Search

Search only in certain items:

The Chosen Ones
The Chosen Ones
Howard Linskey | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Police detective Ian Bradshaw is assigned a case where it is believed, that five women are missing. He calls two journalists, Tom and Helen, to help him solve this case. I really liked that the author doesn’t leave these cases only to the police but also involves other people to help. I think, that there is no single main character in this book, Ian, Tom and Helen are equally important in this novel. I really loved that this book is told from multiple perspectives, allowing to understand the characters and to have a glimpse into different minds and lives. Even though it is told by multiple people, the mystery and suspense were very well kept throughout the book. I don’t think I could single out my favourite character, I think they all have very intriguing personalities, and I quickly warmed up to all the important characters in this book.

The narrative is very well developed in this novel. There is more than one investigation happening, and I think that made the whole book even richer and more absorbing. I really liked all the twists and turns this story had to offer, and I believe, the author really knows how to sidetrack the reader. The narrative kept changing continuously, depending on the character, that is why this book was a real page turner to me.

The writing style was very creative, but at the same time enjoyable and easy to read. The chapters are very well constructed and have a decent length, so for me, the pages just flew by. This book is fourth in the series, and it does carry quite a bit of information from the previous books, and I wish I read them before this one, however, I was able to understand of what was going on. So, you can read it as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the previous books first. I really liked the way this book ended, it answered all my questions and gave a glimpse of what to come in the next book, which I will be looking out for.

So, to conclude, this book is dark, claustrophobic, and very gripping, filled with very well developed characters, absorbing plot and plenty of twists. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope you will give it a try and will like it as much as I did.
  
Handle With Care
Handle With Care
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wren has been hired by the Moorehead family to handle the youngest of the family, Armstrong who is a PR nightmare. When the patriarch of the family passes away suddenly, the older son, Lincoln returns for the funeral. What he's not expecting is for his grandmother and mother to ask him to take over the company. Being a CEO has never been in Lincoln's mind, but he made a promise that he would stay for 6 months. Wren is then tasked with helping Lincoln to become the face of the company, which will be difficult since he's covered in fur. When Lincoln first meets Wren, he thinks she nothing but a high paid babysitter, but there is something about her that has sparked his interest and finds that he enjoys her being around. Wren feels it too, but knows her job is more important. Will they be able to keep their feelings to themselves, or will it all be too much?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. I've read 3 of the books in this series and they are all hard to put down.

I love Wren in this book. She is a no-nonsense woman who knows how to handle difficult men. Armstrong is more than a handful to deal with and Wren hopes that Lincoln is not the same. She will soon come to realize that he is a totally different beast. This book was full of romance and suspense. The Moorehead family had secrets and Lincoln is determined to find them, not only for his sake, but for the sake of the entire family and the business. You don't want to be on the wrong side of this brother.

So far, I have loved everything Helena Hunting has written. The books are hard to put down. They have romance mixed with a little suspense. The characters are ones you can imagine yourself being friends with in real life and you want to spend time with them, well most of them, Armstrong can stay far away. If you have never read one of her books, I suggest you pick one up right away!
  
The Shape of Night
The Shape of Night
Tess Gerritsen | 2019 | Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a quick, fun read, and completely different from the author's previous titles - both her Rizzoli & Isles series and her stand-alone novels. I wouldn't call it romantic suspense, as it's being billed. There really isn't anything at all romantic about what happens to Ava. I'd call it paranormal mystery/suspense leaning toward gothic - and well done!

"After an unspeakable tragedy in Boston, Ava Collette flees to a remote village in Maine, where she rents an old house named Brodie’s Watch, hoping to work on a cookbook inspired by New England cuisine that she’s been trying to finish for months. In that isolated seaside mansion, Ava finally feels at peace . . . until she glimpses the long-dead sea captain who still resides there.

Rumor has it that Captain Jeremiah Brodie has haunted the house for more than a century. One night, Ava confronts the apparition, who feels all too real, and who welcomes her into his world—and into his arms. Even as Ava questions her own sanity, she eagerly looks forward to the captain’s ghostly visits. But she soon learns that the house she loves comes with a terrible secret, a secret that those in the village don’t want to reveal: Every woman who has ever lived in Brodie’s Watch has also died there. Is the ghost of Captain Brodie responsible, or is a flesh-and-blood killer at work?"

The descriptive passages are terrific, bringing a long-dead ghost to life in vivid detail. I had no trouble at all picturing the house as it was in the Captain's time, or believing the scenarios in which Ava found herself. I could absolutely see Hannibal the cat as he helped to rid the old house of its mouse population. I could almost taste the wonderful flavors in the meals Ava was testing for her cookbook. And I could very nearly smell the sea.

As with many of the author's previous works, she kept me guessing right up until the big reveal - which I did not see coming. The Shape of Night is a well-written, fast-paced read with a satisfying conclusion, and I'd love to see more like this from this author. (But of course, keep writing those Rizzoli & Isles stories, too, please.) 😊
  
    Singulaa by Tunedra

    Singulaa by Tunedra

    Music and Entertainment

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Why do you pay for karaoke tracks when you have plenty of songs in your iPhone? Just choose and...

Midnight Fear (The Bloodline Chronicles #2)
Midnight Fear (The Bloodline Chronicles #2)
Evelyn Silver | 2024 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
did not see that coming, not at all!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Thi is book 2 in the Bloodline Chronicles, and it cannot be read as a stand alone. You NEED to read Witch's Knight before this one, to get the full story, much is not recapped and you will need it all.

I loved this one, more so than Witch's Knight, because it took a turn I did NOT see coming and it kinda threw me for a loop, in the best way. And there is one niggle at the back of my mind I need to talk about.

Marcelle is NOT fine, at all. After being tortured in the first book, she really is suffering emotionally, and it takes a session with Setanta, in which she does something that she never did before, to make her see that she needs help. Sarai makes her see too, and it's the love Marcelle has for Sarai that tips her over the edge and she gets some help.

Setanta plays a huge part here, but we don't hear very much from him. And I missed him at key points along the way. Hearing MORE from him would have, probably, negated my niggle, but that is not my niggle. I'll come back to that.

It's dark and deadly, steamy and smexy! Oh so smexy, and I did not, never in a million years, see that coming at me! It really threw me, and I wasn't sure it was gonna work, but boy, oh boy, does it ever! And when Sarai gets to meet some of her mother's family, THAT surprise too, what was said then, I did not see coming and I loved that this book surprised me at every turn.

So, my niggle?? This is billed as the conclusion to the duet of books. BUT I feel it's unfinished. I found the ending kinda rushed, and while Sarai, Marcelle and Setanta are happy for now, I wouldn't give them a happy ever after. They need another book, to tell what happens when Giovanni gets her comeuppance, along with Sarai's sister, when she wakes. There is much unfinished and I need it, Goddammit!!

So, because of the unfinished feeling, I gave this book...

4 very VERY VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Judging Duke (Liverpool Boys #4)
Judging Duke (Liverpool Boys #4)
Alex J Adams | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well done, Alex, seriously well done.
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Liverpool Boys series. I STRONGLY recommend you read the previous three books before this one. It will give you a better picture of this group of men, and how they came to be in Liverpool and be friends. This *CAN* be read as a stand alone book, but I personally think you would get more out of it, if you read the others first.

I *AGAIN* quote my review for Ziggy : Well done, Alex, seriously well done.

Ziggy and Beau are dark, very dark reads and Liam's was a much lighter one. This book sits somewhere between them.

There are dark moments: what happened to Duke when he left for Liverpool wasn't easy reading. But I LOVED that we were kept waiting for the full story! You try to piece the clues together, and I got them wrong, and I thoroughly lost it for Duke when he tells Simon what happened. I cried, a lot, for Duke and I really didn't think I was going to for a time. I cried for the others too, so it was only fair!

Simon hasn't had a good time: slipping into porn wasn't his plan, but his brother, Robbie, needed the care only that sort of money could give him. The hatred he carries for Duke, after Robbie's accident was jumping off the page, but he does get over it, in spectacular fashion!

I loved that they talked, you know? Really talked about things and once the air was cleared, they jumped into a relationship that no one saw coming.

I loved that we were able to catch up with Ziggy and Mark; Beau and Kwan also take part here and while Liam and John are mentioned, they don't take part here.

A very fitting end, that sees all 4 boys happy and settled and so much in the love they never thought possible, given their histories.

I can't quite say Ms Adams saved the best for last, cos Ziggy will forever hold that spot but it's a close run thing!

Be mindful of the triggers.

5 full and shiny stars, but wish I could give more!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Filtration Play (Leather and Lattes #4)
Filtration Play (Leather and Lattes #4)
Katherine McIntyre | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
steamy and emotional
I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Leather and Lattes series, but you can read it as a stand alone book. Reading the other books will give you the bigger picture of Whipped and the people who work/live/play there and their kinks and the relationships between them, but it's not necessary. HOWEVER! I loved them and I think you should, if only cos I said so!

Ollie is newly single, and a bit in the closet about his bi-sexaulity. He finds himself dragged by his brother to Whipped, and is smitten immediately by Fin, who gives him an offer he cannot refuse. There follows a wonderful story about two people finding their own place in the world, not in anyone's shadow or on anyone's coat tail.

I really enjoyed this, I can't quite love it and I hate that I cann't say why! (insert wailing!)

I liked that Fin and Ollie get a say. I loved the immediate and powerful connection between these two. It burns bright and hot from their very first meeting, and does not let up. It sets the page on fire at points and I lovevd that Fin was able to let themself go with Ollie and just BE, you know? They needed someone like Ollie in their life, their bed and most importantly, in their heart.

I loved that Ollie walks into that first playnight knowing full well what might happen, and it does, but with Fin at his side, he revels in the attention. Ollie loved that Fin and ONLY Fin would be taking him that night: Ollie know and Fin knew it and I think that's why they both enjoyed themselves so much.

The emotioanl connection comes fast and furious, but it's Fin who runs when things get tough. Having their business trashed by a bitter excuse of a woman was almost what broke their relationship with Ollie but it's Ollie who says the magic words to Fin and they make their way HOME, to Ollie.

What didn't work, I've no idea so I'm leaving it at that, but I will continue with this series, cos I love the whole set-up at Whipped and I *LOVE* the people in it!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere