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Debbiereadsbook (1421 KP) rated Cold Fire: A Pre-Apocalyptic Dragon Romance (Ice Drake Series #1) in Books
Dec 5, 2017
really great, fun read, 4 stars
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author, that I write a review was not required.
I have a *thing* for dragons, as you well know, so when asked if I would like to read this, because, you know, I saw DRAGONS in the title! (This has however let me down before!) and who am I to dent dragons!
But I really REALLY enjoyed this book!
Faro and his brothers are on Earth to, basically, loot the planet of what they need to save THEIR planet, and since Earth is on the direct path of a comet, it's a bit of a free for all. Amy runs the hotel the brothers stay in, while doing their looting. She is struggling though, since the death of her father and Faro is drawn to her grief. Then he realises that maybe it's not her grief that draws his emphatic powers, but AMY herself, that she might just be the stuff of legends. She might just be his mate.
Like I said, really really enjoyed! Loved that the dragon doesn't show himself til very VERY late on in the book, but Faro tells Amy of his existence, and of where Faro and his brothers came from.
It's not overly complicated, or explicit or violent. Some of the words that Faro uses for various body parts are amusing, dated, like something out of an historical romance, BUT Faro does say, while his race is technically advanced, they do prefer the old ways, so maybe he meant old words too. Thats the way I read it. Liked that little clarification!
Told from both Amy and Faro's point of view, in the third person, it hit the right spot for me. It's a little on the long side for a hangover cure, but it was such an easy read, I cannot file it anywhere else. This is, by the way, a GOOD thing, being an easy read!
The passion between Faro and Amy simmers along nicely, but it is some time before they actually give in to it, and OH!!! what a surprise! I'm not gonna say what that is, but hey, lucky Amy! :-p
I'm expecting all the brothers, and the android to have their own story, and I saw at least one laying out here. And the issue of looting on Earth and the fate of Earth is going to run through those books. Because two years is not a long time, and before long Earth scientist will find out what's in their future.
Thank you to Ms Layne for my copy!
so, for an easy, dragon read
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I have a *thing* for dragons, as you well know, so when asked if I would like to read this, because, you know, I saw DRAGONS in the title! (This has however let me down before!) and who am I to dent dragons!
But I really REALLY enjoyed this book!
Faro and his brothers are on Earth to, basically, loot the planet of what they need to save THEIR planet, and since Earth is on the direct path of a comet, it's a bit of a free for all. Amy runs the hotel the brothers stay in, while doing their looting. She is struggling though, since the death of her father and Faro is drawn to her grief. Then he realises that maybe it's not her grief that draws his emphatic powers, but AMY herself, that she might just be the stuff of legends. She might just be his mate.
Like I said, really really enjoyed! Loved that the dragon doesn't show himself til very VERY late on in the book, but Faro tells Amy of his existence, and of where Faro and his brothers came from.
It's not overly complicated, or explicit or violent. Some of the words that Faro uses for various body parts are amusing, dated, like something out of an historical romance, BUT Faro does say, while his race is technically advanced, they do prefer the old ways, so maybe he meant old words too. Thats the way I read it. Liked that little clarification!
Told from both Amy and Faro's point of view, in the third person, it hit the right spot for me. It's a little on the long side for a hangover cure, but it was such an easy read, I cannot file it anywhere else. This is, by the way, a GOOD thing, being an easy read!
The passion between Faro and Amy simmers along nicely, but it is some time before they actually give in to it, and OH!!! what a surprise! I'm not gonna say what that is, but hey, lucky Amy! :-p
I'm expecting all the brothers, and the android to have their own story, and I saw at least one laying out here. And the issue of looting on Earth and the fate of Earth is going to run through those books. Because two years is not a long time, and before long Earth scientist will find out what's in their future.
