Search

Search only in certain items:

The Happy Return
The Happy Return
C.S. Forester | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Chronologically the 6th in CS Forester Hornblower series, this was actually the first published (in 1937!), and so is a pretty good 'jumping-on' point for those unfamiliar with the character or novels.

Sometimes also known as 'Beat to quarters', this sees Hornblower commanding the frigate Lydia on it's mission into Spanish held waters: a mission that will involve forming an alliance with an insane Spanish landowner, encounters with the 50-gun Spanish ship-of-the-line Natividad, storms at sea, and (the married) Hornblower's first encounter with (the fictional) Lady Barbara Wellesley, the sister of the future Duke of Wellington.

A quick reading and thoroughly enjoyable read it is!
  
AA
And a Puzzle to Die On (Puzzle Lady #6)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Puzzle Lady Cora Felton is hiding from her birthday by digging into a 20 year old murder. Why is someone interested in the case now? Is the real killer behind bars? The plot contains plenty of twists, but I felt the ending was overly convoluted. There was plenty of word play, which is why I read the series, so I loved that. Those who read for the cross word puzzles might be disappointed to learn they are unrelated to the mail plot. Personally, that didn't bother me.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-and-puzzle-to-die-on-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The Puzzle Lady is back and dealing with stolen chairs, charges of plagiarism, and being framed for murder. And to think she was complaining about being bored. I was impressed with how everything was tied together in the end. My only real complaint here was that the witty banter between characters I normally love had too much of an angry tent to it for the first half of the book. Still, there were plenty of laughs. Now, if only Dennis would die soon I'd really be happy.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-you-have-right-to-remain.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
40x40

Deb (14 KP) rated Part of the Bargain in Books

Jun 11, 2018  
Part of the Bargain
Part of the Bargain
Linda Lael Miller | 1985 | Romance
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cowboys (0 more)
The storyline (0 more)
Disappointing
I hardly ever NOT finish a book but this was one of the times that I just couldn't get through it. I got to chapter 3 before I gave up but I couldn't take it any further. The leading lady, Libby, from the beginning, was being portrayed as being weak minded. It was as if the story picked up in the middle of another which threw everything off. Jamie, the leading man, within the story didn't do anything but yell at her one moment and the next was trying to get her undressed within the first two chapters. It just wasn't what I expected it to be.
  
40x40

Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated Stratus in Books

Oct 2, 2018  
Stratus
Stratus
Miranda Brock | 2018 | Romance
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stratus by Miranda Brock
“I felt certain if I peered into them long enough I would see lightning flash in their depths ”

Stratus begins with our leading lady Lily who gets hit by lightning during a particular furious storm. She is surprised to see a gorgeous man lying next to her who introduces himself as Stratus. Lily find herself inexplicably drawn to the mysterious Stratus at the dismay of her friends and family. As the story continues questions about Stratus’s origins are answered as well as how he and Lily are tied together.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/09/stratus-by-miranda-brock.html
  
40x40

Kate (355 KP) rated Apparitions in TV

Jan 8, 2019  
Apparitions
Apparitions
2008 | Drama, Horror
9
7.6 (5 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Discovered this on Amazon Prime and hadn't heard of it before now. There is only one season consisting of six episodes and yes I did binge watch them in one day. Martin Shaw is the main character playing a priest who carries out exorcisms. The story does run through all six episodes and it does finish at the end of episode six. Not sure how season two would be played out as the story did finish. You don't get all the special effects in today's films and TV series but it is still compelling and makes you think. Also what lady can resist Martin Shaw.
  
Elizabeth is Missing
Elizabeth is Missing
Emma Healey | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.1 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
The consistency of character (0 more)
can be slow at times (0 more)
Lovely wee story
The novel is told from the perspective of Maude, a lady in her 80's with dementia. The reader experiences the frustration that the protagonist feels because of her poor short term memory, yet there is this brilliant back story. Yes, Elizabeth is missing, but so is Sukie, Maude's big sister who disappeared when they were both young. Switching between the present and the past enhances the story, showing how certain triggers can support long term memory in dementia patients. Lovely wee story. Brilliant gripping beginning, a bit slow in the middle and great ending. Worth a read.