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The Charity Shop Detective Agency
Peter Boland | 2022 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Every now and again I like to take a break from the usual hard-hitting, dark and gritty crime thrillers I usually read and immerse myself into something a little more sedate and The Charity Shop Detective Agency hit the spot perfectly.

I absolutely fell in love with the three main characters in this story - Fiona, Partial Sue and Daisy ... oh and not forgetting Simon Le Bon! Despite being retired, they have the skills and insight needed to assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice. There is a supporting cast of equally excellent characters that all added to and had their place within the story.

The plot is engaging and had some great twists and turns that kept me guessing and on my toes. The pacing was perfect for me and felt right for the story.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy a cozy mystery with believable characters and I can't wait for the next in the series ... sign me up!

Many thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Charity Shop Detective Agency.
  
Flirting with Death (The Hunted #1.5)
Flirting with Death (The Hunted #1.5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Flirting With Death is a short standalone story, set in the same world as The Reapers. It can be read before or after as there are no spoilers in here.

I actually enjoyed this one slightly more than The Reapers, I think because there is no triangle. What you get is someone whose time is about up, who acts like a complete jerk, so you actually have no sympathy for him anyway. Then there is Evander, who I loved, and Piper, who was brilliant.

For a short story, this had everything that you need, complete with a HEA (sort of) if you're a sap like me. I would absolutely love this story to be developed into a longer book as I need to know more about Piper and Evander. Definitely recommended.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 15, 2016
  
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BethZ (6 KP) rated The Orphan's Tale in Books

Dec 25, 2017  
The Orphan's Tale
The Orphan's Tale
Pam Jenoff | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
storyline (0 more)
Absolutely Must Read
I found this story to be very touching. Noa is a 16 year girl who was impregnated by a Nazi Officer and then thrown out by her father and forced to give up her baby. She finds herself living at a train station and working there cleaning when she discovers a railcar filled with Jewish babies. She decides to take one and runs into the woods with him, where she comes across a traveling circus who agrees to take her in as one of their aerialists. She meets Astrid, a rival at first, but bound by the secrets they each keep, forge an unforgettable friendship.

It is a beautiful story of loss, love, friendship, and loyalty set in a time when life was dangerous and difficult.
  
Marvel's The Defenders  - Season 1
Marvel's The Defenders - Season 1
2017 | Action
I love the cinematography in this series! The color schemes, the camera work, the choices that are made throughout are great. The story likewise, though it is quite slow through the first couple of eps as the team is re-introduced and brought together. Jessica Jones' snark is great, Luke Cage is strong and thoughtful as always, Matt Murdock steeps in his angst a bit more than I'd really prefer, and Danny Rand...is a spoiled, immature child playacting at being a superhero as before but everyone else's reactions to him make him a bit more palatable. The discussion between Cage and Rand in episode 2 was great.

Overall this is a good addition to Marvel canon. It's only as strong as its story and its weakest link, but still an enjoyable show.
  
Ms. Jenkin’s shares her story of traveling from what was seemingly a normal life to addiction to jail to sobriety in a way that is eye opening and entertaining offering hope to the reader that life can be good again. (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
This book, a true life story, is written in a way that reads like fiction and engages from the beginning. It is short and easy to read but full of valuable lessons to the reader of what jail is like and what it feels like to both have messed up and hurt those you love as well as successfully navigated recovery. There is some “mature content” (drug use, language, lesbianism) but it isn’t gratuitous. Ms. Jenkins book is as funny, touching, and insightful as her blog, “Juggling The Jenkins”.
  
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Sarah (82 KP) rated Elf (2003) in Movies

Mar 12, 2019  
Elf (2003)
Elf (2003)
2003 | Comedy, Family
One of my all time favourite Christmas movies. Traditionally watched over the festive period.
The story follows a human who as a baby crawls into Santa's sack and ends up at the North Pole. He (Buddy) grows up with the elves but struggles with the elf jobs due to his size.
Buddy goes on a mission to find his Dad, who doesn't believe this strange man to be his son. Everyone falls in love with Buddy except his Dad, who struggles to accept him or believe his story of the North Pole and Santa, that's until Christmas Eve arrives and Santa is in trouble. Cue Buddy's new found friends to save Christmas.
A full on feel good festive movie, that will become a firm favourite in any household.
  
R(
Rogue (Deadliest Lies #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
this is the first book by this author that I've read and it definitely wont be the last. this is a fun, sexy read that you wont want to put it down. this is the story about a dark hero with a stronger female character. this book is full of adventure, hot steamy scenes and revenge in the plot keep a hold of you till the end. this book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat till the end of the book. the characters are fab and you will fall in love with them as you read the book. the characters have lots of great chemistry in the story. i cant wait to read more from this author in the future.

highly recommended

https://obsessedbookreviews.wordpress.com/michele-mannon/
https://www.facebook.com/obsessedbookreviews
  
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Jill528 (15 KP) rated Before We Were Yours in Books

Jun 16, 2018 (Updated Jun 16, 2018)  
Before We Were Yours
Before We Were Yours
Lisa Wingate | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.6 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was completely blown away by this powerful and heart-wrenching story about family, love, perseverance, and loss!

This novel was inspired by the horrifying true events of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, run by Georgia Tann from the 1920’s-1950’s. The plot is written from two points of view, weaving between past and present, this is the story of how one family’s past has shaped its present. Lisa Wingate’s writing is absolutely flawless. She pulls you deep into the lives of each character where you feel like you are inside the novel witnessing all these heinous events up close.

Before We Were Yours is one of the best historical fiction books I have read to date, it will definitely stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!
  
A Time to Dance
A Time to Dance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is really such a delightful novel. The story is told in verse, but in a way that I think will still be very accessible to young adults. I love when author’s take risks like this and write for young adults as though they think and feel and are capable not only a grappling with difficult subjects but also with challenging vocabulary and text structure. What a refreshing follow up to The Grimm Collection.

Although the story is steeped in Hindu beliefs, the spiritual concepts and truths dealt with transfer very well to just about any faith–the idea of devoting what you do to God rather than to self. The main character’s growth through some rather serious life events–injury, loss, death–is so beautifully illustrated without being didactic.
  
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
John Boyne | 2006 | Young Adult (YA)
6
8.9 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had a really hard time with this book. The story itself is wonderful. I can get behind the idea that we are reading this from the point of view of a 9 year old boy but the writing style is something a five year old would say, not a 9 year old. The ending was sad, but expected. I'm shocked it took me 8 full days to read this book. It was incredibly short and easy to read in the sense of flow but I couldn't get past the poor narration style. If you're in it for the story you may love this. There were multiple paragraphs I flat out skipped because it was a near repeat of something previous. I could skim most of it and not miss a beat.