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We Deserve Monuments
10.0
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Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, a...
Hammer (The Iron Between #1)
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Genonn’s tired and dreams of a remote roundhouse in the Cuala Mountains. However, sudden...
Epic Historical Fantasy
ClareR (6106 KP) rated Dear Child in Books
Feb 26, 2023
I felt emotionally drained after finishing this book. There are so many twists! Just when you think you know what’s happened and what’s going to happen, the rules change and something else happens! I couldn’t stop listening - even if I’d wanted to!
Lena disappeared 14 years ago - without a trace. But her parents haven’t given up on her. So when they hear about a woman who has been involved in a traffic accident, they rush to the hospital, hoping that it’s their daughter. She matches the description.
Lena has lived in a windowless shack for 14 years, following every order her husband demands. When to eat, when to sleep, when to use the toilet. Their two children have never left their home, kept safe, hidden away from the rest of the world.
Lena hopes that her nightmare will have ended now that she has escaped, but it seems there is no end in sight.
Dear Child is a tense, dark read. The violence isn’t gratuitous, I felt, and what violence there was moved the story on. What particularly stayed with me was a feeling of uncertainty. Even when Lena’s identity is determined, I was never quite sure if she was who she said she was, and I don’t think she knew either.
If you like a slower paced thriller with more than a hint of menace, this will be the book for you.
Lena disappeared 14 years ago - without a trace. But her parents haven’t given up on her. So when they hear about a woman who has been involved in a traffic accident, they rush to the hospital, hoping that it’s their daughter. She matches the description.
Lena has lived in a windowless shack for 14 years, following every order her husband demands. When to eat, when to sleep, when to use the toilet. Their two children have never left their home, kept safe, hidden away from the rest of the world.
Lena hopes that her nightmare will have ended now that she has escaped, but it seems there is no end in sight.
Dear Child is a tense, dark read. The violence isn’t gratuitous, I felt, and what violence there was moved the story on. What particularly stayed with me was a feeling of uncertainty. Even when Lena’s identity is determined, I was never quite sure if she was who she said she was, and I don’t think she knew either.
If you like a slower paced thriller with more than a hint of menace, this will be the book for you.
ClareR (6106 KP) rated Lessons In Chemistry in Books
Mar 19, 2023
I loved this - every page of it. And to think I’d held off reading it because everyone was saying how good it was (I don’t even understand my own logic sometimes!). Actually, I think I was worried I wouldn’t like it. No need to be concerned though!
There’s a serious theme behind the laugh out loud moments. Elizabeth Zott is a single parent and what’s more, she was never married. And to add insult to injury, she wants to work as an actual scientist - a chemist (believe me, I live in a house of scientists, and it’s a serious business!). And she’s a very good scientist.
The 1950’s were no time to have a career if you were female. The general feeling I get from this, is that they (the men) wanted women to look pretty, pop out babies and do the cooking and cleaning. I think I may be the antithesis of the 1950’s woman…
I loved Elizabeth Zott. She’s funny, intelligent, and she takes no nonsense. I’ve seen reviews where people say she’s clearly autistic, but I’m not so sure. Elizabeth had a difficult childhood, a hard time at university, and she’s constantly having to prove herself. I don’t know as I’d feel too chipper in her shoes.
But I laughed a lot. Her daughter is charming, her friends are the best, and the dog is clearly the star of the show!
Highly recommended.
There’s a serious theme behind the laugh out loud moments. Elizabeth Zott is a single parent and what’s more, she was never married. And to add insult to injury, she wants to work as an actual scientist - a chemist (believe me, I live in a house of scientists, and it’s a serious business!). And she’s a very good scientist.
The 1950’s were no time to have a career if you were female. The general feeling I get from this, is that they (the men) wanted women to look pretty, pop out babies and do the cooking and cleaning. I think I may be the antithesis of the 1950’s woman…
I loved Elizabeth Zott. She’s funny, intelligent, and she takes no nonsense. I’ve seen reviews where people say she’s clearly autistic, but I’m not so sure. Elizabeth had a difficult childhood, a hard time at university, and she’s constantly having to prove herself. I don’t know as I’d feel too chipper in her shoes.
But I laughed a lot. Her daughter is charming, her friends are the best, and the dog is clearly the star of the show!
Highly recommended.
Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3)
9.0
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Return to small-town Chesapeake and fall in love with the single-dad bad boy who keeps breaking...
Contemporary MM Romance
Merissa (13820 KP) rated Daughter of the Sea in Books
Dec 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 9, 2023)
DAUGHTER OF THE SEA is a sweet romance with a mythological twist, set in North Yorkshire. Effie is widowed young and, on the same night as her husband dies, she finds a baby washed ashore. Her own son, Jack, is five-months-old, so Effie has milk available for both. She cares for -- and loves -- the little baby whilst continuing with her own life. All that changes when the dad shows up!
