RoroblusMumReadsReviews/Rants

4* Sweet, if not needing the tiniest suspension of disbelief that something like this could happen in 2026 USA. I've not read the previous books in this series as ice hockey isn't my thing. I think I grabbed this as one of the leads is Russian and I anticipated lots of fighting his feelings, maybe some toxic masculinity, maybe some in-rink fighting masquerading as foreplay and romancing, but instead I got a sweet read without most of the aforementioned.  I think the tale flowed because there are 2 previous ones focused on linked characters in the same sport. Not all are fully out but their teammates and family support them, and these leads' story fits in nicely without faux angst, drama or a not-believable outing.  I'm not sure if it ends on a HEA or a HFN, as the ending is (realistically) abrupt. That's not a complaint as the final scenes and chapter added tension that was maybe a bit missing from the storyline. I think I liked the lower-angst aspect, and I definit...

4.5* Not the heavy-duty danger I'm used to from Bree and team, but still a good read. This is a very 'Hollywood' book, based in Bree's hometown. There's a celeb, a bona fide one; her kid; her team of agents; her nightmare of an ex, who's her kid's father; paparazzi; obsessed fans; and, sadly haters, as well as 'Christians' of levels of (a lack of) intelligence that we see from the current maga crowd. There's also DA of someone too scared, too powerless and too indoctrinated to help herself and her two kids under 2/3. The storyline starts with a death on her premises and where Bree comes in, of course. So, there's a known target here and there's a good few potential suspects. Unfortunately with just one mention of a timeline, I narrowed the killer down to one of 2 people, then to the actual killer from the mention of an aside, plus an eye roll, and yep, game over. Mental health seems to be a huge problem in the US and I'm in shock how ...

4.85* Great, other than the attempt-at-a-romance ending that felt inorganic. I was a fan of Reacher in seasons 1 and 2, was caught in the trap by season 3, but found season 4 a bit hard to believe, especially in the finale when despite lacerations and bleeding out to the point of losing consciousness, he's up and out of hospital within a few hours, not even limping, no surgery,  barely any bandages. I think that may be the last episode I watch. Then comes along Neagly, releasing all 8 episodes at the same time and WOW. She blew Reacher out of the water.  The things we find out about her make her believable and make her strong and a little vulnerable. They make her human. And, her takes-no-prisoners female character is more believable than Reacher. Not as strong physically but mentally and with cold, detached logic and female intuition, she wins the day. Maria Sten is tall and well-built, believable in the role as a former soldier who's not lost her skills nor techniques. ...

5* Another excellent book in this series.  This book can be read as a standalone. It jumps straight into the death and there's enough given of Leo and Shan's histories that you're not lost in what gets mentioned about her dad - sad - and his son - also sad, but tinged with the son needing the lesson. I'm not sure that there's redemption for the boy - he's too up his own arse and too blinkered -  as he's been ridiculously stupid, of the Andrew Tate type, but there's hope where Shan's dad's concerned. And it sounds like Shan may end up needing therapy because of her fears and recurring nightmares, but she's not the type to open up. Thankfully, Leo does to Angie, his wife.  The murder in itself? Not sad for me, but there's sadness for many because of the murder. Sadness that outs, bad things that happen, bad things that happened getting revealed, 2 little kids losing parents. I felt for the killer. I think I'd have lashed out myself. An ...

5* JDR's best book in years. Makes you root for the 'bad' guy. This author changes her M.O. from time to time, giving the killer's identity and motivation, rather than leaving readers to suss it out. Here, we find out why the killer's killing, which is heartbreaking. As are his last words.  The people who get killed are not innocent. In my book, no pun intended, they deserved their fate at the killer's hands, and their grieving families deserved to know what they'd done and why they'd been killed. I think that will out once the press releases are done, especially given the killer's end.  It's a sad tale of a good person wanting to do right but those in power, and those he trusted, including a friend and deputy, betraying him. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and boy was he cold. And hurt. And angry. And set on a mission that he knew would be the end of him. I think had I seen this on screen, I'd have been in tears. 

5* Wow, what an intro to this author. I'm a British Asian born and bred, and rarely have I seen a kickarse Asian female lead like Mumtaz.  I've not read the previous books in this series, but was drawn in by the author's name and Mumtaz's. And what a find it was. A solid, tragic (or was it?) storyline; 2 separate deaths in 2 different communities; investigated by the same team of no-frills, no-dressing-it-up detectives; with an unexpected link between the two; further intensified by another death and someone pivotal who'd seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet; with an ending that'd been only vaguely hinted at, and with a fight-for-your-life actual ending. Utterly satisfying.  I'm just slightly confused about the Punjabi wedding stuff at the end, when the wedding was clearly a Muslim one, but prepared to go with the flow with it.   Now off to buy books 1 and 2.  ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Canelo/Hera, for my reading pleasure.

4* It's not Cat and Bones, but it's powerful being against powerful female with a little added extra, so kinda like C&B. Ish. A slightly different take on C&B, because this heroine kills bad guys willingly, needing to feed the thing inside her and keep it under control. She comes across a supernatural community right under her nose, despite thinking she'll once again have to up roots because of the killings. Not this time. Not too much happens other than a fight for territory, some long-dead truths being outed, betrayal and unfortunately giving an...enemy? frenemy? leverage. Oh, and a potential other suitor right at the end. So, yes, it ends on a damned cliffhanger, with the next book not out for 5 more months, in February 2027.