Steph’s Comments (group member since May 22, 2010)

Steph’s comments from the SOS: Serious Overload of Series group.

Purity in Death by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #15
Shelf #12: R/ sci-fi-romance
Read: 17 May
Rating: ★★★★☆

My Review:

ABSOLUTE PURITY ACHIEVED

Well, as soon as I read that I knew this was gonna be some kinda homegrown terrorist type (that, and a peek at a friend's review). Yuck! People suck, this we know, but damn if Robb doesn't do a wonderful job of exposing us to the most tormented and twisted of the race. But, she balances out the darkness with fantastic characters. The growth of these characters, fifteen books in, has been such fun to watch.

"Terminations aren't supposed to be easy. We shouldn't be able to shrug off the taking of any life like it was nothing or we skirt too close to being what we're here to put away."

The tenderhearted Trueheart is a perfect example of the sorta-kinda strays Eve brings into her tight circle. When she does and because the job isn't just a job to her, these people become a part of her family. Eve has a family! Each time she realizes how deeply someone has burrowed into her heart she's surprised, which is hilarious yet hard to understand. That's one of the most interesting things about Eve for me - her naivety about all things personal and relationship-related. It's such a contrast to her iron will and certainty when it comes to policing.

"Genius has no age."

The young, yet very gifted Jamie is another person who has made his way into Eve's circle. This is a case where Roarke knows Jamie's skills are needed. Jamie is still a teenager who pushes limits, but Eve and Roarke, aware of his career choice, make sure he knows there are times pushing limits can get you dead.

Couple quick, possibly spoilery thoughts:
⋆⁺₊✧ Temporary or not, that was scary, McNab!
⋆⁺₊✧ Woohoo, Mavis! Totally mag!
⋆⁺₊✧ That "small gray button", sigh, so sweet
⋆⁺₊✧ McNab said the L-word
⋆⁺₊✧ You're alright, Baxter

125+ urban fantasy books FREE only on May 17, 2025: https://urbanfantasyaddict.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D29T2HVT/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW745WDP

👍🏼😊

Eldarwen wrote: "Card has been stamped.

Crazy!

Once the current shelf is finished, we'll have three (!) options for Bingo!
U, C and F


Eta: https://bingobaker.com/#67ba41b2ac8dab49"

😳

Eldarwen wrote: "Stupid filter at work.

Last week, it let me stamp - also for the birthday event - but this week it's back to denying my request :-p

Stamping when I get home after work :-)"

🤨😆

Sandra wrote: "Yay, to both a Raphael & Elena book & to switching to Purity!!!!!!"

😁

I know. Not sure how it’d be. Lots get sold, but many never get to screen. I’m happy to hear she’ll end with an Elena and Raphael book. I really hope those posts aren’t BS cuz now I got my hopes up for at least one more to come.

Thx! I doubled checked and found it! I’d forgotten to check ‘sci-fi-romance’, only checked ‘scifi-romance’ 😊 So, I’m switching my book to

For this shelf, I'm gonna read (11 ppl shelved @ GR's PNR shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...)

FYI, y'all ...

According to these posts I found, and I hunted, Archangel's Ascension wasn't the finale. I hope they're right. I realize it's likely time to end it, but don't want it to end.

From https://ebookobsessed.com/2025/05/rev...

UPDATE: It was announced that there will be one final book in the Guild Hunter series, Archangel’s Eternity. It will feature Raphael and Elena. I can only hope it will be 1,000 pages long. There was also an announcement that a film company has purchased the rights to the Guild Hunter series.

And, from https://www.reddit.com/r/NaliniSinghB... and someone who attended the virtual pre-Archangel Ascension event with Nalini and East City bookshop

Next Book: Archangel's Eternity (Raphael and Elena). Eternity will be the last book sadly!! She did say she may leave the door open but the main story between the main cast is over. She will continue to write short stories for her newsletters.

And ---

AliciaJ wrote: "Archangel's Ascension..."

- I 100% agree with your spoiler notes. I felt the same with their first book and had hoped for more. More like written in hetero books, but le sigh. I let my imagine run, but would've preferred a more balanced narrative to those in all other books.

- I wasn't expecting the time jump and when I first read Sam's position it threw me. I thought I'd remembered his age or name wrong from previous books. 😆

- According to these posts I found, and I hunted, this wasn't the finale. I hope they're right. I realize it's likely time to end it, but don't want it to end.

From https://ebookobsessed.com/2025/05/rev...

UPDATE: It was announced that there will be one final book in the Guild Hunter series, Archangel’s Eternity. It will feature Raphael and Elena. I can only hope it will be 1,000 pages long. There was also an announcement that a film company has purchased the rights to the Guild Hunter series.

And, from https://www.reddit.com/r/NaliniSinghB... and someone who attended the virtual pre-Archangel Ascension event with Nalini and East City bookshop

Next Book: Archangel's Eternity (Raphael and Elena). Eternity will be the last book sadly!! She did say she may leave the door open but the main story between the main cast is over. She will continue to write short stories for her newsletters.

And ---

Shelf's up ...
And, I'm bummed b/c I can't fit my next ID book 😐

Shelf #12 ~ 14 May: Relationship / romance/PNR, SFR, Romantasy
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...

*For Relationship, read a book written by more than one author, featuring two people on the cover, any PNR book

* For romance, read a book from either shelf: GR PNR/GR SFR/GR SFR2/GR romantasy/SOS PNR/SOS SFR/SOS UF+R

Shelf #12 ~ 14 May: Relationship / romance/PNR, SFR, Romantasy
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...

*For Relationship, read a book written by more than one author, featuring two people on the cover, any PNR book

* For romance, read a book from either shelf: GR PNR/GR SFR/GR SFR2/GR romantasy/SOS PNR/SOS SFR/SOS UF+R

Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #14
Shelf #10: I/In Death
Read: 13 May
Rating: ★★★★☆

My Review:

HEAD'S UP: some spoilers throughout are unblocked

Lieutenant Eve Dallas was back. And ready to kick some ass.

Following the events of the previous book, Eve and Roarke enjoyed a relaxing vacation. Now she's back and ready to return to her comfort zone - catching murderers. Since Peabody was proactive during Eve's absense (she had a lil vacay of her own, thanks to Roarke's kindness and generosity) her desk is clear of all todo's, they dig through the cold cases and land on one Eve determines is a good first case for Peabody to tackle as Primary.

"There's this thing I should tell you. About my mother. She has the power."

"The power of what?"

"The power to make you do things you don't want to do, or don't think you want to do. And she'll get you to say stuff you don't mean to say. And you may even babble."

"I don't babble."

"You will," Peabody said mournfully.

The arrival of Peabody's parents, Phoebe and Sam, throw off Eve. For one, Roarke's generosity extends to them as well, though he's a bit baffled at how it happened, and he's invited them to stay with he and Eve. Eve's not happy about it, but their place is huge, so sure. Tensions rise though when Sam, a sensitive, sees more than she'd ever allow. For the reader though, it was great meeting Peabody's parents! I hope we see more of them in future installments.

"This one has ice for blood, and she's nobody's victim. She hunts."

When Eve and Peabody begin investigating a murder, she recognizes someone she and Feeney put away eight years ago. Eve's the only woman who's bestest her. Now, the killer is back on the street and she's looking for vengeance.

"He never called me by a name. Because I didn't have one. I remember that now. They didn't bother to give me a name because I wasn't a child to them. I was a thing."

F*g Hell! Learning more about the eight years Eve suffered at the hands of her father breaks your heart into a million little pieces. While in Dallas on business, she bravely faces "the room" and the memories that return upon being there with Roarke by her side.

We're not what they were. Whatever they did to us, they couldn't make us what they were."

That Eve's able to stare it in the face, relive those memories (some of the first time) and survive - all over again - is a testiment to her strength and the love she shares with Roarke. I see a deeper discussion with Dr. Mira in Eve's near future.

"The whole point of love is that it has no reason. It just is."

There was a lot of love floating around in this installment. Peabody + McNab are building a relationship; Charles + Louise are enjoying getting to know each other while their feelings grow exponentially; Eve + Roarke celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

TBH, the catching of this twisty bitch (TB) was more background noise for me. I found the relationships throughout this installment more intriguing. The fights between Eve and Roarke were epic. Eve's battle with her past was heartbreaking yet the aftercare she received from Roarke was heartwarming. Peabody's parents, her first case as Primary, her growing relationship with McNab were fantastic. Seeing Charles and Dr. Louise's attempts to take things slow when you can tell they wanna just get married immediately is adorably sweet.

As always, I'm anxious to continue on with this series.

It took my husband and I a few books in that series to become really interested/invested, buuuut then we stopped listening and I've lost the thread again. 😆

My review is coming 😊

Other than some of the series re-reads we host here, I don’t typically do a lot of re-reading. I would imagine that eventually I’d enjoy re-reading this series once I’ve gotten far from the beginning.

Gotcha 😁 good job on those! Glad you enjoyed them.

Thanks 😊

😬

😉

I should finish my book tonight. I’ll get my review posted before too long.