's point of view, with much of the story being told in the past. I found the format to be very effective; it worked very well at drawing you into the story and keeping you guessing at what was going on. Many parts of the story were told twice, in some ways, as both women told their side of the story, yet it never felt repetitive.
The main characters in this one are Lucy and Diana, but we have strong appearances from Ollie, his sister Antoinette "Nettie, " and Tom, Diana's husband. I can see why people enjoy Hepworth's novels--I felt very much a part of the story, and I was certainly stumped along the way. Sometimes there was a little too much rumination about mother-in-laws and the meaning of families for my taste, but oh well. I was too eager to find out what had happened to Diana.
"More importantly, you don't choose your mother-in-law. The cackling mercenaries of fate determine it all."
Overall, I really enjoyed my first Hepworth book. It was a quick, engaging, and interesting read that kept my interest.
I received a copy of this novel from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
"'Then I'm very sorry to inform you,' the policewoman starts, and I close my eyes because I already know what she is going to say. My mother-in-law is dead."
This was my first Sally Hepworth novel, and I have heard good things, so I was excited to read some of her work. I found it to be a fast read, with a set of engaging characters. The book alternates between Lucy and Diana's point of view, with much of the story being told in the past. I found the format to be very effective; it worked very well at drawing you into the story and keeping you guessing at what was going on. Many parts of the story were told twice, in some ways, as both women told their side of the story, yet it never felt repetitive.
The main characters in this one are Lucy and Diana, but we have strong appearances from Ollie, his sister Antoinette "Nettie, " and Tom, Diana's husband. I can see why people enjoy Hepworth's novels--I felt very much a part of the story, and I was certainly stumped along the way. Sometimes there was a little too much rumination about mother-in-laws and the meaning of families for my taste, but oh well. I was too eager to find out what had happened to Diana.
"More importantly, you don't choose your mother-in-law. The cackling mercenaries of fate determine it all."
Overall, I really enjoyed my first Hepworth book. It was a quick, engaging, and interesting read that kept my interest.
I received a copy of this novel from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).