Small Mercies
Book
'Mrs. Fennessy, please go home.' 'And do what?' 'Whatever you do when you're home.' 'And then...
Historical fiction Literary Fiction
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Other Words for Smoke in Books
Jun 11, 2023
Kindle
Other Words for Smoke
By Sarah Maria Griffin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twins Mae and Rossa’s summer away from home becomes life altering when they discover a house full of witches, experience devastating first love, and face a dark power beyond any imagining.
Sarah Maria Griffin’s haunting and literary sophomore novel explores the balance between love and fear, weakness and power, and the lengths one will go to claim one’s freedom. For fans of Libba Bray’s The Diviners and Maggie Stiefvater’s All the Crooked Saints.
When the women from the house at the end of the lane went missing, none of the townspeople knew what happened. A tragedy, they called it. Only twins Mae and Rossa know the truth about that fateful summer.
Only they know about the owl in the wall, the uncanny cat, the insidious creatures that devour love and fear. Only they know the trials of loving someone who longs for power, for freedom, for magic. Only they know what brought everything tumbling down around them. And they’ll never, ever breathe a word.
This was the strangest book I think I’ve read in a long time. I really enjoyed it. The story was so strange but had you needing to read more. At first I have to admit I did think of not continuing with it but I’m so glad I did. The talking cat completely through me well worth a read.
Of Hoaxes and Homicide
Book
The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings—when you...
Hard By A Great Forest
Book
Saba’s father is missing, and the trail leads back to Tbilisi. It’s been two decades since...
Murder at Glenloch Hill
Book
Set in Edwardian Britain, American transplant Stella, and British aristocrat, Viscount “Lyndy”...
Taming of a Wolf (Viking Wolves #2)
Book
Jamie Could a grumpy Viking werewolf be the missing piece my broken family needs? Between...
Vikings Historical Contemporary Time Travel MM Romance
Debbiereadsbook (1650 KP) rated Ziggy's Gift (Liverpool Boys #5) in Books
Dec 14, 2025 (Updated Dec 14, 2025)
This is a novella in the Liverpool Boys series, and you really should read Saving Ziggy before this one. Much will not make sense if you haven't.
Ziggy and Marc are 7 years married, settled into life happily. But *something* is missing, they both cannot pinpoint what, so a break away over Christmas seems perfect. What they find, will change their lives forever.
I found this the most PERFECT end to Ziggy and Marc's story!
It's so full of love! Marc and Ziggy are very much in love. That fact shows on every page, and finding the bundle in the summer house? Makes their lives complete.
I loved that there was very little steam here! Ziggy and Marc make plans for *fully* enjoy their down time, but plans go awry!
It emotional, though, on a deep level. Finding a baby will wreck anyone, but taking that baby on? Takes a huge amount of emotional upheaval but Ziggy and Marc own it, beautifully!
All the other *boys* and their partners are talked about, and some pop up at the end, so that was a lovely catch up with everyone.
This really is, the most fitting end to Ziggy and Marc's story.
5 full, but very sweet stars
*same worded review wil appear elsewhere
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles (Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery #1)
Book
Asta, the dog from the popular Thin Man series, has vanished, and production for his next film is...
Humour Mystery Historical
The Path of Redemption
Book
With Grand Protector Faust missing and Caesar dead, Senator Frigus is trying to hold the fraying...
Alternate History
Debbiereadsbook (1650 KP) rated How to Chain Your Dragons in Books
Aug 15, 2025
For the most part, I really REALLY enjoyed this book but my review will be short and sweet cos if I leave myself free reign, it might come across as negative and it really was a good book!
I loved Jaz. She is strong willed and determined, but really just wants to be cut a break! These dragons, though, want more from her. She isn't sure she can give it, not to the invaders of Earth.
The dragons themselves are very different, with stron personalities and differing skills and fears. Zyair, Rhodes and Xandros all want one thing: their fated mate. Finding out she is human, kinda throws a spanner in the works but they really do all go in, eventually.
I was expecting a space romp here, and I get a lot more.
BUT
I feel like there is much MUCH that was not said here. It feels like there should've been a book before this one, giving all the information about Earth being invaded and all that jazz, or Jaz! I just felt it needed MORE, you know??
It also felt like the beginning of a series, there are many characters who I want to read about, so I hope we get more, I really do.
4 good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere


