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Joy (The Dreughan #3)
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I’ve already killed for my family, and I’d do it again, without remorse. I am Troy, the happy...
Historical Fantasy Romance
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Winners in Books
Mar 8, 2023
I finished this book in absolute bits. Awkward on a dog walk. But how does Fredrik Backman do this?!
Over the course of this trilogy I have become involved in the lives of everyone in Beartown and Hed. I don’t watch Ice Hockey (my son plays field hockey, and I imagine that’s slightly less dangerous - although he’s had his share of black eyes and sprained ankles!).
This book is about the lives of the people of the two towns. How, despite their animosity towards one another, there is more that joins them together than drives them apart. They just have to learn that.
The novel starts with the storm of a generation: trees are blown over, houses and businesses damaged. In fact, this is something of a sign of things to come for these people.
Life isn’t necessarily easy for any of the characters in this. We read of the trials and tribulations of their lives, their successes and failures. The observations made by Backman are so full of insight , like he has really taken the time to understand these people.
Emotions run high between the towns, especially when it’s discovered that the council want to shut one of the rinks down. They’ve clearly not thought this one through and have no understanding of their constituents!
This novel contains all of the struggles of so many small towns today: addiction, violence, families in trouble, people in need, corruption, criminality, love and loss.
It’s a long book, but it flies by - and that’s all Backman’s writing (and the translator Neil Smith’s translating!). I’m so sorry to see this trilogy come to an end. It’s been quite the ride.
Over the course of this trilogy I have become involved in the lives of everyone in Beartown and Hed. I don’t watch Ice Hockey (my son plays field hockey, and I imagine that’s slightly less dangerous - although he’s had his share of black eyes and sprained ankles!).
This book is about the lives of the people of the two towns. How, despite their animosity towards one another, there is more that joins them together than drives them apart. They just have to learn that.
The novel starts with the storm of a generation: trees are blown over, houses and businesses damaged. In fact, this is something of a sign of things to come for these people.
Life isn’t necessarily easy for any of the characters in this. We read of the trials and tribulations of their lives, their successes and failures. The observations made by Backman are so full of insight , like he has really taken the time to understand these people.
Emotions run high between the towns, especially when it’s discovered that the council want to shut one of the rinks down. They’ve clearly not thought this one through and have no understanding of their constituents!
This novel contains all of the struggles of so many small towns today: addiction, violence, families in trouble, people in need, corruption, criminality, love and loss.
It’s a long book, but it flies by - and that’s all Backman’s writing (and the translator Neil Smith’s translating!). I’m so sorry to see this trilogy come to an end. It’s been quite the ride.
Merissa (12841 KP) rated Knight to Castle Two (Diviner's Game #2) in Books
Feb 12, 2021 (Updated Aug 3, 2023)
KNIGHT TO CASTLE TWO is the second book in the Diviner's Game trilogy and this time we find out just what's going on with human Headsman, Loki, and his step-brother Drakon, Gage.
We met with Loki and Gage in book one, and this one runs on a parallel time, so we see some of the same events but from their eyes instead. This is incredibly hard to do but excellently executed by Jennifer Cody.
Loki and Gage are as close as two people can be, but DO NOT share blood. They are not related in any way, apart from being step-brothers. Their relationship might raise a few eyebrows but is not incestuous in any way. What it is though, is hot as hell! Loki is a leather-wearing, kick-ass, take no s**t Headsman, but Gage is the force in their relationship. I loved seeing what makes both of them tick.
A little bit more of the intrigue is unravelled in this book, but not enough for me! I guess I'll just have to read the third book to find out the whole story. Oh, what a shame. The pacing is just as perfect as the first book, and I also loved seeing Matt and Deejay through someone else's eyes too.
What a fantastic trilogy this is turning out to be. Two down, one to go, and I honestly can't wait. Absolutely recommended!
* 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!
Feb 12, 2021
We met with Loki and Gage in book one, and this one runs on a parallel time, so we see some of the same events but from their eyes instead. This is incredibly hard to do but excellently executed by Jennifer Cody.
Loki and Gage are as close as two people can be, but DO NOT share blood. They are not related in any way, apart from being step-brothers. Their relationship might raise a few eyebrows but is not incestuous in any way. What it is though, is hot as hell! Loki is a leather-wearing, kick-ass, take no s**t Headsman, but Gage is the force in their relationship. I loved seeing what makes both of them tick.
A little bit more of the intrigue is unravelled in this book, but not enough for me! I guess I'll just have to read the third book to find out the whole story. Oh, what a shame. The pacing is just as perfect as the first book, and I also loved seeing Matt and Deejay through someone else's eyes too.
What a fantastic trilogy this is turning out to be. Two down, one to go, and I honestly can't wait. Absolutely recommended!
* 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!
Feb 12, 2021
Merissa (12841 KP) rated Restrained Desires (Rehoboth Pact #3) in Books
Apr 4, 2022 (Updated Jun 26, 2023)
RESTRAINED DESIRES is the third book in the Rehoboth Pact series, bringing to a close this fantastic trilogy. Kyle has played her part in the previous two books, strong and steady but kind of in the background. Now it's her time to shine.
Oh, Kyle! Bless you, sweetheart. You are so completely adorable but, please excuse me as I deck your mother! What a piece of work! It's amazing you turned out as you did. And thank goodness Chelsea can see that.
When I first read fake-date, I will admit to groaning a little. I love that trope but felt Kyle deserved someone who saw her, and who wanted her. And guess what? That's exactly what I got! Chelsea has her own issues to contend with but never did she not see Kyle for the wonderful human being she is. (Yes, I do know she's a character!)
Aubrey - you were a sod in this one. I went off you for a while. I'll let you off... just this once.
This is a spicy-hot story with plenty of feel-good moments. I will even admit to my eyes leaking but that's all I'm saying.
Ms McIntyre certainly saved the best until last in my opinion. Absolutely amazing. This whole trilogy is definitely one to buy, keep, and to re-read. ❤
** 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!
Mar 31, 2022
Oh, Kyle! Bless you, sweetheart. You are so completely adorable but, please excuse me as I deck your mother! What a piece of work! It's amazing you turned out as you did. And thank goodness Chelsea can see that.
When I first read fake-date, I will admit to groaning a little. I love that trope but felt Kyle deserved someone who saw her, and who wanted her. And guess what? That's exactly what I got! Chelsea has her own issues to contend with but never did she not see Kyle for the wonderful human being she is. (Yes, I do know she's a character!)
Aubrey - you were a sod in this one. I went off you for a while. I'll let you off... just this once.
This is a spicy-hot story with plenty of feel-good moments. I will even admit to my eyes leaking but that's all I'm saying.
Ms McIntyre certainly saved the best until last in my opinion. Absolutely amazing. This whole trilogy is definitely one to buy, keep, and to re-read. ❤
** 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!
Mar 31, 2022
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Final Trade in Books
Dec 15, 2017
A good second part
The best I can say about this is that it's a strong second part of the trilogy, and it barely lets up on the action and excitement through the entire story.
I think it has potentially lost some of the intrigue of the first part, but does make up for this in other ways. There are some good new characters, although some that I wish had been featured more prominently. The main character Zoey is starting to grate on me a little with her complete lack of respect & unwillingness to listen. It's okay once or twice, but not throughout the entire book.
Still it's a good book and the final chapter ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, which of course now means I have to read the final part.
I think it has potentially lost some of the intrigue of the first part, but does make up for this in other ways. There are some good new characters, although some that I wish had been featured more prominently. The main character Zoey is starting to grate on me a little with her complete lack of respect & unwillingness to listen. It's okay once or twice, but not throughout the entire book.
Still it's a good book and the final chapter ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, which of course now means I have to read the final part.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) in Movies
Jan 10, 2018
Start of a brilliant trilogy
One of my favorite book series of all time. This is the sequel to the hobbit books. It tells thr story of how the magic ring was found and that yet again a young hobbit who is destined to bring it back to the famous mountain where it it was found. We learn of it's power and the fellowship who chooses to help the young halfling to bring it back and keep him unharmed. The book is so much better because of the detail in it but the acting is great and tries to keep up with the book. The best way to view these movies is to watch the hobbit movies and then start this series as it helps answer many questions.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated No Safety in Numbers (No Safety in Numbers, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[No Safety in Numbers] by [Dayna Lorentz] is a well written YA novel along the common theme in this genre lately. The concept of survival has always been in literature but recently there has been a huge upswing in YA lit for dystopian and disasters. I personally enjoy it since that is what Ilike to read.
This book is the first of a trilogy that follows four different teenager as they try to survive and protect those they care about during a biological attack on a mall. I like how [Lorentz] gave voice to the main characters by alternating chapters. I can also see how three of the four characters are interconnected.
I look forward to reading the second and third books. I will be adding this book to my classroom library and recommending it
This book is the first of a trilogy that follows four different teenager as they try to survive and protect those they care about during a biological attack on a mall. I like how [Lorentz] gave voice to the main characters by alternating chapters. I can also see how three of the four characters are interconnected.
I look forward to reading the second and third books. I will be adding this book to my classroom library and recommending it
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) in Books
Apr 21, 2019
This series gets better and better!
It’s not often that the second book in a trilogy is better than the first, but I really feel that’s the case with this book. The machinations against one another (that’ll be EVERYONE!), the political intrigue - no-one trusts anyone else in this series, and for good reason! Nobody is particularly nice. The sexual tension between Jude and Carden reaches a whole new level, but even then, there’s no trust. I didn’t see ANY of the double crosses coming, but then I was so sucked in to the story, so it’s hardly surprising.
This is such a good series, and I have a year to wait for the last instalment!!
Many thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book, and for feeding the Faerie land addiction!
This is such a good series, and I have a year to wait for the last instalment!!
Many thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book, and for feeding the Faerie land addiction!
Leah (: (569 KP) rated A Harless Little Game in Books
Jul 8, 2018
I could not put this book down!!
From the start I was hooked on Lindsay’s story and needed to know what would happen next. There were enough secrets and intrigue to keep you guessing and wondering throughout the book Not just the identity of the boys from the video, but how Lindsay would react to each new situation, what secrets were being kept by who and why, how will this all end, and most importantly who can we trust.
The book was well written, however it is the first book in a trilogy so it does end with a cliffhanger. I could not wait to start book two (A Harmless Little Ruse) particularly as it was told from Drew’s perspective.
I would definitely recommend this book however it is only suitable for mature readers.
From the start I was hooked on Lindsay’s story and needed to know what would happen next. There were enough secrets and intrigue to keep you guessing and wondering throughout the book Not just the identity of the boys from the video, but how Lindsay would react to each new situation, what secrets were being kept by who and why, how will this all end, and most importantly who can we trust.
The book was well written, however it is the first book in a trilogy so it does end with a cliffhanger. I could not wait to start book two (A Harmless Little Ruse) particularly as it was told from Drew’s perspective.
I would definitely recommend this book however it is only suitable for mature readers.
David McK (3557 KP) rated Dragon's Child (King Arthur, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
First in a trilogy of novels based on the legend of King Arthur, this is a fictional retelling of the early years of the life of the man behind the legend, from his early years as a foster son to the one of last of the Romans in Britain, up to his coronation as High King.
By taking the tack of telling the story of the man behind the legend, the novel loses much of the splendour and grandeur of that legend, replacing it instead with more mundane events that would become exagerrated over time.
While I may read the next two novels out of curiosity, I'm afraid to say that, based on this work, I wouldn't be going out of my way to look for any further of MK Hume's novels.
By taking the tack of telling the story of the man behind the legend, the novel loses much of the splendour and grandeur of that legend, replacing it instead with more mundane events that would become exagerrated over time.
While I may read the next two novels out of curiosity, I'm afraid to say that, based on this work, I wouldn't be going out of my way to look for any further of MK Hume's novels.