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Marvin (Assassin's To Order #1)
Marvin (Assassin's To Order #1)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
did not see the DNA twist coming!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This s a spin series, from the Tangled Tentacles series. While not necessary to have read all 5 books, you should at least read book 5, Kelvin. But then again, I said in my review for THAT book, you need to read them all first, so read them all, then!

We met Marvin in Kelvin's book. He surprised everyone, even me. I loved his sweet nature then, his fierce protectiveness of all the Thalassa babies and of those boys who are still missing. It's one of those boys, Ajani, who especially calls to Marvin. Given as Ajani is his soul mate, hardly surprising, but what did surprise me was how little Ajani thought of himself, how he thinks that MArvin does not deserve someone like him.

The lost boys have been trained as assassins. And that's all they know. Revealing themselves, as they are being called to do, opens a whole can of worms no one saw coming, least of all Marvin but he rallies and manages to keep Ajani and the others safe for a time. What that does do, though, it put a target on Marvin's head. Finding out WHO becomes everyone's sole focus.

I loved who all the Thalassa Kracken are here, along with their mates and the babies!

I did NOT see the twist as to what Marvin's DNA might contain, til that was thrown at me!

Marvin and Ajani's tale is a tad sweeter than the Thalassa books, but mostly cos of Marvin. Changing it a smexier book would lose a little of the sweetness Marvin brings to this world and I'd hate that. It is a little darker too, if that makes any sense. These boys are trained assassins and they make no bones about it. It's talked about, what they do and you need to know that.

The epilogue leads very nicely into book 2, as all these books do.

HOWEVER!

Something was missing for me, and Sayle has a knack of serious pushing my book brain with questions, questions, SO MANY FREAKING QUESTIONS! I can't voice those questions either and it equally pisses me off and strives me to dig deeper in my book brain to get them out! I said, in a review for another of Sayle's books " If I cannot voice the questions, how can the author answer them??"

And that's exactly what we have here. Something was missing and I gotta dig DEEP to figure out what.

Still, a very engaging read, that kept me fully engrossed for the whole single sitting I read it in.

4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3)
Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3)
10
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved it from start to finish
Nalini Singh explores new heights of sensuality, returning to the world of the Psy - where two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts...

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna...

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives...

Can't tell you how much I loved this book or this series! Nalini is just a fabulous writer I think this has to be my favourite book so far! It gives hope when things have been so bad and the worst has happened it lets you know you can overcome anything with the right help!
Highly recommended!
  
Yosemite
Yosemite
Sandy Dengler | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hiding in the Wilderness of Yosemite
Jack Prester’s latest assignment is to take three CPA’s into the wilderness around Yosemite and hide them from the assassins after them so they can be witnesses at an upcoming trial. Jack’s dad thinks it is doomed to fail, and with a new baby, the stakes for Jack are high. But his agrees, with his parents and Ev staying nearby to provide support if needed. Will he be able to keep everyone alive for two weeks?

It's been almost ten years since I read the previous book in the series, but I quickly slipped back into his world, and it was wonderful connecting with the characters again. Because we get the story from multiple points of view, we get to see the tourist spots as well as the area Jack is traveling. This also allows the tension to rise as we keep reading. This isn’t a high-octane thriller with tons of action, but it was impossible to put down since I had to know how it would turn out. I did feel like a couple of minor things weren’t tied up with a nice bow, but I’m being nitpicky here. On the whole, I loved getting to spend time with Jack again, and I can’t wait to crack open the next in the series.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2603 KP) rated Killers of a Certain Age in Books

Feb 6, 2023 (Updated Feb 6, 2023)  
Killers of a Certain Age
Killers of a Certain Age
Deanna Raybourn | 2022 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If You Plan to Take Out Killers, Don't Miss
Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have spent their lives working as assassins for a super-secret organization that calls itself the Museum. They have had a successful career individually and as a team, but they are ready to retire now. However, the cruise that the Museum sends them on turns out to be a trap. Now they have to wonder who is out to kill them. And why.

I’ve been hearing good things about this book, so I went in looking forward to it. And I did enjoy it. It reads like an action movie, and there were plenty of scenes that had me turning pages. However, it could have been stronger, with another few twists and turns and slightly stronger characters. The book fits in the action genre in that regard, right? It does have more language and violence than I typically read. It also has plenty that made me smile and laugh as I was reading. Most of the book is written in first person past tense, but we a few chapters flash back to the past and they are written in third person present tense. While I didn’t think this book was quite as good as many others seemed to, I definitely enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it.