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Merissa (13878 KP) rated A Liar's Moon (Strength of the Pack #2) in Books
Feb 6, 2026
A LIAR'S MOON is the second book in the newly rewritten and expanded Strength of the Pack series. Although reading book one isn't necessarily needed, I would recommend it. This time, it's Jason's turn.
Jason, if you don't already know, is the soft-spoken one, the one with a heart of gold, who isn't sure he belongs due to how his old pack treated him. So it makes complete sense to me that this book reflects him. It's not full of action, chaos, and mayhem, but more hurt/comfort, and seeing the joy on people's faces. And most of the time, it's Riley who makes Jason happy. Most of the time, but not all of it. Riley was rejected by his family when he came out, and he has wandered since then, doing different jobs. He's on his last chance, and needs to write about the Elk Ridge Pack and a possible Argent. But he doesn't count on Jason.
I was completely engrossed with this story, from beginning to end. I loved how their relationship grew, and boy, was I invested in it! When what was inevitable finally happened, my heart broke, not just for Jason, but for Riley too. Jason at least had his pack there for him, whereas Riley had no one. It was really emotional, seeing it play out, and I couldn't read fast enough, while simultaneously not wanting to finish.
The ending was perfect for Jason and Riley, and I look forward to seeing them in future books, just as I saw Matt and Jesse in this one. It's Tristan's book next, and I can't wait! 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!
Feb 5, 2026
Jason, if you don't already know, is the soft-spoken one, the one with a heart of gold, who isn't sure he belongs due to how his old pack treated him. So it makes complete sense to me that this book reflects him. It's not full of action, chaos, and mayhem, but more hurt/comfort, and seeing the joy on people's faces. And most of the time, it's Riley who makes Jason happy. Most of the time, but not all of it. Riley was rejected by his family when he came out, and he has wandered since then, doing different jobs. He's on his last chance, and needs to write about the Elk Ridge Pack and a possible Argent. But he doesn't count on Jason.
I was completely engrossed with this story, from beginning to end. I loved how their relationship grew, and boy, was I invested in it! When what was inevitable finally happened, my heart broke, not just for Jason, but for Riley too. Jason at least had his pack there for him, whereas Riley had no one. It was really emotional, seeing it play out, and I couldn't read fast enough, while simultaneously not wanting to finish.
The ending was perfect for Jason and Riley, and I look forward to seeing them in future books, just as I saw Matt and Jesse in this one. It's Tristan's book next, and I can't wait! 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!
Feb 5, 2026
Alexandra Hammond and her family are living in Washington DC, and on the outside, they are a typical modern family. But Alexandra and her husband, Josh, are exhausted and frustrated as parents of two children: eleven-year-old Iris and thirteen-year-old Tilly. Tilly, you see, has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a form of autism, and it means that Alexandra's lovely, intelligent daughter, who could read by the age of three, is also prone to violent outbursts where she yells out curse words, has an inability to control many of her thoughts and actions, and truly, just doesn't seem to fit into the mold society wishes to place our children. When yet another school kicks Tilly out, Alexandra and Josh are at a loss. So Alexandra turns to Scott Bean, a self-professed expert with "difficult" children whose seminars and private sessions she's been attending for several years now. Scott is starting Camp Harmony in New Hampshire: an isolated society for families struggling with children like Tilly, free of outside influences, electronics, harmful foods and stimulants, and most of all, free from judgement. So Alexandra and Josh do the unthinkable: they sell everything and pack up the kids and head to New Hampshire, joining Scott and two other families in making Camp Harmony work. But will it work? Can it work?
If you haven't read anything by Carolyn Parkhurst, you're missing out. She's a wonderful author, whose books are simply beautiful. My particular favorite is [b:The Dogs of Babel|89691|The Dogs of Babel|Carolyn Parkhurst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344269639s/89691.jpg|1585061], a lovely, haunting novel about a woman, her husband, and her dog that I read 10 years ago and still touches me to this day. While I wasn't as affected by this novel, it still has many flashes of the amazing brilliance of Parkhurst and her wonderful way with the written word. Her characters form before you eyes.
In [b:Harmony|29236564|Harmony|Carolyn Parkhurst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1469411954s/29236564.jpg|49477924], Parkhurst does an excellent job conveying Alexandra's fear and anxiety over the frightening aspects of our society and its effects on our children, and how our society has changed, with things like autism and food allergies seemingly becoming more prevalent each year. She doesn't preach, she just paints a picture with her words and Alexandra's thoughts. The book is told between alternating points of view and time periods. We hear from Alexandra in the past, telling the story of Tilly (and Iris) growing up and how things have reached this point and then we hear from Iris, in the present, at Camp Harmony.
Alexandra captures a life and marriage in moments and snapshots, with Parkhurst easily depicting the desperation that parents of children that are different feel. You can sense her terror and why she would actually consider packing up entire family and moving them to an isolated camp in the middle of nowhere, led by a man they really know nothing about.
Iris' perspective, meanwhile, is just beautiful and touching. Parkhurst wonderfully conveys her voice. There were times when I felt Iris was a bit "old" for an eleven-year-old, but I chalked a lot of that up to having a sister such as Tilly and having to grow up rather quickly. And as the book progressed, there were many moments where Iris came across as a scared, naive kid, after all. Iris' depiction of the camp-through her innocent eyes-is perfect, and she has a wonderful way of portraying her sister, where you will grow to love Tilly, as well, and understand Alexandra's fierce desire to protect both her children.
All in all, despite its serious subject matter, the book is often humorous, and I loved its portrayal of real characters and situations, despite the fact that they all gathered in an isolated camp site in New Hampshire. My only real issue with the book was the camp's leader, Scott Bean. To me, he was the least developed character of the bunch, and while you sensed that perhaps we were hurtling toward trouble, the ending seemed a little quick and too pat for such a well-written and developed book.
Still, this book was quite well-done and certainly a must for any parent struggling with a child who feels different, or really, any parent struggling to raise a child in today's modern society. Parkhurst is a wonderful writer, and she will not disappoint with her latest. 3.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss - thank you! It is available everywhere as of 08/02/2016.
<a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">My Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>;
If you haven't read anything by Carolyn Parkhurst, you're missing out. She's a wonderful author, whose books are simply beautiful. My particular favorite is [b:The Dogs of Babel|89691|The Dogs of Babel|Carolyn Parkhurst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344269639s/89691.jpg|1585061], a lovely, haunting novel about a woman, her husband, and her dog that I read 10 years ago and still touches me to this day. While I wasn't as affected by this novel, it still has many flashes of the amazing brilliance of Parkhurst and her wonderful way with the written word. Her characters form before you eyes.
In [b:Harmony|29236564|Harmony|Carolyn Parkhurst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1469411954s/29236564.jpg|49477924], Parkhurst does an excellent job conveying Alexandra's fear and anxiety over the frightening aspects of our society and its effects on our children, and how our society has changed, with things like autism and food allergies seemingly becoming more prevalent each year. She doesn't preach, she just paints a picture with her words and Alexandra's thoughts. The book is told between alternating points of view and time periods. We hear from Alexandra in the past, telling the story of Tilly (and Iris) growing up and how things have reached this point and then we hear from Iris, in the present, at Camp Harmony.
Alexandra captures a life and marriage in moments and snapshots, with Parkhurst easily depicting the desperation that parents of children that are different feel. You can sense her terror and why she would actually consider packing up entire family and moving them to an isolated camp in the middle of nowhere, led by a man they really know nothing about.
Iris' perspective, meanwhile, is just beautiful and touching. Parkhurst wonderfully conveys her voice. There were times when I felt Iris was a bit "old" for an eleven-year-old, but I chalked a lot of that up to having a sister such as Tilly and having to grow up rather quickly. And as the book progressed, there were many moments where Iris came across as a scared, naive kid, after all. Iris' depiction of the camp-through her innocent eyes-is perfect, and she has a wonderful way of portraying her sister, where you will grow to love Tilly, as well, and understand Alexandra's fierce desire to protect both her children.
All in all, despite its serious subject matter, the book is often humorous, and I loved its portrayal of real characters and situations, despite the fact that they all gathered in an isolated camp site in New Hampshire. My only real issue with the book was the camp's leader, Scott Bean. To me, he was the least developed character of the bunch, and while you sensed that perhaps we were hurtling toward trouble, the ending seemed a little quick and too pat for such a well-written and developed book.
Still, this book was quite well-done and certainly a must for any parent struggling with a child who feels different, or really, any parent struggling to raise a child in today's modern society. Parkhurst is a wonderful writer, and she will not disappoint with her latest. 3.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss - thank you! It is available everywhere as of 08/02/2016.
<a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">My Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>;
Merissa (13878 KP) rated For Fox Sake (Fetish Alley #1) in Books
Feb 6, 2019
For Fox Sake (Fetish Alley #1) by Susan Mac Nicol
Featuring a couple of characters from the Men of London series, For Fox Sake is the first book in the Fetish Alley series, which I am sure is going to provide me with lots of excellent reading.
Clay and Tate are happy together, and with their investigation business. When an old flame of Clay's calls him with details of a suspicious death that the police have ruled as natural, it opens up a whole new 'alley' for them.
The heat is high in this book - both in and out of the sheets. It was fantastic to hear references to the 'Unholy Trinity', and it made me want to reacquaint myself with them all over again. Clay and Tate are perfect for each other, even when they have issues. There is no lack of communication between them, which made this a delight to read.
There is mystery, wit aplenty, excellent characters, brilliant scene-setting - all wrapped up in Susan Mac Nicol's writing style. With no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, this is a wonderful addition to Ms. Mac Nicol's repertoire, and definitely 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!
Clay and Tate are happy together, and with their investigation business. When an old flame of Clay's calls him with details of a suspicious death that the police have ruled as natural, it opens up a whole new 'alley' for them.
The heat is high in this book - both in and out of the sheets. It was fantastic to hear references to the 'Unholy Trinity', and it made me want to reacquaint myself with them all over again. Clay and Tate are perfect for each other, even when they have issues. There is no lack of communication between them, which made this a delight to read.
There is mystery, wit aplenty, excellent characters, brilliant scene-setting - all wrapped up in Susan Mac Nicol's writing style. With no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, this is a wonderful addition to Ms. Mac Nicol's repertoire, and definitely 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!
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Housewife in Books
Mar 15, 2019
Book Insight: Diane is a wife and doting mother that has been through a lot, and after a recent breakdown her memory seems to have blocked quite a bit out. So much so that it starts interfering with her day to day life. She starts forgetting simple tasks and finds sleep doesn't come easily anymore. Is something dark going on right under her nose? Or is she losing her mind and headed for another breakdown?
WOW!!!! An EXCELLENT story with a great plot and well developed characters!
I found this to be an absolute gem of a novel. The plot gives a slow-building, creeping sense that something isn't quite right.
The author has taken a situation, a day in the life of a housewife and turned it inside-out and upside-down. I found myself reminded of the old 1944 Ingrid Bergman film Gaslight. The difference in the two though is the constant twists and turns of the plot with the characters. You think you have it all figured out but you really don't.
I honestly did not know which way things were going to swing for Diane until the very end and the ending was just a real cliffhanger for me.
I will definitely be following this author as her books are just amazing!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this wonderful ARC.
WOW!!!! An EXCELLENT story with a great plot and well developed characters!
I found this to be an absolute gem of a novel. The plot gives a slow-building, creeping sense that something isn't quite right.
The author has taken a situation, a day in the life of a housewife and turned it inside-out and upside-down. I found myself reminded of the old 1944 Ingrid Bergman film Gaslight. The difference in the two though is the constant twists and turns of the plot with the characters. You think you have it all figured out but you really don't.
I honestly did not know which way things were going to swing for Diane until the very end and the ending was just a real cliffhanger for me.
I will definitely be following this author as her books are just amazing!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this wonderful ARC.
Kyera (8 KP) rated The Last Star in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Another game, another test. Ringer escapes Vosch only to willingly return and do his bidding. The Silencers along this new journey are different than Grace or Evan. They're much older. Much less expected. An old cat lady. A priest. A woman in mom jeans. Ben doesn't know who to trust and when he finds Ringer, she must immediately deceive him. She believes that the only way the Squad can survive is if Evan dies.
Halfway through the book and the action heats up. Some characters die and others must make their first kills. Ringer drops a bomb, figuratively, and I have no idea where the storyline is going with it. It's not immediately explained, but it should have been. It just seems like a strange plot point to add. <spoiler> When you read the end, the reason for a pregnancy is apparent - but it still doesn't flow in the story (in my opinion). </spoiler>
Even three books in and I'm still constantly second guessing my conclusions. What is actually happening? Who or what is the villain? How will it all end? Beautiful and devastating. After all of the terror and death, the conclusion of the book was satisfying. Of course, there was no "and they lived happily ever after" but some of humanity survived and that's important. The lives and their stories matter.
