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Jane Austen: pocket GIANTS
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There's something about Jane...Jane Austen lived only just into her forties, never married, never...
Mrs Moneypenny's Financial Advice for Independent Women
Moneypenny and Heather McGregor
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Get a money makeover from the legendary FT columnist, Mrs Moneypenny, author of Mrs Moneypenny's...
Quantum Field Theory: Introductions to Quantum Gravity, Supersymmetry and String Theory: 2016: Part 2
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This book takes a pedagogical approach to explaining quantum gravity, supersymmetry and string...
Borzoi (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)
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This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Borzoi serves as a complete introduction to beautiful,...
Spark of Madness (Ember Glen #1)
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In Ember Glen, men purge under the full moon. It’s the duty of women to serve them. When Mercy...
Adult Dark Romance Dystopian
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated Love All in Books
Feb 1, 2023
steamy and emotional, but dark in places!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
On the tennis courts and in the sheets, Nate and Olivia are perfect. Elsewhere, not so much. Can they really make a go of it?
Sometimes, I have issues will college aged characters, mostly cos I'm way older than that. These two though, are perfect for each other and I loved them both!
Olivia is working hard to make ends meet: Nate doesn't have to. Olivia tars Nate with the same brush she uses for all entitled men, and steers clear. But something changes as they get to know each other properly. Olivia is big enough to admit she might have been a teeny bit wrong about Nate.
But when Olivia gets the shock of a person entering her life she never knew, things spiral out of control for Olivia. She will not become like her mother. Nate wants to help, but only makes things worse.
I loved how these two bantered off each other. There is a good deal of passion between them, and it burns bright and hot, right through the book. Well, dims a little but given what happens, hardly surprising.
I loved that Olivia made Nate think about his own family situation and that there are ways out of it, if he just takes that step.
Its steamy and smexy, but emotional and a bit dark in places, when Olivia explains about her tattoo.
First I've read of this author, AND the first tennis book! I will admit, while both Olivia and Nate play tennis here, the actual playing of tennis is not described in any great detail and I liked that. As the least sporty person on the planet, I appreciated that. But I'd like to read more by this author, I like how she spins and tells her tales.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
On the tennis courts and in the sheets, Nate and Olivia are perfect. Elsewhere, not so much. Can they really make a go of it?
Sometimes, I have issues will college aged characters, mostly cos I'm way older than that. These two though, are perfect for each other and I loved them both!
Olivia is working hard to make ends meet: Nate doesn't have to. Olivia tars Nate with the same brush she uses for all entitled men, and steers clear. But something changes as they get to know each other properly. Olivia is big enough to admit she might have been a teeny bit wrong about Nate.
But when Olivia gets the shock of a person entering her life she never knew, things spiral out of control for Olivia. She will not become like her mother. Nate wants to help, but only makes things worse.
I loved how these two bantered off each other. There is a good deal of passion between them, and it burns bright and hot, right through the book. Well, dims a little but given what happens, hardly surprising.
I loved that Olivia made Nate think about his own family situation and that there are ways out of it, if he just takes that step.
Its steamy and smexy, but emotional and a bit dark in places, when Olivia explains about her tattoo.
First I've read of this author, AND the first tennis book! I will admit, while both Olivia and Nate play tennis here, the actual playing of tennis is not described in any great detail and I liked that. As the least sporty person on the planet, I appreciated that. But I'd like to read more by this author, I like how she spins and tells her tales.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated A Star to Sail By in Books
Sep 9, 2023
loved being kept on my toes!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Crispin wanted to be in the Navy, and now he finds himself on a pirate ship, helping them. But these pirates aren't like anything he heard about and Billy, especially, calls to him for reasons he can't figure out. Billy knows though, and it takes a storm to bring them finally to admit to each other what they could be.
What I especially liked about this, was being kept on my toes!
We are aware that something happened to Crispin to mean he is surviving on a merchant ship, and is no longer in the Royal Navy, but not WHY. We know Billy hates Naval officers, but not WHY. And we get the answers to both almost at the same time. Very different reasons, but equally devastating to them. I'm not going to go into it, for spoilers, but difficult reading, Billy's especially. Be mindful of the trigger warnings on this book.
It's not especially explicit, but I didn't mind that here. It's more about the feeling these two men have for each other, and knowing that they can be together, in this time, and be safe.
It is, however, quite violent. These pirates are ...reasonable...in their behaviours, but things happen and then Crispin and Billy are dealt a nasty blow. The level of violence is not graphic, though it does carry some detailed descriptions of punishments and the aftermath. Also, the reason Billy hates Naval officers is described in some detail.
It's not a complicated read, and I found I read it faster than I normally would for a book of this length, some 370 pages.
