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FahrenLernen
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You are a driving student and you received the online training FAHREN LERNEN from your driving...
BeatsX Earphones - UNDEFEATED Limited Edition
6.8
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Hide when you have to. Strike when you want to. Stay undefeated with the latest Beats / UNDEFEATED...
BeatsX In-Ear Headphones
6.3
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Fit for your life, BeatsX earphones are the perfect wireless companion. Experience authentic, clear...
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Cold Hearted in Books
Jan 15, 2022
This book takes us on the journey of Lady Tremaine and her daughters - the stepmother and stepsisters of Cinderella. We spend the majority of the book getting to know Lady Tremaine before she met Cinderella’s father, and I actually quite liked her character. She lost her husband six years before the start of this book and has ended up spoiling her daughters in their shared grief, trying to make up for them only having one parent. She does decide that she’s spoiled them too much and she needs to be discipline them more and so as a punishment ends up going to a friend’s house in the country without them. There she meets the man of her dreams, Sir Richard.
This book doesn’t go the way that the Cinderella story does, where we think that Cinderella was the only person that was horribly mistreated. We see the reasoning for why Lady Tremaine in the future orders Cinderella to clean the house from top to bottom and adding in ridiculous requests at the same time. Once you have read the story, it’s completely understandable. Although, I will admit that at some stages you know that she has pushed the boundaries too far.
I was also quite glad at the reappearance of the Odd Sisters, although the time line is hazy but I would guess that it was before the events of The Odd Sisters book. I would also like to learn more about the stories that the Book of Fairytales has in, this may possibly be the stories that Serena Valentino is writing and all of these books will create her own Book of Fairytales? Only time will tell. I am hoping that Serena Valentino is in the process of writing more of these books, because I think the series is extremely clever and I do enjoy the fact that they are quick reads that are very interesting.
This book doesn’t go the way that the Cinderella story does, where we think that Cinderella was the only person that was horribly mistreated. We see the reasoning for why Lady Tremaine in the future orders Cinderella to clean the house from top to bottom and adding in ridiculous requests at the same time. Once you have read the story, it’s completely understandable. Although, I will admit that at some stages you know that she has pushed the boundaries too far.
I was also quite glad at the reappearance of the Odd Sisters, although the time line is hazy but I would guess that it was before the events of The Odd Sisters book. I would also like to learn more about the stories that the Book of Fairytales has in, this may possibly be the stories that Serena Valentino is writing and all of these books will create her own Book of Fairytales? Only time will tell. I am hoping that Serena Valentino is in the process of writing more of these books, because I think the series is extremely clever and I do enjoy the fact that they are quick reads that are very interesting.
Fate in Suspension (Horn & Haven #1)
8.0
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Quiet. That's how he likes life, no drama to clean up... Tai Xen-Vorsy leads a straightforward...
Adult Fantasy LGBTQIA+ Paranormal Romance
Debbiereadsbook (1727 KP) rated Royally Arranged (The Royal Series #2) in Books
May 22, 2024
sometimes, you need to see whats coming at ya!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Royal Series. I have not read book one, Royally Screwed and a quick read of that blurb tells me you don't need to read that one before this. Those characters do not appear in this book. It's also the first book I've read of Mallory's. I'll come back to that.
Rafe needs a wife, a temporary arrangement, while his twin brother, his ELDER twin, gets a clean bill of health. A business arrangement which Astoria enters, with a shelf life to the arrangement. At least it started as such.
I liked this. It follows a proven track: an arranged marriage; they have sex (which wasn't part of the arrangement) there is a major fall out, and then a make up, and all is happy in the world. And sometimes you need to see what's coming at ya, like a freight train, and ain't nothin' you can do to stop it. And I LIKED that in this book!
It's steamy in places, but I didn't find it overly heavy on the smexy times. I didn't find it particularly emotional, either. Rafe lost his wife and son, but you don't FEEL that pain from him.
I think that is what I missed the most in the book: emotional connection. Yes, they have smex and do all the things they are supposed to, but I didn't find an EMOTIONAL connection between them. They do say those three little words, but again, I didn't FEEL the love between them.
As I said, my first book by Mallory. I'd like to delve into the backlist of this author to see if I can find that connection. Might just be how the author writes, is all.
So, because I felt that was missing, I gave this book
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Royal Series. I have not read book one, Royally Screwed and a quick read of that blurb tells me you don't need to read that one before this. Those characters do not appear in this book. It's also the first book I've read of Mallory's. I'll come back to that.
Rafe needs a wife, a temporary arrangement, while his twin brother, his ELDER twin, gets a clean bill of health. A business arrangement which Astoria enters, with a shelf life to the arrangement. At least it started as such.
I liked this. It follows a proven track: an arranged marriage; they have sex (which wasn't part of the arrangement) there is a major fall out, and then a make up, and all is happy in the world. And sometimes you need to see what's coming at ya, like a freight train, and ain't nothin' you can do to stop it. And I LIKED that in this book!
It's steamy in places, but I didn't find it overly heavy on the smexy times. I didn't find it particularly emotional, either. Rafe lost his wife and son, but you don't FEEL that pain from him.
I think that is what I missed the most in the book: emotional connection. Yes, they have smex and do all the things they are supposed to, but I didn't find an EMOTIONAL connection between them. They do say those three little words, but again, I didn't FEEL the love between them.
As I said, my first book by Mallory. I'd like to delve into the backlist of this author to see if I can find that connection. Might just be how the author writes, is all.
So, because I felt that was missing, I gave this book
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (13950 KP) rated Resist Me Not (Bloody Desires) in Books
Sep 4, 2025
RESIST ME NOT is part of the Bloody Desires series, featuring Walker, a doctor, and Trey, a travel writer/serial killer. Trey doesn't target just anyone, but rather those who harm others, especially wives and children. The reasons for this are explained, so don't worry about that.
Now, of course, killing anyone is never supposed to be good, but how it is done here gives an excellent moral debate, and as shown in a group conversation, this same question has been asked many times. It becomes personal for Walker when he knows what Trey is doing. After all, he is a doctor dedicated to saving lives, while Trey is taking them. But is it as clean-cut and concise as that?
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, there were parts that I didn't feel necessary. Firstly, there was the Daddy part. That was more of a term of endearment than anything else. And did Daddy and good boy really have to be in italics most of the time? I didn't feel any need to emphasise those words in the context they were being used in. They could have been changed for different terms, and it would still read perfectly. And secondly, was how many times First Do No Harm was mentioned. I get that was the question of the moment; I didn't need the repetition to compound on it.
Trey was an excellently written character, showing depth and thought that you might not expect. Walker was a little more self-righteous, a little more bland, until the end--that part, I loved!
I am loving this series and have no hesitation in recommending it if morally grey stories are your thing.
** 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!
Sep 4, 2025
Now, of course, killing anyone is never supposed to be good, but how it is done here gives an excellent moral debate, and as shown in a group conversation, this same question has been asked many times. It becomes personal for Walker when he knows what Trey is doing. After all, he is a doctor dedicated to saving lives, while Trey is taking them. But is it as clean-cut and concise as that?
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, there were parts that I didn't feel necessary. Firstly, there was the Daddy part. That was more of a term of endearment than anything else. And did Daddy and good boy really have to be in italics most of the time? I didn't feel any need to emphasise those words in the context they were being used in. They could have been changed for different terms, and it would still read perfectly. And secondly, was how many times First Do No Harm was mentioned. I get that was the question of the moment; I didn't need the repetition to compound on it.
Trey was an excellently written character, showing depth and thought that you might not expect. Walker was a little more self-righteous, a little more bland, until the end--that part, I loved!
I am loving this series and have no hesitation in recommending it if morally grey stories are your thing.
** 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!
Sep 4, 2025
Cinder and His Dragon (Colorado Dragons #2)
10.0
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Cinder Adair’s life shattered in a single night. A child died in the ER—and when the attending...
Whispers in the Snow (Heartwarming Christmas)
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Of course, a young woman in Norway during the late nineteenth century can be a successful amateur...
Historical Romance Mystery Novella
Debbiereadsbook (1727 KP) rated Heart of Dust: Revised Edition (Death's Embrace #1) in Books
Apr 18, 2026
Only Doran gets a say!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This book is billed as coalpunk. Now, I had no idea what that meant, and I had to look it up. The world runs on coal, surprisingly!
And it's coal that has become Doran's life. He wants the mines made safe, or shut but the Archon ruler just wants coal and to make money. he doesn't care that people are dying.
What I enjoyed about this most, was the world building. As the first in series, in a completely different world, sometimes the world building can feel tedious. Here, however, you get it in enough dribs abd drabs to be able to form a picture that makes (some) sense and you can add the dribs and drabs to it as it comes along. I loved being able to keep up with it all!
There is drama, and action here, and it comes across wonderfully! Some is a little graphic, but I think it is needed to get the point that Doran will do anything to free the people from the mines.
There is NO romance, at all. Clean too. And I didn't even care about that!
What I did care about, though, and this is the ONLY reason this book gets 4 and not 5 stars, was that only Doran gets a say. I knew that, I really did, but I kept waiting for Nathaniel to speak and he doesn't. I think I needed in his head at key points along the way, mostly when Doran tells him his name. Nathaniel's reaction was unexpected, but you do get an explanation later on. But I needed Nathaniel and I don't get him.
I'm invested in these people, and their lives, I look forward to catching up with them in the next book.
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This book is billed as coalpunk. Now, I had no idea what that meant, and I had to look it up. The world runs on coal, surprisingly!
And it's coal that has become Doran's life. He wants the mines made safe, or shut but the Archon ruler just wants coal and to make money. he doesn't care that people are dying.
What I enjoyed about this most, was the world building. As the first in series, in a completely different world, sometimes the world building can feel tedious. Here, however, you get it in enough dribs abd drabs to be able to form a picture that makes (some) sense and you can add the dribs and drabs to it as it comes along. I loved being able to keep up with it all!
There is drama, and action here, and it comes across wonderfully! Some is a little graphic, but I think it is needed to get the point that Doran will do anything to free the people from the mines.
There is NO romance, at all. Clean too. And I didn't even care about that!
What I did care about, though, and this is the ONLY reason this book gets 4 and not 5 stars, was that only Doran gets a say. I knew that, I really did, but I kept waiting for Nathaniel to speak and he doesn't. I think I needed in his head at key points along the way, mostly when Doran tells him his name. Nathaniel's reaction was unexpected, but you do get an explanation later on. But I needed Nathaniel and I don't get him.
I'm invested in these people, and their lives, I look forward to catching up with them in the next book.
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere