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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Her Last Holiday in Books

May 16, 2021  
Her Last Holiday
Her Last Holiday
C.L Taylor | 2021 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked this thriller very much, especially the slow build up of tension. It was only the stave a day format of The Pigeonhole that stopped me from turning to the end to find out what was going to happen (gasp! I know, I’m a terrible person!)

Fran, a 50-something single, teacher, is roped into attending a Wellness retreat by her mother - a retreat run by the same man who ran the one in Gozo where Fran’s sister, Jenna, went missing two years previously. The male counsellor, Tom, has just served two years in prison for the deaths of two other people on the retreat, and his wife wants him to get back to work as soon as possible. This may not have been a wise move.

I liked the flashbacks to Jenna’s retreat - there was as much tension in these parts as in her sister Frans present day parts. Neither past events or the present day make it any easier to guess what might have happened to Jenna, but there’s definitely something fishy going on in both timelines.

There were parts where I felt it best to leave my rational thoughts at the door - but hey, this is fiction. If I wanted real life, I’d read a newspaper (ahem. Or something). Many was the time over the 10 day period of reading this, where I was so frustrated at the end of the stave - I just wanted to read on. It’s definitely a book written for a day long binge read!!
  
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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Ghosts in Books

Feb 21, 2021  
Ghosts
Ghosts
Dolly Alderton | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ghosts was a great listen. I liked the character of Nina - she seems to be a great friend and a good daughter who wants to help both friends and family when she can. This doesn’t always seem to be reciprocated though. Nina is a successful food writer and owns her own home; the only thing missing in her life is someone to share it with. After the break up with her boyfriend, Joe, who she stays best friends with, Nina decides to try a dating app called Linx. She meets Max through the app, who is a handsome, enigmatic accountant. He announces on their first date that they will get married - and that’s where alarm bells started ringing for me, like the old cynic that I am.

Nina’s parents are lovely people, and her dads worsening dementia is heartbreaking. Her Mum is a bit of comic relief at times, changing her first name and joining clubs - but the reasoning behind her actions are understandable. She’s a lot younger than Ninas dad, and watching him forget more and more must be frightening and upsetting for her.

This book had me experiencing ALL the emotions - it’s funny, sad, worrying and infuriating. I laughed aloud whilst listening, had a bit of a cry, and shouted at Nina at one point (it was a Max thing and I was wearing headphones 🤷🏼‍♀️). The narrator was the exact right choice and it helped that the writing was really engaging too. It’s a really good book - and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
  
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TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Love's Mountain Quest (Hearts of Montana, #2) in Books

Feb 23, 2021  
Love's Mountain Quest (Hearts of Montana, #2)
Love's Mountain Quest (Hearts of Montana, #2)
Misty M. Beller | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Love’s Mountain Quest by Misty M. Beller is the second book in her Hearts of Montana series. It can be read as a stand-alone (I have not read the first book yet) and not be left feeling like you are missing something.

Joanna, I thought was an interesting character. She is straight forward, she knows what she wants, and is a strong woman both physically and mentally. I thought Misty M. Beller did a great job of using these strengths while balancing out her softer feminine side. Isaac was more layered than Joanna as the story unfolds. He has a sense of mystery about him right until the very end. I thought both characters balanced each other out.

The storyline follows Joanna and Isaac on their quest to rescue Joanna’s son bouncing back and forth between them and the bandit’s party and their captives. I thought it flowed very well and kept the story progressing at a very good rate.

I give this story 4 out of 5 stars for the interesting characters, the theatrical elements to the story, and for the good flowing storyline. While this story was good, it did not live up to Misty M. Beller’s usual storytelling craftsmanship. I think because there was not as much detail and meaningful interaction between characters. But it was still a good story that I recommend reading.

*I volunteered to read this story in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.