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Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Return (Redemption, #3) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
This prodigal-son-returns-home story is one of my absolute favorites of Ms. Kingsbury's Baxter family books. Luke's character is the baby of the family, and she chiseled him so well in these stories. I was so excited years ago when I learned he had a book where his story was center. I loved revisiting him!
What would you feel like if everything you ever believed in was ripped away in one tragic instant? That's what Luke battles and I was so angry with him for so long in this book! I found myself on more than one occasion wanting to throw the book across the room. But, in trademark Kingsbury fashion, she weaved messages of hope, forgiveness, understanding and acceptance into her pages, and it wrapped me up instantly. Luke's story is a powerful one and I will forever love it.
This book should be able to get more than a simple 5 star rating. This book is emotional, utterly raw and absolutely breathtaking. The characters are now your family, the lessons are yours. All of it wrap up to make one unforgettable novel in a sweep-you-off-your-feet series. Ms. Kingsbury's shelf is graced with Luke's story and when someone asks me my favorites, his will always be one of the first to slip off the shelf. Well done, once again, on another amazing addition to this incredible family story.
*I purchased this book for my personal collection. Cafinated Reads was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
What would you feel like if everything you ever believed in was ripped away in one tragic instant? That's what Luke battles and I was so angry with him for so long in this book! I found myself on more than one occasion wanting to throw the book across the room. But, in trademark Kingsbury fashion, she weaved messages of hope, forgiveness, understanding and acceptance into her pages, and it wrapped me up instantly. Luke's story is a powerful one and I will forever love it.
This book should be able to get more than a simple 5 star rating. This book is emotional, utterly raw and absolutely breathtaking. The characters are now your family, the lessons are yours. All of it wrap up to make one unforgettable novel in a sweep-you-off-your-feet series. Ms. Kingsbury's shelf is graced with Luke's story and when someone asks me my favorites, his will always be one of the first to slip off the shelf. Well done, once again, on another amazing addition to this incredible family story.
*I purchased this book for my personal collection. Cafinated Reads was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Lost Man in Books
Mar 2, 2019
An atmospheric, addictive mystery.
A man's body is found in the Outback near what is locally known as 'The Stockman's Grave'. He had been out in the open and died of dehydration. His brothers are called to identify his body, and the family are then thrown in to the process of organising a funeral for him on Christmas Eve.
This is a family with many secrets - a family who have had hard lives and upbringings - and these secrets are ready to come out into the open.
The eldest brother, Nathan, can't believe that his brother died in the way that he did. They were all born and raised in the Outback, and wouldn't make the mistakes that led to the death of his brother, so he wants to try and find out exactly why and how he died.
I really enjoyed this book - they're a complicated family with a difficult past. I loved the way we are drip fed the stories of their lives, and the circumstances that made them who they are.
I love the Jane Harper books that I've read so far - she is so good at writing an uncomfortable atmosphere, and I really felt for the characters. The descriptions of the Outback, the bleakness and the heat, are so graphic that I feel like I could be there too (and with that heat, I'm glad I'm not!). I have Force of Nature sat on my bookshelf, and I'm really looking forward to reading it next!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this really fabulous book!
This is a family with many secrets - a family who have had hard lives and upbringings - and these secrets are ready to come out into the open.
The eldest brother, Nathan, can't believe that his brother died in the way that he did. They were all born and raised in the Outback, and wouldn't make the mistakes that led to the death of his brother, so he wants to try and find out exactly why and how he died.
I really enjoyed this book - they're a complicated family with a difficult past. I loved the way we are drip fed the stories of their lives, and the circumstances that made them who they are.
I love the Jane Harper books that I've read so far - she is so good at writing an uncomfortable atmosphere, and I really felt for the characters. The descriptions of the Outback, the bleakness and the heat, are so graphic that I feel like I could be there too (and with that heat, I'm glad I'm not!). I have Force of Nature sat on my bookshelf, and I'm really looking forward to reading it next!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this really fabulous book!

Lone Wolf (Strength of the Pack, #6)
Book
When his alpha invites a bunch of cougar-shifters to visit, wolf-shifter Karl Griffin is not happy....
MM Paranormal Romance Shifters Enemies to Lovers Hurt/Comfort

Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Pretend She's Here in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
<h2><strong>I didn't want to read <em>Pretend She's Here</em> at first.</strong></h2>
But as I read the synopsis, Luanne Rice's latest book sounded dark and twisted and <em>Pretend She's Here</em> sounded very much like a book up my alley. <s>I love a book that is dark.</s>
<h2><strong>I found myself pleasantly surprised... and disappointed at the same time.</strong></h2>
There were a few things that worked well with <em>Pretend She's Here</em> and a few things that didn't, but some of it is a matter of my own personal tastes. 😅
<b>1. Flashbacks work well here (for the most part).</b>
As much as I'm not a huge fan of a ton of flashbacks, this worked really well! Although Emily Lonergan lost her best friend Lizzie Porter a year ago, she continues to grieve over Lizzie's death. The flashbacks helped reinforce her friendship with Lizzie and how much the two meant to each other.
<b>2. I love the family support.</b>
Emily comes from a somewhat large family and she keeps her family in mind to help her survive each day she is stuck with the Porters, who returned to town to come and visit. Instead of coming and going, however, they take Emily away and have her live as Lizzie. Through the flashbacks, we find out Emily and her family are a close-knit group despite the size, and they're supportive through the ups and downs.
<b>3. Engaging storyline.</b>
For my personal enjoyment of the book, I wasn't a huge fan. I found myself interested in continuing <em>Pretend She's Here</em>, but I also found myself putting a distance with the book. While there is a solid storyline that will keep readers interested in finding out what happens to Emily, everything comes together easily. However, I loved the ending when the characters reflect on everything that has happened, and I know full well younger me would have loved this book. I highly recommend <em>Pretend She's Here</em> for fans of April Henry or for those who are interested in the bigger picture rather than the thrills and excitement.
<a href="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/pretend-shes-here-by-luanne-rice/" target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<h2><strong>I didn't want to read <em>Pretend She's Here</em> at first.</strong></h2>
But as I read the synopsis, Luanne Rice's latest book sounded dark and twisted and <em>Pretend She's Here</em> sounded very much like a book up my alley. <s>I love a book that is dark.</s>
<h2><strong>I found myself pleasantly surprised... and disappointed at the same time.</strong></h2>
There were a few things that worked well with <em>Pretend She's Here</em> and a few things that didn't, but some of it is a matter of my own personal tastes. 😅
<b>1. Flashbacks work well here (for the most part).</b>
As much as I'm not a huge fan of a ton of flashbacks, this worked really well! Although Emily Lonergan lost her best friend Lizzie Porter a year ago, she continues to grieve over Lizzie's death. The flashbacks helped reinforce her friendship with Lizzie and how much the two meant to each other.
<b>2. I love the family support.</b>
Emily comes from a somewhat large family and she keeps her family in mind to help her survive each day she is stuck with the Porters, who returned to town to come and visit. Instead of coming and going, however, they take Emily away and have her live as Lizzie. Through the flashbacks, we find out Emily and her family are a close-knit group despite the size, and they're supportive through the ups and downs.
<b>3. Engaging storyline.</b>
For my personal enjoyment of the book, I wasn't a huge fan. I found myself interested in continuing <em>Pretend She's Here</em>, but I also found myself putting a distance with the book. While there is a solid storyline that will keep readers interested in finding out what happens to Emily, everything comes together easily. However, I loved the ending when the characters reflect on everything that has happened, and I know full well younger me would have loved this book. I highly recommend <em>Pretend She's Here</em> for fans of April Henry or for those who are interested in the bigger picture rather than the thrills and excitement.
<a href="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/pretend-shes-here-by-luanne-rice/" target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>

Your Voice in My Head
Book
Emma Forrest, an English journalist, was twenty-two and living in America when she realised that her...

Claiming His Cowgirl (Crawley Creek #3)
Book
In a small town in North Dakota there resides a family of misfits on the Crawley Creek Ranch....
Contemporary Western Adult Romance

Dad Next Door (Crimson Club #5)
Book
Moving into my first house is step one in starting my new life. Next is setting up my contracting...
Age Gap Found Family Contemporary MM Romance Series

Leighann Twist (26 KP) rated Cellular (2004) in Movies
May 16, 2019
Yesssss
I found this movie while searching for movies with Chris Evans that I never saw before. This film also has Kim Basinger and William H. Macy. It is about a family who gets caught up with some crooked cops and Kim Basinger s son and herself get kidnapped. She figures out how to make a call to a random number on a phone the kidnapper smashed and winds up calling Chris' characters cell phone and he is now trying to save her and her son without knowing where they are. It is very exciting right until the end and I loved it. Worth a see if you like action films.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Boiled Over (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Founder's Day Weekend gets off to a rough start when a body is found in the fire the Snowden Family Clambake was using to prepare a meal. With the police looking at one of their employees, Julia must dig in and find the real killer.
The story started out strongly and never faltered as it led me through several twists and turns. The characters were just as strong as in the debut, and I enjoyed spending time with all of them again.
Note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-boiled-over-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The story started out strongly and never faltered as it led me through several twists and turns. The characters were just as strong as in the debut, and I enjoyed spending time with all of them again.
Note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-boiled-over-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

ClareR (5879 KP) rated Salvage the Bones in Books
Jun 8, 2018
This is a beautifully written book: lyrical, haunting and it doesn't pull it's punches. There were moments when I didn't really want to read with my eyes open (the dog fight - I found that very distressing), but this family had me in its grip from start to finish. I loved how 'together' they were (the siblings, anyway), how they all fought to survive, even down to the dog, China and her puppies.
You know hurricane Katrina is coming, but when it arrives in all it's visceral fury, I was truly terrified for them.
I can see why this has won awards. I loved the writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ward.
You know hurricane Katrina is coming, but when it arrives in all it's visceral fury, I was truly terrified for them.
I can see why this has won awards. I loved the writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ward.