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Merissa (13979 KP) rated Finding Finlay (Hawthorne Bluff #1) in Books
Jun 5, 2023
FINDING FINLAY is the first book in the Hawthorne Bluff series and tells the tale of Clay, who fell in with a bad crowd after moving to Chicago and did his time, and also Finlay, local boy done good who stayed in Hawthorne Bluff. Now, Clay's back in town so maybe the timing is finally right for them both.
I enjoyed this story. It was low-angst considering the set-up of the story but I will admit to not really having much of a connection with the main characters. For me, it seemed like there was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing. Plus, things were mentioned and sorted out so easily. I'm not into trouble where there really shouldn't be but this was just too easy. Even the thread of uncertainty that ran through it was sorted out very quickly and with little hassle.
All in all, a good story that I enjoyed.
** 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!
Jun 5, 2023
I enjoyed this story. It was low-angst considering the set-up of the story but I will admit to not really having much of a connection with the main characters. For me, it seemed like there was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing. Plus, things were mentioned and sorted out so easily. I'm not into trouble where there really shouldn't be but this was just too easy. Even the thread of uncertainty that ran through it was sorted out very quickly and with little hassle.
All in all, a good story that I enjoyed.
** 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!
Jun 5, 2023
Merissa (13979 KP) rated Seducing the Sheriff (Charming Butte #2) in Books
Oct 17, 2025
SEDUCING THE SHERIFF is the second story in the Charming Butte series, and features the new Sheriff, Cash, and newcomer to the town, Greg.
Greg has decided to finally put down roots after many years of flipping houses and moving from one place to another. He chooses a doer-upper with lots of potential. Unfortunately for him, or maybe fortunately!, he smells something off-putting not long after he moves in. Upon searching, he finds a mummified body behind a false wall in a closet, and does what any sane person does - he rings the police! Enter Sheriff Cash.
These two are the sweetest couple I've read in a long time. Both of them are introverted, with many similarities between them. Once they are in each other's orbit, they can't stop circling ever closer to each other.
If you are looking for a low angst, feel-good story, with two amazing MCs and a whole host of supporting characters, then look no further. I also liked the small catch-ups with Dex and Meyer from book one.
Just what I needed and absolutely recommended by me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oct 17, 2025
Greg has decided to finally put down roots after many years of flipping houses and moving from one place to another. He chooses a doer-upper with lots of potential. Unfortunately for him, or maybe fortunately!, he smells something off-putting not long after he moves in. Upon searching, he finds a mummified body behind a false wall in a closet, and does what any sane person does - he rings the police! Enter Sheriff Cash.
These two are the sweetest couple I've read in a long time. Both of them are introverted, with many similarities between them. Once they are in each other's orbit, they can't stop circling ever closer to each other.
If you are looking for a low angst, feel-good story, with two amazing MCs and a whole host of supporting characters, then look no further. I also liked the small catch-ups with Dex and Meyer from book one.
Just what I needed and absolutely recommended by me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oct 17, 2025
Merissa (13979 KP) rated Scoop Me Up (Love in Maplewood #7) in Books
Jun 27, 2025
SCOOP ME UP returns to Maplewood for the seventh story in this series. This time, we have a non-binary school teacher, who longs to own his own ice-cream shop, and a business consultant in town to spend time with his daughter, who ends up not being as straight as he thought he was.
As with all the books I have read in this series, it is low angst, with a high dose of sweetness, charm to spare, and a whole town to rally round when your backs are against the wall. There were parts of this that confused me, as I thought decisions had already been made and conversations had. Maybe that was me reading more into parts than I should have done, but it did jolt me out of my zone whenever I hit them.
Anyway, this was a sweet story with some great ice-cream names and a wonderful supporting cast. If you like this series, then I have no doubt you will like this instalment.
** 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!
Jun 13, 2025
As with all the books I have read in this series, it is low angst, with a high dose of sweetness, charm to spare, and a whole town to rally round when your backs are against the wall. There were parts of this that confused me, as I thought decisions had already been made and conversations had. Maybe that was me reading more into parts than I should have done, but it did jolt me out of my zone whenever I hit them.
Anyway, this was a sweet story with some great ice-cream names and a wonderful supporting cast. If you like this series, then I have no doubt you will like this instalment.
** 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!
Jun 13, 2025
Merissa (13979 KP) rated Seven Hundred Beachfront in Books
Jul 25, 2025
SEVEN HUNDRED BEACHFRONT is a story about a house, if the title didn't clue you in. This is not the usual genre I go for, but the blurb had me intrigued.
It is a cosy read that takes place over a couple of months during the summer, when Bec rents the house while she looks after her five-year-old brother, Bobby. Their summer stay becomes more interesting when the house starts making her opinions known, and both Bobby and Bev are able to understand her.
With a small town cast of supporting characters, there is a love interest in Jeff, the next door neighbour, plus some angst in the most un-mother I've ever had the displeasure of reading about.
Told from Bev's perspective throughout, this was a sweet read that I enjoyed. The intimate scenes are either very low spice or fade-to-black. If you want a story with a beach setting while you're sat at the beach, then I can definitely recommend this one.
** 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!
Jul 25, 2025
It is a cosy read that takes place over a couple of months during the summer, when Bec rents the house while she looks after her five-year-old brother, Bobby. Their summer stay becomes more interesting when the house starts making her opinions known, and both Bobby and Bev are able to understand her.
With a small town cast of supporting characters, there is a love interest in Jeff, the next door neighbour, plus some angst in the most un-mother I've ever had the displeasure of reading about.
Told from Bev's perspective throughout, this was a sweet read that I enjoyed. The intimate scenes are either very low spice or fade-to-black. If you want a story with a beach setting while you're sat at the beach, then I can definitely recommend this one.
** 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!
Jul 25, 2025
Merissa (13979 KP) rated Summer Heat in Books
Jun 21, 2017
Summer Heat by Jay Northcote
Summer Heat is the perfect summer read, complete with sun, sea, and sex! After getting dumped by his older man, Adam seeks shelter from his BFF Finn. Both of them feel a hint of attraction, but have never acted upon it, fearing to ruin their friendship. When they go on a week's holiday that Adam had booked for him and his ex, things take a different turn to what they expected.
This is an easy-read book that will immediately take you to the shores of Spain. Adam and Finn are understandably nervous about making any changes to their friendship, but neither of them want to continue on as they are. They just need 'something' to give them the boost, the courage, to make them speak - whether that is a person or event.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, the story is told from both Adam and Finn's perspective, giving the reader a well rounded view of both them and their feelings. It is low angst, but still with a hint of tension and uncertainty. I have no hesitation in recommending this.
* 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!
This is an easy-read book that will immediately take you to the shores of Spain. Adam and Finn are understandably nervous about making any changes to their friendship, but neither of them want to continue on as they are. They just need 'something' to give them the boost, the courage, to make them speak - whether that is a person or event.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, the story is told from both Adam and Finn's perspective, giving the reader a well rounded view of both them and their feelings. It is low angst, but still with a hint of tension and uncertainty. I have no hesitation in recommending this.
* 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!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Gamera: Revenge of Iris (1999) in Movies
Mar 15, 2019 (Updated Mar 15, 2019)
Apocalyptic final instalment in Kaneko's trilogy takes the Japanese monster movie to places it has never been before or since. Amid signs of the man-eating Gyaos creatures reappearing in vast numbers, an embittered girl bonds with the life-draining Iris creature to seek revenge on Gamera after her parents were killed in his battle with the first Gyaos some years earlier.
Incomplete Struggle (a much better title to my mind) is much more of a fantasy film than the previous chapter in the story, once again playing cleverly with various tropes of Japanese monster stories. The script takes the trouble to include characters from both previous films (it is clearly intended as a grand conclusion to the story) and also explores notions of pre-millennial angst. Once again, the monster battles are superbly staged, but the big ideas explored by the film are also fascinating, even if some elements of the story are left a bit vague. What one person sees as vaulting imagination and ambition, another may see as the script getting a bit out of control; some may also have an issue with the deliberate lack of closure at the very end of the film. Nevertheless, this movie manages to give the Japanese kaiju genre a sense of majesty and gravitas it has seldom achieved anywhere else.
Incomplete Struggle (a much better title to my mind) is much more of a fantasy film than the previous chapter in the story, once again playing cleverly with various tropes of Japanese monster stories. The script takes the trouble to include characters from both previous films (it is clearly intended as a grand conclusion to the story) and also explores notions of pre-millennial angst. Once again, the monster battles are superbly staged, but the big ideas explored by the film are also fascinating, even if some elements of the story are left a bit vague. What one person sees as vaulting imagination and ambition, another may see as the script getting a bit out of control; some may also have an issue with the deliberate lack of closure at the very end of the film. Nevertheless, this movie manages to give the Japanese kaiju genre a sense of majesty and gravitas it has seldom achieved anywhere else.
Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated The Peace and The Panic by Neck Deep in Music
Mar 26, 2018
Peace Panic Pop Punk
Neck Deep, most well known for their song, "December", came to turn the amps up to 11. Mostly known for a more acoustic sound that lends itself to pop punk, the Welsh five-piece has brought a full electric, high-energy album to bear on an audience that didn't know we needed more pop punk anthems.
The album mostly deals with mature themes of growing older, as well as the state of the world and losing people close to you. The lead singer, Ben Barlow's, father died during their writing of this album and it shows in the emotional lyrics and texture of the songs.
The album starts out with the more jump-up-and-down and blast-your-car-stereo tunes until getting in the last half of the album with a couple more ballad-y titles like "Wish You Were Here" and "Nineteen Seventy-Something".
Some favorite tracks of mine are the more Alt-rock sounding "Happy Judgement Day" and "Don't Wait, as well as the emotional "Nineteen Seventy-Something" and the deceptively Happy-sounding "Where Do We Go When We Go".
Considering I had been under the impression that this genre had died, this album is a breath of fresh air from a vista of young adult, relatable angst that I had forgotten how to express.
The album mostly deals with mature themes of growing older, as well as the state of the world and losing people close to you. The lead singer, Ben Barlow's, father died during their writing of this album and it shows in the emotional lyrics and texture of the songs.
