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Lindsay (1774 KP) rated The Scarlet Pen (True Color #12) in Books

Jul 10, 2021

The Scarlet Pen (True Color #12)

Jennifer Uhlarik | 2021 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

The last book in the True Colors series is called "The Scarlet Pen." What a story it told. Though at first, you might think about what is going on. Why would parents be concerned for their daughter and not allow her to marry her friend?

We meet a young woman and her sweet talk lover Stephen. But will they end up getting married, or will Emma finally see what is going on with their beloved and find true love? We seem to follow Stephen's journey from his marriage proposal to a young woman to his eventful capture.

There a young man on horseback comes to visit and do some business. As the twist and turns show up. Something happens to make Stephen and his friend jump town; Stephen tries to keep Emma at bay and in the dark. Clay seems to want to help and protect her. Emma seems to want to defend Stephen. Why is that?

There seems to be a trail of banknotes that keep leading back to Stephen and connecting to Emma. Will Emma confront a man that may harm her and possibly kill her. Or will someone come and save her.

Who is this serial killer? Why is he doing it? Clay seems to get hints and information and then loses Richards while he is on the run. Will they all make it out safe? Will Stephen get caught, or will he run free. I felt terrible for the family that brings Clay to face the past that happened to him and his family.

The True Color series is a favorite of mine. The books are set in history and tell about true American crimes and have some fiction. These books are great for historical fiction fans and crime fans as well. This one has quite a few killings but not too much detail of the gruesome deaths. Enough to know how it happened. The stories transpire based on actual crimes in American history, but there is some friction that the author brings up in the book.

Kudos

ClareR (5955 KP) rated Greenwich Park in Books

May 8, 2021

Greenwich Park

Katherine Faulkner | 2021 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

This seemed to be the book that everyone was reading a few weeks ago, and just as I was building myself up to preorder it, it popped up on The Pigeonhole - and I’m so glad that it did.
This has some of my favourite ingredients in a thriller:
📚Unlikeable characters
📚I’m not quite sure what’s going on
📚Characters who who don’t know what’s going on either
📚Multiple (3) viewpoints, including one that’s decidedly dodgy
📚A big secret that the reader can see coming - but what is it?!
📚A heart stopping moment of revelation!!
I felt sorry for Helen - she has a high risk pregnancy, is stuck at home on a building site, and makes friends with a woman (Rachel) who won’t leave her alone! Rachel befriends Helen at her antenatal class, when Helen’s brother Rory, and his wife Serena fail to turn up. Rachel is pregnant, yet drinks, smokes, drinks caffeine and eats all the food you’re told not to eat. Helen is very insecure, lacks in self-confidence and can’t tell Rachel that she doesn’t want to see her.

In fact as the story progresses, Helen’s fears and confusion are really well described. I could feel the dreamlike quality of Helen’s consciousness towards the middle and end of the book - she became more confused.

On the other hand, her brother Rory and his wife Serena, who are also expecting their first baby, seem very laid back. Helen reads far more into the friendship with Serena than Serena does. Serena is dismissive and quite cold.

I didn’t see the end coming, and I loved the slow burn leading up to the big reveal. It gave me enough time to properly despise a number of the characters, realise that Helen’s friend KAte was one of the best people in this circle, and that money can’t always buy you what you want.

This is a book that deserved the hype - it’s well worth a read!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to Bloomsbury/ Raven Books

Kudos

Merissa (13197 KP) rated Sound (The Last Note #1) in Books

Oct 19, 2020

Sound (The Last Note #1)

Maya Daniels | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

UPDATE - Sound has now been released by itself and extra added to it. NOW you get the full/part story of Melody. I say full because of the extra and also say part because her story is intertwined with her friends, and rightly so.

I loved the extra that Ms. Daniels added. It really helped to 'flesh out' the story and give some more insight into Melody and Étienne. I am loving grumpy Lucien and can't wait for his story! But then, Moël is so sweet, I want his too! Plus, I really need to find out what has happened to Melody's two friends. Oh, I'm so greedy 🤣

I am thrilled with the additions Maya Daniels has added to Melody's story and I will now impatiently wait for the other two. A gripping story that leaves you wanting more.

Sound is part of the Darkness Rising anthology and, as such, has only part of the story. This is a travesty, I tell you, because I need the rest of it right now! This is the bare bones of the story which leaves me wanting oh so much more.

Melody is in a bit of a pickle and Ethan 😉 is just the vampire to save her. Throw in two friends, two brothers, a wicked witch, and a fish-breathed cat, and you have all the components of this story.

This was a great read but I would definitely recommend you read Last Note first, just to get you up to date with what is going on in here. Fantastic as part of the box set but I really can't wait for the full novel to be released. Absolutely recommended by me.

* 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. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!