Search
Search results
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Mar 4, 2022
French Quarter Fright Night
9.0
Rate It
Book
The third in the fabulous cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Imperfect Art of Caring in Books
May 9, 2024
90 of 220
Book
The Imperfect Art of Caring
By Jessica Ryn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
er talks about herself. She’s friendly but doesn’t have many real friends. She’s become good at keeping people at a distance ever since she left home at eighteen and never looked back.
But when Violet is forced to return home to care for her estranged mother, Glenys, she quickly finds out that life as a carer isn’t easy. Feeling overwhelmed, she’s forced to turn to the other local carers, including childhood friend, Adam, for help.
Although returning home still feels like a mistake, maybe it will help Violet right some wrongs. After all, she can’t keep running from her past forever, and in learning to look after others, perhaps Violet can start to finally love herself…
I’m becoming a big fan of Jessica Ryn she has a way of writing that hits all the feels. This one didn’t disappoint either, this is a story from the other side especially when my husband is my carer I felt every word of this book on a personal level. Such a joy to read especially when I’ve been on a thriller and horror kick lately. It’s shows the ups and downs of caring for a loved one or helping a complete stranger. Highly recommend.
Book
The Imperfect Art of Caring
By Jessica Ryn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
er talks about herself. She’s friendly but doesn’t have many real friends. She’s become good at keeping people at a distance ever since she left home at eighteen and never looked back.
But when Violet is forced to return home to care for her estranged mother, Glenys, she quickly finds out that life as a carer isn’t easy. Feeling overwhelmed, she’s forced to turn to the other local carers, including childhood friend, Adam, for help.
Although returning home still feels like a mistake, maybe it will help Violet right some wrongs. After all, she can’t keep running from her past forever, and in learning to look after others, perhaps Violet can start to finally love herself…
I’m becoming a big fan of Jessica Ryn she has a way of writing that hits all the feels. This one didn’t disappoint either, this is a story from the other side especially when my husband is my carer I felt every word of this book on a personal level. Such a joy to read especially when I’ve been on a thriller and horror kick lately. It’s shows the ups and downs of caring for a loved one or helping a complete stranger. Highly recommend.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated Love Me or Grieve Me in Books
May 9, 2024
Obituary Error Puts Madison in Danger
It all starts with a mix up in the paper. Addison Nigh, a once famous jazz singer, has died, but a small paper in town mixes it up with Madison Night, and other papers pick up on the error. Naturally, this creates problems for Madison since banks freeze her accounts and clients cancel appointments, or don’t show up at all.
But Madison can’t help but be curious about Addison. As she begins to meet the woman’s friends and family, she stumbles over a dead body. Can Madison figure out what is really going on?
I always love it when an author comes up with a creative premise for a mystery, and this is one of those. It leads to so much happening that it is hard to put down. I couldn’t figure out which thread was important until Madison figured it out at the end. The premise also allows us to see real growth in Madison and her relationship with her boyfriend, which I enjoyed. There are some great comic moments as well. Fans of Doris Day movies will not only recognize the title but also some of the details in Addison’s life, but that’s only a jumping off point. Anyone who enjoys a great mystery will be glad they picked this one up.
But Madison can’t help but be curious about Addison. As she begins to meet the woman’s friends and family, she stumbles over a dead body. Can Madison figure out what is really going on?
I always love it when an author comes up with a creative premise for a mystery, and this is one of those. It leads to so much happening that it is hard to put down. I couldn’t figure out which thread was important until Madison figured it out at the end. The premise also allows us to see real growth in Madison and her relationship with her boyfriend, which I enjoyed. There are some great comic moments as well. Fans of Doris Day movies will not only recognize the title but also some of the details in Addison’s life, but that’s only a jumping off point. Anyone who enjoys a great mystery will be glad they picked this one up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated The Key to Deceit in Books
Aug 10, 2024 (Updated Aug 10, 2024)
Unlocking a Spy Ring
Ellie McDonnell is happy when Major Ramsey walks back into her life with another case he needs help with. A young woman has recently been found in the Thames, and she was wearing a bracelet locked to her wrist. Ellie successfully takes it off, but what the two find inside just leads to more questions. Soon, they realize they are on the trail of spies for Germany. Can they find them to stop them in time?
I enjoyed the first in the series, and I was happy to see the second one is just as fun. Ellie has a logical reason to be involved in the case, and the story unfolded in a logical way while keeping me fully hooked until we get to the suspense climax. On the other hand, I’m already frustrated by the love triangle, especially since I suspect I know where it is going to wind up, and I’m not going to be happy about it. The characters are loads of fun, probably because most of them are on the shady side of the law, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also appreciated how real history from 1940 was woven into the book. Overall, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the third.
I enjoyed the first in the series, and I was happy to see the second one is just as fun. Ellie has a logical reason to be involved in the case, and the story unfolded in a logical way while keeping me fully hooked until we get to the suspense climax. On the other hand, I’m already frustrated by the love triangle, especially since I suspect I know where it is going to wind up, and I’m not going to be happy about it. The characters are loads of fun, probably because most of them are on the shady side of the law, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also appreciated how real history from 1940 was woven into the book. Overall, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the third.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Malicious ( The Whitethorn Society 1) in Books
Mar 30, 2024
60 of 220
Kindle
Malicious ( The Whitethorn Society 1)
By Rinna Ford
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the outside, people see Viv as a spoiled little rich girl who lives for designer clothing and wild parties, not the strong, capable woman she tries so hard to be. But money and power don’t buy love and acceptance, and Viv has definitely learned that the hard way.
College was a taste of freedom from that life, but then, that freedom ends up being stripped away when Viv is expected to go back to the family she hates to embrace a destiny she doesn’t want. Only, she believes that her destiny is to slave away for her family business, not join an ancient society of magical beings that shouldn’t even be real. Secrets and danger lie around every corner, but so do answers and love that she so desperately craves.
With old friends and new, one seriously annoying brother, and an ex that won’t go away, not that she really wants him to, Viv has to face new challenges and become the Whitethorn she was born to be.
She is the key. Whatever that means.
This was really good. A concept I haven’t yet read It was really interesting and I’m looking forward to reading more. I do like this author though and it was a light enjoyable book.
Kindle
Malicious ( The Whitethorn Society 1)
By Rinna Ford
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the outside, people see Viv as a spoiled little rich girl who lives for designer clothing and wild parties, not the strong, capable woman she tries so hard to be. But money and power don’t buy love and acceptance, and Viv has definitely learned that the hard way.
College was a taste of freedom from that life, but then, that freedom ends up being stripped away when Viv is expected to go back to the family she hates to embrace a destiny she doesn’t want. Only, she believes that her destiny is to slave away for her family business, not join an ancient society of magical beings that shouldn’t even be real. Secrets and danger lie around every corner, but so do answers and love that she so desperately craves.
With old friends and new, one seriously annoying brother, and an ex that won’t go away, not that she really wants him to, Viv has to face new challenges and become the Whitethorn she was born to be.
She is the key. Whatever that means.
This was really good. A concept I haven’t yet read It was really interesting and I’m looking forward to reading more. I do like this author though and it was a light enjoyable book.
ClareR (5784 KP) rated Dead Animals in Books
May 26, 2024
Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes tells of an unnamed young woman who wakes up the morning after a party, covered in bruises. Over a period of time, she realises that she was sexually assaulted. Whilst trying to deal with the repercussions of this, we learn that she’s a zero hours waitress in an upmarket restaurant, specialising in offal - and she’s a vegetarian. She’s bullied because she doesn’t eat meat, and is tricked into eating it on a couple of occasions (they’re really unpleasant people).
She lives in a tiny flat that appears to be plagued with mould that only worsens after the attack. Whether this is real mould or a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil and distress is uncertain, but when she meets Hélène, a fellow sufferer of her attacker, she takes her up on the offer of moving in with her.
Hélène seems perfect at first, but the main character takes her unease and weird occurrences with her to the new flat. Hélène comes across as manipulative and controlling. In fact there’s a feel of the main character having no control of her own life at any point in this story - right up to the devastating end.
