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Debbiereadsbook (1633 KP) rated Forged In Flood in Books
Jul 21, 2018
new favourite from this author!
I had the honour of beta reading this book, so I was gifted my copy of this book.
Ten years ago, a stupid mistake nearly cost 3 young men their lives. It left them all scarred in a multitude of ways. Ivan has shut himself off from everyone, working in his beloved forge, while Rolland and Wes have taken it upon themselves to educate the youth of today on the errors of drink driving. But Wes and Rolly have had enough of waiting for Ivan, their Viking to get over his self inflicted guilt. And they choose the night of the worst flooding in living memory to make Ivan see sense.
This is NOT part of the Sin Bin series, but there are some cross-over characters, mainly Sarah and her husband Remi. You don't NEED to read them, but you SHOULD!
I loved this! I've loved almost all of Ms Donovan's work, and each and every time, the new book becomes my new favourite, and this is no exception!
Ivan makes this book, he really does. His struggle dealing with his guilt. His struggle dealing with becoming like his namesake of a father, and him not really wanting to. Dealing with the destruction of his forge and his home. Dealing with the after effects of the original accident, and a second one too.
But mainly, because watching him deal with his ever growing attraction to Wes and Rolly, and his NEED to be with them, is a joy to behold! He doesn't want it, not at first but they are persistent buggers now they have decided to pursue Ivan, rather than waiting for him to come to them.
There are some lighter moments, written only in a way Ms Donovan can. Her boys do like to play with their food and these three are no exception to that rule. I don't think I can ever look at a pot of honey in the same way, every again!
Because I read it in one sitting, because it made me cry in places, because it made me laugh out loud in others (and not many books can do that with me when I'm reading!) and just bloody well because . . . . .
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Ten years ago, a stupid mistake nearly cost 3 young men their lives. It left them all scarred in a multitude of ways. Ivan has shut himself off from everyone, working in his beloved forge, while Rolland and Wes have taken it upon themselves to educate the youth of today on the errors of drink driving. But Wes and Rolly have had enough of waiting for Ivan, their Viking to get over his self inflicted guilt. And they choose the night of the worst flooding in living memory to make Ivan see sense.
This is NOT part of the Sin Bin series, but there are some cross-over characters, mainly Sarah and her husband Remi. You don't NEED to read them, but you SHOULD!
I loved this! I've loved almost all of Ms Donovan's work, and each and every time, the new book becomes my new favourite, and this is no exception!
Ivan makes this book, he really does. His struggle dealing with his guilt. His struggle dealing with becoming like his namesake of a father, and him not really wanting to. Dealing with the destruction of his forge and his home. Dealing with the after effects of the original accident, and a second one too.
But mainly, because watching him deal with his ever growing attraction to Wes and Rolly, and his NEED to be with them, is a joy to behold! He doesn't want it, not at first but they are persistent buggers now they have decided to pursue Ivan, rather than waiting for him to come to them.
There are some lighter moments, written only in a way Ms Donovan can. Her boys do like to play with their food and these three are no exception to that rule. I don't think I can ever look at a pot of honey in the same way, every again!
Because I read it in one sitting, because it made me cry in places, because it made me laugh out loud in others (and not many books can do that with me when I'm reading!) and just bloody well because . . . . .
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Debbiereadsbook (1633 KP) rated Opposed Desires (Rehoboth Pact #2) in Books
Nov 18, 2021
love that we had to wait for Seina to give in!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Rehoboth Pact series, but it's not necessary to have rea book 1, Confined Desires, before this. Not necessary, but I would strongly RECOMMEND you do. Aubrey revokes the Pact in that book, and you need to know why.
Aubrey is a player. She goes out and gets one she wants, and there are no repeats. She is the polar opposite of Selina, who would rather go without than do what Aubrey does. In a moment of something totally out of character for BOTH these women, there is a fundamental shift in their relationship. But this is a vacation, and the real world encroaches.
I really enjoyed book 1, and I really enjoyed this one, for different reasons.
This is HEAVY on the emotional aspect from both these women. Aubs mum is ill, and she is worried that things are really bad again. Selina is lonely: she wants someone to love her, just as she is. And I cried a bit for both Aubs and Selina, I really did. They are both a little bit broken by their life experiences and actually talking to each other, rather than sniping at each other, starts them on a path neither is quite prepared for.
I love love LOVED that I had to wait for Selina to give in to Aubrey. But equally than AUBREY was the one who really wanted to wait. Aubrey usually had a different girl every night, but a whole vacation week, without a single one? Totally unheard of and I loved that her friends noticed. The smexy stuff is not especially explicit, but I'm finding I like that in these books. There is more to a relationship than sex and these women are finding that.
