Search
Search results
Merissa (12926 KP) rated End Game (Brooklyn Kings #2) in Books
May 5, 2025
END GAME is the second book in the Brooklyn Kings series. This time, we meet with Dev and Brody, quarterback and tight end, who have been together since college, and in love for nearly as long. Unfortunately for them, they can't share their love openly and have to keep it secret.
Dev and Brody have a strong relationship, but there is a bit of telling, not showing, with them, as well as time jumps. This detracted from their story for me because I wanted to see them fall in love, see the hardships and trials the separation of being drafted caused them. Instead, I was told about it, and then we hopped, skipped, and jumped to another timeframe.
Brody has a solid relationship with his mom, but doesn't get on too well with his stepfather, Theo. This is simply because he doesn't want to forget his father, but it doesn't really add anything to the story. There is no real angst between Theo and Brody - it just sort of fizzles out. As for Dev's parents, well, the less said about them the better. I thought they were bad when we first met them, but they got even worse, especially when Dev was injured and in hospital.
Even with these niggles, I still enjoyed this book, albeit not as much as book one. The team is a solid group of characters I look forward to seeing more from, although maybe not Zeke. He was a piece of work, for sure.
A good addition to the series and 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!
Apr 30, 2025
Dev and Brody have a strong relationship, but there is a bit of telling, not showing, with them, as well as time jumps. This detracted from their story for me because I wanted to see them fall in love, see the hardships and trials the separation of being drafted caused them. Instead, I was told about it, and then we hopped, skipped, and jumped to another timeframe.
Brody has a solid relationship with his mom, but doesn't get on too well with his stepfather, Theo. This is simply because he doesn't want to forget his father, but it doesn't really add anything to the story. There is no real angst between Theo and Brody - it just sort of fizzles out. As for Dev's parents, well, the less said about them the better. I thought they were bad when we first met them, but they got even worse, especially when Dev was injured and in hospital.
Even with these niggles, I still enjoyed this book, albeit not as much as book one. The team is a solid group of characters I look forward to seeing more from, although maybe not Zeke. He was a piece of work, for sure.
A good addition to the series and 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!
Apr 30, 2025
Merissa (12926 KP) rated Lost Boy (The Les's Bar #5) in Books
Jan 22, 2025
LOST BOY is the fifth book in the Les's Bar series and the first one in this series I have read. Although it would have been nice to have read the previous books, I didn't need to, to enjoy this one.
Leo is a big and tall veterinarian (his words) who desperately wants some Minion scrubs. Chris is a K9 trainer who doesn't believe he is a sub considering how his past relationship went. Together, these two make the perfect cinnamon roll.
I really enjoyed this story. Leo was just perfect in every way - possessive (in a good way) and protective, caring and loving. The fact that what he wanted in the bedroom matched up with Chris was just the icing on the cake. Chris is the one who changes the most. Or should I say 'flourishes'? In a relationship with the right person who allowed him to grow and gave him what he needed, Chris transformed from a scrappy, hot-headed character to one who still had a temper but was willing to take a different approach first.
I'm not 100% sure about the ending though - a) it didn't feel necessary, and b) nothing really happened. I mean, two people got banned but that was it. Come on! I wanted to know that they had paid for their crime! I wanted them to have a miserable awakening. Oh, well.
A standalone story I have no hesitation in recommending, although I now want to read the others just because I can.
** 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 22, 2025
Leo is a big and tall veterinarian (his words) who desperately wants some Minion scrubs. Chris is a K9 trainer who doesn't believe he is a sub considering how his past relationship went. Together, these two make the perfect cinnamon roll.
I really enjoyed this story. Leo was just perfect in every way - possessive (in a good way) and protective, caring and loving. The fact that what he wanted in the bedroom matched up with Chris was just the icing on the cake. Chris is the one who changes the most. Or should I say 'flourishes'? In a relationship with the right person who allowed him to grow and gave him what he needed, Chris transformed from a scrappy, hot-headed character to one who still had a temper but was willing to take a different approach first.
I'm not 100% sure about the ending though - a) it didn't feel necessary, and b) nothing really happened. I mean, two people got banned but that was it. Come on! I wanted to know that they had paid for their crime! I wanted them to have a miserable awakening. Oh, well.
A standalone story I have no hesitation in recommending, although I now want to read the others just because I can.
** 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 22, 2025
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Never Let You Go in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Having never read any of Chevy Stevens books before, I didnt know what to expect but having read the description, I thought I would give it a go and I wasnt disappointed.
This is a fast paced, chilling read with twists that are well-thought out, well developed and believable. Domestic abuse is a difficult subject to write about sensitively and without sensationalism and Chevy does this very well whilst not losing any of the suspense, darkness and fear that comes with living in a very poisonous and controlling relationship.
With great characters and a great story-line, I found this a highly addictive read from start to finish and I will definitely be checking out her other books.
I want to thank the publisher (Little, Brown Book Group UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
This is a fast paced, chilling read with twists that are well-thought out, well developed and believable. Domestic abuse is a difficult subject to write about sensitively and without sensationalism and Chevy does this very well whilst not losing any of the suspense, darkness and fear that comes with living in a very poisonous and controlling relationship.
With great characters and a great story-line, I found this a highly addictive read from start to finish and I will definitely be checking out her other books.
I want to thank the publisher (Little, Brown Book Group UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Kym Penny (24 KP) rated Degradation in Books
Jul 23, 2017
Atypical characters (3 more)
Secondary characters were as interesting as the primary characters
Good humor
Empowered lead female
An easy read but a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
Even though this story contains the overused character Mr. Billionaire Alpha Male, he manages to have a more unique personality. This coupled with a strong, charismatic female lead makes for a great multidimensional relationship. Their unique dynamic made for an interesting story and ,inevitably, an emotional rollercoaster. Although I was irritated and frustrated at some of the idiotic decisions the characters made, they were all very realistic stupid decisions that anyone would and does make. I don't think the main character, Tate, was intended to be a role model but I think she might just be my spirit animal. Let your freak flag fly you fictional character you.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Fault in Our Stars in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Okay, I can see what all the hype surrounding this book was about! Holy crap! I haven't cried so hard reading a book in a LONG time. It was so sweet, but so painful all at once. All I can really say is cancer sucks, not that we didn't all know that already. This just puts it in such a different perspective. Yes, it is young adults being effected by it which makes it even harder to accept.
The story is so simple yet so well written. It seems like it could be about any 16 or 17 year old kid anywhere. Yet Hazel & Augustus are also not your typical teens & this is not your typical Y.A. romance. It chronicles their relationship, yes, but it takes you inside their battles...with cancer, with friends, with family, & with themselves.
The story is so simple yet so well written. It seems like it could be about any 16 or 17 year old kid anywhere. Yet Hazel & Augustus are also not your typical teens & this is not your typical Y.A. romance. It chronicles their relationship, yes, but it takes you inside their battles...with cancer, with friends, with family, & with themselves.
Wittsend (43 KP) rated Can you Hear Me? in Books
Jul 28, 2017
Can you Hear Me
A very emotionally intense coming of age story of a teenage boy and his relationship with his family, neighbours and especially his paranoid and inconsolable and father. I thought extraordinarily beautiful coming of age tale that There is a crime element that leaves you with a feeling of uncomfortable tensions that create a chilling account of an abduction and a teenage boy desperately trying to come to terms with his dangerously unhinged father.
Jessica Erdas (463 KP) rated Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) in Books
May 16, 2018
Another amazing piece by Gayle Forman. Instead of following the life and thoughts of Mia, as the first book did, Where She Went follows Adam and his spiraling journey after the accident, gaining fame and his struggle with the lost connection with his dreams and the love of his life. As relatable as If I Stay in the realistic emotional and physical turmoil of mental health, waning friendships, exhaustion and so much more. Three years have passed since Adam saw Mia and their connection was seemingly destroyed. A chance of fate brings the two back together for one day to face the demons that brought their relationship a halt as their lives skyrocketed away from them both. Highly recommend a read, especially if Where She Went pulled at your heart strings and kept you turning page after page, as it did to me.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Call Me By Your Name in Books
Apr 21, 2018
Very moving
I don’t know what I’d expected from this book, but I hadn’t anticipated liking it as much as I did. And I haven’t seen the film yet either.
This is a beautifully written tale of a kind of love story between a young teenager and his family’s summer house guest. The confusion, frustration and heartbreak of his first gay relationship really comes across throughout the entire novel, and you really feel for him. Elio is an endearing protagonist and I was really invested in the outcome although I feel like the ending and the summary of the 20 years following that summer were a little too short and very sad. I would’ve happily read on for longer for a slightly happier ending. But that said, it’s still a well written book and a very interesting plot.
This is a beautifully written tale of a kind of love story between a young teenager and his family’s summer house guest. The confusion, frustration and heartbreak of his first gay relationship really comes across throughout the entire novel, and you really feel for him. Elio is an endearing protagonist and I was really invested in the outcome although I feel like the ending and the summary of the 20 years following that summer were a little too short and very sad. I would’ve happily read on for longer for a slightly happier ending. But that said, it’s still a well written book and a very interesting plot.
Not my favourite but still great
Not my favourite book in the Max Wolfe series but still very enjoyable with a very relevant and disturbing story line with great characters, twists, gritty tension, violence and humanity all written at a great pace that makes you want to continue reading well into the wee small hours of the night. I continue to love getting to know Max and adore his relationship with his daughter, Scout and their dog, Stanley with their moments adding a depth and warmth to Max that can be hidden under his strong policeman persona.
Although not my favourite, I would still highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for a review.
Although not my favourite, I would still highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for a review.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Shakespeare's Christmas (A Lily Bard Mystery, #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
The weakest entry so far, but still not a bad read. The book takes place out of Shakespeare and in Lily's hometown of Bartley, which it was nice to learn more about her family and other background info. She's still prickly and ill-suited to normal human interactions, but she is trying. I hope by the end of the series, she'll be even closer to fully healing. Lily's relationship with Jack is interesting and weird, but they're still figuring things out, and have similar feelings towards committment it seems. The mystery could have been stretched into a longer book and not wrapped up so quickly, but it didn't bother me very much. In the end, it was a fast and easy story, and a good but not great third book in the Lily Bard series.
<b><i>3.5 stars</i></b>
<b><i>3.5 stars</i></b>