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Merissa (13089 KP) rated Where There's a Will (Dads & Adages #1) in Books
Aug 3, 2023
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
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
Debbiereadsbook (1475 KP) rated Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3) in Books
Oct 28, 2022
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
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
Come from Behind: An Age Gap Gay Romance (Suite Dreams)
6.0
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Is it possible that Tavish’s fender-bender on a snowy day will lead to him getting romantically...
Merissa (13089 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) 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
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
Sleigh Bells and Second Chances (Love in Mission City #3)
10.0
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Ryan The moment I landed in that war zone, I knew I'd made a big mistake. I wasn't a soldier, and...
Seasonal Contemporary MM Romance Small Town Romance Hurt/Comfort
Thicker Than Water (Redwater Demons #1)
10.0
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“Hate is learned, hunter. And I see you were a very good student.” “Thanks. I try.” ...
Merissa (13089 KP) rated End Game (Brooklyn Kings #2) in Books
May 5, 2025
END GAME is the second book in the Brooklyn Kings series. This time, we meet with Dev and Brody, quarterback and tight end, who have been together since college, and in love for nearly as long. Unfortunately for them, they can't share their love openly and have to keep it secret.
Dev and Brody have a strong relationship, but there is a bit of telling, not showing, with them, as well as time jumps. This detracted from their story for me because I wanted to see them fall in love, see the hardships and trials the separation of being drafted caused them. Instead, I was told about it, and then we hopped, skipped, and jumped to another timeframe.
Brody has a solid relationship with his mom, but doesn't get on too well with his stepfather, Theo. This is simply because he doesn't want to forget his father, but it doesn't really add anything to the story. There is no real angst between Theo and Brody - it just sort of fizzles out. As for Dev's parents, well, the less said about them the better. I thought they were bad when we first met them, but they got even worse, especially when Dev was injured and in hospital.
Even with these niggles, I still enjoyed this book, albeit not as much as book one. The team is a solid group of characters I look forward to seeing more from, although maybe not Zeke. He was a piece of work, for sure.
A good addition to the series and 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!
Apr 30, 2025
Dev and Brody have a strong relationship, but there is a bit of telling, not showing, with them, as well as time jumps. This detracted from their story for me because I wanted to see them fall in love, see the hardships and trials the separation of being drafted caused them. Instead, I was told about it, and then we hopped, skipped, and jumped to another timeframe.
Brody has a solid relationship with his mom, but doesn't get on too well with his stepfather, Theo. This is simply because he doesn't want to forget his father, but it doesn't really add anything to the story. There is no real angst between Theo and Brody - it just sort of fizzles out. As for Dev's parents, well, the less said about them the better. I thought they were bad when we first met them, but they got even worse, especially when Dev was injured and in hospital.
Even with these niggles, I still enjoyed this book, albeit not as much as book one. The team is a solid group of characters I look forward to seeing more from, although maybe not Zeke. He was a piece of work, for sure.
A good addition to the series and 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!
Apr 30, 2025
The Way Alex Sees Me (Aphrodite in Disguise #2)
Book
High school senior Rusty Finch is in a pickle. His grades are plummeting even though everyone...
Dark MM Contemporary Historical Paranormal Romance
Merissa (13089 KP) rated Golden Bond (Pleasure Palace #1) in Books
Jul 9, 2025
GOLDEN BOND is the first book in the Pleasure Palace series, and it is a series I will be continuing as I loved this one!
Callis was summoned to Eletheria to pay his family's debt. Just by being there, his debt is paid. What he doesn't know is if he will be chosen for a bond. He is lost within the palace, not knowing what is going on or what to do. He is not used to being seen and doesn't know what to do with it. Auren has had three failed bonds before. He chooses Callis because he finds him intriguing, but what he gets is so much more.
This was a wonderful story that, no, isn't perfect. What story is? Did I want more world-building? Yes, I did. Do I want to know more about the bonds, what they mean, and how they help the outside world? Of course. And what about the supporting characters that seemed to disappear?
But what I got from this low-angst story was a connection between the two main characters that was everything I wanted and more. It was pure and innocent, while being deep and permanent. I loved how they were, both separate and together. I loved how they worked through the bond, figuring out what it meant, and what they meant to each other. I loved how I wasn't distracted by side stories that I didn't really need, so I could focus on theirs.
All in all, I was captivated by Callis and Auren and hope to return to the Pleasure Palace soon. HIGHLY 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!
Jul 9, 2025
Callis was summoned to Eletheria to pay his family's debt. Just by being there, his debt is paid. What he doesn't know is if he will be chosen for a bond. He is lost within the palace, not knowing what is going on or what to do. He is not used to being seen and doesn't know what to do with it. Auren has had three failed bonds before. He chooses Callis because he finds him intriguing, but what he gets is so much more.
This was a wonderful story that, no, isn't perfect. What story is? Did I want more world-building? Yes, I did. Do I want to know more about the bonds, what they mean, and how they help the outside world? Of course. And what about the supporting characters that seemed to disappear?
But what I got from this low-angst story was a connection between the two main characters that was everything I wanted and more. It was pure and innocent, while being deep and permanent. I loved how they were, both separate and together. I loved how they worked through the bond, figuring out what it meant, and what they meant to each other. I loved how I wasn't distracted by side stories that I didn't really need, so I could focus on theirs.
All in all, I was captivated by Callis and Auren and hope to return to the Pleasure Palace soon. HIGHLY 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!
Jul 9, 2025
Merissa (13089 KP) rated Textual Confusion in Books
Oct 31, 2024
TEXTUAL CONFUSION is a standalone story about two men whose story starts with a text message. When Asher receives a text in the middle of the night, he knows he should ignore it, but can't resist answering. This leads to more than he ever thought possible.
Asher and Markus were great characters. I do love it when one of them is an a$$hole to everyone apart from the one he loves, even if I don't like it in real life. But, hey, that's why we read, right? I also loved that everyone else could see how deep Markus was in, apart from Asher, who had his own reasons for not believing.
Sasha and Danny are the best supporting characters, especially Sasha, who made me LOL a few times! And speaking of other characters, in this book, you get not one but two protagonists (if you don't count Asher himself!) You've got his psycho ex who didn't want Asher but doesn't want anyone else to have him either. You've also got his mother - a term I use very loosely!
There is a third-act breakup which may be triggering to some people, just so you know. There were a couple of things that happened that I personally don't like (spit-swapping, for one) that knocked off half a star, but nothing too bad.
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this high-angst, hot and steamy book and read it in one sitting. 4.5 stars, rounded up, and definitely recommended.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
23 Oct, 2024
Asher and Markus were great characters. I do love it when one of them is an a$$hole to everyone apart from the one he loves, even if I don't like it in real life. But, hey, that's why we read, right? I also loved that everyone else could see how deep Markus was in, apart from Asher, who had his own reasons for not believing.
Sasha and Danny are the best supporting characters, especially Sasha, who made me LOL a few times! And speaking of other characters, in this book, you get not one but two protagonists (if you don't count Asher himself!) You've got his psycho ex who didn't want Asher but doesn't want anyone else to have him either. You've also got his mother - a term I use very loosely!
There is a third-act breakup which may be triggering to some people, just so you know. There were a couple of things that happened that I personally don't like (spit-swapping, for one) that knocked off half a star, but nothing too bad.
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this high-angst, hot and steamy book and read it in one sitting. 4.5 stars, rounded up, and definitely recommended.
** 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!
23 Oct, 2024