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Ollie (A Little Christmas #3)
Ollie (A Little Christmas #3)
JP Sayle | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
far too stinking cute/wam and fuzzies/low angst! Loved it!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Sometimes, Ms Sayle writes dark and deadly, sometimes things are just plain weird (rhubarb!) and sometimes, they are so delightfully cute and warm and fuzzies that the world is a brighter place.

This book falls into the last category, and I bloody loved it!

Ollie and Beckett meet online, and their relationship blooms over time. But Ollie will not let Beckett see him properly. Ollie is scared that Beckett will catch one look at him and run far away. But Beckett is far deeper than Ollie thnks, and the boy just needs to give Beckett a chance to prove that. Leeson's wedding cruise is that time.

I loved that Ollie and Beck got to know each other over time, their feelings brewing for the better part of a year. It meant that when they did meet, it was more about getting Ollie to see just how much he meant to Beckett, and how much Beckett wanted to be Ollie's Daddy, if only he'd let him.

I loved that there was overlap with Denton and Vic's book, Cruising Right Into Love. This book takes place alongside that one, on the cruise.

I loved how the focus of this book was NOT about the physical side of their relationship, but more about the emotional one. There is smexy times, but I found them very much low key and fade to grey, rather than up-in-yer-face type scenes. Loved it, to be honest.

This is part of the 3rd A Little Christmas series, a multi author series. I haven't read the others, but it's not necessary to really enjoy this one.

So much love in this book, and it hits all the warm and fuzzies and too stinking cute and low angst spots and I bloody loved it!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Seductive Nights (Peaches #2)
Seductive Nights (Peaches #2)
Ashley Rayne | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS is the second book in the Peaches series. It can be read as a standalone, but I will always recommend you read the first book first.

Anyway, this is Preston and Jonas' story. We met them in the first book, where they bickered their way through, but Preston was in a relationship with Marvin. This ends at the beginning of this story, because Marvin can't keep it in his pants. Jonas offers a room at his house if Preston needs it. He tries to find somewhere by himself, but ends up taking Jonas up on his offer. After that? No holds barred.

The relationship between Jonas and Preston is all completely natural, with nothing forced, and good communication. The part dealing with Will, Jonas' dead husband, was sensitively written, and I loved how he was kept as a 'good guy'. Too often, the first husband (dead or otherwise) turns out to be some sort of shady character, and I loved that Will wasn't treated that way.

Preston loves his lingerie, and Jonas loves Preston's lingerie! These two fit together so perfectly, although, after loving Preston in book one, I did find his constant O.M.G. comments a bit much at times. Also, while I like the thought and Tangled is also one of my favourite films, I didn't like the whole lantern scene, as all I could think of was the environmental and wildlife impact.

On the whole, this was a great addition to the series that I have no hesitation in recommending. I look forward to returning to Peaches for Cole and Oakley's story!!! I can't wait. ❤

** 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!
Jul 8, 2025
  
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Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Hard to Hold (Black Ops Heros #1) in Books

Nov 9, 2017 (Updated Nov 9, 2017)  
Hard to Hold (Black Ops Heros #1)
Hard to Hold (Black Ops Heros #1)
Incy Black | 2017 | Romance, Thriller
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The action starts from the very first page when Anna nearly comes to a sticky end with a lorry, laying in the hospital her next of kin (according to her passport, that she hadn't changed) Nick, her ex husband comes strolling back into her life, it's a love hate relationship and Anna hasn't seen him in 5 years.

This book made me want to bang their heads together, they're always bitching and snipping at each other. Always trying to get one over on the other and whatever Anna seems to do trouble always follows


"I'm not exactly predisposed to granting you any favours right now, Anna. I can't believe some of the situations you get yourself into. Jesus, what are you? A gravitational force for trouble!"


It's infuriating, and I just wished they'd shut up and get on with it. Saying that, I did enjoy it, I thought it was well written and I would read other titles by this author.
  
AR
Always Remembered
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an ARC when I signed up and was selected to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed are solely my own.

I loved this final installment of the Never Forgotten series. The book picks up where the last one left off. This beautiful and well detailed story will leave you in its grip as the surprises just keep coming and we find ourselves dealing with many emotional moments throughout this book.. The relationship between Meara and Kieran continues to deepen and Evan learns the truth about himself. Kelly Risser did an amazing job in creating and weaving this mystical series and you will not be disappointed with how this story ends. Please note that all three books in the series must be read in order. Make sure that you add this entire series to your MUST read list and I look forward to reading more by this very creative author.
  
VA
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have no idea what rock I had been living under but I sure am glad that I climbed out from underneath it and read this book because I LOVED IT!!!

Erica is a young woman who is caught up in an abusive relationship but that's not all; her husband Shawn is a vampire. When things finally come to a head for Erica she runs for her life with the help of the very attractive and sumptuous Kevin. However, things are not what they seem and Erica is in for the ride of her life.

The author's creative and sensual writing style does not leave you lacking. The story line is well developed and the sizzling sex scenes will leave you completely breathless. The characters are strong and compliment the story rather well and did I mention the tantalizing sex scenes?! I look forward to reading more books from this author and I HIGHLY suggest/recommend you quickly jump on the Alice Brown band wagon.
  
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Trevor Noah | 2017 | Biography
10
9.2 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
An insider's view of Apartheid
It seems unlikely that comedian Trevor Noah would have ever made it out of the prison of colonialism, apartheid, poverty and violence, yet now he's regarded as one of South Africa's biggest export. His memoir is brutal and harrowing, describing how because of the illegal interracial relationship between his Xhosa mother and his Swiss-German, his birth was actually a crime.

It's hard to imagine that this legal segregation only ended 26 years ago, yet Noah then faced the turbulent legacy of post-apartheid. Being mixed race posed its own problems, as Noah describes never fitting in anywhere, but being accepted to a certain degree because of his 'whiteness' and his chameleon-like ability to adapt to his surroundings.

There are moments which are truly disturbing, as Noah speaks about his violent stepfather and going hungry. In this way, his life can be seen as a story of personal survival, through intelligence and humour, which millions have come to love.
  
Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Melissa Bashardoust | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
9
8.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wonderful plot, subverted tropes, lesbian romance (0 more)
A bit of stilted dialogue at the beginning, some predictable actions by characters (0 more)
One of my best books of 2017!
I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads and got to read it before the release date (September 5th! GO GET IT!) and I was SO excited to read it. It did not disappoint! This is her debut novel, and the story is absolutely fantastic. It’s billed as a “fantasy feminist fairy tale” and I think it lives up to that pretty well. There are no princes in this story. There are a couple of men – the King, the Queen’s father, and the Huntsman, but they are not who the story is about. The story really is about the relationship between the Queen/stepmother and her stepdaughter, the Princess.

You can read my full review here: https://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/book-review-girls-made-of-snow-and-glass/
  
Leaving Everything Most Loved (Maisie Dobbs #10)
Leaving Everything Most Loved (Maisie Dobbs #10)
Jacqueline Winspear | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jacqueline Winspear is a new author to me. I so nice to find a new author I have not ever read or though try. Her book was refreshing and enjoyable to read.

It nice to see that a woman is a hero and having her own life and having a career she loves to do. Massie Dobbs loves to solve crimes and investigate around her home. She now struggles with if she should travel or stay.

She seems like she loves adventures and want to find out about herself. I loved the fact that you get to go on adventures with her. She one that will not give up on any crime or miss a boy. She will get to the bottom of the crime or murder if that the case.

She also struggles with her relationship with James. James seem ready to marry but is Massie? You will follow her and her trials to find out.
  
Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal #1)
Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal #1)
Zen Cho | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fabulous Magical Regency Romp
Sorcerer to the Crown is a Regency era fantasy novel packed with romance, mystery, and adventure. Fans of historial fiction and gaslamp fantasy like Jonathan Strange & Mister Norell, the Chrestomanci series, or A Great and Terrible Beauty will enjoy this romantic romp through an alternative London where magic is a gentleman's sport and issues of race, class, and gender are as worrying as the general decline of magic in England.

Zacharias Wythe charms as the stoic Sorcerer Royal and Prunella Gentleman, the snarky orphan with a troubling amount of magical talent, is easily his match. The relationship between the two has a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet quality that still manages to feel fresh and unique.

Cho has crafted a wonderful fantasy world replete with interesting characters and intriguing mysteries, it's easy to see why this book gained a nomination for 2016's Locus Award for Best First Novel.