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Merissa (12911 KP) rated Shadow's Dream (The Kyn Kronicles #5) in Books
Dec 16, 2018
Shadow's Dream (The Kyn Kronicles #5) by Jami Gray
Shadow's Dream is the fifth book in The Kyn Kronicles, and we reunite with two characters whom we already know - Cheveyo and Tala. Now, it is a while since I read this series, and it did take me a while to remember what was going on, or had gone on in previous books. Cheveyo and Tala have a history, and the majority of the book goes into more detail, so you know exactly who they were to each other, and what has happened to bring them to the current point. This book felt more political to me - with the Northwest going against the Council, and meeting with the Southwest Magi, who are having their own problems.
This story is very well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. The characters and situations are fleshed out, giving you enough detail to relate (or hate). Once again, a full and intricate storyline, meticulously kept together by an amazing author.
I have no hesitation in recommending either this book, this series, or anything by this author. Absolutely wonderful.
* 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!
This story is very well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. The characters and situations are fleshed out, giving you enough detail to relate (or hate). Once again, a full and intricate storyline, meticulously kept together by an amazing author.
I have no hesitation in recommending either this book, this series, or anything by this author. Absolutely wonderful.
* 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 (12911 KP) rated Waiting for Ty (Lovers and Friends, #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed this story but will admit to liking Landon a bit more than Ty. That may be for a couple of reasons - there is a lot more depth and information about Landon than Ty for a start. The second thing is that I wished Ty had a bit more spine about him. I know the story was about will they/won't they and did give you quite clearly an idea of what each of them could lose as well as what they could gain by making their relationship public. However, Ty was one minute strong and in charge of the situation and in the next, to me, it seemed like he was a young schoolboy who had no idea of anything, let along a political reporter. We all have days like this but Ty seemed to have more than most.
Saying that, I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a story were waiting was involved (ok, so maybe not at the beginning!) and the consequences of this sort of decision were taken into account.
I am loving this series by Samantha Ann King, I now have all 3 and am waiting to see if there will be a fourth.
Definitely recommended to all M/M fans.
I enjoyed this story but will admit to liking Landon a bit more than Ty. That may be for a couple of reasons - there is a lot more depth and information about Landon than Ty for a start. The second thing is that I wished Ty had a bit more spine about him. I know the story was about will they/won't they and did give you quite clearly an idea of what each of them could lose as well as what they could gain by making their relationship public. However, Ty was one minute strong and in charge of the situation and in the next, to me, it seemed like he was a young schoolboy who had no idea of anything, let along a political reporter. We all have days like this but Ty seemed to have more than most.
Saying that, I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a story were waiting was involved (ok, so maybe not at the beginning!) and the consequences of this sort of decision were taken into account.
I am loving this series by Samantha Ann King, I now have all 3 and am waiting to see if there will be a fourth.
Definitely recommended to all M/M fans.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Cold Granite (Logan McRae #1) in Books
Dec 5, 2019
Well, what can I say? What a book this is ... there aren't enough superlatives to say how much I enjoyed it ... just brilliant and a must-read for any fans of crime novels. This is the first in the Logan McRae series but I have read subsequent stories before this one and can confirm that it made no difference to my enjoyment of this book.
Now, I must warn you that this book deals with the disturbing and upsetting subject of child murders with the additional sub-plot of the murder of a gangster and there are graphic descriptions of the crime scenes so if you are of a nervous disposition or easily offended, I would probably steer clear of this particular one.
The characters are strong, well developed, interesting and believable with authentic dialogue throughout and despite the dark subject matter, there are many moments of humour which made me chuckle on several occasions which helped to lighten things a little. The setting of Aberdeen in the winter is perfect and creates further atmosphere. The pace is non-stop with twists, turns and red-herrings throughout which certainly kept me on my toes and guessing until near the end.
Don't let this series pass you by ... highly recommended.
I have to thank HarperCollins UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Now, I must warn you that this book deals with the disturbing and upsetting subject of child murders with the additional sub-plot of the murder of a gangster and there are graphic descriptions of the crime scenes so if you are of a nervous disposition or easily offended, I would probably steer clear of this particular one.
