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Sanyare: The Last Descendant
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Raised in a realm where humans are no better than slaves, Rie has struggled for decades to earn a...
Lifeforms by Angel & Airwaves
Album
Lifeforms is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. The album...
Merissa (12045 KP) rated The Hunter (Tales of Pern Coen: Bloodlines #1) in Books
Feb 17, 2023
An Absolute Corker of a Book!
THE HUNTER is the first book in the Tales of Pern Coen (Bloodlines) series and I'm already hooked.
I love the mix of Celtic names and fantasy places. The characters are all life-like, whether you like them or not. And I really enjoyed seeing the war through different eyes. Alekos isn't a bad person but his actions are. He doesn't see anything different. Rhiannon's eyes have been opened and she has heard both sides of the story. She sees herself as weak when she is stronger than she realises. And Conor... what do I say about him? He's the grumpy heart-of-gold character that I fall for every single time!
This is the first book by this author I have read and I read it in one sitting. The plot was great, the pacing perfect, and the characters made me smile. An absolute corker of a book that I highly recommend.
** 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!
I love the mix of Celtic names and fantasy places. The characters are all life-like, whether you like them or not. And I really enjoyed seeing the war through different eyes. Alekos isn't a bad person but his actions are. He doesn't see anything different. Rhiannon's eyes have been opened and she has heard both sides of the story. She sees herself as weak when she is stronger than she realises. And Conor... what do I say about him? He's the grumpy heart-of-gold character that I fall for every single time!
This is the first book by this author I have read and I read it in one sitting. The plot was great, the pacing perfect, and the characters made me smile. An absolute corker of a book that I highly recommend.
** 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!
Merissa (12045 KP) rated Gifts for the Season: Winter & Christmas MM Charity Anthology in Books
Nov 6, 2020 (Updated Aug 14, 2023)
Gifts for the Season is a warm-hearted collection of seasonal madness, from new love to old, it's all here. Each one gives you a short story, some with new couples, some with old, but all full of Christmas spirit.
I will admit, I preferred the ones that were new stories but that is because I really don't like reading stories where I think I may have missed out on something!
For me, my favourites were The First Snow of Winter by Joanna Chambers and Driving Home for Christmas by Annabelle Jacobs. The first because it's a historical romance which stands out from the contemporary/paranormal rest and the second because junction 10 on the M42 is well known to me so it gave me a feeling of familiarity.
As with all anthologies, some I enjoyed more than others, but every story is a winner in my book. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Nov 6, 2020
I will admit, I preferred the ones that were new stories but that is because I really don't like reading stories where I think I may have missed out on something!
For me, my favourites were The First Snow of Winter by Joanna Chambers and Driving Home for Christmas by Annabelle Jacobs. The first because it's a historical romance which stands out from the contemporary/paranormal rest and the second because junction 10 on the M42 is well known to me so it gave me a feeling of familiarity.
As with all anthologies, some I enjoyed more than others, but every story is a winner in my book. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Nov 6, 2020
David McK (3419 KP) rated Arthur (The Arthurian Tales #3) in Books
Jun 30, 2024 (Updated Jun 30, 2024)
This is the final entry in Giles Kristian's 'Arthurian Tales' trilogy, set after both 'Lancelot' and 'Camelot', and now told in the third person instead of the first person view of both those former works.
It's also the first one - I believe - to so heavily rely on flashbacks, paralleling the 'now' of the story with the background to one of the main characters Beran (whose identity I, personally, found quite easy to grok early on).
As a whole, I have to say, this trilogy is one of the best retellings of the Arthurian myths I have come across although retelling, however, may be too strong a word; perhaps a better on would be re-imagining as there's no mystical Green Knight (reimagined in 'Camelot'), search for the Holy Grails (again, see 'Camelot'), or mysterious women lying in ponds and distributing swords ("that's no basis for sound government..."), but which does cover the whole Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere love triangle (see, in particular, 'Lancelot') and the fall out thereof.
In short, all three novels are well worth a read - personally, I found I enjoyed these more than the 'Blood Eye' series by the same author.
It's also the first one - I believe - to so heavily rely on flashbacks, paralleling the 'now' of the story with the background to one of the main characters Beran (whose identity I, personally, found quite easy to grok early on).
As a whole, I have to say, this trilogy is one of the best retellings of the Arthurian myths I have come across although retelling, however, may be too strong a word; perhaps a better on would be re-imagining as there's no mystical Green Knight (reimagined in 'Camelot'), search for the Holy Grails (again, see 'Camelot'), or mysterious women lying in ponds and distributing swords ("that's no basis for sound government..."), but which does cover the whole Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere love triangle (see, in particular, 'Lancelot') and the fall out thereof.
In short, all three novels are well worth a read - personally, I found I enjoyed these more than the 'Blood Eye' series by the same author.
Merissa (12045 KP) rated Dad Next Door (Crimson Club #5) in Books
May 2, 2024
DAD NEXT DOOR is a slow-burn story in the Crimson Club series, featuring Tristan (the man of the title) and Quinn. Tristan is a vet, and Quinn is a dancer/cam-boy/businessman. They take things slowly due to their histories and IT WORKS! It unfolds in a completely natural way that is the right way for Quinn and Tristan.
I love how these two communicated without judging, and their issues were completely relatable and realistic. For these two, friendship came first, although the attraction was there on Tristan's part, at least. Quinn was a little slower as he hadn't put a label on himself but thought he was 'straight'.
This was the first book in the Crimson Club I have read, and now I definitely want to read the others. This was a cinnamon roll of a book that was just what I needed. 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!
May 1, 2024
I love how these two communicated without judging, and their issues were completely relatable and realistic. For these two, friendship came first, although the attraction was there on Tristan's part, at least. Quinn was a little slower as he hadn't put a label on himself but thought he was 'straight'.
This was the first book in the Crimson Club I have read, and now I definitely want to read the others. This was a cinnamon roll of a book that was just what I needed. 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!
May 1, 2024
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Battlemage in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Battlemage was so exciting. It held on tight and didn’t let go. I was hooked from the very first few sentences from the first chapter and from there it just got better. It was everything I’d hoped it would be. It had an exciting, well thought-out plot, complex and interesting characters, good writing, great humor, and amazing war-time magic. It had an interesting (subtle) religious and political commentary running through it that added dimension to the world. It made it more real. And it had a character that I had to really think about, really pay attention to, to figure out his true identity! I love that. I love a book that makes me think, and that surprises me.
I love good-guy/bad-guy magic. Magic that can take you to higher levels of selflessness and servant-hood and kindness, and that same magic can be used to pull you and everyone around you into filth and degradation. The Source is so powerful that, if used in the wrong hands, can completely break and ruin a person. And we see that in the battlemages. That’s my favorite kind of magic.
The narration was very good. Addis created a perfect voice for the personalities of the characters. He has superb accents and articulation, spoke clearly at a good pace, and took a book that was at 100% great and made it 200% great (which is exactly what the narrator should do! Add to the experience, not take away from it.)
The only thing about Battlemage I thought was slightly lacking was the very end. It was a little abrupt and open. Open in a good way, meaning it immediately demands a sequel. But I felt like the author was like “Hah! It’s over! bwahahahah!” rather than the kind of gentile ease away that leaves the reader feeling satisfied but still excited for what is to come. However I was still highly satisfied with the story, would totally read/listen to it again, and recommend it to anyone 18+.
I love good-guy/bad-guy magic. Magic that can take you to higher levels of selflessness and servant-hood and kindness, and that same magic can be used to pull you and everyone around you into filth and degradation. The Source is so powerful that, if used in the wrong hands, can completely break and ruin a person. And we see that in the battlemages. That’s my favorite kind of magic.
The narration was very good. Addis created a perfect voice for the personalities of the characters. He has superb accents and articulation, spoke clearly at a good pace, and took a book that was at 100% great and made it 200% great (which is exactly what the narrator should do! Add to the experience, not take away from it.)
The only thing about Battlemage I thought was slightly lacking was the very end. It was a little abrupt and open. Open in a good way, meaning it immediately demands a sequel. But I felt like the author was like “Hah! It’s over! bwahahahah!” rather than the kind of gentile ease away that leaves the reader feeling satisfied but still excited for what is to come. However I was still highly satisfied with the story, would totally read/listen to it again, and recommend it to anyone 18+.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
Cowboy rodeo erotica? You have my interest. From the moment I saw this book on goodreads bookswap, I could not wait to read it. I love me some erotica. Add some cowboys in the mix and I am happy as a clam. Until I read it.
Because I dont really have much to say about this book, here goes.
The good: the erotic scenes, the character development, the dialogue,
the writing
The bad: the plot (which bored me senseless), the favoritism
The ugly: the situation
While there is nothing actually wrong with the novel, I just could not get into it. James has a great easy style to read. The erotic scenes were great, some of the best I have read, especially when dealing with such an awkward situation. And oh was it awkward. The dialogue was realistic and had me not only laughing, but cringing as well. The characters and the emotions were also very believable. I found myself becoming attached to them
The plot seemed a little lackluster, however. I will gave James points for having one of the few erotic novels with a well developed plot in the first place. As I said before, however, it was just not a story I was interested in. It was clear from the beginning who the lead female was going to end up with. I dont think James did it on purpose, but her clear favoritism for one man over the other was apparent from the beginning.
This was not an easy book to read in the first place due to the circumstances of the love triangle. All of the ménage a trios novels I have read before, the couples were into it as a threesome. In this novel, two men are vying the attention and love of one woman. It was awkward at best, especially since the men were childhood friends.
Because I dont really have much to say about this book, here goes.
The good: the erotic scenes, the character development, the dialogue,
the writing
The bad: the plot (which bored me senseless), the favoritism
The ugly: the situation
While there is nothing actually wrong with the novel, I just could not get into it. James has a great easy style to read. The erotic scenes were great, some of the best I have read, especially when dealing with such an awkward situation. And oh was it awkward. The dialogue was realistic and had me not only laughing, but cringing as well. The characters and the emotions were also very believable. I found myself becoming attached to them
The plot seemed a little lackluster, however. I will gave James points for having one of the few erotic novels with a well developed plot in the first place. As I said before, however, it was just not a story I was interested in. It was clear from the beginning who the lead female was going to end up with. I dont think James did it on purpose, but her clear favoritism for one man over the other was apparent from the beginning.
This was not an easy book to read in the first place due to the circumstances of the love triangle. All of the ménage a trios novels I have read before, the couples were into it as a threesome. In this novel, two men are vying the attention and love of one woman. It was awkward at best, especially since the men were childhood friends.
Bobby Moore to Thierry Henry: A Girl's Own Story
Liz Heade and Dan Leydon
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You never forget where you were or who you were with when you watched your first World Cup, or your...
The Dead Wife's Handbook
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The Dead Wife's Handbook is the stunning emotional debut from author Hannah Beckerman. 'Today is my...