The album starts out with the more jump-up-and-down and blast-your-car-stereo tunes until getting in the last half of the album with a couple more ballad-y titles like "Wish You Were Here" and "Nineteen Seventy-Something".
Some favorite tracks of mine are the more Alt-rock sounding "Happy Judgement Day" and "Don't Wait, as well as the emotional "Nineteen Seventy-Something" and the deceptively Happy-sounding "Where Do We Go When We Go".
Considering I had been under the impression that this genre had died, this album is a breath of fresh air from a vista of young adult, relatable angst that I had forgotten how to express.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride in Books
Jun 9, 2018
Dumb title, awful art, but good book
Please don't judge this book by its atrocious cover. As a kid, I read all of my older sister's romance novels--Jude Devereaux, Judith McNaught, et cetera--but as a sentimental gay dude, there was a lot that didn't hit home for me. This is my first gay historical romance, and I really liked it. It has about the same amount of depth you would expect from a heterosexual romance novels (which is to say, not much), but it was no less an enjoyable read. I'm glad that Easton didn't rely on angst to further the story, but actually gave us a story that stands in its own two legs.
I admit that I was nervous going into the more erotic scenes. It's kind of a thorny issue, with Easton being a woman and describing an entirely male act. But they were surprisingly realistic (for a romance novel). That said, they didn't exactly light my fire, but they weren't "boobs feel like bags of sand" either. Nice, middle of the road. It's clear the focus is on the relationship, not sex, though she acknowledges the strong sexual intensity that (sometimes) manifests between men.
Just, please, Easton, if you read these at all, do something about the cover art. The title is a little hokey too. It made me underestimate your talent.
I admit that I was nervous going into the more erotic scenes. It's kind of a thorny issue, with Easton being a woman and describing an entirely male act. But they were surprisingly realistic (for a romance novel). That said, they didn't exactly light my fire, but they weren't "boobs feel like bags of sand" either. Nice, middle of the road. It's clear the focus is on the relationship, not sex, though she acknowledges the strong sexual intensity that (sometimes) manifests between men.
Just, please, Easton, if you read these at all, do something about the cover art. The title is a little hokey too. It made me underestimate your talent.
Holly (1 KP) rated Pestilence in Books
Jul 17, 2018
Grey morality (2 more)
Narrative voice
Provoked tears
The cover makes it seem like a dime a dozen romance (1 more)
Never addressed possible Stockholm syndrome
Unexpected
I downloaded this book to my kindle thinking it would be a quick mindless read for my daily commute.
It was not.
This is as a book that moved me to tears on said bus, hoping no one would see me and think I was crazy.
The author has created a world in which you find yourself torn between hating and caring for a mass murderer. She uses the idea of the Four Horseman to highlight both the redeemable and the irredeemable facets of humanity. The writing was very enjoyable, and overall this was a great read possibly because I was expecting a trashy romance and instead got death and disease.
There is still romance in the plot, but I’m on the fence about how about it. If you have an issue with overly possessive men who have no boundaries or idea of how much the human body can take, then I wouldn’t recommend it. I also feel as thoug Stockholm night play a lot in the heroines eventual love of Pestilence m, but it was never addressed or even hinted at.
If your looking for a slow burn romance, without the fluff, full of angst and darkness this is definitely worth a go.
It was not.
This is as a book that moved me to tears on said bus, hoping no one would see me and think I was crazy.
The author has created a world in which you find yourself torn between hating and caring for a mass murderer. She uses the idea of the Four Horseman to highlight both the redeemable and the irredeemable facets of humanity. The writing was very enjoyable, and overall this was a great read possibly because I was expecting a trashy romance and instead got death and disease.
There is still romance in the plot, but I’m on the fence about how about it. If you have an issue with overly possessive men who have no boundaries or idea of how much the human body can take, then I wouldn’t recommend it. I also feel as thoug Stockholm night play a lot in the heroines eventual love of Pestilence m, but it was never addressed or even hinted at.
If your looking for a slow burn romance, without the fluff, full of angst and darkness this is definitely worth a go.
Morgen Frances (21 KP) rated Crowned with Guilt in Books
Jul 9, 2018
Remember the Reaper (book 1)
I could never say enough about this book. Not only was it an amazing read, but it’s the authors debut novel. She takes you on a journey you don’t want to ever end. The characters have such depth, you’re sucked into a world you never knew you needed to be a part of. There’s something I find so sweet and innocent about a child’s unconditional love. Especially when it’s shared with another kid who needs it so much. The bond that forms is her lifeline in so many ways. Tessa’s story is not one of unicorns and rainbows but she finds her escape in books, a prince she doesn’t feel she deserves, and a castle built of dreams. It’s dark, gritty, and doesn’t feel anything but real. She goes through so much in her young life, it changes her. The weight of what she feels as her fault sits heavy on her shoulders. There’s not much that can hurt a person as much as their own guilt slowly eating away at them. When all you see in the mirror is the villain and you lash out at anyone who tries to get close what hope is left.
This is the first book of a series.
This is the first book of a series.