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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2304 KP) rated Oh Danny Girl in Books

Jan 17, 2023 (Updated Jan 17, 2023)  
Oh Danny Girl
Oh Danny Girl
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Life Unraveling Can Be Dangerous
When Danny O’Brien goes to court that morning, she’s not expecting anything too difficult in the uncontested divorce she is there to handle. That’s before a gun is found in her briefcase – a gun connected to the high-profile cop killer case where her husband is the defense attorney. Then her husband is murdered in a hotel room with a woman. As Danny realizes the legal peril she is in, she tries to make sense of all that is happening around her. Will she figure things out before it is too late?

This was a great thrill ride from the very beginning, and I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters are great, and help pull us into the story. The chapter breaks also signal that we are switching to another character’s point of view, and this technique is used perfectly to help us understand them better and to fully see what is unfolding. I did think a couple of character moments happened too soon, and a couple of times the chapter breaks were used for false suspense (to keep us from learning something the character had just learned), but these were minor issues for me. Most of the twists surprised me and kept me hooked until I reached the satisfying end. I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters next.
  
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Merissa (12552 KP) rated Cross Current (Olympic Cove #4) in Books

Mar 3, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)  
Cross Current (Olympic Cove #4)
Cross Current (Olympic Cove #4)
Nicola M. Cameron | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CROSS CURRENT is the fourth book in the Olympic Cove series, and we find ourselves back in the war against Thetis. Matt has just finalised his divorce and is having downtime before he returns to his teaching job. So imagine his surprise when three Selkies and a Mer turn up on his doorstep. Oh, and his neighbours are gods, by the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and the individuality of having a pentad, and how it worked for them. However, I didn't have as much of a connection with Matt and the others, as I have had in previous books. As I've said, I enjoyed how their relationship worked for them, but being as Matt was with Fionn and Ailith, I don't feel like I knew Duncan or Ceit as much as I wanted to.

This book does move the overall story arc along, but you could also read it as a standalone, as it is pretty much self-explanatory. I think this is a good addition to the series, but it just didn't grab me as much as the others. I still highly recommend it though, and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

* 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!
Mar 3, 2021
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2304 KP) rated The Last Thing Claire Wanted in Books

May 21, 2024 (Updated May 21, 2024)  
The Last Thing Claire Wanted
The Last Thing Claire Wanted
Karin Fitz Sanford | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What Happened to Little Danny?
After a divorce and leaving the FBI, Anne McCormack is trying to build her new estate sale business. One of her few clients is Claire Murray, who has just found out she has only a few months to live. Before she dies, Claire wants to find out what happened to her five-year-old son when he was killed twenty-nine years ago. The case was never solved, but Anne teams up with her uncle, a retired cop, to reopen the case. What will they find?

I picked this book up because I grew up in the town where the story is set. I enjoyed that even if many of the places in the story are fictional. The book is definitely darker than I would normally read, and it includes the content you’d expect from that. At the heart of the book is a good mystery, and I was caught up in trying to figure out who did it and how Anne would prove it. The Murray family drama did take over a few times, but most of the time, I enjoyed that story as well. The writing is good and gives us an appropriate melancholy vibe. It does take some of the characters time to develop, but by the end, we’ve gotten to know all of them. If you are looking for a more serious mystery, this is a debut to pick up.
  
FI
Friction in Motion
Sy Kadella | 2018
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jerry is woken by his father one faithful morning, to be informed that him, his father and grandfather will be taking a men-only road trip. Jerry is an emotionally detached child prodigy and wants nothing less than for his parents to finally divorce so that everyone can finally understand why he is the way he is. His father has fits that have put a strain on his marriage and his family which has split the family to sides. His sister siding with his mother and Jerry standing with his dad because he feels that no one will be there for his dad, so if leaving on a long road trip with no end in sights means leaving his sister and mom behind he is ready to go. On this road to discovery Jerry, he visits his mobster uncle, a spirit channeling aunt, a native American Indian healer, and a depressed punker.
This tale is remissive of an epic poem and how the discovery of yourself leads to places you would not normally go. Sy Kadella is a talented storyteller who leaves you wondering about the experiences that Jerry must endure to finally see where he is and where he is going. Jerry is a very complex character who unravels in layers as his journey unfold which is a treat unto itself. To be honest the story is slow in places and almost stalls as the details overrun the overall tale. It was an enjoyable tale even though you do have to dig through in places.