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The Colorado Gold Rush of the late 1880s both made and broke many people. Among them was Horace Tabor. But the jewel in Tabor's crown wasn't one of his mines, it was the woman he fell in love with, known as "Baby Doe". This biographical, historical, women’s fiction novel is about how Elizabeth McCourt from Oshkosh WI goes to Colorado as Harvey Doe's young bride, and how she ends up as "Baby Doe Tabor". You can read my #bookreview of "Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor" by Rebecca Rosenberg on my blog now! https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/10/31/marriages-of-the-mines/
  
Jewel Cave (Circles #3)
Jewel Cave (Circles #3)
Elizabeth Noble | 2015 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jewel Cave (Circles #3) by Elizabeth Noble
Jewel Cave is the third book in the Circles series, but you can quite easily read it as a standalone as I did. The story focuses Clint and Griff. They have been together for ten years, and are happy with each other. Griff is a US Marshall and Clint is a writer. They have their own issues to deal with, but the main story is about a writer friend of Clint's who goes waaaaay too far.

This was a great story I was really able to enjoy. With plenty of snippets into a writer's life, plus the procedural side of things, there was always something happening for me to get to grips with. I loved how Clint was so strong all the way through, and yet proved himself to be human too. I thought how it was written for both him and Griff afterwards was completely believable, and certainly kept the tension going.

A fantastic read, full of intrigue and danger, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. The pacing was smooth, and the transition from one scene to another was seamless. Thoroughly enjoyed every word, and definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Merissa (11765 KP) rated Full Moon in Leo in Books

Dec 15, 2020 (Updated Aug 8, 2023)  
Full Moon in Leo
Full Moon in Leo
Brooklyn Ray | 2020 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
FULL MOON IN LEO is a standalone novel with the potential to become a series if the other characters speak up. In this story, we meet with Cole, a guy who's done time but for all good reasons (once you actually find out what they are), and Jesse, a trans guy who prefers they/them pronouns, who runs a charming apothecary in Jewel.

Cole has trust issues and is constantly fighting with his family. The only one he doesn't is his aunt, which is how he ends up in Jewel. There, he meets old friends and new and falls - quite literally - for Jesse. Jesse is on the spectrum and very rarely allows himself to like anyone, but Cole gets under his skin in a good way.

The apothecary setting for this novel is great, but you don't really see much more than that, just general descriptions. The pacing is good for the most part but can feel both slow and rushed in places. I would love to know more about Tara and Monica, both of whom have more than a few rough edges.

On the whole, this was an enjoyable read with a seasonal theme. If that's what you're looking for, then I can definitely recommend this book.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 15, 2020
  
The Ruby in the Smoke: A Sally Lockhart Mystery
The Ruby in the Smoke: A Sally Lockhart Mystery
Philip Pullman | 2012 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
A fantastic tale of deceit with a few plot holes
This is the first look at Sally Lockhart's world, in which we discover she was surrounded by lies told by the people closest to her. A scrappy 16-year-old, Sally is forced to revisit her father's mysterious death after receiving an anonymous letter. From there, she becomes entangled in a dangerous plot all about a valuable jewel.

Philip Pullman manages to capture imaginations through another great work, plunging the reader into stories with gripping plots and delightful twists. My only gripe is that there are a few holes in the story, that doesn't explain some issues at the end or culminates too quickly.
  
FM
Fleeting Moments
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
i jumped at a chance to read this book by this author as i really like them and i'm so glad i did. what an amazing story. this story has many twists and turns which will keep you reading long into the night, never wanting to put the book down till you get to the last page. this story is full of passion, emotions and love which will definitely touch your heart. the characters were strong and made you fall in love with them from the very first pages. i cant wait to read more from this author in the future.

highly recommended
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TH
The Hidden City (The House War, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love love love this book. If you haven't read anything else in this universe, you'll be just fine. I've read all the previous books, and plan to go back and re-read them as soon as this bit (duology? triloy? I don't know West's plans) is done.

The only thing that kept it from five stars was the repetitive nature of some characters' internal dialogues. I got the point right away, but I suppose some readers might need more. I don't know that anyone needs to be hit over the head with Rath, Jewel, and Duster's issues, though.

In any case, while huge, the book is well worth reading, and I am eager to read whatever comes next.
  
Dancer with Bruised Knees by Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Dancer with Bruised Knees by Kate & Anna McGarrigle
1977 | Folk, Singer-Songwriter
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I'm especially partial to this one because it has the song 'First Born', which is actually not about me specifically, it's about all first-born sons. But nonetheless, I identify it as my kind of jewel to wear – I share that position with Jesus and Moses, there are a few of us. And it's funny: we did the Christmas shows recently in London and Sophie Ellis-Bextor sang that song, and as I was doing back-up, I was once again reminded of how lucky I was to receive such attention, care and unabashed love from my mother. Without that song, and that album, I don't think I'd be who I am today as an artist."

Source
  
All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
10
8.4 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is another novel from 2015 that just keeps gaining popularity. During World War II a blind, french girl, Marie-Laure is forced to flee Paris for Saint-Malo hiding a jewel from her father’s museum. At the same time we learn about a german orphan Werner Pfennig, naturally adept at fixing radios and enlisted to use his skills to fight and find the French Resistance. Doerr interweaves the two characters lives with skill and attention to detail. His prose is beautifully crafted, drawing you into the past with flair and aplomb. This book took ten years to write and every page shows that not a word was wasted, Doerr rightfully received the Pulitzer Prize for this tome. A beautiful novel that deserves your full attention.
  
Angel Has Fallen (2019)
Angel Has Fallen (2019)
2019 | Action, Drama, Thriller
Surprisingly, Nick Nolte. (0 more)
This wasn't bad at all, in my opinion. More of the same as the first two films - that is to say, a big action movie with lots going on. Was the plot semi-ridiculous? Sure, although the plot point that had Gerard Butler's aging Mike Banning popping pills and receiving ominous warnings from his doctor about his physical condition seemed very apropos (art imitating life, perhaps?). I pretty much got exactly what I expected to get from this movie: a decent action movie for a Friday night date-night-on-the-couch.

The hidden jewel of this film for me was Nick Nolte as Banning's estranged father - believable and relatable, and he had some truly great lines.
  
Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter, #5)
Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter, #5)
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason ...

This is one of my favourite series I really enjoy Nalinis books. This is the story of Jason and Mahiya. Which hasn't gripped me as it normally would. It was great catching up with Dimitri and Honor as well as Raphael and Elana seems so long ago I read how it all started.
Looking forward to the next installment!



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