Marissa Dobson

Sets up the Reaper series. Introduces the characters and begins building the world of Jael and her brother Cleg. There is a killer where she works as an EMT and Cleg is the detective in charge of the investigation. With the passing of their mother, Jael learns that she is now the Grim Reaper as well as all the things her mother never told her but told her brother. Now she must deal with becoming the Grim Reaper.

I liked these characters. I could understand Jael's trepidation with becoming the show more Grim Reaper. I liked how she handles it and how she helps others cross over. The world building is good. I look forward to more in this series. It is different and refreshing. show less

This is the third book in the Alaskan Tiger series, and while I haven’t read the first two it was easy to catch up with Bethany and Tabitha’s stories. There was a good plotline involving Kallie, a shifter who was forced to be a ‘pet’ for someone pretty nasty and was kept in her tigress body. She’s now so scared of the world and the man who kept her that she hardly goes out and carries poison around her neck ‘just in case’. It turns out her mate is a big bear shifter named Taber show more and his brother.

Here’s the thing, I downloaded this book for the ménage aspect. It was all about Taber and Kallie for the first 66% of the book. We finally meet his brother Thorben and it takes another 5% before they find out they are also mates. This might just not be my cuppa, but I prefer it if the men are willing as mates, or at least get along. Having over half the story given to one twin made it feel more like Thorben was intruding rather than a true ménage. All in all it was a good shifter book. I didn’t love the romance, but it was interesting enough that I’ll give the first two a try even though they’re straight m/f.

~ Bitten By Books for AReCafe show less

Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by April
Review Copy Provided by the Author

Winterbloom by Marissa Dobson is a delightfully sweet romance that tells the story of Gunnery Sergeant Jordan Sheppard, who while serving in the Marines, lost a very close friend. Jordan blames himself for his friend’s death because his friend was taking his place on lookout since he was incredibly sick. Jordan should have been killed, not him – at least to his way of thinking. Trying to deal with show more severe PTS and on his way to visit his friend’s widow, Jordan gets caught up in a massive snowstorm. He finds shelter at a close by bed and breakfast, and while he is there, discovers that life is about more than pain and guilt.

Chloe Frost is now the sole owner of Winterbloom Bed and Breakfast now that her grandmother has passed away. While she is preparing to renovate, a massive snowstorm hits and while she figures on a quiet and peaceful few days of snowed in bliss, she is surprised when a strange man shows up at her doorstep.

I found Winterbloom to be a sweet and delightful little romance. Though short, the characters are fairly well developed and the story, itself, pulls the reader in. I truly enjoyed the way Jordan develops within the story and the relationship that blooms between him and Chloe. Ms. Dobson does a wonderful job of creating visual scenes that allow the reader to feel as though they are right there within the story. I do want to say that things seemed to develop quickly within the story – perhaps a bit faster than relationships/problem solving would actually occur in “real life”. I know this is a short story of fiction, which may be the reason for the quick unfolding of the events. Also, I am not sure if the author was shooting to make this a work of erotica or a sweet story of romance. The only reason I question this is because the voice of the story is sweet and caring, however when the love scenes occur, words typically used within erotica are used, which kind of broke the flow of the story for me. I do enjoy erotica, so that wasn’t the issue; the words just seemed out of place with the overall general flow and tone of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Winterbloom and look forward to reading more by Marissa Dobson! show less

Its a good story, i like they are already married and its about saving their relationship which has issues due to his military career(i don't want to say to much to spoil it).
The thing i didn't like is the heroine talks to herself in her head, this is just something i really hate in books.