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Merissa (14068 KP) rated After the Wanting in Books
Jun 28, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)
AFTER THE WANTING is a novel about a young woman trying to escape her ex. After feeling unsafe in her apartment, she moves to a friend's house in the middle of nowhere. He'll never find her there, right?
There are many threads that help weave this tale - a husband looking for forgiveness, a daughter lost in her emotions, and a psycho who feels justified in his atrocities. Put them together and you get a tense thriller that will keep you turning the pages until you figure out just who the big bad is. I will say he didn't surprise me when I found out, although I was surprised by how long it had been going on.
The pacing is quite fast and there are a number of supporting characters to help the story move along. Told as a current story, with flashbacks, and also some scenes from the future, it was a little confusing, to begin with, until I got used to the writing style.
This was a quick read that I can recommend.
** 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!
Jun 28, 2021
There are many threads that help weave this tale - a husband looking for forgiveness, a daughter lost in her emotions, and a psycho who feels justified in his atrocities. Put them together and you get a tense thriller that will keep you turning the pages until you figure out just who the big bad is. I will say he didn't surprise me when I found out, although I was surprised by how long it had been going on.
The pacing is quite fast and there are a number of supporting characters to help the story move along. Told as a current story, with flashbacks, and also some scenes from the future, it was a little confusing, to begin with, until I got used to the writing style.
This was a quick read that I can recommend.
** 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!
Jun 28, 2021
Merissa (14068 KP) rated She’s the One Who Won’t Behave (The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters, #6) in Books
Aug 8, 2022 (Updated Aug 8, 2023)
SHE'S THE ONE WHO WON'T BEHAVE is the penultimate book in the War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters series and we get Gypsum's story, the unwanted 'daughter'.
It can be hard to not fit in or to want something you think is unattainable. This is how Gypsum feels. She has felt unwelcome for most of her life at home and wants nothing more than to be free to choose her own path. This leads her to the reczavy, where she learns sexual freedom is only one of the paths open to her with them.
Not only that, but Gypsum has a brain and isn't afraid to use it, concerned for what lies ahead from the Mongols. She learns all she can, figuring out plans and contingencies before she meets Ryalgar. I do think Gypsum was the most under-estimated sister and loved seeing her 'behind the scenes' actions.
Only one book to go and I really can't wait. This whole series has been a fantastic read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Aug 3, 2022
It can be hard to not fit in or to want something you think is unattainable. This is how Gypsum feels. She has felt unwelcome for most of her life at home and wants nothing more than to be free to choose her own path. This leads her to the reczavy, where she learns sexual freedom is only one of the paths open to her with them.
Not only that, but Gypsum has a brain and isn't afraid to use it, concerned for what lies ahead from the Mongols. She learns all she can, figuring out plans and contingencies before she meets Ryalgar. I do think Gypsum was the most under-estimated sister and loved seeing her 'behind the scenes' actions.
Only one book to go and I really can't wait. This whole series has been a fantastic read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Aug 3, 2022
Music & Dreams (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023)
10.0
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Can one man’s dreams help him reach another man’s heart? Lorcan Swain has the world at his...
Contemporary Rockstar MM Romance
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Housemaid [Audiobook] in Books
May 15, 2022
![The Housemaid [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/c03/3740bbca-cb41-49c7-a566-4c0c47ae2c03.jpg?m=1652622395)
Well, that was definitely a ride on the crazy train!
Millie is not in a good place when she applies for the position as a housekeeper/maid at the beautiful home of the affluent Andrew and Nina Winchester and their daughter Cecilia. Against the odds, she gets the position and, as is usually the case, things are too good to be true and all is not what it seems.
I can't really say much without giving the game away but I will say that I found it riveting and intriguing and I didn't really know who or what to believe or how everything was going to play out. It was great and exceeded my expectations and whilst I found it a little unbelievable, it was extremely entertaining and I was hooked nevertheless.
I listened to the audiobook and although I think it would have worked better with 2 distinct voices for Millie and Nina, I think the narrator did a fantastic job.
I haven't read or listened to any of Freida's books before but this definitely won't be my last and she will be an author I will look out for in the future and I must thank Bookouture and NetGalley for introducing me to her books, for allowing me to listen to this one and share my thoughts.
Millie is not in a good place when she applies for the position as a housekeeper/maid at the beautiful home of the affluent Andrew and Nina Winchester and their daughter Cecilia. Against the odds, she gets the position and, as is usually the case, things are too good to be true and all is not what it seems.
I can't really say much without giving the game away but I will say that I found it riveting and intriguing and I didn't really know who or what to believe or how everything was going to play out. It was great and exceeded my expectations and whilst I found it a little unbelievable, it was extremely entertaining and I was hooked nevertheless.
I listened to the audiobook and although I think it would have worked better with 2 distinct voices for Millie and Nina, I think the narrator did a fantastic job.
I haven't read or listened to any of Freida's books before but this definitely won't be my last and she will be an author I will look out for in the future and I must thank Bookouture and NetGalley for introducing me to her books, for allowing me to listen to this one and share my thoughts.
ClareR (6253 KP) rated A Passage North in Books
Jun 21, 2022
A Passage North is a book rich in the description of a journey from the capital of Sri Lanka (Colombo) to the Northern Province, which is still affected by the Civil War.
Krishnan is on his way to the funeral of his grandmothers carer and companion. She had returned to visit her daughter in the North, and had died after tripping, falling down a well and breaking her neck. However, after we learn some of her background, there is some doubt that it’s actually accident. Rani had suffered a great deal during the war, and had been left with mental health problems. Krishnan thinks about how her losses affected her life.
Krishnan has experienced loss as well. His father during the war, and the breakup of a significant relationship that he had whilst studying in India.
There’s no dialogue in this novel, it’s all Krishnan’s thoughts about his past and present and Rani’s past. When I started reading, I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this. But I was happily mistaken. I’ve never been to Sri Lanka, but it sounds beautiful. The funeral was moving and was a reminder of the deaths of many, many innocents during the civil war, and also those who survived them.
This is a powerful novel, that I still think about after reading it.
Krishnan is on his way to the funeral of his grandmothers carer and companion. She had returned to visit her daughter in the North, and had died after tripping, falling down a well and breaking her neck. However, after we learn some of her background, there is some doubt that it’s actually accident. Rani had suffered a great deal during the war, and had been left with mental health problems. Krishnan thinks about how her losses affected her life.
Krishnan has experienced loss as well. His father during the war, and the breakup of a significant relationship that he had whilst studying in India.
There’s no dialogue in this novel, it’s all Krishnan’s thoughts about his past and present and Rani’s past. When I started reading, I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this. But I was happily mistaken. I’ve never been to Sri Lanka, but it sounds beautiful. The funeral was moving and was a reminder of the deaths of many, many innocents during the civil war, and also those who survived them.
This is a powerful novel, that I still think about after reading it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2603 KP) rated Silence is Golden in Books
May 15, 2023 (Updated May 15, 2023)
Has a New Gold Rush Come to Town?
Gold fever has hit Flat Skunk, California, after local eccentric prospector Sluice Jackson finds a nugget. Reporter Connor Westphal isn’t quite so quick to jump on the gold bandwagon, but while she is still trying to figure out what is going on, an old skeleton turns up. Meanwhile, Connor’s college boyfriend is in town with his ex-wife and their daughter. Then a modern body turns up. Can Connor figure out what is going on?
Obviously, there is a lot here, and that kept me entertained and engaged the entire way through. I did feel like the ending was rushed, including a sub-plot getting pretty much dropped. If you are new to the series, you should know that Connor is deaf, and I continue to love how that is portrayed in the stories. This book is now twenty years old, so some things are dated, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. Likewise, there is a little more swearing than you might expect, but not as much as earlier books in the series. The characters, not just Connor, are all great, and I enjoyed spending time with them. If you are looking for a unique main character, you’ll enjoy this book.
Obviously, there is a lot here, and that kept me entertained and engaged the entire way through. I did feel like the ending was rushed, including a sub-plot getting pretty much dropped. If you are new to the series, you should know that Connor is deaf, and I continue to love how that is portrayed in the stories. This book is now twenty years old, so some things are dated, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. Likewise, there is a little more swearing than you might expect, but not as much as earlier books in the series. The characters, not just Connor, are all great, and I enjoyed spending time with them. If you are looking for a unique main character, you’ll enjoy this book.
