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ClareR (6037 KP) rated The Dog of the North in Books

Mar 3, 2024  
The Dog of the North
The Dog of the North
Elizabeth McKenzie | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I can remember reading Elizabeth Mckenzie’s The Portable Veblen when it came out, and thinking “What on earth am I reading? This is marvellous!!”. I felt exactly the same way when I read The Dog of the North.
Penny’s life is a mess - she will be the first to admit it. Her marriage is over, she has walked out on her job and her house, and now has nowhere to live. However, she finds herself rushing to her grandmother’s rescue when it looks as though Adult Protective Services are going to get involved in her life unless her house is cleaned. Along the way, she meets her grandmother’s accountant whose living conditions also leave a lot to be desired, her biological father makes an appearance, her grandfather needs her help because of his frankly awful second wife, and we get to see Penny’s sister in Australia as Penny and her grandfather make a last ditch attempt to find her mother and stepfather. They had gone missing in the outback five years before, and Penny is finding it difficult to accept that they’re really dead.

This is a really funny book, but boy is it dark. Whilst I was laughing at the predicaments that Penny found herself in, I realised that she seemed to be helping everyone else, and none of these people seemed to be helping or caring for her. She is a quiet voice amidst the shouting and misadventures of her family (her grandmother is really VERY entertaining!), and she just needs someone to take her side and give her a hug (if she’ll let them!).

It’s an uplifting story all in all, and well worth reading.
  
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Debbiereadsbook (1611 KP) rated On Warmer Shores in Books

Aug 4, 2024  
On Warmer Shores
On Warmer Shores
Alex J Adams | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
stunning 5 star read!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I've followed Ms Adams from the very beginning, and I can honestly say, I'm loving the way she is honing her craft.

This is a step out of her comfort zone, I think, and I bloody LOVED it!

Vince has watched his best friend fall in love with someone else, and an invitation to the wedding is just a step too far for his broken heart. Jetting off to France for a week seemed like a good idea. Meeting Sylvain seemed the answer to his prayers, right?

I loved this, I really did.

It's sweet and smexy, emotional and funny, and everything inbetween, while being a delightful tale of two men meeting and falling in love, when they least expect it!

I did NOT like Theo, even after it all went down. The man really couldn't see who was under his nose the whole time and he couldn't see what an idiot he was getting.

Loved the best friend, Lexi but hated the position that Theo put her in with Vince.

The best bit? Sylvian letting Vince set the pace of their physical relationship. I loved that we never actually got to The Main Event! I mean, its steamy and lots of smexy times, but The Main Event never happens, and I actually LOVED that, I really did.

It's a much lighter read from Ms Adams, and I loved the direction this took.

Amazing read, thank you!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere