Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (2145)

Content

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated What Child is This in Books

Jan 1, 2019

What Child is This

Rhys Bowen | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry

7.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Simple, Heart Warming Short Story

The story opens on Christmas Eve in London in 1940. It's the middle of the blitz, and rationing is in full effect, so it is looking like a very dismal Christmas for Maggie and Jack Harris. But then what little they do have is taken from them suddenly, and they find themselves on the streets. Jack goes looking for shelter and finds what looks like an abandoned house. Is it abandoned? What will Christmas day bring?

While I rarely read short stories, I had to grab this story from Rhys Bowen. Best known for her historical mysteries, this is more of a glimpse at tragedy and triumph during 24 hours. As such, it doesn't have the twists or shocks you might expect, but it is a very heartwarming tale. Jack and Maggie really shine, although I did find Maggie annoying at times. Believable, but annoying. A quick read (I read it in about an hour), this is a good way to hold on to the Christmas spirit just a little bit longer.

Kudos

Jessica - Where the Book Ends (15 KP) rated Sharing You (Sharing You, #1) in Books

Jan 30, 2019

This is the very first Molly McAdams book I've read. I enjoyed the idea behind the story and loved that the characters were so versitile. The one aspect that made this book hard for me to finish was Olivia and Brody. I always got excited thinking this time he was going to smarten up and then she'd start up again with her craziness. Their interactions seemed extremely redundant to me and I found it painful at times to get through and even found myself skimming ahead. However, I did enjoy the book. I appreciate all the thought that went into each and every character and their backstory. Character development can make or break a book, and in this case it definitely saved this book for me. The characters and their lives are tragic and maybe that makes me weird but I love a good tragedy. This isn't one of my favorite books, but Molly McAdams has a lot of talent and I look forward to reading her other books in the future.

Kudos

Deborah (162 KP) rated Hungry Hill in Books

Dec 21, 2018

I really got stuck into this family saga from Daphne du Maruier, following five generations of a family and their relationship with the mine at Hungry Hill. With du Maurier you know there's going to be tragedy in there somewhere and there are senseless deaths and senseless happenings a plenty. Despite being beautifully written, I felt somewhat depressed at the end of the novel because I didn't feel it was concluded very well and a lot of very bad things happened to people who frankly didn't deserve it! I feel John-Henry's story wasn't properly tied up and he was just left almost hanging there. The Donovans also seem to come out of things rather well despite their atrocious, murdering behaviour! I think I'm one who likes a good bit of poetic justice in my reading as real life is so unfair to some people!

So, brilliantly written, but I'm not sure I'd want to put myself through reading it again, with all the agonies and the ending which I found unsatisfactory.