Skye and Mia (from book 1) are here, but also Kyle, who is the third in this little trio of friends. We didn't meet her before and she has a tale to tell, I can feel it. Her book is next, but not til bloody January! Kyle revokes the Pact here.
creeping up to 4.5 stars, (but rounding down to 4 for the blog, sorry!) can't quite stetch to five, but maybe Kyle can squeeze that extra bit outta me!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Rehoboth Pact series, but it's not necessary to have rea book 1, Confined Desires, before this. Not necessary, but I would strongly RECOMMEND you do. Aubrey revokes the Pact in that book, and you need to know why.
Aubrey is a player. She goes out and gets one she wants, and there are no repeats. She is the polar opposite of Selina, who would rather go without than do what Aubrey does. In a moment of something totally out of character for BOTH these women, there is a fundamental shift in their relationship. But this is a vacation, and the real world encroaches.
I really enjoyed book 1, and I really enjoyed this one, for different reasons.
This is HEAVY on the emotional aspect from both these women. Aubs mum is ill, and she is worried that things are really bad again. Selina is lonely: she wants someone to love her, just as she is. And I cried a bit for both Aubs and Selina, I really did. They are both a little bit broken by their life experiences and actually talking to each other, rather than sniping at each other, starts them on a path neither is quite prepared for.
I love love LOVED that I had to wait for Selina to give in to Aubrey. But equally than AUBREY was the one who really wanted to wait. Aubrey usually had a different girl every night, but a whole vacation week, without a single one? Totally unheard of and I loved that her friends noticed. The smexy stuff is not especially explicit, but I'm finding I like that in these books. There is more to a relationship than sex and these women are finding that.
Skye and Mia (from book 1) are here, but also Kyle, who is the third in this little trio of friends. We didn't meet her before and she has a tale to tell, I can feel it. Her book is next, but not til bloody January! Kyle revokes the Pact here.
creeping up to 4.5 stars, (but rounding down to 4 for the blog, sorry!) can't quite stetch to five, but maybe Kyle can squeeze that extra bit outta me!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1633 KP) rated Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre in Books
Sep 24, 2022
i love this series!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Dungeons & Dating book, and while not strictly necessary to have read the other three before this, I STRONGLY recommend you do. Not least because they are ALL five star reads, from me. But I would probably say read book 3, at least. Something happens in that book that leads into this one, and you get an inkling as to what Kelly is living through.
Ms McIntyre never ceases to amaze me, she can flip on a penny and it takes you a while to catch up with that little nugget of info, or this little comment that someone says. I have to slow my reading down to pay great attention, and I love that I have to.
Both Tabby and Kelly appear in previous books, although I couldn't place Tabby til there was something said here. (see above!)
Both girls are suffering in one way or another, but it takes a long time for them to open up to each other, to us. The clues are all there, they really are, but I didn't put the pieces together for Tabby, not straight away. I did for Kelly, because the signs were there in book 3.
Its not an easy read, given what Kelly went through, but it is extremely well written. Emotional reading, I had a tear or too. When Kelly finally lets Tabby in and vice versa, I cried, I really did.
Its steamy too! And while it IS steamy, it takes a back step, I think, to the emotions involved for these girls.
All the other pairings take part here, given as they all work together at the cafe, and we meet Eli, Tabby's cousin. He is one of the leads in the next book along with Arjun.
I read this in one sitting, stayed up way past my bedtime and was entirely unrepentant of that fact! I bloody loved it!
I love that McIntyre can flip from MM to MF and then to FF. Quite a skill to deliver each, but to be able to deliver them ALL?? Amazing. Please keep them coming!!
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 4 in the Dungeons & Dating book, and while not strictly necessary to have read the other three before this, I STRONGLY recommend you do. Not least because they are ALL five star reads, from me. But I would probably say read book 3, at least. Something happens in that book that leads into this one, and you get an inkling as to what Kelly is living through.
Ms McIntyre never ceases to amaze me, she can flip on a penny and it takes you a while to catch up with that little nugget of info, or this little comment that someone says. I have to slow my reading down to pay great attention, and I love that I have to.
Both Tabby and Kelly appear in previous books, although I couldn't place Tabby til there was something said here. (see above!)
Both girls are suffering in one way or another, but it takes a long time for them to open up to each other, to us. The clues are all there, they really are, but I didn't put the pieces together for Tabby, not straight away. I did for Kelly, because the signs were there in book 3.
Its not an easy read, given what Kelly went through, but it is extremely well written. Emotional reading, I had a tear or too. When Kelly finally lets Tabby in and vice versa, I cried, I really did.
Its steamy too! And while it IS steamy, it takes a back step, I think, to the emotions involved for these girls.
All the other pairings take part here, given as they all work together at the cafe, and we meet Eli, Tabby's cousin. He is one of the leads in the next book along with Arjun.
I read this in one sitting, stayed up way past my bedtime and was entirely unrepentant of that fact! I bloody loved it!
I love that McIntyre can flip from MM to MF and then to FF. Quite a skill to deliver each, but to be able to deliver them ALL?? Amazing. Please keep them coming!!
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Treacherous Trails (Gold Country Cowboys #2) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Another fantastic, captivating, cowboy novella from the talented hands of the wonderful Dana Mentink. She takes suspense and swoon worthy cowboys, a touch of romance and lots of inspiring messages and wraps them up in an unforgettable plot line.
Ms. Mentink’s Ella and Owen are beautifully chiseled into characters that will steal your heart instantly. I loved their story. Watching Owen and Ella come to terms with not only their feelings for each other, but also with who’s behind framing Ella, was an intense ride! I love when a book will do that to you!
This second installment in the Gold Country Cowboys series is definitely one that I recommend with a high flying 4 star praise. This book will keep you up late, turning page after page, biting nail after nail, as you fly through the book to get to the last page and see how the story ends. You’ll be dying for more from this talented author! I can’t wait for the next one. Well done, Ms. Mentink!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Ms. Mentink’s Ella and Owen are beautifully chiseled into characters that will steal your heart instantly. I loved their story. Watching Owen and Ella come to terms with not only their feelings for each other, but also with who’s behind framing Ella, was an intense ride! I love when a book will do that to you!
This second installment in the Gold Country Cowboys series is definitely one that I recommend with a high flying 4 star praise. This book will keep you up late, turning page after page, biting nail after nail, as you fly through the book to get to the last page and see how the story ends. You’ll be dying for more from this talented author! I can’t wait for the next one. Well done, Ms. Mentink!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Taken Girls in Books
Mar 24, 2019
A good debut
The Taken Girls is a unique take on the usual abduction stories in that girls are being taken but returned seemingly unharmed a short while later. It is down to DI Edina Ogborne (Ed) to find out just what the heck is going on.
Ed is a complex character and I have to admit that I found her frustrating and quite difficult to like particularly because of some of the decisions she makes in her personal life but she did end up growing on me by the end however, I'm not going to lie ... it was hard going. Having said that, this makes her all the more believable and if this is a start of a series, I am really interested to see how she develops and grows.
Written at a pretty good pace, although a little slow at times, with a few twists along the way, this book is a decent debut and G D Sanders is yet another author to put on my radar.
My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review of which this is.
Ed is a complex character and I have to admit that I found her frustrating and quite difficult to like particularly because of some of the decisions she makes in her personal life but she did end up growing on me by the end however, I'm not going to lie ... it was hard going. Having said that, this makes her all the more believable and if this is a start of a series, I am really interested to see how she develops and grows.
Written at a pretty good pace, although a little slow at times, with a few twists along the way, this book is a decent debut and G D Sanders is yet another author to put on my radar.
My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review of which this is.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Ripe for Murder (Cypress Cove Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Penny and Antonia have been invited up to Napa County to look at a wine train. The owner is thinking about creating one and wants to use some of their land for the track. The trip on the train turns deadly when one of the investor’s wives is murdered, and the only logical suspect is Antonia’s daughter. Penny might not like Chantal, but she knows Chantal isn’t a killer. Can she prove it?
While I enjoyed the first in this series, I liked this one even better. The book does a great job of setting up the new characters, and once we got to know them, we were off and running with a mystery. The plot was fantastic, and I had missed the clues until they were pointed out at the end. The returning characters are strong, and I enjoyed spending time with them again as well. Pour yourself a glass of wine, pick up this book, and enjoy.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-ripe-for-murder-by-carlene.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While I enjoyed the first in this series, I liked this one even better. The book does a great job of setting up the new characters, and once we got to know them, we were off and running with a mystery. The plot was fantastic, and I had missed the clues until they were pointed out at the end. The returning characters are strong, and I enjoyed spending time with them again as well. Pour yourself a glass of wine, pick up this book, and enjoy.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-ripe-for-murder-by-carlene.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Captain America: Civil War (2016) in Movies
Mar 30, 2018 (Updated Feb 14, 2020)
Thirteenth MCU movie is a supremely confident and accomplished piece of entertainment. Attempts to bring the Avengers under political control cause tensions within the group; these are only exacerbated when the Winter Soldier resurfaces and apparently commits a deadly attack on an international summit.
Despite the title, this is basically the third Avengers movie, and possibly the best one yet, with great performances and superbly staged action built around a solid script. The directors marshal a big story with lots and lots of characters and make it look very easy; no wonder they were signed up for the next (proper) Avengers film. On the other hand, despite the exhilarating thrills of sequences like the stunning airport battle, this is ultimately quite a dark and introspective film about guilt, loyalty, responsibility, and friendships stretched to breaking point, and this and the fact it is so dependent on having seen many of the previous films in the series means it is probably not the most accessible of Marvel pictures. For those who've been following along, however, this is one of the best film in what's currently the most consistently impressive film franchise in the world. Plus, Black Panther's in it, too.
Despite the title, this is basically the third Avengers movie, and possibly the best one yet, with great performances and superbly staged action built around a solid script. The directors marshal a big story with lots and lots of characters and make it look very easy; no wonder they were signed up for the next (proper) Avengers film. On the other hand, despite the exhilarating thrills of sequences like the stunning airport battle, this is ultimately quite a dark and introspective film about guilt, loyalty, responsibility, and friendships stretched to breaking point, and this and the fact it is so dependent on having seen many of the previous films in the series means it is probably not the most accessible of Marvel pictures. For those who've been following along, however, this is one of the best film in what's currently the most consistently impressive film franchise in the world. Plus, Black Panther's in it, too.
Merissa (13668 KP) rated The Cabin (Close Proximity #2) in Books
Oct 19, 2018
The Cabin (Close Proximity #2) by Erin M. Leaf
The Cabin is the second book in the Close Proximity series, and we meet Flynn who has just been jilted at the altar, and Beau, an artist from LA with a reservation gone wrong. Flynn offers his couch for the night, due to the weather conditions and the mix up, but finds more than he bargained for in Beau.
Whilst not as quick as The Elevator, this story is nevertheless a quick one, fast-paced and punchy, just like I would expect from this author. It is well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The bulk of the story with Flynn and Beau is set over one night, although there is a time lapse at the end.
I am thoroughly enjoying these books, even if the cynical side of me is snorting at the insta-love! 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Whilst not as quick as The Elevator, this story is nevertheless a quick one, fast-paced and punchy, just like I would expect from this author. It is well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The bulk of the story with Flynn and Beau is set over one night, although there is a time lapse at the end.
I am thoroughly enjoying these books, even if the cynical side of me is snorting at the insta-love! 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated WENDIGO in Books
Dec 5, 2018
AMAZING horror novella that introduces Blood of the Ysir saga.
In this book "Wendigo" is a term used by the indigenous inhabitants for demonic creatures who eat human flesh and are always ravenous. In other folklore the wendigo nature is a curse visited as a punishment on human cannibals when they first taste human flesh.
In this fictional world that we enter with Erik,
the curse is triggered by the same crime, but there are genetic requirements and the cursed can transform into powerful werebeasts. At one time, these creatures were treated as gods and fed by their neighbors, but the native peoples abandoned this practice and the creatures, who had human intelligence, shape shifting powers and massive strength and could not be killed, turned in anger to preying extensively on humans.
This book is well worth the read as a standalone novella if you prefer but if like me it snags from the beginning and you to continue following the journey so remember to check out the Blood of the Ysir saga to continue on the path. Highly anxious for the third in series now!!
In this fictional world that we enter with Erik,
the curse is triggered by the same crime, but there are genetic requirements and the cursed can transform into powerful werebeasts. At one time, these creatures were treated as gods and fed by their neighbors, but the native peoples abandoned this practice and the creatures, who had human intelligence, shape shifting powers and massive strength and could not be killed, turned in anger to preying extensively on humans.
This book is well worth the read as a standalone novella if you prefer but if like me it snags from the beginning and you to continue following the journey so remember to check out the Blood of the Ysir saga to continue on the path. Highly anxious for the third in series now!!
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Dragondoom (Mithgar book #5) in Books
Aug 10, 2019
Continuing in my quest to read this series in chronological order, this is a good book to enter into the land of Mithgar. A multiple POV book. It is a "love story" (it says so in the forward" but it is really subtle about it. The story starts in the middle and goes between the past and the present or near present. About hatred, greed, racism, even foolhardy pride. Yes, it actually has dragon's as well as stone giants. Also, if you get the 2002 edition you will get a glossary (it has spoilers), translation of words and phrases, and a partial calendar (again spoilers), so it's kind of cool seeing what the translation of the native languages.
Now that I'm older then when I first read this I admit I at times read it in a melodramatic way. but still a good read if a little long winded at times. The main characters are the Warrior woman Elyn and Dwarf Thork, with Elyn's twin Elgo as a not quite main but very important character.
This book had love, war, quests, and well almost everything. A fun read.
Now that I'm older then when I first read this I admit I at times read it in a melodramatic way. but still a good read if a little long winded at times. The main characters are the Warrior woman Elyn and Dwarf Thork, with Elyn's twin Elgo as a not quite main but very important character.
This book had love, war, quests, and well almost everything. A fun read.