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Out Of The Ocean
Out Of The Ocean
Lynn Michaels | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
a good solid 3 stars
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, was gifted my copy of this book.

Cal and Scott come together, when their boats are destroyed in the storm. They are fighting for their lives, out at sea, and the inevitable happens, they get close just as they get rescued and split up. With Scott in Germany and Cal in the States, will they fight for what they want, for WHO they want??

I liked this book, I really did, I just didn't love it. It's very well written from both Cal and Scott's point of view, and I saw no editing or spelling errors. I just, I dunno, couldn't love it!

I did find Scott a little ....insipid....a bit of a spolit brat.... when standing up to his dad! He DOES stand up to him, but only at the risk of losing Cal, when it should have been way before then for a mid 30's guy!

I just....oh! Don't you just HATE not being able to word what you want!!

It's not overly explicit, but it does get a little yukkie while they are floating in the life raft, but eating raw fish, eyes and guts and all weren't never gonna be a picnic in the park, now was it?? Bit gross!

A nice book, just one that didn't blow me away. Only short, some 100 pages, an hour reading time for.

3 stars

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Mr January (Calendar Men #1)
Mr January (Calendar Men #1)
Bailey Bradford | 2018 | Humor & Comedy, LGBTQ+, Paranormal
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
really great, cute read
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I've read a few of Bailey's shifter books before, they tend to be short and sweet, so this one came out of left field and surprised me! And I've no idea WHY it surprised, just that I'm left feeling that and ya'll know I gotta share!

It's sweet, it's funny, (some proper laugh out loud moments!) it is emotional and it's sexy. And I really enjoyed it!

Albert is a geek and proud of it, and there are a few geeky jokes, and some not so funny comments, but they get shot down, right quick! Gregg is a model helping with a charity calendar and Albert has no illusions that he could ever land a guy such as Gregg, but Albert pushing all of Gregg's buttons, and some he didn't know he had so it's a matter of Gregg chasing Albert.

There is an on-going issues (I've already read book 2 when writing this review) with the photo shoot, and I don't know if it will ever get done, based on these two I've read, it might well be December before it gets done!

A thoroughly enjoyable read, some 180 pages,that fit in well on my list between two heavier reads, hence the hang over tag. I look forward to reading more of this series!

4 solid stars

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MM
Mr May (Calendar Men #5)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
didnt feel this one!
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 5 in the Calendar Men series, but you don't NEED to have read the other books before this one. It would HELP though, to give you a better picture of this doomed photo shoot and what these men have suffered at the hands of Evan.

Derrick plans, and plays safe. His one adventure nearly gets him killed. Meeting Niall, who is a fox shifter, and who lives life to the fulle, knocks Derrick off his axis.

Up until this book, I was really enjoying this series but my feeling on finishing this one?? I did not like it and I have no bloody idea why!

It's a fun read, though, mostly a much lighter read than the other books, with the exception of the nutty ex. I found it a little less explicit too, but that ight just be me!

I read it in one sitting. What's here is well written and well delivered.

I just . . . . . . *ARGH* . . . . . didn't feel this one! And you know how much it pains me, when I can't put my finger on what's letting it down!

Sorry this review is short, but when I cannot word what I need to say, I start to waffle, and waffling does not a good review make.

so,

3 stars

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Best Lesbian Erotica: From Sweet to Spicy
Best Lesbian Erotica: From Sweet to Spicy
Janelle Reston | 2018 | Erotica, LGBTQ+
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
great box set!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

These stories are only short, 9 stories across 164 pages, but they are so delicious!

I can't say there was a stand out MOST favourite, because they are all really good. Very well written, in a variety of tenses, in the first and third, from lots of different characters. There is no connection between the stories, save the same author and they are lesbian erotica.

Some are really sweet, some more hard core. Some are just about the sex, and some have a more romantic feel to them.

I read them all, which for a box set, is unusual for me!

But there was one that stood out as my LEAST favourite. It's written from the main character's point of view in the first person. But when she talks about her partner, she uses YOU. So it's written using the second person. I find it a really difficult way to read a book, sorry! It doesn't affect my rating, but I felt the need to mention it, and you know I'm all about the feelings!

Apart from that one, they are all really good. I find myself wanting to read more by Ms Reston, something longer, with more pages to lose myself into!

Having had a run of male/male romances, this landed right in the queue at just the right time!

4 solid stars

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Never Date a Doctor: A Life Lessons Novel
Never Date a Doctor: A Life Lessons Novel
Melanie A. Smith | 2020 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I didn't like Sasha!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

*insert sigh*

*insert another sigh*

I wanted to love, to even LIKE this book but I struggled, to be honest.

Mostly, because of two things.

Only Sasha has a say, and she grated on me, she really did. I can't say WHY, and I'm more annoyed that I cannot voice WHY she got my back up and got on my nerves, but she did. And because Caleb isn't given a voice, I very nearly dumped it, because she drove me nuts at points!

AND

First person/present tense. Even if caleb had been given a voice, with the book written this way, I would have enjoyed it a bit more, I think.

You could see the "situation" developing at the hospital, with the other nurse, coming at ay like a train wreck, and you can't stop, but it is nice for everything to be laid out for you once in a while. There were SOME surprises though, so i enjoyed that.

I'm sorry, a short review, but I really am struggling to make sense.

I finished it, though, and I promised myself that I would give a book 3 stars if I finished it, even if I didn't really like so.

Will I read other books in the series? Probably not, no. By this author? I'll give Ms Smith another try, certainly.

3 stars

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The Hunter and The Cultist (Hunter X Slayer #1)
The Hunter and The Cultist (Hunter X Slayer #1)
J.A. Giaquinto | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
kept me thoroughly engaged, and hooked me in sufficiently to want to read more.
Independent reviewer for gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.

From a little research, I've discovered this author usually writes young adult, and this is most certain NOT young adult. Now, at times, it shows. It's a little clunky in places. In places where clunky need not be :-p

That said! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

It takes a little bit of time to put all the clues together about this world, and while usually I don't like massive info dumps, I could have done with at least a SMALL one here. It all comes together, it just took me far too long, and I kept feeling I missed something.

It's quite violent in places, but I think that was needed to get the point across. Steamy, but not ever so explicit (but definately more than a YA book!) and I did scream a time or three at the author! Gustav and Abel got interrupted so many times before they got their moment, and it just went on a bit too much I thought.

There are massive clues who might be next, and I look forward to reading who ever it might be.

A good read, that kept me thoroughly engaged, and hooked me in sufficiently to want to read more.

3 good solid stars

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A is for Aftercare (The Alphabet of Desire #1)
A is for Aftercare (The Alphabet of Desire #1)
Colette Davison | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
focuses more on the care a Daddy gives
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Archie gets a job as PA for his favourite author and finds himself wanting to do so much than manage his diary. Hamish is is a grumpy so and so, but the young Archie becomes his muse very quickly. When one of Archie's brothers gets an invite to an adult party, both Archie and Hamish see the other in a different way.

I really really enjoyed this! It focuses more on the CARE a Daddy gives, in all ways, rather than the sex part, and I loved that I found it equally warm and fuzzies/too stinking cute and smexy!

It's not especially taxing on the brain, no complicated plot line or too much trauma to either of them, and I appreciated that right about now.

I loved that Archie and Hamish get on well together, as boss/employee, as friends, and then as Daddy/boy. They really are perfect for each other, they fit so well together. I loved Hamish's friends, and seeing how they might fit into future books. I loved the ABC triplets and I really look forward to reading Blake and Corey's tales!

It says 230 odd pages, but I didn't think it was that long. I really got sucked in with these two and time flew.

4 good solid stars

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Pieces of Eight (Lost Souls' Treasure #1)
Pieces of Eight (Lost Souls' Treasure #1)
Tricia Leedom | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
wonderfully easy read
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Griffin returns to Florida to help his old mentor to strike gold, literally. He just never realised he’d find his own pot of gold: in the form of a former circus performer called Bug. Bug never told Griff how she felt about him, and she won’t now, not if he’s leaving again. But a trip to Martinique changes everything, and could end it all before it really begins.

This is a delightfully easy read, with just enough of everything to keep you engaged.

There enough of the past, of Bug and Griff but mostly Griff. Enough of now of them both (they both get a say) Enough drama, both with these two and with the team. Some wonderful characters in the team, and when Hannah (Griff’s ex) turns up, I’m sure she’s ruffled a few feathers! Enough steam to make it smexy, but not overly explicit. Enough emotions from both of them, and you understand why Bug is so angry with Griff in the beginning, once those emotions are fully explained.

It’s well written, and well delivered. I saw no spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading.

It’s a really GOOD book, it just doesn’t blow me away. And I’m sorry about that! Will I read future books in the series? Possibly.

3 good solid stars

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The Christie Caper
The Christie Caper
Carolyn Hart | 1991 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Honoring Agatha Christie Turns Deadly
Annie Laurence Darling is hosting The Christie Caper, a week-long tribute to the queen of crime on her one hundredth birthday. But the event is being crashed by Neil Bledsoe, a reviewer who hates all but the most hard boiled mysteries and has made lots of enemies. Things have hardly started before the attacks on Neil begin, but he still goes ahead with tearing down Agatha Christie. Can Annie figure out what he is up to and stop him before someone stops him permanently?

Obviously, this book came out quite a few years ago since it was tied to Agatha Christie’s centennial. But that hardly matters since this is a great puzzle worth of Christie herself. I did find the pacing a little slow as it neared the middle of the book, but things picked up again not too long after that. All the characters we know and love are here once again, and they are fantastic. I do find Annie’s temper a little annoying, and hope it tones down as the series progresses. The suspects are strong as well. We get a great dose of humor as the book goes along. As with the others in the series, there is more foul language than I would expect for the genre. All told, this is another fine addition to a well-loved series. Fans of Christie will also enjoy it.