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The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1)
The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1)
October O'Neil | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE LONG WAY HOME is the first book in the Coming Home series and begins with Marcus and Cory, both broken characters in different ways.

Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.

I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.

I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.

On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.

** 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!
Feb 28, 2025
  
Riggs (Maddox BRAVO Team #2)
Riggs (Maddox BRAVO Team #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
good solid 4 star read
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the BRAVO Team series and I have not read book one, Sawyer. I don't think I missed anything, other than knowing Sawyer and Camillie's story, who pop up here.

Riggs is assigned to keep Vanessa safe. He's the problem solver for BRAVO and she's an influencer. But somewhere along the line, her comments have turned deadly and she asks for Riggs to keep her safe. Lines blur, and then it all comes to a head.

This is another spin off from Maddox Security and Dean pops but none of the others, I didn't think. You don't need to have read those books to follow these. I have and I enjoyed them.

I enjoyed this too! I did find it HEAVY on the attention to close protection, sometimes repeating the same thing, and while I got that it was Riggs' thing, it did get a little annoying.

Riggs and Vanessa have met before and I wanted that meeting! I don't get it, and I think it would have made this a better read, to be honest.

One point: safe smex, Riggs, safe smex! :-)

I'm liking these books by Chance, these military turned security guys. They all follow a same kinda plot line and that makes them easy reads, that don't require much brain power to follow complicated plot lines or twists and turns all over the place. And trust me, that's a GOOD THING!!

4 good solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Merissa (14003 KP) rated A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House #1) in Books

Apr 10, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House #1)
A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House #1)
Jaime Reese | 2014 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I first want to thank my partner in crime, Debbie, for recommending this book to me. She has read a lot more of the m/m genre than I, for no other reason than I've been catching up on fantasy and paranormal genres. This one though, she said I had to read. I did and I'm damned glad she was insistent!

There is simply nothing that I can criticise about this book and trust me, I was looking. I adore how the characters get to know each other over time - yes, there's instant attraction and we all know that exists but this pair actually had time to get to know each other before moving the relationship on any further. For this reason, although they argue and fall out, they are stronger together. J never reacts the way that Matt expects him to which makes for good reading because it means you're not sure about the reaction either. There is a lot going for this pair and a lot of obstacles in their way too but because of the strength of their foundation, they face it together.

This is an excellently written, well-paced and moving story that brought both disbelief and tears to my eyes. A fantastic start to the series and I will definitely be looking for more by this author as well as the continuation of the series. Highly 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!
August 10, 2016
  
    Unsettled

    Unsettled

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Tabletop Game

    Lost amidst the surreal and bizarre unknowns of the far reaches of the cosmos, your crew of...

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Morgan Sheppard (1010 KP) created a post

Sep 21, 2022 (Updated Sep 21, 2022)  
And it's LIVE! Happy Release Day to me.

The ebook is available now in the #KU program. Apologies if you are waiting for the paperback and hardcover versions. Amazon are taking their time with those.

A kingdom in mourning… Six Princes turned dark in their grief… One maiden holds hope to save them.

Selene, the Swan Herder for the kingdom of Melthkior, once filled her days in the company of the Royal Family. She grew up as a companion for the Princes of the kingdom, and they enjoyed close friendships. But when the Queen died during the birth of her sixth son, everything changed. The King fell into mourning, and the Princes turned dark and cruel in their grief.

Now, as a maiden, Selene must endure the brutal mockery and abuse from those she once called friends. Her only allies are her beautiful swans and those on the kitchen staff who love her. Until the mysterious Conway appears and seems determined to be a part of her life.

Conway is fascinated by the girl with the silver hair and dismayed by how she is treated. He welcomes her into his heart, and Selene slowly begins to trust what she feels is real.

Can Conway show her a different way of life, or will she stay stuck in a cycle of suffering? And when the Gods become involved, a curse strikes the six Princes of Melthkior. Will Selene choose to help them, or leave them to their fate?

#FairytaleRetelling
#BrothersGrimm
#WelshGods
#Fantasy
#Romance
 
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60580281-sealed-with-a-curse
Smashbomb Link: https://smashbomb.com/s/sealed-with-a-curse
Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SealedwithaCurse