Book Recommendations: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Book Recommendations

Welcome all to another new segment that I am starting on my blog. As the name suggests, this will be recommendations of books that I have read and enjoyed.

The recommendations will be from my own book shelf. I won’t be providing reviews, these will just be my pick each month of books that stood out for me. I am sharing these in a hope of connecting you with your next read or helping if you don’t know what to read next!


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Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

Book Review: Serial Investigations 1-5 by Rhiannon D’Averc

Boxset covers 1 - 5

If you’re a fan of extreme slow-burn friends to lovers romance, high-stakes drama mystery thrillers, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Jump into the action from the very beginning with Bloodless, the first book in a series you won’t dare to put down.

Purchase: Amazon.com


Review

Rating: 5 stars

*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*

Some of you may remember I was introduced to Will and Ram back in 2020. Since then there have been 11 books in the series with the 12th one out on 16th April. Since I first read Books 1-5, they have undergone an overhaul with new scenes added and brand new covers! As I have reviewed books 1-5 previously, I will only be commenting on the changes here and will link my previous reviews below for you to check out.

First of all, the new scenes raise the heat level rather than the fade to black scenes that there were in the previous editions. I honestly did not mind the fade to black scenes, but I can see that perhaps many readers wanted more so adding in the scenes did make sense from that perspective. Also, they did add more to the series. For example, some more details of Ram’s random hook-ups also did do more to show that to him that is all they were – just a one night thing – and it also high-lighted his downward spiral from earlier on.

I really liked the new covers. It was great to see the author’s vision for both Will and Ram. Will looks pretty much how I imagined but Ram is quite different! I did like the old covers too, but these ones drew my eye more and will stand out better amongst others in the genre.

I really enjoyed re-visiting the first 5 books in the series and cannot wait to read the others!

Previous Reviews:

Bloodless (Serial Investigations #1) by Rhiannon D’Averc

Blood Evidence (Serial Investigations #2) by Rhiannon D’Averc

Blood Alcohol (Serial Investigations #3) by Rhiannon D’Averc

Blood Sucker (Serial Investigations #4) by Rhiannon D’Averc

Blood Sport (Serial Investigations #5) By Rhiannon D’Averc

Shari’s Life: Thrifting Find!

Shari's Life

As you know, I love going thrifting and finding discarded treasures to take home with me! Today I wanted to share one such treasure that I found last weekend!

Tree MouseIt is this adorable mouse tree house figurine! I saw it when I first walked into the shop and I just had to pick it up! It was £2 and quite dirty but I cleaned it up pretty well! It is now sitting on the mantle-piece with some of my other figurines. I was so happy with it, that I kept going back to admire it for most of the weekend! It is just so cute and fits the new vibe I am going for in my flat perfectly! And speaking of that I am in the process of sorting through my room again. I will either post some photos here or on my Instagram Rii-san Collectibles!

Let me know if any of you guys go thrifting and if so, what treasures you have found!

Release Blitz: Death (The Four Horsemen Book 4) by Sienna Moreau

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Death (The Four Horsemen Book 4)

Author and Publisher: Sienna Moreau

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Release Date: March 15, 2023

Genre: Dark MM paranormal romance

Tropes: Unrequited hate, Demon/Horseman of the Apocalypse, hurt/comfort, possessiveness

Heat Rating: 4-5 flames

Length: 112 000 words

The books must be read in order. The first three books need to be read to understand this story. The series concludes in this book.

This book does not end on a cliffhanger. It is a HEA.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

It all began with the kiss of Death.

Blurb

Abaddon, the Destroyer, right hand of Lucifer, has returned from the dead with one thing on his mind: revenge on the Horseman who kept him from taking back what is his. But spending time alone with Death has awakened something between them, resulting in an experience that he enjoys more than revenge. The natural conclusion is to keep doing it, of course. He never planned on his heart getting involved with a Horseman he can’t even touch.

Death is the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, arriving only when the end is near. The Apocalypse he and his brothers were summoned for this time is over, lost when they lost one of their own, but the stakes are higher now than ever before. It isn’t just Earth that’s at risk; the fate of existence now hangs in the balance, with a power-hungry God ready to unleash a new world order.

Death cannot touch another and has resigned himself to spending his existence alone, until a kiss changes everything for him. When Abaddon returns, and they pick up right where they left off, Death doesn’t fight the attraction that spirals out of control faster than they can keep up with it. Death cannot feel Abaddon’s skin against his own, but Abaddon breaks so beautifully under him anyway, taking everything that he can give and asking for more.

Abaddon had never imagined that he would love anyone or fall so hard, so fast. Death had never imagined that he would find someone to walk beside him, someone to call his own. Time is running out for them, and if they don’t find a way to push back against the powers vying for them, all will be lost.

The last Apocalypse is coming, and no one is safe.

Death is the fourth and final book in the Four Horsemen series, filled with snark and morally questionable characters. This book is not a standalone and must be read in order.

Content warnings: religious themes, extreme violence, gore, blood play, masochism, and others.

Arachnophobia warning: There is also a dog-sized pet spider named Paul who just wants to be loved.

Death is a 112,000-word dark paranormal MM romance featuring unrequited hate, Angels, Demons, Horsemen of the Apocalypse, snark and banter.

Continue reading “Release Blitz: Death (The Four Horsemen Book 4) by Sienna Moreau”

Release Blitz: Unforgiving Dreams (D’Vaire, Book 35) by Jessamyn Kingley

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Unforgiving Dreams (D’Vaire, Book 35)

Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley

Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: March 9, 2023

Genres: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Tropes: Fated mates

Themes: Love, overcoming the past

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Two mates from opposite worlds must discover if the past can ever truly be left behind.

Blurb

Fifteen thousand years ago, the Fae realms crumbled. A decade ago, Noble Protector Drekkoril D’Vaire of the Light Fae woke after spending many millennia in a dreamless sleep. Upon waking, he discovered his people no longer exist. A goddess revered by the Fae had changed them into elves and sprites with no memory of the past. Thanks to a wonderful, supportive family, Drekkoril healed from the ordeal. Now he wants to find the other half of his soul.

Valiant Defender Daravius of the Dark Fae wanders from place to place, trying to put food in the bellies of his tiny family. With little knowledge of any language still spoken and no resources, Daravius’s existence is meager. Each night, he uses a spell to travel to the destroyed realm that once carved deep scars into his soul; night after night, he must relive the horror. Although Daravius wants more for his loved ones, he is lost.

Expert trackers locate Daravius and his family, and they bring the trio to D’Vaire for sanctuary. Within minutes of their arrival, Daravius and Drekkoril learn they are mates. Drekkoril rejoices and yearns for a future together, but Daravius is terrified and desperate to avoid uniting their souls. Only Fate knows which man will get his wish.

Continue reading “Release Blitz: Unforgiving Dreams (D’Vaire, Book 35) by Jessamyn Kingley”

Shari’s Life: Writing and Sorting

Shari's Life

So here we are, at the end of February already and I am still not entirely sure where January and February all went! However, I am looking forward to warmer weather and spring to come!

I haven’t written as much as I would have liked to this month. I managed 2 chapters of Demon’s Past in total, but I am taking the attitude that every word written is a step closer to finishing so I am not allowing myself to get too frustrated with this. I finished Chapter Twenty-Nine this morning, which is a pivotal chapter in Taku and Thane’s story! I post little snippets of Demon’s Past over on my Instagram account so do please check that out!

image1With the help from my sister, I was able to have the massive sort out in my flat that I wanted to do and have moved the furniture around in my lounge. It is amazing what a difference a layout change makes. It also feels much more spacious and I even have a slight echo to the room now! I also reorganised the squishmallow invasion so they all have new shelves to live in now. I also got this neat cake stand from Ebay to put the little squishvilles in!

My goal of keeping up with Social Media hasn’t gone much as planned so far but I am hopeful of changing this in the coming weeks! I want to get back to more regular posts on here too! So keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks too!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Blog Tour: Love and Valentines at Caynham Castle

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Love and Valentines at Caynham Castle

Authors: Jeanne Adams, Morgan Brice, Caren Crane, Seressia Glass, Nancy Northcott

Publisher: Rickety Bookshelf

Cover Artist: Lyndsey Lewellan

Release Date: February 1, 2023

Genres: Contemporary, paranormal, MF, MM

Tropes:

Caren Crane’s story—opposites attract & forced proximity

Jeanne Adams’ story—Grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, different backgrounds/worlds

Seressia Glass’s story—friends-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine

Morgan Brice’s story—hurt/comfort, evolving relationship

Nancy Northcott’s story–Second chance at love, redemption

Themes: holiday, dealing with the past, bargains and deals, redemption, facing the future

Heat Rating: Varies by story

Length: 150 000 words/482 pages

This is the fourth in the Caynham Castle shared-world holiday romance series.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

One castle, five authors, five love stories, all at the same holiday event!

Blurb

Racing Toward Love by Jeanne Adams

Dr. Oriela Deschamps was overjoyed to get a job appraising an estate for the Wellington family in the small English town of Caynham-On-Ledwyche. From the first meeting with the Byron “Bo” Wellington, Ori knows the job is going to be a challenge. First, there’s Bo himself – the sexy, grumpy heir to Ribald Racing Stables. Then, there’s the exceedingly dangerous artifact that’s the centerpiece of her appraisal. That artifact, a set of riding silks from 1947, carry a curse and someone wants them for dark and desperate reasons. Can Ori’s magic save them, or will the would-be thief kill both Ori and Bo, just as they find their special Valentines?

Fae-ted Mates by Morgan Brice

Dawson and Grady King are honeymooning at Caynham Castle, hoping to take a break from monster hunting. They have one piece of family business to handle, involving a generations-long agreement with the Welsh Fae. When things go wrong, will Dawson and Grady survive, or will they be trapped in the Faerie realm forever?

Romance Sells Records by Caren Crane

After watching her mother’s hope for a grand romance get dashed time after time, Hannah Evans grew into someone with no tolerance for romance. Callum Hughes’ parents had an enviable relationship, and he wanted the same for himself: if only he could convince Hannah to trust what they could build together.

Cupid Comes to Caynham by Seressia Glass

In Cupid Comes to Caynham, Oliver Jones’ family has run the Boar and Knight off and on for centuries. After his father’s death, it is now Oliver’s responsibility to manage the ancient pub, a duty that leaves him no time or desire for love–until professional tourist Shayla Munroe literally falls at his feet. With Valentine’s and Shayla’s departure date fast approaching, does love have time to bloom or will it die on the vine? Not if Venus and Cupid have anything to say about it.

The One Who Got Away by Nancy Northcott

Hastings Whitney grew up driven not only to succeed but to be seen to succeed. His focus on success cost him two marriages and any number of relationships. Now he has a second chance with the woman he never forgot, jewelry designer Corinne Lanier. Has he changed enough to balance work with a relationship? Or will a business crisis bring old habits back to the fore? And is there a sinister side to his problem?

Continue reading “Blog Tour: Love and Valentines at Caynham Castle”

99c Book Blast: Chasing Hope by Gwen Martin

99c BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Chasing Hope

Author and Publisher: Gwen Martin

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: February 19, 2021

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Hurt/Comfort; Out for you; Small Town Romance; Bisexual Romance

Themes: Grief/loss; second chance at love

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 68 000 words/ 286 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Add on Goodreads

Only 99c from February 20 – 27

Also Available on Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Loss chased him away. Hope brought him love…But is that enough?

Blurb

Sean is only twenty-seven, but he’s already lost everything that gave him life. On the verge of losing hope for a future, he moves to a town where no one knows about him, the death of his child, or his failed marriage; but when his nightmares and his guilt follow him without the pitying glares, he realizes he can’t move forward on his own.

Jonah has worked tirelessly to keep his father’s memory alive and be a fixture in the small town he grew up in. Now, nearing forty, his dreams have been long forgotten to keep everyone else’s alive, and he doesn’t know how to reclaim his life as his own without losing his last connection to his father.

But when the two men’s lives collide, they’re forced to confront their grief and accept that there can be life and hope after loss—if you’re willing to chase it.


Chasing Hope is a 68k small-town, second chance at love, M/M Romance. There are subject matters in this book that may act as triggers for some. Readers are invited to check out the complete trigger warning on the copyright page, which can be viewed by clicking on the “Look Inside” preview or by downloading the sample. These triggers contain spoilers for the book.

Continue reading “99c Book Blast: Chasing Hope by Gwen Martin”

New Release Blitz: Illuminated by Alexa Piper

Title: Illuminated

Series: Vampire Tales 1

Author: Alexa Piper

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC

Release Date: February 10, 2023

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 126 pages

Genre: Romance, Action Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Bisexual, Multisexual & Pansexual, Gay, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, Murder Mystery, Vampires

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Ethan is a photographer who loves the interplay of light and shadow in his work and what it reveals. While working on his latest project, he finds himself at an abandoned church after nightfall. Lured by the prospect of capturing something unique with his camera, he ventures inside.

What Ethan discovers in that forgotten place is not what he expected. Instead of sights unseen for decades, Ethan finds a man — bleeding, hurt, and in need of help.

What Ethan doesn’t know is that he isn’t freeing an ordinary man, but an ancient vampire.

Through a haze of blood and violence, Ethan will have to come to terms with a situation nothing could have ever prepared him for. Auris drinks blood and deals death with ease, but Ethan soon discovers that the vampire is not just a monster. Auris is more, so much more. As if it were illuminated with a camera flash, Ethan can almost see himself and Auris have a shared future. Yet, those who tried destroying Auris once will stop at nothing to do so again.

Content Warnings: Illuminated (Vampire Tales 1) contains scenes of violence, murder, kidnapping, and torture that may be triggers for some readers.

Continue reading “New Release Blitz: Illuminated by Alexa Piper”

Book Blast: Fall of the Pathfinder by L.C.Lowe

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Fall of the Pathfinder (Kessler Effect Book 1)

Author and Publisher: L. C. Lowe

Cover Artist: Lance Buckley

Release Date: December 19, 2022

Genre: Science Fiction M/M Romance

Tropes: Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers

Themes: Finding yourself outside society’s labels

Heat Rating: 1 flame

Length: 75 448 words/284 pages

It is not a standalone story.

The book ends on a soft cliffhanger (ie. the story is resolved but larger plot-lines are left hanging)

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

The company controls his life, but not his destiny.

Blurb

Working for ARC in the depths of space, 17-year-old Julian Sastre has struggled in the mines for two years to make the family name mean something again. He is a Pathfinder – the most dangerous and elite job in the mines, seeking out the richest growths of C6.

When he is blamed for an explosion that causes a collapse, he flees into the ruins of Old Easton, the city his father’s mistake destroyed a decade ago. The only ally Julian has there is Garret, a charming thief with secrets of his own.

ARC is determined to capture him, and the Wasters who live in what’s left of the city are more than they appear. Will Julian decide to protect what he truly cares about and find his own path?

Get the first book in the Kessler Effect series, Fall of the Pathfinder, and find out today!

Fall of the Pathfinder is a slow burn queer science fiction romance.

Continue reading “Book Blast: Fall of the Pathfinder by L.C.Lowe”