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Merissa (12911 KP) rated Pass (Shattered Pawns #1) in Books

May 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)  
Pass (Shattered Pawns #1)
Pass (Shattered Pawns #1)
Jennifer Cody | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
PASS is the first book in the spin-off series Shattered Pawns that follows on from The Diviner's Game. Although this is the start of a brand new story, it does follow characters and situations from the previous trilogy, so I would absolutely recommend you read that one first!

Right then, onto Pass. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I adored seeing old favourites and learning how they are getting on. And meeting new ones for the first time - I looking at you, Anni! The story is compelling and moves along at a fair pace, keeping the reader's attention from the first word to the very last. So why only 4-stars, I hear you ask. Let me tell you.

Tio - Auggie - Luca

Although the scenes with them were incredibly well written, I just didn't connect with them. Auggie was probably the closest I got. Tio drove me insane 99.9% of the time, and Luca just accepted EVERYTHING! I mean, really? I know I'm going to be in the minority with this, but it is my opinion.

On the whole, though, this was a brilliant story. I want more from Qis and Monet, plus Anni and Charon. I honestly can't wait to see where Ms Cody will take me next. Just because I didn't connect with these characters doesn't mean I don't want more - from either the series or the author!

4-stars is still a 'very good' rating so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book but, once again, I would recommend you read the previous trilogy first.

** 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!
May 21, 2021
  
Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3)
Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3)
Katherine McIntyre | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Scorching hot and full of emotions - I'm not ready to say goodbye!
STRONGER THAN LONGING is the third and final book in the Chesapeake Days series and features Nico's brother, Taran, as one of our main characters. It starts with him being dumped for being too geeky and too boring. Along comes Silas, newly back in town, to help revive his flagging... confidence.

Both Silas and Taran have their issues to deal with which, in turn, affects how they deal with each other. There was going to be a blow-up at some point, I knew that, it was just a matter of when. In the meantime, until that happened, I got an eyeful of tentative longing, sarcastic wit, and geeky flirting, and I loved every minute of it. These two are H.O.T. both in and out of the sheets.

As always, Ms McIntyre's characters are lifelike and loveable. The situations are not far-fetched, and love wins the day. This makes my hopeless romantic heart happy.

I have loved the Chesapeake Days series and was inconsolable (as I just wasn't ready to let it go) until I read that there will be a spin-off series called Chesapeake Nights. That put the smile back on my face so now I just have to wait patiently!

A brilliant addition to the series that I highly recommend. But read the others first - not because you have to but because you'll miss out on two other fantastic stories if you don't!

** 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!
  
Curses and Chaos (Arcane Souls World: The Lost Witch #1)
Curses and Chaos (Arcane Souls World: The Lost Witch #1)
Annie Anderson | 2023 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CURSES AND CHAOS is the first book in The Lost Witch series, which is a spin-off from The Wrong Witch. I would suggest you do read that series as this one runs concurrently with the last book in that series but from the perspective of Fiona and Theo. Personally, I loved that as I got to see the events through different eyes.

Anyway, back to this one. Fiona is the best friend of Wren and will do anything to get her back from the Fae Realm, including killing twelve witches. Theo is the older brother of Nico, Wren's husband, and Second to the Alpha of the Acosta Pack. Theo has his issues with witches and doesn't hide them. Fiona knows he hates her and accepts it; she's got bigger things on her mind.

I am so glad Fiona got her story told, even if this is just the beginning! I loved how Theo and Fiona's relationship changed without them both fully realising it. And one thing I absolutely adored? There is no "I love you's" in this book! Oh, don't get me wrong, the possessiveness of the wolf is all there, but their relationship will need longer than one book to reach that stage! I'm all over that. I can't wait to see what comes next and how they react to it.

Fiona is sweetness and spice with a whole lot of sass. Theo is Mr Grumpy Pants (with reason) with a darkness that suits Fiona. I love this pair and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this brilliant start to their story.

** 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!
May 29, 2023
  
Weave Them And Reap (Weavers Of The Ether #1)
Weave Them And Reap (Weavers Of The Ether #1)
Essie Suter | 2023 | Erotica, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
WEAVE THEM AND REAP is the first book in the Weavers of the Ether series and, I'm not 100% sure but it feels like it's a spin-off from a different series. Whether it is or not, I enjoyed this story of a renegade weaver finding her destiny and three mates at the same time!

There are other characters I'm hoping have stories told about - the princess in the Gate, Cam, Leif, Jet, and Wren, to name just some. But this story was about Echo, Finn, Brogan, and Soren. Four very different people who have a mate bond… if they accept it.

I'll be honest, Echo was a little annoying to start with. Her constantly happy mood, even when Jet was cussing her, was a bit much but I do know people who are like that, which made it all the more believable! Brogan was the one to hold everyone together, always chilled - until he's not. Finn was the lonely dragon who found everything he didn't know he was looking for. And Soren - oh, man - I've saved the best for last. Mr Ice who was slowly but surely melted. What a great group.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I was drawn in from the first page. The world intrigues me, as do the characters, and I look forward to reading more in this series and also by the author. The overall story arc has been left wide open, although, with the epilogue, we know Echo and her guys are certainly happy enough!

Thoroughly enjoyable and 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 20, 2023
  
    Best Fiends

    Best Fiends

    Games

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Just Right is the first book in the Bradford series by Erin Nicholas. Nurse Jessica Bradford has loved looking at Dr Ben Torres these past 6 months in the ER Department. Tonight’s tragedy has them all on edge, when Ben enters the ER and strikes a patient, Jessica doesn’t know how to help him. It becomes her duty to keep an eye on him during his suspension and keep him on the straight and narrow to be able to return to the ER Department. She doesn’t count on falling for him quite so easily and quickly.

Dr Ben Torres is having a hell of a night in the ER. He’s lost 2 young patients and their mother is looking to be next all because a guy he put back together on the operating table a few months back decided to drink and drive. He can’t stand by anymore while people take advantage of each other anymore. Why doesn’t anyone appreciate the life they are living any longer? When he sees that patient put his hands on Jessica he loses control. He has kept his distance from Jessica for 6 months, he has to keep his eyes off the prize, but he won’t stand by while someone hurts her. He has tossed around the idea of quitting for a while and this tips the scale big time.

When both Jessica’s brother Sam and boss Russ ask her to keep an eye on Ben until he can return to the ER she does so eagerly. She grows closer to him while he tags along with her in everyday life. He helps her at her family’s youth center, she helps him at his new barrista job. Their adventures together have quite a few funny situations and of course the secondary characters help the humor move along.

Ben and Jessica both have tragedy in their pasts, both have a self doubt they are working to erase from their beings. Even though they think they’ve taken different roads to end up where they are now, they are actually quite similar.

I read this authors Counting on Love series first, which is a spin off of this series, so I was already pretty familiar with all the main and secondary characters in this book. Erin Nicholas is a wonderful writer with a style I love to follow along with. I have no idea how I ended up reading her first to me novel but I am so glad I did. Now on to the next Bradford book…..
  
An Inconvenient Beauty
An Inconvenient Beauty
Kristi Ann Hunter | 2017 | Romance
5
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great likable characters, slow plot halfway through the second half of the novel
This book would have made an excellent movie that I would watch several times over. You can picture the characters clearly in your head and play out the scenes as they’re really well descripted and well written. What surprised me the most while reading the book was how funny it was. It’s not a laugh out loud comedy per se, but there were scenes and encounters where you found yourself laughing out loud. I thought it was different. Not all regency romance novels are like this (most are lighthearted romances) so seeing some good funny scenes is nice and puts a different spin on things. (The lawn bowling incident haha!)

Isabella and Griffith were perfect together. They had the perfect chemistry, their intelligence was on par with each other and Isabella was exactly what Griffith needed. He was all about routine, and finding the answers to everything and being prepared. Isabella was exactly the opposite; she made him question his methods, and got him to realize not everything has an answer and sometimes just going with the flow helps brighten up life. The best part was although their romance didn’t start off as usual (love at first sight, etc) it was a gradual bond that lasted throughout the book.

What I didn’t really like was although the characters were great, and the comedy bits made the plot light and fun, it didn’t do much regarding the speed and pace of the plot. It dragged midway in the plot and it seemed to have slowed to a crawl and the change of pace changed considerably.

Aside from the slow pacing in the second half of the book, I enjoyed the characters. They were fun and likable, and the comedy provided some good light moments. Although this is part of a series, this book can be read as a stand alone as well.