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When Darkness Turns to Light (Dark River Stone Collective #2)
When Darkness Turns to Light (Dark River Stone Collective #2)
JP Sayle | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
WHEN DARKNESS TURNS TO LIGHT is the second book in the Dark River Stone Collective. Lincoln and Mason play a part in this but you don't have to have read their book for this one to make sense, although events are referred to.

Toad has been on the run from his family for a while, escaping a mental health facility to do so. His being under the radar is scuppered when he messes up his hand and has to go to the hospital. This opens a whole can of worms that he didn't want to deal with or for his brothers to know about. Sid has his own issues to contend with, which means that these two don't have a smooth ride of it. It's not major angst, but there is still some.

This was a brilliant addition to the series, with Sid and Toad definitely in the limelight. Lincoln and Mason are their supporting cast, and we get to see Mason in his full lawyer glory once again. The relationship between Sid and Toad has its bumps as they're both stubborn as...! These two are sexy as anything though, and I loved both the hot action and also the tender moments between them. The ending was perfect, such a Toad thing to do, and it was great to see the heat hasn't diminished between Lincoln and Mason too.

I am loving every word of this series and have no hesitation in recommending it. Now who comes next?

** 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!
Jun 11, 2021
  
Swiped By My Dad’s Best Friend (Thrust Into Love #1)
Swiped By My Dad’s Best Friend (Thrust Into Love #1)
D.J. Jamison | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SWIPED BY MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND is the first book in the Thrust Into Love series and is unashamedly sweet and sexy. This book belongs in the warm and fuzzy section as there is only a little bit of angst and a helluva lot of smiles!

Coop doesn't want to be in college but he doesn't want to disappoint his dad either. This leads to two very unhappy people who drift further apart. Trace is an old friend who was accused by Coop's dad of having an affair with his wife. So that makes for a very messy situation when they meet for the first time - and Trace doesn't do messy!

Think again, Trace! Because it turns out he does do messy where Coop is concerned. He will stand tall and help his boy, no matter what. And I loved every word! These two are fantastic together. I really felt for Coop who tried to please so many people but felt like he was coming apart at the seams. And Trace, bless him. He is prepared to do anything for Coop.

This book sped by and I finished it way too soon. I was completely engrossed in their relationship. The good thing for me is that it is the first book in a series so that means there is much more to come. Simon's turn next, and I can't wait!

A brilliant book that I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending.

** 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!
May 20, 2021
  
Where There's a Will (Dads & Adages #1)
Where There's a Will (Dads & Adages #1)
Anna Sparrows | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
WHERE THERE'S A WILL is the first book in the Dads & Adages series, and it's definitely one I'll be reading more in. It is also the first book by this author I have read.

This deals with some heavy subjects, so please take note of the trigger warnings. For myself, I thought they were incredibly well handled, providing depth and detail to the story.

Con is thirty-two, with a sister, Daisy, who is twenty-two and pregnant when we first meet them. Con is in a relationship but the cracks are showing and you know it won't last. Will is his sexy silver fox fireman neighbour who lives upstairs. Tragedy strikes early on and Daisy is killed, leaving Con in charge of her newborn baby.

Considering the topics, I found this book to be fairly low-angst. If Con and Will have a problem, they talk it through. Of course, this doesn't work out in every situation, but it was nice to see it happen. What was also nice was the support system both Con and Will had, both together and separately. Having Will's adult sons in here in a supportive role, rather than antagonistic, made it a great read.

If I had anything negative to say, it would be that I was left wondering about Daisy's accident. Why did she get in the car? Was it to see Con? What happened? Small things, I know.

Full of real-life problems with no magic answers, I was completely involved with this story. 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!
Aug 3, 2023
  
Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3)
Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3)
Katherine McIntyre | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
great addition to series!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Chesapeake Days series, and while not necessary to have read books one, Stronger Than Hope and two, Stronger Than Passion before this one, I personally recommend you do. I loved them.

And while I enjoyed this one, it didn't grab me quite as much as those two books and (insert whining noise) I don't know why!

Taran pops up in the previous 2 books, but Silas does not, as he returns to town to meet his daughter.

I liked that Taran had Silas as his high school crush, and Silas had no clue. I liked that they both started into that first encounter with open eyes, but very quickly they both realised that a one and done was not going to work for them. Silas did not want a relationship but Taran does.

It's relatively lower on the angst scale, with all the drama revolving around Silas' daughter and the stoopid decision he makes that pushes Taran away. I found it lower on the emotion scale, and lower on the explicit scale. Passion and love, yes but smexy times were on the lower scale. Not a bad thing, I'm just trying to write out why I didn't love this one, so needs a mention.

Both Taran and Silas have a say, and baby Fi steals the show. We get to catch up with Nico and Hudson and with Nate and Linc and I did LOVE that we did.

I can't work out why this one didn't connect with me the way the previous two did, but it was still a very VERY good read.

4 solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Merissa (12061 KP) rated Micah's Bride (All The King's Men #9) in Books

Feb 10, 2018 (Updated Jun 7, 2023)  
Micah's Bride (All The King's Men #9)
Micah's Bride (All The King's Men #9)
Donya Lynne | 2017 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Micah's Bride (All The King's Men #9) by Donya Lynne
Are you sure that Micah's Bride is a novella?! I mean, sure, it's not a long book - but the sheer amount that Donya Lynne has managed to pack into those few pages is simply astounding! You get an update on Micah and how he is feeling about not being alone anymore. Bain and Cara. Sev and Ari (and I really, REALLY, can't wait to read more about them again!), Cordray and Trace, Sam, her parents - it's all here!!!

OK, so it's the ninth book in the series, so the characters are all well-known, but still - you get to see them more vulnerable than you've seen them before. I defy anyone to read sections of this without their allergies playing up. 😉 There is angst, and there is laughter here too. I loved the Twilight references, and how wonderful Micah was with Aiden. The ring-bear about did me in though. Trust me, read it for yourself and it will all become clear.

I could gush about various parts of this novella for another few pages, but instead, let me get technical. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The pacing was smooth, and the scenes flowed from one to the next. This novella picks up the story and moves it forward, it is not just a filler. It is a necessary addition to the series, and definitely not one to be missed. It's not very often that I give novellas 5-stars, but there is absolutely no justification for not doing so in this case. Sheer perfection, and absolutely recommended by me.

* Verified Purchase ~ December 2017 *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 10, 2018