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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Heat Rises (Nikki Heat, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In the middle of bitter cold winter weather, NYPD detective Nikki Heat investigates a case of a priet found dead in a bondage club. This book felt like the best tie in to the TV show yet, and I loved catching all the references to episodes or plot lines. As with the others, it was still over written in parts, but that seems to be getting better.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-heat-rises-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-heat-rises-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Unnecessarily confusing (1 more)
Still unsure what actually happened
Confusing
Quite a confusing read, and one that I’m still not sure about what happened after finishing it!
We follow four women Dulcie, Elizabeth, Annie and Liza after they get a summons from a solicitor about a potential inheritance they have to decide whether they are going to accept or not. It is stipulated that whilst deciding they can’t speak to their family otherwise they forfeit the inheritance. We follow the women as they try to make their decisions as well as following them through their day to day lives, which are all extremely different. One is a potter, one a dancer, one a head hunter and one a teacher. Their way of making the decisions although different and more in keeping with their personalities, were also similar in some ways.
Although I enjoy the idea behind the whole book, I spent the majority of it confused. Even at the end, I was still confused and it was only because I was reading along on Pigeonhole and had the pleasure of Nikki Vallance answering questions that fellow readers had that I understood what had happened, but without that I’m not sure that I would have completely understood the ending.
The writing was beautiful, but maybe in order to be less confusing the chapters for each character could have been slightly longer and with more obvious time frames.
I want to thank pigeonhole and Nikki Vallance for allowing me to read this book for free, and I want to thank Nikki for trying to answer all of the questions that everyone had without giving away any of the plot, and for explaining it to those of us who were still confused at the end!
We follow four women Dulcie, Elizabeth, Annie and Liza after they get a summons from a solicitor about a potential inheritance they have to decide whether they are going to accept or not. It is stipulated that whilst deciding they can’t speak to their family otherwise they forfeit the inheritance. We follow the women as they try to make their decisions as well as following them through their day to day lives, which are all extremely different. One is a potter, one a dancer, one a head hunter and one a teacher. Their way of making the decisions although different and more in keeping with their personalities, were also similar in some ways.
Although I enjoy the idea behind the whole book, I spent the majority of it confused. Even at the end, I was still confused and it was only because I was reading along on Pigeonhole and had the pleasure of Nikki Vallance answering questions that fellow readers had that I understood what had happened, but without that I’m not sure that I would have completely understood the ending.
The writing was beautiful, but maybe in order to be less confusing the chapters for each character could have been slightly longer and with more obvious time frames.
I want to thank pigeonhole and Nikki Vallance for allowing me to read this book for free, and I want to thank Nikki for trying to answer all of the questions that everyone had without giving away any of the plot, and for explaining it to those of us who were still confused at the end!
Merissa (11768 KP) rated Silver (The Silver #1) in Books
Feb 11, 2020
This book is written from Jaze's perspective and it gives you a real insight into how he is feeling about losing his dad and moving to a new town. As soon as he moves there he realises that something is wrong - the amount of silver in the school metal detectors might have been a clue! He meets the pack that are already living there in an unforgettable manner. He finds a friend in Brock and 'the girl next door', Nikki, who just happens to have Hunters as parents. This all helps Jaze as he tries to look after his mom, tries to come to terms with his dad's death and the betrayal of who he knows was involved.
This story was extremely well written, the characters all had depth and there was a lot to the story itself. For once there was no Inst-Love but friendship actually came first. Yes Jaze was attracted to Nikki but proved that you don't always have to act on it straight away and it just might be a plan to get to know her first! The friendships that he makes with Brock and Mouse are quiet but loyal and an absolutely perfect foil for the action of the Packs. I loved the way the story unfolded and am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
This story was extremely well written, the characters all had depth and there was a lot to the story itself. For once there was no Inst-Love but friendship actually came first. Yes Jaze was attracted to Nikki but proved that you don't always have to act on it straight away and it just might be a plan to get to know her first! The friendships that he makes with Brock and Mouse are quiet but loyal and an absolutely perfect foil for the action of the Packs. I loved the way the story unfolded and am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Ruin Season in Books
Sep 23, 2023
136 of 235
Kindle
The Ruin Season
By Kristopher Triana
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jake Leonard has more than his share of troubles. He’s close to 40 now and suffers from bipolar disorder and the painful memories of the psychotic episodes that derailed his life.
Living in the rural south, Jake spends his days breaking horses and his nights training dogs in solitude. His 19-year-old girlfriend, Nikki, is the daughter of the local sheriff, and she’s just getting worse with drugs and alcohol. Jake does his best to persuade her to ease up on them, but things go from bad to worse when Nikki has a breakdown and gets involved in heroin and low-budget porn.
After a friend’s funeral, Jake reconnects with his ex-wife Michelle. He’s never stopped loving her, but she’s remarried with a young daughter.
Soon, chaos unfolds like a pocketknife, and as Jake’s dark history is revealed, he finds himself spinning toward the inner demons he’s worked so hard to escape.
This was one of those that you have to keep reading a lot of it got home bipolar is such a horrible illness. It was a whole rollercoaster of how life can change so quickly and our decisions have a dramatic effect, especially those made when not of a clear mind.
Kindle
The Ruin Season
By Kristopher Triana
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jake Leonard has more than his share of troubles. He’s close to 40 now and suffers from bipolar disorder and the painful memories of the psychotic episodes that derailed his life.
Living in the rural south, Jake spends his days breaking horses and his nights training dogs in solitude. His 19-year-old girlfriend, Nikki, is the daughter of the local sheriff, and she’s just getting worse with drugs and alcohol. Jake does his best to persuade her to ease up on them, but things go from bad to worse when Nikki has a breakdown and gets involved in heroin and low-budget porn.
After a friend’s funeral, Jake reconnects with his ex-wife Michelle. He’s never stopped loving her, but she’s remarried with a young daughter.
Soon, chaos unfolds like a pocketknife, and as Jake’s dark history is revealed, he finds himself spinning toward the inner demons he’s worked so hard to escape.
This was one of those that you have to keep reading a lot of it got home bipolar is such a horrible illness. It was a whole rollercoaster of how life can change so quickly and our decisions have a dramatic effect, especially those made when not of a clear mind.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated The Snake Den (Shadow and Ink #2) in Books
Jul 16, 2019
Wow! Just wow! This time around I know exactly what rating to give this dark but perplexing read. I am truly enjoying the fact that I am still completely clueless as to the true nature of Six. Is Six an angel? A demon? The figment of Corbin's fragmented mind? The author once again reeled me in right from the start with her beautifully dark writing style. The characters are all stunning and unique and I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series as this cliff hanger ending was more intense than the last. It is indeed a pleasure to spend time in the mind of Nikki Rae.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Heat Wave (Nikki Heat, #1) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
3.5 stars.
I liked the authenticity of the police-work Nikki and her team did and I liked the thing she has going with Jameson Rook and look forward to exploring this a little more in the next book.
What I wasn't particularly a fan of was the continual use of Nikki's last name to identify her throughout the book, especially considering New York is experiencing a heat wave at the same time. I kept getting confused.
It didn't take away from the investigation and I would never have guessed who was behind it all.
Looking forward to reading more of the series (mainly for the romance)!
I liked the authenticity of the police-work Nikki and her team did and I liked the thing she has going with Jameson Rook and look forward to exploring this a little more in the next book.
What I wasn't particularly a fan of was the continual use of Nikki's last name to identify her throughout the book, especially considering New York is experiencing a heat wave at the same time. I kept getting confused.
It didn't take away from the investigation and I would never have guessed who was behind it all.
Looking forward to reading more of the series (mainly for the romance)!
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows in Books
Sep 24, 2020
When I started reading this book, I really didn't know what to expect from it. The name of the book was simply unbelievable. The more I read it, the more it shocked me, and I know for sure, that after reading this book, I will never look the same at South Asian aunties and the community. The description of the book is quite accurate. British born Punjabi Nikki gets a job in gurdwara in Southall, London, to teach reading and writing to Punjabi widows, who are mostly from villages. She quickly notices that these widows are not interested in learning how to write, instead, they are very keen to share their erotic fantasies with other women. While teaching the widows, Nikki learns, that Southall, and the community itself are hiding many dirty secrets of its own.
I found the characters of this book very amusing, and at the same time very close to my heart. I loved how author put two opposites in the book; Nikki, who wants to live her life and make her own choices, and her sister Mindi-who still wants things done the traditional way. All the widows, who participated in this book, were really interesting and diverse personalities. They all had a story to tell, not only erotic one, but the one of their life as well. I do know quite a lot of South Asian people, and the way author described them in the book is very accurate. I am not including their fantasies, but the part of how they present themselves to society, is quite accurate. Respect of the family is the main value in Asian society, and all people try to maintain that. That’s why Nikki is kind of rebel against traditional values, which is sometimes quite shameful in the eye of the community. Everything in this book sounds very real and believable: characters, plot and the way author described places used in this book, it’s unbelievably accurate. I liked that author included more than one character in this book, and told the story from Nikki’s and her employer’s Kulvinder’s perspective. Kulvinder has huge influence in the book, with the tragic story of her daughter Maya, who died very young. Through the views of Nikki and Kulvinder, the story of the book unfolds very nicely, and keeps the suspense going.
The plot of the book is very original; nevertheless, it tells couple of different stories at the same time. Most of the action in this book happens in Southall, London. As the author said in the book, she lived in Southall, while she was studying at university. That explains why she wrote about this place with such detail. She described every corner and street with great accuracy, and beautifully presented the spirit of that place. How do I know? I visited that place many times, that’s why the similarity shocked me. This book tells not only the story of widow’s fantasies, but also involves murders, and many dark secrets of the society itself, and that really made the book amusing, twisty and hard to put down. The more Nikki gets involved with the widows, the more this story turns and thickens. Author discussed a lot of important topics in this book, such as: honour killings; family relations between parents and children, and what honour and respect of the family means in Asian society; immigration and adjustment problems; and many more. Author showed really nicely, that women, even after marriage remain women, and that after washing dishes, cooking and cleaning houses, they have their wishes and desires, which are not always fulfilled. Let me tell you one thing, those erotic stories they tell are really kinky, and has wide variety of action going on, so it is definitely not for young people to read.
So, as I mentioned before, and as it is obvious from the name of the book, it contains so foul language but at the same time is very comic and funny to read. This book is quite detailed, but it doesn’t make it boring, it helps to understand the situations better. I really liked, that the chapters were divided, so it was easier and more fun to read it. The ending of the book is nice and ended the book really well, by putting all characters at peace. To conclude, I really enjoyed this layered, funny and very beautifully written book and I do recommend reading it to everyone, who would like to have an insight of South Asian community, and get involved with those great topics which author brought up in this book.
I found the characters of this book very amusing, and at the same time very close to my heart. I loved how author put two opposites in the book; Nikki, who wants to live her life and make her own choices, and her sister Mindi-who still wants things done the traditional way. All the widows, who participated in this book, were really interesting and diverse personalities. They all had a story to tell, not only erotic one, but the one of their life as well. I do know quite a lot of South Asian people, and the way author described them in the book is very accurate. I am not including their fantasies, but the part of how they present themselves to society, is quite accurate. Respect of the family is the main value in Asian society, and all people try to maintain that. That’s why Nikki is kind of rebel against traditional values, which is sometimes quite shameful in the eye of the community. Everything in this book sounds very real and believable: characters, plot and the way author described places used in this book, it’s unbelievably accurate. I liked that author included more than one character in this book, and told the story from Nikki’s and her employer’s Kulvinder’s perspective. Kulvinder has huge influence in the book, with the tragic story of her daughter Maya, who died very young. Through the views of Nikki and Kulvinder, the story of the book unfolds very nicely, and keeps the suspense going.
The plot of the book is very original; nevertheless, it tells couple of different stories at the same time. Most of the action in this book happens in Southall, London. As the author said in the book, she lived in Southall, while she was studying at university. That explains why she wrote about this place with such detail. She described every corner and street with great accuracy, and beautifully presented the spirit of that place. How do I know? I visited that place many times, that’s why the similarity shocked me. This book tells not only the story of widow’s fantasies, but also involves murders, and many dark secrets of the society itself, and that really made the book amusing, twisty and hard to put down. The more Nikki gets involved with the widows, the more this story turns and thickens. Author discussed a lot of important topics in this book, such as: honour killings; family relations between parents and children, and what honour and respect of the family means in Asian society; immigration and adjustment problems; and many more. Author showed really nicely, that women, even after marriage remain women, and that after washing dishes, cooking and cleaning houses, they have their wishes and desires, which are not always fulfilled. Let me tell you one thing, those erotic stories they tell are really kinky, and has wide variety of action going on, so it is definitely not for young people to read.
So, as I mentioned before, and as it is obvious from the name of the book, it contains so foul language but at the same time is very comic and funny to read. This book is quite detailed, but it doesn’t make it boring, it helps to understand the situations better. I really liked, that the chapters were divided, so it was easier and more fun to read it. The ending of the book is nice and ended the book really well, by putting all characters at peace. To conclude, I really enjoyed this layered, funny and very beautifully written book and I do recommend reading it to everyone, who would like to have an insight of South Asian community, and get involved with those great topics which author brought up in this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Deadly Heat (Nikki Heat, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Nikki is juggling two cases. She's working a serial killer leaving a weird clue to tie his murders together when someone connected with her mother's murder case tries to kill her. Can she juggle both while dodging bureaucratic red tape?
As usual, the writing is a bit hard to get into, but once I do, I get lost in the story. The characters could be a bit better developed as well. Honestly, both are minor flaws because I have fun with this book. Very creative tie in, and I am already looking forward to the next one.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-deadly-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
As usual, the writing is a bit hard to get into, but once I do, I get lost in the story. The characters could be a bit better developed as well. Honestly, both are minor flaws because I have fun with this book. Very creative tie in, and I am already looking forward to the next one.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-deadly-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Raging Heat (Nikki Heat, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on NYC, Nikki is racing to solve the murder of a man who fell from a plane. Are the clues leading to a powerful politician? Or is she ignoring the true trail and the clues that her boyfriend Rook is finding?
While there are scenes and lines that fans of Castle will love, this book works well as a mystery on its own. And the arrival of Sandy, while predictably timed, does add a great new layer to the story. Some interesting character development and this book is another winner is one of the most brilliant tie in series of all time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-raging-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While there are scenes and lines that fans of Castle will love, this book works well as a mystery on its own. And the arrival of Sandy, while predictably timed, does add a great new layer to the story. Some interesting character development and this book is another winner is one of the most brilliant tie in series of all time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-raging-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Vanishing Point (Nikki Boyd Files #4) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
This is my second Nikki Boyd novel and I loved it every bit as much as the last one I read. Ms. Harris is a talented author who knows what to bring to her readers. She blends the heart pounding suspense, the breathtaking twists and the epic chills that make up a perfect suspense novel. The characters she throws into the story really bring it to life, making it play out more like a movie on the big screen than simply a thrilling novel.
Nikki, Garrett and Jordan come together in a wonderfully researched, well thought out novel. This is the back story of Nikki's sister Sarah and what happened to her. Each page turn truly captivated me, wrapping me up in the investigation and the shivering suspense that goes on behind the lines of duty. Throw in to the mix a little romance between two characters, God's unending glory and it rounds it out beautifully.
Ms. Harris takes a topic that isn't easily handled, the disappearance of a loved one, and creates a carefully woven, intricately pieced novel. This book is beyond 5 star worthy, and is one that will be at the top of my recommendation list for many months to come. This book will take you on a highest of high roller coaster ride, twist your gut, squeeze your heart, and the sudden stop at the end.....well, just grab a copy of this book now to see what I'm talking about.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Nikki, Garrett and Jordan come together in a wonderfully researched, well thought out novel. This is the back story of Nikki's sister Sarah and what happened to her. Each page turn truly captivated me, wrapping me up in the investigation and the shivering suspense that goes on behind the lines of duty. Throw in to the mix a little romance between two characters, God's unending glory and it rounds it out beautifully.
Ms. Harris takes a topic that isn't easily handled, the disappearance of a loved one, and creates a carefully woven, intricately pieced novel. This book is beyond 5 star worthy, and is one that will be at the top of my recommendation list for many months to come. This book will take you on a highest of high roller coaster ride, twist your gut, squeeze your heart, and the sudden stop at the end.....well, just grab a copy of this book now to see what I'm talking about.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*