The characters are strong, well developed, interesting and believable with authentic dialogue throughout and despite the dark subject matter, there are many moments of humour which made me chuckle on several occasions which helped to lighten things a little. The setting of Aberdeen in the winter is perfect and creates further atmosphere. The pace is non-stop with twists, turns and red-herrings throughout which certainly kept me on my toes and guessing until near the end.
Don't let this series pass you by ... highly recommended.
I have to thank HarperCollins UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Seven Years (Seven, #1; Mageriverse #7) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
Reading this has cemented in my mind the fact that shapeshifters are not one of my favourite creatures to read about. They now join the fey in my "read with caution" mindset.
There were parts of this I liked:
Denver and his behaviour towards the little girl (whose name I've forgotten already :/ ).
Austin when he was going all hot and bothered/full on sexy with Lexi (which didn't happen all that often for my liking).
The first meeting between Reno and April.
And then there were bits I wasn't so keen on:
The added side story of Lexi's dad, I know there was a reasoning behind him being in it but I wasn't interested in that bit at all.
Lexi's job at the sweet shop. Was it necessary? I know that April needed an introduction but we seemed to spend quite a lot of time there.
The added in-between-anything-happening bits that you learnt nothing and seemed to drag. I want action in my stories and there was hardly any in this.
From that meeting mentioned above, I must admit that I'm interested in reading the next book in the series, and for two reasons. One, Reno intrigues me. And two, April seems so shy that I'd love to see how she'd react to Reno pursuing her.
There were parts of this I liked:
Denver and his behaviour towards the little girl (whose name I've forgotten already :/ ).
Austin when he was going all hot and bothered/full on sexy with Lexi (which didn't happen all that often for my liking).
The first meeting between Reno and April.
And then there were bits I wasn't so keen on:
The added side story of Lexi's dad, I know there was a reasoning behind him being in it but I wasn't interested in that bit at all.
Lexi's job at the sweet shop. Was it necessary? I know that April needed an introduction but we seemed to spend quite a lot of time there.
The added in-between-anything-happening bits that you learnt nothing and seemed to drag. I want action in my stories and there was hardly any in this.
From that meeting mentioned above, I must admit that I'm interested in reading the next book in the series, and for two reasons. One, Reno intrigues me. And two, April seems so shy that I'd love to see how she'd react to Reno pursuing her.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Pretty Dead (Elise Sandburg #3) in Books
Aug 2, 2021
118 of 250
Kindle
Pretty Dead ( Elise Sandburg book 3)
By Anne Frasier
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A serial killer stalks the streets of Savannah...
Homicide detective Elise Sandburg and her partner, profiler David Gould, are all too familiar with the terrible costs of chasing evil. Despite their wounded psyches, the detectives delve into the deranged killer’s twisted mind, determined to unravel the clues in the taunts he leaves behind.
A city gripped by fear...
When his daughter becomes the killer’s next victim, a grief-stricken mayor comes down hard on the police, demanding that they catch the psychopath—now. Feeling the pressure, department officials enlist the aid of both Elise’s estranged father and an FBI profiler who has unresolved business with David.
A cunning and elusive madman...
In a heart-pounding race to stop the next homicide, the detectives uncover their own role in the madman’s deadly game. Will they outsmart the killer before another horrific murder takes place in their beautiful city? Or have Elise and David finally met their match?
I thought it was fab! I love this duo and Anne’s writing style. I did have the murderer pegged from the beginning but even so it was such an entertaining read. Can’t believe there are only 4 books in this series so only 1 more to go.
Kindle
Pretty Dead ( Elise Sandburg book 3)
By Anne Frasier
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A serial killer stalks the streets of Savannah...
Homicide detective Elise Sandburg and her partner, profiler David Gould, are all too familiar with the terrible costs of chasing evil. Despite their wounded psyches, the detectives delve into the deranged killer’s twisted mind, determined to unravel the clues in the taunts he leaves behind.
A city gripped by fear...
When his daughter becomes the killer’s next victim, a grief-stricken mayor comes down hard on the police, demanding that they catch the psychopath—now. Feeling the pressure, department officials enlist the aid of both Elise’s estranged father and an FBI profiler who has unresolved business with David.
