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Composed (The Art of Love #7)
Composed (The Art of Love #7)
Merry Farmer | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
COMPOSED is the seventh book in The Art of Loving series, and features Nally (Ronald) Hawthorne, the youngest of the bunch, and his BFF, Jude. Nally has just composed the soundtrack to a film and is swept away by all the publicity and social media attention. However, social media is where Jude excels, so he is more than happy to become Nally's agent for a while. There is a fly in the ointment, though, in the shape of a stalker 'fan', who seems to think Nally is his.

I thought this was really well-written, showing just how simple yet complicated a relationship can be between two men who have been lifelong friends, especially when there is a bad relationship example with another friend to get hung up on. And yes, I loved how it was resolved with Tim!

I thought the two of them made for a perfect pair, and both were slightly naive. I'm unsure if it's in a "they're supposed to be like that, because they're aristos" kind of way, or if that's just how I was reading it. That surprised me with Jude, especially with the stalker situation, as I thought he would have been more aware of things, due to his being an influencer.

This was an easy read that had both drama and lighthearted moments. Definitely recommended by me.

** 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!
Dec 23, 2025
  
Tempting Fate (Monsters of London, #3.6)
Tempting Fate (Monsters of London, #3.6)
Alexandra Keillor | 2026 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TEMPTING FATE is number 3.6 in the Monsters of London series, and two of the three main characters have already been introduced in previous books. For that reason, I would say it's best to read this as part of the series, rather than a standalone.

Patch is a wolf who likes Jamie, but doesn't think Jamie is his mate, because there's no instantaneous BOOM moment. Patch does get that when Em walks into the bar, though. Em, who has moved to London to find out if magic - and werewolves - are real! The relationship between the three of them is complicated, to say the least, and it is not something that is quickly solved.

There are plenty of side characters to support this story, most of them having previously had their own stories told. To be fair, I ended up reading this more for them than for the main three. This was a 'me' problem, but I didn't feel the relationship as I have in previous stories. While it was good and I enjoyed it, it didn't sweep me away as it has in the past. As I said, a 'me' problem.

Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series, and I definitely recommend both this story and the series as a whole. I truly can't wait to continue with this series and return to Kieran's Pack.

** 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!
Mar 27, 2026
  
Let the Dead Speak (Maeve Kerrigan, #7)
Let the Dead Speak (Maeve Kerrigan, #7)
Jane Casey | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once again, I have not been disappointed by Jane Casey; she has delivered and written an excellent book that I really enjoyed. Great story line that is full of suspense and keeps you enthralled. The characters are fantastic and believable; I particularly like the working relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent which comes across as being very genuine. Highly recommended read to anyone and you don't have to have read the previous books in the series as this holds up as a stand-alone however, I would suggest you do as you won't be disappointed.

A massive thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

<a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/when-eighteen-year-old-chloe-emery.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a>
  
Marella (Wraidd Elfennol 1)
Marella (Wraidd Elfennol 1)
Morgan Sheppard | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Marella (Wraidd Elfennol 0.5) by Morgan Sheppard
Marella is the prequel novella where we meet her for the first time. You find out a bit more about her childhood, her relationship with her parents, Daren, and also you are with her when she meets Nixie for the first time. This novella shows how important some things are to Marella, giving her the basis for the woman she becomes in Water Weaver.

I would recommend that you read this one first, before Water Weaver, just so that you get the rounded picture of Marella. Saying that, if you haven't, I don't think it would spoil anything. Definitely recommended for all fans of Wraidd Elfennol.

* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Overcooked Gourmet Edition
Overcooked Gourmet Edition
2016 | Action/Adventure
The best couch co op game since the days of the PS2 (0 more)
Extremely frustrating at times (0 more)
Cooking With Gas
When Overcooked came out I could care less. It looked like a dumb cartoony time waster that was best played with someone else. However, my girlfriend shortly after decided to get a PS4 and I suggested playing through the game as it was on sale on the PSN. Then as we played through it, I slowly realised why this could become a serious contender for GOTY 2016. It's hard to explain why this dumb game is so fun and so satisfying, but it is, all the way through.
Quick warning though, if you do play this with your other half, know that it will make or break your entire relationship. No pressure.
  
R(
Riders (Riders, #1)
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
UUGGHHHHHHH it should have been Daryn! (You will know what i mean when you read it) But that last round of chapters. Holy mother of mercury. I wanted to toss the book, stop reading, but then i was like i HAVE to finish i cannot just not finish. It was a action packed story that really hit you with the Horsemens bond. I liked their bond more then the relationship aspect that this book tried to produce. Those parts fell REALLY Flat for me. I wished there were more about the other horseman. Not 100% sure i want to read the next one only because its in the POV of my least favorite character in the book. Maybe ....we will see. But yeah this book was worth the slow begging :)
  
Patti Cake$ (2017)
Patti Cake$ (2017)
2017 | Drama
7
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A film that tries to be a little quirky but doesn't manage it, still does a good job of following the story of Patti Dombrowski (Patti Cake$) as she tries everything she can to claw her way out of her ordinary town and dead end job while juggling the dysfunctional relationship with her mother, the illness of her grandmother and the constant mockery she faces for her aspirations.

The soundtrack is addictively good, none better than PBNJ and Tuff Love and there's definitely a lot of talent within the cast. The only part of the film that gets particularly touching is towards the end when they're performing the last song but otherwise the emotion is pretty absent, which is a shame because it's a film that does try to drum a lot of it up.
  
Two Girls Down: A Novel
Two Girls Down: A Novel
Louisa Luna | 2018 | Thriller
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Alice Vega is a basically professional head hunter and, when hired to find two young girls who vanished from a Kmart parking lot, enlists the help of a local retired cop turned private investigator, Max Caplan or “Cap”.
The POV goes back and forth between Alice and Cap, which I really enjoyed. Alice is sort of mysterious and keeps a cool head, not showing many emotions to others, but the reader gets to feel what she’s really feeling. Though divorced, Cap is a family man and I loved his relationship with his daughter. Both were determined to find these girls and would do whatever it took. There was also a little romantic tension between Cap and Vega, but then at the end nothing came of it, which was pretty disappointing. Overall a good read!
  
Dread Nation
Dread Nation
Justina Ireland | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
7.6 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stong Women of Color (0 more)
Rushed, Not enough backstory/world building. (0 more)
Disappointing
I was excited for this one,it had SO MUCH POTENTIAL, but it let me down.

I really enjoyed the world building and character development in as far as it was taken, but I would have liked more depth and backstory on both Jane and Kate as well as Jane and Red Jacks relationship BEFORE as well as more history on the zombies themselves. There is a brief mention of them rising up at Gettysburg and buy few details as to the why and how. Lily seemed centrifugal to the story initially but felt like an after thought overall. Also the story was very slow to start but was totally rushed at the end. As soon as it began to get interesting it ended.
  
40x40

Josie Newman (13 KP) rated Lies in Books

Feb 1, 2019  
Lies
Lies
T. M. Logan | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
9
8.3 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wow this book was amazing. A real page turner. A must read.

If you start reading this book make sure you have plenty of time available, you will not want to put this book down. I know I didn't.

About The Book
Joe is a happily married man with a son, William then one day he makes a decision to follow his wife this decision leads him into a downward spiral of destruction.
Life will never be the same again for Joe.

Reflection
How do we know if someone lying? Well we don't really at the end of the day, we don't really want to know if someone we love is lying to us. Once we know someone is lying would that relationship ever be the same again? Probably not.