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Aiming High: The Life of Ski and Travel Pioneer Erna Low
Mark Frary and Roger Lloyd Pack
Book
Erna Low, born in Vienna in 1909, was instrumental in starting what has become a multimillion pound...
ClareR (5674 KP) rated The Rules of Magic in Books
Dec 7, 2017
How I loved this book! I’ve read it in completely the wrong order - I know that Practical Magic should have been first, but I got caught up in the heat of the moment, and ordered this from the library when it came out. I’m glad I did though. It’s a lovely story, nothing like how I expected it to be. I expected it to be more stereotypically ‘witchy’, but it was much more subtle. This prequel follows two sisters and their brothers as they grow up and recognise that they are different to their peers - they are witches. Their mother encourages them to hide their abilities, to ignore them, but they know that they can't, and when they spend a summer holiday with their aunt they are encouraged to do the opposite of their mother's instructions. They also don't follow their mothers' instructions when she tells them not to fall in love - because of the family curse they are told that it will end badly.
Well worth a read!!
Well worth a read!!
Sam (74 KP) rated The Mystery of Mercy Close (Walsh Family, #5) in Books
Mar 27, 2019
Once the plot began going in circles of Helen not finding Wayne, my brain started screaming ‘WHEN WILL THIS BOOK END?!’. But then… it all surprised me.
I fell in love with Helen as the novel got more and more into her personal life and mental health, and the more frustrated I got with Helen not managing to find Wayne, the more I found myself wanting to find out exactly where he was.
I loved how this linked to Anybody Out There but you don’t have to have read it to understand what is happening with this one – and because of that, I’m desperate to read Rachel’s Holiday.
I was pleasantly surprised with this. Yes, it did take me a while to get into it and manage to enjoy it, but once I did, I was addicted!
If you’re good at reading longer books, this is definitely one for you! However, if you’re like me and struggle with anything that requires an attention span longer than five minutes, it may take you a while to enjoy it!
I fell in love with Helen as the novel got more and more into her personal life and mental health, and the more frustrated I got with Helen not managing to find Wayne, the more I found myself wanting to find out exactly where he was.
I loved how this linked to Anybody Out There but you don’t have to have read it to understand what is happening with this one – and because of that, I’m desperate to read Rachel’s Holiday.
I was pleasantly surprised with this. Yes, it did take me a while to get into it and manage to enjoy it, but once I did, I was addicted!
If you’re good at reading longer books, this is definitely one for you! However, if you’re like me and struggle with anything that requires an attention span longer than five minutes, it may take you a while to enjoy it!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated A Cajun Christmas Killing (Cajun Country Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With a couple of weeks to go before Christmas, Maggie should be focusing on getting into the Christmas spirit. However, she’s just learned that a businessman is trying to take over her family’s bed and breakfast built on their family’s plantation. When he turns up dead, naturally, they are all suspects, and Maggie begins to try to figure out what really happened. With a list of suspects that only grows, can Maggie find the killer?
We are getting quite a nice community in this series, and I was glad to revisit Maggie and her friends and family. The characters only grow stronger here and some relationships take surprising turns. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end, and sub-plots compliment the mystery and enhance the characters. Throw in some Louisiana recipes and Christmas traditions and you’ve got a holiday winner.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-cajun-christmas-killing-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
We are getting quite a nice community in this series, and I was glad to revisit Maggie and her friends and family. The characters only grow stronger here and some relationships take surprising turns. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end, and sub-plots compliment the mystery and enhance the characters. Throw in some Louisiana recipes and Christmas traditions and you’ve got a holiday winner.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-cajun-christmas-killing-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Goldfinch in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Thanks to the holiday season and all the activity that comes along with it, it took me a bit longer to finish this one than I would have liked, but now that I have I can only say that it deserves all of the accolades it's been receiving. The author's prose is always engaging and often quite poetically beautiful. The characters are memorable and endearing, even with their many, many flaws. While I didn't find Theo's life to be especially relatable, I did relate to much of what he was thinking and feeling growing up over the course of this book, and despite the somewhat extreme circumstances in it, I think many of us will be able to empathize with his thoughts and motivations. Without giving anything away, I can say that while it is ostensibly about an unintentional art heist in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, it is really about so much more. Essentially a meditation on the meanings of love, art, and even life itself; this book should not be missed. A new masterpiece.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Better Off Thread (An Embroidery Mystery #10) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Marcy shows up at the hospital ready to play elf for some sick children only to find that Santa, being played by her friend Captain Moe, is suspected of murdering a hospital administrator. Sure that the two detectives in charge of the case arent going to worry about finding another suspect since they have Moe, Marcy and friends decide to investigate on their own.
I was surprised to find out after I finished this book that it was #10 in the series. On the one hand, I should have guessed because the characters and their relationships with each other were all so well developed. I didnt feel like I was missing a lot of background though, so I assumed it was a newer series. Whether youve been with this one from the beginning or are just jumping in now, youll want to catch this installment. Better Off Thread is the perfect cozy to get you in the mood for a little holiday music and some Christmas shopping!
I was surprised to find out after I finished this book that it was #10 in the series. On the one hand, I should have guessed because the characters and their relationships with each other were all so well developed. I didnt feel like I was missing a lot of background though, so I assumed it was a newer series. Whether youve been with this one from the beginning or are just jumping in now, youll want to catch this installment. Better Off Thread is the perfect cozy to get you in the mood for a little holiday music and some Christmas shopping!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Independence Slay (Celebration Bay, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The town of Celebration Bay puts on a spectacular Independence Day event with a reenactment of a Revolutionary War battle. Okay, so the battle never took place, but it’s still a fun event that locals and tourists alike love. However, this year, a murder takes place at the event, and the town’s event coordinator has to determine who killed the victim and even if the victim was the intended target before the town completely turns on the charming teen who appears to be the only suspect.
I love this small town and how the books always put me in the mood for the holiday that is being celebrated. The supporting players from pervious books aren’t a strong presence here, but the new characters definitely make up for that fact. I do wish one series regular would grow a bit more. The plot is strong with plenty of surprises and twists along the way.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-independence-slay-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I love this small town and how the books always put me in the mood for the holiday that is being celebrated. The supporting players from pervious books aren’t a strong presence here, but the new characters definitely make up for that fact. I do wish one series regular would grow a bit more. The plot is strong with plenty of surprises and twists along the way.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-independence-slay-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Cemetery Girl in Books
Jun 7, 2018
I was given this as a free e-book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Right, first off, let me say as I always say when I rate a book 3 stars, that a 3 star review is NOT a bad thing! In fact, I'd recommend this book.
Okay, I had trouble getting into this book. I found it a bit too slow paced for my liking.
However, a little over half way through the book, I really started getting into it! It became super interesting!! I loved the whole volleyball game chapter. That one was probably my favourite!! I also liked the use of Latin phrases throughout the book.
The ending was really good as well. It was definitely a plot twist that I didn't see coming at all!!
I also want to mention that their were a few images in this book which I really enjoyed. They brought a little bit extra to the book, and I thought they were drawn really well. =)
This would make a great holiday/summer read =)
Definitely recommended!
Right, first off, let me say as I always say when I rate a book 3 stars, that a 3 star review is NOT a bad thing! In fact, I'd recommend this book.
Okay, I had trouble getting into this book. I found it a bit too slow paced for my liking.
However, a little over half way through the book, I really started getting into it! It became super interesting!! I loved the whole volleyball game chapter. That one was probably my favourite!! I also liked the use of Latin phrases throughout the book.
The ending was really good as well. It was definitely a plot twist that I didn't see coming at all!!
I also want to mention that their were a few images in this book which I really enjoyed. They brought a little bit extra to the book, and I thought they were drawn really well. =)
This would make a great holiday/summer read =)
Definitely recommended!
Kawaii Doodle Class by Zainab Khan is an illustrated step-by-step resource guide on how to draw smiley lumps that look like food, animals, objects, holiday themes, and monsters. As down-putting as that may sound, it’s really quite useful, dainty, and, yes, cute.
The book starts with a list of tools and essentials what you can use to have a go with but so long as you have at least a pen or pencil with some paper to hand you can try some sketches from the off. The book pages are set with cute borders alike clouds, in pastel and deeper blue against the plain white background on which the drawing tips and demonstration step by step images sit on.
You don’t need to be an amazing artist to be able to use this book as everything is super simple to follow, I personally loved the flower designs best and there’s a handy way to draw a rose I found useful!
I received this Quarto Publishing Group and Race Point Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts with a list of tools and essentials what you can use to have a go with but so long as you have at least a pen or pencil with some paper to hand you can try some sketches from the off. The book pages are set with cute borders alike clouds, in pastel and deeper blue against the plain white background on which the drawing tips and demonstration step by step images sit on.
You don’t need to be an amazing artist to be able to use this book as everything is super simple to follow, I personally loved the flower designs best and there’s a handy way to draw a rose I found useful!
I received this Quarto Publishing Group and Race Point Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, #7) in Books
Jan 28, 2019 (Updated May 10, 2020)
<2020 update>
Sue the Zombie T-Rex :-)
That is all.
<2016 update>
This is the Zombie-themed one, that ends with Sue the Tyrannosaur and also (I think) has the first appearance of Waldo Butters as one of the main players. In this, Thomas is also now lodging with Harry, who has now found out his relationship to the former, with Thomas trying to change his lifestyle. Karen Murphy is also absent for most of the novel, off on holiday with Kincaid.
<2011 notes below>
Magic - it can get a guy killed
Book number 7 in Jim Butchers Harry Dresden series, this is one where I think it is highly advisable to have read the previous entries first, as it ties several plot lines from those earlier novels into the events of this one.
Having said that: this is, as always, a good read, but maybe not the best in the series so far (which, to use an over-coined term, seems to be getting progressively 'darker' in tone)
Sue the Zombie T-Rex :-)
That is all.
<2016 update>
This is the Zombie-themed one, that ends with Sue the Tyrannosaur and also (I think) has the first appearance of Waldo Butters as one of the main players. In this, Thomas is also now lodging with Harry, who has now found out his relationship to the former, with Thomas trying to change his lifestyle. Karen Murphy is also absent for most of the novel, off on holiday with Kincaid.
<2011 notes below>
Magic - it can get a guy killed
Book number 7 in Jim Butchers Harry Dresden series, this is one where I think it is highly advisable to have read the previous entries first, as it ties several plot lines from those earlier novels into the events of this one.
Having said that: this is, as always, a good read, but maybe not the best in the series so far (which, to use an over-coined term, seems to be getting progressively 'darker' in tone)