A cunning and elusive madman...
In a heart-pounding race to stop the next homicide, the detectives uncover their own role in the madman’s deadly game. Will they outsmart the killer before another horrific murder takes place in their beautiful city? Or have Elise and David finally met their match?
I thought it was fab! I love this duo and Anne’s writing style. I did have the murderer pegged from the beginning but even so it was such an entertaining read. Can’t believe there are only 4 books in this series so only 1 more to go.
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Adventure Time: v. 1 in Books
Jun 24, 2019
I love the show and just had to read this. Now I'm possibly in love with it.
The story is simple yet great; The Lich is sucking up the world into his bag and Finn and Jake must save everyone. They are accompanied by some fabulous characters - Princess Bubblegum, Marceline, Lumpy Space Princess, Desert Princess, The Ice King - and there are some hilarious pieces of dialogue. All the characters have funny, well-developed personalities that you can't help but fall in love with.
I also like how the fourth wall is often broken - Marceline moans at the readers, and fake "The End" pages are included for humour. It gives the novel a unique feel that I really enjoyed.
The artwork is amazing. Like, absolutely awesome. So much colour! And it's all so clear and beautiful. The only problem with the appearance in this novel is that the text at the bottom of some pages is a strange, pale green that is pretty hard to read against the white background of the pages.
Toward the back of the book, there are also tons of different cover images, all in different art styles. I loved them all! They were a great touch to the novel.
I was very tempted to give this 5 stars, but I don't think it's quite there. But 4.5 stars for sure!
The story is simple yet great; The Lich is sucking up the world into his bag and Finn and Jake must save everyone. They are accompanied by some fabulous characters - Princess Bubblegum, Marceline, Lumpy Space Princess, Desert Princess, The Ice King - and there are some hilarious pieces of dialogue. All the characters have funny, well-developed personalities that you can't help but fall in love with.
I also like how the fourth wall is often broken - Marceline moans at the readers, and fake "The End" pages are included for humour. It gives the novel a unique feel that I really enjoyed.
The artwork is amazing. Like, absolutely awesome. So much colour! And it's all so clear and beautiful. The only problem with the appearance in this novel is that the text at the bottom of some pages is a strange, pale green that is pretty hard to read against the white background of the pages.
Toward the back of the book, there are also tons of different cover images, all in different art styles. I loved them all! They were a great touch to the novel.
I was very tempted to give this 5 stars, but I don't think it's quite there. But 4.5 stars for sure!
Awakened Desires (My Kinky Housemate #5)
10.0
Rate It
Book
Seventeen years ago, my life fell apart. By attempting to protect me, my best friend, Rory,...
Contemporary MM Romance BDSM
Merissa (12911 KP) rated Oh Buoy (Voyagers #1) in Books
Jun 5, 2023
OH BUOY is the first book in the Voyagers series and we start with a really cute couple! Both of them have issues to contend with, but both of them also realise just how special things are between them. It starts with Drew getting soaked by one of the deckhands. Sarcasm abounds before he realises that is actually his billionaire boss.
Drew and Rowan make a fantastic couple, even if they can't actually relax for the majority of the book. The tender moments they share make it sheer bliss for a hopeless romantic like me. They are ably supported by a cast of top-notch characters, some of whom I already know have their own stories to come and I honestly can't wait.
This is a sweet and sexy read with low angst. Absolutely perfect for what I needed right now and would definitely be on my list of summer reads! With plenty of character- and world-building, this book was delightful and I can't wait to continue the series. Definitely 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!
Jun 5, 2023
Drew and Rowan make a fantastic couple, even if they can't actually relax for the majority of the book. The tender moments they share make it sheer bliss for a hopeless romantic like me. They are ably supported by a cast of top-notch characters, some of whom I already know have their own stories to come and I honestly can't wait.
This is a sweet and sexy read with low angst. Absolutely perfect for what I needed right now and would definitely be on my list of summer reads! With plenty of character- and world-building, this book was delightful and I can't wait to continue the series. Definitely 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!
Jun 5, 2023
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Fourteen Days in Books
Sep 22, 2024
I enjoyed Fourteen Days, and it was a very handy book to read at the time. I was hanging around a hospital (my mum was ill, but recovered now), and the short story style was just what I needed to distract myself when I couldn’t really concentrate.
This is set in New York, and is based around an apartment block during the Covid 19 lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. The inhabitants meet on the roof, keeping the required distance from one another, and tell stories of their lives pre-Covid.
A constant background is the noise from the ambulances delivering sick people to the nearby hospital.
Fourteen Days was written by several authors, each telling the story of a different inhabitant of the apartment block. The reader isn’t aware of who has written which story until the end. I liked this, because it didn’t give me any preconceived ideas of what the stories would be like - and there are some very different writing styles. The janitor runs throughout the novel, collecting all of the stories, telling her own story and trying to solve an ever-present mystery within the walls of the apartment block.
An enjoyable book, and I can definitely say that its a great book to dip in and out of when you’re short on time (or read all one one go if you can!).
This is set in New York, and is based around an apartment block during the Covid 19 lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. The inhabitants meet on the roof, keeping the required distance from one another, and tell stories of their lives pre-Covid.
A constant background is the noise from the ambulances delivering sick people to the nearby hospital.
Fourteen Days was written by several authors, each telling the story of a different inhabitant of the apartment block. The reader isn’t aware of who has written which story until the end. I liked this, because it didn’t give me any preconceived ideas of what the stories would be like - and there are some very different writing styles. The janitor runs throughout the novel, collecting all of the stories, telling her own story and trying to solve an ever-present mystery within the walls of the apartment block.
An enjoyable book, and I can definitely say that its a great book to dip in and out of when you’re short on time (or read all one one go if you can!).
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Suite 606 (In Death, #27.5) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I only read the story by [a:J.D. Robb|17065|J.D. Robb|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1202524651p2/17065.jpg]. I glanced at the other three, but they're primarily romance stories, which do NOT interest me.
The whole point of these little anthologies is to introduce readers who enjoy an established author's work to other, similar authors, right?
I know that J.D. Robb is a pen name for [a:Nora Roberts|11139|Mary Shelley|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205347203p2/11139.jpg]. I know that the stories she publishes as NR are romances. If I saw an anthology anchored by an NR story, I'd expect it to be full of romances.
However, I don't read the NR stuff. I only read her JDR books, which have a little romantic spice about the main character, Eve Dallas, and her husband Roarke, with occasional glimpses into Eve's partner, Peabody's, relationship with her guy, McNab. That's it, though. Neither of those sets of relationships are the focal point of the plots. The mystery/crime is the main thing, and while they're set in the future with the advantages of technology we don't yet have, they're essentially police procedurals. (I don't consider them SF, quite, because all the tech seems to be extrapolated from what we have now, and quite plausible. And, of course, the tech isn't the point of the stories, either.)
So why not put similar stories in an anthology anchored by a JDR story? Why why why? Misleading and disappointing readers is NOT the way to garner any positive buzz for the lesser-known authors, and the backlash can lead to less enthusiasm from established readers (like me) for the established author's work.
The whole point of these little anthologies is to introduce readers who enjoy an established author's work to other, similar authors, right?
I know that J.D. Robb is a pen name for [a:Nora Roberts|11139|Mary Shelley|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205347203p2/11139.jpg]. I know that the stories she publishes as NR are romances. If I saw an anthology anchored by an NR story, I'd expect it to be full of romances.
However, I don't read the NR stuff. I only read her JDR books, which have a little romantic spice about the main character, Eve Dallas, and her husband Roarke, with occasional glimpses into Eve's partner, Peabody's, relationship with her guy, McNab. That's it, though. Neither of those sets of relationships are the focal point of the plots. The mystery/crime is the main thing, and while they're set in the future with the advantages of technology we don't yet have, they're essentially police procedurals. (I don't consider them SF, quite, because all the tech seems to be extrapolated from what we have now, and quite plausible. And, of course, the tech isn't the point of the stories, either.)
So why not put similar stories in an anthology anchored by a JDR story? Why why why? Misleading and disappointing readers is NOT the way to garner any positive buzz for the lesser-known authors, and the backlash can lead to less enthusiasm from established readers (like me) for the established author's work.