This was a really tense, creepy audiobook, read so well by Anna Burnett - her narration increased the feeling of unease!
A short but really hard-hitting listen.
She lives in a tiny flat that appears to be plagued with mould that only worsens after the attack. Whether this is real mould or a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil and distress is uncertain, but when she meets Hélène, a fellow sufferer of her attacker, she takes her up on the offer of moving in with her.
Hélène seems perfect at first, but the main character takes her unease and weird occurrences with her to the new flat. Hélène comes across as manipulative and controlling. In fact there’s a feel of the main character having no control of her own life at any point in this story - right up to the devastating end.
This was a really tense, creepy audiobook, read so well by Anna Burnett - her narration increased the feeling of unease!
A short but really hard-hitting listen.
Murder on Devil’s Pond
10.0
Rate It
Book
A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace–until a body is found on the property–in this charming...
Lyric (Love Sync Mates, Season Two)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Can an alpha athlete and a traumatized omega find true love? Lyric is a famous alpha athlete, a...
MM Fantasy Omegaverse Series
KittyMiku (138 KP) rated Say You're Sorry in Books
May 23, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Say Your Sorry by Melinda Leigh is a suspenseful murder mystery that keeps you guessing up to the very end. With all the characters involved in the story, the secrets and secrets and issues each character has, it isn't hard to find someone to hate, love, or relate to in one way or another. The severity of the crimes can be a little sickening, especially if you sometimes think of how that could happen to your or someone you love, but to watch how an innocent man is convicted the troubles he may face, as well as seeing how the law system can be wrong in some cases, can really bring light to how certain things can go on without anyone even knowing what is actually going on behind the sense.
I found that I really enjoyed watching Morgan and Lance, a private detective, investigate the crimes committed and pinned on a man. It helped solved a missing person's case and get other secrets revealed. In one particular case, a military veteran, who shot at Morgan and Lance, is found to be suffering from some mental issues. To see how killing someone, even though deployed, can really affect the mind of a man and break his spirit, was truly heart wrenching and yet real. It was very interesting to see how something in the news can trigger an onset of guilt and paranoia in such a brave man. It is characters and developments like this, that can make the story feel all to real and even hit close to home in some people. To have such details on how certain things can trigger certain emotions and outcomes in a variety of ways, made Leigh's storytelling a bit chilling.
It wasn't just a single character that made the book feel more life like, it was all the characters, the thoughts and ideas they had, and how they felt so convicted by what they thought and felt. Take Morgan for example, it is clear on many occasions in the beginning that she doesn't every want to be a defense attorney, but when someone she knows is arrested for a crime she believes he couldn't do, she is more than happy to get to the bottom of the story, even if she finds out the person is trying to protect is guilty. To have such strong feelings that you are willing to risk your dream career is truly a human feat as well as a desirable trait to have. I really found her to be someone to admire, even if fictional. It wasn't easy to see her struggle with the case or to even have images in her mind of her own little girls having been the victim, but it was something that made her all the more likeable. I feel that woman who work in law and who see the murder victims and crime photos think the same thing and find that having a character who would show this, makes it all the better. Even though the reader may know that this book was fictional, to have such real life emotions and thoughts put into the characters can make a book all more desirable to read. But it doesn't just stop there.
As the case unfolds, it is easy to see how a community can come together and even be judgmental based on what is said in the news and what is believed by those who are there to serve and protect the community was a pleasant surprised. Even though things were being rushed without a deeper investigation based on a few pieces of planted evidence and just a few ideas, it became clear that maybe things we see on the news or hear happen in our own communities aren't all that them seem to be. I am not dissing law enforcers, as I know they are overworked and spread thin as is, I am just saying sometimes just because something seems one way it isn't always the case. And to see a community go against one of their own because of how the media portrays things was slightly unsettling, even though it was accurate.
I also really enjoyed how there was some love interest between two characters who didn't feel ready for a relationship. We all know how hard it can to do deal with love after a loss of someone, whether the person died, or just left you. So it didn't come as shock to see Morgan struggle with her feelings when she realized they had been there, growing and waiting for her acknowledgment. However, to see someone so invested with taking care of their parent that they don't wish to burden another, was a even more of a delight. Though it was a very long battle of a will they won't they, I found it to be delightful and quite endearing. To want to be loved and cared for a is basic human want and in some case need, but to love someone in a way that you wouldn't want to have anything in your life burden them or create some kind of obstacle for them to hurdle over, was just delightful and pleasant to see.
Needless to say I could probably go on for days about all the things this particular book brings into light. With all the real world problems different characters had and everything else that made it feel all too real to be thought of as fictional, it was an extremely delightful read. I would rate this book 5 stars out of 5 stars for how will it portray how easily humanity can give up on itself and how it can take courage, determination and a bit of stubbornness to do exactly what you feel is right. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a murder mystery.
I found that I really enjoyed watching Morgan and Lance, a private detective, investigate the crimes committed and pinned on a man. It helped solved a missing person's case and get other secrets revealed. In one particular case, a military veteran, who shot at Morgan and Lance, is found to be suffering from some mental issues. To see how killing someone, even though deployed, can really affect the mind of a man and break his spirit, was truly heart wrenching and yet real. It was very interesting to see how something in the news can trigger an onset of guilt and paranoia in such a brave man. It is characters and developments like this, that can make the story feel all to real and even hit close to home in some people. To have such details on how certain things can trigger certain emotions and outcomes in a variety of ways, made Leigh's storytelling a bit chilling.
It wasn't just a single character that made the book feel more life like, it was all the characters, the thoughts and ideas they had, and how they felt so convicted by what they thought and felt. Take Morgan for example, it is clear on many occasions in the beginning that she doesn't every want to be a defense attorney, but when someone she knows is arrested for a crime she believes he couldn't do, she is more than happy to get to the bottom of the story, even if she finds out the person is trying to protect is guilty. To have such strong feelings that you are willing to risk your dream career is truly a human feat as well as a desirable trait to have. I really found her to be someone to admire, even if fictional. It wasn't easy to see her struggle with the case or to even have images in her mind of her own little girls having been the victim, but it was something that made her all the more likeable. I feel that woman who work in law and who see the murder victims and crime photos think the same thing and find that having a character who would show this, makes it all the better. Even though the reader may know that this book was fictional, to have such real life emotions and thoughts put into the characters can make a book all more desirable to read. But it doesn't just stop there.
As the case unfolds, it is easy to see how a community can come together and even be judgmental based on what is said in the news and what is believed by those who are there to serve and protect the community was a pleasant surprised. Even though things were being rushed without a deeper investigation based on a few pieces of planted evidence and just a few ideas, it became clear that maybe things we see on the news or hear happen in our own communities aren't all that them seem to be. I am not dissing law enforcers, as I know they are overworked and spread thin as is, I am just saying sometimes just because something seems one way it isn't always the case. And to see a community go against one of their own because of how the media portrays things was slightly unsettling, even though it was accurate.
I also really enjoyed how there was some love interest between two characters who didn't feel ready for a relationship. We all know how hard it can to do deal with love after a loss of someone, whether the person died, or just left you. So it didn't come as shock to see Morgan struggle with her feelings when she realized they had been there, growing and waiting for her acknowledgment. However, to see someone so invested with taking care of their parent that they don't wish to burden another, was a even more of a delight. Though it was a very long battle of a will they won't they, I found it to be delightful and quite endearing. To want to be loved and cared for a is basic human want and in some case need, but to love someone in a way that you wouldn't want to have anything in your life burden them or create some kind of obstacle for them to hurdle over, was just delightful and pleasant to see.
Needless to say I could probably go on for days about all the things this particular book brings into light. With all the real world problems different characters had and everything else that made it feel all too real to be thought of as fictional, it was an extremely delightful read. I would rate this book 5 stars out of 5 stars for how will it portray how easily humanity can give up on itself and how it can take courage, determination and a bit of stubbornness to do exactly what you feel is right. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a murder mystery.