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    The Fairy Tale Tarot

    The Fairy Tale Tarot

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    Welcome to the world of imagination and magic in The Fairy Tale Tarot! Brought to life by award...

Stronger Than Passion (Chesapeake Days #2) by Katherine McIntyre
Stronger Than Passion (Chesapeake Days #2) by Katherine McIntyre
Katherine McIntyre | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Nico messes up so bad!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Chesapeake Days series, but it can totally be read as a stand alone to book 1. Linc and Nate do pop up, but you don't need their story for this one to make sense. BUT! It was a bloody good read, and Nico is Linc's best friend.

After a less then stella first meeting, Nico and Hudson are at loggerheads. But being forced to collaborate on an event that will benefit both their businesses AND the town, they actually get to know each other and those snipes and barbs become less sharp and more flirty. Nico doesn't want a boyfriend, but that's all Hudson wants.

This is a proper enemies to lovers book and I loved it!

In book 1, this two, whenever they meet, have nasty comments to make to each other, but what I loved about this is, as they got to know each other, the meaning behind the barbs changed, and they become flirty, and it isn't too long before they realise they could be good for each other.

But they both carry some baggage: Nico's fear of relationships and falling in love (but that makes sense, once you get his whole story) and Hudson dealing with his male parental unit (you'll see why I do not want to call him a father) and things spiral for both of them.

Hudson messes up more than Nico, which surprised me, though. But when Nick DOES mess up, tis a doozy!

It's smexy and steamy, emotional and funny, and everything in between!

Both Nico and Hudson have a say, so we get it all. We get just how much Nico loves it when Hudson teases him. We get just when Hudson starts to see when Nico is much more than the business man he portrays. And while we have to wait far too bloody long, we do get an I love you!! Far too long I had to wait and I wasn't sure whether I would! So well played for keeping me on my toes, Ms McIntyre, well played.

So Jer, Nico's friend, still needs a story, but now I see Taran, Nico's brother, needs one cos something happened here that set all sorts of alarms off for me!

But I'm really not too fussed who's next, cos I'll read it, regardless!

5 full and shiny stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Kill Switch
Kill Switch
Penelope Douglas | 2019 | Contemporary, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
🔞🔞🔞

17 of 235
Kindle
Kill switch ( Devils Night book 3)
By Penelope Douglas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"I've done far worse than what I went to prison for. She has no idea how bad this can get."

WINTER

Sending him to prison was the worst thing I could’ve done. It didn’t matter that he did the crime or that I wished he was dead. Perhaps I thought I’d have time to disappear before he got out or he’d cool off in jail and be anything but the horror he was.

But I was wrong. Three years came and went too fast, and now he’s anything but calm. Prison only gave him time to plan.

And while I anticipated his vengeance, I didn’t expect this.

He doesn’t want to make me hurt. He wants to make everything hurt.

DAMON

First thing’s first. Get rid of her daddy. He told them I forced her. He told them his little girl was a victim, but I was a kid, too, and she wanted it just as much as I did.

Step two… Give her, her sister, and her mother nowhere to run and no fuel to escape. The Ashby women are alone now and desperate for a knight in shining armor.

But that’s not what’s coming.

No, it’s time I listened to my father and took control of my future. It’s time I showed them all—my family, her family, my friends—that I will never change and that I have no other ambition than to be the nightmare of their lives.

Starting with her.

She’ll be so scared, she won’t even be safe in her own head by the time I’m done with her. And the best part is I won’t have to break into her home to do it.

As the new man of the house I have all the keys.


For gods sake this woman knows how to kick you in the guts with trauma! This has so many trigger warnings. This book makes you feel everything it’s quite graphic and she doesn’t hold back! Whether you like this series or not the woman writes abuse better than anyone I’ve read she gets you feeling all the emotions. I still can’t stand these men but there is a catalyst for each one of them that being the worlds worst parents they certainly didn’t do their kids any good. One thing I love is these women are strong and ruling the world is on the agenda!
  
Lodrick & Godefroy (Ambrosia #1)
Lodrick & Godefroy (Ambrosia #1)
Lucie Fleury | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved the marked differences between Godefroy and Aldred!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the first book in the Ambrosia series, but I am reading this AFTER I already read book 2, Rowan & Aldred. I would say, because of that, they can both be read as stand alone reads, but are best enjoyed when read in order,

I loved, like LOVED book two. It was so dark and deadly and it pushed ALL my buttons. This one is not so dark, but it still pushed my buttons, just in a different way, and I loved it too!

Lodrick, as a human, is given Ambrosia, and gets addicted. It only takes one sip, after all. Lodrick is rescued from the throes pf addiction by Godefroy, the God of Peace and Harmony. He has long since given up on finding a companion, will Lodrick accept him?

What I loved about this, was how very DIFFERENT Godefroy and Aldred are, in all ways. Aldred had no desire to soothe Rowan, (at least, not at first) but Godefroy is all about soothing Lodrick, and keeping him happy.

Lodrick, however, thinks Godefroy is too much: too sweet, too kind, and too suffocating and at the worst time, he pushes Godefroy away. Neither of them knew that Godefroy would suffer as well as Lodrick.

The book comes with couple of trigger warnings.

Addiction: Lodrick becomes addicted to Ambrosia, and there is no getting over it. He can only exist as a nymph, as Godefroy's nymph, getting his fix from Godefroy and the smexy times. Lodrick knows this, but he hates it, at first.

Dub/non Con: While Lodrick is away with Godefroy at another Goddess's party, and finds himself in the middle of a rather large smexy pile. Now, at points, he does say he wants it, he needs it. But, at others, he realises the situation he finds himself in. It was difficult reading, once Lodrick realises, and I wasn't sure he was going to get out of it.

So, some darker lines, but nothing as dark as book 2 and I loved that it wasn't! It's an altogether lighter read than book 2, but not a fluffy read, at all.

And I loved it!! I think had I read this BEFORE book 2, I might not have loved it quite so much but the marked differences between Godefroy and Aldred, and also between Lodrick and Rowan make this book.

5 full and shiny stars
  
Sleigh Bells and Second Chances (Love in Mission City #3)
Sleigh Bells and Second Chances (Love in Mission City #3)
Gabbi Grey | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ryan's trauma is front and centre, Simeon's is not.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Mission City series. I have not read all of book 1 and book 2 not at all, YET. They can all be read as stand alone, and will only really give you spoilers for the previous book. I WILL get to them, I really enjoyed this one.

Ryan is at The Healing Horses Ranch for some major healing, both physically and mentally. Being in a war zone will do that to a man, add in all his team NOT coming home, and Ryan is a mess. Simeon is the handy man at the ranch and after a fraught first meeting, they begin as friends and develop into more. But Ryan will be leaving soon. Can Simeon give his heart only for Ryan to take it with him?

What I loved MOST about this book, was that while Ryan's trauma was front and centre, Simeon's was not. There were hints and clues dropped along the way but it wasn't til Simeon admitted it, even if to himself, what his trauma was. I wasn't able to put the clues together fast enough. My book brain was whirring, but not in the right direction.

I loved that Simeon felt comfortable around Ryan, right from the start. His stutter was not really a thing for Ryan. Simeon was just Simeon and very quickly Ryan found a safe place with Simeon.

It's fairly midrange angst, and is a SUPER slow burn, but I LOVED that it took til near the very end of the book, for Ryan and Simeon to get to the main event. Oh, its steamy and smexy but the smxey times are not what this book is about. It's super gentle, and sweet and almost warm and fuzzies but due to the emotional aspect.

It's about finding your forever person, when you least expect to, and being accepted into an extended family in a way your own family didn't really did.

Oh, I loved that Ryan's dad came good. Ryan had a complicated relationship with him before he left for the Ukraine, and it took time to repair that. I wasn't sure he would, to be honest.

As I said, not really necessary to read the other books first, but I will go back and read them.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Shadow of Night
Shadow of Night
Deborah E. Harkness | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.6 (15 Ratings)
Book Rating
Shadow of Night is the second book of Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy. As with the first one, Harkness takes you on adventure with her two protagonists, a witch named Diana and a vampire named Mathew. However, unlike the first one, this book is placed in Elizabethan England. Though the characters remain the same at heart, they change to better suit each other and the time period, as it is needed. With the imminent danger around every corner, the two are still not able to find piece, but Diana is able to learn more about her powers while she learns about her vampire lover in the process.

The details in the book are beautifully done and give a great visual to how it must have looked in 1590, where the main storyline is. The clothing style was accurate and there were a great many nods to our history. However, even though some of it remained factual, or close to, there was no denying that there was whole lot of fiction intertwined to help create the illusion that witches, vampires, and daemons exist. Harkness has a way with her facts and her words to create such a wonderful woven story to have the facts and the fictions mix that you could practically believe that it could all be true and we just would never know about it. I am again truly amazed by the story and how it seems to flow from the first book to the second book so flawlessly. I am hardly able to express such enthusiasm I have for Harkness and her wonderful tale. Once again, she was able to submerge me into a tale that caused emotions to wax and wane in my soul.

With all the tears, joys, and laughs this book was able to get out of me, I thought the ending felt a tad bit rushed, and though I am grateful for the speed of the final chapters and how it sort of answered more questions while leaving the conclusions of the trilogy still to come, I feel I would have liked a bit more out of the characters in their reunions. With new characters being introduces slightly at the end, it left a lot of questions on what was going on. I understand that the last book in this trilogy would be what wrapped everything up, but I can’t help but feeling a little more should have been included about some of the characters that had been introduced. I will hold my breath on this matter though and wait to see how the trilogy ends.

I did find that Harkness was able to pin point things normal couples seem to be troubled with, such as jealousy and secrets, never mind should that couple have secret abilities or be of another entire species. I was overjoyed to see that even fictional characters could do something I see normal people due in reality without all the melodramatics that most romance novels and romantic comedies would have us believe. To watch the main characters have the differences, stand their ground, and even argue about things like secrets, other people, and insecurities makes it feel more at home. Not every romance should be almost perfect with a few flaws; Couples fight and through the power of love, the stay together. Even though they have chance to fall apart, it never ceases to amaze how simple communication, even between a d vampire and a witch, can make troubles and misunderstandings cease to exist. Even with the couple at ends at times, and the world seemingly against them, it was fun to watch them explore the world and themselves, if not to just become themselves more and learn how powerful love and trust could be.

I believe this book is 3 stars out of 4 stars for it rating. It is truly an amazing book and has the potential to stand alone, it is clear that without certain prior knowledges, a reader could get lost at the end of what is happening. Shadow of Night is as beautifully written as was A Discovery of Witches and I definitely would recommend it, if the person was will to start at the beginning with A Discovery of Witches. Luckily both can be bought on Amazon and in other places that sell books.
  
The Streets (The Pines Trilogy #3)
The Streets (The Pines Trilogy #3)
Robert Dunbar | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stick with it!
Firstly - the formatting of the Kindle edition is pretty terrible. Half of sentences are missing, some are cut in half by paragraphs, words are missing and strange gaps appear where they shouldn't be. Hopefully these issues will be rectified soon.

If you are looking for a cheery, easy bed time read then this is definitely not it! The tone of the book is rather dystopian and gritty. It's certainly not suitable for younger readers!
I wasn't aware that this is the last installment of a trilogy. Although prior knowledge of the other books probably adds more layers to the story and characters it can be read as a stand alone. The first two books do not seem to be available yet on the Kindle.

It took me a few chapters to 'get' the style of writing. It starts off with a huge bang and then slows down considerably. The way the author writes creates a pretty tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that doesn't let up at all throughout.

One character is both the centre of the story and absent for the majority of the time. There are various sub plots that all lead to the same ending. The author deals with these well and it's rarely confusing, especially when you get to know the characters a bit so you automatically know which plot line they are in. Unfortunately the formatting issues I brought up at the beginning of the review can cause confusion. That is not the authors fault, though, so my rating is not affected by those issues.

It is rather disturbing at times and deals with an awful lot of taboo and hard hitting subjects. Some people will probably find it too much but I felt that, although sometimes they are hammered home a little too often, the author deals with them on the right way.

Some of the characters are pretty much impossible to identify with but I feel that is kind of the point! I can't really say that any of the characters are completely sympathetic because they all have a darkness around them - sometimes due to their overt actions and others just because of their complicity in certain situations and events. Again, though, this seemed to be the authors intention.

Can I say that I enjoyed this novel? I'm not sure. It is very bleak, extremely uncomfortable at times and I found myself thinking about certain events that happened whilst doing everyday things. So enjoyment isn't the right word but it is very well written, intense and I am planning to try to get copies of the two earlier books. That in itself shows just how much the story got into my head and is proof of the authors skill