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Just One Night
10.0
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In the rough and tumble world of New York City, these men don't mind getting down and dirty—in...
Contemporary Romance MM
Chained Omega (Black Creek Pack #3)
8.0
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An Omega on the run An Alpha chaining his catch An attraction that won't be denied All the steam!...
Omegaverse Erotic 18+ MM Romance
Merissa (11953 KP) rated Taming the Fox in Books
Aug 17, 2023
TAMING THE FOX was originally an erotic short story but has been revised and re-released.
Harlan is a fox shifter, with no family and no clan, as he doesn't want to breed with a vixen. He has his family's cabin and lives alone, only going into town when necessary. Shane is a wolf shifter, from a rather well-to-do family, who visits his mother's old house and decides to live there, for reasons the same as Harlan's. These two meet and a spark of attraction is there immediately but, for 'reasons', Harlan won't do anything.
Now... I loved the premise of this book, and the characters are all great - apart from those that aren't meant to be. It is a long book, with plenty of time for you to sink into the story. BUT it didn't have to be. One of the reasons it is so long is because there is a constant back and forth as Harlan fights his feelings. For me, this went on too long, as it eventually took away from the story and made the impact of his feelings and the situation less than it should have been. After all that, the ending and the epilogue are done in just a couple of pages. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the meaning.
The focus of this story was definitely our two MCs, so enjoy what world-building you can. What is there, is done very well. There is angst here, but it is mainly internal by just one of the MCs.
A different story and one I enjoyed. Definitely recommended by me. Take a read for yourself and see what you think.
** 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!
Aug 17, 2023
Harlan is a fox shifter, with no family and no clan, as he doesn't want to breed with a vixen. He has his family's cabin and lives alone, only going into town when necessary. Shane is a wolf shifter, from a rather well-to-do family, who visits his mother's old house and decides to live there, for reasons the same as Harlan's. These two meet and a spark of attraction is there immediately but, for 'reasons', Harlan won't do anything.
Now... I loved the premise of this book, and the characters are all great - apart from those that aren't meant to be. It is a long book, with plenty of time for you to sink into the story. BUT it didn't have to be. One of the reasons it is so long is because there is a constant back and forth as Harlan fights his feelings. For me, this went on too long, as it eventually took away from the story and made the impact of his feelings and the situation less than it should have been. After all that, the ending and the epilogue are done in just a couple of pages. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the meaning.
The focus of this story was definitely our two MCs, so enjoy what world-building you can. What is there, is done very well. There is angst here, but it is mainly internal by just one of the MCs.
A different story and one I enjoyed. Definitely recommended by me. Take a read for yourself and see what you think.
** 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!
Aug 17, 2023
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated More Holmes for the Holidays in Books
Mar 1, 2018
[a:Martin H. Greenberg|6436872|Martin H. Greenberg|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] and company have provided a fine collection of Sherlockian holiday stories that fit in quite well with the traditional set.
"The Christmas Gift" by Anne Perry is a nice little piece about a stolen Stradivarius and a couple who want to marry against the wishes of the young lady's father. There is an excellent red herring, one of the few in this anthology.
In "The Four Wise Men" by Peter Lovesey, Watson must answer a call to duty from his former commanding officer in the Army, in order to help guard a medieval treasure in a Christmas pageant. The game is soon afoot, and Sherlock's powers of observation are as keen as ever.
Barbara Paul's "Eleemosynary, My Dear Watson" gives Holmes a jewel theft and a kidnapping to solve, which he does in his inimitable way. One clue seemed slightly too obvious to me, but it may not to other readers.
In "The Adventure of the Greatest Gift" by Loren D. Estleman, Holmes receives a wax cylinder containing a recording of a song popular in America. He takes it as a warning of a crime which could lead to war between Britain and France, and of course he leaps into action. This is Mycroft Holmes' only appearance in the volume.
There's plenty of misdirection in "The Case of the Rajah's Emerald" by Carolyn Wheat. Somehow, though, I suspected one of the great revelations in this one from the beginning, but I couldn't tell you exactly why. It didn't ruin the story for me, and there was still a surprise at the end.
On the other hand, Edward D. Hoch's "The Christmas Conspiracy" managed to take me completely unawares. I couldn't fathom why the crime would be committed or by whom, despite having a major clue dropped by one character. Very well done!
"The Music of Christmas" by L.B. Greenwood telegraphed the identity of the criminal from the start, but was well worth reading. One of the characters also tugged at the heartstrings.
Bill Crider's "The Adventure of the Christmas Bear" is largely memorable because of the appearance of Oscar Wilde as a character.
"The Adventure of the Naturalist's Stock Pin" by Jon L. Breen gives us Charles Darwin as Holmes' client. The mystery is less Sherlockian than some of the others, but I didn't mind reading it.
Daniel Stashower's "The Adventure of the Second Violet" was an interesting twist on a well-known Christmas story. I cannot say more without spoiling it, but he has a nice touch.
"The Human Mystery" by Tanith Lee is as dark as I expect from her, and was a depressing ending to the collection. It was, however, very well-written.
The anthology left me hungry for more Holmes, and wishing that I weren't between seasons of BBC's Sherlock or that I had another collection of stories on hand. That's the sign of a success, I think.
"The Christmas Gift" by Anne Perry is a nice little piece about a stolen Stradivarius and a couple who want to marry against the wishes of the young lady's father. There is an excellent red herring, one of the few in this anthology.
In "The Four Wise Men" by Peter Lovesey, Watson must answer a call to duty from his former commanding officer in the Army, in order to help guard a medieval treasure in a Christmas pageant. The game is soon afoot, and Sherlock's powers of observation are as keen as ever.
Barbara Paul's "Eleemosynary, My Dear Watson" gives Holmes a jewel theft and a kidnapping to solve, which he does in his inimitable way. One clue seemed slightly too obvious to me, but it may not to other readers.
In "The Adventure of the Greatest Gift" by Loren D. Estleman, Holmes receives a wax cylinder containing a recording of a song popular in America. He takes it as a warning of a crime which could lead to war between Britain and France, and of course he leaps into action. This is Mycroft Holmes' only appearance in the volume.
There's plenty of misdirection in "The Case of the Rajah's Emerald" by Carolyn Wheat. Somehow, though, I suspected one of the great revelations in this one from the beginning, but I couldn't tell you exactly why. It didn't ruin the story for me, and there was still a surprise at the end.
On the other hand, Edward D. Hoch's "The Christmas Conspiracy" managed to take me completely unawares. I couldn't fathom why the crime would be committed or by whom, despite having a major clue dropped by one character. Very well done!
"The Music of Christmas" by L.B. Greenwood telegraphed the identity of the criminal from the start, but was well worth reading. One of the characters also tugged at the heartstrings.
Bill Crider's "The Adventure of the Christmas Bear" is largely memorable because of the appearance of Oscar Wilde as a character.
"The Adventure of the Naturalist's Stock Pin" by Jon L. Breen gives us Charles Darwin as Holmes' client. The mystery is less Sherlockian than some of the others, but I didn't mind reading it.
Daniel Stashower's "The Adventure of the Second Violet" was an interesting twist on a well-known Christmas story. I cannot say more without spoiling it, but he has a nice touch.
"The Human Mystery" by Tanith Lee is as dark as I expect from her, and was a depressing ending to the collection. It was, however, very well-written.
The anthology left me hungry for more Holmes, and wishing that I weren't between seasons of BBC's Sherlock or that I had another collection of stories on hand. That's the sign of a success, I think.
Lucy Buglass (45 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
An action-packed mix of super powers, solidarity and cats
Ever since Captain Marvel was announced, it dominated social media for a number of reasons. People were either hyped, or couldn’t wait to slag it off. As a casual superhero fan I was interested to see what all the fuss was about, and how Brie Larson would perform in the titular role. Ever since I saw her in Room, I’ve been so impressed by her talent and hoped she would deliver in this project too.
This film follows pilot Carol Danvers, as her world is turned upside down and she has to discover the truth about herself whilst caught slap bang in the middle of a galactic war. Captain Marvel is an origin story, and for a large portion of the film Danvers is struggling with amnesia and frequent nightmares. I really sympathised with her throughout the entirety of the film, and most of this is a testament to Brie. Once again she knew exactly how to bring a character to life.
The film does have some flaws, and for me, most of them came in the first act. The pacing felt a bit off here, but thankfully by the time the second act rolls around, it settles down. It’s a shame that the first act didn’t do much for me, especially as it felt like a completely different film in terms of its tone and narrative. Once the film got going I had a great time with it, with the scenes on Earth being my personal favourites. From the moment she arrived on Earth, I became hooked.
By the time Carol meets Nick Fury, the film changed for me and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters. It provided plenty of light relief when it was needed, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love Samuel L. Jackson? The rest of the cast is fun too. Special shout out to Goose the Cat who, as expected, completely stole the show. Scenes involving him and Nick Fury were particularly delightful, and I think I could’ve watched just that for hours. Jude Law and Gemma Chan take to their respective, badass roles effortlessly, and I enjoyed what they brought to the table despite not being on screen as much as I’d expected.
Overall, I thought it had the right mix of comedy and serious moments, in classic Marvel style. I’ve come to expect silly jokes and cringe worthy dialogue in between the action; it’s all part of the fun. I loved Danvers’ sarcastic personality, and how brilliantly it clashed with those around her to make the audience laugh out loud. Her level of sass is something that I can’t wait to see more of.
Like most Marvel films, this is best experienced on the big screen due to its impressive visual style. The scenes in space particularly stood out to me, and seeing that in the cinema was a real treat. There’s something about a good space setting that’s so hypnotic, and Captain Marvel was no exception. It is action packed, aesthetically appealing, and features a strong cast against this backdrop. There’s some genuinely heart-warming moments here, especially featuring significant people from Carol’s life on Earth. In an effort to keep this as spoiler free as possible, I won’t mention them, but I guarantee it’ll make you smile.
I’m excited to see where Captain Marvel goes next, particularly her appearance in Avengers: Endgame which is already generating a lot of excitement. Brie Larson is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe, and I see her as a strong, powerful woman who I’d love my future children to look up to.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2019/03/27/an-action-packed-mix-of-super-powers-solidarity-and-cats-my-thoughts-on-captain-marvel/
This film follows pilot Carol Danvers, as her world is turned upside down and she has to discover the truth about herself whilst caught slap bang in the middle of a galactic war. Captain Marvel is an origin story, and for a large portion of the film Danvers is struggling with amnesia and frequent nightmares. I really sympathised with her throughout the entirety of the film, and most of this is a testament to Brie. Once again she knew exactly how to bring a character to life.
The film does have some flaws, and for me, most of them came in the first act. The pacing felt a bit off here, but thankfully by the time the second act rolls around, it settles down. It’s a shame that the first act didn’t do much for me, especially as it felt like a completely different film in terms of its tone and narrative. Once the film got going I had a great time with it, with the scenes on Earth being my personal favourites. From the moment she arrived on Earth, I became hooked.
By the time Carol meets Nick Fury, the film changed for me and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters. It provided plenty of light relief when it was needed, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love Samuel L. Jackson? The rest of the cast is fun too. Special shout out to Goose the Cat who, as expected, completely stole the show. Scenes involving him and Nick Fury were particularly delightful, and I think I could’ve watched just that for hours. Jude Law and Gemma Chan take to their respective, badass roles effortlessly, and I enjoyed what they brought to the table despite not being on screen as much as I’d expected.
Overall, I thought it had the right mix of comedy and serious moments, in classic Marvel style. I’ve come to expect silly jokes and cringe worthy dialogue in between the action; it’s all part of the fun. I loved Danvers’ sarcastic personality, and how brilliantly it clashed with those around her to make the audience laugh out loud. Her level of sass is something that I can’t wait to see more of.
Like most Marvel films, this is best experienced on the big screen due to its impressive visual style. The scenes in space particularly stood out to me, and seeing that in the cinema was a real treat. There’s something about a good space setting that’s so hypnotic, and Captain Marvel was no exception. It is action packed, aesthetically appealing, and features a strong cast against this backdrop. There’s some genuinely heart-warming moments here, especially featuring significant people from Carol’s life on Earth. In an effort to keep this as spoiler free as possible, I won’t mention them, but I guarantee it’ll make you smile.
I’m excited to see where Captain Marvel goes next, particularly her appearance in Avengers: Endgame which is already generating a lot of excitement. Brie Larson is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe, and I see her as a strong, powerful woman who I’d love my future children to look up to.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2019/03/27/an-action-packed-mix-of-super-powers-solidarity-and-cats-my-thoughts-on-captain-marvel/
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Now You See Her in Books
May 10, 2018
Nina Bloom is a successful attorney in New York City. She has a beautiful daughter who has just turned 17 and is the most important thing in her life. But Nina has a past that no one knows about. Both of her parents are dead and she was an only child. During her senior year in college, she took a trip to Key West for Spring Break that changed her life forever. Now with a new case being presented to her, she has to face the demons from her past. Will she be able to get through this case and come out on the other end alive? Will she still be able to protect her daughter from the dangers that she has been hiding for so long?
James Patterson has long been one of my favorite authors. I love how quickly I can get through his books and how enthralling the story usually is. I plan on listening to all of JP's standalone books through audio this year. I've gotten caught up with all the Women's Murder Club books and hope to continue to stay on top of those.
What really struck me about this book was Nina's ability to keep the secret for so long. For 17 years no one knew about her past or that she was even hiding in the first place. Her firm decides to take on some pro bono work with other firms in the city in a effort to exonerate people on death row. The first case she is assigned is quite personal as she is quite sure that the person who is in jail for the crime should not be. I wondered the whole time if she would be able to get through the case without having to reveal her true identity or if the past she left behind was going to come back and haunt her and her daughter forever. I great listen for this James Patterson book.
Up next, [bc:Sundays at Tiffany's|2029177|Sundays at Tiffany's|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266475617s/2029177.jpg|3307932]
James Patterson has long been one of my favorite authors. I love how quickly I can get through his books and how enthralling the story usually is. I plan on listening to all of JP's standalone books through audio this year. I've gotten caught up with all the Women's Murder Club books and hope to continue to stay on top of those.
What really struck me about this book was Nina's ability to keep the secret for so long. For 17 years no one knew about her past or that she was even hiding in the first place. Her firm decides to take on some pro bono work with other firms in the city in a effort to exonerate people on death row. The first case she is assigned is quite personal as she is quite sure that the person who is in jail for the crime should not be. I wondered the whole time if she would be able to get through the case without having to reveal her true identity or if the past she left behind was going to come back and haunt her and her daughter forever. I great listen for this James Patterson book.
Up next, [bc:Sundays at Tiffany's|2029177|Sundays at Tiffany's|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266475617s/2029177.jpg|3307932]
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Sunset in Old Savannah (Secrets of the South Mysteries #4) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12684" src="http://cafinatedreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Review-Cafinated-Reads-UPDATED-1.jpg"; alt="" width="350" height="214" />
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">Holy smokes! Ms. Ellis is amazing! I'm used to reading her Amish books, so when the chance to read her Sunset In Old Savannah novel, I jumped on the chance. I wanted to see her talent at work in a suspenseful genre. It was not disappointing, that's for sure. I lost myself among the pages of this gripping novel and I wasn't expecting the ending that I got! I love a book like this.</span>
<span style="color: #993300;">Ms. Ellis created a novel that all readers will love. It's a touch of romance, Godly messages woven through out, a whole lotta twists, and a dash of humor. Beth and Michael's characters will quickly work their way into your heart and they will stay there. They will take you on the whirl wind that is investigations, and lead you on a roller coaster ride that is evident with murders. Following Michael and Beth along the streets of Savannah (I've been once, and fell in love with the quaint town!) was so much fun! I was definitely on the edge of my seat for each page and stayed up long into the night reading.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"> Ms. Ellis is a wonderful author. I haven't had the pleasure of reading books 1-3 in this Secrets Of The South Mysteries series, but this 4th installment didn't leave me confused. I was easily drawn in and had so much fun trying to figure out the clues. The plot twists are perfectly written and the ending is amazing! I am looking forward to going back and seeing where these awesome mysteries began and meet the characters of this series from the start. I highly recommend this read with 5 stars and hats off.</span><a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/review-sunset-in-old-savannah-by-mary-ellis/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">Holy smokes! Ms. Ellis is amazing! I'm used to reading her Amish books, so when the chance to read her Sunset In Old Savannah novel, I jumped on the chance. I wanted to see her talent at work in a suspenseful genre. It was not disappointing, that's for sure. I lost myself among the pages of this gripping novel and I wasn't expecting the ending that I got! I love a book like this.</span>
<span style="color: #993300;">Ms. Ellis created a novel that all readers will love. It's a touch of romance, Godly messages woven through out, a whole lotta twists, and a dash of humor. Beth and Michael's characters will quickly work their way into your heart and they will stay there. They will take you on the whirl wind that is investigations, and lead you on a roller coaster ride that is evident with murders. Following Michael and Beth along the streets of Savannah (I've been once, and fell in love with the quaint town!) was so much fun! I was definitely on the edge of my seat for each page and stayed up long into the night reading.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"> Ms. Ellis is a wonderful author. I haven't had the pleasure of reading books 1-3 in this Secrets Of The South Mysteries series, but this 4th installment didn't leave me confused. I was easily drawn in and had so much fun trying to figure out the clues. The plot twists are perfectly written and the ending is amazing! I am looking forward to going back and seeing where these awesome mysteries began and meet the characters of this series from the start. I highly recommend this read with 5 stars and hats off.</span><a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/review-sunset-in-old-savannah-by-mary-ellis/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Smashbomb in Apps
Apr 3, 2019
I’ve been on Smashbomb for nearly a year now, and let me tell you that when they say “rate anything,” they’re not kidding. Got an opinion on a new app you downloaded? Review it. Can’t believe how good the last book you read was? Review it. Listened to a mind-blowing podcast? Review it. Hated the new Motley Crue movie? Review it. Tell the world what you think! Obviously I’m partial to the Book Reviews. ?
But it’s not all reviews & ratings. Smashbomb also features giveaways, polls, orbs (groups), lists (yay!) and more. I’ve joined a number of orbs, and even participated in a Christmas Book Exchange.
Those “thumbs up” icons you see are “kudos,” which are awarded for many things: reviewing, adding items, etc. Each user is given a set number of “kudos points” each day, which the user can then award to other Smashbomb users. Think of it like those ubiquitous Facebook likes, except with a daily limit. The more things you do, the more your limit increases. Other users can award you kudos as well.
One of my favorite features is the ability to add an item that doesn’t yet exist on the site. For instance: Once I finish a book, I search for it on Smashbomb in order to review it. If the book does not exist, I can add it to the site, including details and a cover photo. Once you’ve added an item, others can also rate it and add it to their own lists. I’ve so far added nine books, and I'm sure I'll add many more!
You can also earn badges for completing various actions, and choose which badges to display on your profile. I’m currently an “Oracle” (hmm…possible new nickname), and I’m about halfway to “Guru.” ?
And, of course, there’s a Smashbomb app as well, so you’re not married to the desktop site.
Smashbomb is fun because it’s different. It’s a social networking site, but more, and less. You won’t find lengthy political rants, duckface selfies, or neverending #hashtags here. And honestly? Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from all of that.
But it’s not all reviews & ratings. Smashbomb also features giveaways, polls, orbs (groups), lists (yay!) and more. I’ve joined a number of orbs, and even participated in a Christmas Book Exchange.
Those “thumbs up” icons you see are “kudos,” which are awarded for many things: reviewing, adding items, etc. Each user is given a set number of “kudos points” each day, which the user can then award to other Smashbomb users. Think of it like those ubiquitous Facebook likes, except with a daily limit. The more things you do, the more your limit increases. Other users can award you kudos as well.
One of my favorite features is the ability to add an item that doesn’t yet exist on the site. For instance: Once I finish a book, I search for it on Smashbomb in order to review it. If the book does not exist, I can add it to the site, including details and a cover photo. Once you’ve added an item, others can also rate it and add it to their own lists. I’ve so far added nine books, and I'm sure I'll add many more!
You can also earn badges for completing various actions, and choose which badges to display on your profile. I’m currently an “Oracle” (hmm…possible new nickname), and I’m about halfway to “Guru.” ?
And, of course, there’s a Smashbomb app as well, so you’re not married to the desktop site.
Smashbomb is fun because it’s different. It’s a social networking site, but more, and less. You won’t find lengthy political rants, duckface selfies, or neverending #hashtags here. And honestly? Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from all of that.
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated The Martian in Books
Jun 6, 2018
Fantastic novel! One of my all time favorite books.
Mark Watney is a snarky, foul-mouthed, crude nerd that’s stuck on Mars and forced to survive by himself. He’s beyond awesome. He takes a pounding from Mars right from the beginning. Has to be able to utilize all his skills and fix all his problems by himself (“Martian taters” “Cannibalized it so much it looks like I left it in a bad part of town”), deal with countless months by himself, and basically frantically try not to die. Through it all, he keeps a sense of humor that still (yes, still, I’m on my 12th listen or so) makes me snicker, and is obviously brilliant in a MacGuyver sort of way, yet utterly relate-able. At this point, I’ve listened to The Martian so much that he’s like a dear friend that I’m constantly rooting for. His reactions are utterly believable .
Andy Weir did a FANTASTIC job with this book.
If you like scifi at all, you will love this book. If you need a hero you can root for, you will love this book. Also, if you're looking for an audio book that is fast-paced, great quality, with an easy to understand and wonderful narrator, you will love the audio book version.
Now, to be fair, some people have complained that there's a lot of science in this book, and that it can be kind of hard to get through because of that. Here's my take on that. Is there a lot of science? Yes. BUT, its not overwhelming. Weir doesn't bombard you with pages upon pages of incomprehensible technobabble. He tells you what's going on in a way that, even if you don't understand the precise details behind what's happening, you still know what's going on. I don't believe at any point that its excessive, and most of the time I found it downright fascinating!
I'm sure this book has a few negatives, but... not any that I can identify.
PS: Lots of F-bombs dropped in the book. Don’t read if you’re sensitive to that.
Andy Weir did a FANTASTIC job with this book.
If you like scifi at all, you will love this book. If you need a hero you can root for, you will love this book. Also, if you're looking for an audio book that is fast-paced, great quality, with an easy to understand and wonderful narrator, you will love the audio book version.
Now, to be fair, some people have complained that there's a lot of science in this book, and that it can be kind of hard to get through because of that. Here's my take on that. Is there a lot of science? Yes. BUT, its not overwhelming. Weir doesn't bombard you with pages upon pages of incomprehensible technobabble. He tells you what's going on in a way that, even if you don't understand the precise details behind what's happening, you still know what's going on. I don't believe at any point that its excessive, and most of the time I found it downright fascinating!
I'm sure this book has a few negatives, but... not any that I can identify.
PS: Lots of F-bombs dropped in the book. Don’t read if you’re sensitive to that.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Tails from the Deep in Books
Mar 14, 2020
Zoe is the middle of three sisters, the daughters of Mother, the leader of the merfolk settlement Sirenia somewhere under the sea. Unlike her other sisters, Zoe loves to explore. One of her favorite places is a shipwreck beyond the edges of her merfolk village. She sneaks out there quite frequently, so when things seem off one day, she is quick to notice. When she returns the next day, she finds a human diver trapped on the bottom next to a dead body. She frees the diver, but her actions lead to questions that might impact her settlement. Can she figure out who to trust and what is really going on?
Mermaid mysteries are definitely something different, but I couldn’t resist when Diane announced she was going to write these. After all, I love the water, so the idea of living under the sea, at least for a few pages, was too irresistible. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this story. This reads very much like a cozy murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The end was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor issue. As we read, we also get a feel for mermaid culture, which was a delight. Many of the slight twists on our world and expectations made me smile. It was definitely well thought out. We also get to know Zoe very well over the course of the story since is many ways these stories are coming of age stories in addition to mysteries. Since it is a 100 page novella, there isn’t tons of character development for the rest of the characters, but they still come across as real. The other two stories focus on Zoe’s sisters, and I can’t wait to see how they are developed and how that fits with Zoe’s take on her sisters. If you are looking for a slight fantasy edge to your cozy, I definitely recommend this novella for something different.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Zoe’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
Mermaid mysteries are definitely something different, but I couldn’t resist when Diane announced she was going to write these. After all, I love the water, so the idea of living under the sea, at least for a few pages, was too irresistible. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this story. This reads very much like a cozy murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The end was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor issue. As we read, we also get a feel for mermaid culture, which was a delight. Many of the slight twists on our world and expectations made me smile. It was definitely well thought out. We also get to know Zoe very well over the course of the story since is many ways these stories are coming of age stories in addition to mysteries. Since it is a 100 page novella, there isn’t tons of character development for the rest of the characters, but they still come across as real. The other two stories focus on Zoe’s sisters, and I can’t wait to see how they are developed and how that fits with Zoe’s take on her sisters. If you are looking for a slight fantasy edge to your cozy, I definitely recommend this novella for something different.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Zoe’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.