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Falling into Magic (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic #1)
Falling into Magic (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic #1)
Elizabeth Pantley | 2020 | Mystery, Paranormal
9
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
It is truly a magical place.
Welcome to Destiny Falls. It is truly a magical place. Hayden Caldwell has had a good life in Seattle with her grandmothers, her best friend (and business partner) Luna, and her pampered cat, Sassy. A fall into a construction hole, and a flash of light, has her awakening in an alternate world with her long-lost older brother, in fact, she finds a whole family she never knew she had. She discovers she is part of a family that has been chosen to care for the town of Destiny Falls. However, her trip back home wasn’t an accident, and danger is very close to her and her newfound family.

This book is disguised as a cozy mystery, really though, it is just a fun time romp. Imagine a world where the Iphones and magic coexist in a seamless way. Where your pet has a telepathic connection with you and your home invites you to stay by creating a room for you to live in. The reader is as enchanted as Hayden learning alongside her how this world she has been dropped into works. The clues to the mystery are woven terrifically into the larger story, which is inexorably leading to the big question… What really did happen to Hayden’s mother?

One reviewer describes the book as “Harry Potter collides with the Hallmark channel and Law and Order”, and I can’t think of a more apt interpretation. The author’s descriptions of the town and the surrounding area, are wonderful examples. Classic Americana with a supernatural twinge. A library that behaves as if it wants to outdo HP’s undetectable extension charm, hiking trails that take longer on the return trip, a ferry that just might have you disembark at the end of your trip right where you started, and if you are really very lucky you might actually be allowed to see the second waterfall at Twin Falls Lake.

This is a place that is as fascinating as the story and can really be considered a character in itself, especially as it goes out of its way to remain unnoticed by the world at large. The characters in this book, by the way, are also both very fantastical, exactly like one would expect to find in this type of world, and yet they are also exactly the kind of folks you would find living on Main St. in Anytown USA. Hayden’s Grandmother (capital G) scares me just a little, but I adore her younger siblings. With Hayden’s interest in not one, but two local bachelors (both of whom seem quite dreamy to me) it is obvious that there is a place in this remarkable world for Hayden’s future and you can be sure I will be stopping by later books to see how it goes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
Feathers and Foxes (Brodyr Alarch #2)
Feathers and Foxes (Brodyr Alarch #2)
Morgan Sheppard | 2024 | Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love hearing from everyone! It fills the bigger picture with more colour and detai!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Brodyr Alarch series, but it's not necessary to have read Slippers and Songs, which is book one, nor is it necessary to read Sealed with a Curse, which is the sort of introduction to this world and to the princes who are Brodyr Alarch. Not necessary, but I think you should. It will give you a better view of what the princes did to warrant getting the curse that turned them into swans, and how they got out of their predicament. They are very good books, I gave them Sealed 4 stars and 5 stars to Slippers and Songs.

And 5 stars for this one too!

Two things I'm loving the most about these books.

I don't know the Brothers Grimm tales that Sheppard is using to form the basis of these books. They are the lesser known ones, and I'm almost intrigued enough to go and read The Brothers Grimm tales, just to see if I can match them up! Almost, but I won't. Cos it might spoil my enjoyment of these books.

They are CLEAN. Totally and utterly and so beautifully clean. I will, more often than not, say I like my books on the steamier side and I make no apologies for that, but I am LOVING that these books are not at all like that! Oh don't get me wrong, there is love and passion here, but there is no explicit steam. Not for Terrwyn and Sulien, nor for Selene and Conway (from Sealed) as we catch up with them a couple times in the book.

In my review for Slippers, I said I wanted to hear from Tesni, but we didn't. But here, we get Sulien! And a few others too. I love hearing from everyone! It fills the bigger picture with more colour and detail, and I loved that.

Again, the Welsh Gods play a part, and again, I'm not going to try to name them cos I can't say them, let alone spell them, but they get up to their tricks in helping the Brodyr Alarch find their love, even if things do go a little off plan here!

Macsen is up next, given the little epilogue that those aforementioned Goods have, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! But Gerallt's book is the one I'm waiting for, and I strongly suspect his will be the last one! Gerallt is the prince who kept a swan wing, to remind himself of what he did. I want in his head so bad!

Anyway, enough rambling, but in case I forgot to say:

I loved this book!

5 full and shiny stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Deception (The Secret Tales #2)
The Deception (The Secret Tales #2)
Sanna Brand | 2024 | Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Patrick and Charlotte are perfect for each other!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in The Secret Tales series, but can totally be read as a stand alone. I would say, as a personal point, that you will get a better understanding of the ladies of this time, and what they have to do to stay safe. It's also a stunning 5 star read, so you know, get to it!

I loved The Bond, and I loved this one too, for very different reasons!

The Bond is a slow burn, low steam book. Very much a fade to black book. And this one? Not so much! It's a tad steamier, but not explicit, at all. Patrick and Charlotte are perfect for each other, even if they were never meant to be. And I loved that difference about the two books, I really did.

I loved how Patrick deals with his injury: by not letting it get the better of him. Being confined to a wheelchair after a life at sea would be hard for anyone to deal with, but Patrick and his family set out to make his life easier, but not limiting. I gather from reading this, that injuries of this sort at that time were far more devastating than they are in this time. But once Patrick got his head round what HE needed, he got to it, and devised his new wheelchair, adapted his house to accomodate his chair. I love that his sister devised a new saddle for him to continue to ride his horse.

Lottie's forging her father's work is their only real stumbling block, but once Patrick knows WHY she does it, he understands, but makes sure Lottie knows it cannot continue once they are married. But that takes a nasty turn, and I really did not see that coming at me!

I had to giggle though, out loud! It was so funny, reading about what Lottie thought was going to happen on her wedding night. She really had no clue and it was Rose who educated her. Proper made me laugh! I loved that Rose and Rhys (since Rhys is Patrick's brother) play a huge part here, it was so lovely to catch up with them.

I wrote at the end of my review for The Bond that I thought one of Rose's sisters was the second book, but I cannot remember which one! However, Lottie is not one of Rose's sisters and one of LOTTIE'S sisters has the next book.

I love this group of ladies, and the men who fall for them and I really look forward to catching up with the supporting cast in future books, cos there are some interesting side characters!

Loved it, so it can only get:

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Taylin's Temptation (Divergent Omegaverse #2)
Taylin's Temptation (Divergent Omegaverse #2)
JP Sayle | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Steamy and emotional, a perfect combo for me!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Divergent Omegaverse series, but you don't need to have read book 1, Alpha's Divergent Omega to follow this one. That is more of a short introduction into this group of men, and how things work in their world. You should though, cos it's short and steamy and packs a punch!

Taylin has worked with Hollis for 5 years. He wants Hollis but Hollis has made no indication that Taylin's want is reciprocated. When a meeting away coincides with Hollis' heat, that all changes. Taylin is considered divergent, and Hollis is not, since he can shift into his animal form, and Taylin cannot. Would Hollis really want Taylin?

What I loved about this, was that once Hollis set his sights onto Taylin, like PROPERLY, Taylin really didn't see it coming, and he was just a little bit blindsided by Hollis and this meeting away. Had he been paying more attention, he would have known it was Hollis' heat but he was too busy oogling Hollis!

These guys have wanted each other for so long, and once they get with the programme, they are all in and I loved that! Steamy and emotional, for me, a perfect combination!

I loved that all the boys of Lane and Derick have been instilled with the beliefs and views of their parents, both those born into the family and those who were bought into it for whatever reason. When they discover the omegas being mistreated in the factory, they ALL jump in, to set them free.

I loved that Taylin's brothers were ribbing him about being mated, but their fathers were like "just you wait!" and the brothers were like "nope, not happening!" and then, boom, book 3 is all laid out for you! Next one to fall is Booker.

Now, I have to admit, I had to google what a slow loris was, cos Taylin thought Hollis was cute in his shifted form, and I couldn't picture what they looked like, but oh my days! Cute is about the best word I could use to describe a slow loris! Especially when Hollis is curled up, in shifted form, on Taylin's chest. So bloody cute, that image.

I've followed Sayle from the very beginning. I mean, I almost slated her first book! But she has a way that pulls you in, and sets my book brain off with questions! It knows it has questions about Lord knows what about this book, but in true Sayle fashion, my brain can't voice them . . yet . . . maybe even at all!

So I'll leave this review with, I bloody loved it and I can't wait to watch the other brothers fall for their mates, in whichever way they do.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Vampire's Queens (The Bloodline Chronicles 3)
Vampire's Queens (The Bloodline Chronicles 3)
Evelyn Silver | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
well played with the leak!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Bloodline Chronicles, and you cannot read it as a stand alone. You MUST read book 1, Witch's Knight and book 2, Midnight Fear before this one. There is MUCH that is not recapped and you will need to know about this vampire society and how it works.

I 4 starred books one and 2 and this is another solid 4 star read. I thoroughly enjoyed them!

Sarai, Setanta and Marcelle are ruling as a throuple. Sarai is pregnant, MArcelle is trying to work out who is tipping the Vasri off before they get there, and Setanta is doing King stuff (not actually sure WHAT he was doing for most of the book, to be honest!) But there are those who want them gone, and they will go to great lengths to make that happen.

Couple things: I said in my review for book 2, something about Sarai's sister. There was no mention of a sister here, so I'm not sure what THAT point was about!

Again, Setanta is only given a minor (1 or 2 chapters) voice. I needed him, I really did. Had he been given a bigger voice, I think this book would have been a much better read. (not that it isn't already but it would have been BETTER!)

Sarai's pregnancy threw up some surprises that no one saw coming and I loved that as old as they are, Marcelle and Setanta had not much clue how to help!
 
I did NOT see who the leak was coming at me, I really did not! I just about threw my kindle across the room in that chapter!! So very well played there Ms Silver, VERY well played.

It's quite violent in places, fighting a shape shifting dragon with was never going to be a walk in the park!

I found the steam levels a bit higher than in previous books, but not by much. I think it was because the one scene between all three partners was more sweet than smexy and I really loved that Setanta and Marcelle were mindful of Sarai's pregnancy, while still providing her with what she needed from them. The "birthday party" for Sarai, while multi person (6, I think) I thought was well written but not especially explicit. Some FF scenes, as well as multi partner scenes, with every which way combination of male and female partners.

What I need now is something else from this author! Given as I can only find this series by Ms Silver, I need more and I need not to have to wait a whole year!

I wrote 4 stars in an earlier line, I do love it when a book talks itself into . . .

5 full and shiny stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Poisoned Heart (Twisted Mafia Vows #1)
Poisoned Heart (Twisted Mafia Vows #1)
K.A. Merikan | 2026 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Insane but so bloody good!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

While this is book 1 in the Twisted Mafia Vows series, I do receommend you read Christmas Mafia Prince by these authors first. It will introduce you first to Corvus, but more importantly, to this family and to The Hunt. And that book is insanely good so this one had to shine so very brightly to overtake that one.

And it does shine, beautifully! Insanely and nutty, much like Mafia Prince, but in a very different way and I bloody LOVED it!

The first line in the book: “You will fuck me like your life depends on it. Because it does.” So this book grabs you in immediately and it pulls you kicking and screaming and it does NOT let go, not til the end!!

Corvus is so far in the closet, he doesn't know if he will ever get out. Dalton is in a cell, waiting The Hunt. Since Dalton will die in the morning, Corvus decides to offer Dalton a (slight, but not guaranteed) way out: Sex, for the antidote to the poison the prisoners will be given. Dalton takes to offer, obviously but something is loosed within Corvus, and when the time comes, he can't let Dalton go. Then someone is hunting Dalton, away from The Hunt and Corvus pulls that thread tight and goes into protection mode, and he knows he will NEVER let Dalton go.

What I loved MOST about this book, and Mafia Prince, was I couldn't see where the threat was coming, not til the end! I love being kept on my toes, I really do. And for these authors to do it twice in a row? Awesome work, folks, awesome.

This is deadly, Corvus is Mafia and makes no bones about it. Someone is after Dalton and that someone does get their comeuppence, in the best way!

It's smexy, so super smexy. Dalton is, by his own words, a bit of a player, and once Corvus gets a taste?? He can see that light, that door in the closet opening in the most spectacular way, and it does!

But this family is Nuts, with a capital N, they really are and I love them! They are so far out of my radius, they really are. And I need more, I really do.

Damen and Killian take part, as do lots of others who appear in Mafia Prince. Loved catching up with them.

Who is next?? I dunno, and I really don't care, just so long as I can get my grubby mitts on it! Aspen speaks to me the most, but there are some others who I want to meet properly.

5 full and slightly deranged but so bloody good, stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Reforged Flame (The Bloodline Chronicles)
Reforged Flame (The Bloodline Chronicles)
Evelyn Silver, Ben Hart | 2026 | Erotica, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved finding out about Lochlan!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2.5 in the Bloodline Chronicles, but you don't need to have read the main books to follow this one. It might help, but I don't think it's necessary. It's been some time (only 6 months, but seems a lot longer!) since I read the third book, and I've been to sleep since then, that so much is buried deep in my book brian, but I followed this just fine.

Lochlan does pop up in at least one other book, but I don't recall which and for how much.

He is the only human in the Vampire Knights of New Ulster, the only ever to be allowed to join. He has to prove himself along those much faster, stronger and deadly than he, but he does have his gift, fire.

I loved finding out how Lochlan came to be with the Knights. Like I said, ge pops up along the way, and Ms Silver decided he needed more of a story than he gets in the main books and I loved that he does.

Marcelle pops up, and does all sorts of delicious things to Lochlan, but there isn't any romance here, not really. Marcelle is DEVOTED to Sarai and Setanta, as a throuple, they adore each other but they have a very open relationship, with no issues with outside partners. She doesn't see what she has with Lochlan as anything other than smex. But she does try to add a *bit* of romance, dating and such. And Lochlan knows this and it really was refreshing that there was no pining on Lochlan's part for Marcelle. Oh don't get me wrong, he wants Marcelle, but the deep romance aspect isn't here.

It is violent, but dealing with flesh eating undead vampires thought to have been eradicated was never gonna be fun. And Lochlan suffers, badly at said vampire's hands. Come-uppence is got, though!

What I loved most, though, was what I didn't see coming. Now, I'm not gonna say what that is, because I really did not see it, until something was said and I was "say WHAT??" and I had to go back and reread what was said to make sure I understood. More is said about this along the way and Lochlan's feeling are deep, understandably so. You'll understand why I'm being vague when you get to that "say WHAT??" part!

Bear, Gedeon and Crispin are Lochlan's teammates. They are an interesting bunch and now I want them all to get a short story somewhere!

I gave book one and two 4 stars. Book 3 was initially 4 stars but talked itself into 5 stars and guess what??

This one did too!

5 full and very surprising stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Victor (Tangled Tentacles #2)
Victor (Tangled Tentacles #2)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2022 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's a lot darker than book one, but I think the love level is so much higher.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I ws gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Tangled Tentacles series. It would help, but not totally necessary, to read book 1, Alexi, before this one. This picks up immediately from the end of that one, and the on-going story arc continues here. Actually, I take that back, you probably SHOULD read Alexi first!

I gave 4 stars to Alexi and Danik's story but this one far surpasses that! And I'm still left with questions and I don't freaking care!

Victor finds Azim at the end of book 1, half dead, and he knows straight away, that Azim is two things: a vampire and his mate. And Victor will do anything for his mate, except bond with him, while Azim cannot say yes. Victor is a little too focussed on waiting for Azim to consent, that he doesn't quite put two and two together and get pen and paper to Azim but hey, the Kraken is besotted! But I did love that, that Victor waited.

It takes time for Azim to be fully aware and awake but he knows Victor, deep in his soul and he knows Victor will save him. Azim suffered badly at the hands of a madman, and it takes time for those injuries to heal, with the help of the pool at the bottom of their building and those little snails!

We find out just what Todd was smirking at Alexi and Danik about, but given what that was, Danik was right to punch Alexi! What happens later in the pool though, was both slightly weird and beautiful at the same time. Not saying what but you'll figure it out!

It's a lot darker than book one, given where he was found and what condition Azim was in, but I think the love level is so much higher. Not just the smexy times, I mean the emotional times. Azim and Victor take the time to get to know each other as Azim heals and a lot comes out. Loved that. Smexy times are there, but more on a back burner, I think.

Hints to Markov (another brother) and Cassius (who leads the group looking for the missing shifters) are front and centre, but he is not next. Todd, the only omega and the youngest in the group of 5 brothers, is up next and his story, I think, might knock this off the favourite perch for two reasons: Todd gets 2 mates, and they are dragons!

Still with the questions though, but I'm trying really hard to shut my question asking book brain down, when reading Sayle books, the woman is a master at wrecking my head!

5 dark and deadly, but so much lovely, stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Level Up (Reigns Brothers #2)
Level Up (Reigns Brothers #2)
Kindle Alexander | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
its sweet and delicious and all kinds of warm and fuzzies!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the second book in the Reigns Brothers series and it can be read as a stand alone book. However, personally, to get the full force that is Chad's dad and the one that is Ducky's brother, I recommend you read Secret and then Breakaway before this one. It will give you context to some things that are referenced here.

Gotta be honest here, cos reviewing is all about being honest. I went into this with a bit of hesitation. I was . . .disappointed I think is the best word . . in a follow up book by another Alexander and I didn't want to be let down again. However, I need not have worried.

Because this?? Bloody LOVED this!!

It's delicious and sweet and all kinds of warm and fuzzies that just blew my socks off!

Chad has lusted over his best friend for years, but never MET Ducky face to face. When Ducky ghosts Chad, he takes matters into his own hands. What follows is a wonderful tale of seeing what's right in front of you, and taking it.

Both young men are struggling with their place in their respective worlds. Neither mentioned it to the other, or they might not have struggled so much. And it takes a trip to Hawaii for them to find themselves.

There are some issues along the way, but these are not of the guys making, more the bane of our modern life that is social media and the general angst level is low, which I needed right now.

I loved that I was made to wait a long ass time for the guys to finally, FINALLY see each other in the way they did, and while that scene is smoking hawt, the smexy level is lower than other books by Alexander. Again, I loved that!

I loved that Dallas and Greer (Breakaway) and Tristan and Dylan (Secret) play a huge part here. It was great to catch up with them. Tristan has taken to his step dad role brilliantly!

I mentioned in my review for Breakaway that mum to Dallas and Ducky does something amazing, but thinking about it, she isn't mentioned here. Neither is dad. Eldest brother Donny is, though, and he's spouting his vitriol now that he's found 'religion'.

But it makes me wonder. This is the Reigns brothers series, and there are 3 brothers. So, will Donny see the error of his ways, and get a book? That would be an interesting read, for sure, given how he's acted with Dallas and Ducky coming out.

An absolutely wonderful follow up to Breakaway, and I loved it, and as such, it can only get. . . .

5 full and shiny stars.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere