Search

Search only in certain items:

Little Treasure He Hides (Little Paws Haven #1)
Little Treasure He Hides (Little Paws Haven #1)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2022 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
9.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved this!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the first in a new series between this pair of authors, and by gosh, it's so good!

Gabai wasn't too impressive when he first meets Asher, but the big bear Daddy does redeem himself once he gets his head out his ass and realise just what Asher needs, not what Gabai does.

Asher's pain is so deep, you can almost taste it. Once we get the full story about why Ash (and I loved that Gabai shortened his name, but no one else could get away with that!) you can understand why he doesn't like to be touched, and just why he hates being called boy.

The way Gabai deals with the perpetrator of the damage to the club shows how much he cares about the Littles in his club, even if he can't be their chief hugger now Ash is about.

I loved that, once he gets Ash, Gabai lets Ash set the pace to bring his little out once more. The little steps are important, they start a big journey, and Ash and Gabai have a wonderful start to that journey now.

Lots of characters who need stories, there is bit at the end of this one for the next story, but I'm not sure if I put things together right so we'll wait, very impatiently, for the next book!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Shifter Woods: Claw (Esposito County Shifters #4)
Shifter Woods: Claw (Esposito County Shifters #4)
Nicola M. Cameron | 2023 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
blinder of a plot twist!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Esposito County Shifters series, but I have not read them all. They can all be read as stand alones.

Angela runs after discovering her abusive boyfriend sells her out to the mob. Something guides her to Esposito County and Matt saves her. There is a familiar scent to Angela that Matt can't place, but he knows one thing: he will do anything to keep her safe, and make her his.

I liked this a lot. It takes a darker edge than Growl (book 3) but plays another blinder of a plot twist for Matt and Angela that I did not see coming!

It's steamy and smexy, yes but this had less of a *MINE* moment that some shifter books have and more of an *I know you, but can't place you* and the feelings for both Matt and Angela creep up on them. Oh, don't get me wrong, Matt has that drive to protect Angela right from the start, but he wasn't sure what it meant. I loved that it takes time, you know? The rapid fall-in-loves books are all well and good, but I especially liked that particular book isn't like that.

I loved that the other shifters in town pulled together to sort out Angela's problem, and I love that Matt asked if he could deal with it personally.

A thoroughly enjoyable 4 star read.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Anne Barwell | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This book is part of the Road to Rockoberfest 2024, but can be read as a stand alone to the other books in the series.

Owen is the fiddler in Flightless, an up and coming rock band. Jared joins as a stand in when the keyboard player takes some family time. But time is short for Owen and Jared.

For the most part, I liked this book.

Both Jared and Owen have a say, and they say a great deal. I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal.

It's not overly explicit but there are smexy times. No real angst or drama, I didn't think.

I did like the way it all played out.

It's an easy read, a Nice book.

*insert sigh*

I just felt I was missing MUCH information. About both men, and their history. Case in point: these guys met before, The Beer Guy incident. I needed that explained. I don't fully get that and I wanted it. I also found it was a little . . . flat . . .on the romance. They meet, they kiss, and they are in love. I wanted more build up.

BUT like I said, I did enjoy it, I'm just saying what I wanted that I didn't get.

3.5 stars, but rounded UP for the blog.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)
Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)
Thom Collins | 2025 | Contemporary, Crime, LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
plot twist I did not see coming!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Basic Instincts series but you don't need to have read the other two books for this to make sense. I've only read book 2, and I loved that book.

And I loved this one too, bar for one thing and I'll come back to that in a mo.

Again, I'd like to commend Collins on a blinder of a twist I did not see coming! I had my doubts, when they were saying who might have been behind it all, but my idea was way, WAY off base and I loved being thrown for a loop!

I really, really do not want to see that film Hudson was in! Sounds gory and violent and not really my thing.

The book is dark and deadly and some of it is on page, but I do think that it is necessary to get the point across.

Some emotional moments, some steamy, but the focus is on the play and the chaos that comes with it.

That thing? But for one solitary chapter, only Hudson has a say. Luke has a chapter and that is the only reason I cannot give this 5 stars! I think if he had no say at all, I might have been tipped over to 5 stars, though! Weird, I know but ya'll know my book feelings!

so, a very VERY good

4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Rhubarb 2 Go (The Rhubarb Effect #2)
Rhubarb 2 Go (The Rhubarb Effect #2)
JP Sayle, Sue Brown | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Burke just wants to be wooed!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.


This is book 2 in The Rhubarb Effect series, and you should probably read Sticky for You, book 1, before this one. There is a bit of an ongoing story arc and that book sets the scene for this one. And you know, it's a FUN read!


As is this one! THis is Ricky and Burke's story. Ricky is a pole dancing rhubarb stalk and Burke is a mini bull. There are lots and LOTS of one liners in this book. Full of rhubarb jokes again, but also with poles, and balls and bull jokes. SOme very funny moments, but also some emotional ones.


Burke is very sensitive and Ricky is a bit like a (I apologise for using this, but I really couldn't find any other words that would fit!) bull in a china shop! He wants Burke, balls and all, and Burke just wants to be wooed.


I'm loving these books. They really are perfect for just having a quick, slightly silly read. Smexy, yes but with humour, and a touch of drama.


The monsters are still about, and no one knows who they are, but Max has a clue who they might be. I'm looking forward to finding out!


Book 3 is set up nicely, with that one about Apollo, another lion like Max and a rather grumpy rhubarb stalk!


4 insane stars (cos, I mean, where do they get these ideas from!)


*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
TA Moore | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Tate really SAW Simon!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Simon wanted to keep his head down, and out of the family gossip, since his engagement was called off. It's his sister's turn, given as no one likes Wyatt, the groom. But then Simon wakes up in Tate's bed, Wyatt's stepbrother. The ame stepbrother who Angie warned Wyatt to tell his brother to keep away from.

This book, right, is a catalogue of errors on Wyatt's part, saved by Tate and Simon, with a backdrop of gate-crashing cousins (who I really REALLY wanted to punch in the face!) missing rings, stolen wine, and some special moments between Simon and Tate that really were the best!

It's a lot, though. I found myself just waiting for the next drama, and it did get a weeny bit too much.

I loved Simon and Tate, both together and apart. Simon clearly hadn't met the right man to really SEE him like Tate does and I loved that Tate wouldn't let Simon talk himself out of whatever Tate had in mind at any given moment.

It's steamy in places and flipping hilarious in others. Not too much emotion, but there are moments that let you into Simon's mind. He has a lot more to say than Tate I think.

I really enjoyed all these books, they have been a lot of fun to read and sometimes, just sometimes, you really do need to laugh out while reading!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
A Furever Home: A Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue Romance
A Furever Home: A Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue Romance
Kaje Harper, Gabbi Grey | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved the emotional connection!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

What this is, right, is a bloody good book!

I mean, there is drama, both for Arthur and Brooklyn and other folks in their lives. Brooklyn's sister, Cheyenne, arrives with a whole host of problems, and really that is the most drama.

There is so much love in Gaynor Beach, that it jumps off the page. Arthur and Brooklyn have fast attraction, but given that Arthur is injured, they do take a *small* amount of time to act on it.

FURBABIES!! Lots and lots of furbabies and I did get a bit lost at one point, but I'm not holding anything against the book for that! Also, no furbabies were harmed in this book. Scared, yes indeed, but not harmed.

I loved the emotional connection between Arthur and Brooklyn. It grows at pace, and doesn't let up. The steam level is perfect for these two. Steamy in places and fade to grey in others.

There is a huge amount of support for Arthur, when things happen. For Brooklyn too, when Cheyenne arrives. What she is dealing with is quite dark, but on the whole, very well dealt with. The book is a light book, apart from this.

I have not read other books in this series, and a quick glance at the blurbs for those books means, at some point (!!) I want to go back and read them.

A wonderful, 4 star read.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Killing Me Softly (To Love a Psycho #3)
Killing Me Softly (To Love a Psycho #3)
C.F. White | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
oh so deadly!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the To Love A Psycho, and you CANNOT read it as a stand alone, you MUST )MUST MUST MUST!!!!) read the previous two books before this one.

I'm going to be very vague in this review, and try really hard not to give spoilers!

Kenny and Aaron, these two have not had it easy and it's really only fitting that the last book is quite possibly the worse for them!

I did not, absolutely never, ever, see that one coming at me! I don't read reviews before I read a book, but I will read them after I've read a book and before I write my review. I just want to see whether other readers felt as I did and I'm pleased to say, many were blindsided just as much as me!

Jack has been a side character who grew on me greatly. I loved that Aaron and Jack were able to become friends. They really both love Kenny, if not in the same way.

It's dark and oh so deadly, I had to keep putting it down and come back to it. I had to catch my breath, almost, before the next thing was thrown at these two, and someone else died!

I'm gonna wrap up. If you like your books twisted and deeply psychological, one for you. It pushed me to my very limits but I'm glad I read them!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Playing the Game (Love Goals #2)
Playing the Game (Love Goals #2)
Kristian Parker | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
lots of communication issues between these two!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Love Goals series, and I think it would help to read book 1, Playing for Keeps, before this one. Not strictly necessary, but more a personal recommendation .

I liked book 1, but I liked this one more!

I'm perhaps being picky, and for that I'm sorry but the book feelings are strong with this one!

So, here's the thing. I did like this more than book 1. I found the romance lacking in book one, was here, to some extent. The fact that Jonas and Adam choose to hide their relationship, made it difficult but that was their choice. The emotional connection is deeper, but Lord, is there a lot these guys didn't talk about! I get why for some things, but Adam's news?? He should not have kept that from Jonas.

I loved the new guys, not just Jonas. Tito and Noah are going to be a force to be watched, but not together. I have a feeling that Tito is putting on a front, and Noah is deeper than he lets on. Edi, too although he's not new, but he's fighting an internal battle to please his dad and his team. Not sure who is winning right now though!

I'm looking forward to Noah's story, he is next, but his significant other?? Not sure who that is yet!

creeping up to . .

4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Best Parts of Him (Vermont Trailblazers #1)
The Best Parts of Him (Vermont Trailblazers #1)
Amy Aislin | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's about discovering yourself, and what you are doing might not actually be the best step forward.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

If this review runs away with itself, I'm sorry, but I freaking LOVED this book!

It's sweet, and charming. It's cute and a little bit smexy. Very little angst apart from what happened to both Ryland and Dabbs as children (divorce and verbal parental abuse, talked about but not in detail)

It's a small town and major hockey leagues. It's building new found families and more established real families.

It's about discovering yourself, and what you are doing might not actually be the best step forward. What I loved was that BOTH men had a little bit of a revelation about themselves.

I was reading and I kept coming back to Jason and Bellamy, who are Ryland's brother and Dabbs' best friend (and Ryland's enemy) I kept thinking I've read these guys before and off I tootled and there it was: A Touch of Maple (Love In Maplewood #3) Now, on a personal note, I think you should read THAT book first. It will give you a better image of Ryland and Bellamy's previous animosity and just what Ryland does to let it all go. I loved being able to catch up with them.

There was a MAJOR hint at who might be next and I can't wait to read it!

5 full, and so very sweet, stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere