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Renovated (Chance Brothers #1)
Renovated (Chance Brothers #1)
Nikki Kiley | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Im invested in these people, and this is only book one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Marisa needs funds to save her grandmother's building. Working with Levi and his brothers on a network renovation show, shouldn't be too hard, right? But the contract has a no sex clause, and the attraction between them is getting hotter by the second. Plus, there is the minor issue of totally redoing the plans for this renovation, within the time scale and budget already agreed. Piece of cake, right?

Oh! I've just made a discovery! This book is the first of this author, and I have to say, she proper nailed it!

I really liked this. It sprung some things at me I didn't see coming, but after, I saw the clues. I just didn't put them together fast enough!

I liked that the attraction between Marisa and Levi is scorching right from the start, and they are both fully aware that the clause in their network could cost them both this job and future ones, but they still give in to it. I loved that Levi was very quickly willing to admit he wants so much more, at least to himself. Marisa was slower, but when you know WHY, it makes a lot of sense.

It's that WHY that I've filed this on my "darker/grittier" shelf. Marisa past is not an easy read, but the full description is needed to get the point across. You need to know what happened to Marisa when she was just 13 years old, to see the woman she has become today, and what she does for others.

I loved Marisa's group of friends, and I loved Levi's brothers. I'm assuming that this series will be about either/or group finding love, given as Levi's brother and the producer of the show they are working on, are in the next book.

I'm invested in these people, and this is only book one. Keep 'em coming, please!

a steamy, but emotional, 4 star read!

**same worded review will appear elsewhere​*
  
Strength Check (Dungeons and Dating #1)
Strength Check (Dungeons and Dating #1)
Katherine McIntyre | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book, right? This book has a little bit of everything, and then some!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Melody moves clear across the country, to share with Roxie, for a new job. Both women are hurting from bad break ups and jumping into something new isn't on either of their agendas, but sometimes, the heart wins out. Can they leave their baggage behind?

This book, right? This book has a little bit of everything, and then some!

It's got a whole lotta love between the group of friends that Roxie introduces Mel to, and I loved the way they fully pulled her into their fold, very quickly. Very quickly, those friends pegged that Rox has feeling for Mel, and not in a roommate kind of way! That she continues to deny it, at least out loud, is amusing, especially as Mel is doing the exact same thing!

It's got drama, from both Mel and Rox. Mel's is her job and her ex. Rox' is her mum and the way her ex left her feeling about herself.

It's got steam! Mel and Rox do get there, yes they do, but it takes them time, and I wasn't sure if this book would come out clean, at first. It doesn't, but it takes til waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay past halfway for them to get there. BUT! They needed that time, I think, to get their heads round how they felt about each other and getting over their past heartbreaks.

Loved the business these guys have, the Tabletop Tavern, a board game cafe. Some of the game references I didn't get, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book. Fully fledged gamers will get them all, I'm sure!

There are stories for the friends to be told, and I can't wait to read them! The next book is laid out here, but I've no idea what might happen there, and in future books.

A wonderful read, it really was.

5 full and shiny stars.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Giving the Dragon Fire
Giving the Dragon Fire
Victoria Jayne | 2024 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
more of an emotional connection would have been nice!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Gideon meets Ella and their chemistry is smokin! Literally! But Ella can't possibly be his mate, since she is human and dragons only mate with dragons. Right?

I liked this, for the most part. It's 250 odd pages, but it's a quick read, and an easy one.

I liked that both Gideon and Ella have a say. I liked that they are both suffering this attraction thing, and it's messing with both their equilibriums. I liked the smexiness level, it really is smokin hot.

BUT

I didn't like the smexiness level! Contradicting myself I know, but lemme explain.

Every time these two cross paths, there is smex. EVERY time. And while I do like my books on the steamier side, I do like some story with my steam, ok? And for a while, I was gonna dump this simply because all Ella and Gideon did was have smex. *I* found it too much, and that has to be saying something!!

So, what I'm trying to say is, I would have liked some other connecton between Ella and Gideon that wasn't horizontal. More of an emotional connection would have been nice. Once they decide to give this mate thing a go, the book then ends with an epilogue and I wanted more of that interim period.

I also was a bit lost as to Gideon getting his fire. He was convinced that Ella wasn't his mate because she couldn't give the dragon his fire. Then all of a sudden, he had it. Something happened (but spoilers!), but one scene he didn't, then he next, he did. No explaination as to HOW he got it.

So, some gaps in the plot, but once I got over my hissy fit, and finished the book, I can honestly say, I liked it. And it's the first I've read of this author. I'd like to read more of this group of people.

3 good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere