 
    The King's Concubine
Book
A child born in the plague year of 1348, abandoned and raised within the oppressive walls of a...
Historical Fiction
 
    Sacrifice (Detective Madison Knight Series Book 3)
Book
Sometimes, justice comes at a high price… When a young man washes up on the shore of the...
fiction series crime mystery police procedural Carolyn Arnold
 
            
            Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Deep Waters (Jagged Shores #3) in Books
Jan 8, 2023
Harry has a sailing boat that tourists can rent out. He has been hired by writer Christian Costner to help him get a lay of the land and research for a new book the author is planning on writing. However, the weather takes a turn for the worse so they have to cut the trip short and head back to the shore, as they are heading back Christian is adamant he has seen somebody in the swell of the waves so speaks out. Harry, his onboard help and cousin Tom look to discover there is somebody in the water so a daring rescue takes place. They recover the body but that is only the start!
Thom has a very easy style of writing and it captivated me from the get-go. This is the 3rd book in the jagged shores series but can be read as a stand-alone. It has intrigue and mystery that does keep you guessing until it's all out in the open who has committed the crime. It certainly hoodwinked me I normally can be quite good at guessing whodunit but I was completely off the mark.
I was rooting for the relationship between Harry and Christian as it was something they both needed. There are sex scenes but nothing too crass.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the author's writing and look forward to reading more of his books.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
    Wildfire (Hellfire #1)
Book
What it’s like to be the most powerful being on earth? It gets complicated when you are as lethal...
Paranormal Romance
 
            
            Debbiereadsbook (1546 KP) rated Headshot (Model Love) in Books
Nov 2, 2022
This book, right?? I freaking LOVED IT!!
Oh I might gush, so #sorrynotsorry it was so bloody good!
It's part of the Model Love series, a multi author series of stand alone books. But here we get to revisit with some of Sayle's other characters and I loved being able to cath up with Griffin and Charlie and of course, Nana!
Kit saved jack has loved him ever since. He's not quite sure when things changed for him, but they did. Now Kit's lifes work, Garfield House for homeless kids, is threatened and Jack will do anything for Kit.
I loved that while Jack loves Kit, he really does try to keep away. I loved that he decided to go for Kit and he really goes all in. I love that Kit loved Jack but was bound by his own sense of proper, even if Jack had left the house ages ago.
I loved that once they both accepted that they should be together they go all in and fully and totally commit to each other. I'm not usually one for professions of love early on but these two have dacned around each other for years!
It's steamy, and smexy. It's emotional and funny, Nana does her best to wreak her havoc. There isn't much drama, except that about the house, but I think this book didn't need it.
I loved this book, I really did. And I'll leave it at that.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
 
    The Last Truehart
Book
1898, Geelong, Victoria. Stella Truehart is all alone in the world. Her good-for-nothing husband has...
 
    The Successor (Tales of Pern Coen)
Book
A loyal warrior of the Ri of Ceffyl, Torin has no choice but to do the Ri's bidding when he's sent...
Epic Fantasy Romance
 
            
            Debbiereadsbook (1546 KP) rated Once Upon A Goth Dog Solstice in Books
Dec 13, 2024
This is book 8 in the Once Upon A Holiday series, a multi author series joined ony by the Hook's Book Nook Travelling Library, which pops up in all the books. I have not read any of those, and they can all be read as stand alone books.
Luther is suffering after being medically discharged from the Marines, fostering his daughter and trying to make ends meet. Meeting Doug at the local craft market, and the pair embark on a tentative relationship, that sees Doug away from long periods. Can they make it work?
I liked this, a good deal.
It's sweet and cute, its warm and fuzzies and low angst. Not ever so explicit, but I didn't miss that. It's more about the budding relationship between these two, than the smex. I liked that it was low steam, to be honest.
I kinda didn't feel their connection at the beginning though. I felt they met, met again and then jumped into bed together. It just felt a little off, to ME, that's all. The connection DOES build, just that intial bit didn't quite work for me.
LOVED the way Luther introduces Mila and Doug, and how they all get along with Violet, Luther's sister. She has a story to tell, I'm sure! Oh and Oscar! Children and dogs for the win!
A good read, one that passed a very dull shift at work. One that made me smile.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
 
            
            Debbiereadsbook (1546 KP) rated Hot Conduit (Hot Under the Collar #2) in Books
Feb 6, 2024
This is book 2 in the Hot Under the Collar series, and it can totally be read as a stand alone. HOWEVER, I loved book 1, Sweat Connection, like LOVED IT, so I strongly recommend you read that book as well. Not necessary, but my personal opinion.
Taken from the review I wrote for book one:
I'm not rehashing the blurb, and I'm not telling you the story, I'ma just gonna jump straight in!
READ THIS FREAKING BOOK, PEOPLE!
Again, I'm jumping straight in, cos I bloody loved this book!
Theo and Lex have chemistry, right from the start, but the major dislike for each other takes centre stage for a time. Once they click on the app, all bets are off.
I loved that Lex, once he knew about them, made an effort to ease Theo's issues with germs. Like he took wet wipes for Theo to clean the table at the diner. I loved those little things he did.
There is steam here, so much steam. Once they decide to act of the attraction, it flies hawt off the charts! But emotional too. Theo is dealing with his past exes, and Lex had his heart broken. But they get there, they really do.
I loved the goat yoga! I could see that happening, it was so much fun!
I loved book one, and I loved this one too. I can't wait for book 3!
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
 
            
            Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated James Acaster: Repertoire in TV
Aug 6, 2020 (Updated Aug 6, 2020)
Over the years I have seen most of the living greats at the art live, be it a full show or a smaller set at the legendary bullpit of Late and Live. Sad exceptions being Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran, still on the bucket list. It has given me a pretty good eye for who is gonna make it big when they start out. I saw Jack Whitehall aged 16; Jimmy Carr before anyone knew who he was; and many others that have gone on to have decent TV and touring careers.
Having moved to Glasgow in recent years I started to see less comedy. Not that The Stand and other venues don’t have it going on, but because it just feels less of a thing outside of Edinburgh. So, when James Acaster came to my old place of work, the legendary Oran Mor, I booked tickets for myself, my daughter and her boyfriend in a heartbeat.
I had seen him do a lot of Mock The Week and a few other guest spots on TV, and thought from the start that this guy had something kinda special. The main good sign being that he made me laugh! A kind of blonder Jarvis Cocker, with the dress sense to match, he has a quirky, sleepy but cross delivery that is a total winner. He is very fast with an improvised moment, is very clever in his off kilter observations, and charmingly wanders into surreal tangents whenever possible. In other words, totally up my comedy avenue.
I was delighted to see that he had a new four part special on Netflix when I was recently surfing around old comedy shows I’ve seen half a dozen times. Repertoire is consecutive shows that work either alone, or payoff better as a whole, when early jokes get a back reference in a genius fashion. To explain why they are funny is not a thing I’m about to attempt. Comedy is so subjective; if it makes you laugh then it is good, if not… it might still be good, but not for you. You have to watch it to know.
So many highlights. At least three moments that made me have to pause it because I was laughing almost too much and in danger of passing out. Generally, you get a content knowing smile out of it, patting yourself on the back for getting his multi-layered intentions. Some things are just weird or hilarious, but often there is an intelligent point being made on the sly. When the two combine, I find him one of the best around for quality of writing and delivery.
As a side note, in part 3 of Repertoire he makes reference to a recent nightmare gig, when the entire front row of a Glasgow show kicked off and threw verbal abuse at him. That was the show we were at! He handled it remarkably well, turning the final portion of the show into an improv about that, chucked the planned material away. It isn’t every stand-up that can handle hecklers that well. Total kudos, Mr Acaster.
Recommended big time.
 
        