There is a hint of a love triangle in here, with both Lachlan and Walter vying for Effie's affection. Of course, you are pretty sure which way it will go, but the author keeps you guessing until the end.
The pacing is smooth and there are lots of details about how women lived, the whole way of life at that time, plus how Effie doesn't fit in or, really, know what she wants. The story is a slow-burn one in that it moves along quite slowly. However, that gives the reader time to fully immerse themselves in the past.
This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and 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!
Dec 21, 2021
There is a hint of a love triangle in here, with both Lachlan and Walter vying for Effie's affection. Of course, you are pretty sure which way it will go, but the author keeps you guessing until the end.
The pacing is smooth and there are lots of details about how women lived, the whole way of life at that time, plus how Effie doesn't fit in or, really, know what she wants. The story is a slow-burn one in that it moves along quite slowly. However, that gives the reader time to fully immerse themselves in the past.
This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and 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!
Dec 21, 2021
Merissa (13820 KP) rated Under the Mistle-tome (Christmas Falls #5) in Books
Dec 1, 2023
UNDER THE MISTLE-TOME is the fifth book in the Christmas Falls series. In it, we meet Trey, owner of Seasons Readings, and Trevor, who moved away and has now returned with his daughter. This is First Love/Second Chance at its finest!
First thing I need to say though is Holly-Berry. She is a delight and steals every scene she's in. I loved how her wisdom came across, and how she easily accepted Mr T! I won't tell you how I snorted when I read that! I loved the A-Team when I was younger, so that was just perfect.
As for Trey and Trevor, well, they had a rock-solid friendship to fall back on, so it was no stretch of the imagination that things would go in the direction they did. What I loved was how it was written, with both of them wanting to connect as friends first, and not wanting to mess Miss Holly about.
One came I thought was great was that of Arlo and Emerson. It was so good to see it from a different perspective.
All in all, a great addition to the series, and a story I thoroughly enjoyed and 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 1, 2023
First thing I need to say though is Holly-Berry. She is a delight and steals every scene she's in. I loved how her wisdom came across, and how she easily accepted Mr T! I won't tell you how I snorted when I read that! I loved the A-Team when I was younger, so that was just perfect.
As for Trey and Trevor, well, they had a rock-solid friendship to fall back on, so it was no stretch of the imagination that things would go in the direction they did. What I loved was how it was written, with both of them wanting to connect as friends first, and not wanting to mess Miss Holly about.
One came I thought was great was that of Arlo and Emerson. It was so good to see it from a different perspective.
All in all, a great addition to the series, and a story I thoroughly enjoyed and 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 1, 2023
Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone
Book
Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, and it took them...
ClareR (6106 KP) rated Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power in Books
May 31, 2023
It’s not often that I read a non-fiction history book - I’m more of a historical fiction reader - and I’m really glad that I picked this up.
This book is about the lives of Catherine de’ Medici (married to the French Henry II), Elisabeth of Spain and Mary, Queen of Scots and how their lives wove together.
There are some really interesting facts here (Mary was nearly 6 feet tall - now THIS is the kind of fact I live for!). But it was the personal side that really interested me. Catherine loved her children fiercely even though she had little time with them. She wanted to know every detail of their lives. Her letters to Elisabeth when she went to Spain were filled with family gossip and instructions. Just the kind of stuff that any mother would send their daughter, and Elisabeth appeared to want to always make her mother proud.
Mary and Elisabeth were like sisters, so when Mary needed Elizabeth’s and Spain’s support when the Scottish Lords turned against her, it must have hurt her greatly when they refused to help.
What I liked most was having the opportunity to dip my toes in to the history of France and Spain. It sounded as tumultuous as our own.
I do think that I’m going to have to follow up on Cathrine de’ Medici, though. Now she sounds fascinating!
I’m so glad that I read this - thanks to The Pigeonhole!
This book is about the lives of Catherine de’ Medici (married to the French Henry II), Elisabeth of Spain and Mary, Queen of Scots and how their lives wove together.
There are some really interesting facts here (Mary was nearly 6 feet tall - now THIS is the kind of fact I live for!). But it was the personal side that really interested me. Catherine loved her children fiercely even though she had little time with them. She wanted to know every detail of their lives. Her letters to Elisabeth when she went to Spain were filled with family gossip and instructions. Just the kind of stuff that any mother would send their daughter, and Elisabeth appeared to want to always make her mother proud.
Mary and Elisabeth were like sisters, so when Mary needed Elizabeth’s and Spain’s support when the Scottish Lords turned against her, it must have hurt her greatly when they refused to help.
What I liked most was having the opportunity to dip my toes in to the history of France and Spain. It sounded as tumultuous as our own.
I do think that I’m going to have to follow up on Cathrine de’ Medici, though. Now she sounds fascinating!
I’m so glad that I read this - thanks to The Pigeonhole!
Of Hoaxes and Homicide
8.0
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The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings—when you...