Search
ClareR (6037 KP) rated Sun Damage in Books
Jul 4, 2023
Sun Damage is a slow burn of a book, dripping in paranoia!
Ali and Sean are confidence tricksters: they get people to trust them, and then extract large amounts of money from them. Except something goes wrong when they try to con Lulu, and Ali goes on the run - with a large sum of money from Sean’s safe. Ali thinks she has found the perfect hiding place in a gîte in the South of France, but it seems inevitable that her past will catch up with her.
This is all set in the summer, when the heat is as oppressive as Ali’s paranoia. The whole novel feels claustrophobic - will Ali be found out? Will Sean find her? What will her employers do?
We see Ali’s past and childhood in some detail, and I found myself forgiving her for her terrible behaviour - although I doubt I would have been so forgiving if I was the one being swindled!
This is probably the ideal summer holiday read - great for by the pool, somewhere hot. Although you’ll be a lot more suspicious of anyone you don’t know trying to strike up a conversation!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for another great serialisation.
Ali and Sean are confidence tricksters: they get people to trust them, and then extract large amounts of money from them. Except something goes wrong when they try to con Lulu, and Ali goes on the run - with a large sum of money from Sean’s safe. Ali thinks she has found the perfect hiding place in a gîte in the South of France, but it seems inevitable that her past will catch up with her.
This is all set in the summer, when the heat is as oppressive as Ali’s paranoia. The whole novel feels claustrophobic - will Ali be found out? Will Sean find her? What will her employers do?
We see Ali’s past and childhood in some detail, and I found myself forgiving her for her terrible behaviour - although I doubt I would have been so forgiving if I was the one being swindled!
This is probably the ideal summer holiday read - great for by the pool, somewhere hot. Although you’ll be a lot more suspicious of anyone you don’t know trying to strike up a conversation!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for another great serialisation.
Debbiereadsbook (1608 KP) rated Ziggy's Gift (Liverpool Boys #5) in Books
Dec 14, 2025 - 12:45 PM (Updated Dec 14, 2025 - 1:08 PM)
a very fitting end for Marc and Ziggy!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is a novella in the Liverpool Boys series, and you really should read Saving Ziggy before this one. Much will not make sense if you haven't.
Ziggy and Marc are 7 years married, settled into life happily. But *something* is missing, they both cannot pinpoint what, so a break away over Christmas seems perfect. What they find, will change their lives forever.
I found this the most PERFECT end to Ziggy and Marc's story!
It's so full of love! Marc and Ziggy are very much in love. That fact shows on every page, and finding the bundle in the summer house? Makes their lives complete.
I loved that there was very little steam here! Ziggy and Marc make plans for *fully* enjoy their down time, but plans go awry!
It emotional, though, on a deep level. Finding a baby will wreck anyone, but taking that baby on? Takes a huge amount of emotional upheaval but Ziggy and Marc own it, beautifully!
All the other *boys* and their partners are talked about, and some pop up at the end, so that was a lovely catch up with everyone.
This really is, the most fitting end to Ziggy and Marc's story.
5 full, but very sweet stars
*same worded review wil appear elsewhere
This is a novella in the Liverpool Boys series, and you really should read Saving Ziggy before this one. Much will not make sense if you haven't.
Ziggy and Marc are 7 years married, settled into life happily. But *something* is missing, they both cannot pinpoint what, so a break away over Christmas seems perfect. What they find, will change their lives forever.
I found this the most PERFECT end to Ziggy and Marc's story!
It's so full of love! Marc and Ziggy are very much in love. That fact shows on every page, and finding the bundle in the summer house? Makes their lives complete.
I loved that there was very little steam here! Ziggy and Marc make plans for *fully* enjoy their down time, but plans go awry!
It emotional, though, on a deep level. Finding a baby will wreck anyone, but taking that baby on? Takes a huge amount of emotional upheaval but Ziggy and Marc own it, beautifully!
All the other *boys* and their partners are talked about, and some pop up at the end, so that was a lovely catch up with everyone.
This really is, the most fitting end to Ziggy and Marc's story.
5 full, but very sweet stars
*same worded review wil appear elsewhere
The Last Librarian
4.0
Rate It
Book
Never let them catch you reading. Eighty years from now there is no war, no hunger, and no...
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Princess Bride (1987) in Movies
Mar 28, 2019
Director Rob Reiner really had a fantastic career as a director going in the 80s and early 90s with the likes of When Harry Met Sally..., Stand By Me, Misery, A Few Good Men, This is Spinal Tap and this film of course.
Based on the masterful screenplay by Hollywood mega-scribe William Goldman, it quite frankly gives us the perfect showcase for "True Love".
Every character has their place in bringing the story forward, and the laughs keep coming in every scene. I used to have long passages of the screenplay memorized and could quote at will.