Halfway through the book and the action heats up. Some characters die and others must make their first kills. Ringer drops a bomb, figuratively, and I have no idea where the storyline is going with it. It's not immediately explained, but it should have been. It just seems like a strange plot point to add. <spoiler> When you read the end, the reason for a pregnancy is apparent - but it still doesn't flow in the story (in my opinion). </spoiler>
Even three books in and I'm still constantly second guessing my conclusions. What is actually happening? Who or what is the villain? How will it all end? Beautiful and devastating. After all of the terror and death, the conclusion of the book was satisfying. Of course, there was no "and they lived happily ever after" but some of humanity survived and that's important. The lives and their stories matter.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) in Books
Jun 7, 2018
4.5 stars for Anna Dressed in Blood.
If you ever wanted to know how to write a decent and great ghost story, this is it! I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint.
However, I was expecting it to be a bit more scary, but I didn't find it scary at all. I wouldn't consider it as a horror book. Paranormal ghost story, yes.
I loved, loved, loved the character of Anna. I loved her so much, in fact, that I was wishing that she actually did exist so we could be friends.
I also loved the fact that it had swearing in it that wasn't OTT like a lot of older teen books. The way Cas swears made him feel more like a real teenage boy. What 17 year old boy doesn't swear!?!
The plot was quite good although, when it came to the story line of how Anna died and why she was the way she was, it was quite predictable...This is what made me give the book 4.5 stars instead of 5...well, that and it wasn't scary which I was hoping for.
Overall, this is definitely a good read! I can't wait to read Girl of Nightmares to find out more about (hopefully) Anna, Cas, Carmel, and Thomas.
This is a book not to be missed!
If you ever wanted to know how to write a decent and great ghost story, this is it! I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint.
However, I was expecting it to be a bit more scary, but I didn't find it scary at all. I wouldn't consider it as a horror book. Paranormal ghost story, yes.
I loved, loved, loved the character of Anna. I loved her so much, in fact, that I was wishing that she actually did exist so we could be friends.
I also loved the fact that it had swearing in it that wasn't OTT like a lot of older teen books. The way Cas swears made him feel more like a real teenage boy. What 17 year old boy doesn't swear!?!
The plot was quite good although, when it came to the story line of how Anna died and why she was the way she was, it was quite predictable...This is what made me give the book 4.5 stars instead of 5...well, that and it wasn't scary which I was hoping for.
Overall, this is definitely a good read! I can't wait to read Girl of Nightmares to find out more about (hopefully) Anna, Cas, Carmel, and Thomas.
This is a book not to be missed!
Christine A. (965 KP) rated White Stag (Permafrost, #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. "White Stag" introduces us to Janneke, a seventeen year old girl who is the youngest child in a family of all girls. She is raised to be the family's "male heir" and is raised as a tomboy who is taught to hunt and fight. When her village is invaded and burned down she is the only survivor. Taken captive by goblins, she must learn to live among them while struggling trying to keep hold of her humanity.
Pulled into a goblin war, Janneke must face beliefs she was taught as a child and try to fit them into her current reality. Are goblins merely monsters? Are they similar to humans? Can they feel emotions? Can they love? Can she love them? Can she love him?
While much of "White Stag" is predictable and follows the typical formula for YA books it is still entertaining and worth reading. There are a few surprises revealed along the way. Janneke is an interesting character who has to deal with growing up and falling in love with the enemy.
"White Stag" is the first novel in the Permafrost series by Kara Barbieri. No publication date is listed on Goodreads for the sequel, "Goblin King".
Pulled into a goblin war, Janneke must face beliefs she was taught as a child and try to fit them into her current reality. Are goblins merely monsters? Are they similar to humans? Can they feel emotions? Can they love? Can she love them? Can she love him?
While much of "White Stag" is predictable and follows the typical formula for YA books it is still entertaining and worth reading. There are a few surprises revealed along the way. Janneke is an interesting character who has to deal with growing up and falling in love with the enemy.
"White Stag" is the first novel in the Permafrost series by Kara Barbieri. No publication date is listed on Goodreads for the sequel, "Goblin King".
Merissa (13878 KP) rated Riptide (Boys of Summer) in Books
Jun 18, 2019
Riptide (Boys of Summer) by Jordan Ford
Jace - or Bass as he is known throughout most of this book - is a thrill-seeker. He is the ultimate paradox - a bad boy who doesn't actually try to be bad, and has a heart. He makes stupid decisions based on hurt feelings. His story is completely understandable and heartbreaking with how he feels. Ms. Ford has done a magnificent job of bringing him to life, to make his quandary completely relate-able.
And that's the thing with this book. As a reader, I got it. I could see where Bass was coming from, and why he behaved the way he did. Would I make the same decisions? No, but then I'm not a sixteen-year-old boy with the same experiences as him.
With no editing or grammatical errors that jolted me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and can't wait to see what happens when he goes to Ryder Bay and meets up with SnapDragon.
As a standalone, this is a great read. As a prequel to the next Ryder Bay story, it's fantastic! Definitely 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!
And that's the thing with this book. As a reader, I got it. I could see where Bass was coming from, and why he behaved the way he did. Would I make the same decisions? No, but then I'm not a sixteen-year-old boy with the same experiences as him.
With no editing or grammatical errors that jolted me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and can't wait to see what happens when he goes to Ryder Bay and meets up with SnapDragon.
As a standalone, this is a great read. As a prequel to the next Ryder Bay story, it's fantastic! Definitely 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!
Merissa (13878 KP) rated Adrian's Bodyguard (Vampires of Vadin #1) in Books
Dec 14, 2018
Adrian's Bodyguard (Vampires of Vadin #1) by Shelby Rhodes
Adrian's Bodyguard is the first book in the Vampires of Vadin series, and we start off with the vampire King himself, nearly 10,000-year-old Adrian. He survives an assassination attempt, and is more concerned about the hole in the wall, than his safety. Others are more concerned though, and he ends up with a bodyguard that he wants, but doesn't want! Xavier does his best to be professional around Adrian, but the tension between them just makes things hotter. Plus the fact, Xavier can't quite control his impulses to wind Adrian up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mixture of contemporary and other-realm magic. They have cars, not run on fossil fuels, obviously!, and mobile phones, but magic is also an everyday act. The two joining together was great to read, and I loved it. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I loved the dynamic between our two main characters. So many characters I would love to hear about now, first and foremost Asher and Kaiden!!!
Absolutely 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I thoroughly enjoyed this mixture of contemporary and other-realm magic. They have cars, not run on fossil fuels, obviously!, and mobile phones, but magic is also an everyday act. The two joining together was great to read, and I loved it. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I loved the dynamic between our two main characters. So many characters I would love to hear about now, first and foremost Asher and Kaiden!!!
Absolutely 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13878 KP) rated Midnight Romance (Itayu Lake, #5) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Midnight Romance is the fifth book in the Itayu Lake series, and we reunite with Ignacio, the demon who has helped previous mated pairs. This time, it's his turn. His mate is a vampire, and he literally falls out of the sky into Ignacio's arms. Whilst Ignacio could have completed the claiming rite that very night, he waits - mainly because Adriano is delirious, and Ignacio refuses to claim his mate unaware.
Not only do these two have the new bond to complete, but they also have Adriano's old lover, Lyle to contend with. Also, the Hunters are back, determined to find out more about the preternaturals that live peacefully on Itayu Lake. We meet two possible (new) pairs that I hope to hear about very soon - Lyle and Kai, and Shaw and Zhuang. The issue with the Hunters still isn't over, so I look forward to reading more in this series.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, I have no hesitation in recommending this book, although I would also recommend that you start at the beginning, just to get the full impact!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Not only do these two have the new bond to complete, but they also have Adriano's old lover, Lyle to contend with. Also, the Hunters are back, determined to find out more about the preternaturals that live peacefully on Itayu Lake. We meet two possible (new) pairs that I hope to hear about very soon - Lyle and Kai, and Shaw and Zhuang. The issue with the Hunters still isn't over, so I look forward to reading more in this series.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, I have no hesitation in recommending this book, although I would also recommend that you start at the beginning, just to get the full impact!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!