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ClareR (5784 KP) rated The Great Alone in Books
Feb 6, 2018
This was my second Kristin Hannah book, and it is set in very different circumstances to the last one (the last one was The Nightingale, set during World War 2). This is set during the 1970s in Alaska, in the back of beyond.
This is a story of survival: Leni and her mother survive the violence of Leni's Vietnam War vet father (who is suffering from PTSD after being held as a prisoner by the enemy). Cora, Leni's mother, will not leave him, saying that she loves him and needs him, and repeatedly pays the price. Leni loves Alaska and her boyfriend Matthew, but tragic circumstances take her away from both for a number of years. Many years later, under different circumstances, she is able to return.
I think I really like Kristin Hannah books. The way she describes the surroundings in Alaska: the wildness, the beauty, the unpredictability. I've read a couple of books recently set in the cold, snowy arctic circle, and this only made me want to actually see it myself even more!
I know I'm only two books in to my Kristin Hannah experience, but I can't say as there is anything about either of them that I didn't like. I'll be hunting down more!
This is a story of survival: Leni and her mother survive the violence of Leni's Vietnam War vet father (who is suffering from PTSD after being held as a prisoner by the enemy). Cora, Leni's mother, will not leave him, saying that she loves him and needs him, and repeatedly pays the price. Leni loves Alaska and her boyfriend Matthew, but tragic circumstances take her away from both for a number of years. Many years later, under different circumstances, she is able to return.
I think I really like Kristin Hannah books. The way she describes the surroundings in Alaska: the wildness, the beauty, the unpredictability. I've read a couple of books recently set in the cold, snowy arctic circle, and this only made me want to actually see it myself even more!
I know I'm only two books in to my Kristin Hannah experience, but I can't say as there is anything about either of them that I didn't like. I'll be hunting down more!
♰♰♰ <b>3 'Gloomy' Stars</b>
I didn't quite know how to feel about this book...
I have read a number of books by [a:Susan Hill|18874|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337917448p2/18874.jpg] and I have found them to be very hit and miss. I seem to compare each one to [b:The Woman in Black|37034|The Woman in Black|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869942s/37034.jpg|2127172] as this was the one that I enjoyed the most.
There's no denying that Hill's writing is beautiful and she is fantastic at 'setting the scene'. The beginning of 'Dolly' was very well written, very descriptive and creepy, unfortunately this just didn't last throughout the book.
The length of the novel was just too short to fit everything in so it just felt rushed, this meant that so many opportunities were missed where Hill could of shown off the amazing skills that I know she has.
It makes me wonder if she sets a word limit or a page limit on all of her books as all the ones I have read just seem to be 'packed in'.
'Dolly' had the makings of a masterpiece but the execution let it down immensely.
I didn't quite know how to feel about this book...
I have read a number of books by [a:Susan Hill|18874|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337917448p2/18874.jpg] and I have found them to be very hit and miss. I seem to compare each one to [b:The Woman in Black|37034|The Woman in Black|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869942s/37034.jpg|2127172] as this was the one that I enjoyed the most.
There's no denying that Hill's writing is beautiful and she is fantastic at 'setting the scene'. The beginning of 'Dolly' was very well written, very descriptive and creepy, unfortunately this just didn't last throughout the book.
The length of the novel was just too short to fit everything in so it just felt rushed, this meant that so many opportunities were missed where Hill could of shown off the amazing skills that I know she has.
It makes me wonder if she sets a word limit or a page limit on all of her books as all the ones I have read just seem to be 'packed in'.
'Dolly' had the makings of a masterpiece but the execution let it down immensely.
David McK (3496 KP) rated The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Book number 6 in Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody (think female Victorian Indiana Jones) series, which sees Amelia, her husband Radcliffe and son Ramses back in the dusty climes of Egypt following their adventures in the previous ([b: The Deeds of the Disturber|32139|The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5)|Elizabeth Peters|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388887764s/32139.jpg|2176252]).
I have to say, though, that the plot of this one is more-than-slightly reminiscent of [a: H Rider Haggard|4633123|H. Rider Haggard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1298296700p2/4633123.jpg]'s [b: King Solomon's Mines|108914|In Search of King Solomon's Mines|Tahir Shah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348655880s/108914.jpg|4188], pretty much just swapping the African setting and characters of that novel for the dusty climes of Egypt - a similarity that Emerson, in a bit of meta-fiction, himself complains about.
Throw in a dash of [b: She|5203|She's Come Undone|Wally Lamb|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408313457s/5203.jpg|1003370] (also by H Rider Haggard) with a soupcon of intrigue and more entertaining byplay between the Emerson's (with Ramses his usual precocious self), and the result is another entertaining read in the series.
I have to say, though, that the plot of this one is more-than-slightly reminiscent of [a: H Rider Haggard|4633123|H. Rider Haggard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1298296700p2/4633123.jpg]'s [b: King Solomon's Mines|108914|In Search of King Solomon's Mines|Tahir Shah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348655880s/108914.jpg|4188], pretty much just swapping the African setting and characters of that novel for the dusty climes of Egypt - a similarity that Emerson, in a bit of meta-fiction, himself complains about.
Throw in a dash of [b: She|5203|She's Come Undone|Wally Lamb|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408313457s/5203.jpg|1003370] (also by H Rider Haggard) with a soupcon of intrigue and more entertaining byplay between the Emerson's (with Ramses his usual precocious self), and the result is another entertaining read in the series.
Danielle Chaplin (81 KP) rated The Girl in Red in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Very enjoyable
I was exceedingly excited to read this book and was a little disappointed that it didn't live up to my very high expectations of it but I think that was just because I felt that the story didn't really fit in with the Little Red Riding Hood story except for a girl in red going to grandma's house.
The story itself is really well written and I loved the characters in the story, I wasn't keen on the book going back and forth from present to the past and back again but I don't really like this setup in books in general. I thought the book would explain more about what had happened but it did leave some really big questions that were never answered in the end. I love that Henry uses a lot of 'damaged' characters in her books, from those with a mental illness to Red being an amputee, as she displays them as strong characters that deserve to be treated with respect and that they can be just as inspiring as those without disabilities.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book but it didn't really seem to fit in as well as her other books.
The story itself is really well written and I loved the characters in the story, I wasn't keen on the book going back and forth from present to the past and back again but I don't really like this setup in books in general. I thought the book would explain more about what had happened but it did leave some really big questions that were never answered in the end. I love that Henry uses a lot of 'damaged' characters in her books, from those with a mental illness to Red being an amputee, as she displays them as strong characters that deserve to be treated with respect and that they can be just as inspiring as those without disabilities.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book but it didn't really seem to fit in as well as her other books.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Doorkeepers in Books
Oct 20, 2019
Sadly, didn't hold my interest
I am a fan of Mr Masterton's books and have been for many, many years and I have always found his books gripping but, alas, this book just didn't do it for me at all and I am quite upset about that!
The premise of the book is interesting and the action starts almost immediately and there are plenty of moments that make you hold your breath or make you feel squeamish but, for some reason, I quickly lost interest. This may have been because I found it hard to get attached to the characters and I wasn't really that bothered what happened to them or maybe it's because the mystery element of what was behind the door was revealed early on ... I don't know but it just didn't grab me like his other books have done and this makes me feel quite sad.
This book has however received a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews so my suggestion is you don't take my word for it and give it a go ... let's face it, if we all liked the same thing, the world would be a very boring place indeed.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The premise of the book is interesting and the action starts almost immediately and there are plenty of moments that make you hold your breath or make you feel squeamish but, for some reason, I quickly lost interest. This may have been because I found it hard to get attached to the characters and I wasn't really that bothered what happened to them or maybe it's because the mystery element of what was behind the door was revealed early on ... I don't know but it just didn't grab me like his other books have done and this makes me feel quite sad.
This book has however received a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews so my suggestion is you don't take my word for it and give it a go ... let's face it, if we all liked the same thing, the world would be a very boring place indeed.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
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Kate (493 KP) rated New Kid In Town in Books
Jun 30, 2020
This book was for a younger audience however I did enjoy it. It was easy reading and reminded me of my days at school. So I would say the intended audience was probably teenagers who are going through school. They would probably be really able to relate. I would recommend this book to this audience.
The blurb grabbed my attention but it was a shame the story didn't end when the book did. I wanted to read the full details of how Ray became disabled as we were only teased with a bit of information about it in this book. The books are only available on Amazon and I have a Kobo so am unable to read them. Kobo do not support Amazon books.
The author's writing helped each character have their own personality which helped distinguish each character. Their personalities shone though.
The character's changed slightly throughout the book. This looks to be all down to Ray but also people change as they go through the school year and when new people come into their friendship group.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
The blurb grabbed my attention but it was a shame the story didn't end when the book did. I wanted to read the full details of how Ray became disabled as we were only teased with a bit of information about it in this book. The books are only available on Amazon and I have a Kobo so am unable to read them. Kobo do not support Amazon books.
The author's writing helped each character have their own personality which helped distinguish each character. Their personalities shone though.
The character's changed slightly throughout the book. This looks to be all down to Ray but also people change as they go through the school year and when new people come into their friendship group.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Thick & Thin (THIRDS, #8) in Books
Jan 5, 2021
This one carries on from where the last one finished. Dex is now a human-therian hybrid and is trying to figure out how to tell his family and team mates about whats been going on with him lately.
It's a short one compared to most of the other books in this series but we still have quite a good storyline arc in it involving Wolf - one of Sparks' old colleagues - and how he's playing with them a little, which I'm sure will lead us right into the next one which is Seb and the doc's story that has been in the works for a handful of books.
I do love this group of friends. They are close and tease each other all the time but we've really gotten to know them over the last seven books and I think I'd have a serious meltdown if anything happened to any of them.
I accidentally bought book 9 a year or so ago, not realising I hadn't already got this one but now I've read it I can easily continue the story whenever I want - which will be soon, but not just yet.
If you like mm romances where the guys can kick butt then you will really like this series.
It's a short one compared to most of the other books in this series but we still have quite a good storyline arc in it involving Wolf - one of Sparks' old colleagues - and how he's playing with them a little, which I'm sure will lead us right into the next one which is Seb and the doc's story that has been in the works for a handful of books.
I do love this group of friends. They are close and tease each other all the time but we've really gotten to know them over the last seven books and I think I'd have a serious meltdown if anything happened to any of them.
I accidentally bought book 9 a year or so ago, not realising I hadn't already got this one but now I've read it I can easily continue the story whenever I want - which will be soon, but not just yet.
If you like mm romances where the guys can kick butt then you will really like this series.