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ClareR (5991 KP) rated Swimming For Beginners in Books
Jan 27, 2024 (Updated Jan 27, 2024)
Well this was a thoroughly lovely read!
Loretta is a very prickly character, so much so, that I began to think quite early on that she was hiding something (and it all does become clear). I’ve met a fair few people like Loretta, people who don’t have great social skills and really struggle with small talk and work relationships - and in this day and age it should be noted and understood by employers. Not so much where Loretta works though.
Six year old Phoebe is a lovely child. Despite her trauma, she’s lively, talkative, charming and funny. Yes, she’s upset and cries - that’s just what you’d expect. I couldn’t help but think that her grandmother didn’t really help matters, but then she’s equally as upset. Which is why Loretta’s help is needed.
Phoebe is the making of Loretta. She not only makes her see that there’s more to life than her job, she also helps her to deal with her own past - and make some big changes in her life.
Swimming for Beginners is a feel-good read, it’s very sad in places and gives the reader ample opportunity to laugh as well. I loved it.
Loretta is a very prickly character, so much so, that I began to think quite early on that she was hiding something (and it all does become clear). I’ve met a fair few people like Loretta, people who don’t have great social skills and really struggle with small talk and work relationships - and in this day and age it should be noted and understood by employers. Not so much where Loretta works though.
Six year old Phoebe is a lovely child. Despite her trauma, she’s lively, talkative, charming and funny. Yes, she’s upset and cries - that’s just what you’d expect. I couldn’t help but think that her grandmother didn’t really help matters, but then she’s equally as upset. Which is why Loretta’s help is needed.
Phoebe is the making of Loretta. She not only makes her see that there’s more to life than her job, she also helps her to deal with her own past - and make some big changes in her life.
Swimming for Beginners is a feel-good read, it’s very sad in places and gives the reader ample opportunity to laugh as well. I loved it.
Gloria’s Gold
Book
Unmasking fraudsters and fakes of all kinds brings its own rewards - and plenty of trouble. ...
Witchcraft & Incantations For Love & Healing
Book
Tired of Attracting the Wrong Types of Love or Dating the Wrong Person? Learn why your...
Self-Help Relationships Spirituality
Yet again, Kristin Hannah has ripped my heart out of my chest and jumped all over it. And yet again, I’m just fine with that.
Frankie McGrath volunteers to go to Vietnam as a nurse, in the hope that she’ll be put up on her fathers “Hero’s Wall”. She arrives a naive idealist, and leaves emotionally scarred with no hope of support when she gets home.
In Vietnam, Frankie meets her best friends, who will always be there for her - two equally amazing women. They help her through PTSD, the end of relationships and substance abuse. The three women join the fight for recognition of Vietnam vets - where they are repeatedly told that they couldn’t have been there.
This book is in two parts: Vietnam and its aftermath, and honestly, both halves are equally harrowing.
This is such a powerful story. A story wanting recognition for the female nurses in Vietnam. It certainly puts their experiences out there for everyone to see.
The Women will be a book that I’ll be forcing into friends hands with the promise that they’ll love it, but they’ll be traumatised (I believe I made similar warnings to friends after I read The Nightingale).
Frankie McGrath volunteers to go to Vietnam as a nurse, in the hope that she’ll be put up on her fathers “Hero’s Wall”. She arrives a naive idealist, and leaves emotionally scarred with no hope of support when she gets home.
In Vietnam, Frankie meets her best friends, who will always be there for her - two equally amazing women. They help her through PTSD, the end of relationships and substance abuse. The three women join the fight for recognition of Vietnam vets - where they are repeatedly told that they couldn’t have been there.
This book is in two parts: Vietnam and its aftermath, and honestly, both halves are equally harrowing.
This is such a powerful story. A story wanting recognition for the female nurses in Vietnam. It certainly puts their experiences out there for everyone to see.
The Women will be a book that I’ll be forcing into friends hands with the promise that they’ll love it, but they’ll be traumatised (I believe I made similar warnings to friends after I read The Nightingale).
Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary Queen of Scots
10.0
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Book
A fascinating and revealing new biography of Mary Queen of Scots in captivity. For almost two...
Non-fiction Scottish/ English history Mary Queen of Scots
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated A Trace of Poison in Books
Aug 14, 2025
Murderous Mystery Fete
The local mystery writers are hosting a Murder Fete to raise funds for the local orphanage, and they have convinced Agatha Christie to invite some of her famous friends. The weekend will include talks about the craft of mystery writing, author signings, and a short story contest where the winner gets a publishing contract on both sides of the Atlantic. However, the opening night’s cocktail reception ends with a murder. Since Phyllida is helping make sure the event is a success, she’s on hand. Can she solve a second real life murder?
Those who fell in love with the main characters in the first book in the series will be glad to be spending more time with them and seeing how their relationships develop. The supporting players and suspects could have been stronger. That means, the mystery could have been stronger as well, although there were some twists that kept me entertained. And things made sense once Phyllida had solved things. While the mystery could be stronger, this is still an entertaining book that will please mystery fans, especially fans of Agatha Christie.
Those who fell in love with the main characters in the first book in the series will be glad to be spending more time with them and seeing how their relationships develop. The supporting players and suspects could have been stronger. That means, the mystery could have been stronger as well, although there were some twists that kept me entertained. And things made sense once Phyllida had solved things. While the mystery could be stronger, this is still an entertaining book that will please mystery fans, especially fans of Agatha Christie.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated Fatal Sign-Off in Books
Aug 27, 2025
Local Podcaster Signs Off for Good
It’s been a mostly quiet few months for Winnie Lark in the small town of Copper Bay. The drama in town involves Milton Mulligan who has started a podcast that trashes local businesses. So, when he is poisoned, the question is who didn’t have a motive. With some of Winnie’s family and friends on the suspect list, she can’t help but investigate Milton’s death. Will she uncover the culprit?
I fell in love with these characters in the earlier books of the series, so I was anxious to revisit them again. It was like meeting up with old friends, and I enjoyed the growth we saw in many of their relationships. The mystery is well paced with plenty of red herrings and twists. But the climax left me impressed with how things had been planned out. I did have to roll my eyes at how some political issues were put into the book in a way that felt unnecessary and forced to me. On the other hand, I loved the references to other books, especially cozy mysteries. If you love cozy mysteries, you need to pick up this series.
I fell in love with these characters in the earlier books of the series, so I was anxious to revisit them again. It was like meeting up with old friends, and I enjoyed the growth we saw in many of their relationships. The mystery is well paced with plenty of red herrings and twists. But the climax left me impressed with how things had been planned out. I did have to roll my eyes at how some political issues were put into the book in a way that felt unnecessary and forced to me. On the other hand, I loved the references to other books, especially cozy mysteries. If you love cozy mysteries, you need to pick up this series.
Merissa (13293 KP) rated The Women in the Shadows in Books
Oct 1, 2025
THE WOMEN IN THE SHADOWS is a standalone story that focuses on Jack the Ripper's crimes, but told from the perspective of women - some of whom he murdered, some investigating.
Bet, Emma, and Maggie are all different - ages, statuses, and relationships - but they are all connected by the horrendous murders that are happening in Whitechapel. Unhappy with the way the police are referring to the victims and the progress being made, they join forces to investigate it themselves. This leads to some events that seemed almost too funny to be in this book. It was pretty obvious who the killer was, but I enjoyed their thought processes and actions as they arrived at the same conclusion.
