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Debbiereadsbook (1617 KP) rated Melting His Grumpy Heart in Books

Nov 12, 2025  
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
  
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Debbiereadsbook (1617 KP) rated Mirror Image in Books

Feb 13, 2024  
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