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A Lifetime of Tomorrows (Shattered Men #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
darker, but brilliant!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the first in a new series frm Ms Adams, and it tackles some difficult topics: addiction, self-harm, internalised homophobia. Mention of suicide, both thoughts and intent. Please heed those warnings if you have any issues.

I loved this! It's not an easy read, by any means, given the subject matter involved, and Harvey and Killian are both struggling with a lot of different things. I loved how Killian seemed to be a catalyst for Harvey to push his boundaries, but hated that Killian (unintentionally) pushed Harvey that little bit too hard.

Harvey's issues span from a single event and it takes time for that event to be made clear. You can see why he thinks the way he does, once you know what triggered it all, but until that point, I couldn't figure Harvey out, at all and I loved being kept on my toes.

Killian's problems are different, and very early on we get why he set off down the road he did. No less traumatic than Harvey's but very different. I loved that Killian knew Harvey was going to be someone important in his life, from very early on.

It's a slow burn, given Harvey being how he is, but I think it was right and proper than it was.

My only niggle, I would have liked to hear from both men, during that 3 year gap. While this is still a 5 star read, I feel that would have just been the icing on the cake!

I loved the epilogue!! Beautiful!!

5 full an shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Dragon of Denmark
Dragon of Denmark
Jennifer Ivy Walker | 2024 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
these vikings are violent!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Skarde is the illegitimate son of the Danish King, Harald. Ylva is the illegitimate daughter of the Viking Duke of Normandy, Richard the Fearless. Thrown together in a marriage of based only on political power and sheer strength in numbers, the two are left to navigate the seas of their new marriage. But there are other forces at work, and they must tread carefully.

For the most part, I did enjoy this.

There is much description about how both Skarde and Ylva lived, separately and then together. I liked the way their marriage grew, and how they came to know each other better, in truth, rather than the image they had of each other before.

It isn't overly explicit, but there is violence. These are Vikings, after all, fighting for the things and people they love.

I liked that both Skarde and Ylva have a say, along with some other characters who I did not expect to hear from! So I really did enjoy that, hearing from the bad guy!

There are great descriptions about the runes, and what they mean, along with the herbs and plants, and the Gods that these people pray to. This is what I felt was a bit too much. The explanation of things is repeated, over and over and it really did get a bit annoying being told who was the God of what, and what certain gems did.

BUT

I did enjoy the tale, and it is the first I've read of this author. I liked the way she told her tale.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona #5)
Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona #5)
Margaret Izard | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked that we heard from Evie, Aodhan and Munix
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 5 in the Stones of Iona series, and I think *I* maybe should have read them first. I'll try to explain.

Evie has met Aodhan before, but we don't get a full recap here. I felt it was kind of glossed over: they met in Egypt, Aodhan gave Evie a stone, says to call when she needs him, and then promptly disappears. I would have liked a much more detailed recap, especially as this book is a sort of starting point to join the series, if you haven't before.

And I think that's my biggest thing. I asked if I needed to read the other books first, and was told that it wasn't strictly necessary. But I would say, you DO need to read them. There is a huge back up cast and I wasn't fully able to place everyone, and fill in a mental timeline for everything.

The world building was good, but I still missed something. I wasn't able to fit the bits and pieces together to get a full picture.

All that aside, I did like this book. It's fast paced and I liked that we heard from Evie, Aodhan and Munix, the bad guy (sorta!)

It's dark and deadly in places, the romance is a bit of the sweet side, and not very explicit.

This is the first I've read of this author, I'd like to read something else, not this series, but a series from the beginning, so I can fully appreciate the world building and the writer's skill.

3 good stars, but only because I felt I missed a lot by not reading the others.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Thorns The Bloom (Venusverse #3)
Thorns The Bloom (Venusverse #3)
Kat Sinclair | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
far darker than 1, but so good!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Venusverse series. I have not read book 2, but these can be read as stand alone books. There is a bit at the beginning that explains this world better.

Sam, an omega, moves clear across the country to get away after an attack by 5 alphas leaves him pregnant and alone. He doesn't want anything to do with alphas, ever again. But meeting Theo throws him off.

What I especially loved about this book, was the slow burn between Sam and Theo. Once Theo knows what happened to Sam, he really does just set out to be his friend, but his alpha-ness draws him closer to Sam every day. But Theo lets Sam set the pace of their friendship, and that endears him to Sam all the more.

I loved that Theo goes all out to be Sam's friend. Bringing him lunch, reading up on his condition. And when Sam's new life is threatened, Theo puts all his past behind him and approaches the one person he never thought he would speak to again.

Sam's attack isn't on page, but the aftermath is. How Sam reacts in certain situations and the trauma that comes from that. It really is needed to make Sam's point, I think.

First person, present tense and multi point of view but I didn't notice it again til I was filing the book! These book grab me and do not let go.

This is far darker than book 1 but still a. . .

5 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Melting His Grumpy Heart
Melting His Grumpy Heart
Ali Ryecart | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
simply wonderful!
Independent reviewer for Neon, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Ms Ryecart does holiday stories like no other and I bloody LOVED this!

The last book Ms Ryecart wrote was dark and deadly. And this?? Is so very NOT those things.

Jake has been hiding himself away, working on his suruvual business. Ru finds himself stranded after his car breaks down and there is a blizzard. What follows is Jake slowly descending into life again, with Ru.

What I loved most about this, was that Jake really did not see it coming! It wasn't a meet cute, with Ru waking up with Jake's gun in his face, but even from that point, I think Ru saw it and jake just did not. And it was a lot, a LOT of fun watching him fall hard and fast and really getting blindsided by Ru, in the best way.

There is no real drama, and it's very low on the ansgt scale. Steamy, of yes! Once these two get down and dirty, it heats up nicely.

But it's emotional in a way I didn't quite see coming, and I'm really not sure why I didn't. Much like Jake, I was somewhat blindsided but I loved that I was. Sometimes, it's really great to be slapped upside the head with emotions that come out of nowhere! Might just be me, but just saying how much I loved the emotional attachment that these two develop.

This is, quite simply, a wonderful tale of 2 men falling in love around the Christmas period and it is Ms Ryecart at her very best.

5 full and shiny stars

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Make The Hurt (Pretty Deadly Things #4)
Make The Hurt (Pretty Deadly Things #4)
Logan Chance | 2026 | Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
thoroughly enjoying these books!
Independent reviewer fro BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, and I do recommend that you read these books in order. There is an ongoing plot arc, that is referenced but not fully recapped.

I found this one a bit darker that the other 3, and they have all had darker undertones, but this one hit me a little different. I'm not really sure why, but Book Feelings, people, I'm all about the Book Feelings!

Ozzy rescues Salem from a trafficking ring. Then it all spirals out of control and Ozzy and Salem are running, her father has surfaced after years and there is a shock for all involved.

What I'm iking about these books is, I can see the net closing in, around this traficking ring they are all trying to pull down. Slowly, but it's still closing. Things move fast in this book, with a few twists and turns I really did not see coming! Seriously, those twists were pulled out of nowhere and I was like, say WHAT NOW??

I've tagged this book as happy for now, because Ozzy and Salem's story feels unfinished. And I think their HEA will come in the next book. There are some things that need concluding, and they aren't here.

There is a sneak peek at the next book. BAr the first line, I did not read it. I will read the book when it comes out, but I didn't want to be left hanging for Lord knows how long!

I'm thoroughly enjoying these books, this author. While they are all very similar, they are sufficently different to keep me entertained.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Bullets and Dandelions (Deputy Gemma Stone #0.5)
Bullets and Dandelions (Deputy Gemma Stone #0.5)
Gail Koger | 2024 | Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
struggled to keep up!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is billed as a kind of prequel to the Gemma Stone series. I have to say, I only read book 2 of those, but I am confused as to what Tess here has to do with Gemma in the main series.

That said, my review for this book will be almost a carbon copy of my review for book 2, Stilettos and Combat Boots.

Because in that book, Gemma gets into so many scrapes and incidents, almost as many as Tess does here! Well, I mean, her dad is trying to kill her, an enemy of said dad is also trying to kill her and a bunch of Marines are trying to keep her alive, but she doesn't trust them, especially when they won't give her the chocolate she craves! So, she isn't living the easiest of lives, but again, it's WAY too much for me in such a short book.

There is a lot of violence here, with bombs, guns and helicopter crashes, and I couldn't catch my breath between each event, so Lord knows how Tess kept up.

There is no smex here, but . . . .oh! I *think* I just made the connection. One of the Marines is called Alex Stone, and I wonder if he is Gemma's brother? I dunno if it was mentioned, to be honest. Anyway, back to my thoughts. There is very little smex here, but Alex Stone does talk a lot about Tess and what they are gonna get up to, once they are safe (but I'm not sure that would happen any time soon!)

I liked it, it passed a quiet morning at work. But I would have liked to hear from Alex as well as Tess.

3 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Twist of Time
Twist of Time
Gy Waldron | 2024 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It was almost like the different parts were circling each other, but getting closer all the time.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is a step away from my usual fare, and my review might come across a little bit differently.

Kate and Brother Thomas are thrown together to translate a particular diary, written in the 1300s by one of the Knights Templar. There follows a chase across the globe, with some twists and turns along the way to keep you on your toes!

What I liked about this, was that there are MULTIPLE points of view. We get to hear from Kate and Thomas, but also the bad guys (plural) and what they are thinking and why they are doing what they are doing. You know I LOVE hearing from the bad guys!

We also get to hear from the author of the diary. I particularly enjoyed that, learning about the Templar Knights from the ground up.

It's multi layered. Written part in the now, and part in the 1300. It was almost like the different parts were circling each other, but getting closer all the time.

Because of the multi layered plot, it took me far longer than it would usually do to read 230 odds pages, but that's not a bad thing. I had to concentrate extra hard, but there was no doubling back to reread. I love when books make me slow down my reading.

It's not an easy read, and you really DO have to pay attention, but it was a very VERY good step out my comfort zone.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Protecting What's Mine (Men Of Maddox Security #1)
Protecting What's Mine (Men Of Maddox Security #1)
Logan Chance | 2025 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
fast intense read!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

What this book is, right, is one of those books you can just fall into and READ, you know?? It's not complicated, or twisted. You don't have to pay too much attention (which for me, is perfect right now!) It's got steam and smexy times, a bit of drama, but no real angst and I really needed this book at this point in my reading list!

Ranger is part of Maddox Security and he is tasked with keeping Tory safe while her scientist father talks at a summit. But some folk take offense at what he is talking about, and threats have been made.

What I especially LOVED about this book, was there was no preamble: it's intense right from the start and both Tory and Ranger both feel it from that very first minute. They just jump straight in, and I really loved that.

All the guys from Maddox Security will get a book, and each book starts with the same meeting, so I assume there will be overlapping timelines. I liked that I knew what was coming.

So why four stars and not five? First person, present tense, mulit point of view. It really is a personal choice, and sometimes I can over see it; sometimes I will dump a book written so. But I can't quite stretch to the 5 stars for this reason only.

I would love to be able to read Dean's story (the big boss man at Maddox) at some point and I really REALLY want to continue with these guys. I feel they are all gonna fall hard and fast, just like Ranger does!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Redemption of Alex Cade
The Redemption of Alex Cade
Ali Ryecart | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
dark but so bloody good!
Independent reviewer for Neon, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Oh Alex!

I loved this I really did. But it's one of those books that I loved so bloody much, it's gonna be hard to write a coherent review, so bare with, ok? I'll do my best to make sense!

I loved that Alex was already questioning his life before Kit comes barrelling into it. He knew he wasn't a good person, he'd done some bad things to survive, and he made no real apology for that but NOW he was not the person he was, his wall needs to come down a tad for him to be happy with his life, cos he really isn't.

I loved the similarities in the things both Alex and Kit had to do to survive. Neither lied about it, just skimmed the full truth, Alex especially. But Kit had lit something under him, and he needed to keep Kit in his life. The full story about what they did as kids would scare Kit away.

I did not like Kelvin. He said he loved Alex, but I don't think that's the right word for his feelings, if indeed he had any real ones. I think Kel wanted to own Alex, to possess him, but not love him.

I did NOT see things going down the way they did. But now I've come down from that, I think it was the only way things could really be finished, for either Alex or Kel.

Ms Ryecart writes sweet and cute, just as well as she does dark and deadly and this falls in the latter category and I freaking loved it!

Well waited for, Ali, well done!

5 full and shiny stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere