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Beneath The Surface
9.0
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When a change in collective conscious sends the Outsiders, a group of aliens, to the shadows below...
Lesbian Futuristic
Game of Revenge (Francis Scott-Wren Series Book 2)
9.0
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“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves” — Confucius Heart crushing...
crime thriller fiction Swedish series Game of Revenge
Merissa (14146 KP) rated Mated in Ink (Love Sync Ink) in Books
Feb 26, 2026
MATED IN INK is part of the Love Sync Ink series, although I haven't read any of the other stories in the series, and I don't feel as though it made any difference to my enjoyment of this one.
This is an omegaverse story, where shifters are secret. Gabe is a human omega, and Mika is a meerkat shifter alpha. Gabe has always been told by his omega father what he should look for in an alpha, and Mika is none of those things. However, Gabe has a magic tattoo that points him in the right direction, and both he and Mika like pushing the boundaries on what should be 'right' or 'expected' of a designation.
Talia, Mika's mum, is an absolute hoot, and I loved how Gabe compared her to the mafia. Gabe's dad took some time to win me over, but it became clear why he acted the way he did. One of the things I enjoyed about this story was that it didn't just end when they got together. Instead, you see how they settle into life together, a wedding, births, and best friends. I'm hoping for a story about Jett and his phoenix!
All in all, a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Feb 26, 2026
This is an omegaverse story, where shifters are secret. Gabe is a human omega, and Mika is a meerkat shifter alpha. Gabe has always been told by his omega father what he should look for in an alpha, and Mika is none of those things. However, Gabe has a magic tattoo that points him in the right direction, and both he and Mika like pushing the boundaries on what should be 'right' or 'expected' of a designation.
Talia, Mika's mum, is an absolute hoot, and I loved how Gabe compared her to the mafia. Gabe's dad took some time to win me over, but it became clear why he acted the way he did. One of the things I enjoyed about this story was that it didn't just end when they got together. Instead, you see how they settle into life together, a wedding, births, and best friends. I'm hoping for a story about Jett and his phoenix!
All in all, a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Feb 26, 2026
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated Murder in the Tattoo Parlor in Books
Jul 30, 2025
Murder Leaves a Permanent Mark
Francine and Charlotte have agree to go with Joy to her appointment to get a tattoo. Yes, it’s on Joy’s bucket list, but she’s not so sure she’ll actually follow through. They show up for the late-night appointment only to find the tattoo artist dead. The new police chief wants them to stay far away from the case, but Francine can’t help but start investigating. Her biggest surprise is that none of her friends seems that interested in helping with the case since they all have their own distractions. Can Francine figure out what happened?
I thought this series had concluded years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the authors have self-published a couple of additional entries. I’d forgotten about a storyline that enters the paranormal realm that I wasn’t a fan of, yet I’m curious where it is going in the next in the series. While the plot started well, Francine spends a lot of time going in circles. Parts are obvious early, yet the climax still feels rushed. On the other hand, I still enjoy the characters and liked spending time with them again. I’ll probably pick up the next just to see where the story is going. The authors do have me curious about that.
I thought this series had concluded years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the authors have self-published a couple of additional entries. I’d forgotten about a storyline that enters the paranormal realm that I wasn’t a fan of, yet I’m curious where it is going in the next in the series. While the plot started well, Francine spends a lot of time going in circles. Parts are obvious early, yet the climax still feels rushed. On the other hand, I still enjoy the characters and liked spending time with them again. I’ll probably pick up the next just to see where the story is going. The authors do have me curious about that.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated Locked in Pursuit in Books
Feb 26, 2026 (Updated Feb 26, 2026)
You’ll be Locked into These Pages
It’s been three months since Ellie McDonnell’s last mission with the Major Ramsey, a mission that turned dark. It’s now January of 1941, and Ellie sees an article in the paper about a robbery that feels wrong to her. Something is off, especially when none of her contacts have heard anything about it. Ramsey takes her concern seriously enough to uncover two other odd robberies. The connection? The victims were on a recent flight from Lisbon. What or who was on that plane? Can Ellie and Ramsey get the prize first?
This series has some strong ongoing storylines, so you’ll want to be up to date before you pick up this book. Especially since the early part of the novel spends time on those storylines. That part was a little contemplative for my taste, but things do pick up as the new adventure kicks into high gear. I’m still not a fan of the romantic triangle, but I did enjoy the new story and a character we met along the way. The regulars were charming, too. This book sets up the final book with a couple of cliffhangers, and I really can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next. Fans will enjoy this next chapter in Ellie’s life.
This series has some strong ongoing storylines, so you’ll want to be up to date before you pick up this book. Especially since the early part of the novel spends time on those storylines. That part was a little contemplative for my taste, but things do pick up as the new adventure kicks into high gear. I’m still not a fan of the romantic triangle, but I did enjoy the new story and a character we met along the way. The regulars were charming, too. This book sets up the final book with a couple of cliffhangers, and I really can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next. Fans will enjoy this next chapter in Ellie’s life.
Merissa (14146 KP) rated When You Burn Me (Enchanted Hearts #1) in Books
Jan 29, 2025
WHEN YOU BURN ME is the first book in the Enchanted Hearts series with Sienna and Damon leading the way.
Sienna is a light witch in a small but powerful coven, who is one of the last guardians of a key which keeps a powerful dark witch locked up. Damon is the half-breed son of the prisoner, who is only alive because the dark coven is saving him for his 'mother'. When she is free, she will take his power which will also kill him. Obviously, Damon's none too keen on her being freed.
This was a great story with plenty of side characters to help give it some flavour. One of my favourites was Morrigan, a sassy and sometimes grumpy light witch who can cause death by the simple touch of her hand. One of the characters I didn't like so much was Terra, Sienna's aunt. I kept waiting for her to grow on me but it never happened.
A good start to a new series that I definitely recommend, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 29, 2025
Sienna is a light witch in a small but powerful coven, who is one of the last guardians of a key which keeps a powerful dark witch locked up. Damon is the half-breed son of the prisoner, who is only alive because the dark coven is saving him for his 'mother'. When she is free, she will take his power which will also kill him. Obviously, Damon's none too keen on her being freed.
This was a great story with plenty of side characters to help give it some flavour. One of my favourites was Morrigan, a sassy and sometimes grumpy light witch who can cause death by the simple touch of her hand. One of the characters I didn't like so much was Terra, Sienna's aunt. I kept waiting for her to grow on me but it never happened.
A good start to a new series that I definitely recommend, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 29, 2025
The Demons of Wychwood
7.0
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London 1860 Felix Lazarus - I suppose you could say I was a voyeur and what I was doing was wrong,...
MM Historical Romance
Merissa (14146 KP) rated The Schoolmaster's Daughter in Books
Apr 24, 2025
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S DAUGHTER is a gentle and genteel story of mistaken identity and the amusing shenanigans that follow.
Julius is neck-deep in debt and has come up with a plan to marry an heiress to get himself out of it. When a friend tells him of an heiress in Bath, far from the London crowd that knows of his predicament, he travels there and tries to win her hand. Unfortunately for him, the woman he presumes is the companion is actually an heiress herself and none too pleased with his plan. So Lydia decides to teach him a lesson, all of which leads to an amusing story of brightly coloured fashion disasters and wayward children.
This story is well-paced and treads lightly on topics such as generational debt, forced elopement, blackmail, and poverty. It made for a great read to see Lydia's feelings of guilt make themselves known once she started to have feelings for Julius. It is a sweet read, with no spice, that perfectly suited the cooked-up scheme between Julius and Lydia.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 18, 2025
Julius is neck-deep in debt and has come up with a plan to marry an heiress to get himself out of it. When a friend tells him of an heiress in Bath, far from the London crowd that knows of his predicament, he travels there and tries to win her hand. Unfortunately for him, the woman he presumes is the companion is actually an heiress herself and none too pleased with his plan. So Lydia decides to teach him a lesson, all of which leads to an amusing story of brightly coloured fashion disasters and wayward children.
This story is well-paced and treads lightly on topics such as generational debt, forced elopement, blackmail, and poverty. It made for a great read to see Lydia's feelings of guilt make themselves known once she started to have feelings for Julius. It is a sweet read, with no spice, that perfectly suited the cooked-up scheme between Julius and Lydia.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 18, 2025
The third of Bernard Cornwell's 5 so-called 'Sailing Thrillers' (comprising 'Wildtrack', 'Sea Lord', this one, 'Stormchild' and 'Scoundrel'), none of which ever really resonated as much with me - or, presumably, the author himself since the last of these was written in 1992! - as his more famous Sharpe series about a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars, or the Uhtred of Bebbanburg (also sometimes called The Saxon Stories) series, set in and around the time of Alfred the Great.
As with all the other sailing thrillers by the author, this is far more contemporaneous set: here, we're in the late 1980s, early 90s (I believe this was written in 1990), with this being set in and around the Bahamas where - like nearly all of Cornwell's other characters in just about any of his books - the main protagonist is an outcast of sorts: here, by their own choice, turning their back on their rich and famous father to spend their time sailing instead.
Hired by a rich senator for a convalescent cruise for said senator's drug-addict children, what starts out as a simple job soon turns anything but when Nick Breakspear and his small crew run foul of drug smugglers, leading to an action-packed finale - it's just a pity it took so long to actually get there, I felt!
As with all the other sailing thrillers by the author, this is far more contemporaneous set: here, we're in the late 1980s, early 90s (I believe this was written in 1990), with this being set in and around the Bahamas where - like nearly all of Cornwell's other characters in just about any of his books - the main protagonist is an outcast of sorts: here, by their own choice, turning their back on their rich and famous father to spend their time sailing instead.
Hired by a rich senator for a convalescent cruise for said senator's drug-addict children, what starts out as a simple job soon turns anything but when Nick Breakspear and his small crew run foul of drug smugglers, leading to an action-packed finale - it's just a pity it took so long to actually get there, I felt!