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Crystal Shard (Paladins of Crystal. #1)
Crystal Shard (Paladins of Crystal. #1)
Nicola M. Cameron | 2022 | Paranormal, Romance
10
9.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Amazing world building!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Oooooohhhhh! I loved this! I really did!

The thing I loved the most, was there wasn't that info dump you get in some fantasy books. When Crystal gets pulled into the rose bush and spat out the other side, she has to learn everything about where she now is. And as she learns, we learn. So, it comes in dribs and drabs, just enough for you to process that bit and move on to the next. Loved that, it meant I could fully engage with the characters, instead of trying to keep up with information. Excellent world building!

I loved that Crystal has her say in the first person, and the Paladins, her group of protectors at this point, have their say in the third. Different, yes, but I loved that it was.

And I say at this point, because given what happens at the end (which, to be honest I saw coming, but hey, still loved it!) things will change in future books.

I've not tagged it as romance or multi partner YET, cos there isn't any romance, and the only smexy times is in dreams, for both Crystal and the guys. But it's coming, oh yes, it's a-coming!

Obviously, things aren't smooth sailing, and I've an idea who might be wanting to cause all this trouble. I'm fairly certain they aren't done yet.

So, when is the next one out? Cos I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED it!

This is the second book of Cameron's I tried to read. I didn't much care for the first one, but this?? Bloody loved it!

5 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
All the Wrong Pages (Collier Creek)
All the Wrong Pages (Collier Creek)
Katherine McIntyre | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved this!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 of 6 in the Collier Creek multi author series; you don't need to read the other books first. But you NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED to read them, OK?? Cos all these books, and I have 2 more to read, have been awesome!

Logan and Cooper have been butting heads ever since high school when Logan stole Cooper's date for prom. Logan has crushed on Coop for as long, and it's become second nature. But then Cooper was made to see, really SEE why Logan is driving him nuts, and an overheard conversation crosses the T's and dots the I's. And then?? Logan is his, but will Logan let Coop in??

What I loved the most about this, was the dawning realisation that Coop had. It sort of crept up on him, till it hit him upside the head and then he ran with it. It was like a light bulb went off in his head and once he made the connection between Logan's behaviour and Logan's feelings?? Holy Moly!!

I loved the chemistry between these two. Hawt off the page, once they make the move. Loved that Coop never realised how perfect for him Logan was, before he got his hands and mouth on him. LOVED the smexy times!!

Again, super low angst. Most of the drama is before they get together, and that which comes after is not relationship based, but job based. But loved how both their work issues were solved in one fell swoop! It does lead nicely into a new series from McIntyre, too.

I can't fault this, really I can't. I just wish I could give them all more stars!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
40x40

Debbiereadsbook (1444 KP) rated Bendy in Books

Oct 29, 2023  
Bendy
Bendy
Erin M. Leaf | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
far too short!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.


So! Jumping straight in, much like the book.


I liked this, a lot, but my overall feeling about this is : too flipping short!! 40 odd pages, 20 minutes, less than the time it takes to drink a cuppa tea, and the whole book takes place in one day.


Ben splits from his girlfriend and his best friend, Josh, gets him to explain why. This leads to a conversation about feelings and then they are having the smexy times!


And that, my dear peeps, is it. Apart from the trip to visit Ben's ex girlfriend and what happens there. Which was kinda hilarious, and very much something I saw coming!


Because it's such a short book, there is very little build up, or character background and I missed that.


I liked that once Ben and Josh realise their feelings for each other, they jump straight in. I liked that they both get a say, even if it flips between them mid chapter. There is a break, but still.


I would also have liked an epilogue, sometime later. Just to catch up with them and how things were going.


First I've read of this author, I'd like to read a longer book, with more to get my teeth into.


Still, I did like it, I did enjoy it, and it passed a short time while the other half watched his bikes going round!


So, I'm flipping between 3 and 4 stars, and because you can't do half stars on some sites, I'm gonna err on the lower side. I just wish it were longer, you know??


3 very good stars


*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Second Sight of a Zachary Cloudesley
The Second Sight of a Zachary Cloudesley
Sean Lusk | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don’t quite know how I can write anything about this book and still do it justice! It’s a wide sweeping novel, that takes the reader from a clockmakers in London to Constantinople.

Starting in 1754, Zachary is born on the day that his mother dies. His father, Abel, loves him fiercely, and wants to always do his best for him, which brings a Mrs Grace Morley and her baby daughter Leonora into their lives. She’s a strong, forceful woman who is to leave an impression on everyone that meets her.

After a near-fatal accident leaves Zachary blind in one eye, his father sends him to live part of the year with his Aunt Frances. This is another strong, independent woman who is determined to make Zachary the son she never had. She sees in Zachary the gift that his mother had: the ability to read people and see inside to their hopes, wishes and dreams - and also their not-so-positive thoughts.

Abel finds himself forced to go to Constantinople, and Zachary begins to have visions that send him on a chase across Europe to find his father after he loses contact with him.

The descriptions of London, Frances’ house and land, and those of Constantinople are rich and detailed - I could have been there. I was gripped from the first page, immersed in an 18th century world where lives were at stake and a boy had to be brave to save the life of his father. I loved Aunt Frances and Tom, Abel’s apprentice, who both join the Cloudesley’s in Constantinople.

The love between the characters is bright and clear, and their losses are the readers losses as well (I cried). This is historical fiction, an adventure story with a dash of fantasy and the love of family and good friends.

Highly recommended.
  
Designation: Submissive (The Designation Series #1)
Designation: Submissive (The Designation Series #1)
Jamie Kassel | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
different. but hard work.
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I'm not really sure what I feel about this book, to be honest but I will try to explain.

I liked the blurb, it grabbed me so that's why I read it, and the blurb fits the book well.

I did found this book to have a lot of *noise* for want of a better word. Both Criag and Sam go off on pages and pages of internal monologues and it made for distracting reading, especially when that monologue lands slap bang in the middle of the smexy times!

And there are a LOT of smexy times. I'm not ashamed to say I ove my books on the steamier side, but I like some STORY too.

I mean, very quickly, you know what is going to happen: it's all laid out for you. And...........................that's it!

More world and character building would have been nice, but in a much less instructional way, you know? I almost felt I was being told to listen and take in all in, all in one go, and I really don't like that.

I've not tagged it as romancce, because, to be honest, I didn't get it. Sam wanted and sub and Craig wanted his own Dominant and they get that.

What I do want to know, though, is what happened to Robert, a side character who has disappeared. Now, there is a second book that tells us, and I really REALLY want to read that. Robert is a Dominant with some extra skills that Sam does not have.

Kassel has a large back catalogue. I've not read any of their work before. I might go pick a random one and read something else.

A good 3 star read.

* same worded review will appear elsewhere