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Melting His Grumpy Heart
Melting His Grumpy Heart
Ali Ryecart | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
simply wonderful!
Independent reviewer for Neon, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Ms Ryecart does holiday stories like no other and I bloody LOVED this!

The last book Ms Ryecart wrote was dark and deadly. And this?? Is so very NOT those things.

Jake has been hiding himself away, working on his suruvual business. Ru finds himself stranded after his car breaks down and there is a blizzard. What follows is Jake slowly descending into life again, with Ru.

What I loved most about this, was that Jake really did not see it coming! It wasn't a meet cute, with Ru waking up with Jake's gun in his face, but even from that point, I think Ru saw it and jake just did not. And it was a lot, a LOT of fun watching him fall hard and fast and really getting blindsided by Ru, in the best way.

There is no real drama, and it's very low on the ansgt scale. Steamy, of yes! Once these two get down and dirty, it heats up nicely.

But it's emotional in a way I didn't quite see coming, and I'm really not sure why I didn't. Much like Jake, I was somewhat blindsided but I loved that I was. Sometimes, it's really great to be slapped upside the head with emotions that come out of nowhere! Might just be me, but just saying how much I loved the emotional attachment that these two develop.

This is, quite simply, a wonderful tale of 2 men falling in love around the Christmas period and it is Ms Ryecart at her very best.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Mirror Image
Mirror Image
Fran Lewis | 2023 | Horror
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not really for me.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is a short story collection, with tales of reaping what you sow. Of being held accountable for your actions, whether recent or a long time ago.

I think what I struggled the most with was this: the whole book is 85 pages, and there are 24 stories in this collection. So they are VERY short, some only a page or two. And I wanted to get my teeth into them a little more, but couldn't.

Each story is well written, from various points of view. Some are aacrier than others but I read them all. I didn't find myself with a favourite, though. I didn't see any spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading.

It really was just the SHORTNESS of all the stories, that I struggled with. I was just getting into them, and boof! All finished.

What I wanted to know, was where did the mirror come from? How did it come to be in everyone's presence?

I am curious to read something else by this author. Something longer and deeper. I tried to read another short collection some time ago, but didn't get very far with that one and it was only coming to write this review that I clicked it was the same author. So reading a longer book, will tell me one of two things: I like this author, but only their longer work; or this author is not for me. Time will tell.

I did finish the collection, and was suitably cringed at some of them, so:

3 good, but maybe not for me, stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Magelight
Magelight
Kacey Ezell | 2025 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
high octane fantasy at its very best!
Independent reviewer for archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Ok so. You know when you read a blurb, and your mind automatically plans out how it's gonna go? No?? Just me then! Well my mind went one way with this blurb, and the book went the other and I thoroughly enjoyed it BECAUSE it went the opposite way!

Aelys bonds with Vil, Romik and Daen, albeit while trying to save them. They are then bonded in ways long since outlawed in this world. What I especially liked about this, was the fact that all four of them were fighting the bond, right almost til the end. There was none of that *MINE* thing, and, also, no smex! Some reference to it, and there is an amusing scene or two when Aelys is doing something with her power and the power of the guys, but absolutely no smex and this was where I was surprised. I thought, when I read this blurb, it was gonna be all about the smex and the reverse harem thing. And it really isn't and I loved that it surprised me!

What I am left with though, are questions. And for once, I can voice them!

Is there a next book? I felt the ending was kinda meh, and then there was the epilogue that kinda threw me.

The aunt issue?? What happened there?? I was sideswiped by that and I did not see it coming!

Why have I not come across Ezell and her work before?? She has a massive backlist! I would love to read more, especially about this group!

High octane fantasy, at its very best.

4 very VERY good stars.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere.