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Merissa (12817 KP) rated Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1) in Books

Apr 7, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1)
Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1)
A.M. Griffin | 2014 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story starts with a grumpy 17-year-old as she is packed off to Band Camp and refuses to kiss her mom goodbye. Fast forward 20 odd days and the world as she knew it has completely changed. You find out what happened from her perspective and how they are trying to make it back 'home,' if the home still even exists.

This story is gripping and fulfilling. They have a hard time as they are trying to survive and you feel the pain and loss that they go through. This is not a smooth journey with a handful of hardships thrown in for good measure. No, this is serious work where they are fighting for survival every day.

Yes, there's a love triangle but thankfully no insta-love. Wade is the once overweight Band member who suddenly, possibly for a long time but we don't know for sure, wants to be with Sinta. Jason is the boy/man who helps to rescue them from a horrifying situation. I felt that this part was exceedingly well written as Sinta is really troubled about what is going on, Wade tries his best and Jason keeps his distance.

This is definitely a page-turner and you will be wanting to start The Ashes That Remain which is book 2 in this series as soon as you finish this one.
 
* 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!
April 8, 2017
  
Fall to Pieces
Fall to Pieces
Becky Flade | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved the back seat the romance takes!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I liked this book, I liked it a lot!

Xavier is sent to assess Alexandra's mental capacity to do her job, following the suicide of her detective husband. But things are not as they seem and Xavier and Alex are soon fighting her department as well as a child killer hellbent on driving Alex mad.

This is a dark book. Suicide, child murder and abuse. How cops deal with stress. And I liked that. I liked that it made me think about those things. I have no triggers though, and some readers might not like it.

Both Alex and Xavier have a say, and they have a lot to say about a lot of things! Both of them are suffering from things that happened but while Alex' is (mostly) clear from the start, it takes time to get the whole picture. Xavier's pain is far deeper and we don't get the whole picture there til much later. I like being made to wait.

The romance between Alex and Xavier takes a back seat to the crime aspect of the book and I loved the twist that took. I did think Alex would push Xavier away more than once and, Lord she tries! But Xavier is strong and even though the reasons he comes into Alex' life are beyond his control, keeping her safe is within his control and he will do that.

I liked this, a lot. It's the first I've read of this author, I would like to read more.

4 stars

*same worded review ill appear elsewhere
  
Bad Business (Billionaire's Club #17)
Bad Business (Billionaire's Club #17)
Elise Faber | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BAD BUSINESS is the seventeenth and final book in the Billionaire's Club series, featuring Ro (Rome) and Maddie, both of whom we have met before.

Maddie is a fixer, always happy to solve everyone else's problems whilst ignoring her own. And Ro certainly has problems - he's still fighting a custody battle for his son and getting nowhere fast. It doesn't help that Jack is acting out due to all the changes. Top that with a cherry on the top in the shape of his ex coming back from the dead (I kid you not!) and it's all going on. He's dealing with it all as best he can and still has time for his family. I thought he was a brilliant, no-nonsense character.

I liked Maddie and her get-go attitude. There was nothing that could faze her until she looked in the mirror and, I'm afraid, this is where it got to me a little. I was SO glad when Ro gave her the harsh truth, I really was!!! Life isn't a bed of roses for anyone all the time but it felt as though Maddie was wallowing in it, holding a 'Poor Me Pity Party' for one. I do understand her reaction though. It's easy to fall back on old habits because they're comfortable.

All in all, this was a great read that I enjoyed, and I am looking forward to Brooks' story.

** 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 26, 2023
  
Immortal Beginnings (Etherya's Earth #4.5)
Immortal Beginnings (Etherya's Earth #4.5)
Rebecca Hefner | 2022 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well-written, well-paced, loving, kind, tender, and HOT!
IMMORTAL BEGINNINGS takes place after Evie has beaten Crimeous. Dragos was a Deamon in the war, fighting as a soldier in a war he didn't agree with but had no choice in. Raina is the widow of a Vampyre who died in that war. She moved home due to the memories and found herself living next to Dragos.

This is so sweet! Seriously! Dragos is... oh, I just want to give him a hug! And then maybe climb him like a tree. If there's something I love it's a man who is manly and also tender and loving. Dragos is all of the above. Raina has her concerns, which are all completely understandable, but Dragos is there to help her work through them.

I don't like novellas. I'm greedy and always want more. This is no exception. So why the five stars? Because it's too good not to. I may want more - more backstory, more current events, more hope for the future (although the epilogue is pretty damn good) - more everything but that is no reason to not give five stars where they are due. Everything that is here is well-written, well-paced, loving, kind, tender, HOT!

This was a fantastic addition to the series and I have no hesitation in recommending it - even if it is 'only' a novella! 😉

** 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!