The Quiet Tenant
6.0
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Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate town...
An Unexpected Ally
8.0
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Powerful Circe, daughter of the sun-god Helios, is sad to see Odysseus, King of Ithaca, depart from...
Greek mythology Retelling
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Young Jane Young in Books
May 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
Aviva Grossman has made a mistake, but so has Aaron Levin. One of them will continue to lead a normal life and one of them will go into hiding and move hundreds of miles away from their home until the secret comes out in the open. Similar to the story between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Aviva Grossman has had an affair with a Congressman she was working for in South Florida. When the scandal breaks, Aviva can no longer get a job or leave her house without being recognized. So she changes her name to Jane Young, leaves the state, and cuts ties with her old life. But now she wants to run for Mayor of her small town and her secret will no longer be safe.
I decided to read this book for a couple of reasons. I have seen the book at the library for a while and I wondered about the woman on the cover. A few people I know have read the book and enjoyed it. This book was better than OK, but not great for me. The book is told from four different perspectives, spanning a time from when the affair begins, to 13 years later when Aviva, now Jane runs for Mayor.
1. Rachel Grossman, Aviva's mother, is a good Jewish mother. She tries to do her best for all of those around her, but it doesn't always pay off. (This part of the book was the hardest for me to get through)
2. Jane Young, the event planner in Allison Springs, Maine. She is a single mother whose main focus is raising her young daughter to be nothing like her old self.
3. Ruby Young, Jane's daughter. Ruby tells her part of the story through emails with her pen pal in Indonesia as part of a school assignment. (this was my favorite part of the book)
4. Embeth Levin, the Congressman's wife. Her part of the story was quite interesting. You wonder what goes through the mind of a wife who has been cheated on especially one in such a public light
and finally from the woman herself
5. Aviva Grossman. We find out about the affair and how it all happened and the aftermath of the scandal. Aviva writes in a Choose Your Own Adventure style, but she has already chosen the path the story will take. Aviva ran from her problems to in Florida to become Jane in Maine and make a new life for herself. But once her secrets are revealed, will she be able to maintain her new life?
The reason I gave this book 3.5 stars is because I felt as if there was something missing. I'm not sure exactly what it was. I didn't enjoy the mother's part of the story and I wasn't too keen on the ending. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy general fiction.
Aviva Grossman has made a mistake, but so has Aaron Levin. One of them will continue to lead a normal life and one of them will go into hiding and move hundreds of miles away from their home until the secret comes out in the open. Similar to the story between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Aviva Grossman has had an affair with a Congressman she was working for in South Florida. When the scandal breaks, Aviva can no longer get a job or leave her house without being recognized. So she changes her name to Jane Young, leaves the state, and cuts ties with her old life. But now she wants to run for Mayor of her small town and her secret will no longer be safe.
I decided to read this book for a couple of reasons. I have seen the book at the library for a while and I wondered about the woman on the cover. A few people I know have read the book and enjoyed it. This book was better than OK, but not great for me. The book is told from four different perspectives, spanning a time from when the affair begins, to 13 years later when Aviva, now Jane runs for Mayor.
1. Rachel Grossman, Aviva's mother, is a good Jewish mother. She tries to do her best for all of those around her, but it doesn't always pay off. (This part of the book was the hardest for me to get through)
2. Jane Young, the event planner in Allison Springs, Maine. She is a single mother whose main focus is raising her young daughter to be nothing like her old self.
3. Ruby Young, Jane's daughter. Ruby tells her part of the story through emails with her pen pal in Indonesia as part of a school assignment. (this was my favorite part of the book)
4. Embeth Levin, the Congressman's wife. Her part of the story was quite interesting. You wonder what goes through the mind of a wife who has been cheated on especially one in such a public light
and finally from the woman herself
5. Aviva Grossman. We find out about the affair and how it all happened and the aftermath of the scandal. Aviva writes in a Choose Your Own Adventure style, but she has already chosen the path the story will take. Aviva ran from her problems to in Florida to become Jane in Maine and make a new life for herself. But once her secrets are revealed, will she be able to maintain her new life?
The reason I gave this book 3.5 stars is because I felt as if there was something missing. I'm not sure exactly what it was. I didn't enjoy the mother's part of the story and I wasn't too keen on the ending. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy general fiction.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Pieces Of Her in Books
Mar 11, 2019
Wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read!
Andrea "Andy" Cooper thinks she knows everything about her mom, Laura. Laura has taken care of Andy for Andy's entire 31 years--perhaps to Andy's detriment, at times. Laura works as a speech pathologist and lives a peaceful life in the beach town of Belle Isle. But on the morning of Andy's birthday, as Laura takes her to breakfast, everything changes. Violence erupts at the mall, Laura instinctively acts to protect her daughter, and suddenly the secrets she's been hiding are exposed for all to see. She only wants to shelter Andy, but Andy is shocked by her mother's actions and what they mean. Even more, the mall episode sets off a series of events that can't be stopped and leads Andy on a dangerous journey unlike anything she ever imagined.
I'm learning that you can always count on Slaughter for an amazing, twisted ride. I so enjoyed her novels PRETTY GIRLS and THE GOOD DAUGHTER and now PIECES OF HER joins them as another suspenseful, tense mystery.
What I love about Slaughter is that she's wonderfully descriptive in her writing. You don't just get a mystery, you receive a beautifully written novel, full of detailed characters and excellent writing. Andy and Laura are well-formed characters: you'll find yourself incredibly frustrated with Andy in the beginning, as she's so helpless for a 30+ woman. Get it together, Andy! Do something, save yourself, help your mother. Laura is closed off and reluctant to share anything with her family. Luckily, both characters grow on you as the book progresses.
The novel does a good job of showing how the U.S. reacts to public tragic events--the incident in the mall--for it is public opinion to that moment which really influences so much of Laura's future actions. I was captivated by this one from the very beginning. It's fascinating to watch the action unfold in Slaughter's deft hands. I found myself going "wow" at a variety of the twists and was frantically turning the pages, wanting to know what on earth was going on.
The narration switches between Andy in the present-day and another narrator in 1986. This is incredibly effective in creating suspense and slowly unraveling our story. The novel is stressful and tense as the pieces come together, and--per typical Slaughter--brutal and dark in many places.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It keep me glued to my seat the entire time, wondering what was happening and what would happen. I loved all the details and little twists. I am always captivated by the dark aspects of Slaughter's novels and her twisted characters and plot plots. While this one could be a little unbelievable perhaps, in places, it was a wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
I'm learning that you can always count on Slaughter for an amazing, twisted ride. I so enjoyed her novels PRETTY GIRLS and THE GOOD DAUGHTER and now PIECES OF HER joins them as another suspenseful, tense mystery.
What I love about Slaughter is that she's wonderfully descriptive in her writing. You don't just get a mystery, you receive a beautifully written novel, full of detailed characters and excellent writing. Andy and Laura are well-formed characters: you'll find yourself incredibly frustrated with Andy in the beginning, as she's so helpless for a 30+ woman. Get it together, Andy! Do something, save yourself, help your mother. Laura is closed off and reluctant to share anything with her family. Luckily, both characters grow on you as the book progresses.
The novel does a good job of showing how the U.S. reacts to public tragic events--the incident in the mall--for it is public opinion to that moment which really influences so much of Laura's future actions. I was captivated by this one from the very beginning. It's fascinating to watch the action unfold in Slaughter's deft hands. I found myself going "wow" at a variety of the twists and was frantically turning the pages, wanting to know what on earth was going on.
The narration switches between Andy in the present-day and another narrator in 1986. This is incredibly effective in creating suspense and slowly unraveling our story. The novel is stressful and tense as the pieces come together, and--per typical Slaughter--brutal and dark in many places.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It keep me glued to my seat the entire time, wondering what was happening and what would happen. I loved all the details and little twists. I am always captivated by the dark aspects of Slaughter's novels and her twisted characters and plot plots. While this one could be a little unbelievable perhaps, in places, it was a wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).