Not too bad. It was better than I expected though not quite what I had anticipated. The mystery was decent and pulled together some threads from previous books. Their professional life is in a bit of flux but it was realistic. I think she may have ended it that way to leave it open for another installment. This is supposed to be the conclusion but things could change, I guess. Small spoilers
Ffs, Lanyon posted on her blog that there’s supposed to be an epilogue that Amazon buyers didn’t get. You have to go into “manage your account” and update the book. BUT no update option so I have to call CS. I think this is the 3rd time doing this for Lanyon. Definitely the second.
**I’m out** It shouldn’t be such a big production to just read a frickin’ book.
Finally got the epilogue. It took a day and 2 calls to CS but I got it. Nice epilogue and it settled things up a little better. **Still available to loan if anyone’s interested
Starfig Investigations (2 book series) Meghan Maslow. I liked ‘em. The world building was interesting and unusual and I liked the characters. I’d buy the next book if it continues and I’d pick these up on sale.
Tanya Chris/T. M. Chris (Same author. She uses the T M. pseudonym for her more erotic stuff, I think. Forget I Told You DNF. I’ve liked several by her but this didn’t work. It just wasn’t grabbing me. I stuck it out for a few chapters then bailed and skipped to the end, which seemed fairly ridiculous. Tamed I liked it. Expansion of a short story she had in an anthology. D/s, BDSM. Pain as pleasure isn’t something I really understand but to each their own. This is a relationship where the D/s aspect extends out of the bedroom. Again, not something I fully understand but it’s an interesting dynamic. I liked them as a couple and it worked for me. I’ll definitely pick this up on sale and I could see it being a reread. Pledged Another D/s, BDSM. Again, I liked it. This prob wouldn’t be a reread but I liked it. There’s a link at the end that takes you to an additional story on her website...it’s more hardcore but it’s a nice epilogue. Deep Under Reread, not a KU loan. Enjoyed it again and I was glad I revisited it cuz she has added a couple more stories with them on her website. If you sign up for her website you can download the extras and send them to your kindle.
Beth Bolden Indulge Me (Kitchen Gods Book 4) Impossible Things (Star Shadow Book 2) *** I finished both but was kinda disappointed. There’s a lot of introspection and the characters are in their heads too much. The back and forth got repetitious and old. Just needed better pacing and a tighter plot. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t reread but I might pick them up on sale for the sake of having a complete set. I really enjoyed book 1 of Star Shadow. There’s some of the same problems with pacing but I liked their relationship a lot more.
Anyta Sunday Gemini Keeps Capricorn (Signs of Love Book 3) Some big issues with this one. Bit of political sniping and religious mockery that I could have done without and the misunderstanding is the same as the first book. The younger H works in a coffee shop and there’s free food/coffee continually flying out and they’re making free use of the premises before and after hours. Small businesses (usually) have a tight profit margin and this left a sour taste. A small mention of using food that was about to be wasted or an arrangement with the owner could have resolved this but, as presented, it was theft. Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love Book 4) In general, I liked it but there’s a very short timeline (3-4 weeks) so it would have greatly benefited from an epilogue. There’s a cute cameo with the Hs from book 1. Solidly average, maybe a bit above but a quick, pleasant read.
Integrity Willow Scarlett. Desperately needed another pass with an editor. Mostly grammatical mistakes (lotta missing commas) so it was readable, just annoying. The music rivalry seemed a little strange too. That said, I liked it. The flow was quite good and it made for a quick, enjoyable read. Interesting couple.
The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (A Black and Blue Novel Book 1) Lily Morton. DNF. The writing was really awkward and it read like she was writing with a thesaurus and not really comfortable with the vocabulary. They weren’t really big/unusual words but it felt stilted. Again, I skipped to what seemed like a ridiculous ending.
Garrett Leigh The Edge of the World Unusual premise but kinda odd. *** Jude Cash Believe: A Skins Novel So these 3 all start with the same premise...they meet as a ONS and it develops from there. Some unusual aspects and jobs (rescue pilot, children’s performer, reptile store owner, etc...) but all pretty meh otherwise. The first interactions were very similar and overall the books aren’t very memorable, imo. I finished ‘em but did skim a bit. Not sure I’d bother picking these up on sale.
Wild by Nature Lynn Van Dorn. Like the author and liked this. Daddy kink. Not a particularly deep read but it was fun and there’s a nice epilogue. The younger H moves onto the new relationship quickly but it worked and I mostly didn’t have an issue with it. Dual POV and I really liked the thoughts of the older H.
The Brothers Grime (3 book series) Z.A. Maxfield. ***reissued*** I’ve enjoyed several by her but these were pretty bland. The first H was way too hung up on his ex and they both have a ONS (with other people) the night before they get together. The ex is the new H’s cousin, btw, which I hate. There’s plenty of fish in the sea...pick another family! Sex scenes were rote and all the relationships felt lukewarm to me. Another interesting premise gone to waste. Book 3 was probably the best of the lot but that’s not saying much.
A Pebble for Lewis (Alaskan Pebble Gifters Book 1) Amy Bellows. Blegh! Nope! I skimmed maybe 30% but read the end. I don’t like mpreg and didn’t like the world building or social structure set up. At least 2 time jumps of a year or more so there’s a lot of telling instead of showing their connection. No for me. Even as a free KU read I had no interest in looking at book 2. Not even for a peek at the ending.
I'm Straight, Right? DNF. I didn’t read far enough to have a true opinion but the writing style wasn’t for me. Not much to say.
Blindside Hit: A Toronto Wolverines Novel Yeah, this didn’t work either. Frankly kinda unbelievable that there’d be so many semi out players on the same hockey team and the relationship was immature. Again, I skimmed a bit but I won’t be continuing this series.
I think I had a few more but I can’t access my list anymore. I guess it only stays in the account if you’re a current member. I’ll track ‘em down tomorrow.
Starlight (Dark Space Book 3) ***books 1 & 2 were reissued*** I had previously read the others but was ambivalent about continuing. They weren’t her best work and there were gaps in the world building. I DNF this but wouldn’t really consider it a DNF. I barely started but just didn’t feel like reading more. It was more about my mood than the story. Prob shouldn’t have bothered listing.
The Perfect Cover DNF. Pace was pretty slow for what I expected. Lotta short chapters. I hung around til about 20% and gave up. Editing was okay but style just didn’t work for me.
Pretty good. A few loose threads that can be carried over into another book but they’re also in a good place if she doesn’t continue the series.
Let's try this again. I lost my post while typing it the first time.
I borrowed the first book via KU so I could skim it to get ready to read this one and I ended up reading every word. I really liked book one and liked the two Hs. This one is really good too but I'd love to get a couple of things off my chest. I'll post them in the spoiler box so I won't potentially ruin the book for anyone who hasn't read it.
ETA: Just finished the book and the two things I talked about in the spoiler box were a moot point after I posted. So.....I ended up really liking the book.
I'm at 57% and so far liking the book but I'm wondering / bothered by a couple of things.
#1 How gross is the ghost with the melting skin and the "I don't want to die, die, die" going to get? I was worried I might have nightmares about it but as of last night, I didn't. I'm hoping it doesn't get too much more graphic -- gross.
#2 I would think that if I had ghosts watching and commenting while I was getting busy with my S.O. that I'd be a little more motivated to learn to control my medium abilities. But the H resists all efforts and I just don't get why. It's annoying me and I think Danny is being very patient with him, more patient than I would be.
It doesn’t get any more graphic. It stays pretty much the same. Trying to not be too spoilery...the final scene with that ghost is a little more intense but not more graphic, imo.
It didn’t bother me as much. In retrospect, it probably should have. I was more hung up on the similarities to the PsyCop series. I think it was more about him not really accepting that side of himself even as he’s trying to embrace it as part of their new investigation unit. Also, not wanting to admit he needed help maybe? He’s an educated, focused, FBI guy....these psychic guru “kooks” can’t teach him anything. He’s going to figure it out himself, darn it!
It doesn’t get any more graphic. It stays pretty much the same. Trying to not be too spoilery...the final scene with that ghost is a little more intense but not more graphic, imo.
It didn’t bother me as much. In retrospect, it probably should have. I was more hung up on the similarities to the PsyCop series. I think it was more about him not really accepting that side of himself even as he’s trying to embrace it as part of their new investigation unit. Also, not wanting to admit he needed help maybe? He’s an educated, focused, FBI guy....these psychic guru “kooks” can’t teach him anything. He’s going to figure it out himself, darn it!
Didn't see this before I edited my first post, sorry. But I agree with what you've written. :-)
Another KU one I forgot to list first time around **no loan available
The Lost Boy Anna Martin ((Anna Martin author page)) ***Everything has been reissued*** Originally a Dreamspinner author. There’s a few more that haven’t been reissued but hopefully it’s just a matter of time))
I picked this up not realizing it was the sequel to The Impossible Boy. I liked Impossible Boy, more for the uniqueness than anything else. The relationship and story had some weaknesses and wouldn’t be a reread, I think. Lost Boy was a bit of a mess. There’s a time jump and a breakup between the books. That’s a plot point that can work (I’ve read a few I’ve liked) but didn’t really pan out here. I skimmed some but the story stayed pretty superficial. Just didn’t like it.
Her available backlist is now on KU. I really liked My Prince and Signs. Signs is a YA/NA. They’re both 18 and there’s sexual content. Other than knowing their ages and that they’re still dealing with parents/school/curfew, etc...they’re pretty mature.