First I've read of this author, I like the way she spins her tales. I'll certainly read more by this author.
A very enjoyable, 4 star read
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Crispin wanted to be in the Navy, and now he finds himself on a pirate ship, helping them. But these pirates aren't like anything he heard about and Billy, especially, calls to him for reasons he can't figure out. Billy knows though, and it takes a storm to bring them finally to admit to each other what they could be.
What I especially liked about this, was being kept on my toes!
We are aware that something happened to Crispin to mean he is surviving on a merchant ship, and is no longer in the Royal Navy, but not WHY. We know Billy hates Naval officers, but not WHY. And we get the answers to both almost at the same time. Very different reasons, but equally devastating to them. I'm not going to go into it, for spoilers, but difficult reading, Billy's especially. Be mindful of the trigger warnings on this book.
It's not especially explicit, but I didn't mind that here. It's more about the feeling these two men have for each other, and knowing that they can be together, in this time, and be safe.
It is, however, quite violent. These pirates are ...reasonable...in their behaviours, but things happen and then Crispin and Billy are dealt a nasty blow. The level of violence is not graphic, though it does carry some detailed descriptions of punishments and the aftermath. Also, the reason Billy hates Naval officers is described in some detail.
It's not a complicated read, and I found I read it faster than I normally would for a book of this length, some 370 pages.
First I've read of this author, I like the way she spins her tales. I'll certainly read more by this author.
A very enjoyable, 4 star read
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated Hanging with Daddy (Pride Pet Play 2023) in Books
Jun 13, 2023
cute and sweet but maybe not for me.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, i was gifted my copy of this book.
I love JP Sayle, you know I do. I've watched the skill this author has grow from the very beginning, and I'm incredibly proud of the work this author continues to produce.
But!
This one I found a little too sweet for me, and I hate that I did.
It's well told, from both Gaines and Austin's point of view. It's the first I've of a koala as a chosen pet for play, and at times, I did find the koala stuff too much. There were koalas in everything, EVERYTHING Gaines did, and it was a bit overpowering.
I loved that both men had an immediate and powerful reaction to the other, and both men, once they started to get to know each other, were fully able to adapt and bend to the others' needs, without sacrificing their own. I liked that Austin gave Gaines time to work things out in his head, before he came to Austin, even if it killed Austin to wait.
I loved that we got to catch up with Terrence and Warner from A Little Christmas, Terrence. It's always great catching up with characters fromprevious reads, even in those that can stand alone from others.
I really liked that, while some things *little* were mentioned in passing, and others were talked about, Gaines doesn't slip far into little-space. He's more a pet-space kinda guy and I did like that. LOVED the descriptions of Gaines climbing Austin like a pole! LOVED them!!
It's steamy and smexy, not overly emotional and there is no real drama, save for Gaines getting his head straight to talk to Austin.
It just didn't really work for me, and I hate that it didn't! I'm sorry, Jayne!
3 good, but not really for me, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
I love JP Sayle, you know I do. I've watched the skill this author has grow from the very beginning, and I'm incredibly proud of the work this author continues to produce.
But!
This one I found a little too sweet for me, and I hate that I did.
It's well told, from both Gaines and Austin's point of view. It's the first I've of a koala as a chosen pet for play, and at times, I did find the koala stuff too much. There were koalas in everything, EVERYTHING Gaines did, and it was a bit overpowering.
I loved that both men had an immediate and powerful reaction to the other, and both men, once they started to get to know each other, were fully able to adapt and bend to the others' needs, without sacrificing their own. I liked that Austin gave Gaines time to work things out in his head, before he came to Austin, even if it killed Austin to wait.
I loved that we got to catch up with Terrence and Warner from A Little Christmas, Terrence. It's always great catching up with characters fromprevious reads, even in those that can stand alone from others.
I really liked that, while some things *little* were mentioned in passing, and others were talked about, Gaines doesn't slip far into little-space. He's more a pet-space kinda guy and I did like that. LOVED the descriptions of Gaines climbing Austin like a pole! LOVED them!!
It's steamy and smexy, not overly emotional and there is no real drama, save for Gaines getting his head straight to talk to Austin.
It just didn't really work for me, and I hate that it didn't! I'm sorry, Jayne!
3 good, but not really for me, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated Royally Arranged (The Royal Series #2) in Books
May 22, 2024
sometimes, you need to see whats coming at ya!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Royal Series. I have not read book one, Royally Screwed and a quick read of that blurb tells me you don't need to read that one before this. Those characters do not appear in this book. It's also the first book I've read of Mallory's. I'll come back to that.
Rafe needs a wife, a temporary arrangement, while his twin brother, his ELDER twin, gets a clean bill of health. A business arrangement which Astoria enters, with a shelf life to the arrangement. At least it started as such.
