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Silas's Sweetheart (Divergent Omegaverse #4)
Silas's Sweetheart (Divergent Omegaverse #4)
JP Sayle | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
SILAS'S SWEETHEART is the fourth book in the Divergent Omegaverse series. For the majority of this book, it takes place at the same time as Taylin's Temptation and Booker's Bliss. So while I suggest you do read those books first, it isn't 100% necessary. You just might miss little parts of the story, for example, the Omegas in the factory. That had a massive impact on me in the first book, less so in Booker's, and even less in this one.

Silas is the oldest of the brothers and a divergent. He has his concerns about taking over from Derick as the 'face' of Starling, as well as 101 concerns about working with his brothers. Throw in an Omega he met at Hidden Desires and can't get out of his mind, who turns up at his PA, and Silas has it all going on.

There were so many parts to their story that I enjoyed. Ziggy and his relationship with the other PAs, learning to be in a family, Silas learning to trust, to name just a few.

I just couldn't stretch to five stars for a couple of reasons, and let me tell you why. Firstly, the constant bickering between the brothers. Now, I know some families are like this in real life, but for me, it's just plain exhausting, and I found myself skipping over parts where they were acting like immature Alphaholes, instead of the adults they were supposed to be. And secondly, while I enjoyed reading events from Silas and Ziggy's point of view, I felt like it took up too much of their story. They didn't even get to the ranch, something I haven't yet read about, until 70% in. Add those things together, and it's a 4-star read from me.

Maybe I will enjoy the overlap more for the next book, when I haven't read the others so close together? I don't know. What I can say is I did enjoy this story and have no hesitation in recommending it. I look forward to returning to their world and seeing how the next one falls.

** 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 14, 2025
  
Heart of Hope (Hooves & Hearts #2)
Heart of Hope (Hooves & Hearts #2)
Hannah E. Carey | 2025 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HEART OF HOPE is the second book in the Hooves & Hearts series, and features Isabel and Derrick, along with Cadence, Kaspar, and Knight.

Isabel is a rider at her dad's place, River Green Farm. From what I understand, she competes in horse shows and events on behalf of the horse owners. Her dad (and I use that word loosely) is an antagonistic character with plenty of sharp edges that he usually uses on Isabel. She is lucky enough to have a trust fund, but lives frugally, which is how she can buy two horses (Kaspar and Knight) to go with Cadence when they are up for sale. Unfortunately, Knight is quite old, and Kaspar is having issues. That, coupled with Cadence's problems, is where Derrick comes into play. Rodger (dad) doesn't like Derrick, but his own vets have missed problems in both Cadence and Kaspar.

I'm going to be probably controversial here, and I apologise to the author, but I connected more with the horses than with Isabel and Derrick. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about the two of them, and I was rooting for them to get together. What really held my attention, though, and had me turning every page, was Kaspar, Cadence, and Knight. I desperately wanted Kaspar's issues to be found so he could be helped, along with Cadence getting better, and Knight getting the retirement he'd earned.

Meg and Carter make an appearance here, which was wonderful to read. There are also a host of other characters to help bring the story alive. Some I liked, Sierra, for example, while others I really didn't, like Sara and Trevor. I mean, I know I'm not supposed to, but I didn't enjoy any of the scenes they were in. There was too much unknown - like why did Sara's attitude change even before Isabel left - that I just didn't care about.

A good, solid read and I was happy to return to their world. You don't need to have read book one to get the full enjoyment from this one. 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 26, 2025
  
His Mate by Allegiance (Lunetti Pack #3)
His Mate by Allegiance (Lunetti Pack #3)
Mel Aitchess | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
HIS MATE BY ALLEGIANCE is the third book in the Lunetti Pack series. I haven't read them all as I missed book one, but fell in love with book two, and jumped at the chance of reading book three. What can I say? I'm hooked! I love this world that the author has given us.

To show the Council that they're all playing nicely together, Marco and Blaze have arranged a wedding between the MC and the Pack. Emilio is the one taking the fall for the Pack, and Rocco for the MC. Emilio was quite happily planning his future husband's demise when the worst thing (for him) happens. He realises Rocco is his fated mate, and he really, REALLY, doesn't want one of those! As for Rocco, well, he's planning on being as in-your-face as he can be to push Emilio away. So you get that neither of them is on board with this, right? Yeah, well, that all changes once they meet. Trust me, they burn up the pages!

The story is more than just their relationship, and I loved how the story progressed. For me, though, it was all about Rocco and Emmy. I loved these two so much. One of the best parts was the slow and gentle realisation from Emmy that it would be okay to bond with Rocco. They really were a perfect fit! I loved how it wasn't some big bang realisation, but rather one that crept up on him, no matter how hard he fought it.

If there was one thing I wanted more of, it would be Emilio topping Rocco! It only happened once, and although it was off-the-charts hot, I would have liked it at least once more. But then, that's me being greedy and wanting more than I was given, which was absolutely good enough! And that is why I've rated this as 5/5. I'm certainly not going to knock a star, or half-star, off for something that would have been a bonus!

I can't wait for the next book and hope that Marco gets his HEA too at some point. 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!
Jul 14, 2025
  
Throne of Lies (Death's Embrace #3)
Throne of Lies (Death's Embrace #3)
H. L. Moore | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I cant see where these books are going!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
OK, so! Here's the thing: these books are a fair step out of my comfort zone, and I'm bloody LOVING them! But I also hate them. WHY?? I cannot, for the life of me, see where they are going and it's doing my head in! But I am so fully invested in these people and their lives, that I cannot give up. And if I do not get my answers in book 4, I will be mighty peeved!
This is book 3 and you need to read these books in order. It's very important!
In book one, we only got Doran, book 2 gave us Nathaniel as well. Now, in book 3, we get Grace too.
And that girl has a world of pressure on her young shoulders, she really does. The forces that want her gone are circling, pressing in on all sides. They are, systematically, removing her support, piece by piece. And Grace fights, she fights hard and I loved that she starts to find her feet.
Doran and Nathaniel continue to grow their relationship, but the book is mostly clean. The smex scenes are very much faded to grey and I loved that here.
This is, though, a bit darker, I thought. Violent, too. But those wanting her gone play dirty, and deadly, and it all comes to a shocking cliffhanger that I did not see coming and I was annoyed and angry and all sorts of negative feelings that really erupted from me and my kindle hit the wall! (both wall and kindle are unscathed!)
So now Grace and Nathaniel, the man she hates the most, and with good reason, are on the run. Those closest to Grace have been left for dead and she has to trust Nathaniel, she really does.
I said in my review for book 2 that I'm not sure what Samael has to do with anything. I STILL don't know the answer to that!
Because these books keep me fully invested and entertained. Because I cannot see where it's going. Because I am both loving and hating these books in equal measure.
Just bloody because it's my review and I can star it how I see fit . . .
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
I Must Betray You
I Must Betray You
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Trigger Warnings: blackmailing, manipulation, revolution, shooting, police brutality, government oppression

Set in late 1989 communist Romania, 17-year-old Cristian is forced to become an informer by the secret police in exchange to help his family. While he deals with the guilt and paranoia of being an informer, Cristian also risks everything to let the world know what is happening in Romania. But what is the cost of the revolution?

As usual, another section of history I didn’t really know anything about until Ruta Sepetys wrote a book about it and now I’ll be doing a ton of research about it this weekend. I was in middle school and high school in the 2000s, so I kind of understand why I probably never really learned much about this if they didn’t unseal files for 15 years… though I do remember learning about Nadia Comăneci leaving the country? But I don’t remember Nicolae Ceaușescu or the horrors of his regime.

Rita Sepetys is one of my favorite authors - if she writes it, I know I’m going to read it, get immersed in a new part of history I probably wasn’t aware of, and learn something new. I know Sepetys does a ton of research on each of her books, and this one is no different. She lets you know it is a work of fiction, but that a ton of research went into the novel and then she lists resources at the end of the book. Knowing how much research was done for this and matching it with a narrator who captivates the readers - I couldn’t put this book down.

The chapters were mostly short and a quick read, but that matched with the franticness of Cristian’s life. You slowly see his eyes opening to the fact that what his country is doing to him and his countrymen is not right and how much they had been lied to to keep them in line. You felt the same suspension he felt as he tried to figure out who he could really trust.

Please read this book (and other titles by Sepetys as well) and learn about an aspect of history that most likely wasn’t taught much in school in a way that’s well written and well researched.
  
The Current Between Us (Layne Family Duet #1)
The Current Between Us (Layne Family Duet #1)
Kindle Alexander | 2016 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
OMG!! I simply adore Kindle Alexander's work so please excuse me if you think I'm fangirling... because I will be! There are many reasons that I love her work but the main reason is her work is CLEAN. By clean, I mean that there are very few, if any, grammatical or spelling errors. The plot line is well thought out and presented. The characters are all believable, well rounded and grow with the story. So for those reasons alone, I look forward to reading a Kindle Alexander book every. single. time!

The Current Between Us however, simply overloaded my circuits! (See what I did there? Yeah, not funny, I apologise.) This is pure and simply a love story but with pizzazz! The connection between the two is instantaneous and HOT! I loved how Gage actually changed his ways for no other reason than he couldn't see the reason for keeping them now that he had met the love of his life. I loved how Trent was cautious and almost suspicious of the good thing that came into his life and I could totally see and understand his reaction regarding the differences between himself and Gage.

The supporting characters in this are also superb, Auntie Crazy (love that), Rhonny, Hunter (love him) and Emalynn - how can you not fall in love with each and every character in this book?

This story pulls you in, gets you thinking one way and then suckers you, right in the stomach. The world literally dropped out from beneath me when I read this part and saw the cracks forming. It was heartbreaking. I love that a book can get to me this way.

I'm not going to say anything else about the plot as I don't want to give away any spoilers and trust me when I say that you really should read this for yourself because it is cracking.

So, in summary, if you want a smokin' hot, romantic, gorgeous book that is also incredibly good value for money, then I can highly recommend any of Kindle Alexander's works!

* 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!
Jun 04, 2015