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Sloane's List
Sloane's List
Viola Estrella | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
high on the cute scale!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Sloane is now an empty nester, after sending her 18 year old daughter off to college. She has a list of ten things she wants to do. She just needs a man to help her. Enter Oscar. He meets her the day before Paige goes off, and is smitten from then on. But Oscar is younger than Sloane, and has a bit of a reputation. What's a girl to do, eh?

Bar one thing, and I will come back to that, I loved this!

It's a really easy read, and I mean that in a very VERY good way.

There were some plot lines I did not see coming, so well played there, but the penny did drop really fast! And some coming at ya like a freaking freight train, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. But I loved that! Sometimes, it really is lovely to see it all laid out for you.

It's not overly explicit, and I loved that here, for these two. I was expecting it to be, for some reason, and I loved being proven wrong about what I needed to read at this point in time.

Fairly low on the angst scale, but high on the cute scale and scorching on the warm and fuzzy scale!

I loved that we got to hear from both Sloane and Oscar, but also from Paige (Sloane's daughter) Alex (Oscar's brother) and the mother hen in the apartment complex, Auntie Ernie.

So, what didn't I like? Simple. First person, present tense AND multi point of view. In fact, I very VERY nearly dumped this, once I saw how it was written. So very VERY glad I didn't!

I haven't read anything by this author before, and I think I'd like to read something with a bit more bite.

But still, a very VERY good, 4 star read.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Bleed In The Night (Blood and Bonds #2)
Bleed In The Night (Blood and Bonds #2)
S.J. Coles | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
BLEED IN THE NIGHT is the second book in the Blood and Bonds series and follows Lucien and Tyler, both of whom we met in the previous book.

Tyler has been through a traumatic experience - admittedly of his own making - and hasn't been sleeping since. He wants to know Lucien has been apprehended but no one seems to take him seriously. Taking matters into his own hands, he employs 'Damon' to capture Lucien. As with most things though, Tyler doesn't think it through and soon faces a choice.

I was surprised when I saw it was Lucien and Tyler in this book. I was convinced it would be Darragh and Tom. I do like it when I'm wrong. And this book continued to surprise. Tyler is still a hothead but I learnt more about what makes him tick and the work he does to help those with less than him. He doesn't come across as just a thug anymore. And Lucien? What can I say about him? I love him! He has reasons for the way he is and they are completely understandable. These two are almost touch-starved but when they're together? Yeah, not so much! 😁

Although I can understand where they're coming from, I have to say Emory and Co. really dropped the ball with Lucien. There was more understanding from Tyler than there was from them. This certainly differs from the norm where Elders are respected!

I was happy with the ending for Tyler and Lucien, although I hope it's not the last we see of them. I was also shocked by the ending, but it has left me with a desire to continue the series, so I guess it did its job!

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!
Feb 20, 2024
  
Demon's Obsession (Obsessions #1)
Demon's Obsession (Obsessions #1)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Silas' tre makes for some fun times!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the start of a new series by these 2 authors, and I have to say, very different from the Tangled Tentacles and I loved that it is!

Silas goes to town once a week to sing. He can only manage short times away from his tree and the forest, being a dryad. Dakata is a demon, living in the human world, managing music acts. Dakata's demon reacts to Silas, making Dak aware that his Blissful One is near. But others are against the mating. And danger looms.

I just gotta mention the cover! When I got my copy, it didn't have a cover, and I only saw the cover AFTER I read it. It fits, perfectly! The scene it's taken from? Comes over exactly like the cover! Love it!!

I loved this, I really did. It's a bit different, with Silas being a dryad. He is bonded to a tree, and cannot be far from it. The tree talks to Silas, but also is able to move freely. Which makes for some fun times, especially when Dak is near and they get down and dirty! Phew!! Dak's demon talks to the tree too.

I liked that the danger was simple jealousy. No complicated plot with twist and turns to follow. I even liked the way Dak's demon dealt with that threat.

So, I have a couple of questions!

Will Wanda get a book? I mean, she has three trees she is bonded to, will she get three partners?

Will Dougal and George get stories too?? I loved these two and hope they do.

And just who is the goat, in dak's apartment that kicks Merihem in the nuts??!!

It's a little bit out there, but Sayle is becoming a master at the out there troupe!

Loved it, can't wait for more!

5 full and shiny stars.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
A Liar's Moon (Strength of the Pack #2)
A Liar's Moon (Strength of the Pack #2)
Joy Lynn Fielding | 2026 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A LIAR'S MOON is the second book in the newly rewritten and expanded Strength of the Pack series. Although reading book one isn't necessarily needed, I would recommend it. This time, it's Jason's turn.

