Search
Search results
Merissa (13358 KP) rated The Nines in Books
Apr 11, 2023
This story has two damaged characters for the main leads - Roxie and Alexander. They are both mysterious in their own ways but are drawn together by fate/circumstances/online forum - you take your pick. Roxie is carrying a bucket load of guilt from the past and Alexander is carrying a whole load of anger from the past. However, their pasts and their presents collide so will they have a future together?
After I had finished this book, I messaged a friend of mine who had also read it and I said to her "What a horrible, fantastic book." And that is how I feel about this story. It is gripping and enthralling, you won't want to stop reading it but at the same time, it will make your stomach clench and your heartbeat race - and not always in a good way. You will become so engrossed with the characters that you will speed up your reading until this particular scene is finished. Your heartbeat will slow down... until the next scene.
This book deals with an issue that I have only ever seen on TV or read about in the news. I simply cannot imagine how it goes on in real life but unfortunately, it is too often an occurrence it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book although it was different from what I expected when I read the synopsis - there was less about the bomber and Alex's revenge, less about Roxie's past and more about what was happening now. This is not a bad thing, just different to what I was expecting.
This is the first book in the series which can be read as a standalone but I will be reading the next in the series when it comes out, which is Blood Sings (Hector's Story). I need to know more about these anti-heroes! Highly recommended but be warned - it's not all nice!
* 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!
August 10, 2016
After I had finished this book, I messaged a friend of mine who had also read it and I said to her "What a horrible, fantastic book." And that is how I feel about this story. It is gripping and enthralling, you won't want to stop reading it but at the same time, it will make your stomach clench and your heartbeat race - and not always in a good way. You will become so engrossed with the characters that you will speed up your reading until this particular scene is finished. Your heartbeat will slow down... until the next scene.
This book deals with an issue that I have only ever seen on TV or read about in the news. I simply cannot imagine how it goes on in real life but unfortunately, it is too often an occurrence it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book although it was different from what I expected when I read the synopsis - there was less about the bomber and Alex's revenge, less about Roxie's past and more about what was happening now. This is not a bad thing, just different to what I was expecting.
This is the first book in the series which can be read as a standalone but I will be reading the next in the series when it comes out, which is Blood Sings (Hector's Story). I need to know more about these anti-heroes! Highly recommended but be warned - it's not all nice!
* 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!
August 10, 2016
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Shadow Blade (Shadowchasers, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
The thing about a book is that it should make you want to keep reading it. At least by halfway though you should feel like you’re halfway through a plot line, you know the characters, and you know what’s going on.
I have no idea what’s going on in Shadow Blade, and I’m more than halfway through it.
Now that’s not to say that I am not following it, it’s just that nothing is happening. Which kind of upsets me because the first few chapters felt great, and they were exciting, and I couldn't put it down… and now I’m like, “Ok so what exactly is going on?”
I really get Kira. I really like her. She’s a bad-@$$, “don’t mess with me” kinda girl, and I like that. She reminds me of Charlie in The Better Part of Darkness. She also has more weapons than I could list, and I really like that (guilty pleasure). But I don’t really get the other characters, they’re not important to me, and I don’t really give a rat’s poo about what happens to them.
Again with the whole “not seeing the plot” thing. Halfway though a sci-fi adventure book I should have trouble putting it down, right? No problems here. Now it’s great if I just feel like settling down and going through a few chapters at leisure, but that’s not what I want out of a sci-fi adventure book.
Another weak aspect was the writing. There are a lot of fragments in this book, a lot of lame sentence structure, and the writing in general is just mediocre. Fragments get on my nerves. Hence my hatred of Meg Cabot that I’m sure you all have picked up on by now.
Now, with that in mind, I did enjoy the book, and I’m still enjoying it. I may keep it around at my bedside table so I can finish it, because I’m liking it. But I’m not particularly sure why I like it, especially because I don’t really know what is going to happen at all. Maybe I just really like Kira.
If I do finish it, I’ll post a quickie update on my opinion. But the thing is, why read mediocrity when you could be reading something else? Hence the reason I put this one down.
I have no idea what’s going on in Shadow Blade, and I’m more than halfway through it.
Now that’s not to say that I am not following it, it’s just that nothing is happening. Which kind of upsets me because the first few chapters felt great, and they were exciting, and I couldn't put it down… and now I’m like, “Ok so what exactly is going on?”
I really get Kira. I really like her. She’s a bad-@$$, “don’t mess with me” kinda girl, and I like that. She reminds me of Charlie in The Better Part of Darkness. She also has more weapons than I could list, and I really like that (guilty pleasure). But I don’t really get the other characters, they’re not important to me, and I don’t really give a rat’s poo about what happens to them.
Again with the whole “not seeing the plot” thing. Halfway though a sci-fi adventure book I should have trouble putting it down, right? No problems here. Now it’s great if I just feel like settling down and going through a few chapters at leisure, but that’s not what I want out of a sci-fi adventure book.
Another weak aspect was the writing. There are a lot of fragments in this book, a lot of lame sentence structure, and the writing in general is just mediocre. Fragments get on my nerves. Hence my hatred of Meg Cabot that I’m sure you all have picked up on by now.
Now, with that in mind, I did enjoy the book, and I’m still enjoying it. I may keep it around at my bedside table so I can finish it, because I’m liking it. But I’m not particularly sure why I like it, especially because I don’t really know what is going to happen at all. Maybe I just really like Kira.
If I do finish it, I’ll post a quickie update on my opinion. But the thing is, why read mediocrity when you could be reading something else? Hence the reason I put this one down.
Merissa (13358 KP) rated Instinct (Werewolf Academy #3) in Books
May 21, 2020
Instinct is the third book in the series, and this should definitely be read in order. In fact, to get the best from this series, I would highly recommend you read the Silver series but then that is a favourite of mine so I may be slightly biased!
Alex is still targeted although now it's by the General as the Packs have Drogan. He is going out more with Jaze and the others which seems to help the broken pieces inside of him. If he can help others, he feels useful. It is on one such mission that he is buried alive for a while; trapped in the dark with a young werewolf who is in danger of dying. Alex keeps her alive until they are rescued. It is during this time that he realises Kalia is not The One for him but she is still a very good friend. Now he just has to find a way to let her know without hurting her too much.
I've been wondering when this would happen as it was obvious from his confusion, even before Siale came along, that Kalia wasn't for him. Cassie has found happiness with Tennison so she is able to understand and try to help. I love the lessons from the Professors but I love it even more when Alex goes along on their missions. Only now, it's not just Alex but some of the others too, which makes it even better.
I am loving the overall story arc that I am following and the individual stories within each book. There are new characters to meet, new situations, and new lessons for Alex. One thing I would say, is to make sure you have the next book ready before you finish reading as you will absolutely NEED to continue with the story.
* 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!
Alex is still targeted although now it's by the General as the Packs have Drogan. He is going out more with Jaze and the others which seems to help the broken pieces inside of him. If he can help others, he feels useful. It is on one such mission that he is buried alive for a while; trapped in the dark with a young werewolf who is in danger of dying. Alex keeps her alive until they are rescued. It is during this time that he realises Kalia is not The One for him but she is still a very good friend. Now he just has to find a way to let her know without hurting her too much.
I've been wondering when this would happen as it was obvious from his confusion, even before Siale came along, that Kalia wasn't for him. Cassie has found happiness with Tennison so she is able to understand and try to help. I love the lessons from the Professors but I love it even more when Alex goes along on their missions. Only now, it's not just Alex but some of the others too, which makes it even better.
I am loving the overall story arc that I am following and the individual stories within each book. There are new characters to meet, new situations, and new lessons for Alex. One thing I would say, is to make sure you have the next book ready before you finish reading as you will absolutely NEED to continue with the story.
* 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!
Clock Stand
Weather and Lifestyle
App
Finally. A Clock App With Practicality from emirBytes. It Just Works! Forget about other clock apps...
Justin Hawkins recommended Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones in Music (curated)
A Skinful of Shadows
Book
Frances Hardinge weaves a dark, otherworldly tale in A Skinful of Shadows, her first book since the...
Fantasy fiction
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Your Closest Friend in Books
Jul 7, 2018
What a unique story and nothing like anything I've read before. You are thrown into the middle of a terrorist attack at the beginning of the story and not knowing whether she is going to survive or not, Cara confides her deepest secrets to the young lady who plucked her to safety. Secrets that should have stayed hidden as they are now used against her.
The writing style is easy to read and flows really well with each chapter written from the perspectives of the 2 main characters - Cara and Amy - which works extremely well for this book and the story. I did feel there was a bit of a lull in the middle but it certainly makes up for it as we move towards the thrilling conclusion.
Never having read anything by these authors before (Paul Perry and Karen Gillece ), I will most certainly keep my eyes open in future and thank you to the Publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for once again introducing me to yet another great book that would likely have passed me by.
The writing style is easy to read and flows really well with each chapter written from the perspectives of the 2 main characters - Cara and Amy - which works extremely well for this book and the story. I did feel there was a bit of a lull in the middle but it certainly makes up for it as we move towards the thrilling conclusion.
Never having read anything by these authors before (Paul Perry and Karen Gillece ), I will most certainly keep my eyes open in future and thank you to the Publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for once again introducing me to yet another great book that would likely have passed me by.
Diplomacy
Book
'Kissinger's absorbing book tackles head-on some of the toughest questions of our time ...Its pages...
Merissa (13358 KP) rated A Sliver of Sunset in Books
May 8, 2023
This is a short but detail-filled story about a shifter who becomes ill with a human disease. Now most books will say that this is impossible, which is why it made for such interesting reading. There is everything in here that you would want or need in a novella - enough backstory so you know what's going on without drowning in it, steam between the main two, plenty of interesting and quirky secondary characters, and an overall story arc that I hope will continue as there are questions left unanswered by the end of this book.
Well-written and with a smooth pace, there were no editing or grammatical errors that I found. This was one enjoyable read from start to finish, and Devon Rhodes is definitely an author to look out for. I would like to read more from her. Recommended.
* 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!
Jan 6, 2016
Well-written and with a smooth pace, there were no editing or grammatical errors that I found. This was one enjoyable read from start to finish, and Devon Rhodes is definitely an author to look out for. I would like to read more from her. Recommended.
* 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!
Jan 6, 2016
Merissa (13358 KP) rated Bishop Takes Knight (Redclaw Origins #1) in Books
Oct 9, 2019
BISHOP TAKES KNIGHT is the first book in the Redclaw Origins series. Now, I have read two books of the Redclaw Security series, and thoroughly enjoyed them. So I was intrigued by the thought of going back to see where it all began. I was NOT disappointed.
This book takes you back to the 1950s, with socialites, and women trying to find their way into work now the men are back. There is so much glamour in this book. I loved it! The story is twisted and intriguing, with plenty of humour and wit to keep you going.
Rhett Bishop is full of sass, determined to make her own way and not rely on friend's handouts. Peter Knight thinks he has reached the bottom, only to discover things aren't as bad as he thought. These two end up working together and taking advantage when life hands them opportunities.
There are no steamy moments in this book, but don't you worry. There is tension aplenty and you just know they will end together with fireworks. You just don't see anything apart from one kiss. Trust me, this is absolutely perfect, and exactly as it should be in this book.
This book was the 'living end' that I devoured in one sitting. Between Delilah and the flaming chicken, I couldn't put it down. I really can't recommend this highly enough, and I can't wait for the next book.
Just read it. You'll see what I mean!
This book takes you back to the 1950s, with socialites, and women trying to find their way into work now the men are back. There is so much glamour in this book. I loved it! The story is twisted and intriguing, with plenty of humour and wit to keep you going.
Rhett Bishop is full of sass, determined to make her own way and not rely on friend's handouts. Peter Knight thinks he has reached the bottom, only to discover things aren't as bad as he thought. These two end up working together and taking advantage when life hands them opportunities.
There are no steamy moments in this book, but don't you worry. There is tension aplenty and you just know they will end together with fireworks. You just don't see anything apart from one kiss. Trust me, this is absolutely perfect, and exactly as it should be in this book.
This book was the 'living end' that I devoured in one sitting. Between Delilah and the flaming chicken, I couldn't put it down. I really can't recommend this highly enough, and I can't wait for the next book.
Just read it. You'll see what I mean!