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Merissa (13197 KP) rated Naked Choke (More Than A Cowboy #1) in Books
May 23, 2023
I will start this review by stating that it takes something to get me to read and review Contemporary. I don't know why, but I'm more Paranormal or Fantasy. However, something about this synopsis caught my eye and I decided to give it a go. I am very glad that I did!
To start with, Emory is in her late 30s and has all the doubts that go with that, especially when she is out in the field for the first time in a long time. Stuck talking to someone she has absolutely no interest in, she is more than happy when the man who caught her eye before, comes to her rescue.
On the surface, Gray and Emory probably don't make the most obvious couple. However, I loved their every interaction as they melded together in more ways than one. They completed each other perfectly, which set my sappy heart racing!
Fast-paced, romantic, hot, and with a dash of mystery and suspense thrown in, this is one contemporary novel that hooked me from the first page, much to my surprise and delight. I will definitely be reading more of Vanessa Vale's work - just in the name of research, of course đ
Absolutely and 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!
Feb 24, 2016
To start with, Emory is in her late 30s and has all the doubts that go with that, especially when she is out in the field for the first time in a long time. Stuck talking to someone she has absolutely no interest in, she is more than happy when the man who caught her eye before, comes to her rescue.
On the surface, Gray and Emory probably don't make the most obvious couple. However, I loved their every interaction as they melded together in more ways than one. They completed each other perfectly, which set my sappy heart racing!
Fast-paced, romantic, hot, and with a dash of mystery and suspense thrown in, this is one contemporary novel that hooked me from the first page, much to my surprise and delight. I will definitely be reading more of Vanessa Vale's work - just in the name of research, of course đ
Absolutely and 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!
Feb 24, 2016
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Crave (Exiled #2) in Books
Jun 8, 2023
This is the second book in the Exiled series, and it was with trepidation that I started to read it. I had assumed (correctly) that we would start Crave's tale with the scene at the end of book 1, and I REALLY didn't want my heart mangled again from the first few pages. Well, I was out of luck with that, because immediately I was drawn back into the world of the Exiled and was traumatised by Carnal's death all over again! However, this time, we also viewed it from Crave's perspective, so we know what he was thinking.
Crave has been tortured for many years and it has fractured his mind (understandably). It remains to be seen if he will recover - both physically and mentally - enough to regain his place in the Exiled community and as Dandy's Promise. Normally, this would almost be guaranteed, but knowing how Victoria Danann likes to keep you on tenterhooks, you can be sure of nothing!
Exceedingly well written, with in-depth characters and situations, this is guaranteed to satisfy. With a MAHOOSIVE romantic gesture that had me in tears, this is everything you could wish for in a Paranormal Romance. Looking forward to Charming's story. Highly recommended.
* 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!
May 20, 2016
Crave has been tortured for many years and it has fractured his mind (understandably). It remains to be seen if he will recover - both physically and mentally - enough to regain his place in the Exiled community and as Dandy's Promise. Normally, this would almost be guaranteed, but knowing how Victoria Danann likes to keep you on tenterhooks, you can be sure of nothing!
Exceedingly well written, with in-depth characters and situations, this is guaranteed to satisfy. With a MAHOOSIVE romantic gesture that had me in tears, this is everything you could wish for in a Paranormal Romance. Looking forward to Charming's story. Highly recommended.
* 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!
May 20, 2016
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Heartless ( Scarlet Suffragette 3) in Books
Jun 17, 2023
78 of 235
Kindle
Heartless ( Scarlet Suffragette 3)
By Nicola Claire
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Qualified physician? A menace to society? The next Chief Surgeon?
Returning to life in the Antipodes has not gone quite as expected for Dr Anna Cassidy; an axe hangs over her head. With no sign of her nemesis in Auckland City, Anna finds herself holding her breath.
But a gruesome surprise awaiting her in her home surgery one morning changes all of that.
Puppet policeman? Blind protector? Steadfast husband?
For Inspector Andrew Kelly, however, the subsequent murders are very personal indeed. As a ghost from his past haunts his present and threatens his future, he must first find the truth amongst the lies before he can end his misery.
