
David McK (3600 KP) rated A Ship of War (Charles Hayden, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
A large reason for that, perhaps, is that I spent roughly about the first half of the book trying to remember what had happened previously, particularly in relation to Hayden's private life! As such, I wouldn't recommend this as the first novel to read in the series: although it is (eventually) cleared up over the course of the events, having some clear idea of just why the characters are acting the way they are/even who they are does help immeasurably.
While it largely alternates between events at home and on the sea, this novel can also be split into several distinct sections: the first section dealing with Hayden (aboard his ship <i>Themis</i>) blockade of France, and his attempts to get back to England with news of vital import, the next section with shipwreck and recovery in France and the final section with the battle of 'The Glorious First of June'.
And yes, some of that has been covered before (and, IMO, better) in CS Forester's famous <i>Hornblower</i> series.

Oxford Reading Tree Read with Biff, Chip, and Kipper: First Stories: Level 2: Dad's Birthday
Roderick Hunt, Kate Ruttle, Annemarie Young and Alex Brychta
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Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper is the UK's best-selling home reading series. Over 5 million copies...

Dark Shadows - Haunting Memories
Marcy Robin, Adam Usden, Lara Parker and Kay Stonham
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Four new tales of horror, romance and intrigue read by cast members from the original television...

Beyond Our Ken: The Classic BBC Radio Comedy: Series 3
Eric Merriman, Hugh Paddick, Kenneth Horne and Kenneth Williams
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Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and others star in the complete third...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated A Chorus Lineup in Books
Jul 31, 2020
It's been years since I read the first two books in this series, but I was soon back in Paige’s world thanks to reminders in the text about what had happened before. Some of them do get spoilery, so keep that in mind if you are interested in the series. Thanks to the references, I was able to fully appreciate the character growth in the regulars we saw here. The new characters were just as strong. The plot was good and kept me guessing. I was surprised by a sub-plot that took over in the final quarter, completely slowing down the momentum. But we are then flung back into the mystery for a climax that had me turning pages while it successfully wrapped everything up. It also wrapped up these characters’ arcs, so fans of this series will be able to walk away satisfied with the time we’ve spent with them.

Find Me (Shatter Me, #4.5, #5.5)
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Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi's New York Times bestselling Shatter Me trilogy, this book collects...

Merissa (13197 KP) rated The Ghost is Clear (A Series of Midlife Curses #1) in Books
Apr 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 27, 2023)
I thought Brooke was an amazing character. She is no wallflower, even when her body hurts, and she is certainly not afraid of a little elbow grease. She is ably supported by Theo and Mitch, both of whom I want to see more of!
The pace of this book is smooth, taking you from her disastrous anniversary meal, through to the satisfying conclusion. There is a teaser for the next book, which made me smile. I love how Brooke is in her mid-forties, with a body that aches, and the determination to make things happen.
All in all, this was a brilliant read and a fantastic beginning to a new series! I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book, and I eagerly await the next.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 21, 2021

Comforting the Grump (Forestville Silver Foxes #5)
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I don’t do emotions or romantic entanglements. My life is simple: I work hard and I play hard,...
Contemporary MM Romance Series

Taylin's Temptation (Divergent Omegaverse #2)
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Taylin doesn't have a clue how the universe works, but he believes that given the right conditions...
Omegaverse MM Mpreg Paranormal Romance Shifters

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd (Flavia de Luce, #8) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
This novel is immediately Flavia, from the start, like picking up with an old friend. The beginning finds Flavia feeling a little lonely and sorry for herself until finding a corpse, of course. With Flavia back from Canada, it's a return to Bradley's tried and true Flavia de Luce formula, but it's certainly not trite, or tired. While the plot is a bit twisty and keeps you guessing, as always, it's Flavia who is the true star. In this book, we see our heroine growing up a bit: not just in age, but in maturity. Thankfully, though, she's still our Flavia, with her feisty spirit and deep love of chemistry. Truly, she's just a dear character and Bradley is amazing in how he captures her voice so perfectly.
These novels never fail to disappoint -- this one, as well. I will continue to highly recommend this series. This can certainly be read as a standalone, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don't start at the beginning of Flavia's journey.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it's available for U.S. publication everywhere as of 9/20/16.