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Confessions of a Failed Grown-up: Bad Motherhood and Beyond
Book
In Confessions of a Bad Mother, Stephanie described how she brought up her children 'wrong'. Now she...
Pussy: A Reclamation
Book
With this book, you're being handed the keys to a turned-on life - a life that is authentic, radiant...
Five-Carat Soul
Book
Exciting new fiction from James McBride, the first since his National Book Award-winning novel The...
Fiction social issues
One Hundred Demons
Book
You ll wonder how anything can be so sad and so funny at the same time. Lev Grossman, "Time" ...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2243 KP) rated Nun But the Brave in Books
Feb 18, 2022 (Updated Feb 18, 2022)
Giulia Bravely Tackles a Missing Person Case
Giulia Driscoll has been hired by a young woman to find her missing twin sister. Joanne has been missing for a couple of months. The police are sure that she is dead, but her sister refuses to give up hope. Giulia starts by talking to Joanne’s friends and co-workers, and she find that Joanne had been acting differently the last few months before she vanished. The trail leads Giulia to several internet dating sites, but where will the trail end?
I’d forgotten just how funny this series was until I picked this book up. I loved the banter between Giulia and those in her life. Some of the humor was on the crude side, but it was still handled as delicately as possible. The plot was good. She made a couple of leaps of logic early on, but, I was willing to let that slide. The plot holds up well on, and everything is resolved with evidence Giulia finds along the way by the time we reach the climax. The characters are wonderful. They may make us laugh, but there is depth to them that makes us care about the outcome. If you are looking to laugh as you read, be sure to check out this book.
I’d forgotten just how funny this series was until I picked this book up. I loved the banter between Giulia and those in her life. Some of the humor was on the crude side, but it was still handled as delicately as possible. The plot was good. She made a couple of leaps of logic early on, but, I was willing to let that slide. The plot holds up well on, and everything is resolved with evidence Giulia finds along the way by the time we reach the climax. The characters are wonderful. They may make us laugh, but there is depth to them that makes us care about the outcome. If you are looking to laugh as you read, be sure to check out this book.
Merissa (12175 KP) rated Until You in Books
Dec 2, 2023
UNTIL YOU is a standalone story about Paul (mid-forties) and Charlie (19). Charlie is homeless and Paul meets him when he is being beaten up. Charlie is rescued and Paul pays what he owes, and thinks that's it. Only, he can't get Charlie out of his mind.
This is a sweet story with some steamy moments. The interactions between Charlie and Paul are both realistic and funny (when they're supposed to be.) The difference in their ages is shown in subtle ways, the same as how they acknowledge and deal with their other differences.
You don't know until the end what secret Paul is hiding, although you can guess. I loved how it was Paul's ex-wife who took the first step afterwards. It was such a good example of people learning from their mistakes and becoming better people for it. The relationship between Rachel and Charlie was fantastic to read, especially after her initial reaction.
Such a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed - and that epilogue was perfect! Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 2, 2023
This is a sweet story with some steamy moments. The interactions between Charlie and Paul are both realistic and funny (when they're supposed to be.) The difference in their ages is shown in subtle ways, the same as how they acknowledge and deal with their other differences.
You don't know until the end what secret Paul is hiding, although you can guess. I loved how it was Paul's ex-wife who took the first step afterwards. It was such a good example of people learning from their mistakes and becoming better people for it. The relationship between Rachel and Charlie was fantastic to read, especially after her initial reaction.
Such a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed - and that epilogue was perfect! Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 2, 2023
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2243 KP) rated Panty Raid in Books
Apr 28, 2022
Combining Work with Pleasure. And Murder.
Samantha Kidd and her fiancé, Nick Taylor, are in Las Vegas for a working vacation. Samantha has been sent to attend a lingerie show, but the couple have arrived early to enjoy some time away. However, things take a turn when Nick runs across his friend Marc Rico when they are checking into the hotel. Nick starts acting funny before revealing a dark story from his and Marc’s past. The next morning, Samantha finds a dead body across the street from their hotel. Can she figure out what is happening?
This book captured my attention early and never let go. I enjoyed the creative clues and red herrings Samantha had to navigate on the way to the solution. There are one or two things about the climax that we have to deduce for ourselves, but they are minor. Since Samantha and Nick are out of town, they get plenty of page time, and I enjoy seeing their relationship continue to grow. Not to mention how Samantha is maturing. The rest of the cast is good, and there is a reappearance of a recurring character here. There’s also plenty of humor, and I was laughing and grinning the entire way through. If you are looking for a fun mystery, this book is a winner.
This book captured my attention early and never let go. I enjoyed the creative clues and red herrings Samantha had to navigate on the way to the solution. There are one or two things about the climax that we have to deduce for ourselves, but they are minor. Since Samantha and Nick are out of town, they get plenty of page time, and I enjoy seeing their relationship continue to grow. Not to mention how Samantha is maturing. The rest of the cast is good, and there is a reappearance of a recurring character here. There’s also plenty of humor, and I was laughing and grinning the entire way through. If you are looking for a fun mystery, this book is a winner.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2243 KP) rated Staged 4 Murder in Books
Oct 6, 2022
Murder is a Catwalk
The Booked 4 Murder book club is thrilled to find the local theater is putting on a production of The Mousetrap and asking the residents of the local retirement community to participate. Naturally, everyone is excited to be part of the cast and crew. Since Sophie Kimball’s mother lands a part in the play, she expects she will hear all about it in detail. What she doesn’t expect is that someone will find the dead body of Miranda Lee, the star, on the catwalk above the stage one day. Yes, Miranda was being a diva with a capital D, but who would want to kill her?
I was glad I finally found time to return to Sophie’s world. Fans of the play will appreciate references to it and other Agatha Christie works, but knowing the play isn’t a requirement, and nothing is spoiled. There is plenty of action to keep things going. The climax was fun, but there was a bit too much to it. The Booked 4 Murder ladies were mostly balanced between funny and annoying, and I laughed as I read. Sophie is a great main character, and I enjoyed the bit of romance. Hopefully, it won’t be as long before I get to the next book in the series.
I was glad I finally found time to return to Sophie’s world. Fans of the play will appreciate references to it and other Agatha Christie works, but knowing the play isn’t a requirement, and nothing is spoiled. There is plenty of action to keep things going. The climax was fun, but there was a bit too much to it. The Booked 4 Murder ladies were mostly balanced between funny and annoying, and I laughed as I read. Sophie is a great main character, and I enjoyed the bit of romance. Hopefully, it won’t be as long before I get to the next book in the series.
Merissa (12175 KP) rated His Holiday Fate (Christmas Omegas) in Books
Dec 10, 2023
HIS HOLIDAY FATE is part of the Christmas Omegas series and features Andrew and Dylan. Andrew has been hurt on Christmas Day in the past. To heal himself, he threw himself into work. Dylan is an omega with alpha traits. He is a businessman and an extrovert, he doesn't want to be a house-husband. No, he has his own things to do. It was so much fun when these two met!
This is a low angst, funny, warm, and spicy story about two people who, at first glance, may seem opposites, but in reality, have more in common than they realise. The biggest thing they have in common is that they both want the other to be happy and are willing to do things that might not necessarily be high on their list of things to do. I loved both of these characters equally, as well as the nicknames they had for each other!
This was a great seasonal read where I was rooting for the two from the get-go and loved being a part of their courtship/relationship. A brilliant read that I definitely recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2023
This is a low angst, funny, warm, and spicy story about two people who, at first glance, may seem opposites, but in reality, have more in common than they realise. The biggest thing they have in common is that they both want the other to be happy and are willing to do things that might not necessarily be high on their list of things to do. I loved both of these characters equally, as well as the nicknames they had for each other!
This was a great seasonal read where I was rooting for the two from the get-go and loved being a part of their courtship/relationship. A brilliant read that I definitely recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2023
ClareR (5748 KP) rated The Echo Chamber in Books
Jan 14, 2024
How on earth can John Boyne write a book about a thoroughly , rich, famous and unpleasant family, for it to be a hilarious satire on the state of modern life that I wanted to keep listening to. It helped enormously that Richard E. Grant was narrating. He was perfect. I mean, in real life he seems really lovely, but in this audiobook, his narration exactly reflects the Cleverley family’s selfishness and disregard for anyone other than themselves.
The whole family is obsessed with social media, permanently glued to their phones - all except for the youngest member of the family who gets his kicks elsewhere. Achilles starts off as the most likeable family member, but it soon becomes apparent that he’s as bad as the rest.
I laughed throughout this: it really is very funny. The insights into social media are spot on, and has actually made me think about how much time I spend on it (whatever it was, it’s a lot less now - with the added bonus that I read more!). I can see that some would find this controversial. There were times when I wanted to block out what these people had said or done. I was far too caught up in it though, and wanted to see what they could possibly do next!
Another outstanding book from John Boyne!
The whole family is obsessed with social media, permanently glued to their phones - all except for the youngest member of the family who gets his kicks elsewhere. Achilles starts off as the most likeable family member, but it soon becomes apparent that he’s as bad as the rest.
I laughed throughout this: it really is very funny. The insights into social media are spot on, and has actually made me think about how much time I spend on it (whatever it was, it’s a lot less now - with the added bonus that I read more!). I can see that some would find this controversial. There were times when I wanted to block out what these people had said or done. I was far too caught up in it though, and wanted to see what they could possibly do next!
Another outstanding book from John Boyne!