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ClareR (5667 KP) rated A Single Thread in Books

Sep 12, 2019  
A Single Thread
A Single Thread
Tracy Chevalier | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A wonderful book!
A Single Thread is set in the period after World War 1, just before Hitler takes power in Germany. Violet Speedwell is a ‘surplus woman’, and so she is expected to live out her life caring for her ageing, cantankerous mother, and throwing herself on the mercy of her brother as she ages. However, Violet isn’t prepared to live her life like this. She manages to get a transfer from her job in Southampton to their Winchester offices. Life isn’t easy for Violet, and she lives off sandwiches and tea in her rented room. By chance, she finds herself in Winchester Cathedral on the day of the Society of Broderers service, where the embroidered kneelers and cushions are blessed and placed in the cathedral for the public to use. Violet finds herself drawn to the embroidery, and even though she has no experience, she becomes involved in the group.

I loved the descriptions of the embroidery: the different stitches, the colours, the camaraderie and friendships that Violet makes with Gilda and Miss Pesel (who incidentally, really existed - and what a life SHE had!). Who knew that embroidery and campanology (bell-ringing) could be so interesting?! Violet becomes very interested in bell-ringing - whether that’s because of the actual bell-ringing, or the fatherly Arthur who she falls in love with, I’m not quite sure.

I thought the social attitudes of the time were really well portrayed. ‘Spare women’ weren’t regarded very favourably, but this was something completely out of their control: so many young men had been killed during the war, that there just weren’t enough men to go round. And when some women found love with one another, they were ostracised and ridiculed. It’s good to see that we have moved on in some ways.

Anyway, I loved this book. It’s not just about embroidery and campanology, and I think that any reader will be pleasantly surprised at how interesting Tracy Chevalier makes these things! It’s a social commentary, a love story, a story about friendship and passion: of the man/ woman, woman/ woman and hobbies varieties. And I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
  
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Merissa (11935 KP) rated Lucien (Fueled By Lust #4) in Books

Apr 7, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Lucien (Fueled By Lust #4)
Lucien (Fueled By Lust #4)
Celeste Prater | 2014 | Erotica, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am absolutely loving the Fueled by Lust series by Celeste Prater. Before Lucien, I thought that Cato was my favourite. Everyone's best bad boy made me go all gooey inside. But along came the Emperor and changed all that.

Lucien has been an interesting character in the three previous books - a warm, caring father obviously still grieving for his lost wife. Well, with this being his book, we get more chances to see what makes him tick. He is simply wonderful. He has a sense of humour that had me chuckling as I read his witty comments. He cares about his guards and basically all the people of his land. Does this make him a sap? Not at all. Does this make him perfect? A big fat no! I have been chuntering "dumbass" to my Kindle more times reading Lucien than I have with the three previous books. He thinks he is doing the right thing but I just want to kick him.

Luckily, he has some good friends, including unexpected ones, to sort him out and then it's down to him to try and sort things out with Tana (which I won't go into detail with as you REALLY need to read this series for yourself!).

So many things to mention in this book but I will limit myself to a very short comment. Ulixes and Kallon!!!! Oh my!!!!

I'm thinking my house must be a tad dusty at the moment because my eyes have leaked on more than one occasion during the reading of this. I wasn't crying though, honest. It was dusty, yep, dust got in my eyes.

Lucien is sinfully sweet with smokin' hot scenes. Definitely the best Sci-Fi series I've read in a long time! And to answer the question at the end of the Synopsis - I definitely want one of these males!!! Love them
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
December 18, 2018
  
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Merissa (11935 KP) rated Teach Me in Books

Apr 10, 2023  
Teach Me
Teach Me
Sloan Johnson | 2014 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is about how a young man's life changes when he tells his parents that he is gay... and not in a good way. He ends up on the streets, not knowing which way to turn. Luckily for him, Bree and Casey are there and they show him the ropes. Casey lets Austin know that there is work for the weekend on a construction site so off they go. There David sees Austin for the first time and the story really kicks off.

David is 15 years older than Austin and, some of the time, this is really obvious. Other times, not so much. I found it hard at times to stick with Austin's character just because he did act so immature but then you have to remember the abuse that he lived with plus his age and it does become more understandable. David certainly deserves a medal for putting up with it though - although he does also have his own temper tantrums in the book. You don't actually learn that much more about David's past than what you read in the synopsis which I found a bit of a shame.

The supporting characters are brilliantly written and do just that... support the main leads. Chad is brilliant because he has concerns about David and Austin and isn't afraid to say so. However, he also is prepared to say that he was wrong and even to tell David when he's behaving like an idiot. Becky and Bree help the female side of the story and both are warm and caring towards Austin which helps him. Casey - I'd like to see a follow-up on him even though he's not the most likeable character in the book I just know there's more to him. I don't know if I want him to have a HEA with Bree though, I sort of feel he's put her through the mill enough!

Highly recommended for all fans of the M/M genre.
 
* 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. *

August 9, 2016