Evenly paced, with moments of action interspersed with calm, this was an easy read that I enjoyed. I would also be happy to return to these three ladies, just to see what trouble they could find next. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 1, 2025
Bet, Emma, and Maggie are all different - ages, statuses, and relationships - but they are all connected by the horrendous murders that are happening in Whitechapel. Unhappy with the way the police are referring to the victims and the progress being made, they join forces to investigate it themselves. This leads to some events that seemed almost too funny to be in this book. It was pretty obvious who the killer was, but I enjoyed their thought processes and actions as they arrived at the same conclusion.
Evenly paced, with moments of action interspersed with calm, this was an easy read that I enjoyed. I would also be happy to return to these three ladies, just to see what trouble they could find next. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 1, 2025
ClareR (5991 KP) rated People Like Them in Books
Jan 29, 2024
How could a seemingly normal person commit an atrocious crime? How could that persons loved ones ever come to terms with it afterwards? And how well can you ever really know your own spouse? Are you as much to blame for their actions? Should you have seen it coming?
These are all questions that Anna Guillot asks herself about her husband, Constant.
It all starts so innocently: Constant and Bakary Langlois are good friends, even if the differences in their financial statuses are vast. Bakary starts to help other neighbours with their investments, and Constant is upset that he doesn’t seem to want to help him. Perhaps this should have been Constant’s warning.
Relationships change between the two families when Anna starts to work as the Langlois’ housekeeper/ cleaner, because how can they stay the same under these conditions?
It’s just one thing after another, until the final denouement where Anna is left to pick up the pieces of her family’s destroyed life, her guilt driving her? Was Constant racist? Were his actions based around those thoughts?
This was really disturbing and quite a distressing read. It was well worth it though.
These are all questions that Anna Guillot asks herself about her husband, Constant.
It all starts so innocently: Constant and Bakary Langlois are good friends, even if the differences in their financial statuses are vast. Bakary starts to help other neighbours with their investments, and Constant is upset that he doesn’t seem to want to help him. Perhaps this should have been Constant’s warning.
Relationships change between the two families when Anna starts to work as the Langlois’ housekeeper/ cleaner, because how can they stay the same under these conditions?
It’s just one thing after another, until the final denouement where Anna is left to pick up the pieces of her family’s destroyed life, her guilt driving her? Was Constant racist? Were his actions based around those thoughts?
This was really disturbing and quite a distressing read. It was well worth it though.
ClareR (5991 KP) rated Light Over Liskeard in Books
Jan 31, 2024
I should have felt sad when the inevitable happened at the end of this book, but I really didn’t.
Q, the main character in Light Over Liskeard, has been preparing for this event from the first page. He knows that the collapse of society will happen, just not when.
Q is a man who has never had to do anything for himself, but in order to prepare, he learns how to build, grow and work with others with the help of his very capable neighbours.
It’s a fascinating landscape, mixing the familiarity of Cornwall with the unfamiliar wildlife: lynxes, aurochs, wolves and more. I loved the sound of them all. Whilst it’s sad that no one really sees them (because they all live in their convenient, encapsulated, electronic worlds), the lack of visitors is probably why the wildlife thrives.
This is full of observations on: modern life and how it’s not as great as it’s cracked up to be; the beauty of nature; and the importance of relationships and human connection. And ultimately what I read Louis de Bernières for: his fascinating, quirky characters. I loved them all!
Q, the main character in Light Over Liskeard, has been preparing for this event from the first page. He knows that the collapse of society will happen, just not when.
Q is a man who has never had to do anything for himself, but in order to prepare, he learns how to build, grow and work with others with the help of his very capable neighbours.
It’s a fascinating landscape, mixing the familiarity of Cornwall with the unfamiliar wildlife: lynxes, aurochs, wolves and more. I loved the sound of them all. Whilst it’s sad that no one really sees them (because they all live in their convenient, encapsulated, electronic worlds), the lack of visitors is probably why the wildlife thrives.
This is full of observations on: modern life and how it’s not as great as it’s cracked up to be; the beauty of nature; and the importance of relationships and human connection. And ultimately what I read Louis de Bernières for: his fascinating, quirky characters. I loved them all!