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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2206 KP) rated Murky Waters in Books
Mar 14, 2020
Kyra is the youngest of the three mermaid sisters we are learning about in Diane Vallere’s Mermaid Mystery novellas. She has been coddled and babied her entire life. Known for her beauty and her singing voice, she plays into both of those roles, flirting with every merman who shows interest. On her way to music lessons one morning, she finds the Nautilus Vault opened and several squid tied up near the entrance. She frees them, but she can tell someone has been inside the vault. Can she figure out who is responsible?
In many ways, this novella feels like a coming of age tale since Kyra really grows as the story progresses. No, she doesn’t start out as shallow as she may at first appear. I really enjoyed getting to know her and watching the growth happen over the course of the story. Now, this isn’t to say that we don’t get a mystery as well with plenty to keep us engaged. The growth comes directly from the events of the story, and it all feels very natural. There isn’t quite as much background on mermaid culture as there was in the first story, but we do get enough that if you jumped in with this story you wouldn’t be lost. The other characters are interesting, and we see some other sides of them than we did in the first novella. More than anything, I had fun imaging I lived in the ocean as well.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Kyra’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
In many ways, this novella feels like a coming of age tale since Kyra really grows as the story progresses. No, she doesn’t start out as shallow as she may at first appear. I really enjoyed getting to know her and watching the growth happen over the course of the story. Now, this isn’t to say that we don’t get a mystery as well with plenty to keep us engaged. The growth comes directly from the events of the story, and it all feels very natural. There isn’t quite as much background on mermaid culture as there was in the first story, but we do get enough that if you jumped in with this story you wouldn’t be lost. The other characters are interesting, and we see some other sides of them than we did in the first novella. More than anything, I had fun imaging I lived in the ocean as well.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Kyra’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
The Georg Buchner: The Major Works
Georg Buchner, Matthew Wilson Smith and Henry J. Schmidt
Book
The Georg Buchner Prize is the highest literary honor for German language writers, and the full...
Romancing the Null (The Outlier Prophecies #1)
6.0
Rate It
Book
An impossible prophecy. An unlikely partnership. They'll have to work together to prevent a...
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated The Test in Books
Apr 10, 2019
That was a mind trip!
Holy sh*t that was a mind f*ck. Sorry, but there really wasn't another way to put that. This book truly belongs as an episode of Black Mirror. It's shocking, it's engaging, and it really messes with you.
The Test by Sylvain Neuvel is truly a novella that is going to stick with you long after reading it. I listened to the audiobook of it. The narrator (Neil Shah) was perfect. He was able to capture the characters perfectly and his accents and voices were brilliant.
This audiobook was extremely well done. I was engrossed in the first minute of the audiobook and I didn't want it to end. I cannot wait to see what Sylvain Neuvel comes up with next. This was brilliant.
The Test by Sylvain Neuvel is truly a novella that is going to stick with you long after reading it. I listened to the audiobook of it. The narrator (Neil Shah) was perfect. He was able to capture the characters perfectly and his accents and voices were brilliant.
This audiobook was extremely well done. I was engrossed in the first minute of the audiobook and I didn't want it to end. I cannot wait to see what Sylvain Neuvel comes up with next. This was brilliant.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Heat Rises in Books
Jan 18, 2018
This book is a joke. I read the sample and enjoyed it so went ahead and bought the novella. Had the sample included just a few more pages, I never would have. The writing while so ridiculous and cheesy that I could not take it seriously. When Ethan told Laura that he wanted to "bury himself inside of her", I grimaced a bit. But when Laura calls Ethan's penis his "big beauty", I gagged. It only gets worse from there. Not to mention Gaines references heat rising, or heat in general, on pretty much every single page. After awhile I want to scream at the book "alright, we get it already!!!"
It is a personal rule of mine to finish what I start, but I couldn't muster the strength to finish this one.
It is a personal rule of mine to finish what I start, but I couldn't muster the strength to finish this one.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Reluctant (Cascadia Wolves, #0.5) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
This novella was such a disappointment. Historically, I have enjoyed Lauren Dane and she really knows how to write erotic scenes. Unfortunately, that's the only reason this story received as high of a rating as it did. The characters were shallow and the story was underdeveloped. I felt the author wrote just enough development to get to the sex scenes, and the lack of interest shows. Not too mention the novel has multiple writing tropes that I loathe: the pushy "best friend," the one true mate plot device, and the sex being so good the female doesn't care anymore.
I was sorely disappointed. If you wanted to write raunchy sex scenes, then write them. Don't hide behind poor plot devices to excuse it. Say it with me: consenting adults are allowed to have sex!
I was sorely disappointed. If you wanted to write raunchy sex scenes, then write them. Don't hide behind poor plot devices to excuse it. Say it with me: consenting adults are allowed to have sex!
I did not expect to like this novella as much as I did. After reading the synopsis, I really wanted to read it, especially since I have a thing for romance/erotica featuring chefs. Meat did not disappoint. Overall, it has likable characters, steamy scenes, and an alpha male who isnt a sexist bore! The only downside, is that the story is highly predictable. I am not sure if the twists were supposed to be twist because I picked up on them right off the bat (and I am a bit slow at these things.) Not that it detracted from enjoying the story. What I appreciated most, however, was how realistic the erotic scenes are. I wont give anything anyway, just that you should read it.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Everything That Rises Must Converge in Books
Jul 12, 2018
I really don't know what to think about this collection of short stories. This is the first book by Flannery O'Connor that I have ever read and I just don't know.
These short stories are full of cynicism. I have a feeling that Flannery O'Connor and I would probably get along due to our cynical natures. I enjoyed the book yet I have been left wanting a lot more. I'm not usually a fan of short stories because I want more. I hate how disjointed they are and I tend to just want a novella or novel instead.
Some of the stories I loved and others I just wasn't fully impressed with. All in all, I'm glad that I read this book but I probably will not read anything else by Flannery O'Connor.
These short stories are full of cynicism. I have a feeling that Flannery O'Connor and I would probably get along due to our cynical natures. I enjoyed the book yet I have been left wanting a lot more. I'm not usually a fan of short stories because I want more. I hate how disjointed they are and I tend to just want a novella or novel instead.
Some of the stories I loved and others I just wasn't fully impressed with. All in all, I'm glad that I read this book but I probably will not read anything else by Flannery O'Connor.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Gentleman of Her Dreams (Ladies of Distinction, #0.5) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Miss Charlotte Wilson believes that God has brought her the perfect man to marry, Mr. Hamilton Beckett. But is he truly the gentleman of her dreams? Charlotte has devised a flawless scheme to snatch up the perfect husband. But does she have her sights set on the wrong man?
My review of this novella is short because I don't want to give away too many spoilers. I enjoyed reading this short prequel to Jen Turano's series Ladies of Distinction. It is light and full of humor! An excellent start to this series and I can not wait to read the first book, A Change of Fortune. Jen Turano has quickly become one of my favorite authors. After a Fashion is by far one of my favorite books that I have read this year.
My review of this novella is short because I don't want to give away too many spoilers. I enjoyed reading this short prequel to Jen Turano's series Ladies of Distinction. It is light and full of humor! An excellent start to this series and I can not wait to read the first book, A Change of Fortune. Jen Turano has quickly become one of my favorite authors. After a Fashion is by far one of my favorite books that I have read this year.