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Merissa (13961 KP) rated Twister in Books
Aug 4, 2025
TWISTER is a standalone novel in a wider selection of books set at the same time (ish) in the same town (ish). Daniel is looking after his daughter and his farm, while Marshall is trying to figure out what to do with his life. When a twister blows into town, all bets are off as they work together.
There are many parts of this story I loved - the meet-cute, Rose, Bucky, KAJIR!!!, Jackson - loved all of it. What I didn't get on so well with was the sheer speed of it. Also, there were a lot of hot topics covered, but none in-depth, again, because of the fast pacing.
This author is new to me, but I would definitely be happy to read more of her work. This had me laughing out loud at the over-the-top personalities, eyes leaking in the hospital, and the devastation at the farm, plus both during the wedding ceremony.
A fast-paced, fun read that I definitely recommend.
** 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!
Aug 4, 2025
There are many parts of this story I loved - the meet-cute, Rose, Bucky, KAJIR!!!, Jackson - loved all of it. What I didn't get on so well with was the sheer speed of it. Also, there were a lot of hot topics covered, but none in-depth, again, because of the fast pacing.
This author is new to me, but I would definitely be happy to read more of her work. This had me laughing out loud at the over-the-top personalities, eyes leaking in the hospital, and the devastation at the farm, plus both during the wedding ceremony.
A fast-paced, fun read that I definitely recommend.
** 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!
Aug 4, 2025
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2544 KP) rated The Last Line in Books
Aug 16, 2025 (Updated Aug 16, 2025)
Murder in a Teacup…Live on Stage!
The latest production at the theater Ellie Marlow owns is Murder in a Teacup. Unfortunately, the lead is Reginald Thornton IV, who seems to be going out of his way to alienate everyone. His character is supposed to die as part of the play, but opening night, he really dies. While the state detectives are quick to judge it natural, something doesn’t sit right with Ellie. Can she figure out what happened?
I picked this book up expecting a cozy, but it quickly became evident this is a bit more of a traditional than a lighter cozy. As long as you know this going in, you should be fine. The mystery is good, and I was fooled until the end. Ellie has Tourette’s, something that overwhelms at times and proves to be a distraction. On the whole, I did love her character and the co-lead as well, as well as how their marriages were shown. The story is told from several points of view, but at times, we have some head hopping. This feels like a standalone instead of a series opener, but if we get a sequel, I’d be interested in revisiting the characters.
I picked this book up expecting a cozy, but it quickly became evident this is a bit more of a traditional than a lighter cozy. As long as you know this going in, you should be fine. The mystery is good, and I was fooled until the end. Ellie has Tourette’s, something that overwhelms at times and proves to be a distraction. On the whole, I did love her character and the co-lead as well, as well as how their marriages were shown. The story is told from several points of view, but at times, we have some head hopping. This feels like a standalone instead of a series opener, but if we get a sequel, I’d be interested in revisiting the characters.
Merissa (13961 KP) rated Loving Carter (True Mates #4) in Books
Nov 6, 2025
LOVING CARTER is the fourth book in the True Mates series, but you don't have to have read the others to enjoy this one.
Carter is the epitome of a chatterbox, until it literally gets knocked out of him. My heart broke for him so many times. Luckily for him (and my heart), he has Rey as his True Mate. After a slightly dodgy meet-cute, these two are perfect for each other. Rey is endlessly patient and brings Carter back to life in more than one way.
This was a nice and easy read, although there is trauma here too, so if you have any triggers, be warned. Although I read it as a standalone, it has left me wanting to read the others in this series. And I absolutely, definitely need Nevada, Stone, and Jack's stories. You see what I mean?!
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and read in one sitting. Definitely 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!
Nov 6, 2025
Carter is the epitome of a chatterbox, until it literally gets knocked out of him. My heart broke for him so many times. Luckily for him (and my heart), he has Rey as his True Mate. After a slightly dodgy meet-cute, these two are perfect for each other. Rey is endlessly patient and brings Carter back to life in more than one way.
This was a nice and easy read, although there is trauma here too, so if you have any triggers, be warned. Although I read it as a standalone, it has left me wanting to read the others in this series. And I absolutely, definitely need Nevada, Stone, and Jack's stories. You see what I mean?!
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and read in one sitting. Definitely 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!
Nov 6, 2025
Merissa (13961 KP) rated The Lucky Ones (Unpredictable #2) in Books
Nov 10, 2025
THE LUCKY ONES is the second standalone novel in the Unpredictable series. You don't have to have read book one to enjoy this one, although I personally enjoyed seeing Weston and Brenner from Not That Guy again.
Keston has a chip on his shoulder that he wears loud and proud. He did have a rough time of it, but still. Bailey is the opposite - he also had a rough time of it, but hides behind a cheerful mask. Both of them still have problems and issues they're dealing with. And both of them either don't communicate or miscommunicate!
As with all of this author's books, there is plenty of emotion and real-life problems to be overcome. Nothing is ever easy, and I love that about these books. It gives me enough 'fairytale' while still being grounded. There is steam aplenty between these two, but also a deeper, emotional connection, if only they would trust enough to allow it.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
** 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!
Nov 10, 2025
Keston has a chip on his shoulder that he wears loud and proud. He did have a rough time of it, but still. Bailey is the opposite - he also had a rough time of it, but hides behind a cheerful mask. Both of them still have problems and issues they're dealing with. And both of them either don't communicate or miscommunicate!
As with all of this author's books, there is plenty of emotion and real-life problems to be overcome. Nothing is ever easy, and I love that about these books. It gives me enough 'fairytale' while still being grounded. There is steam aplenty between these two, but also a deeper, emotional connection, if only they would trust enough to allow it.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
** 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!
Nov 10, 2025
Merissa (13961 KP) rated Seven Nights With The Moonblood Prince in Books
Nov 24, 2025
SEVEN NIGHTS WITH THE MOONBLOOD PRINCE is a standalone fantasy romance that reads like an opposite Aladdin!
Alaric comes from a Northern Kingdom where magic, frivolities, and anything not absolutely necessary are banned. He is also the b@stard son of the king, with magic in his veins, so is basically sold to a desert kingdom for trade routes. Samar is the thief who steals Alaric's heart, who shows him around the town, and who actually talks with him. I'm sure you can figure the rest out.
This was an easy read, full of magic and mayhem, as they get into different adventures night after night. I will be honest: I was expecting the rose to have a bigger impact than it did. This could easily be the start of a new series, especially with the discovery of the wall in the epilogue.
Definitely recommended for anyone who can read with the song 'Prince Ali' on repeat in their head!
** 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!
Nov 22, 2025
Alaric comes from a Northern Kingdom where magic, frivolities, and anything not absolutely necessary are banned. He is also the b@stard son of the king, with magic in his veins, so is basically sold to a desert kingdom for trade routes. Samar is the thief who steals Alaric's heart, who shows him around the town, and who actually talks with him. I'm sure you can figure the rest out.
This was an easy read, full of magic and mayhem, as they get into different adventures night after night. I will be honest: I was expecting the rose to have a bigger impact than it did. This could easily be the start of a new series, especially with the discovery of the wall in the epilogue.
Definitely recommended for anyone who can read with the song 'Prince Ali' on repeat in their head!
** 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!
Nov 22, 2025
Merissa (13961 KP) rated Beyond the Dark Oceans in Books
May 21, 2026 - 1:11 PM
BEYOND THE DARK OCEANS is a standalone family saga that follows the life of Georgy Huntingford and his family, from his childhood through to adulthood.
He was born in England and spent part of his childhood there before, for various reasons, his family moved to Canada. Life was still hard, but the family drew together, as they always had. You really get a feeling of what it was like, the hardships faced and endured. You also get a front row seat into the dynamics of the Huntingford family, with the relationships between siblings, as well as with their parents. You also get a wider dynamic with other family members, too.
I found this to be an interesting read that kept my attention from beginning to end. I would have loved to have known for sure what happened to William, but art imitated life in this regard, and I'm left not knowing, as were so many other families.
A thoroughly enjoyable, well-researched historical story that I definitely recommend.
** 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!
May 21, 2026
He was born in England and spent part of his childhood there before, for various reasons, his family moved to Canada. Life was still hard, but the family drew together, as they always had. You really get a feeling of what it was like, the hardships faced and endured. You also get a front row seat into the dynamics of the Huntingford family, with the relationships between siblings, as well as with their parents. You also get a wider dynamic with other family members, too.
