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Golden Shana: The Chase (Golden Shana #1)
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An evening at the La Scala in Milan twirls the lives of five people into a web of rivalry,...
Erotica Romantic Suspense
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Mulled to Death in Books
Oct 21, 2021
Parker’s Valentine’s Getaway Hits a Murderous Snag
Parker Valentine and her boyfriend Reid are planning a romantic Valentine’s weekend trip to a ski resort. Parker is hoping to take a few minutes to sell the resort on her mulled wine, and is star struck when the owner, Olympic gold medalist Annmarie Bauer, sits in on the meeting. But the next morning, Parker is nearby when Annmarie has a deadly skiing accident. Parker saw some things that make her question whether it was an accident or not, and as she begins poking around, strange things happen to her. Can she figure out what is really going on?
Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was looking forward to checking in with Parker again. I did feel that Parker’s motive for looking into this as much as she did was weak until late in the book and the plot relied a bit too much on events over investigation, but overall, this was a good mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Parker and Reid are joined by another couple, Parker’s brother Liam and her best friend Sage, who have recently started dating. These four characters are the core of the series to me, and I loved seeing how they developed here. As always, the books are written in first person present tense. I love how the author works in tidbits about wine making as metaphors for what Parker is going through. We get three delicious sounding recipes and suggested wine pairings at the end. Fans of the series will have fun with the newest in this series.
Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was looking forward to checking in with Parker again. I did feel that Parker’s motive for looking into this as much as she did was weak until late in the book and the plot relied a bit too much on events over investigation, but overall, this was a good mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Parker and Reid are joined by another couple, Parker’s brother Liam and her best friend Sage, who have recently started dating. These four characters are the core of the series to me, and I loved seeing how they developed here. As always, the books are written in first person present tense. I love how the author works in tidbits about wine making as metaphors for what Parker is going through. We get three delicious sounding recipes and suggested wine pairings at the end. Fans of the series will have fun with the newest in this series.
Merissa (12841 KP) rated The Successor (Tales of Pern Coen) in Books
Mar 24, 2023
THE SUCCESSOR is a standalone book in the Tales of Pern Coen series and, next to Wraidd Elfennol, Pern Coen is my favourite island to be on.
We leave the Wolf Clan and move to Ceffyl, the Horse Spirit's home. The villagers are suffering and Geraint isn't at all concerned. He sends his distant cousin, Torin, off to find his ex-wife, Briallen. She has something Geraint wants, and he isn't prepared to accept no as an answer.
I loved this story! Torin and Briallen are perfect together, the warrior and the healer. Their relationship takes time to build and it is all the stronger for it. Cleena, Geraint's current wife, could have just been a simpering fool but, instead, she comes into her own, using her own mind and not just accepting what she is being told. Siarl and Gwyn are the best friends and Maldwyn is the mother figure. And we can't forget the kids, Hywel, Aneirin, and Deidre. All of these characters simply MAKE this book.
I will admit, I wanted Briallen and Torin to have their cottage by the sea but, I'm hoping, they will still have it as a romantic getaway! LOL The ending was absolutely perfect for the story. It certainly made my eyes leak.
Another jewel in the crown of Pern Coen and HIGHLY 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
We leave the Wolf Clan and move to Ceffyl, the Horse Spirit's home. The villagers are suffering and Geraint isn't at all concerned. He sends his distant cousin, Torin, off to find his ex-wife, Briallen. She has something Geraint wants, and he isn't prepared to accept no as an answer.
I loved this story! Torin and Briallen are perfect together, the warrior and the healer. Their relationship takes time to build and it is all the stronger for it. Cleena, Geraint's current wife, could have just been a simpering fool but, instead, she comes into her own, using her own mind and not just accepting what she is being told. Siarl and Gwyn are the best friends and Maldwyn is the mother figure. And we can't forget the kids, Hywel, Aneirin, and Deidre. All of these characters simply MAKE this book.
I will admit, I wanted Briallen and Torin to have their cottage by the sea but, I'm hoping, they will still have it as a romantic getaway! LOL The ending was absolutely perfect for the story. It certainly made my eyes leak.
Another jewel in the crown of Pern Coen and HIGHLY 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (12841 KP) rated Her Druid Fantasy (The Amber Druid Series #2) in Books
Mar 31, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
If you haven't read any of the Amber Druid series yet then you are sure as heck missing out. These books take you on a sensual and romantic journey, peppered with arguments, 'real' life and passion.
This particular book tells the story of Ramsey and Vivienne. You know that they are just perfect for each other but with their own stubbornness and outside circumstances get in the way? I won't say for sure but I will say that I was gripped by their story, in turn, I was sad, happy, and concerned - you name it, I think the emotion will be in this book.
I love how the druids can tell if another one of them is nearby, even without seeing them. And I also loved how they knew that something was going to happen even before Vivi's symptoms became known. It almost reminded me of the Jedi Knights - "there's a disturbance in the Force!"
This series just keeps getting better and better. We greet old friends and get to know new ones. Personally, I love the time spent on drawing away each layer of the characters so that you get a deeper, more intimate knowledge of them. I know Brenan's book is out next which should be good but I really can't wait for Kale's story! He intrigues me ;)
Highly recommended for all Paranormal fans out there.
* 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!
August 25, 2016
This particular book tells the story of Ramsey and Vivienne. You know that they are just perfect for each other but with their own stubbornness and outside circumstances get in the way? I won't say for sure but I will say that I was gripped by their story, in turn, I was sad, happy, and concerned - you name it, I think the emotion will be in this book.
I love how the druids can tell if another one of them is nearby, even without seeing them. And I also loved how they knew that something was going to happen even before Vivi's symptoms became known. It almost reminded me of the Jedi Knights - "there's a disturbance in the Force!"
This series just keeps getting better and better. We greet old friends and get to know new ones. Personally, I love the time spent on drawing away each layer of the characters so that you get a deeper, more intimate knowledge of them. I know Brenan's book is out next which should be good but I really can't wait for Kale's story! He intrigues me ;)
Highly recommended for all Paranormal fans out there.
* 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!
August 25, 2016
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated An Almost Purrfect Murder in Books
Jul 30, 2022
Who Committed Murder on an Alaskan Cruise?
A cruise to Alaska isn’t Frankie’s idea of a vacation, but when her best friend, Penny, decides to get married in the middle of a cruise, she goes along, especially since she’s the maid of honor. The first night, Frankie watches the entertainment, which includes a cat trainer. She surprised to find one of the cats outside her door the next morning transmitting some weird messages that only begin to make sense when she finds the dead body of the trainer on the lifeboat below her cabin. Can she convince anyone that he was murdered?
In a moment of serendipity, I read this book on an Alaskan cruise I took recently. It was fun and strange to read about Frankie in places I was visiting, just in a different order. Yes, this is one of the few paranormal cozy series I read since Frankie can communicate with animals, but it’s a minor part of the story. The plot was uneven with the wedding and romantic subplots taking up pages as well. Since the book is the third in the series, I was definitely invested in those stories, but a little more time on the mystery would have been nice. Still, I was impressed with how all the clues came together in the end. Most of the characters were new, and I enjoyed getting to know them, suspects and family members alike. I laughed multiple times as I was reading at the antics of the two and four legged characters. Overall, this is a fun book that fans of the series will enjoy.
In a moment of serendipity, I read this book on an Alaskan cruise I took recently. It was fun and strange to read about Frankie in places I was visiting, just in a different order. Yes, this is one of the few paranormal cozy series I read since Frankie can communicate with animals, but it’s a minor part of the story. The plot was uneven with the wedding and romantic subplots taking up pages as well. Since the book is the third in the series, I was definitely invested in those stories, but a little more time on the mystery would have been nice. Still, I was impressed with how all the clues came together in the end. Most of the characters were new, and I enjoyed getting to know them, suspects and family members alike. I laughed multiple times as I was reading at the antics of the two and four legged characters. Overall, this is a fun book that fans of the series will enjoy.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Nov 14, 2022 (Updated Nov 14, 2022)
Merissa (12841 KP) rated The List (Second Chances #1) in Books
Jun 15, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)
THE LIST is the first book in the Second Chances series and in this introduction, we are treated to Elliot and Win. Elliot is a diehard romantic homebody who just wants to be loved. Win is afraid of love, having lost his husband to an RTA, but there is something about Elliot that draws him in like a moth to a flame.
I loved Elliot and Win. Both of them have been through so much and I really wanted them to be happy - with each other, of course! They both have tragedies in their pasts and show how different people react. I thought this was incredibly sensitively written, and I loved every word.
What I didn't love are Spencer's friends. I'm sorry, I know I should like them, but I don't. Chess is the nicest one and even he is hiding a secret. Spencer is completely annoying and I want to slap him upside the head with every scene he is in. And Wolf!!! As a lawyer, what the hell was he thinking, going off half-cocked like that? I look forward to reading their stories and having Ms Stevens change my opinion of them.
This is the start of a new series and I am already hooked. Elliot and Win stole my heart, and I hope to hear more from them in the future. Highly 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 15, 2021
I loved Elliot and Win. Both of them have been through so much and I really wanted them to be happy - with each other, of course! They both have tragedies in their pasts and show how different people react. I thought this was incredibly sensitively written, and I loved every word.
What I didn't love are Spencer's friends. I'm sorry, I know I should like them, but I don't. Chess is the nicest one and even he is hiding a secret. Spencer is completely annoying and I want to slap him upside the head with every scene he is in. And Wolf!!! As a lawyer, what the hell was he thinking, going off half-cocked like that? I look forward to reading their stories and having Ms Stevens change my opinion of them.
This is the start of a new series and I am already hooked. Elliot and Win stole my heart, and I hope to hear more from them in the future. Highly 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 15, 2021
Merissa (12841 KP) rated The Starfolk Arcana (The Starfolk Trilogy #1) by Martha Dunlop in Books
Jul 21, 2022 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)
THE STARFOLK ARCANA is the first book in the Starfolk Trilogy and we are introduced to a contemporary world where Beth has never felt as though she fitted in, due to her gut feelings and intuition. On her birthday, she goes to a TV show that her friend got tickets for. There, she sees a celebrity, Amelia, who speaks a lot of nonsense but nevertheless manages to sway over the audience apart from Beth. It is also there she meets Jonan for the first time. Life is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
I wouldn't call this a romance book, but rather a story with romantic elements. There is a lot of back and forth between Beth and Jonan as they try to work together, past lives and tarot cards notwithstanding. The whole world seems to be under Amelia's spell, and they need to stop it. It is an uphill battle though, as it is easier to give in to fear than to fight it.
Full of twists and turns, you are never completely sure who to trust. I understood Beth's frustration and hope for the general population but I found her blindness to her roommate to be just as irritating for me.
It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger which definitely left me wanting more. A great read I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2022
I wouldn't call this a romance book, but rather a story with romantic elements. There is a lot of back and forth between Beth and Jonan as they try to work together, past lives and tarot cards notwithstanding. The whole world seems to be under Amelia's spell, and they need to stop it. It is an uphill battle though, as it is easier to give in to fear than to fight it.
Full of twists and turns, you are never completely sure who to trust. I understood Beth's frustration and hope for the general population but I found her blindness to her roommate to be just as irritating for me.
It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger which definitely left me wanting more. A great read I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2022
Daylight Robbery (Aspen Falls #6)
10.0
Rate It
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It was supposed to be a seamless robbery. In and out without a trace. But then Police Chief Marks...
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of opera, but Diva held me in its thrall from the off. Maria Callas’ life was fascinating: she was dramatic, striking, dedicated and vulnerable. Her mother had exploited her voice in Nazi-occupied Greece, which Maria never forgave her for, and she cuts her off when she makes it big. But even though Callas makes out that she can’t be used again for other’s financial gain, it does happen.
Then she meets Aristotle Onassis - the love of her life. This relationship must have looked so romantic at the time, and it seems that Maria thought so. She believed that Onassis saw her for who she really was. I thought this was where her vulnerability was really brought to the fore - and as she lets her guard down, he does the inevitable and lets her down.
I really liked the way this was set out: Callas’ career was interspersed with flashbacks of her early life, and as I was listening to the audiobook there were excerpts from songs (arias?)in between chapters. I actually headed to Spotify to listen to more after listening to a couple of these (there’s a playlist linked to the book: Diva by Daisy Goodwin). The narrator, Lorelei King made for an excellent Maria Callas as well as ‘just’ a narrator. She was very convincing.
I was completely sucked in to Maria Callas’ life whilst I was listening to this. She was quite some woman, and she was brought to life whilst I listened. My only complaint is that it ended too soon!
Then she meets Aristotle Onassis - the love of her life. This relationship must have looked so romantic at the time, and it seems that Maria thought so. She believed that Onassis saw her for who she really was. I thought this was where her vulnerability was really brought to the fore - and as she lets her guard down, he does the inevitable and lets her down.
I really liked the way this was set out: Callas’ career was interspersed with flashbacks of her early life, and as I was listening to the audiobook there were excerpts from songs (arias?)in between chapters. I actually headed to Spotify to listen to more after listening to a couple of these (there’s a playlist linked to the book: Diva by Daisy Goodwin). The narrator, Lorelei King made for an excellent Maria Callas as well as ‘just’ a narrator. She was very convincing.
I was completely sucked in to Maria Callas’ life whilst I was listening to this. She was quite some woman, and she was brought to life whilst I listened. My only complaint is that it ended too soon!