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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
  
The Cowboy and the Rascal (Farthingdale Valley #1)
The Cowboy and the Rascal (Farthingdale Valley #1)
Jackie North | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE COWBOY AND THE RASCAL is the first book in the Farthingdale Valley series, a spin-off from Farthingdale Ranch. Leland, Maddy, Quint, Jasper, and Ellis all make an appearance, which I loved, but the main story is about Gabe and Blaze. Gabe is Team Lead on Leland's new project and Blaze is a parolee.

Gabe is slow to anger and prepared to accept anyone - if they are prepared to work. Kurt, Wayne, Tom, and Blaze make up his first crew and they're a mixed bag to be sure. I'm not going to say what happens with the others apart from I really hope Wayne has his story told. He intrigued me!

Back to Gabe and Blaze - their relationship is a slow-build but consistent. Gabe has his doubts because of the 'rules and regulations' of who he is and what they're doing, but no doubts about Blaze himself. Nope, it's Blaze who can't see that Gabe wants him for him, that he will ever be good enough for Gabe. Jasper is Gabe's friend and, having been through a similar situation, helps Gabe find the right answers.

I loved being back in Farthingdale, whether it's Ranch or Valley, I really don't care. Gabe and Blaze get a HFN ending so I'm really hoping to see more of them as the series progresses. A brilliant start and one I definitely recommend.

** 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!
  
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Guardian Ascending ( Collectors Division book 3)
By Lexie Winston
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

 Mina’s in trouble again. Knocked out and captured by AoA, she has no idea what they want from her. Has friend turned to foe? And how is she going to be able to feed her hungers while in captivity?

Meanwhile her parents are on the war path, and her team are trying to rescue her, but they are blocked at every turn.

With time running out to defeat Hammus, Team Alpha receives some much needed help from an unlikely source.

Can they rescue Mina and together, save the worlds from total domination and enslavement.

Join Jessamina and her team in Book three of the Collectors Division.

Guardian’s Blood is a Reverse harem novel and as such there will be no choosing. Contains both MM and FF and scenes of a sexual nature and isn’t recommend for young readers.

Holy hell that’s one way to wrap up a trilogy! Omg I had every emotion going! I’ve enjoyed this series so so much and I’m hoping and praying we get a spin off I mean there is just too much not too! I won’t post spoilers but once you have read this you will totally understand. Mina is one hot pink bar or demon! Spicy scenes I normally brush over but these were just dragging me in. The world building and characters I just absolutely loved I’ve literally stayed up all night to finish it. Please give this author and series a go!
  
Marvin (Assassin's To Order #1)
Marvin (Assassin's To Order #1)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
MARVIN is the first book in the Assassin's To Order series, a spin-off from the Tangled Tentacles series and features all of our favourites.

Marvin has been convinced to come forward and make a TV appearance, in the hope of bringing out his Lost Boys. Of course, not everyone is as good-hearted as Marvin so things don't go according to plan. Unfortunately, Marvin draws the wrong kind of attention and a kill order is put on him. Luckily for him, he finds his mate who is more than happy to help protect him. His friends are also happy to help, as Marvin helped them.

Oh, man! Marvin the Marvellous!!! He is so innocent, so pure, but don't let that fool you. He also has a spine of steel and will not be played. I love him so much and loved seeing how he developed through the story. You find out some but not all of Marvin's past. Ajani is Marvin's mate and doesn't think he is worthy. Marvin deserves someone better, someone not an assassin. Ajani didn't count on the mate bond and just how much Marvin wants him. He never stood a chance! LOL

I can't say as the ending was a surprise but I loved how it got there. I read this in one sitting, unable to put it down. I can't wait to see the other stories. This wasn't as steamy as others by this pair of authors but I don't think it could have been - not without changing Marvin's character, which is simply not allowed!

A brilliant start to this series 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!
  
The Chosen (Black Dagger Brotherhood #15)
The Chosen (Black Dagger Brotherhood #15)
J.R. Ward | 2017 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
4
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Blehc. Definitely not Ward's best...
Contains spoilers, click to show
Yechk. I honestly did not care for 90% of this book. The whole thing kind of pissed me off really.

Although, in general, I love the BDB books and the characters in those books (with only a few exceptions), this one was just... blah. There were really no sympathetic characters that made me want to read forward or 'root' for them. Xcor is semi-relatable with his awful upbringing, but he is kind of like a rip-off of V and Z, so there's no real flair there.

 Quinn goes off the damned deep end and kinda makes you hate him.

Blay's hurt feelings and arguments make sense, I guess. He is really the only character I understood in this book.

V is all emo lonely, woe-is-me, should I or shouldn't I cheat?! and that is nothing if not hella boring.

And. DO. NOT. Get. Me. Started. On. Fucking. Layla. Her whole story arc just infuriates me. I mean, seriously? And she can't even understand why Quinn is so furious? Oh, and, you are told you're to leave your kids because you endangered them by being with a murderous traitor, and the FIRST THING you do is hunt down said murderous traitor and move him into your place?! Really? No matter how Ward wants to spin it, you are a horrible freaking mother, and you absolutely do not deserve to be around your kids ever again. Let me lose my son over a man? I would NEVER see that man again unless it was to cut his sac off to prove we were done and try to get my kid back. ...eye roll... Seriously, she's the worst.

The sideplot with Tres and Trez? Waaaaay too fairy tale, happy ending that honestly? Seems like a way for Ward to backtrack and try to appease fans that were irate at how "The Shadows" ended and also, it went nowhere, fell flat, and seemed waaay superfluous.

The Tohr/Xcor "twist"? At this point in the series... pretty predictable Ward behavior.

Really, the only interesting bit of this book were the 10 pages or so involving Lassiter's new gig in what is SEEMINGLY leading up to the actual defeat of the Omega, which I assume will also signal the end of the books. I never thought I'd say this, but maybe that's a good thing. Ward is truly off her game lately, and the BDB is getting a bit stale. Maybe it's time for an ending.
  
Reign Of The Wolf
Reign Of The Wolf
Dianna Hardy | 2017 | Erotica, Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An outstanding end to the series.
I believe that if it’s a good book, I’ll read it. I don’t care what genre it falls in to. There’s good literature in every genre, and if you stick to just one type, you’re missing out (potentially, but hey! Read what makes you happy, thats the most important thing!).

I can’t believe this is the final book!! I admit, I’ve left off reading this for as long as possible, because I knew it was the last one. This was action packed! The final battle between the Wolves and the Trident couldn’t have been more exciting. Secrets of Lawrence’s family come out, we find out more about the Trident, and there’s the Egyptian connection too (which I love, by the way). It’s an end of an era! The story is left in such a way as there is the possibility of spin-offs, though. I know the author has written one and is writing another. I can see at least one more avenue that I’d like to see explored!
Just a warning to those of a sensitive nature: there’s a fair bit of sex in this novel, sex in all it’s many varied forms. Don’t read it if you don’t like smoking hot books ?
And yes, I really did just say that.
  
WS
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
How best to describe 'X-Wing: Wraith Squadron', the fifth book in the Star Wars series of books (loosely) based on the old video-games? I think the following exchange from the early part of the novel sums it up best (with Wedge speaking):

' " .. I'd originally thought that Rogue Squadron would be used opportunistically: a strike mission would reveal a ground-based weakness, and we'd have the training and supplies ot go down and perform the necessary ground mission. The way it turned out, we keep landing full-fledged commando missions. So I think we need another Commando X-Wing squadron, one where we choose pilots so as to have a full range of intrusion and subversion skills. Rogue Sqaudron was designed as a fighter unit first, commando unit second; this time, I want to go the other way around."

...

"I want pilots no one else want. Washouts. Pilots staring court-martials in the face. Trouble-makers and screw-ups." '

The rest of the novel deals, primarily, with the formation of that unit and their first mission, concentrating in particular on two members of that unit and their own internal battle against themselves.

While not the strongest of spin-off novels (and, maybe, slightly longer than it needs to be), this is still an enjoyable enough diversion for a couple of days light reading.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2067 KP) rated Vinyl Resting Place in Books

Mar 16, 2023 (Updated Mar 16, 2023)  
Vinyl Resting Place
Vinyl Resting Place
Olivia Blacke | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vinyl May Not be Dead, but Somebody Is
Juni Jessup and her sisters have opened Sip and Spin Records, a combined record store and coffee shop, on the site of the one that their family used to own before records stopped selling. The night before their official opening, they are throwing a party, but things turn tragic afterward when Juni finds a dead body in their storage closet. When their uncle is arrested for the crime, Juni and her sisters don’t hesitate to put their shop up to get him released on bail. But then he vanishes. Can the three of them figure out what is really going on in time to save their shop?

I really enjoyed this debut. The plot takes off in a couple of different directions, and I enjoyed that creativity. I did feel it slowed down a little in the middle, but it picked up again for a fantastic climax. You can feel the history between Juni and her sisters, and I loved their relationships. There are other fun series regulars, and the suspects fit into the book perfectly. I also enjoyed the humor running through the book. The setting, a small town just outside of Austin, Texas, was charming as well. I can’t wait to revisit Juni and the rest of the characters again soon.
  
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Merissa (11646 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
9.0 (2 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
  
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure
We all know the drill with this series by now - it's loud and stupid and dumb, entertaining as fuck, but manages to keep a heart and sense of family, even if that motif is sometimes a little forced. Hobbs & Shaw carries over the vast majority of all of that into the franchise's first foray into spin-off territory - the action is suitably ridiculous, and it has a lot of fun with The Rock and Jason Statham, building on the humorous relationship we saw briefly in The Fate of the Furious.
However, H&S is the first time throughout all of these movies that I felt like it disappeared up its own arse a bit too much. The rest of these films know how silly they are for the most part, but the comedy always well balanced. There are some funny moments in H&S certainly, but it's a constant barrage of jokes that don't stick a lot of the time. Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart both appear in painfully unfunny supporting roles that serve no other purpose than be comic relief, in a movie that's already full of comic relief, and the insults that Hobbs and Shaw consistently hurl at eachother become tiresome after a while. The runtime is definitely over long, clocking in at just under 2 and 1/2 hours, when it could have easily been 40 minutes shorter without losing any substance, and it results in a narrative that is both bloated, and riddled with plot holes, especially in the final third. On top of all of this, despite good chemistry between the two leads, and a welcome addition in Vanessa Kirby, H&S lacks the heart and soul of the series that comes part and parcel with the main crew of characters.

There's plenty of criticism to be thrown at Hobbs & Shaw, but as expected, it's still pretty entertaining. Most of the set pieces are high octane, and it's an acceptable level of switch-your-brain-off fun, but it ultimately suffers from the knowledge of how genuinely good the Fast & Furious movies can be, and joins the huge pile of generic action comedies out there.