Jason, if you don't already know, is the soft-spoken one, the one with a heart of gold, who isn't sure he belongs due to how his old pack treated him. So it makes complete sense to me that this book reflects him. It's not full of action, chaos, and mayhem, but more hurt/comfort, and seeing the joy on people's faces. And most of the time, it's Riley who makes Jason happy. Most of the time, but not all of it. Riley was rejected by his family when he came out, and he has wandered since then, doing different jobs. He's on his last chance, and needs to write about the Elk Ridge Pack and a possible Argent. But he doesn't count on Jason.

I was completely engrossed with this story, from beginning to end. I loved how their relationship grew, and boy, was I invested in it! When what was inevitable finally happened, my heart broke, not just for Jason, but for Riley too. Jason at least had his pack there for him, whereas Riley had no one. It was really emotional, seeing it play out, and I couldn't read fast enough, while simultaneously not wanting to finish.

The ending was perfect for Jason and Riley, and I look forward to seeing them in future books, just as I saw Matt and Jesse in this one. It's Tristan's book next, and I can't wait! 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 5, 2026
  
Mayfair Madame (Mayfair heights #1)
Mayfair Madame (Mayfair heights #1)
Alex J Adams | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ms Adams smashes it, she really does!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Ok so!

I have followed Ms Adams from the beginning, and her skill as an author continues to grow. THIS book, though, is a step away from her usual fair, and I will be honest, wasn't sure how it was gonna go.

I need NOT have worried! Because Ms Adams smashed it, she really did!

Naomi lives in Mayfair Heights, and runs an escort business. A physical assault (on page, but needed) brings her into contact with Ellie Sharpe, a detective dealing with her case. For both of them, there is powerful attraction, but they cannot act on it, until the case is dropped and Ellie and Naomi are free to do as they wish. But someone doesn't want to let it go. And both women carry some emotional baggage. Can they find the love they both so desperately want and need?

I loved this, I really did.

I loved that both Naomi and Ellie have a say. I loved the way things developed between the two of them. I loved the emotional connection and how Naomi SAW Ellie, even if Ellie didn't want to be seen.

I loved the steam level here. While not especially explicit, the physical connection between Ellie and Naomi is powerful and it shows in the way they are together.

It is a bit darker, Naomi gets assaulted a couple of times, but I think it is needed to get the point across.

I LOVED the whole team who live in Mayfair Heights! Some characters have piqued my interest more than others, but they all pulled a string and I look forward to those strings being unravelled.

Thank you, Ms Adams, for falling in love with the cover, the picture portrays Naomi beautifully and I cannot wait to get to know the others in more detail.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Lost Energy (Energy Series #2)
Lost Energy (Energy Series #2)
Lynn Vroman | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Book 2 continues where Book 1 stopped - Tarek is still Warden of Arcus and Lena is still on Earth. He can talk to her every night but she can't respond. What a heartbreaking way to start the book!

This book is building up to so much more than 'just' a romance. It is full of action, humour, double-crossing, rivalry and even loss. Lena has grown up a lot since the first book but still has some to do, and Wilma is more than happy to help set her straight. The pace of the book is fast although not frantic. There are events that need to happen, and they do. It is not all sweetness and light though.

I love the characters in these books as they all have depth and their own personalities. Farren's relationship with Lena is simply fantastic and they have the unconditional love and support of each other that nothing can break (I hope!). The emotional range in this book will draw you in before it tears you apart. I don't like talking too much about the story as you have the synopsis for that - but one that that I really need to say is that you NEED to read this series. I was in tears by the end of the book, totally side-swiped by an event that I just never saw coming because I was too wrapped up in the story. What happens after said event is even worse and I really, really need the next book, like now, just to ensure that all will be well.

If you like fantasy then get your grubby mitts on this series because, trust me, it's a brilliant one! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
* 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!
September 2, 2016
  
Centaur Rift (Warrior Hearts Academy #1)
Centaur Rift (Warrior Hearts Academy #1)
Ellie Horn | 2023 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CENTAUR RIFT is the first book in the Warrior Hearts Academy series BUT it appears to be a spin-off of either one or two previous series, so it did feel as though you were dropped into the middle of the action to begin with. On the cover, there is a IV but I only saw that once I had the book on my Paperwhite, as it didn't show up clearly on the book cover online.

That being said, I quickly became invested in Riley, Marcus, Rafael, and Havoc. Riley is awesome. She grew up as a foster kid and has dealt with horrible situations. This allows her to understand when Marcus swings back and forth with his moods, instead of throwing her own temper tantrum - even if she wants to! Marcus - oh, man! This poor male has had so much taken away and given so much sh!t in return, he breaks my heart. Rafael - I could see his storyline a mile away but the fun was in waiting for him to find out. He has been tormented in ways he doesn't even know about yet. I want to get him out of there! And speaking of getting out, poor Havoc! I want to wrap him up in the warm fuzzies, even if he does grumble about it. These four are brilliant and I can't wait for them to meet up.

