Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (2720)

Content

Debbiereadsbook (1171 KP) rated All He Needs (My Truth #1) in Books

Sep 29, 2019

All He Needs (My Truth #1)

Ann Grech | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

9.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

one teeny little niggle . . .

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Caden has lusted after his straight friend, Mason, for some time. Add in Rick, and Caden thinks he’s nuts for wanting two men. Then Caden’s snowboarding career is ended by a silly stupid mistake on his part, and he needs to go home to help his sister with her imminent arrival. But home is half-way across the globe and Caden doesn’t know if he’ll ever get back to New Zealand. When Caden is faced with a devastating loss, Mason and Rick come running to help THEIR man. Because Caden is THEIRS, they just need him to see it.

I loved this, a LOT!

All three guys have been lusting after the other two for some time, and it was great watching them all come together, even if it took such a loss to Caden for make everyone see.

All three guys have a say, in the first person. Each change occurs as the chapter changes and each change is clearly headed.

It’s not overly explicit, but it IS heart breaking in places. Caden’s loss, then the possibility he might lose his baby niece, and the way his father has dealt with everything up to now. His dad does comes good though, and I think Mason and Rick were great for Dad as well as Caden.

I have just one thing, that stops in getting 5 stars.

I felt I was missing some information on each of the guys stories, some back history that I wasn’t getting. Like there was another book before this one that I should have read.

Were these guys in another series, even as secondary characters? I’m not sure EXACTLY what I was missing, but you all know I’m all about sharing my feelings, and THIS feeling stayed with me right through the whole book!

Still, a very enjoyable read, that I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish in one sitting. It would be great to catch up with all of these guys, Dad included, at some point.

So, ONLY because of that niggly feeling.....

4 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Kudos

ClareR (5686 KP) rated The Familiars in Books

Jul 14, 2019 (Updated Jul 14, 2019)

The Familiars

Stacey Halls | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Thriller

8.7

(9 Ratings)

Book Rating

The fact that this book is based on true events makes it all the more harrowing, in my opinion. When people ask “What era would you like to visit or live in?”, I pretty much always answer “I’m fine just where I am. I rather like the antibiotics, general freedom and option not to be hung and/ or burned as a witch, thanks very much”. I do however, very much like reading about the past, and this gives a fascinating insight to the Pendle Hill Witch Trials.

Fleetwood is seventeen years old and pregnant for the fourth time. Her three previous pregnancies have all resulted in stillbirth or miscarriage, and she has found letters from a doctor to her husband, saying that she will not survive another. She meets Alice Grey, who is a midwife, by chance. Alice promises to help her give birth to a living child, and assures her that she will survive the birth.

The fact that Alice is a midwife leaves her vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft, and accused she is. Fleetwood is adamant that she will save her as she is her friend and the only person who will be able to save hers and her baby’s lives. No one takes Fleetwood seriously though; when they do take her seriously, they expect her to go home and knuckle down to the more womanly pursuits of child bearing and being a wife.

Fleetwoods frustration is described so well - no one will listen, and no one will help. It’s such a tense atmosphere - Fleetwood just wants to help,her friend, and there are so many obstacles in the way. Even her social standing is no deterrent if someone were to accuse her of witchcraft if she becomes too troublesome (there’s the example of Margaret Pearson in the story, whose maid accused her of having a toad as a familiar, and spent time in the stocks before being imprisoned)

I really enjoyed this book, and I’ll be waiting for whatever the author writes next (I’m on the mailing list!).

Many thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book.