Search
Search results
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Heart of Ice in Books
Feb 4, 2022
red riding hood has nothing on jessica
Jessica has her best friend in the woods called wolfie who promises to protect her under all circumstances until she get whisked away by her mother. Wolfe pines for her as she pines for him. She will not give up until she finds him again!
This novella is quite raunchy I would also say it has a slight trigger warning as there is a mention of sexual child abuse. It is a very intense story with non stop action! A lot of sex is involved and sexual content and feelings, however it is an amazing story of a very deep connection between a soul mate for want of a better word.
I would recommend this book for people to read just make sure there are no children around!
This novella is quite raunchy I would also say it has a slight trigger warning as there is a mention of sexual child abuse. It is a very intense story with non stop action! A lot of sex is involved and sexual content and feelings, however it is an amazing story of a very deep connection between a soul mate for want of a better word.
I would recommend this book for people to read just make sure there are no children around!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated No Quarter Given in Books
May 8, 2022
"This is not murder. This is justice."
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Lost Children (DCI Matilda Darke #9) in Books
Sep 11, 2022
I have run out of superlatives to say how good this series is so I will just say ... wow, Mr Wood you have done it again and written an absolute corker.
At the very start of the book, Mr Wood gives a clear warning that this novel deals with child abuse and historical child abuse. I went into it wondering whether it was going to be too much to read about such abhorrent behaviour but whilst it was difficult, I feel Mr Wood did it with honesty but without over-doing it.
DCI Matilda Darke and her team are called to the truly horrific murder of a prominent property developer in his home. It, quite literally, sickens many of those attending the scene but this appears to be personal rather than your run-of-the-mill murder and as the Team start to investigate and delve deeper into the life of the victim, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want them to but what transpires, no one saw coming.
This is a fast paced, gripping, tense and quite emotional book. Yes, it's dark, gritty and, at times, a difficult read but it is done with care and compassion and that same care and compassion drives the determination from DCI Darke and her team to bring those responsible for heinous crimes against children to justice regardless of who the perpetrators are and the consequences to their own careers and futures.
Mr Wood has created the characters of DCI Darke and her team with such strength that you really get attached to them and the more books in the series you read, the stronger that attachment gets. I know they aren't real people but the strength of their development makes them feel like they are.
What this books reminds us of is that child abuse has happened and continues to happen; unfortunately, all too often those disgusting people who do this get away with it but we must remember that the perpetrators are just as likely to be "respectable" people in power as they are to be the 'dirty old men' we are warned about as children as this book highlights.
I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book and the rest of the series to others who enjoy cracking good crime novels that don't shy away from difficult subjects and I must thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Lost Children.
I can't wait to read number 10!
At the very start of the book, Mr Wood gives a clear warning that this novel deals with child abuse and historical child abuse. I went into it wondering whether it was going to be too much to read about such abhorrent behaviour but whilst it was difficult, I feel Mr Wood did it with honesty but without over-doing it.
DCI Matilda Darke and her team are called to the truly horrific murder of a prominent property developer in his home. It, quite literally, sickens many of those attending the scene but this appears to be personal rather than your run-of-the-mill murder and as the Team start to investigate and delve deeper into the life of the victim, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want them to but what transpires, no one saw coming.
This is a fast paced, gripping, tense and quite emotional book. Yes, it's dark, gritty and, at times, a difficult read but it is done with care and compassion and that same care and compassion drives the determination from DCI Darke and her team to bring those responsible for heinous crimes against children to justice regardless of who the perpetrators are and the consequences to their own careers and futures.
Mr Wood has created the characters of DCI Darke and her team with such strength that you really get attached to them and the more books in the series you read, the stronger that attachment gets. I know they aren't real people but the strength of their development makes them feel like they are.
What this books reminds us of is that child abuse has happened and continues to happen; unfortunately, all too often those disgusting people who do this get away with it but we must remember that the perpetrators are just as likely to be "respectable" people in power as they are to be the 'dirty old men' we are warned about as children as this book highlights.
I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book and the rest of the series to others who enjoy cracking good crime novels that don't shy away from difficult subjects and I must thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Lost Children.
I can't wait to read number 10!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Call Me Mummy in Books
Mar 14, 2021
For a debut this is pretty successful and certainly had me reading way too late into the night.
This is a dark, disturbing and harrowing read but totally addictive. With fantastic characters and an all-too-real story line, this is a book that gets you hooked pretty quickly and doesn't let you go until the last full stop at the end.
Told from the perspectives of the kidnapper, the mother and the child, this provides insight from all aspects of the story which makes it all the more gripping. There are also snippets of social media posts which add a further dimension.
This book is about so much more than child abduction and, as a consequence, does contain swearing and abuse so if you are upset by these, I would probably give this a miss but if you "enjoy" (and I say that loosely) reading something on the darker side, then Call Me Mummy is the book for you.
Thank you to Serpent's Tail / Profile Books / Viper via NetGalley - I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Another author to look out for in the future.
This is a dark, disturbing and harrowing read but totally addictive. With fantastic characters and an all-too-real story line, this is a book that gets you hooked pretty quickly and doesn't let you go until the last full stop at the end.
Told from the perspectives of the kidnapper, the mother and the child, this provides insight from all aspects of the story which makes it all the more gripping. There are also snippets of social media posts which add a further dimension.
This book is about so much more than child abduction and, as a consequence, does contain swearing and abuse so if you are upset by these, I would probably give this a miss but if you "enjoy" (and I say that loosely) reading something on the darker side, then Call Me Mummy is the book for you.
Thank you to Serpent's Tail / Profile Books / Viper via NetGalley - I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Another author to look out for in the future.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Crocodile in Books
Jun 21, 2019
This is a brilliant novel
This is a wonderful novel. The reader is taken on a childhood journey through the eyes of a young girl (or through the lens of the camera she see's herself through). This is a story about a child yearning for her mothers love, about friendship, about innocence and about the burden that abuse - emotional and physical - can have on an individual.
The relationship between the protagonist and the her friends is brilliant. The language, the vernacular, all make this novel as real as if you were right back to your own childhood, with words that I had long forgotten and which came back to me in laughter. I enjoyed the honesty of childhood, the realism of childhood relationships, the subtle way that situations are dealt with. I just loved it.
The relationship between the protagonist and the her friends is brilliant. The language, the vernacular, all make this novel as real as if you were right back to your own childhood, with words that I had long forgotten and which came back to me in laughter. I enjoyed the honesty of childhood, the realism of childhood relationships, the subtle way that situations are dealt with. I just loved it.
Insanely good!
Words cannot describe how much I love this fantasy series by Anne Bishop, but I'm gonna try anyway. First, the characters are fully formed. From the cover one would think that Jaenelle is the main character, and in a way that is true, but in reality each of the players are equally important with rich backstories and thus become real people to the reader.
The world Bishop created in this series is intricate, deadly, wonderful, and beautiful. The books handle some pretty intense subjects, like child abuse, rape, and prostitution, which sounds bad as I write this, but Bishop handles it beautifully. They aren't extra things thrown into the story for attention--each horror is a catalyst for the characters to grow into their destinies. If you read these books, you will love them forever, I promise. These have a special place on the shelf.
The world Bishop created in this series is intricate, deadly, wonderful, and beautiful. The books handle some pretty intense subjects, like child abuse, rape, and prostitution, which sounds bad as I write this, but Bishop handles it beautifully. They aren't extra things thrown into the story for attention--each horror is a catalyst for the characters to grow into their destinies. If you read these books, you will love them forever, I promise. These have a special place on the shelf.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated The Rules of Seeing in Books
Nov 7, 2019
I saw and I enjoyed
I have to be honest, this was a book I would never buy from the cover or from reading the back blerb, but it landed in my lap and I picked it up then I couldn't put it down. Never since I was a child have I read something since my childhood, where the characters are so vivid they become real and pictured in your head. They become characters you love like a friend and so route for them. This is a book about live without being a cheesy live story. This is a book about seeing things differently without being pretentious. This is a book about abuse without being focused on it. Joe Heap has written something quite special, a story of two wonderful characters who make you want to turn every page to will them on. I'm so glad I picked up this book.
LucyB (47 KP) rated Big Little Lies in Books
Jul 23, 2017
Magnificently clever, darkly humorous, thought-provoking read.
Sigh. I do so love it when I finish a book and wish it wasn't finished! Big Little Lies is absolutely one of the best books I've read for a while, and absolutely had me hooked from start to finish.
The story focuses on three main characters: bolshy Madeleine, mousy Jane and beautiful Celeste - who share a common bond; they have children starting the same kindergarten class. However, things go swiftly wrong when Jane's child Ziggy is accused of trying to strangle another child - a situation that soon escalates with alarming consequences.
The book captures playground politics to perfection (I'm wagering the author MUST have kids of her own), but goes far beyond exploring the behaviour of over-zealous school mums. It also examines the insanity of bullying, how quickly situations can spiral out of control, and the horror of domestic abuse. In spite of handling some weighty issues, it also manages to be quite darkly amusing and highly wry.
The characters are likeable, engaging and relateable (I'd guess most mothers reading this book would instinctively 'gravitate' towards one of the three protagonists). And the ending? I won't spoil it - but put it like this, I certainly didn't see it coming.
Love love love this book. Definitely one to read, folks!
The story focuses on three main characters: bolshy Madeleine, mousy Jane and beautiful Celeste - who share a common bond; they have children starting the same kindergarten class. However, things go swiftly wrong when Jane's child Ziggy is accused of trying to strangle another child - a situation that soon escalates with alarming consequences.
The book captures playground politics to perfection (I'm wagering the author MUST have kids of her own), but goes far beyond exploring the behaviour of over-zealous school mums. It also examines the insanity of bullying, how quickly situations can spiral out of control, and the horror of domestic abuse. In spite of handling some weighty issues, it also manages to be quite darkly amusing and highly wry.
The characters are likeable, engaging and relateable (I'd guess most mothers reading this book would instinctively 'gravitate' towards one of the three protagonists). And the ending? I won't spoil it - but put it like this, I certainly didn't see it coming.
Love love love this book. Definitely one to read, folks!
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Spotlight (2015) in Movies
Aug 9, 2017
Such an important film, well worth all the awards
"If it takes a community to raise a child, it takes one to abuse them."
Spotlight is such an important part of media history because they uncovered one of the darkest secrets of one community, which mirrors all communities. The film is awe-inspiring, so much so that I wanted to go back into a newsroom and be a TV journalist again at the forefront of major news. This is literally the best film for journalists to watch and for audiences to understand what it's like to work in a newsroom. More importantly, it shows how vital the media can be when actually doing proper investigations.
It is extremely dark given the subject nature - but having been in a similar situation breaking the story of Jimmy Savile in the UK for British media, the film completely reflects my own personal experiences.
Spotlight is such an important part of media history because they uncovered one of the darkest secrets of one community, which mirrors all communities. The film is awe-inspiring, so much so that I wanted to go back into a newsroom and be a TV journalist again at the forefront of major news. This is literally the best film for journalists to watch and for audiences to understand what it's like to work in a newsroom. More importantly, it shows how vital the media can be when actually doing proper investigations.
It is extremely dark given the subject nature - but having been in a similar situation breaking the story of Jimmy Savile in the UK for British media, the film completely reflects my own personal experiences.
Debbiereadsbook (1084 KP) rated Burn Baby Burn (Fairytales of the Myth #1) in Books
Feb 3, 2021
not really one for me
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I'm really not sure I liked this book, and mostly cos I did not get the ending, it made little sense to me!
It's a dark book, certainly. There is (but not detailed) reference to child abuse, both physical and sexual. It's there, you know? Ella talks about what happens to her, but we don't get it all. There is bloodshed, and a lot of it at the beginning and the end.
Only Ella has a say, so it made the perplexing ending a little more so. Daman is given a voice in the epilogue though.
Ella voice is strong though, and even what she went through, she manages to get her revenge.
What Ella does say is well written, and well delivered. I finished it, so for that reason. . .
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I'm really not sure I liked this book, and mostly cos I did not get the ending, it made little sense to me!
It's a dark book, certainly. There is (but not detailed) reference to child abuse, both physical and sexual. It's there, you know? Ella talks about what happens to her, but we don't get it all. There is bloodshed, and a lot of it at the beginning and the end.
Only Ella has a say, so it made the perplexing ending a little more so. Daman is given a voice in the epilogue though.
Ella voice is strong though, and even what she went through, she manages to get her revenge.
What Ella does say is well written, and well delivered. I finished it, so for that reason. . .
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**