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Slow Motion (Pet Play by the Lake)
Slow Motion (Pet Play by the Lake)
BJ Cox | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SLOW MOTION is part of the Pet Play by the Lake series and is the first book by this author I have read.

To be honest, it didn't work as well for me as some of the others. I get that 'real life' can get in the way of a relationship, but the time our two MCs spent apart was more than together, or so it felt. I also didn't get how Dale suddenly became a sloth and a boy. All it took was one comment and he's there. The whole relationship between Dale and Troy just felt a bit off, and that's not even taking into account how it ended with Leif!

The best part of this story were the Misfits. I loved each and every one of the characters and how they all came together.

I thought the premise of this story was a good one, with some brilliant characters, but I found the two main characters to be quite disappointing with their actions and behaviour.

And I still have absolutely no idea what a sloth does apart from hug people!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 1, 2023
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Mar 4, 2022  
Sneak a peek at the paranormal cozy mystery GHOST AGENTS by Jemima Pett on my blog, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - 3 winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/03/book-blitz-and-giveaway-ghost-agents.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
An organization that has operated in secret for centuries... a mystery that threatens to burn it all to the ground… and she’s the only agent who can stop it…

To the residents and tourists of Galveston Island, Claire Abelard is the friendly young woman who works at the local candy store by day and leads ghost tours of the island’s haunted locations by night. They don’t realize this persona is a cover for Claire’s real job as an agent of the Bureau for Historical Preservation, a clandestine organization that monitors and assists energy projections, or the entities more commonly known as “ghosts.”

When projections begin disappearing from around the island, Claire worries that history may be repeating itself. She launches a dangerous investigation and uncovers a sinister, arcane organization whose agenda threatens not only Galveston’s ghosts, but everything she has worked her whole life to protect.

The truth behind the disappearances rocks Claire’s world to its core and shows her that ghosts aren’t the only things that can come back to haunt you.
     
TI
The Imperfect Art of Caring
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
Love Me or Grieve Me
Love Me or Grieve Me
Diane Vallere | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated The Key to Deceit in Books

Aug 10, 2024 (Updated Aug 10, 2024)  
The Key to Deceit
The Key to Deceit
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
M(
Malicious ( The Whitethorn Society 1)
Rinna Ford | 2024
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Dead Animals in Books

May 26, 2024  
Dead Animals
Dead Animals
Phoebe Stuckes | 2024 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Horror
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.