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Hunt the Dragon Within (The Journals of Ravier #2)
Hunt the Dragon Within (The Journals of Ravier #2)
J.R. Vaineo | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HUNT THE DRAGON WITHIN is the second book in The Journals of Muraine series and we continue where book one left off. Soren is causing chaos, Talok is stuck with a bracelet he doesn't want, and Tyler is just trying to make sense of it all AND cope with the powers he appears to have now.

Now, if you've read my review for book one, you will know I found the constant use of numbers confusing. (Numbers are a foreign language, after all!) I'm pleased to say this isn't such an issue here as the author concentrates more on things that are happening. I do love the 'Thirteen, Done' part of it though!

There is a love-triangle forming which I hope is sorted out soon! I know they are popular with a lot of people but I just find them irritating. 😁 This only takes up a small part of the story though. Mainly it is about what is going on around them and what they need to do to stop Talok turning into a monster.

I have to say - this is one heckuva ride! There are more twists and turns than you would find at a theme park and I loved every part of it. It certainly kept my interest from beginning to end. Because of this I would say you need to set aside a good amount of time to be able to read it. I don't think just spot-reading here and there would do you any favours.

Book one was very good, this one is great. I can't wait to read book three and see if the trend continues. I have high hopes! Absolutely recommended by me.

* 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. *
  
Chat Love
Chat Love
4
4.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I wanted to read this book immediately after reading the synopsis, and I was honoured when the author, Justine Faeth, approached me and sent me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book synopsis is a very promising one. Lucia is having trouble finding a man. After a few disastrous dates, she chooses to follow her friend’s advice and tries Chat Love, an online dating service.

As promising as the synopsis sounds, this book didn’t quite deliver. With Chat Love, I found the whole setting of the book unrealistic. There is a nice background story and a great idea, but it hasn’t been properly executed.

Lucia is an Italian lady. She is a city girl and a business woman. She is searching for love. See, Lucia is under pressure by her Italian family to get married. And I can completely understand that pressure, being born in a country where I have met people with similar beliefs. Lucia’s family thinks that a woman is made to be a mother, and not have a career. They think that if you are thirty and you haven’t got a boyfriend yet, you are useless and unworthy.

And I completely agree with Lucia when she tries to stand up to them and tell them how it’s important for her to find a man she will really love, not just marry in order to please her family. In some scenes though, it appears as if she hates her family, and has very bad attitude towards them. I understand completely where her frustration comes from.

But then, on the other hand, we have a Lucia that is being a hypocrite.

And while this whole book seems like she is searching for her true love, when someone appears and cares about her, she is acting as if she’s not interested. Woman, WHAT DO YOU WANT? She wants true love, and she doesn’t want to be used as a one-night stand, which is completely acceptable. But going on a date with a man for the first time, and telling him you want to get serious is creepy. Even if that is your long-term goal, you DO NOT say it on the first date. It scares people away. It makes people think you are a creep.

Also, given the fact that the synopsis promises an online app, this left me disappointed. During this book, we don’t get to really see a single chat happen through this app. Apart from a few letters from Jake. Honestly, I expected a back and forth conversations with men before a date happens. In the book, we get to see Lucia dating a lot of men. I didn’t stop to count them, but there must’ve been around twenty dates. And all these men had something wrong with them. But she never screwed up.

I will be honest with you now, and you people need to be honest with yourselves. In your life, you will meet people, and some people will make you giggle. Others might make you gag. But sometimes, the reason for a bad date is you. I am only trying to be honest here. I have screwed up a few dates myself, and you must have done the same thing too. That’s life though. We have to move on and try not to blame others for our mistakes. I wish this been represented in this book.

I really wish I loved this book.

I have mixed feelings, because despite all, this book did make me think and bring up discussions with people around the various topics, from family beliefs, to being creepy on first dates, to finding out what you really like. In a summary, as much as I didn’t enjoy it, I also am grateful for this book, for bringing out a lot of things to think about.

If you love chick-lit and short romance funny novels, you might enjoy it. If you think any of this discussion points is intriguing, you might enjoy it. I would love to have a chat and see what you think of this book.
  
Crystal Blade (Paladins of Crystal #2)
Crystal Blade (Paladins of Crystal #2)
Nicola M. Cameron | 2023 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Write quicker, Ms Cameron, write QUICKER!!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.


This is book 2 in the Paladins of Crystal series, and it cannot CANNOT be read as a stand alone. It picks up immediately after book one, Crystal Shard, finishes.


It picks you up, and drags you along for such a ride!


We learn more about this world and the people in it. Their ways and politics, their rules and traditions. And we learn more about Crystal, and her birth and what happened all those years ago.


It drags you, kicking and screaming, through history, through drama, through the beginnings of love between Crystal and her Buff Lords, and possibly it might all end in death for one and all.


The romance that didn't happen in book 1 begins here. Granted, it comes in single and double instalments, but the group scenes haven't happened, YET!


I loved Crystal's strength. She gets wrung through the wringer here, and she just takes it all in her stride. A great skill for a budding empress!


And again!! Oh my god, this author is gonna kill me, she really is!


Massive cliff hanger, people, MAHOOSIVE cliff hanger, that I kinda saw coming, but really hoped that Crystal might just get her Buff Lords in her bed! But no. Cameron decided to throw another freaking spanner in the works, and now we gotta wait!


How long, though?? That is the big question. There is a bit about that at the end of this book. Apparently, if I threaten to camp outside the author's door, she might write the nexxt book a bit quicker! So, that's what I'm-a gonna do!!


Cos I need, NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED book three, yesterday!!


5 full and shiny stars, more if I could!!


Write quicker, Ms Cameron, write QUICKER!!


*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust
Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust
Mindy Quigley | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery Didn’t Quite Work for Me
Summer is winding down soon, which means that the crowds will be disappearing from Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Unfortunately for Delilah O’Leary, she hasn’t earned quite as much as she needs during her deep dish pizza restaurant’s first season opened to survive the coming winter season comfortably. Which means she needs to win the upcoming “Taste of Wisconsin” contest held during the annual Labor Day festival. She’s been trying to prefect her recipe for weeks. However, she is less than thrilled when she learns who the judge is going to be.

All that takes a back seat when someone drops dead in the new juice bar in town. Delilah happens to be on hand, and she can’t help but get involved in the investigation. But can she figure out what happened?

I enjoyed the first book in the series, and was looking forward to returning to the great characters and setting. Unfortunately, the plot tries to do too much. Early on, I was enjoying trying to figure out what was part of the mystery and what was part of any subplots, but when we reached the climax, things were just too rushed because of everything else going on. In fact, it felt like the mystery was undercooked overall, and I was left with a major question about why a character did what they did. Which is a shame because the characters and setting were great once again. I love Delilah and the rest of the crew, and I’d love to visit the town. There are some fun laughs, including in the recipes. Seriously, they are written by some of the characters, and they are great. I already have book three, so hopefully, the plot is stronger in that one.
  
Elite (Eagle Elite, #1)
Elite (Eagle Elite, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
4.5 stars!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! I've just read the excerpt from the next in the series, Elect, and WHAT!?!?

I suppose I should explain this one before I get carried away wanting the second one, huh?

I loved this book! It's my first ever one by Rachel Van Dyken. though I have The Bet on my kindle, and I cant help wondering why I haven't read it yet!

I was quickly sucked into this story though I was a bit put off by Nixon's behaviour in the beginning but I have to admit by the end I was well on my way to being in love with him. But then we have Chase too. I generally urge the girl to go with the first guy but then that would make it Chase and not Nixon. Both are great guys so I have no idea what Trace is going to do in the second book and that excerpt! Jeez! Got me worrying a little.

As you can probably tell I loved this book; it drew me in and kept me guessing. Cant wait for the next one!
  
    DEAD TARGET: Zombie

    DEAD TARGET: Zombie

    Games and Entertainment

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    Kill virus infected zombies for survival. Shoot to survive the zombie frontier in DEAD TARGET. ...