I found this to be an interesting read that kept my attention from beginning to end. I would have loved to have known for sure what happened to William, but art imitated life in this regard, and I'm left not knowing, as were so many other families.
A thoroughly enjoyable, well-researched historical story that I definitely recommend.
** 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!
May 21, 2026
Merissa (13961 KP) rated A Wolf's Love: A Paranormal Romance Short Read (Flame #5.1) in Books
Nov 20, 2017
A Wolf's Love: A Paranormal Romance Short Read (Flame #5.5) by Caris Roane
A Wolf's Love is a short story addition to the Flame series. Cole and Lauren were together, until Lauren did something that Cole couldn't accept, and he called it off. However, when a teenager is kidnapped, Cole is the one that Lauren turns to, even though he refuses to help (at first). What follows is the two of them putting another's needs before their own, and working together to save her.
As with all Caris Roane's books, this is very well-written. It may only be a short story, but a full story is here. Nothing has been skimped on, instead you can settle in for a very good read. Personally, I would recommend that you start at book one, just to get the full enjoyment of the world of the Flame, but it isn't fully necessary. You 'could' read them in any order and as a standalone, but I do feel that you would miss something out of this well-developed world. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, I can highly recommend this short story.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
As with all Caris Roane's books, this is very well-written. It may only be a short story, but a full story is here. Nothing has been skimped on, instead you can settle in for a very good read. Personally, I would recommend that you start at book one, just to get the full enjoyment of the world of the Flame, but it isn't fully necessary. You 'could' read them in any order and as a standalone, but I do feel that you would miss something out of this well-developed world. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, I can highly recommend this short story.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13961 KP) rated Riptide (Boys of Summer) in Books
Jun 18, 2019
Riptide (Boys of Summer) by Jordan Ford
Jace - or Bass as he is known throughout most of this book - is a thrill-seeker. He is the ultimate paradox - a bad boy who doesn't actually try to be bad, and has a heart. He makes stupid decisions based on hurt feelings. His story is completely understandable and heartbreaking with how he feels. Ms. Ford has done a magnificent job of bringing him to life, to make his quandary completely relate-able.
And that's the thing with this book. As a reader, I got it. I could see where Bass was coming from, and why he behaved the way he did. Would I make the same decisions? No, but then I'm not a sixteen-year-old boy with the same experiences as him.
With no editing or grammatical errors that jolted me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and can't wait to see what happens when he goes to Ryder Bay and meets up with SnapDragon.
As a standalone, this is a great read. As a prequel to the next Ryder Bay story, it's fantastic! Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
And that's the thing with this book. As a reader, I got it. I could see where Bass was coming from, and why he behaved the way he did. Would I make the same decisions? No, but then I'm not a sixteen-year-old boy with the same experiences as him.
With no editing or grammatical errors that jolted me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and can't wait to see what happens when he goes to Ryder Bay and meets up with SnapDragon.
As a standalone, this is a great read. As a prequel to the next Ryder Bay story, it's fantastic! Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13961 KP) rated To Covet The Fae in Books
Dec 17, 2018
To Covet The Fae is the first book in the spin off series, The Kincaid Wolves. As such, it involves characters and places that we have already met. Although you could read this as a standalone, to get the full benefit I would recommend reading the Deathless Night series first. Plus the fact, they are wonderful books so it will be no hardship, I assure you.
Heather is Grace's friend and has come with her from China to Seattle. However, there is more to her than meets the eye as Brock finds out when she is taken unwillingly to meet with "the Prince". Through certain machinations, Brock and Heather find themselves separated in a different dimension, with only the toss of a coin to guide them.
This is well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors. However, as the first of a series, even a spin-off, there is a lot of groundwork that has to be laid. Also, it helps to provide the build up to the future books. This looks like it is going to be a series just as hot as the Deathless Nights, and so I have no hesitation in recommending it!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Heather is Grace's friend and has come with her from China to Seattle. However, there is more to her than meets the eye as Brock finds out when she is taken unwillingly to meet with "the Prince". Through certain machinations, Brock and Heather find themselves separated in a different dimension, with only the toss of a coin to guide them.
This is well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors. However, as the first of a series, even a spin-off, there is a lot of groundwork that has to be laid. Also, it helps to provide the build up to the future books. This looks like it is going to be a series just as hot as the Deathless Nights, and so I have no hesitation in recommending it!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!