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Dragon Blues (Immortal Dragons Book 1)
8.0
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Even immortal dragons can have crazy exes. Belah’s ex is worse than most. Three thousand years...
reverse harem series paranormal fantasy romance fiction
Searching for Sylvie Lee
9.0
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A poignant and suspenseful drama that untangles the complicated ties binding three women—two...
Light Changes Everything
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“I adored stepping back into to the world of the Prines through tough-as-rawhide Mary Pearl. Light...
ClareR (6247 KP) rated Medusa: The Girl Behind The Myth in Books
Sep 28, 2021
Now THIS is the side of the story I have always wanted to hear about! Medusa’s OWN story from her OWN mouth. In mythology, she is always portrayed as ugly, dangerous and unpredictable - lethal. In this story, we see a young girl, afraid and alone, forced to live away from others in case she hurts them - or they harm her. Her only companions, a dog and her sisters, the Gorgons, who fly out to hunt during the day, returning to their sister at night with food.
One day, a boy lands his boat on the island - it’s Perseus.
We see the side of Medusa that the original myth writers would never have imagined: a young girl who is taken advantage of, vulnerable, used by men for their own pleasure, and then blamed for something that she has no control over.
In the original stories, she gets her just desserts. Medusa is ugly and not to be trusted. It gives an insight into how men regarded women at this time. Be subservient. Be a virgin. Don’t get raped, and if you do, it’s your own fault - you brought it on yourself (I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about this). Women don’t come out of myth and legend terribly well.
I absolutely loved this. Medusa isn’t a meek, mild victim, but neither is she evil. She knows, or has some idea anyway, her glance can cause a lot of damage - so she hides herself away.
And in this story, not a single head is lost.
The illustrations are gorgeous as well.
I wonder if Jessie Burton will write more Greek myths in this way? Because I’m all in!
Many thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for my copy of this gorgeous book through NetGalley.
One day, a boy lands his boat on the island - it’s Perseus.
We see the side of Medusa that the original myth writers would never have imagined: a young girl who is taken advantage of, vulnerable, used by men for their own pleasure, and then blamed for something that she has no control over.
In the original stories, she gets her just desserts. Medusa is ugly and not to be trusted. It gives an insight into how men regarded women at this time. Be subservient. Be a virgin. Don’t get raped, and if you do, it’s your own fault - you brought it on yourself (I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about this). Women don’t come out of myth and legend terribly well.
I absolutely loved this. Medusa isn’t a meek, mild victim, but neither is she evil. She knows, or has some idea anyway, her glance can cause a lot of damage - so she hides herself away.
And in this story, not a single head is lost.
The illustrations are gorgeous as well.
I wonder if Jessie Burton will write more Greek myths in this way? Because I’m all in!
Many thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for my copy of this gorgeous book through NetGalley.
Debbiereadsbook (1772 KP) rated Hidden Rooms in Books
May 3, 2024
4 very VERY good stars
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian via BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is the author's debut novel, and I reckon she nailed it!
Riley's sister-in-law to be, Beth, is murdered, and her brother Ethan, is the prime suspect. Riley knows he's innocent, and sets about to prove it.
What I particularly liked about this, was being kept on my toes! Until it all came out, I didn't know whether Ethan did it or not!
Beth is keeping secrets, and those secrets cost her, but again, it takes time for things to come out.
Everything does take a time to come out, and I suggest, if like me, you weren't liking the slow pace, KEEP AT IT! It does speed up and move at pace. I am glad I kept with it.
Riley tells a great tale, even with this illness that rocks her through much of the book. I enjoyed her, especially as she is the only voice in the book. I liked the way the illness was dealt with, or not for much of the time!
I think I might not have enjoyed this so much had someone else had a say, which is contrary to my usual "I wanted to hear from everyone" thing, I know, but I really did like Riley.
It's well written, and well delivered. There is just enough suspense, once it kicks off, to keep you fully engaged and invested with this group of people.
As an ARC reader of many years, my primary genre is romance. Once in a while something different will come through and my interest is piqued. I am certainly glad I took this one on, and will absolutely read more by this author as and when.
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is the author's debut novel, and I reckon she nailed it!
Riley's sister-in-law to be, Beth, is murdered, and her brother Ethan, is the prime suspect. Riley knows he's innocent, and sets about to prove it.
What I particularly liked about this, was being kept on my toes! Until it all came out, I didn't know whether Ethan did it or not!
Beth is keeping secrets, and those secrets cost her, but again, it takes time for things to come out.
Everything does take a time to come out, and I suggest, if like me, you weren't liking the slow pace, KEEP AT IT! It does speed up and move at pace. I am glad I kept with it.
Riley tells a great tale, even with this illness that rocks her through much of the book. I enjoyed her, especially as she is the only voice in the book. I liked the way the illness was dealt with, or not for much of the time!
I think I might not have enjoyed this so much had someone else had a say, which is contrary to my usual "I wanted to hear from everyone" thing, I know, but I really did like Riley.
It's well written, and well delivered. There is just enough suspense, once it kicks off, to keep you fully engaged and invested with this group of people.
As an ARC reader of many years, my primary genre is romance. Once in a while something different will come through and my interest is piqued. I am certainly glad I took this one on, and will absolutely read more by this author as and when.
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen
10.0
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Elizabeth I is one of England's most famous monarchs, whose story as the ‘Virgin Queen’ is well...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Come Home Katie ( Dear Celeste 1) in Books
Apr 30, 2024
79 of 220
Arc/kindle
Come Home Katie ( Dear Celeste 1)
By J.R. Erickson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What if you died and brought the dead back with you?
A terrible hit and run accident took Celeste Cleary's life until doctors managed to bring her back. But now she's... different. Once a respected scientist, she walks the thin veil between the living and the dead.
As she struggles to return to her former life, Celeste receives an email-a heart-wrenching letter from a stranger, a woman begging for help locating her seventeen-year-old sister, Katie, who vanished a year before.
Celeste's first impulse is to say no-what does she know about finding a missing person?
But late one snowy night Celeste is drawn into the forest where the spectral form of Katie awaits her and, though the girl does not speak, the message is clear. Katie wants Celeste to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.
As Celeste delves into the mystery surrounding Katie's vanishing, she is ensnared in a sinister labyrinth of secrets and lies. Someone doesn't want her to find out the truth and there's nothing they won't do to stop her.
This had me completely hooked from start to finish. The story and characters just draw you in and have you invested. Celeste is changed after having a NDE and these changes bring a former sceptic and scientist to believe the spectral appearance of a young girl who missing means she need to help find her. There are a few times in this book where I thought hell no I’d be out of there I honestly wouldn’t have coped. It was really good, when I wasn’t reading I was thinking of who could have done it. I was so wrong up until 2 chapters before it was revealed! Highly recommend.
Arc/kindle
Come Home Katie ( Dear Celeste 1)
By J.R. Erickson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What if you died and brought the dead back with you?
A terrible hit and run accident took Celeste Cleary's life until doctors managed to bring her back. But now she's... different. Once a respected scientist, she walks the thin veil between the living and the dead.
As she struggles to return to her former life, Celeste receives an email-a heart-wrenching letter from a stranger, a woman begging for help locating her seventeen-year-old sister, Katie, who vanished a year before.
Celeste's first impulse is to say no-what does she know about finding a missing person?
But late one snowy night Celeste is drawn into the forest where the spectral form of Katie awaits her and, though the girl does not speak, the message is clear. Katie wants Celeste to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.
As Celeste delves into the mystery surrounding Katie's vanishing, she is ensnared in a sinister labyrinth of secrets and lies. Someone doesn't want her to find out the truth and there's nothing they won't do to stop her.
This had me completely hooked from start to finish. The story and characters just draw you in and have you invested. Celeste is changed after having a NDE and these changes bring a former sceptic and scientist to believe the spectral appearance of a young girl who missing means she need to help find her. There are a few times in this book where I thought hell no I’d be out of there I honestly wouldn’t have coped. It was really good, when I wasn’t reading I was thinking of who could have done it. I was so wrong up until 2 chapters before it was revealed! Highly recommend.
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Festive Trees And Mistletoe (Hope Valley Christmas #3) in Books
Dec 9, 2025
FESTIVE TREES AND MISTLETOE is the perfectly named book three in the Hope Valley Christmas series. You don't have to read the other books before this one, although I'm sure you'll want to.
Pete is the one who lives in Hope Valley, well, Charnwell actually. He runs a Christmas Tree Farm and Garden Centre with his sister, Sadie. Charlie was spending time over Christmas and New Year in the village pub when he got dumped. Pete and Charlie meet on New Year's Eve, when both of them end up outside, unwilling to witness all the happy couples around them bringing in the New Year. There is a spark of attraction, but Charlie has literally just been dumped, so nothing happens. Not until the next December anyway...
This is a cosy read, full of Christmas cheer, and two men who really belong together, but decide they are going to be 'just friends'. You can imagine how well that works out, but they do have a couple of little speed bumps along the way. Both of these guys are wonderful, but Pete is seriously a 'good guy' in the best way possible. Throw in a hot lumberjack vibe too, and all is good in the world!
I loved that this was mostly low angst, with just the usual quandaries and worries that every new relationship brings when you live in two different places. Cooper and Jax also made my heart melt!
All in all, this was a brilliant Christmas read, that is slow-burn but high heat. I absolutely loved it and HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2025
Pete is the one who lives in Hope Valley, well, Charnwell actually. He runs a Christmas Tree Farm and Garden Centre with his sister, Sadie. Charlie was spending time over Christmas and New Year in the village pub when he got dumped. Pete and Charlie meet on New Year's Eve, when both of them end up outside, unwilling to witness all the happy couples around them bringing in the New Year. There is a spark of attraction, but Charlie has literally just been dumped, so nothing happens. Not until the next December anyway...
This is a cosy read, full of Christmas cheer, and two men who really belong together, but decide they are going to be 'just friends'. You can imagine how well that works out, but they do have a couple of little speed bumps along the way. Both of these guys are wonderful, but Pete is seriously a 'good guy' in the best way possible. Throw in a hot lumberjack vibe too, and all is good in the world!
I loved that this was mostly low angst, with just the usual quandaries and worries that every new relationship brings when you live in two different places. Cooper and Jax also made my heart melt!
All in all, this was a brilliant Christmas read, that is slow-burn but high heat. I absolutely loved it and HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2025
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Sweetest Blood in Books
Feb 10, 2026
SWEETEST BLOOD is a standalone paranormal romance between a witch and a vampire. Throw in a cursed sister and an evil coven, and there you have it.
This is a long book, and I'll be honest, I wondered how it could fill the book. But it does, and in such a way that you don't even notice the pages skipping by. I loved how Felix was a feeder and how he ended up with Severin, but I also loved how he was honest with Sev from the beginning. He is a saucy little minx, constantly teasing and pushing Severin's boundaries in the most perfect way. As for Severin himself, well, he's my favourite character of them all. He is cool, calm, and collected... until one of those he considers a friend or family is threatened.
Not only do Felix and Severin find their mates, but so do a multitude of others (don't worry, I won't name names!), so you get an all-for-one kind of story. I would say this is a surprisingly low angst story, considering the evil coven, etc., that is both a slow burn and fated mates insta-lust. Felix and Severin don't rush into a relationship (for reasons), but when they do, hold onto your hats, because it steams up pretty quickly!
The first book by this author I have read, and if their other books are like this, then it won't be my last. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 10, 2026
This is a long book, and I'll be honest, I wondered how it could fill the book. But it does, and in such a way that you don't even notice the pages skipping by. I loved how Felix was a feeder and how he ended up with Severin, but I also loved how he was honest with Sev from the beginning. He is a saucy little minx, constantly teasing and pushing Severin's boundaries in the most perfect way. As for Severin himself, well, he's my favourite character of them all. He is cool, calm, and collected... until one of those he considers a friend or family is threatened.
Not only do Felix and Severin find their mates, but so do a multitude of others (don't worry, I won't name names!), so you get an all-for-one kind of story. I would say this is a surprisingly low angst story, considering the evil coven, etc., that is both a slow burn and fated mates insta-lust. Felix and Severin don't rush into a relationship (for reasons), but when they do, hold onto your hats, because it steams up pretty quickly!
The first book by this author I have read, and if their other books are like this, then it won't be my last. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 10, 2026