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My Daughter, My Mother
6.3
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In 1984 two young mothers meet at a toddler group in Birmingham. As their friendship grows, they...
The House of Odysseus
9.0
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From the author of the critically acclaimed Ithaca - A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the...
Historical fiction Greek mythology
Operation 235
Book
Set in the summer of 1939, Operation 235 pits the United States against Nazi Germany, as the two...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Recluse in Books
May 11, 2024
92 of 220
Book sirens arc
Recluse
By Gabriel Zavala
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
HE'S WEAVING HIS WEB OF MURDER.
Lukas Retter is a recluse in the correctional city of East Haddam, Connecticut, washing cars and dreaming about taking back control of his life. He has been ever since The Safety First Act redefined criminal justice in America.
Meanwhile, the children of criminals are placed in psychiatric hospitals to be evaluated.
But when Lukas murders Rebecca Waylow, his girlfriend, he leaves her dismembered and strung-up on a web of bloody ropes and wires. And she won't be the last.
As Lukas recalls his sinister past and becomes the new nightmare of his correctional city, he transforms into the serial killer he was destined to become. He'll do whatever it takes to feel control, even if it means stringing a few people up in the process.
This was pretty brutal from start to finish. Not one of these characters have any redeeming qualities. This main character was taken from his home at a young age, accused of killing his father even though he watched his sister do it to then be put into a violent situation by the government.
It’s a tough read but actually really well written especially from such a young author who definitely has a long promising career ahead of him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Book sirens arc
Recluse
By Gabriel Zavala
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
HE'S WEAVING HIS WEB OF MURDER.
Lukas Retter is a recluse in the correctional city of East Haddam, Connecticut, washing cars and dreaming about taking back control of his life. He has been ever since The Safety First Act redefined criminal justice in America.
Meanwhile, the children of criminals are placed in psychiatric hospitals to be evaluated.
But when Lukas murders Rebecca Waylow, his girlfriend, he leaves her dismembered and strung-up on a web of bloody ropes and wires. And she won't be the last.
As Lukas recalls his sinister past and becomes the new nightmare of his correctional city, he transforms into the serial killer he was destined to become. He'll do whatever it takes to feel control, even if it means stringing a few people up in the process.
This was pretty brutal from start to finish. Not one of these characters have any redeeming qualities. This main character was taken from his home at a young age, accused of killing his father even though he watched his sister do it to then be put into a violent situation by the government.
It’s a tough read but actually really well written especially from such a young author who definitely has a long promising career ahead of him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ClareR (6225 KP) rated Coffin Moon in Books
May 17, 2026
Coffin Moon isn’t your run of the mill vampire story, and is a new take on a genre that there has been a lot of books about over the years. It never came across as gratuitously violent, although by it’s nature, there is a lot of violence, and these are people fighting for their lives: it’s a vampire novel after all. Coffin Moon is about grief, revenge, regret and survival.
The story is told through three characters, and almost entirely by Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet, who is still struggling with the horrors that he saw on his tour. Duane embarks on his journey of revenge with his niece, Julia, who has also experienced trauma before her aunt adopted her. They are both searching for John Vadey, the vampire who is to blame for the death of their loved ones. All of these main characters are flawed, and this makes for a sad, melancholy story. Their backstories are well-developed and their actions are believable (within the context of the story, because I would be at home, hiding behind the sofa!). The narrator, Pete Cross, brought these people to life and made it seem all too real, especially the devastating finale. This is a masterclass in the vampire genre.
Keith Rosson is an author I haven’t come across before, and looking at his backlist, it looks as though I have a bit of catching up to do!
The story is told through three characters, and almost entirely by Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet, who is still struggling with the horrors that he saw on his tour. Duane embarks on his journey of revenge with his niece, Julia, who has also experienced trauma before her aunt adopted her. They are both searching for John Vadey, the vampire who is to blame for the death of their loved ones. All of these main characters are flawed, and this makes for a sad, melancholy story. Their backstories are well-developed and their actions are believable (within the context of the story, because I would be at home, hiding behind the sofa!). The narrator, Pete Cross, brought these people to life and made it seem all too real, especially the devastating finale. This is a masterclass in the vampire genre.
Keith Rosson is an author I haven’t come across before, and looking at his backlist, it looks as though I have a bit of catching up to do!
Viking Ink (Tewsbury Daddies #1)
10.0
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Rhys O'Connell doesn't intend to stay in Sodden Tewsbury. On the run from a dark past, the only way...
Contemporary MM Romance Daddy/little Age Play Kink
Merissa (14001 KP) rated Amethyst Flame (Flame #2) in Books
Apr 15, 2023
The second in the Flame series, this is the story of Vaughan and Emma, a vampire and witch who have worked together for months. A friendship had grown between them before it became more than one night, which they both swore would never happen again. However, their friendship remained and when it becomes apparent that they are marked for death, circumstances change.
The world of Five Bridges is a very violent place and sex trafficking is commonplace. Vaughan's sister disappeared years ago and he has never been able to find her. Emma has had to deal with her own share of violence but this hasn't changed either of them from wanting to make the world a better place.
There was only one bit that had me confused which could be as simple an explanation as the Amethyst Flame was screwing with her mind, but there was one bit when Beth called Vaughan 'Nathan', and he answered her, saying "I'm here."
This is a fast-paced and exciting addition to the Flames series. Although all of the action takes place in a short amount of time, this couple has had the time to build up a connection, which always makes for good reading. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
Sep 15, 2015
The world of Five Bridges is a very violent place and sex trafficking is commonplace. Vaughan's sister disappeared years ago and he has never been able to find her. Emma has had to deal with her own share of violence but this hasn't changed either of them from wanting to make the world a better place.
There was only one bit that had me confused which could be as simple an explanation as the Amethyst Flame was screwing with her mind, but there was one bit when Beth called Vaughan 'Nathan', and he answered her, saying "I'm here."
This is a fast-paced and exciting addition to the Flames series. Although all of the action takes place in a short amount of time, this couple has had the time to build up a connection, which always makes for good reading. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
Sep 15, 2015
When the Dead Speak (Southern Spirits #2)
10.0
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The only way to stay alive is to listen when the dead speak… Sheriff Laine Stenley thinks he...
MM Paranormal Romance
Merissa (14001 KP) rated Surface Scratch (Neon Scars #1) in Books
May 5, 2023
SURFACE SCRATCH is the first book in the Neon Scars series, and also the first book published by this author. If you're looking for a light and fluffy romance then you've got the wrong book. This one is quite dark so be prepared.
Caleb has had a hard time of it recently. He and his family were in a car accident, leaving him with some major scars. His brother walks out and his mom dies. But then he gets a job at a nightclub and is intrigued by his boss, Marcus. He gets drawn into a world of vampires where, just as with humans, some are "good" and some not so much. There are also hunters who come across more as the bad guys than anything else.
As I said, this is dark. The loving is rough and almost violent (although written incredibly well.) I enjoyed Caleb and Marcus' story but am also looking forward to finding out more from the other characters. Vincent especially made me laugh as every time he called Caleb "Buttercup", I was hearing it said by different characters from The Princess Bride movie!
A great beginning to a series with a fantastic group of characters. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
May 5, 2023
Caleb has had a hard time of it recently. He and his family were in a car accident, leaving him with some major scars. His brother walks out and his mom dies. But then he gets a job at a nightclub and is intrigued by his boss, Marcus. He gets drawn into a world of vampires where, just as with humans, some are "good" and some not so much. There are also hunters who come across more as the bad guys than anything else.
As I said, this is dark. The loving is rough and almost violent (although written incredibly well.) I enjoyed Caleb and Marcus' story but am also looking forward to finding out more from the other characters. Vincent especially made me laugh as every time he called Caleb "Buttercup", I was hearing it said by different characters from The Princess Bride movie!
A great beginning to a series with a fantastic group of characters. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
May 5, 2023
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Chicago (2002) in Movies
Jul 31, 2022
Contains spoilers, click to show
This review comes from a first time viewer in 2022. I put off watching it for years because it didn't look like my kinda film. In the end I decided to watch it after learning to tap dance to one of the songs in my tap class.
I'm sure most of you have seen this movie by now, but for those that haven't ill do my usual overview of the movie before my final review at the end.
So the movie is set in 1920s Chicago, we see someone hiding a gun and washing blood from their hands, clearly a murder has just taken place and we are treated to a rendition of "all that jazz", whilst a character named Roxie is having a steamy session with a guy. Once the musical number is over, the session turns violent and Roxie shoots the guy, thus landing herself in jail. The rest of the movie is Roxie trying to proof her innocence with musical numbers randomly mixed in.
Unlike other musicals, it's not really characters suddenly breaking into song as such, but it's the characters putting on show numbers in Roxies imagination (or at least I think, but there are times when performances suddenly start and Roxie wasn't in the scene, so who knows). Once you get past the random performances it is a pretty good film, I never found myself bored watching it and the songs are catchy with fantastic performances by all.
I'm sure most of you have seen this movie by now, but for those that haven't ill do my usual overview of the movie before my final review at the end.
So the movie is set in 1920s Chicago, we see someone hiding a gun and washing blood from their hands, clearly a murder has just taken place and we are treated to a rendition of "all that jazz", whilst a character named Roxie is having a steamy session with a guy. Once the musical number is over, the session turns violent and Roxie shoots the guy, thus landing herself in jail. The rest of the movie is Roxie trying to proof her innocence with musical numbers randomly mixed in.
Unlike other musicals, it's not really characters suddenly breaking into song as such, but it's the characters putting on show numbers in Roxies imagination (or at least I think, but there are times when performances suddenly start and Roxie wasn't in the scene, so who knows). Once you get past the random performances it is a pretty good film, I never found myself bored watching it and the songs are catchy with fantastic performances by all.