Thank you to Ms Layne for my copy!
so, for an easy, dragon read
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Beauvallet in Books
Apr 27, 2018
When Dona Dominica sets sail on the Santa Maria, she wonders if she will ever meet the infamous El Beauvallet, the English pirate with a reputation of being able to do anything because of witchcraft. But she does not expect her ship to be taken by him, Nor does she expect to be kidnapped by him and taken abord his ship the Venture.
Sir Nicholas Beauvallet captures Dominica and her father and proclaims that he will take them home to Spain, as Dominica has demanded. But falling head over heels in love with her was never part of his plan. In order to please her, he agrees to returning her to her country, but also announces that he will wed her before the year is up. How is Sir Nicholas supposed to come back to Spain to claim fair lady as his bride if all of Spain wants his head? The answer is easily—because Beauvallet can do anything, of course.
This was such a sweet story! I cannot think of words enough to describe how much I adored Beauvallet. The romance was fast-paced, the adventure was exciting, and the language was eloquent. I absolutely loved it. It was a pretty fast read and I read it in a few days. Georgette has many little surprises spread all through the story and tells amazing creative adventures of Beauvallet’s wits, fights, and escapes. It was a perfect blend of a sweeping romance and a gripping adventure.
The story is told in third-person omniscient, so you don’t always have all the details. It was a little hard to get inside the character’s heads at first, but once I learned who they were It was very easy to relate to them.
A wonderful thing about Beauvallet is that when El Beauvallet falls in love with Dominica, he does not claim her as his “love” or as his “mistress” or, in our culture, his “girlfriend,” he claims her as his bride. Which is really the most romantic aspect of it all.
The end was so sweet I won’t tell what happened but rest assured it was wonderful.
I loved this story so much! I have already run out to pick up more books by Georgette Heyer, I am officially a new fan! I cannot wait to read other books by her.
Content: Gloriously clean: no language, no sex.
Recommendation: Boys and girls (it’s such an adventure that boys would like it too!) Ages 13-Adult. It’s not aimed specifically to teens or young people, and would be perfect for an adult as well.
(Beauvallet was first published first in 1929. Reprint copyright to Sourcebooks: 2010)
~Haleyknitz
Sir Nicholas Beauvallet captures Dominica and her father and proclaims that he will take them home to Spain, as Dominica has demanded. But falling head over heels in love with her was never part of his plan. In order to please her, he agrees to returning her to her country, but also announces that he will wed her before the year is up. How is Sir Nicholas supposed to come back to Spain to claim fair lady as his bride if all of Spain wants his head? The answer is easily—because Beauvallet can do anything, of course.
This was such a sweet story! I cannot think of words enough to describe how much I adored Beauvallet. The romance was fast-paced, the adventure was exciting, and the language was eloquent. I absolutely loved it. It was a pretty fast read and I read it in a few days. Georgette has many little surprises spread all through the story and tells amazing creative adventures of Beauvallet’s wits, fights, and escapes. It was a perfect blend of a sweeping romance and a gripping adventure.
The story is told in third-person omniscient, so you don’t always have all the details. It was a little hard to get inside the character’s heads at first, but once I learned who they were It was very easy to relate to them.
A wonderful thing about Beauvallet is that when El Beauvallet falls in love with Dominica, he does not claim her as his “love” or as his “mistress” or, in our culture, his “girlfriend,” he claims her as his bride. Which is really the most romantic aspect of it all.
The end was so sweet I won’t tell what happened but rest assured it was wonderful.
I loved this story so much! I have already run out to pick up more books by Georgette Heyer, I am officially a new fan! I cannot wait to read other books by her.
Content: Gloriously clean: no language, no sex.
Recommendation: Boys and girls (it’s such an adventure that boys would like it too!) Ages 13-Adult. It’s not aimed specifically to teens or young people, and would be perfect for an adult as well.
(Beauvallet was first published first in 1929. Reprint copyright to Sourcebooks: 2010)
~Haleyknitz
Debbiereadsbook (1421 KP) rated Homecoming (Men of Devotion #1) in Books
Mar 29, 2019
great read, loved it!
Homecoming, arch, 4 stars, male/male, romance, friends to lovers, military dudes, first time author
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Jack returns home, after a botched mission leaves him 5 days in hell. He is bruised and broken. But coming home be the hardest thing he has done, especially when it brings him face to face with the only man he ever loved. The man who hates him for breaking his sister’s heart. The man in question, Dillon, doesn’t hate Jack as much as Jack thinks. When Dillon helps Jack with his PTSD, when Dillon’s touch makes Jack feel like he really DID come home, both men need to own their feelings for each other. But it takes Dillon’s sister to make Jack see.
I love reading about broken soldiers coming home, and this was no exception!
Jack is broken, inside and out, bones and mind. Five days in hell and he has been given six weeks of mandatory leave and for the first time in ten years, he goes home. Home to his mum and dying father. Home to the memories that are burned on his mind from the last time he was here. Home to where Dillon might be. He doesn’t know which is worse: facing Dillon, or NOT. I loved that Jack didn’t know! Dillon, though. He knows. He knows he wants to see Jack. Seeing the man who has held his heart for long in so much pain calls to him. He wants Jack, but he wants Jack to come to him. And when they do? It was beautiful! But Jack spoils it by running! Stoopid man thinks now he’s “got Dillon out his system” he’ll be able to lay it to rest. But Dillon is far more than a “get out of my system” kinda man, and it takes Dillon’s sister, and Jack’s mum, to make Jack see, to really SEE how much he cannot let Dillon go!
It’s only short, some 90 pages, but packs quite a punch. Both Jack and Dillon have their say, and in the third person. Each voice is clear and defined.
I read some reviews AFTER I read this, I don’t do it before. I made that mistake once and never again. Most of the reviews I found were from 2014, and not very good. I wonder has this been revised since. I found none of the problems that are mentioned! Also, I can’t find anything else by this author. So, given this is a FIRST-time author, I’ll say this is a very VERY good start.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Jack returns home, after a botched mission leaves him 5 days in hell. He is bruised and broken. But coming home be the hardest thing he has done, especially when it brings him face to face with the only man he ever loved. The man who hates him for breaking his sister’s heart. The man in question, Dillon, doesn’t hate Jack as much as Jack thinks. When Dillon helps Jack with his PTSD, when Dillon’s touch makes Jack feel like he really DID come home, both men need to own their feelings for each other. But it takes Dillon’s sister to make Jack see.
I love reading about broken soldiers coming home, and this was no exception!
Jack is broken, inside and out, bones and mind. Five days in hell and he has been given six weeks of mandatory leave and for the first time in ten years, he goes home. Home to his mum and dying father. Home to the memories that are burned on his mind from the last time he was here. Home to where Dillon might be. He doesn’t know which is worse: facing Dillon, or NOT. I loved that Jack didn’t know! Dillon, though. He knows. He knows he wants to see Jack. Seeing the man who has held his heart for long in so much pain calls to him. He wants Jack, but he wants Jack to come to him. And when they do? It was beautiful! But Jack spoils it by running! Stoopid man thinks now he’s “got Dillon out his system” he’ll be able to lay it to rest. But Dillon is far more than a “get out of my system” kinda man, and it takes Dillon’s sister, and Jack’s mum, to make Jack see, to really SEE how much he cannot let Dillon go!
It’s only short, some 90 pages, but packs quite a punch. Both Jack and Dillon have their say, and in the third person. Each voice is clear and defined.
I read some reviews AFTER I read this, I don’t do it before. I made that mistake once and never again. Most of the reviews I found were from 2014, and not very good. I wonder has this been revised since. I found none of the problems that are mentioned! Also, I can’t find anything else by this author. So, given this is a FIRST-time author, I’ll say this is a very VERY good start.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Debbiereadsbook (1421 KP) rated Animal Attraction (San Francisco Dragons #2) in Books
Jun 6, 2019
a Nice easy read!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
6 months ago, Maggie’s dog, Kirby, goes missing. Her friend Jade finds him, and Maggie goes to the door of hockey player Spencer to get him back. But Kirby is looking after Spencer’s elderly dog, Lulu, who has perked up since Spencer found Kirby by the side of the road and he doesn’t want Lulu to go yet. Sharing the dog for the short term seemed the best idea. But as they get closer, secrets threaten to drive them apart.
If you follow my reviews, you’ll know I have a particular dislike of the N word for a book, but sometimes, that bloody word gets stuck in my throat and I cannot shift it, no matter what.
So, this was a NICE book. A good nice, easy read, that wiled away a few hours this morning before work.
Maggie finds herself in deep quick with Spencer, and vice versa but Maggie can’t give Spencer what he wants and when his ex turns up with news, she walks away. Spencer doesn’t want the ex though, and he must find a way to get Maggie back.
It’s well written, with both Maggie and Spencer having a say in the third person. Both voices are clear, concise and consistent through the book, although Spencer I found a little jumpy in his narrative. He seemed to flit about a bit, not really paying much attention to Maggie, until she wasn’t there!
It's not especially high on the heat level, or maybe I just read books with a MUCH higher level, but I didn’t mind it here. I do prefer my books high up that scale, in general, but I felt the level that this book gets to was hot enough for Maggie and Spencer. It IS sexy, though, don’t get me wrong! Just not super hot.
There isn’t any real drama, but there is a good deal of emotions involved, especially on Maggie’s part. Dealing what she did all those years ago must have been devastating and to not have told her best friend all of it? Too painful to think about.
I got what the ex was doing, very quickly! But again, Spencer couldn’t see that!
This is book 2 in the San Francisco Dragons series, and I have not read book one. I didn’t feel I was missing anything by not reading it, but from reading the blurb, the main character does pop up here, as a member of Spencer’s team. Some interesting characters on this team, too, and I would like to catch up with them all as they fall and fall hard.
First I’ve read by Ms Willoughby, I’d like to read more.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
6 months ago, Maggie’s dog, Kirby, goes missing. Her friend Jade finds him, and Maggie goes to the door of hockey player Spencer to get him back. But Kirby is looking after Spencer’s elderly dog, Lulu, who has perked up since Spencer found Kirby by the side of the road and he doesn’t want Lulu to go yet. Sharing the dog for the short term seemed the best idea. But as they get closer, secrets threaten to drive them apart.
If you follow my reviews, you’ll know I have a particular dislike of the N word for a book, but sometimes, that bloody word gets stuck in my throat and I cannot shift it, no matter what.
So, this was a NICE book. A good nice, easy read, that wiled away a few hours this morning before work.
Maggie finds herself in deep quick with Spencer, and vice versa but Maggie can’t give Spencer what he wants and when his ex turns up with news, she walks away. Spencer doesn’t want the ex though, and he must find a way to get Maggie back.
It’s well written, with both Maggie and Spencer having a say in the third person. Both voices are clear, concise and consistent through the book, although Spencer I found a little jumpy in his narrative. He seemed to flit about a bit, not really paying much attention to Maggie, until she wasn’t there!
It's not especially high on the heat level, or maybe I just read books with a MUCH higher level, but I didn’t mind it here. I do prefer my books high up that scale, in general, but I felt the level that this book gets to was hot enough for Maggie and Spencer. It IS sexy, though, don’t get me wrong! Just not super hot.
There isn’t any real drama, but there is a good deal of emotions involved, especially on Maggie’s part. Dealing what she did all those years ago must have been devastating and to not have told her best friend all of it? Too painful to think about.
I got what the ex was doing, very quickly! But again, Spencer couldn’t see that!
This is book 2 in the San Francisco Dragons series, and I have not read book one. I didn’t feel I was missing anything by not reading it, but from reading the blurb, the main character does pop up here, as a member of Spencer’s team. Some interesting characters on this team, too, and I would like to catch up with them all as they fall and fall hard.
First I’ve read by Ms Willoughby, I’d like to read more.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Fifty Shades Freed (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
The third and final entry in the “Fifty Shades” series has arrived with the release of “fifty Shades Freed”. The story opens with the wedding of Anastasia (Dakota Johnson), and Christian (Jamie Dornan), and follows their honeymoon in the lavish locales of France.
There getaway is cut short by an act of sabotage at Christian’s company and it soon becomes clear that a person from their past has taken things to a dangerous level which requires Christian to implement security measures for Anastasia and their extended family.
In between the intrigue presented by the threat, we also have numerous scenes of nudity and eroticism as Christian is not going to give up his dominating needs anytime soon.
Combine this with a new revelation that threatens to disrupt the crafted and controlled world he has created for himself and Anastasia; the tensions rise between them making a dangerous and stress-filled situation even more complicated.
While the film does have a better plot and is more engaging than the previous films in the series it is hampered by many of the same issues that hindered the series. The two leads have zero chemistry with one another and their supposedly highly erotic scenes are so routine and by the numbers they lack any form of excitement or real titillation. The film also has this message that behavior that would be considered highly unacceptable in others seems to get a pass for Christian as he is a handsome billionaire. He is a very selfish and controlling individual who demands obedience. While Anastasia does have a strong enough character to stand up to him, she tolerates behavior that would be considered unacceptable by many and seems very quick to give him a pass when lavish gifts and trips are bestowed upon her. I wonder how romantic and acceptable his behavior would be if he was a struggling musician who did not have the financial resources to create fantasies and buy his apologies. I know the film is supposed to be romantic fantasy but this really annoys me as he exhibits much of the behavior that is considered unacceptable and to be avoided at all costs, yet it is all wrapped up in a sweet bow of forgiveness.
That aside the series does seem to be losing steam as the last film earned less than the original film and “Fifty Shades Freed” is tracking to open well below the last film as well. Fans of the series will likely enjoy it as a satisfying finale, but I really expected more from the final moments of the series as after following the characters, the ending seemed very anti-climactic.
http://sknr.net/2018/02/08/fifty-shades-freed/
There getaway is cut short by an act of sabotage at Christian’s company and it soon becomes clear that a person from their past has taken things to a dangerous level which requires Christian to implement security measures for Anastasia and their extended family.
In between the intrigue presented by the threat, we also have numerous scenes of nudity and eroticism as Christian is not going to give up his dominating needs anytime soon.
Combine this with a new revelation that threatens to disrupt the crafted and controlled world he has created for himself and Anastasia; the tensions rise between them making a dangerous and stress-filled situation even more complicated.
While the film does have a better plot and is more engaging than the previous films in the series it is hampered by many of the same issues that hindered the series. The two leads have zero chemistry with one another and their supposedly highly erotic scenes are so routine and by the numbers they lack any form of excitement or real titillation. The film also has this message that behavior that would be considered highly unacceptable in others seems to get a pass for Christian as he is a handsome billionaire. He is a very selfish and controlling individual who demands obedience. While Anastasia does have a strong enough character to stand up to him, she tolerates behavior that would be considered unacceptable by many and seems very quick to give him a pass when lavish gifts and trips are bestowed upon her. I wonder how romantic and acceptable his behavior would be if he was a struggling musician who did not have the financial resources to create fantasies and buy his apologies. I know the film is supposed to be romantic fantasy but this really annoys me as he exhibits much of the behavior that is considered unacceptable and to be avoided at all costs, yet it is all wrapped up in a sweet bow of forgiveness.
