In being true to myself, I decided to set this up spur of the moment right before I need to be at work. So I've created this page but don't want to leave it naked and don't really have time to write anything.
I'm going to put the reviews for the last few books I've read from netgalley.com. I'll explain netgalley and give my opinions of Exo by Fonda Lee next time.
In the meantime, the reviews.
A small disclaimer. Please keep in mind I enjoy mindless reading. I also do a fair amount of reading for my collection, which is romance. I buy all kinds of romance not all of which personally appeals to me but I read it for review. Everything that is reviewed here might not be to your taste. Judge a book by it's summary and make decisions based on your personal preferences.
Read on, my friends.
Two Man Station by Lisa Henry
Gio Valeri is a big-city cop, with a reputation in tatters,
who has been transferred to a small outback town. Jason Quinn, a single dad
struggling to balance work and life, is in the officer in charge of the station
in the outback town of Richmond. Gio wants to keep his head down and stay out
of trouble but Jason is very hesitant to trust his new officer. This romance
plays out amidst the drama of a small-town police department and while Jason is
a warm and loveable character, Gio is moody, broody and a little hard to love.
The first half of the book is a bit slow moving and full of angst from both
main characters and it took a little while for me to invest in them and the
story. The second half had more action and emotion with a darker sub-plot
involving domestic abuse that may be a little much for readers just looking for
a romantic story.
While I eventually enjoyed the novel, the rich use of
Australian jargon was a little confusing and interfered with the narrative for
me. I would try another novel by this author. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs
Burn Bright is the fifth Alpha and Omega book and while it
can be read as a stand-alone, it’s best to start at the beginning of the series
for maximum enjoyment.
In this outing, werewolf Anna and her mate Charles are
minding the Marrok’s pack in Aspen Creek, Montana while the uber-werewolf is
traveling. After a call from one of Bran’s very special, very dangerous, nearly
wild wolves, Charles and Anna rush off to investigate and find themselves in
the middle of a perplexing mystery.
Danger, intrigue and betrayal run deep in this installment
and there are some surprising twists. The novel reaches a satisfying conclusion
and while I was left puzzled by a few threads left hanging, this story
introduces a whole new conflict and exciting possibilities for future stories.
A must read for fans of Patricia Briggs, the Alpha and Omega series and Urban
Fantasy lovers. 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
I’ve read many werewolf stories but this one was intriguing.
As a young, female wolf at the bottom of her pack’s pecking order, Silver has
no chance for a better life. But when a stranger stumbles into their midst, she
decides to risk everything on a chance to truly belong.
The story is dark and unique with solid writing and
storytelling. I was fascinated by the world building and the way the wolves
ordered their pack and their lives. It’s very unusual to have a shifter story
where the where the characters seem to really understand their animal
counterpart. The romantic element enhances the story without overwhelming it
and the conclusion was suspenseful. An enjoyable read. I will purchase this
book for my collection and look forward to reading the sequel. 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
New Heights by Quinn Anderson
So, the premise sounded intriguing. Two guys with very
different temperaments get stuck at the airport on a horrible layover. They
drive each other crazy but sparks fly and romance ensues. It had the potential
to be a cute, sweet read.
What we got was pages upon pages of junior high school boy
sniping and pranks. The characters where not likeable or believable and when we
arrived at the inevitable conclusion, I had a hard time believing it.
Worst of all, we never got to see their romance develop. It
all happened off the page and was alluded to in a wrap it up quick epilogue.
I had hard time finishing this one. 1 star.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
The Little Library by Kim Fielding
Elliot Thompson is an academic. A historian. But his
promising career has been compromised by a scandal. He has retreated home to rural
California to nurse his broken heart. He spends his days teaching online
classes, buying books and fretting about his future.
In an effort to manage some of his book hoard, he builds a
little library on his property and this act puts him in greater contact with
his neighbors including handsome Simon Oshido. Simon has lost his job in law
enforcement when a bullet shattered his knee. He’s now in recovery and the
books in Elliot’s library help him to explore his sexuality and find the
courage to come out of the closet.
This is a sweet, gentle romance of discovery. The pace is slow
and easy. The characters are likeable and believable. And the little library as
a way to heal and connect with the neighbors is delightful. There are not many
surprises or anything earth shattering but it was fun to read and see Elliot
and Simon work out their relationship. I enjoyed their romance and found this a
very satisfying read. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
The Lady Vanishes by Joanna Davidson Politano
A very interesting story within a story. Very intriguing and
a solid first novel from this author.
I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the idea. Despite a
few writing and style quirks, I would read future novels by this author. 3.5
stars
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