But this killer wants their pound of flesh.
When the bodies pile up, and the heartless are identified, can Andrew protect the one woman he loves? Or will the murderer have the last laugh and crush his heart forever?
A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.
This was the best one of the trilogy and perfect ending! I have enjoyed this series so much itâs the time period I love and has a Jack the Ripper link as well as the most amazing female characters just a really good series. The 5 star review is well warranted for the whole series too. I really enjoy Nicola Claireâs writing style.
Kindle
Heartless ( Scarlet Suffragette 3)
By Nicola Claire
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Qualified physician? A menace to society? The next Chief Surgeon?
Returning to life in the Antipodes has not gone quite as expected for Dr Anna Cassidy; an axe hangs over her head. With no sign of her nemesis in Auckland City, Anna finds herself holding her breath.
But a gruesome surprise awaiting her in her home surgery one morning changes all of that.
Puppet policeman? Blind protector? Steadfast husband?
For Inspector Andrew Kelly, however, the subsequent murders are very personal indeed. As a ghost from his past haunts his present and threatens his future, he must first find the truth amongst the lies before he can end his misery.
But this killer wants their pound of flesh.
When the bodies pile up, and the heartless are identified, can Andrew protect the one woman he loves? Or will the murderer have the last laugh and crush his heart forever?
A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.
This was the best one of the trilogy and perfect ending! I have enjoyed this series so much itâs the time period I love and has a Jack the Ripper link as well as the most amazing female characters just a really good series. The 5 star review is well warranted for the whole series too. I really enjoy Nicola Claireâs writing style.
Shadowman (Shadow #3)
10.0
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Book
Erin Kellisonâs Shadow series darkens with this evocative and gripping romance between a fae lord...
Urban Fantasy Romance
Warrior Hearts Academy: Dragon Trap
8.0
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There is a human saying that deals with a frying pan and fire⌠Fire scorches through my dreams,...
Dark Fantasy Romance Shifters Dragons Why Choose
Merissa (13197 KP) rated The Seer (The Secret Tales #3) in Books
Jun 24, 2025
THE SEER is the third book in The Secret Tales series, and we begin with Claire making a speech at the London Society of Antiquarians and getting shot down in flames. Theseus is in the audience and is one of the few members who is actually interested in what she has to say.
What starts off as a list of commonalities - antiquities, friends, class, etc. - quickly becomes something more, and no one is surprised when Claire accompanies Theseus to Greece, as a companion for his sister, of course.
This was a well-written story, with exceptional details and history. I thoroughly enjoyed how Claire and Theo loved each other for who they were, rather than hoping for someone they weren't! Both practical and romantic, this story was a delight to read. I particularly liked the epilogue that brought it to the present day, and the reasoning behind who Cassie chose to work with.
All three sisters are now happily married, but I am happy to say I continued turning the pages once Claire and Theo's story was completed, and I can't wait for the series to continue. 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!
Jun 24, 2025
What starts off as a list of commonalities - antiquities, friends, class, etc. - quickly becomes something more, and no one is surprised when Claire accompanies Theseus to Greece, as a companion for his sister, of course.
This was a well-written story, with exceptional details and history. I thoroughly enjoyed how Claire and Theo loved each other for who they were, rather than hoping for someone they weren't! Both practical and romantic, this story was a delight to read. I particularly liked the epilogue that brought it to the present day, and the reasoning behind who Cassie chose to work with.
All three sisters are now happily married, but I am happy to say I continued turning the pages once Claire and Theo's story was completed, and I can't wait for the series to continue. 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!
Jun 24, 2025
Fighting Fate (Monsters of London #3.5)
9.0
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Book
One night. Thatâs all I do. I wonât change that for a werewolf, no matter how adorable he might...
MM Paranormal Romance
Curious Cameron (Secret Lives of Hot Twinks #1)
8.0
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I married my best friend. My gay best friend. Iâve flunked out of art college. I have a fresh...
Contemporary MM Erotica Romance Military BDSM
Perfect Vengeance (FBI Strike Force #1)
Book
Trusting him could save her...or destroy her. Robin Hood meets the SopranosâŚan insanely...
Romantic Suspense
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Adrift (2018) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
âHurricane Raymond has been upgraded to a category 5â
âShould we be worriedâ says Tami. Well, yes dear, you really should.
In the glorious surroundings of Tahiti, the American footloose traveller Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley, âDivergent trilogyâ, âThe Descendents) meets British footloose traveller Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin, âJourneyâs Endâ, âMe Before Youâ) and a nautical-based love beckons. Richard is hired by his friends Peter (Jeffrey Thomas) and Christine (Elizabeth Hawthorne) to sail their luxury 44 foot yacht Hazana from Tahiti to Tamiâs home city of San Diego. But they hadnât reckoned on the decidedly un-romantic attentions of Raymond and severely battered and bruised itâs a battle for survival on the vast expanse of the Pacific.
I was intrigued by this film as it seems to have divided the professional criticsâ opinions: Kevin Maher in The Times gave it five stars⌠five! Conversely Edward Porter in The Sunday Times gave it two stars. After seeing the film, Iâm with Mr Maher on this one (breaking convention as I havenât exactly been in tune with this reviewer recently!).
As a story with romantic undertones, the film will live or die on your belief in this aspect. And fortunately the romance works. There is real chemistry between the pair despite them striking you as an odd couple. This is in no small part to the quality of the acting: Claflin proves again that he is a safe pair of hands as a male lead, but itâs Shailene Woodley, who has to carry large portions of the film single-handedly, who again demonstrates just how excellent an actress she is. The camera of Tarentino favourite Robert Richardson (âThe Hateful Eightâ, âDjango Unchainedâ) stays tightly on Woodleyâs features dramatically capturing her tiniest of grimaces.
Woodley is also deliciously un-Hollywood, getting to where she has through acting talent as much as her looks. Yes, she has a great body (liberally, perhaps a tad lasciviously, featured here both above and under the water) but her face is gloriously assymettical with little wrinkles appearing unexpectedly when she grins. Sheâs a good role model for young girls that perfection is not a preârequisite for success. (Whatâs perhaps less good, role-model-wise, is that Woodley allegedly ate only 350 calories a day to get to the emaciated state seen at the end of the film! But to compensate, itâs notable that she looks so much better/sexier at the start of the film than at the end).
Itâs also interesting to note that the 27-year old Woodley is also a co-producer on the film, a sign perhaps that as well as being the âMeryl Streep of the future'(TM), she is also likely to become a significant mover and shaker in Hollywood when getting there.
A bit like âThe Shallowsâ, itâs unapologetically a B movie, but itâs delivered with such style and chutzpah that it drives its way through the apallingly cheesy dialogue just as the poor Hazana bashes its way throught the mountainous seas. Itâs even self-mocking, with Tami rolling her eyes at the corniness of Richardâs, very English, attempts at romantic dialogue. The script is more successful in establishing back-stories for Tami and Richard, demonstrating a degree of parallelism that perhaps better explains their mutual attraction. The irony of fate taking Tami back to her damaged past is exquisite.
A controversial and brave decision by Icelandic director Baltasar KormĂĄkur is to constantly flashback between the survival scenes and Tami and Richardâs courtship that leads up to the cataclismic event. This can be a little distracting, but given the gut-wrenching twist in the third act a linear storytelling would simply have not worked. Itâs very well done too, with matched cross-cuts that really work well. KormĂĄkurâs previous film âEverestâ was his biggest hit to date, and I noted the cheeky addition of the book âEverestâ on the bookshelf on Richardâs boat! (As an aside, âEverestâ is for some reason the film review on One Mannâs Movies that has been viewed more often than any other⌠no idea why⌠must be down to search engine results!)
Extraordinarily, itâs a true story with the closing frames of the film being genuinely moving.
With many similarities to the excellent Robert Redford thriller âAll Is Lostâ, this is a robust and enthralling thriller-cum-romance that unusually delivers on both counts. The romance is believable and the thrills suitably thrilling, especially when a panic-ridden Tami is separated from her one patch of dry land. Although slightly let down by some dodgy dialogue, sitting amongst all the big-hitter summer blockbusters this is a movie you should definitely seek out.
In the glorious surroundings of Tahiti, the American footloose traveller Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley, âDivergent trilogyâ, âThe Descendents) meets British footloose traveller Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin, âJourneyâs Endâ, âMe Before Youâ) and a nautical-based love beckons. Richard is hired by his friends Peter (Jeffrey Thomas) and Christine (Elizabeth Hawthorne) to sail their luxury 44 foot yacht Hazana from Tahiti to Tamiâs home city of San Diego. But they hadnât reckoned on the decidedly un-romantic attentions of Raymond and severely battered and bruised itâs a battle for survival on the vast expanse of the Pacific.
I was intrigued by this film as it seems to have divided the professional criticsâ opinions: Kevin Maher in The Times gave it five stars⌠five! Conversely Edward Porter in The Sunday Times gave it two stars. After seeing the film, Iâm with Mr Maher on this one (breaking convention as I havenât exactly been in tune with this reviewer recently!).
As a story with romantic undertones, the film will live or die on your belief in this aspect. And fortunately the romance works. There is real chemistry between the pair despite them striking you as an odd couple. This is in no small part to the quality of the acting: Claflin proves again that he is a safe pair of hands as a male lead, but itâs Shailene Woodley, who has to carry large portions of the film single-handedly, who again demonstrates just how excellent an actress she is. The camera of Tarentino favourite Robert Richardson (âThe Hateful Eightâ, âDjango Unchainedâ) stays tightly on Woodleyâs features dramatically capturing her tiniest of grimaces.
Woodley is also deliciously un-Hollywood, getting to where she has through acting talent as much as her looks. Yes, she has a great body (liberally, perhaps a tad lasciviously, featured here both above and under the water) but her face is gloriously assymettical with little wrinkles appearing unexpectedly when she grins. Sheâs a good role model for young girls that perfection is not a preârequisite for success. (Whatâs perhaps less good, role-model-wise, is that Woodley allegedly ate only 350 calories a day to get to the emaciated state seen at the end of the film! But to compensate, itâs notable that she looks so much better/sexier at the start of the film than at the end).
Itâs also interesting to note that the 27-year old Woodley is also a co-producer on the film, a sign perhaps that as well as being the âMeryl Streep of the future'(TM), she is also likely to become a significant mover and shaker in Hollywood when getting there.
A bit like âThe Shallowsâ, itâs unapologetically a B movie, but itâs delivered with such style and chutzpah that it drives its way through the apallingly cheesy dialogue just as the poor Hazana bashes its way throught the mountainous seas. Itâs even self-mocking, with Tami rolling her eyes at the corniness of Richardâs, very English, attempts at romantic dialogue. The script is more successful in establishing back-stories for Tami and Richard, demonstrating a degree of parallelism that perhaps better explains their mutual attraction. The irony of fate taking Tami back to her damaged past is exquisite.
A controversial and brave decision by Icelandic director Baltasar KormĂĄkur is to constantly flashback between the survival scenes and Tami and Richardâs courtship that leads up to the cataclismic event. This can be a little distracting, but given the gut-wrenching twist in the third act a linear storytelling would simply have not worked. Itâs very well done too, with matched cross-cuts that really work well. KormĂĄkurâs previous film âEverestâ was his biggest hit to date, and I noted the cheeky addition of the book âEverestâ on the bookshelf on Richardâs boat! (As an aside, âEverestâ is for some reason the film review on One Mannâs Movies that has been viewed more often than any other⌠no idea why⌠must be down to search engine results!)
Extraordinarily, itâs a true story with the closing frames of the film being genuinely moving.
With many similarities to the excellent Robert Redford thriller âAll Is Lostâ, this is a robust and enthralling thriller-cum-romance that unusually delivers on both counts. The romance is believable and the thrills suitably thrilling, especially when a panic-ridden Tami is separated from her one patch of dry land. Although slightly let down by some dodgy dialogue, sitting amongst all the big-hitter summer blockbusters this is a movie you should definitely seek out.