That aside the series does seem to be losing steam as the last film earned less than the original film and “Fifty Shades Freed” is tracking to open well below the last film as well. Fans of the series will likely enjoy it as a satisfying finale, but I really expected more from the final moments of the series as after following the characters, the ending seemed very anti-climactic.
http://sknr.net/2018/02/08/fifty-shades-freed/
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Mansion in Books
Jan 31, 2019
The Mansion is a tale stricken with ghosts of the past–but not the sort that haunt. Rather, in this novel by Ezekiel Boone, much of the elements that one might describe as horrific simply don’t exist. If you’re picking up The Mansion to find out what goes wrong in an automated house, I’d suggest Dean Koontz’s Demon Seed instead because this story crawls at a dreadfully slow pace.
The story centers around a rather messy love triangle. One girl, two guys, they both want her, and beyond that there’s little use for her character in the story. Much of the book’s plot consists of exposition, exposition, and even more exposition. You’ll learn all the faults and flaws of the characters, you’ll learn their childhood histories, you’ll hear their sob stories. It’s not until the final ten percent of the book that you’ll actually get a chance to see some action, and even then it’s still rather tame by horror standards. Amongst all this exposition, we learn of the wedge driven between Billy and Shawn, as well as a mysterious third person, Takata, whose whereabouts are unknown. Despite playing somewhat of a role in the book, he’s mostly an unnecessary character.
Speaking of characters, The Mansion has a rather small roster of them, and they’re all traumatized. With the exception of one, and she’s objectified. Billy has an addiction problem. Shawn is a pretentious nitwit that thinks the entire world revolves around him. Emily is simply there to fuel a fire between these two masculine characters who have devalued themselves to the point that now, years and years later on down the road, are still fighting over the same girl–and no one asks her what she wants at any point in the story. Poor Emily. There’s also the twins. They’re creepy. Really creepy. And no one seems to acknowledge that? Hello, realism?
Development. That’s an important part of a book, and The Mansion severely lacks it. There’s no development in the plot for 90% of the book. There’s absolutely no character development for Wendy, who is described as a black woman that looks like she walked out of a Victoria’s Secret magazine (or something along those lines). In fact, poor Wendy gets the short end of the stick all around. She’s the oddball out in this little teenaged drama hissy fit.
The Mansion simply falls horribly flat all around. The writing style was good, and it wasn’t so awful that I could’t complete reading the book, but it’s definitely not a title I’d recommend to a horror fan. A romance-thriller sort? Maybe. But not horror.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story centers around a rather messy love triangle. One girl, two guys, they both want her, and beyond that there’s little use for her character in the story. Much of the book’s plot consists of exposition, exposition, and even more exposition. You’ll learn all the faults and flaws of the characters, you’ll learn their childhood histories, you’ll hear their sob stories. It’s not until the final ten percent of the book that you’ll actually get a chance to see some action, and even then it’s still rather tame by horror standards. Amongst all this exposition, we learn of the wedge driven between Billy and Shawn, as well as a mysterious third person, Takata, whose whereabouts are unknown. Despite playing somewhat of a role in the book, he’s mostly an unnecessary character.
Speaking of characters, The Mansion has a rather small roster of them, and they’re all traumatized. With the exception of one, and she’s objectified. Billy has an addiction problem. Shawn is a pretentious nitwit that thinks the entire world revolves around him. Emily is simply there to fuel a fire between these two masculine characters who have devalued themselves to the point that now, years and years later on down the road, are still fighting over the same girl–and no one asks her what she wants at any point in the story. Poor Emily. There’s also the twins. They’re creepy. Really creepy. And no one seems to acknowledge that? Hello, realism?
Development. That’s an important part of a book, and The Mansion severely lacks it. There’s no development in the plot for 90% of the book. There’s absolutely no character development for Wendy, who is described as a black woman that looks like she walked out of a Victoria’s Secret magazine (or something along those lines). In fact, poor Wendy gets the short end of the stick all around. She’s the oddball out in this little teenaged drama hissy fit.
The Mansion simply falls horribly flat all around. The writing style was good, and it wasn’t so awful that I could’t complete reading the book, but it’s definitely not a title I’d recommend to a horror fan. A romance-thriller sort? Maybe. But not horror.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Vanishing Season in Books
Mar 19, 2020
Ellery Hathaway is the only female police officer in Woodbury, Massachusetts. She's also the only one on the force who believes Woodbury has a serial killer--one who is picking off people every July. Ellery was once Abby Hathaway, who was kidnapped at fourteen in a very famous case: she was the seventeenth victim of serial killer Francis Coben. And the only one who lived. Now Ellery is convinced these people in Woodbury--who are going missing around her birthday--are tied to her own incident. So she calls the only person she can think of: Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her from the Coben's closet all those years ago. But Reed is battling his own issues. While Ellery's case--and the subsequent book he wrote--made him famous, he's on forced leave after messing up an investigation, and his wife has kicked him out. His most famous moment revolves around Ellery, but did he truly save her? And now they both are about to be sucked back into the case.
Wow, what an excellent start to a series! I loved this book and was drawn immediately to Ellery ("Ellie") and Reed! They are a dynamic duo, with a truly complicated history, and this was a compelling page-turner from the beginning. Schaffhausen has an easy writing style that brings Ellie and Reed to life (along with Ellie's awesome hound dog "Bump"), and I sped through the book in a couple of hours.
"Ellie knew 'touched' could mean gifted or insane. Maybe she was both. But she wasn't wrong, and if anyone out there was ever going to believe her, it was Reed Markham. Because he'd been touched once too."
The story is a dynamic one, tying back to Ellie's original kidnapping, but working in present-day disappearances in the town where she's escaped. Ellie is desperately trying to start over: no one on her police force knows about her old life. (This is the one thing that seems a little crazy--how did that background check fly? And how does she get so far along in these new cases without spilling the beans?)
Still, I'm willing to overlook it, because this is a captivating dark read that keeps you guessing. I figured out a few things here and there, but it in no way diminished my interest. The dynamics between Ellie and Reed are sizzling, and the twists and turns exciting. I love a good mystery/police procedural, and this one did not disappoint. It's deep and creepy, with a powerful lead female character, and I cannot wait to read the next two books! (I finished this book three days ago, and I'm already in the middle of the third book, just to illustrate how much I enjoy this series!) 4 stars.
Wow, what an excellent start to a series! I loved this book and was drawn immediately to Ellery ("Ellie") and Reed! They are a dynamic duo, with a truly complicated history, and this was a compelling page-turner from the beginning. Schaffhausen has an easy writing style that brings Ellie and Reed to life (along with Ellie's awesome hound dog "Bump"), and I sped through the book in a couple of hours.
"Ellie knew 'touched' could mean gifted or insane. Maybe she was both. But she wasn't wrong, and if anyone out there was ever going to believe her, it was Reed Markham. Because he'd been touched once too."
The story is a dynamic one, tying back to Ellie's original kidnapping, but working in present-day disappearances in the town where she's escaped. Ellie is desperately trying to start over: no one on her police force knows about her old life. (This is the one thing that seems a little crazy--how did that background check fly? And how does she get so far along in these new cases without spilling the beans?)
Still, I'm willing to overlook it, because this is a captivating dark read that keeps you guessing. I figured out a few things here and there, but it in no way diminished my interest. The dynamics between Ellie and Reed are sizzling, and the twists and turns exciting. I love a good mystery/police procedural, and this one did not disappoint. It's deep and creepy, with a powerful lead female character, and I cannot wait to read the next two books! (I finished this book three days ago, and I'm already in the middle of the third book, just to illustrate how much I enjoy this series!) 4 stars.
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Debbiereadsbook (1421 KP) rated Ready For It (MacAteer Brothers #2) in Books
Feb 3, 2021
a much more enjoyable, but darker read than book one, and I loved it!
Indepedent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the MacAteer Brothers series, and it would help to have read book one, Run With It. Not totally necessary, but I would personally recommend you do. You'll get a better feel of Melanie, and Owen and his brothers, I think.
Melanie is Bev's best friend, and looks after herself and stuff anyone else. Owen is one of Connor's younger brothers. Owen has had a bit of a crush on Mel for a long time, and when Mel is left in a difficult place, he steps up. Then the reasons WHY Mel is the way she is with men comes out, and Owen is all Alpha-Male-Protect-Whats-Mine.
I found this a much darker read, given Mel's history, but also I bloody LOVED it!
Mel has a voice in the first person, and Owen in the third. I knew this going in, and expected it, and I enjoyed reading Owen's voice so much more than Connor's. Owen is a gentle giant with a stutter and a speech impediment, that leaves him somewhat tongue tied amoung people he doesn't know, or isn't comfortable with. VERY quickly, Owen is speaking with mel in full sentences, with no sign of his problem. That should have clued him up, right quick, that somethign special was happening between them.
It takes time for Mel and Owen to fully commit, and to get together, and I LOVED being made to wait for it. I think I would have loved it even they had NOT got to the smexy times, I really do. Mel's little problem not withstanding. But once they do? OOOOEEEEE! They are committed and all in. I loved that.
Owen doesn't say much, verbally, but when we get him in his chapters, he is deep. He was hurt before, and you understand why he holds himself back some, but he loves Mel, from very early on, and it pained me when she kept friend-zoning him!
We get a bit more of Garrett, Owen's twin, and his book is next. We also meet the lady who will steal his heart. THAT book is next on my list, and given what we learn here, and reading the blurb, I think it may well be a bit darker than this one!
Billed as s spin off to the Dragon Runners series, it's not necessary to read those. I didn't like them, to be honest, but I'm loving these and I look forward to reading about the other set of twins further down the series!
5 full and shiny stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This is book 2 in the MacAteer Brothers series, and it would help to have read book one, Run With It. Not totally necessary, but I would personally recommend you do. You'll get a better feel of Melanie, and Owen and his brothers, I think.
Melanie is Bev's best friend, and looks after herself and stuff anyone else. Owen is one of Connor's younger brothers. Owen has had a bit of a crush on Mel for a long time, and when Mel is left in a difficult place, he steps up. Then the reasons WHY Mel is the way she is with men comes out, and Owen is all Alpha-Male-Protect-Whats-Mine.
I found this a much darker read, given Mel's history, but also I bloody LOVED it!
Mel has a voice in the first person, and Owen in the third. I knew this going in, and expected it, and I enjoyed reading Owen's voice so much more than Connor's. Owen is a gentle giant with a stutter and a speech impediment, that leaves him somewhat tongue tied amoung people he doesn't know, or isn't comfortable with. VERY quickly, Owen is speaking with mel in full sentences, with no sign of his problem. That should have clued him up, right quick, that somethign special was happening between them.
It takes time for Mel and Owen to fully commit, and to get together, and I LOVED being made to wait for it. I think I would have loved it even they had NOT got to the smexy times, I really do. Mel's little problem not withstanding. But once they do? OOOOEEEEE! They are committed and all in. I loved that.
Owen doesn't say much, verbally, but when we get him in his chapters, he is deep. He was hurt before, and you understand why he holds himself back some, but he loves Mel, from very early on, and it pained me when she kept friend-zoning him!
We get a bit more of Garrett, Owen's twin, and his book is next. We also meet the lady who will steal his heart. THAT book is next on my list, and given what we learn here, and reading the blurb, I think it may well be a bit darker than this one!
Billed as s spin off to the Dragon Runners series, it's not necessary to read those. I didn't like them, to be honest, but I'm loving these and I look forward to reading about the other set of twins further down the series!
5 full and shiny stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**