I liked this. It follows a proven track: an arranged marriage; they have sex (which wasn't part of the arrangement) there is a major fall out, and then a make up, and all is happy in the world. And sometimes you need to see what's coming at ya, like a freight train, and ain't nothin' you can do to stop it. And I LIKED that in this book!
It's steamy in places, but I didn't find it overly heavy on the smexy times. I didn't find it particularly emotional, either. Rafe lost his wife and son, but you don't FEEL that pain from him.
I think that is what I missed the most in the book: emotional connection. Yes, they have smex and do all the things they are supposed to, but I didn't find an EMOTIONAL connection between them. They do say those three little words, but again, I didn't FEEL the love between them.
As I said, my first book by Mallory. I'd like to delve into the backlist of this author to see if I can find that connection. Might just be how the author writes, is all.
So, because I felt that was missing, I gave this book
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Royal Series. I have not read book one, Royally Screwed and a quick read of that blurb tells me you don't need to read that one before this. Those characters do not appear in this book. It's also the first book I've read of Mallory's. I'll come back to that.
Rafe needs a wife, a temporary arrangement, while his twin brother, his ELDER twin, gets a clean bill of health. A business arrangement which Astoria enters, with a shelf life to the arrangement. At least it started as such.
I liked this. It follows a proven track: an arranged marriage; they have sex (which wasn't part of the arrangement) there is a major fall out, and then a make up, and all is happy in the world. And sometimes you need to see what's coming at ya, like a freight train, and ain't nothin' you can do to stop it. And I LIKED that in this book!
It's steamy in places, but I didn't find it overly heavy on the smexy times. I didn't find it particularly emotional, either. Rafe lost his wife and son, but you don't FEEL that pain from him.
I think that is what I missed the most in the book: emotional connection. Yes, they have smex and do all the things they are supposed to, but I didn't find an EMOTIONAL connection between them. They do say those three little words, but again, I didn't FEEL the love between them.
As I said, my first book by Mallory. I'd like to delve into the backlist of this author to see if I can find that connection. Might just be how the author writes, is all.
So, because I felt that was missing, I gave this book
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated Make Them Cry (Pretty Deadly Things #2) in Books
Dec 9, 2025
really enjoying these books!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, but it's not necessary to read Make Them Bleed, book 1, first. Recommended by me, but not necessary.
River works with Gage, but he gets under her skin, not in a good way. When the online harassment gets personal and much closer to her than before, she turns to the dark web for help. Enter Mask, who promises he can make them cry. But who is he really, and just who can River trust, when people are dying?
I am really REALLY enjoying these books, this author in general!
One point I will make: there is a lot, and I mean A LOT of technical stuff in this one. There is a little directory at the beginning, but I will be honest and kinda glazed over those bits. Far too complicated computer lingo for me to follow but I really don't think I missed anything by not fully understanding.
I liked that it took a bit of time for River to figure out it was Gage behind the mask. I liked that it took time for them to get together, hence the slow burn tag.
It took time for the person behind it all to be revealed, and I did like that I did not see that coming. I thought there might be *some* redemption for a certain character, but she made her bed, now needs to deal with the fall out.
I liked that the scene is set for book 3. Comments made here lay out who is next, so I can't wait to read that!
Loved catching up with Juno and Arrow, and the guys at Maddox Security along with the BRAVO team.
This author is fast becoming a firm favourite. Not easy reads, sometimes the subject matter is difficult, but they easy TO read, you know? I know what I mean :-)
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, but it's not necessary to read Make Them Bleed, book 1, first. Recommended by me, but not necessary.
River works with Gage, but he gets under her skin, not in a good way. When the online harassment gets personal and much closer to her than before, she turns to the dark web for help. Enter Mask, who promises he can make them cry. But who is he really, and just who can River trust, when people are dying?
I am really REALLY enjoying these books, this author in general!
One point I will make: there is a lot, and I mean A LOT of technical stuff in this one. There is a little directory at the beginning, but I will be honest and kinda glazed over those bits. Far too complicated computer lingo for me to follow but I really don't think I missed anything by not fully understanding.
I liked that it took a bit of time for River to figure out it was Gage behind the mask. I liked that it took time for them to get together, hence the slow burn tag.
It took time for the person behind it all to be revealed, and I did like that I did not see that coming. I thought there might be *some* redemption for a certain character, but she made her bed, now needs to deal with the fall out.
I liked that the scene is set for book 3. Comments made here lay out who is next, so I can't wait to read that!
Loved catching up with Juno and Arrow, and the guys at Maddox Security along with the BRAVO team.
This author is fast becoming a firm favourite. Not easy reads, sometimes the subject matter is difficult, but they easy TO read, you know? I know what I mean :-)
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere