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A Cure For Everything: A Vampire Novella
A Cure For Everything: A Vampire Novella
Steven Jenkins | 2022 | Paranormal
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don't usually read vampire books, I love a good horror book every now and again but I've never really got into vampire books so wasn't sure if this was something I would enjoy but I thought, what the heck, why not? And, I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn't what I expected at all - it was so much more.

The premise is quite simple really, Millie is happily married with 2 young children when she receives a devastating diagnosis meaning she has but months left to live. However, there is a cure ... become a vampire! Seems like a simple decision doesn't it? Not so for Millie - her mum was a vampire and it didn't end well so what will she do? And when you think you know what's going to happen, Mr Jenkins throws in a great twist which left me wanting more.

A great, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed and that cover, wow ... eye-catching and creepy.

I am looking forward to reading more of Mr Jenkins work if this short story if anything to go by and I must thank him for making me a part of his Advance Reader Team but this in no way influenced my thoughts on this novella which I thoroughly enjoyed.
  
Embrace The Night (The Blood Rose #5)
Embrace The Night (The Blood Rose #5)
Caris Roane | 2014 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An excellent addition to the Blood Rose series, this novella tells Jude and Hannah's story. Jude is a Mastyr who has suffered a loss, Margheta killed his wife and daughter a hundred years ago. Hannah is a human who owns the bar where those from the Realm can go and relax, safe in the knowledge that they won't be burnt to a crisp when the sun comes up.

Now Hannah knows all about the Blood Rose phenomenon that is sweeping the Realms, after all, she is part of the group that has set up a communications network in the hopes of working around Margheta and still finding ways to talk to each other in emergencies. Hannah is not prepared to leave her bar though, for reasons that she will go into.

This is fast-paced, the same as all of the Blood Rose series, but full of information and action. With no grammatical or editing issues that I found, I can definitely recommend this book and the series. Can't wait for the next one.

* 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!
Jan 13, 2016
  
Leading Me Home (Harrington Hills #1) by
Leading Me Home (Harrington Hills #1) by
Megan Linden | 2016 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a real friends-to-lovers story, complete with hidden feelings on one side. However, what made this story exceptional to me is the way in which it is written and the believable, likeable characters that Megan Linden gives us. Told from dual points of view, you hear from both Tyler and Kevin as they realise how deep their feelings for each other are, and what this means as one is an Alpha's Son, whilst the other is a lone wolf.

I loved how it was Mom B, the Beta, who spoke to Kevin and gave him the reassurance he needed. It wasn't just swept under the carpet in a "love conquers all" way. No, he was told that loving a Harrington was tough, but it was worth it!

This novella has it all - friendship, romance, it has some hot scenes without being gratuitous, and it has definitely left me wanting more. Absolutely adored this book and I'm looking forward to returning to Harrington Hills as soon as I can. Highly recommended.

* 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!
Feb 16, 2016
  
The King in Rome (Warrior #1)
The King in Rome (Warrior #1)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As an author, Simon Scarrow is - IMO - most associated with the genre of historical fiction.

Even more so - again, IMO - with those set during the time of the Roman Empire: I think we're approaching 20, now, of his full length Cato and Macro novels (edit: as of typing this, 22 novels).

I can't say much about TJ Andrews, other than I'm aware he has collaborated with Scarrow on a a few e-book novella's.

This is the latest in that collaboration, taking - as it's inspiration - the tale of Caratacus, the British warlord who defied the Empire before the time of Boudica, and who appeared in some of the earlier Eagle (aka Cato and Macro) novels as an antagonist. Eventually defeated by the Roman legions, Caratacus was spared by the Emperor Claudius to live out his life in the confines of Rome (and with Prefect Cato being name dropped when he mentions that in this novella), which is where this series of novellas picks up, as Caratacus is persuaded to tell his life story to a Roman historian who first encounters him at a banquet hosted by the Emperor Nero.

Told, therefore, from the 'other point of view' than the usual, I'm interested in seeing where this goes!
  
Enemy Red (Mark of Lycos #1)
Enemy Red (Mark of Lycos #1)
Marie Harte | 2016 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fenris is a young pup, he's only 25-years-old, and now his uncle, the Alpha of the Silver Clan, intends to find him and his twin brother mates. Fenris is none too happy with this, so runs off. He finds himself far from home, in a situation unexpected, that calls on his protective and mating instincts, against all odds. Pulled into a tangled web, with doubts over who to believe, Fenris has to do what he thinks is right - both for himself and for the wolf he wants to claim as his own.

This is a fast-paced novella that covers a lot of ground with the story. Fenris' twin, Anson, is mentioned in passing so I hope that we will hear more about him in the future. Well written and with smooth pacing, this story will take you along with it as it reaches the conclusion. With overall questions left (nothing major though), this part of the story wraps up nicely, whilst leaving you wanting to know more.

Definitely recommended.

* 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!
Mar 15, 2016
  
The War Prince (Warrior #3)
The War Prince (Warrior #3)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I think I'd posted previously that I'd heard (read) that Simon Scarrow and Tj Andrews 'Warrior' series of e-book novellas was to be a series of five.

If so, we're now at the halfway point.

(The previous entries being The King in Rome and The Druid's Lair).

We're also now past Caratacus' childhood and teenage years, with the protagonist hearing recounting how his training at the hands of the Druids came to an end when he was summoned home in order to participate in an assembly of tribes in an attempt over the, uhhh, 'ownership' of Lhandain.

Whilst all concerned do, initially (pre assembly), agree to abide by the resolution reached by the Druid High Council, this soon falls by the wayside when it is discovered that those on the council are just as venal and corrupt as any other (with Caratacus, as he recounts the tale, laying the blame squarely on Rome).

I'll continue reading these - I do also have to say, I'm intrigued by the 'modern day' (well, modern day to the historian in Nero's Empire who is documenting the story, not modern day to us) opening and closing of each novella - is he bringing unwelcome attention to himself?
  
Twice Seduced (Sanctuary Coven #1)
Twice Seduced (Sanctuary Coven #1)
Hazel Hunter | 2016 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Heather is a non-practising Wiccan who uses her ability to see auras to help her in her career as a school counsellor. She is dating Lucas Carré, who she feels safe with as he has a green aura. What she doesn't realise is that he is a Magus Corps officer, and can change the colour of his aura at will. When she receives a summons to her sister's coven in Aspen, Lucas goes with her and then the fun begins.

This is a typical steamy novella, the type that Hazel Hunter excels in. The reason I have only given 3-stars is because there is a whole lot of stuff going on - so far there are at least three separate stories that have yet to intertwine and become a cohesive story. HOWEVER, knowing Hazel Hunter's various coven series, I have the utmost faith that this will become an intricate and fascinating story.

A good start to a new series that shows definite promise.

* 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!
Mar 28, 2016
  
Keep Me Still (Keep Me Still, #1)
Keep Me Still (Keep Me Still, #1)
Caisey Quinn | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Medical & Veterinary, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Holy freaking cow. This book sat on my Kindle app for the longest time. Many nights I scanned over it, couldn’t remember if I read it or not, so just avoided it all together. Lately, the eBooks I have downloaded are dwindling, so I got desperate and clicked on practically every book I owned and either hadn’t read or just couldn’t remember reading. I skimmed through a few and just wasn’t feeling it – you ever get that way, start reading the first couple of chapters in several books and just know it’s not what you’re in the mood for? Finally, I clicked on Keep Me Still, though I still couldn’t recall whether or not I had read it. The Kindle version I read had all 3 parts of Keep Me Still. Only after a couple of pages in Let You Leave (part 1), I immediately knew I hadn’t read it and that it was what I was looking for.
From the beginning, I was intrigued with Layla. At first, it sounded as if she had come back from dealing with depression or something of the sort, so I was drawn to figuring out why she felt the way she did and how she overcame it. Then I met Landen; reading his mother beg him to not get into any fights piqued my interest. Who doesn’t love a bad boy, eh? During the first few chapters, if I’m being honest, I was only interested in finding out why the school treated Layla like a pariah. Being a victim of bullying, there was an instant connection with her on that level and I was curious to figure out what could have happened to earn her the nickname “Freaky Flaherty”. Somehow, without my knowing it, that mystery fell to the wayside as I watched Layla’s guard slowly crumble enough to allow Landen in. I’m a sucker for a good romance, it’s pretty much the only thing I read, so their spark inflamed the fire of curiosity within me. I like to guess at what the catalyst will be when it comes to these kinds of stories. There’s always one and I tried my best to figure out what would tear them apart. Watching them come together, watching Layla allow Landen to tear down her walls and show her love, was amazing. Of course, then my heart got crushed when that catalyst occurred.
Immediately, I read the second part, ‘Keep Me Still’, almost with desperation. I needed them to get back together, I needed them to reconcile and let their feelings for each other obliterate all the insecurities and fears they were holding onto. To my delight, there wasn’t much of a fight when they finally came back together, but again, I was waiting for the catalyst – which was a lot more obvious this time around. The end of that section made me ecstatic, but the novella came after and I couldn’t ignore it.
The novella, Hold Us Close, slayed me. Practically from the second or third page, it took my heart and tore it into little tiny pieces, then proceeded to stomp all over it with every heart breaking moment, back to back to back. Many times I had to hold my breath, several moments left me staring at the screen in horrified shock, more often than not, I was shaking my head and mentally berating both Landen and Layla (though Landen got the brunt of my scolding). The ending – the final ending – scared the living daylights out of me. I didn’t know how it would turn out; it was shaping up to be a story without an HEA and I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Before the last page of their story, before reading Landen’s letter, the ending left me in tears. I don’t remember when I downloaded this eBook, but I do know I’m beyond grateful for all those sites that tell you when Amazon is giving them away for free – that’s the only way I could have owned Keep Me Still, because I would remember if I spent money on it, but I’m certainly appreciative to whichever e-mail I received with this title listed for free.

*PS: I really love Corin. She's amazing. Is there a novella with a little more of her and Skylar's story??