In The Dark (Jonathan Stride, #4)
8.0
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Two young lovers. A sultry summer night. One brutal, cold-blooded murder. In this stunning,...
The Wreckage (Joseph O'Loughlin, #5)
8.0
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An international thriller based on one of the biggest bank heists in history. Billions of dollars...
My Sister, the Serial Killer
7.8
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Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman...
The Mad Wolf's Daughter
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A Scottish medieval adventure about the youngest in a war-band who must free her family from a...
You Were Always Mine
8.0
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The acclaimed author of Little Broken Things returns with another “race-to-the-finish family...
women's fiction
Writing On The Wall
10.0
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Everyone who knows me will tell you the same thing: Scarlett Marin is ruthless when it comes to...
Debbiereadsbook (1798 KP) rated A Sucker For Christmas in Books
Jan 19, 2024
I love JP Sayle, you know I do, and I LOVED the Tangled Tentacles series, with the kraken and their arms, so I was expecting to love this book too, even if Fitch is an octopus, rather than a kraken.
But for me, I found it a little . . .flat . . maybe?? I dunno WHY I didn't love it, and I can't get my bloody book brain to spill its secrets, so I can't explain what was up with it! I'll just write what I did like and be done, ok??
I liked that Fitch, at 4 years old, knew that Shaun would be his. I liked that Fitch waited for Shaun to get with the feelings programme. I liked that they both have a say.
I did love Shaun's sister, Mandy, and what she did. She loves her brothers, plural, for she included Fitch in the number, and she wanted them both to be happy. Sneaky!
It has some steam, but I didn't think it was as smexy as some other Sayle books. It was more about the emotions between these two, and finally admitting who you wanted to be with!
3 good stars, and I'm so sorry I didn't love it!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (14142 KP) rated Mr Collins in Love in Books
Aug 1, 2025
I'm happy to say I was wrong! Lee Welch has written his character in a way that makes you sympathise with him. He is basically cast adrift in a world he doesn't fully understand. The insinuation that he is on the spectrum comes across loud and clear, and trust me, it does make sense!
Charlotte (Miss Lucas) and his childhood friend, Jem, are both there to help him find his way and give him the life he needs. It's not exactly a romance, so don't expect too much. Instead, it shows a deep and tender love that Mr Collins is not even aware of, even though he fears its loss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 1, 2025
As with all the other sailing thrillers by the author, this is far more contemporaneous set: here, we're in the late 1980s, early 90s (I believe this was written in 1990), with this being set in and around the Bahamas where - like nearly all of Cornwell's other characters in just about any of his books - the main protagonist is an outcast of sorts: here, by their own choice, turning their back on their rich and famous father to spend their time sailing instead.
Hired by a rich senator for a convalescent cruise for said senator's drug-addict children, what starts out as a simple job soon turns anything but when Nick Breakspear and his small crew run foul of drug smugglers, leading to an action-packed finale - it's just a pity it took so long to actually get there, I felt!
Merissa (14142 KP) rated Shadows On His Soul (The Shadows We Survived #1) in Books
Mar 31, 2026
Things move at breakneck speed between the two of them, but Eli isn't forthcoming about his past. When Luke wants more from him, Eli reacts badly and tries to distance himself. And this is where you need to suspend belief. I won't say anything else, but it had me constantly shaking my head.
I presume this series will be about the members of the support group, but I'm not 100% sure. I am also presuming that the prologue and epilogue will become clearer as the series progresses.
I enjoyed this book, but there were moments when I wondered what I was reading. On the whole, it was a good read that I can recommend.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2026