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Shadows in the Sun: Healing from Depression and Finding the Light Within
7.0
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A first-of-its-kind, cross-cultural lens to mental illness through the inspiring story of...
Beloved Lives
5.5
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She Must Choose Between Living Her Past and Creating a New Life April Robins is a mess. Her diet...
Paranormal Suspense
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated What Fresh Hell in Books
Apr 8, 2022
I had seen both reviews were people loved this book and others found it pretty annoying and far too girly, so wasn’t sure what I would think but kept an open mind. It ended up being such an easy read, and one that I didn’t want to put down (and tried to power through after a long day at work but ultimately had to give in to sleep!).
I found the little wedding notes inserted in between some of the chapters both quirky and funny, and it took a few of them for me to realise the food was exactly the same at all of the weddings. I also liked how her gifts got less and less extravagant the further through the book we got (the coins in the carrier bag being my favourite).
It’s very relevant, and I think most women will know what it’s like to feel pressured into going to every hen do (even if there are multiple for the same person) and every wedding that you are invited to, because you don’t want to upset anyone and hope that they will do the same for you when it’s your turn. And this book deals with that feeling while also making it clear that it’s ok to say no (most people aren’t invited to as many as Lilah is in one year though!).
I loved the email exchanges about the hen do, as we all know nobody reads the emails properly and someone will always ask a question that has already been answered! I had to really laugh at the parents phone calls to Lilah, and some of the insults they used really did entertain me.
It was predictable what was going to happen in some ways, but I think that’s what made it such an easy, enjoyable read for me. It was one that didn’t need much concentration for me to follow (unlike my previous few books) and it still had a good storyline.
I will definitely be looking at more of Lucy Vine’s books in the future!
I found the little wedding notes inserted in between some of the chapters both quirky and funny, and it took a few of them for me to realise the food was exactly the same at all of the weddings. I also liked how her gifts got less and less extravagant the further through the book we got (the coins in the carrier bag being my favourite).
It’s very relevant, and I think most women will know what it’s like to feel pressured into going to every hen do (even if there are multiple for the same person) and every wedding that you are invited to, because you don’t want to upset anyone and hope that they will do the same for you when it’s your turn. And this book deals with that feeling while also making it clear that it’s ok to say no (most people aren’t invited to as many as Lilah is in one year though!).
I loved the email exchanges about the hen do, as we all know nobody reads the emails properly and someone will always ask a question that has already been answered! I had to really laugh at the parents phone calls to Lilah, and some of the insults they used really did entertain me.
It was predictable what was going to happen in some ways, but I think that’s what made it such an easy, enjoyable read for me. It was one that didn’t need much concentration for me to follow (unlike my previous few books) and it still had a good storyline.
I will definitely be looking at more of Lucy Vine’s books in the future!
Capturing the Baron’s Heart (A Wildewardian Tale)
10.0
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She was the goddess of witches and rules, but rules are made to be broken. When a reckless...
Historical Paranormal Romance
Where There's a Will (Dads & Adages #1)
8.0
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...There's A Way. Connor and Will are at vastly different points in their lives. At 32, Connor...
Contemporary MM Age Gap Romance
Kiwake Alarm Clock - Take back your mornings
Lifestyle and Utilities
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Tired of oversleeping? If you really want to stop hitting the snooze button, then Kiwake is the best...
Lose Weight Hypnosis
Health & Fitness and Lifestyle
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◉ Learn to enjoy healthy food and exercise after listening daily for just 1–3 weeks ◉ Change...
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Pumpkin Roll (A Culinary Mysteries, #6) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This book is the most recent in a mystery series, but the first book I have read by Josi S. Kilpack. I do not read much in the mystery genre, but the cooking aspect of the book interested me enough to try this one. All of the page numbers to the recipes are listed nicely on the back of the first page, so I was able to check those out without having to search for them, and they do look like quite delicious recipes, perfect for this time of year.
The main character is an older woman, Sadie Hoffmiller, who has recently opened a P.I. business in her hometown in Colorado, but has taken a vacation to Boston with her love interest, Pete, to house-sit and watch over his three grandsons. Right away she strikes me as both ultra-conservative - Sadie and Pete sleep in separate bedrooms - and a perfectionist. Not only is her cooking described in detail, but also her cleaning and personal grooming habits. She also comes off as a "busy-body" as she very quickly gets involved in the life of the woman who lives across the street and bears the reputation of a witch, the eccentric Mrs. Wapple. It is as if she is so addicted to her job back home that she must continue its nosy approach wherever she travels.
The city of Boston is obviously chosen for its proximity to Salem, Massachusetts and the many references and allusions to ghosts and witches throughout the plot. When pranks begin to strike in the house that Sadie and Pete are staying at, the obvious choice is ghosts, but their sensibilities and penchant for detective work prevent them from embracing this as the solution.
When something dire happens to Mrs. Wapple halfway through the book, Sadie is right in the thick of it, her curiosity taking prominence over even her duties as babysitter with Pete. Not even a vacation will deter her from solving yet another case.
On the whole, the book is entertaining, though Sadie can be annoying at times. Like any mystery, I want to know who is the responsible party, but my favorite part of this book is definitely the recipes.
The main character is an older woman, Sadie Hoffmiller, who has recently opened a P.I. business in her hometown in Colorado, but has taken a vacation to Boston with her love interest, Pete, to house-sit and watch over his three grandsons. Right away she strikes me as both ultra-conservative - Sadie and Pete sleep in separate bedrooms - and a perfectionist. Not only is her cooking described in detail, but also her cleaning and personal grooming habits. She also comes off as a "busy-body" as she very quickly gets involved in the life of the woman who lives across the street and bears the reputation of a witch, the eccentric Mrs. Wapple. It is as if she is so addicted to her job back home that she must continue its nosy approach wherever she travels.
The city of Boston is obviously chosen for its proximity to Salem, Massachusetts and the many references and allusions to ghosts and witches throughout the plot. When pranks begin to strike in the house that Sadie and Pete are staying at, the obvious choice is ghosts, but their sensibilities and penchant for detective work prevent them from embracing this as the solution.
When something dire happens to Mrs. Wapple halfway through the book, Sadie is right in the thick of it, her curiosity taking prominence over even her duties as babysitter with Pete. Not even a vacation will deter her from solving yet another case.
On the whole, the book is entertaining, though Sadie can be annoying at times. Like any mystery, I want to know who is the responsible party, but my favorite part of this book is definitely the recipes.
Hannah May (3 KP) rated Spitfire Girl in Books
Mar 8, 2018
What I liked most about this novel is the characterisation. Each character, whether they be good or horrid, was entertaining and inspiring in their own way. I thorough enjoyed reading the story from Susan's perceptive and reading through her struggles and her triumphs. I liked the characters of Tony and Roz in particular. Tony has that tender loving air about him that readers like me enjoy and I was very happy to learn he survived. I had my doubts throughout; thinking it would end sadly. Roz was an interesting character. She is the polar opposite to Susan. She is passionate and opinionated, and she always knows what and who she wants. Qualities like that should always be admired. I was let down slightly by the lack of flying or any mention of flying until page 300+. And despite her desperate desire to fly, Susan seemed quite adamant to stay on the ground and play servant with everyone she meets. I expected her to put up more of a fight, if I'm honest. Much of the actions happens near the end of the novel. While it was good to read, it felt a bit rushed and there wasn't much detailed description about any of the aircraft Susan flew, which I really would have liked to seen and read. Another thing I disliked about this story was the fact that, despite Susan's good intentions, she always always got punished for it. She safely lands a plane, saving both her life and Elspeth's. She's deemed a security risk and is sacked. She rescues Charlie from being put to sleep. She tries to expose Dudley for the creep that he is. Mrs Kemp kicks her out. She's forced out of Daves home, because some cranky old woman doesn't approve of her or her dog. She loses her jobs and her homes over stupid, little things. That just doesn't happen nowadays. You get warnings. You learn from your mistakes. Employers move on. I understand it is under very different and difficult circumstances, being during WWII, but still. Slightly dramatised I think. Overall, a good read but would have benefited by more mention of spitfires!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Beautiful Broken Rules in Books
Feb 13, 2018
College student Emerson Moore has a hard and fast set of rules for relationships -- mainly: avoid them like the plague. She won't sleep with any guy more than three times, to prevent attachment of any kind. So far, Emerson has had great success with this, and she's having fun. Then Emerson meets Jaxon - when he and his twin brother, Jace, move in with Emerson's best friend, Cole. Emerson quickly becomes close to Jaxon. Is he the one who will turn her set of rules on its head?
This book had promise and it was a quick read, but overall, I just found it ridiculous and the writing was terrible - stilted and juvenile. It reminded me of something a middle schooler would write (though hopefully they wouldn't stray into this sexualized subject matter). Emerson is a college student absolutely determined not to have a relationship based on the fact that her parents split -- she has certainly had trauma in her life to cause her feelings, but her insane attachment to this gets to be a little silly. She is a poor communicator and a frustrating protagonist. The character development is nil and we're basically just told things about her and the rest of the characters, rather than shown them, or allowed to see things develop on their own.
Furthermore, some of the stereotypes in this book are beyond frustrating. Emerson's willingness to embrace being the school "slut" (a word she seems to have no problem with) is awful. When Jaxon enters the scene, no one seems to have an issue with his insane over-protectiveness and anger issues. It would be one thing if this was written somewhat cheekily, a la "Twilight," but these characters genuinely seem to think their actions and motivations are okay. The end result is a portrayal of college as nothing but sexual encounters with a mix of sexual harassment and domestic abuse thrown in. It all overshadows what could be a decent story (girl with commitment issues meets handsome guy with shadowy past). There were certainly some bright spots, but overall it just left me feeling too icky.
This book had promise and it was a quick read, but overall, I just found it ridiculous and the writing was terrible - stilted and juvenile. It reminded me of something a middle schooler would write (though hopefully they wouldn't stray into this sexualized subject matter). Emerson is a college student absolutely determined not to have a relationship based on the fact that her parents split -- she has certainly had trauma in her life to cause her feelings, but her insane attachment to this gets to be a little silly. She is a poor communicator and a frustrating protagonist. The character development is nil and we're basically just told things about her and the rest of the characters, rather than shown them, or allowed to see things develop on their own.
Furthermore, some of the stereotypes in this book are beyond frustrating. Emerson's willingness to embrace being the school "slut" (a word she seems to have no problem with) is awful. When Jaxon enters the scene, no one seems to have an issue with his insane over-protectiveness and anger issues. It would be one thing if this was written somewhat cheekily, a la "Twilight," but these characters genuinely seem to think their actions and motivations are okay. The end result is a portrayal of college as nothing but sexual encounters with a mix of sexual harassment and domestic abuse thrown in. It all overshadows what could be a decent story (girl with commitment issues meets handsome guy with shadowy past). There were certainly some bright spots, but overall it just left me feeling too icky.