I was thankful for Riley's ignorance as it meant I got explanations about the world and the different species in it, along with her. I can't wait to find out more about her!

Although I started off wondering what I'd let myself in for, I was in for a thoroughly enjoyable ride through this story, and can't wait to read more. 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!
Nov 25, 2023
  
TL
The Lies We Tell
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
dark and deadly but oh so good!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Nate is a police detective tasked with taking down the local gang leader. Ollie witnesses a murder by said gang leader and Nate is tasked to keep him safe. Even if it costs him his own life.

This is a decidedly darker book by Adams, and I loved it!

Nate is a jaded police detective, facing the end of his marriage. He is a grumpy git, with good reason. Meeting Ollie gives him a teeny tiny light to hang on to. Ollie, in turn, comes to rely on Nate to keep him safe. I loved that neither saw the other coming. I mean, Nate thought he was straight, and here is is, drooling over a PICTURE of a possible lead on the gang leader he wants to take down.

I loved that it all crept up on them, Nate and Ollie both. And I loved the way Nate's soon-to-be-ex wife dealt with everything. She could have been a nasty b8tch but I'm glad she wasn't.

Although the blurb says spice and steam, I didn't think it overly explicit, indeed it's quite some time before Nate and Ollie get physical. It's more about the powerful emotions they evoke in each other than the smex.

It is, as I said, on the darker side. Some on page torture of a police officer is described, and on page kidnapping. (Did not see that one coming, I tell ya!) There is Ollie's abuse at the hands of the gang leader (some off and some on page) Gang activities are talked about too. Be midnful of these, if you have triggers.

Pushing my personal boundaries in the best way, an excellent read. I am loving watching Ms Adams grow and develop her skill. It's been a crazy ride so far, but I do not wanna get off!

5 full but dark stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Merissa (14112 KP) rated The Protector (Fire's Edge #4) in Books

Dec 14, 2020 (Updated Aug 8, 2023)  
The Protector (Fire's Edge #4)
The Protector (Fire's Edge #4)
Abigail Owen | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE PROTECTOR is the fourth book in the Fire's Edge series, but some of the characters cross over from the Inferno Rising series. I haven't read any of the previous Fire's Edge stories, but I have read Inferno Rising. This meant I was able to follow the story quite easily although, that being said, I do want to read the others, simply because I loved how Ms. Owen puts together her stories.

Levi has wanted Lyndi since the first time he saw her, much to his confusion. His dragon laid claim to her, even though dragons can only have human mates... can't they? Lyndi is fascinated by the gold dragon and wants to hate him because she knows as a female-born dragon, she can offer him nothing. For two hundred years, these two have been dancing around each other, but now Levi has been ordered to return to the Gold Clan and may never see Lyndi again. This proves just the thing to spur them both on.

This is a fast-paced and intricate book, with plenty going on and not just between Levi and Lyndi. There are orphans, wars, clans, rogues... and not all of it I understood. This is simply my lack of knowledge of the previous books, not any problem with the storytelling of this one.

There was one part where I was glad I hadn't read any of the others because it tore me to pieces anyway. Such a brave green dragon and I'm not saying more than that!

This was a fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and have no hesitation in recommending. I really, REALLY want to read the others now. So, if you'll excuse me, I have books to buy... 😁

* 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!
Dec 14, 2020
  
AM
A Multitude of Dreams
Mara Rutherford | 2023 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Trigger Warnings: plague, death, blood, racism, murder, self harm, genocide, survivors guilt

A Multitude of Dreams is a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. Four years ago, King Stuart gathered his royals, noblemen, and daughters and locked them into the safety of the castle walls. Every window was boarded up and every door sealed shut - all to protect those within of the horrible mori roja plague ravaging the land outside.

Told in third person, this novel follows Seraphina, a Jewish girl, who is also the (fake) Princess Imogene, and Nico, who once lived a comfortable life but now works for Lord Crane, the man who saved his life after he lost everything. When Lord Crane sends Nico and two others on the search for survivors, Nico meets a princess who wants out. But both are living in giant webs of lies and deception that they must unravel if they’re going to survive.

I wanted this title because I read The Poison Season and I really enjoyed it. So, when I saw Mara Rutherford had another YA novel coming out, I immediately put it on my TBR list. It’s also listed as Fantasy Gothic and
I was all about it and also the cover - like, I love it!

There were a few twists in here I didn’t quite see right away, which was nice. And, even some of the ones that I did see coming, I still enjoyed Rutherford’s storytelling and it kept me interested. And yes, there is some romance in this, but it wasn’t the main focus of the story - surviving and getting out of the castle was.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who’s in need of a good gothic fantasy with a hidden identity, Jewish representation, a masquerade, and the fight of survival.

*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review