Search
Search results
Mother Machine: Archon
Book
"Macte Virtute Sic Itur Ad Astra" The first in a series, Mother Machine: Archon stars Art Price,...
sciene fiction
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Upstart in Books
Jan 2, 2024
1 of 220
Book
The Upstart
By Catherine Cookson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risen to power and influence, Samuel Fairbrother, a shrewd and newly monied manufacturer and retailer of boots, shoes, and clogs, has decided that his new station in life deserves a more imposing residence. When a thirty-four-room mansion on the outskirts of Fellburn becomes available, he snaps up the estate without hesitation and establishes himself as the owner of the property he sees as the emblem of his wealth and a suitable reward for his new, exalted status in the business world. Along with the house, however, Fairbrother inherits the services of a staff of servants headed by Maitland, the butler, who makes no effort to disguise his disdain for his new boss. So begins a clash of wills between master and man, in which Samuel Fairbrother soon realizes he is at a distinct disadvantage. Not only is Maitland urbane and apparently well educated, he is ingenious at maintaining a position of indispensability. Fairbrother is all too aware that he dare not do without Maitland's services and is forced to conclude that he will never win this conflict. And so an uneasy truce is declared between them. As the years go by and the century turns, Fairbrother witnesses his children, one by one, leave the big house and make lives of their own - all except his eldest daughter, Janet, who by means of a legacy is able to shape the destiny of her father's scattered family and effect the reconciliation that he thought was impossible.
Feels so strange reviewing a Catherine Cookson I’ve love her books from an early age and there is no better comfort read that her. This was a short read and reminded me just how much I love her writing.
Book
The Upstart
By Catherine Cookson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risen to power and influence, Samuel Fairbrother, a shrewd and newly monied manufacturer and retailer of boots, shoes, and clogs, has decided that his new station in life deserves a more imposing residence. When a thirty-four-room mansion on the outskirts of Fellburn becomes available, he snaps up the estate without hesitation and establishes himself as the owner of the property he sees as the emblem of his wealth and a suitable reward for his new, exalted status in the business world. Along with the house, however, Fairbrother inherits the services of a staff of servants headed by Maitland, the butler, who makes no effort to disguise his disdain for his new boss. So begins a clash of wills between master and man, in which Samuel Fairbrother soon realizes he is at a distinct disadvantage. Not only is Maitland urbane and apparently well educated, he is ingenious at maintaining a position of indispensability. Fairbrother is all too aware that he dare not do without Maitland's services and is forced to conclude that he will never win this conflict. And so an uneasy truce is declared between them. As the years go by and the century turns, Fairbrother witnesses his children, one by one, leave the big house and make lives of their own - all except his eldest daughter, Janet, who by means of a legacy is able to shape the destiny of her father's scattered family and effect the reconciliation that he thought was impossible.
Feels so strange reviewing a Catherine Cookson I’ve love her books from an early age and there is no better comfort read that her. This was a short read and reminded me just how much I love her writing.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Beneath the Stands ( Sugarlake 2) in Books
Apr 7, 2024
66 of 220
Kindle
Beneath the Stands ( Sugarlake 2)
My Emily McIntire
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elliot Carson left Sugarlake and has never looked back. Revered as the next big thing in basketball, Eli’s a star until an injury ends his career, sending him spiraling with no direction.
But he won’t go home.
He can’t.
Instead, he accepts a coaching gig at Florida Coast University, determined to leave his past behind. But fate has other plans when Becca, his sister’s best friend, shows up as a student and, even worse, becomes the new team manager.
Rebecca Sanger is the preacher’s daughter and the town's disappointment. When she ignores her family’s demands to come home, she’s cut off and needs a job so she can stay enrolled at FCU. She thought she had everything figured out, until Eli Carson—the person she hates more than anything in the world—ends up being her new boss.
Forced together, Becca and Eli’s hatred turns to heat, and they start an affair. But disaster quickly strikes, ripping them apart.
Years pass, and Becca’s back home, under her parent’s thumb, and living a mundane life. When Eli shows up out of the blue with a fiancée in tow, Becca is tasked with planning their wedding.
There’s only one problem.
Becca still loves Eli.
And he hates her.
A pretty decent read especially as lately I’ve struggled with romance. It was interlinked with book one so if you haven’t read it you will need to. It was good seeing conclusion to one story as well as it leading to the next. Flowed well and was a nice hit of that spice. It’s good to read a bit of spicy romance now and again.
Kindle
Beneath the Stands ( Sugarlake 2)
My Emily McIntire
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elliot Carson left Sugarlake and has never looked back. Revered as the next big thing in basketball, Eli’s a star until an injury ends his career, sending him spiraling with no direction.
But he won’t go home.
He can’t.
Instead, he accepts a coaching gig at Florida Coast University, determined to leave his past behind. But fate has other plans when Becca, his sister’s best friend, shows up as a student and, even worse, becomes the new team manager.
Rebecca Sanger is the preacher’s daughter and the town's disappointment. When she ignores her family’s demands to come home, she’s cut off and needs a job so she can stay enrolled at FCU. She thought she had everything figured out, until Eli Carson—the person she hates more than anything in the world—ends up being her new boss.
Forced together, Becca and Eli’s hatred turns to heat, and they start an affair. But disaster quickly strikes, ripping them apart.
Years pass, and Becca’s back home, under her parent’s thumb, and living a mundane life. When Eli shows up out of the blue with a fiancée in tow, Becca is tasked with planning their wedding.
There’s only one problem.
Becca still loves Eli.
And he hates her.
A pretty decent read especially as lately I’ve struggled with romance. It was interlinked with book one so if you haven’t read it you will need to. It was good seeing conclusion to one story as well as it leading to the next. Flowed well and was a nice hit of that spice. It’s good to read a bit of spicy romance now and again.
Thicker Than Water (Redwater Demons #1)
10.0
Rate It
Book
“Hate is learned, hunter. And I see you were a very good student.” “Thanks. I try.” ...
Debbiereadsbook (1536 KP) rated Dragon of Denmark in Books
Jan 18, 2025
these vikings are violent!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Skarde is the illegitimate son of the Danish King, Harald. Ylva is the illegitimate daughter of the Viking Duke of Normandy, Richard the Fearless. Thrown together in a marriage of based only on political power and sheer strength in numbers, the two are left to navigate the seas of their new marriage. But there are other forces at work, and they must tread carefully.
For the most part, I did enjoy this.
There is much description about how both Skarde and Ylva lived, separately and then together. I liked the way their marriage grew, and how they came to know each other better, in truth, rather than the image they had of each other before.
It isn't overly explicit, but there is violence. These are Vikings, after all, fighting for the things and people they love.
I liked that both Skarde and Ylva have a say, along with some other characters who I did not expect to hear from! So I really did enjoy that, hearing from the bad guy!
There are great descriptions about the runes, and what they mean, along with the herbs and plants, and the Gods that these people pray to. This is what I felt was a bit too much. The explanation of things is repeated, over and over and it really did get a bit annoying being told who was the God of what, and what certain gems did.
BUT
I did enjoy the tale, and it is the first I've read of this author. I liked the way she told her tale.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Skarde is the illegitimate son of the Danish King, Harald. Ylva is the illegitimate daughter of the Viking Duke of Normandy, Richard the Fearless. Thrown together in a marriage of based only on political power and sheer strength in numbers, the two are left to navigate the seas of their new marriage. But there are other forces at work, and they must tread carefully.
For the most part, I did enjoy this.
There is much description about how both Skarde and Ylva lived, separately and then together. I liked the way their marriage grew, and how they came to know each other better, in truth, rather than the image they had of each other before.
It isn't overly explicit, but there is violence. These are Vikings, after all, fighting for the things and people they love.
I liked that both Skarde and Ylva have a say, along with some other characters who I did not expect to hear from! So I really did enjoy that, hearing from the bad guy!
There are great descriptions about the runes, and what they mean, along with the herbs and plants, and the Gods that these people pray to. This is what I felt was a bit too much. The explanation of things is repeated, over and over and it really did get a bit annoying being told who was the God of what, and what certain gems did.
BUT
I did enjoy the tale, and it is the first I've read of this author. I liked the way she told her tale.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (13303 KP) rated Taken (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #7) in Books
Sep 19, 2025
TAKEN is the seventh and final book in the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series, and I absolutely recommend you read the others first. This is not a standalone, and you will likely be confused by the number of characters, as well as the overarching arc of the series.
Now, I read book 6 a while ago, so forgive me if I can't remember just how Fallon and Cal met. However, when we catch up with them, they are still at the 'nothing can happen between us' stage. Fallon is a strong character, caught between her job as a Tracer and her six-year-old son, Jonah. The worlds collide when Jonah is kidnapped by Rossi. At the same time, President Payne's daughter is also attacked, leaving Fallon once again torn as she tries to do everything.
Told from both Cal and Fallon's perspectives, you get a full picture of what's going on both between them and the bigger picture with Rossi. Some of it is hard reading, especially when talking about children being kidnapped and abused. I can't really say the ending surprised me, as I've been waiting for it for a few books now. Still, it was a gripping and exciting read.
An epilogue gives a nice finale, although I was confused with all the names of the children, as not all of whom have been met previously.
So long as you start at the beginning, I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the series.
** 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 19, 2025
Now, I read book 6 a while ago, so forgive me if I can't remember just how Fallon and Cal met. However, when we catch up with them, they are still at the 'nothing can happen between us' stage. Fallon is a strong character, caught between her job as a Tracer and her six-year-old son, Jonah. The worlds collide when Jonah is kidnapped by Rossi. At the same time, President Payne's daughter is also attacked, leaving Fallon once again torn as she tries to do everything.
Told from both Cal and Fallon's perspectives, you get a full picture of what's going on both between them and the bigger picture with Rossi. Some of it is hard reading, especially when talking about children being kidnapped and abused. I can't really say the ending surprised me, as I've been waiting for it for a few books now. Still, it was a gripping and exciting read.
An epilogue gives a nice finale, although I was confused with all the names of the children, as not all of whom have been met previously.
So long as you start at the beginning, I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the series.
** 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 19, 2025
Heart of Hope (Hooves & Hearts #2)
Book
If she isn't the top rider at River Green farm, who is she? Horses have been Isabel Martin's...
Contemporary Romance
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated The Protector (Mifflin County Mystery #1) in Books
Feb 18, 2025
We find out that his sister has mysteriously disappeared. Everyone does not know where she is or what happened to her. Each member of the family is dealing with her disappearance in different ways. Rosa is missing, and no one has heard from her.
As months go on, how will each member react and deal with their loss? Will Rosa's mother ever stop pinning for her daughter? Will Norman accept that he may not be able to find his sister? Will he be able to move on with life? Each sibling is dealing with their sibling Rosa a bit differently. But can they come to peace with Rosa's disappearance and not contact them? No one knows what happened, and Rosa's boyfriend seems to be suspected, at least by Norman, as her boyfriend was the last to see her.
Norman seems obsessed with his sister's disappearance. Will he be able to keep his relationship with his girlfriend, or will his sister's disappearance be what makes them drift apart? Can Norman find peace if he never finds out where his sister has gone?
Norman seems to be learning about something, though something happens to his girlfriend's horse. Will Norman and Salina make it? Salina hopes that she and Norman will get married soon. Will Norman find peace and contentment? He seems to need to learn that he may be unable to solve or fix every problem. He may need to see that and learn that lesson.
Wanda does an excellent job writing a mystery. She explores all the emotions that go through a person or family when someone goes missing without anyone knowing. Did Rosa leave on her own, or did she not? Does her boyfriend know where Rosa is or what happened to her that night?
As months go on, how will each member react and deal with their loss? Will Rosa's mother ever stop pinning for her daughter? Will Norman accept that he may not be able to find his sister? Will he be able to move on with life? Each sibling is dealing with their sibling Rosa a bit differently. But can they come to peace with Rosa's disappearance and not contact them? No one knows what happened, and Rosa's boyfriend seems to be suspected, at least by Norman, as her boyfriend was the last to see her.
Norman seems obsessed with his sister's disappearance. Will he be able to keep his relationship with his girlfriend, or will his sister's disappearance be what makes them drift apart? Can Norman find peace if he never finds out where his sister has gone?
Norman seems to be learning about something, though something happens to his girlfriend's horse. Will Norman and Salina make it? Salina hopes that she and Norman will get married soon. Will Norman find peace and contentment? He seems to need to learn that he may be unable to solve or fix every problem. He may need to see that and learn that lesson.
Wanda does an excellent job writing a mystery. She explores all the emotions that go through a person or family when someone goes missing without anyone knowing. Did Rosa leave on her own, or did she not? Does her boyfriend know where Rosa is or what happened to her that night?
The Ballad of Mary Kearney
Book
"I am dead, my Mary; the man who loved you body and soul lies in some dishonorable grave." In...
Historical Fiction Irish History Women's Fiction
