Search

Search only in certain items:

Origin (Scales 'n' Spells #1)
Origin (Scales 'n' Spells #1)
Jocelynn Drake, AJ Sherwood | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Origin is the first book in the Scales 'N' Spells series and I LOVED IT. Cameron is backpacking his way around Europe and ends up in Germany where he attends a Dragon Festival. Whilst he is there he is hugged by Ravi and held onto until Alric arrives. Alric is the Fire Dragon King and it turns out that Cameron is a mage although he doesn't believe it yet.

Cameron is young but knows he likes older men and Alric certainly falls into that category. Alric feels the attraction to Cameron but wants to make sure his clan have a chance to find out if he is their mate first. Both of these characters are amazing for different reasons. Cameron is a level-headed man who doesn't hesitate to compliment people and means it, sincerely. I thought that was fantastic! Alric is noble as all get out which, although I loved, just made me want to slap him upside the head when he wouldn't make a move on Cameron!

Add to that a brilliant cast of supporting characters, most of whom I hope get their own stories, an overall story arc that kicks off with a bang and will only get better as the series progresses, and a simply stunning setting, and you are left with a book to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Alric and Cameron take their time getting to know each other and then the steam rises!

This book ticked all of my buttons and I really can't wait for the next. I want to see which Dragon is brave enough to take on Halmeoni! Absolutely recommended by me.

* 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!
  
Progression by Ray J
Progression by Ray J
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Ray J is a is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and actor based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, he released a music video for his “Rewind” single.

“Baby, cancel all your plans tonight. I got the chauffeur waiting right outside. Don’t worry babe you’ll be here soon. So go on take a shot get in the mood. I grab on your waist. You’re making it shake. I swear that you never get tired. Your body is hot, we’re keeping it lit, we’re setting the roof on fire. She moves her hips like Shakira, she got that swag like Rihanna, she holding it down like Beyoncé. She tryna be my baby mama so back it up for me one time. Make it clap for me two times. Roll it back baby three times. Don’t stop baby rewind.” – lyrics

‘Rewind’ features label mates, and UK pioneering artist Ironik, British producer act Designer Doubt, and Ray J’s artist and best friend Truth. The likable tune follows Ray J’s “Right On Time” single featuring Flo Rida, Brandy, and Designer Doubt.
It will be featured on Ray J’s upcoming album, entitled, “Raydemption”. The project already features the likes of Chris Brown, The Game, and Snoop Dogg with more records in the works.

Also, it’s coming in visual album format, not dissimilar to Beyoncé’s “Lemonade”. Basically, a 45-minute mini-movie that’s already exciting Grammy’s buzz.

However, preceding its release is Jay J’s London exclusive EP, entitled, “Progression”, which includes his “Rewind” single.
  
The Beckoning Ice
The Beckoning Ice
Joan Druett | 2013 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Approaches the South Pole
In February of 1839, the US Exploring Expedition is approaching Cape Horn. While many of the sailors are looking forward to their first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, Wiki Coffin has other concerns. A crewman on the ship he is currently on has slit his own throat. It was well known that Midshipman Dove was unhappy with the life of a sailor, but Wiki doesn’t believe he committed suicide, and he soon begins to find evidence to back up his theory. But who committed the crime?

It’s been several years since I read the previous book in the series, but it didn’t take me long to slip back in Wiki’s world. The author does a fantastic job of bringing life on the sea in the 1830’s and the expedition to life, and she’s made me curious to learn more about what really happened during the voyage in real life. Unfortunately, her love of all things nautical did slow down the mystery at times, but after reading the previous books, I was still interested to know what was happening to the ships that I didn’t mind too much. And it was never long before Wiki was back to working on the mystery. There are a lot of characters, but they are developed enough to help us remember who they are, and we get little reminders as well when they step on page. If the subject at all interests you, I definitely recommend you check out this series.
  
Human Waste
Human Waste
C. M. Saunders | 2017 | Horror
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I came across C. M. Saunders through a website that I wasn’t sure about, so I randomly messaged him on Facebook. In response, after explaining that I was a book blogger, Saunders kindly provided me with some of his work for the purpose of review. While it’s taken me awhile to get to it, I’m glad I did because Human Waste is a fun, albeit somewhat (keyword: somewhat) predictable take on the zombie apocalypse.

Dan Pallister is, undoubtedly, not playing with a full deck of cards, if you catch my drift. Despite this, he makes for a fun, original character. Ever since childhood, he’s been obsessed with survival–he wants to be prepared for when shit hits the fan, after all. One morning, exactly what he’s been waiting for happens: he looks out his window and sees zombies. This prompts him to go for supplies at the supermarket nearby, and from there Saunders dips his metaphorical toes in the world of splatterpunk which, if you’ve been reading my blog for sometime, you’ll know I like.

My only gripe with reading this is the fact that I had the story figured out (mostly) from pretty early on. Despite that, Saunders continues to entertain with Dan’s skewed view of reality and that is a feat. Rather than becoming boring, the story kept me hooked and I read it in one sitting.

This story comes with some bonus content, however I will not be reviewing it as I consider bonus content to be separate material. I definitely look forward to reading Saunders’s No Man’s Land.

A special thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of his work for the purpose of unbiased review.
  
40x40

Merissa (11961 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
  
Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1)
Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1)
Georgia Cates | 2013 | Contemporary, Romance
4
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well this is a backburner book (#1 on my to-read on Goodreads), having been on my Kindle since some time in January 2014 when it was released. I think I've put off reading it simply because of the "erotica" label it had on Goodreads. It wasn't exactly erotica, though. Yeah, they had quite a lot of sex but there was a romance to it, too.

So this starts with Laurelyn arriving in Australia with her best friend to spend time with her best friends brother for three months as he studies wine making there. On the first night they head out to a bar and take part in an...open mic night? Laurelyn sings and plays the guitar (I think) and attracts the attention of Jack, a man looking for his next lover. Instead of the usual week/month, he plans to spend three months with his next bed fellow, giving her whatever she wishes for and making her feel special. Laurelyn catches his attention and he plans to seduce her into agreeing to his arrangement.

I guess if I was on the receiving end of an attractive rich guy wanting to spend three months with me, getting to know me and spending a lot of that time in bed, I'd enjoy it, too, but I have to admit I got a little bored with this. It was taking a little too long to get where it was going and I skipped entire sex scenes. The books 271 pages felt more like 500.

It had a rather promising start, apart from the slightly stalkerish behaviour of Jack as he tried to meet Laurelyn again, and I enjoyed the slow seduction and how he treated her. But then I didn't really see the relationship grow as such. It didn't work for me, personally.

By the end, I wasn't all that bothered about what was going to happen next with the characters so I won't be continuing the series.
  
A Leonard Bernstein Weekend by Leonard Bernstein
A Leonard Bernstein Weekend by Leonard Bernstein
2005 | Classical
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"My Father introduced me to this, he was very passionate about culture, literature and music, especially jazz and classical music and he would take me to see it. I lived in L.A. and on the long drives home he’d put on whatever music he was interested in at the time and was always really passionate about it. “I was a classical and jazz nerd when I was a kid, that’s what was around me and what I was learning about. My older brother started learning the guitar when I was about ten and I started then too, I got really serious about it and he sort of stopped. “I’m of a generation where we really listened to records as records, I’d go extremely deep with symphonies and jazz records and this one was really major. It’s a piece of music that’s stuck with me since I was fourteen years old, it’s the harmonic sensibility in it, the drama and the way it paints this very intense, almost kind of landscape picture. There’s a mid-20th Century sense of harmony to it that’s stuck with me and I’ve continued revisiting it and referencing it in my mind as an example of really rich, really emotive writing, without any words whatsoever. “It was my first experience of a deeply technical piece of music that was deeply emotional and accessed your emotional brain in a really intense and overwhelming way. That’s always been the goal, not to make music that’s cerebral, but to use your technical ability to channel something that hits your emotional brain and takes your entire brain over in almost a trance-like experience. “This was the first piece of music that I heard that had that level of complexity, but it was still as affecting as a Beatles record."

Source
  
40x40

Merissa (11961 KP) rated Odriel's Heirs (Odriel's Heirs #1) in Books

Jul 29, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)  
Odriel's Heirs (Odriel's Heirs #1)
Odriel's Heirs (Odriel's Heirs #1)
Hayley Reese Chow | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
ODRIEL'S HEIRS is the first book in the series of the same name, and we are introduced to a fantasy world where the Heirs are there to protect the people, even when the people no longer believe in them.

Kaia is only seventeen and wants to be a normal girl. She is the Dragon's Heir by only six minutes, being the first-born of a set of twins. She gets on well with Time's Heir, Jago, but not so much with the Shadow's Heir, Klaus. Of course, I was immediately hoping for something to happen, because, you know, it's me.

I was swept away in a world familiar to me and yet so different. I loved the names of the animals, giving me unique creatures that were, at the same time, familiar. The world-building is second to none and the vistas were amazing.

There is a romantic element between Kaia and Klaus but it doesn't take over the whole story - just enough to keep me happy. They are ably supported by a host of characters with their own foibles. Most of whom I liked, some I loved, and some I loathed.

This was an emotional read and I will admit to having tears in my eyes on more than one occasion. I won't say more as I don't want to spoil it for anyone else, but it was everything I could have wished for, even as my heart broke.

A fabulous start to a series that I have loved and have no hesitation in recommending. Absolutely fantastic!

** 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!
Jul 28, 2021