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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated How to Book a Murder in Books
Dec 10, 2021 (Updated Dec 10, 2021)
Murder Mystery Night Ends with Real Murder
Emma Starrs is looking for ways to expand her family’s bookshop, and she is hoping she can help plan some events that will bring in much needed money. Unfortunately, her first event is for Tabitha Baxter, and old childhood nemesis who hasn’t matured much since they last interacted. Emma is hoping to survive the night, but then she finds a dead body. With rumors that Emma or Emma’s aunt Nora, who was a guest at the party, are responsible for the murder circling around town, can Emma figure out what really happened?
I was pleasantly surprised at who the victim was, and it allowed some great additional conflict for Emma. The pacing did stumble a few times, but overall, this was a fun book that kept me engaged. It helped that some of the sub-plots had me laughing. One did get over the top at times, but it was still fun. There were a plethora of suspects, and they were introduced in group scenes, but as the book progressed, we got to know them better. The main characters really stood out, and I enjoyed meeting them here. The climax was creative and wrapped things up well. This is a fun debut, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens to Emma next.
I was pleasantly surprised at who the victim was, and it allowed some great additional conflict for Emma. The pacing did stumble a few times, but overall, this was a fun book that kept me engaged. It helped that some of the sub-plots had me laughing. One did get over the top at times, but it was still fun. There were a plethora of suspects, and they were introduced in group scenes, but as the book progressed, we got to know them better. The main characters really stood out, and I enjoyed meeting them here. The climax was creative and wrapped things up well. This is a fun debut, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens to Emma next.
Return to the Little Kingdom: Steve Jobs, the Creation of Apple and How it Changed the World
Book
Almost thirty years ago, Michael Moritz, then a young journalist at "Time" magazine, was allowed...
ClareR (5996 KP) rated We All Want Impossible Things in Books
Feb 17, 2023
What a wonderful book this is! I started reading with trepidation, but as I read, I realised that this isn’t just a book about dying, it’s about the living right up until you die. It’s a book about life - and about having a good death. It’s incredibly moving, I wouldn’t say it’s depressing or morose at all, in fact I would say that it’s life affirming.
Edi and Ash have been best friends since childhood. When Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ash offers to take her home to where she lives, so that her young son doesn’t have to watch her final weeks.
The hospice that Edi stays in is full of interesting characters: from the patient who plays Fiddler on the Roof at full glorious volume, to the doctor who reminds Ash of one of the Sopranos, and a musician who can play any song you request.
This is a book of laughter and sadness, of letting go and moving on. Ash is a wonderful friend with a rather messy, frankly hilarious, sex life. Ash and Eli’s relationship is truly special.
We All Want Impossible Things is a touching novel that had me laughing and crying in equal measure, as well as bringing back memories of my own experiences.
This book really is worth reading. Utterly beautiful.
Edi and Ash have been best friends since childhood. When Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ash offers to take her home to where she lives, so that her young son doesn’t have to watch her final weeks.
The hospice that Edi stays in is full of interesting characters: from the patient who plays Fiddler on the Roof at full glorious volume, to the doctor who reminds Ash of one of the Sopranos, and a musician who can play any song you request.
This is a book of laughter and sadness, of letting go and moving on. Ash is a wonderful friend with a rather messy, frankly hilarious, sex life. Ash and Eli’s relationship is truly special.
We All Want Impossible Things is a touching novel that had me laughing and crying in equal measure, as well as bringing back memories of my own experiences.
This book really is worth reading. Utterly beautiful.
This book just blew my mind.
I read Sundial with my heart in my mouth, horrified, not knowing what could possibly happen next. Honestly, I thought I knew what type of story would be coming my way after reading The Last House on Needless Street, but this is nothing like that, yet at the same time, it’s still totally Catriona Ward! Everything seems a little off kilter, a bit strange. People don’t behave in quite the same way as ‘normal’ people would.
I mean, a bonding experience in the Mojave desert between a mother and her daughter, in the childhood home where her parents experimented on dogs (this is a horror book. Horrible things happen to not just the people, but the animals as well). How could anything possibly go wrong, I ask you!
I hadn’t read horror in quite a while before I read Needless Street, and now I seem to be on a roll. This book reminds me why I read a lot of this genre as a teenager. It’s that feeling of being transfixed, unable to turn away whilst horrific things happen. The mind games as well!
Love, love, loved this.
And now I need to go and read Ward’s backlist, and make sure I read whatever comes next!
Thanks to the marvellous Pigeonhole yet again for an amazing serialisation!! Keep it up please!
I read Sundial with my heart in my mouth, horrified, not knowing what could possibly happen next. Honestly, I thought I knew what type of story would be coming my way after reading The Last House on Needless Street, but this is nothing like that, yet at the same time, it’s still totally Catriona Ward! Everything seems a little off kilter, a bit strange. People don’t behave in quite the same way as ‘normal’ people would.
I mean, a bonding experience in the Mojave desert between a mother and her daughter, in the childhood home where her parents experimented on dogs (this is a horror book. Horrible things happen to not just the people, but the animals as well). How could anything possibly go wrong, I ask you!
I hadn’t read horror in quite a while before I read Needless Street, and now I seem to be on a roll. This book reminds me why I read a lot of this genre as a teenager. It’s that feeling of being transfixed, unable to turn away whilst horrific things happen. The mind games as well!
Love, love, loved this.
And now I need to go and read Ward’s backlist, and make sure I read whatever comes next!
Thanks to the marvellous Pigeonhole yet again for an amazing serialisation!! Keep it up please!
I read this on The Pigeonhole (my online bookclub!) and eagerly awaited each stave release - they always manage to leave it on a cliffhanger! And there are a lot of secrets in this novel.
Olivia has returned to her childhood home, escaping from an abusive marriage, to take over her family’s beekeeping business. Everything is going really well for her, until the day that her son Asher is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lily. Olivia is wracked with feelings of guilt and fear: could he be like his father? Olivia can’t be sure if he’s done this, whether or not he’s violent like his father, or whether someone else has murdered her.
I usually avoid books written by two people - and I couldn’t tell you why! Picoult writes Olivia’s parts, Finney Boylan writes Lily’s. And honestly, I couldn’t see any wildly different writing styles between the two authors. Both of them just seem to nail the characters. Perfectly.
Olivia and Lily are both imperfect characters - as are we all - and they were both so realistically written. They were both living and breathing characters. I was completely invested in them both, even though I knew Lily’s story could only go one way.
This is a great book, and one that I’ve often thought about since reading it. If you read it, you’ll see why.
Recommended.
Olivia has returned to her childhood home, escaping from an abusive marriage, to take over her family’s beekeeping business. Everything is going really well for her, until the day that her son Asher is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lily. Olivia is wracked with feelings of guilt and fear: could he be like his father? Olivia can’t be sure if he’s done this, whether or not he’s violent like his father, or whether someone else has murdered her.
I usually avoid books written by two people - and I couldn’t tell you why! Picoult writes Olivia’s parts, Finney Boylan writes Lily’s. And honestly, I couldn’t see any wildly different writing styles between the two authors. Both of them just seem to nail the characters. Perfectly.
Olivia and Lily are both imperfect characters - as are we all - and they were both so realistically written. They were both living and breathing characters. I was completely invested in them both, even though I knew Lily’s story could only go one way.
This is a great book, and one that I’ve often thought about since reading it. If you read it, you’ll see why.
Recommended.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Senior year (2022) in Movies
Jun 3, 2022
At the start of the movie, the main character steph is recording a video talking about her childhood, she was snubbed by the cool kids so decided she wanted to become popular. She achieved this, got a "hot" boyfriend and became a cheerleader. However, after a cheerleading accident steph ends up in a coma for 20 years. When she wakes up she has to learn all the ins and outs of the present day, such as smart phones, words you can't use anymore, the fact her boyfriend was now married and how much her body has aged.
She soon decides that she wants to finish her month she missed of her senior year, including cheerleading and becoming prom Queen.
I really enjoyed this movie despite it being over the top silly in places and unrealistic, I mean a 37 year old still fitting into her clothes from when she was 17 with very different body shapes is about as unrealistic as you can get!
The soundtrack is all kinds of nostalgic and took me back to my late teens as there was everything from Mandy Moore to a like for like redo of the drive me (crazy) video by britney spears. If you love the 90s/00s era of teen movies, you're sure to love this.
She soon decides that she wants to finish her month she missed of her senior year, including cheerleading and becoming prom Queen.
I really enjoyed this movie despite it being over the top silly in places and unrealistic, I mean a 37 year old still fitting into her clothes from when she was 17 with very different body shapes is about as unrealistic as you can get!
The soundtrack is all kinds of nostalgic and took me back to my late teens as there was everything from Mandy Moore to a like for like redo of the drive me (crazy) video by britney spears. If you love the 90s/00s era of teen movies, you're sure to love this.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Get Even in Books
Dec 10, 2023
192 of 235
Book
Get Even
By Martina Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They got her man. Now she's going to get even...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
Holy cow this was brutal! I don’t know why I’m so shocked I say the same after every Martina Cole. This was such a sad read in so many ways. I can’t imagine having to hide my life the way Lenny had to but then I’m conflicted at the pain he caused while doing it! Also so glad she finally got some peace even if it cost her. There are always cautions when reading these books as I said they can be so brutal.
Book
Get Even
By Martina Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They got her man. Now she's going to get even...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
Holy cow this was brutal! I don’t know why I’m so shocked I say the same after every Martina Cole. This was such a sad read in so many ways. I can’t imagine having to hide my life the way Lenny had to but then I’m conflicted at the pain he caused while doing it! Also so glad she finally got some peace even if it cost her. There are always cautions when reading these books as I said they can be so brutal.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Vivid Avowed ( Evelyn Maynard trilogy book 3) in Books
Nov 11, 2022
205 of 230
Kindle
Vivid Avowed ( Evelyn Maynard trilogy book 3)
By kaydence Snow
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Evelyn's secrets have all been revealed, even questions she never thought to ask. Despite the turmoil surrounding her childhood and true identity, she knows one thing for sure: she belongs with her devoted Bonded Variants - Ethan, Josh, Tyler and Alec.
But the truth hasn't set Evelyn free.
The division between Variants and humans continues to widen. Nowhere is safe. Behind all the chaos is one man - Davis Damari. He's the truth she's been chasing her entire life, and the only one capable of destroying the life she fought to build in Bradford Hills.
Davis will stop at nothing to get Evelyn. Her Bond will stop at nothing to protect her.
Evelyn must find a way to embrace her immense power, or risk losing it all.
I was a little disappointed in this last book I have loved this trilogy up to this point. I found myself skipping through this one getting so bored in parts. The action parts were so good but the rest sort of got lost for me. I’m not sure why but it just didn’t work for me. The first two books were brilliant and the conclusion was a good one which is why it’s a 3⭐️ and not a 2!
Kindle
Vivid Avowed ( Evelyn Maynard trilogy book 3)
By kaydence Snow
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Evelyn's secrets have all been revealed, even questions she never thought to ask. Despite the turmoil surrounding her childhood and true identity, she knows one thing for sure: she belongs with her devoted Bonded Variants - Ethan, Josh, Tyler and Alec.
But the truth hasn't set Evelyn free.
The division between Variants and humans continues to widen. Nowhere is safe. Behind all the chaos is one man - Davis Damari. He's the truth she's been chasing her entire life, and the only one capable of destroying the life she fought to build in Bradford Hills.
Davis will stop at nothing to get Evelyn. Her Bond will stop at nothing to protect her.
Evelyn must find a way to embrace her immense power, or risk losing it all.
I was a little disappointed in this last book I have loved this trilogy up to this point. I found myself skipping through this one getting so bored in parts. The action parts were so good but the rest sort of got lost for me. I’m not sure why but it just didn’t work for me. The first two books were brilliant and the conclusion was a good one which is why it’s a 3⭐️ and not a 2!
![Her First Child [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/2a0/d5484fd1-a487-457f-a630-a88593fbb2a0.jpg?m=1672523702)
Her First Child [Audiobook]
7.0
Rate It
Book
A perfect mother. A loving daughter. A secret that could destroy them both. New mother Eve is...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Innocent One in Books
Jan 8, 2023
I didn't realise this was a follow on from a previous book (The Guilty One) but I don't think it detracted too much from my reading enjoyment of this, the first book by Lisa Ballantyne I have read.
Eleven year old Sebastian was acquitted of murdering his friend and Daniel Hunter was his solicitor. Fast forward 10 years and Sebastian is studying at Cambridge when one of his tutors is brutally murdered. Sebastian is in the frame and he appoints Daniel as his solicitor once again.
The story focuses on Daniel, the difficulties he is experiencing with his marriage, reconciling a difficult childhood and the fallout from representing Sebastian previously as well as having to deal with the uncertainty surrounding Sebastian's innocence/guilt now.
This was a bit of a slow burn but I thought this worked quite well with this particular story especially as I hadn't read the previous one. There was definitely a growing sense of tension and unease from the start with me wondering where it was going and how it was going to play out and I wasn't disappointed.
Recommended to mystery thriller lovers and thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Innocent One and for introducing me to another author to look out for in the future.
Eleven year old Sebastian was acquitted of murdering his friend and Daniel Hunter was his solicitor. Fast forward 10 years and Sebastian is studying at Cambridge when one of his tutors is brutally murdered. Sebastian is in the frame and he appoints Daniel as his solicitor once again.
The story focuses on Daniel, the difficulties he is experiencing with his marriage, reconciling a difficult childhood and the fallout from representing Sebastian previously as well as having to deal with the uncertainty surrounding Sebastian's innocence/guilt now.
This was a bit of a slow burn but I thought this worked quite well with this particular story especially as I hadn't read the previous one. There was definitely a growing sense of tension and unease from the start with me wondering where it was going and how it was going to play out and I wasn't disappointed.
Recommended to mystery thriller lovers and thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Innocent One and for introducing me to another author to look out for in the future.