My kids and I will often text each other back and forth with a quote-a-thon of the film (I always win!)
Whenever someone leaves our house to go somewhere someone will always say "Have fun storming the castle!".
If I am ever needing to lighten my mood, I will sometimes even just watch a few scenes or catch some clips on YouTube. Quite honestly I can just close my eyes and recite it from memory.
What a classic!
Based on the masterful screenplay by Hollywood mega-scribe William Goldman, it quite frankly gives us the perfect showcase for "True Love".
Every character has their place in bringing the story forward, and the laughs keep coming in every scene. I used to have long passages of the screenplay memorized and could quote at will.
My kids and I will often text each other back and forth with a quote-a-thon of the film (I always win!)
Whenever someone leaves our house to go somewhere someone will always say "Have fun storming the castle!".
If I am ever needing to lighten my mood, I will sometimes even just watch a few scenes or catch some clips on YouTube. Quite honestly I can just close my eyes and recite it from memory.
What a classic!
Death in Delft
10.0
Rate It
Book
The new historical mystery series you need to get your hands on! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor,...
The Netherlands Historical fiction Historical mystery
Trails with Tales: Intriguing Walks Around Leighton Moss, Silverdale and Arnside
Beth Pipe and Steve Pipe
Book
Sometimes getting lost on a walk is the best thing you can do. In this beautiful corner of the world...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Supernatural - Season 1 in TV
Oct 5, 2019 (Updated Oct 5, 2019)
Spookily good fun
I first watched Supernatural when it first started, got as far as series 5 and then just never managed to catch up. I decided to start again and I’m glad i did, I’d forgotten just how fun this show was.
As an premise, this is a wonderful idea and a great way of creating a story around a host of legendary supernatural beings. The main highlight of this show though is by far the relationship between the brothers. It’s downright hilarious at times and Jensen Ackles has some brilliant moments as Dean. But there’s also a serious side to the brothers too, and this works well alongside the scares and humour. Don’t get me wrong, the show isn’t perfect. The CGI in these early days is pretty horrendous at times, and some of the storylines are a bit cliched with nearly every one having an attractive woman for the brothers to work with/save. Some of the script is a tad cheesy too, but fortunately this show is that good that these slight issues don’t really make any difference. There are a couple of dodgy episodes, namely Bugs and Route 666, but the rest make for a highly enjoyable show.
As an premise, this is a wonderful idea and a great way of creating a story around a host of legendary supernatural beings. The main highlight of this show though is by far the relationship between the brothers. It’s downright hilarious at times and Jensen Ackles has some brilliant moments as Dean. But there’s also a serious side to the brothers too, and this works well alongside the scares and humour. Don’t get me wrong, the show isn’t perfect. The CGI in these early days is pretty horrendous at times, and some of the storylines are a bit cliched with nearly every one having an attractive woman for the brothers to work with/save. Some of the script is a tad cheesy too, but fortunately this show is that good that these slight issues don’t really make any difference. There are a couple of dodgy episodes, namely Bugs and Route 666, but the rest make for a highly enjoyable show.
Merissa (13568 KP) rated Magpies & Mayhem (The Boundlands #2) in Books
Sep 16, 2022
MAGPIES & MAYHEM perfectly describes the second book in The Boundlands series. We met both Sidney and Jordan in book one. Sidney is the extrovert to Elara's introvert, and Jordan was Levi's roommate. Now they have their own story that includes a gorgeous little dragon named Huck.
Sidney is definitely on the chaotic good scale of things, and her shifting to a magpie whenever she is startled just helps to confirm that. Jordan, by contrast, is solemn (with reason) and thinks things through. This just means they make the perfect pair, balancing each other out and giving the other just what they need.
The story is smooth and follows along nicely from Elara and Levi's, who we also catch up with in here. The world- and character-building continue to give you all you need to know, whilst leaving you wanting more. For me though, Huck definitely stole the show.
A great addition to the series, I can't wait for Grim's story to see where we will go next. Absolutely 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sidney is definitely on the chaotic good scale of things, and her shifting to a magpie whenever she is startled just helps to confirm that. Jordan, by contrast, is solemn (with reason) and thinks things through. This just means they make the perfect pair, balancing each other out and giving the other just what they need.
The story is smooth and follows along nicely from Elara and Levi's, who we also catch up with in here. The world- and character-building continue to give you all you need to know, whilst leaving you wanting more. For me though, Huck definitely stole the show.
A great addition to the series, I can't wait for Grim's story to see where we will go next. Absolutely 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Baby Outdoor Adventures - Care, Play & Have Fun Outside
Games and Entertainment
App
~~> It’s outdoor adventure time! Join these adorable babies at this fun-filled outdoor camp! ~~>...
My Fake Rake
Book
Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the...