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Controller's Obsession (Obsessions #2)
Controller's Obsession (Obsessions #2)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
it suits this book, that it is low on the steam factor!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Obsessions series, and you should probably read book 1, Demon's Obsession before this one. It sets the scene as to why Merihem is banished to Earth, but also tells how RARE the Blissful Ones are. And you know, it's bloody good!

Now, this is IS good, but it doesn't quite hit the spot that Demon's did and I've no idea why! *insert wailing!*

What I DID like about it, though, was the beautiful way that Merihem, quite literally, flipped on a Peni (oooh see what I did there!), and was devoted to Peni, from that very first meeting, even if the goat kicked him in the nuts!

Merihem takes his pleasure when and where he wants to, but meeting Peni? No one else will do. Once Peni bites Merihem, and he can hear Peni's thoughts and, more importantly, his GOAT'S thoughts, Merihem is able to modify his behaviour to suit Peni, even if he wants to do all sorts of dirty things to his little pygmy mate!

I found it relatively low angst, and so flipping cute, and low on the steam factor. It suits THIS book that it is written that way, given Peni's past and his aversion to full on smex. The smexy times that are here, are wonderfully written, and absolutely perfect for these two.

I loved that we caught up with Dakata and Silas, and their news! We get a bit of Wanda's book, who is Silas' sister and of Scott's book, who is Dakata's assistant. I was surprised at the route that Wanda's book takes, and I look forward to seeing how Sayle and Oliver deal with that, given they write MM rather than FF books!

A thoroughly delightful addition to the series, I really did enjoy it!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Stalk of the Town (The Rhubarb Effect #6)
Stalk of the Town (The Rhubarb Effect #6)
JP Sayle, Sue Brown | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
sticking to the 4 fun and smexy stars!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Book 6 of 7 in this series, and you really do NEED to read the others. There is an overlapping timeline and story arc.

Goliath is the gentle giant of the town. He likes to check on people from afar, hence the nickname, Stalk Of The Town. He's an Alpha stalk, and catching a sight of the llama in the pack gives him hope that he can have a mate. But will the drama llama accept him as he is? Drew is omega, but likes to be in control. Discovering just why he likes being at the bottom of the garden and doing all kinds of naughty things doesn't mean he will have to stop being himself, does it??

What I'm loving about these books is how much FUN they are! Drew really is a drama llama and his reaction to missing Tim's babies being born, followed by the birth of Burke's babies is a prime example and he made me laugh! He was a bit horrid to Goliath for making him miss Tim's delivery but he does make it up to him.

I loved that Drew could really see Goliath, and picked up very quickly that he preferred their mental connection to communicate.

Leo is the last man standing, and he will be the last book with the sheriff as his mate. He is also the reason why the old alpha is in town, and we might actually get the full story in the last book! Also, there is some reluctance on Leo's part to take his mate, given as they are both alphas. That'll be fun to read!

I'm loving that I've been kept on my toes for 6 books but I'm really desperate for the grand finale!

sticking at the 4 fun and smexy stars, maybe book 7 will tip over to 5!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Red Dragon of Oxford (Wings over Albion #1)
The Red Dragon of Oxford (Wings over Albion #1)
Joy Lynn Fielding | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cute and Sweet and fairly low on the angst scale.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Mark is in Oxford to get his doctorate. He never expected to find an injured DRAGON on his walk. But the dragon was real, he spoke to Mark. Then, it was gone and Mark couldn't find it. The library provides him with the solitude to do his research. It helps, though, that the librarian, Rufus, is so hawt. But Rufus has a secret, one that might destroy everything.

I have read a couple of Fielding's books, and I think this was my favourite. She writes very easy to read books, and sometimes, that's just what you need.

I enjoyed this, greatly. Lots of descriptions of Oxford, and the university. Having never been, I did like them.

I liked how the relationship between Mark and Rufus developed and once they went in, they went ALL in! Steamy in places and emotional in others. Mark is dealing with his feelings about not being intelligent enough to be in Oxford and Rufus about his being a red dragon. Cos in this world, red dragons are not good.

But then WHITE dragons appear and Rufus' red dragon has a skill he didn't see coming.

I didn't fully get the point of the white dragons appearing, and the problems they were causing til that was all explained. There is also the issue of the cyber attacks on the Mortimer finances that Nate, Rufus' brother, is off dealing with.

It's cute and sweet and fairly low on the angst scale. But steamy and smexy in places!

An easy read that landed in my queue right when I needed it. I'd like to read more of this series as they come out, cos Nate needs a story, given his current job chasing the cyber attacks.

4 good solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Magic of Vanaheim (The Nine Worlds #1)
The Magic of Vanaheim (The Nine Worlds #1)
Saga Nansen | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved the Norse and Viking references!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Usually, I rehash the blurb, not gonna here, cos I just wanna jump straight in!

I LOVED this book!

What I loved most was how patient Talvi was with Hakon (I'm sorry, my keyboard won't do the special characters!) Talvi loved Hakon since he was a child, and now he had the frost warrior in his bed, he wasn't letting him go. Talvi waited, and watched, as Hakon settled into his new life. Waited while he found his footing, and realised that all those things his father said to him, were a lie. Hakon wasn't useless, or a waste of space! He was to be King with Talvi, he just needed to see that fact himself, before Hakon could give himself fully to Talvi.

I could see that betrayal coming a long way off, and while it's good to be proven right, it's still mighty painful for Talvi to realise where the threat really was.

I did NOT see the death of Hakon's father coming from where that did! But I think it was right it came from that person, rather than Hakon.

I loved all the Viking and Norse references. Some were recognisable, some not so. But those not so ones, were what really made this book.

And now, I have questions! Where is Talvi's brother? And his mother's? Will Hakon's sister get a story? But the biggest question is just what is going on with Talvi's uncle and the thrall??

I hope these are answered in future books! I look forward to getting my hands on them!

Saga Nansen is relatively new to the scene, but they have jumped in and landed with a mighty splash in this genre, please keep them coming!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
One Last Chance
One Last Chance
Kat Sinclair | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
took a path I didn't see coming!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Dayton is an omega with a slightly sour smell. Very uncommon. It means his dating life is almost non-existant and his mothers keep setting him for blind dates. Rowland is an alpha with a condition that makes his smell overpowering to most omegas, and indeed, betas. The latest blind was the last one, he was adamant. But when Dayton and Rowland meet, sparks really do fly. But there are those who are against Rowland being happy.

What I liked about this, was it went a way I did not see coming, and I really enjoyed being kept on my toes.

AND! It wasn't until I was tagging it, that I realised something: first person, present tense and multi point of view. If you follow my reviews, you'll know this is not a fav of mine, and I WILL dump books written as such if they don't grab me. I won't apologise for that either. But this book grabbed me and didn't let go, so much so, I did not notice the way it was written!

Now, there is a bit in the beginning about the way this world works. I read it, I really did, but much went over my head about the intricate explanations about the venusverse and how it all works. I don't think I missed much by not comprehending it all, to be honest. Just needed to mention it!

I've not read anything by this author, and it says this book is set in the venusverse world she created. I can't find any, so I'm assuming this is the first, please correct me if I'm wrong though! I will read them, as and when. Kat Sinclair is now firmly in my crosshairs!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
A Touch of Maple (Love in Maplewood #3)
A Touch of Maple (Love in Maplewood #3)
Amy Aislin | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
For these two, I think it was a perfect balance of steam and emotion.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is part of the Love in Maplewood series, I have not read any others and I don't think you would need to, they all appear to be linked only by Maplewood and the low angst tag. I wouldn't say no to reading any more, though!

Jason lives in Maplewood and helps run the family maple syrup farm. Bellamy is traded to the local ice hockey team. He has been moved a lot, and it's beginning to get old. Meeting Jason and things seemed to be looking up, that is, until he finds out that Jason is the brother of Ryland, his arch enemy.

What I especially loved about this book is the low angst. I have some *stuff* going on right now, and it absolutely hit the spot I needed it to! Jason and Bellamy are aware they will upset Ryland , but still know that what they have is special. And, as Bellamy points out, Ryland is the real instigator in their "feud"

I found it steamy, but not especially smexy, and I really enjoyed that I could just fall into the book and watch these two men fall in love, without smexy stuff taking over. I love a smexy book, don't get me wrong, but for these two, I think it was a perfect balance of steam and emotion.

I loved that there was not a break up/make up thing and I loved that Ryland, while initially. . .not hurt, but more put out. . .by Jason being with Bellamy, he comes around in the best way!

Loved the epilogue and the bonus chapter.

Thank you, Ms Aislin, for really making my day with this book.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Nothing But the Night (Basic Instincts #2)
Nothing But the Night (Basic Instincts #2)
Thom Collins | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It hit all of the buttons I was expecting and some I wasn't.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Basic Instincts series and I have not read book 1, Now Comes The Dark. I did not feel I missed anything by not doing so, so I would say this can totally be read as a stand alone. Roman and Mallon pop up, but only in passing.

Marc is not happy with the local police about their lack of progress in finding his brother's killer. Because Marc does not believe that Theo's death was an accident. Enter Jason, a local private detective. But just as his investigation gets moving, their chief witness is murdered and both men find themselves in a fight for their lives, with no clue who is behind it all.

I just wanna say: Well played, Mr Collins, so very well played! I did not see the whodunnit coming at me, not at all! I love being kept on my toes, I really do. So, I loved that coming out of nowhere and whooping me upside the head!

As Marc and Jason get to know each other, their relationship builds. I liked that build up and when it spilled over. I can't say I liked the reason it spilled over, and I'm not going to elaborate due to spoilers, but I think when it does spill over, it was exactly at the right time for these two.

It moves at speed sometimes, and slows up in others, just enough for you to catch up. It's dark and deadly, and sweet and emotional. Steamy and smexy. It hit all of the buttons I was expecting and some I wasn't.

I absolutely need to read book 3, but I've no clue who that would be or even IF there will be a book 3! And at some point, I'd like to go back and read book 1.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Healing Her (Healing Duet #1)
Healing Her (Healing Duet #1)
KM Lowe | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
very little smexy times, for a shifter book!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Calvin turns 21 in a week, and the weight of his pack will be on his shoulders. A week away before then, is just what he needs. But then he gets on the ferry and his wolf goes nuts. His mate is on the boat, and she is in danger. Paisleigh is sold to pay her family's debts, and the ferry ride will only take her deeper into the darkness. But a bright light shines in the young man who takes an interest. Can he rescue her, before her soul is broken?

Ok so, I can't say I loved this book, but for the most part I did enjoy it. I found myself nitpicking though and even now, as I'm typing, more springs to mind!

Paisleigh is on the same ferry to Aberdeen as Calvin, who lives on an island. Yet Calvin's Alpha and father didn't know her pack? There is a scene where they are holding hands, and the next bit, they touch for the first time. I also got a bit confused at times who was speaking, cos there is a huge supporting cast.

Lots of inconsistencies, that put me off a bit.

There is, for a shifter romance, very little smexy times. Now, part of that is on the back of what Paisleigh goes through before she gets rescued. Or, rather, what she MIGHT have gone through. While it's all laid out for you, on page, the world into which she has been sold, Paisleigh is fortunate to not actually get too far down the path.

And, it is first person, present tense and multi point of view, so you know :-p

But I did finish it, and I jumped straight into book 2, so it wasn't all bad.

3 good stars

* same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Taming of a Wolf (Viking Wolves #2)
Taming of a Wolf (Viking Wolves #2)
CJ Ravenna | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bites differently to book 1 but no less powerfully!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Viking Wolves series, and I do recommend you read book 1, Heart of a Wolf before this one. It will give you a better picture of what Anders does to warrant his exiling. You do get a recap here, but I think you need it from Kieran's point of view to get the full effect.And, cos I bloody said so!

I loved book 1, I really did. And I loved this one too. It doesn't bite the same way as book 1, but it's bite is different and just as powerful!

While book 1 is a slow burn, this is full on INSTA for Anders and Jamie and I loved the marked differences in the two tales. I'm gonna be doing a lot of comparisons but I will try to keep them to a minimum!

What I particularly loved, and this probably makes me a bit weird, was the pain these two carried. Anders, for what he did, what he thought he was doing for the better of the pack, but deep down?? He was hurting just as much as Wulfric was at the death of his parents. But he wasn't any better able to stop that than Wulfric was. And Jamie, at the death of HIS parents, that he believes was his fault. I cried when they both told the other their deepest pain.

I loved that Anders was able to get some sort of closure with his brothers. I expect there is more pain to come from the other brothers though, about their parents death.

Loved the introduction of Gunnar's mate, and the revelation that Lyall's is still alive. I hope I get a chance to read their books!

Loving this series, and I highly recommend them!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
BT
Beyond the Red (Beyond the Red, #1)
Ava Jae | 2016
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
“I can be trusted with responsibilities again!” the reviewer says as she slowly climbs out of the reviewing hiatus hole.

“You're delusional,” the hiatus whispers menacingly, just a voice from the dark depths. “You've still got a few books from 2016 left! And what about all those books you abandoned reviewing even though you want to review? I still have their souls! And I will have yours!”

<b>I'm not going to get out of this, aren't I? &#x1f622;</b>

<i>Beyond the Red</i> is one of the last books I read back in 2017 that I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet, and here we are, a year later, with shenanigans but no review yet.

And when I want to write a review, I'm staring at a blank document in Google Drive for hours upon hours wondering what to say.
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Four Things About <i>Beyond the Red</i></b></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Generally I write a list of either the good or bad (primarily just good. Bad I've been skipping or writing little paragraphs for), but my brain is crying on the forgetfulness of this book, so I'm going to go with generic little things you should be aware of before picking up the book.</div>
<h3><b>There are two perspectives and they are polar opposites</b></h3>
We have a half-blood who loses everything and becomes a slave, and then we have a queen who technically has everything. I thought it was really cool to see Jae’s world from two different sides of the spectrum.
<h3><b>I don't think I'm a fan of the language</b></h3>
I don't mind made up languages in a book (within boundaries, of course, because my brain cannot wrap itself around overly complex words sometimes), but <em>Beyond the Red’s</em> world language is very similar to ours yet different.
<blockquote class="tr_bq">I know three different ways to break out of this kinduv brace, and everything inside me screams that I use one of them.

I won’t feel bad, not for her, not after what she did, and yet I can’t fight this fucken ridiculous need to fix this, to hold her until it’s okay.</blockquote>
Is it <i>meant </i>to be similar? I'm assuming so based on how humans are still around and the Sepharon are very similar to humans in <i>Beyond the Red</i>. <b>Either way, I'm confused.</b> Or I missed something. Who knows. <strong>I've been out of it lately. :/</strong>
<h3><b> </b><b>But the world building is super cool despite language</b></h3>
Jae’s world building is well developed, and it's shown constantly throughout the book. And is it just me, or did anyone else think of this as Star Wars just a little? Am I just assuming Star Wars is going to be like this because if so, I'm going into the box of shame. (Lupe, help.)

Now that I look at the ARC I have, it's the blurbs. I blame the blurbs. Help me.
<h3><b>Thankfully, the names aren't complicated</b></h3>
Sometimes books go all out and the characters have strange names that are hard to pronounce, so my brain cries in terror and starts wailing. <i>Beyond the Red</i> has its strange names, but they're not complicated. They're an average of two syllables and my brain won't start tearing itself to shreds figuring out the right pronunciation. “Is this right?” wonders the reviewer, as she puzzles over all the possible ways to say the name.

Honestly, if you're looking for an adventure on a new planet that's a nod to Mars with not complicated names, <i>Beyond the Red</i> might be perfect for you. If you don't mind the language, that is.

<a href="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/beyond-red-ava-jae-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>