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Hazel (2934 KP) rated We Fly Beneath the Stars [Audiobook] in Books
Dec 4, 2022
![We Fly Beneath the Stars [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/802/80aa1332-831c-401a-87dd-f91c5a08d802.jpg?m=1670160938)
This is one of those stories that grabs you and doesn't let go until the last word ... absolutely gripping, full of tension and courage ... and based on a true story.
The book follows the lives of Nadia and Tasha, sisters who join the Russian Airforce during World War II and who become fighter pilots in the much-feared by the Germans and all-female squadron known as "The Night Witches."
Given inferior equipment and less training than their male counterparts as well as having to put up with their harassment all whilst trying to stay alive and get back safely following their night sorties over the advancing German army; this is a story of tremendous bravery however it also a tale of sibling rivalry, love, loss and choices.
The narrator, Lauryn Allman, was excellent; her voice totally immersed me into the story; one of the best I have come across so far and my thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of We Fly Beneath the Stars.
The book follows the lives of Nadia and Tasha, sisters who join the Russian Airforce during World War II and who become fighter pilots in the much-feared by the Germans and all-female squadron known as "The Night Witches."
Given inferior equipment and less training than their male counterparts as well as having to put up with their harassment all whilst trying to stay alive and get back safely following their night sorties over the advancing German army; this is a story of tremendous bravery however it also a tale of sibling rivalry, love, loss and choices.
The narrator, Lauryn Allman, was excellent; her voice totally immersed me into the story; one of the best I have come across so far and my thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of We Fly Beneath the Stars.
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Cruise in Books
Mar 17, 2023
Well. That’s another holiday off the list.
That’s the problem when an author writes an attention-grabbing book, with a nice setting and not-so-nice events.
Lola, one of the dancers on a cruise ship, falls to her death over the side of the ship, and her brother Antonio is devastated. But then more things are revealed - and I don’t want to give any of them away!
This book has a dual timeline: we go back in time to find out more about the characters, and it gives the reader some idea of why they’ve behaved the way they have. I do like a dual timeline.
No-one’s blameless or particularly nice in this, and I did wonder if Antonio was actually in possession of all/ any of his faculties.
I’m not going to say anything else about the story. I will say that it was a gripping read with a lot of forehead-slapping moments, and a few “Oh my God”s! (It’s not just me that does this, is it?).
Very enjoyable!
That’s the problem when an author writes an attention-grabbing book, with a nice setting and not-so-nice events.
Lola, one of the dancers on a cruise ship, falls to her death over the side of the ship, and her brother Antonio is devastated. But then more things are revealed - and I don’t want to give any of them away!
This book has a dual timeline: we go back in time to find out more about the characters, and it gives the reader some idea of why they’ve behaved the way they have. I do like a dual timeline.
No-one’s blameless or particularly nice in this, and I did wonder if Antonio was actually in possession of all/ any of his faculties.
I’m not going to say anything else about the story. I will say that it was a gripping read with a lot of forehead-slapping moments, and a few “Oh my God”s! (It’s not just me that does this, is it?).
Very enjoyable!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Do No Harm [Audiobook] in Books
Jun 21, 2022
![Do No Harm [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/bc9/6d7b42cf-a982-4a64-b756-fb10ca9d1bc9.jpg?m=1655806190)
For me, I find the measure of a book is how memorable it is and I can safely say that this is one that I can clearly remember even though I finished listening to it a number of weeks ago.
I found this rather gripping and was disappointed when I had to stop listening when work and family life got in the way!
The story is intense and fast moving; the plot is engrossing with a number of twists and turns that had me taking a few sharp intakes of breath at times.
The three main characters of Anna, Margot and Rachel are all told by different narrators - this was genius and helped to differentiate between their 'parts' in the story. The narrators did an excellent job and helped keep the tension going from start to finish.
I haven't read or listened to anything by Jack Jordan before but I will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and I must thank Simon & Schuster UK Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to Do No Harm and share my thoughts.
I found this rather gripping and was disappointed when I had to stop listening when work and family life got in the way!
The story is intense and fast moving; the plot is engrossing with a number of twists and turns that had me taking a few sharp intakes of breath at times.
The three main characters of Anna, Margot and Rachel are all told by different narrators - this was genius and helped to differentiate between their 'parts' in the story. The narrators did an excellent job and helped keep the tension going from start to finish.
I haven't read or listened to anything by Jack Jordan before but I will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and I must thank Simon & Schuster UK Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to Do No Harm and share my thoughts.
Oh my word! Well that was a disturbing and dark book but I found myself racing through it and literally couldn't put it down .. a cliché I know but absolutely true in this case.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
The Lost Children (DCI Matilda Darke #9)
9.0
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Matilda Darke is back… APRIL 2020: LOCKDOWN With street crime at an all-time low, Matilda...
ClareR (6256 KP) rated After That Night in Books
Jul 16, 2023
Another gripping read to add to the Will Trent/ Dr. Sara Linton series.
Sara is determined to get justice for a patient who dies in A&E on her shift. With her dying breath, Dani Cooper tells Sara she has been raped. Three years later, Sara is testifying as an expert witness at the trial of Tommy McAllister - the man accused of raping Dani, and the child of a couple who Sara knew from her residency days.
Will and his partner Faith, end up re-investigating Sara’s case, along with a number of others, finding links between them. All of this is done without their boss’s knowledge - which is very brave of them. She’s formidable!
There are graphic descriptions of rape, domestic violence and it’s aftermath, and can be quite stomach churning at times - but it’s such a fast-moving read with such excellent characters, that I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a really emotional read, too.
If you’re a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed!
Sara is determined to get justice for a patient who dies in A&E on her shift. With her dying breath, Dani Cooper tells Sara she has been raped. Three years later, Sara is testifying as an expert witness at the trial of Tommy McAllister - the man accused of raping Dani, and the child of a couple who Sara knew from her residency days.
Will and his partner Faith, end up re-investigating Sara’s case, along with a number of others, finding links between them. All of this is done without their boss’s knowledge - which is very brave of them. She’s formidable!
There are graphic descriptions of rape, domestic violence and it’s aftermath, and can be quite stomach churning at times - but it’s such a fast-moving read with such excellent characters, that I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a really emotional read, too.
If you’re a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed!
The Whistling
8.0
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Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote...
Ghost story
Gated Prey
8.0
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Book
A simple sting operation takes a violent and unexpected turn for Detective Eve Ronin in a gripping...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Line of Duty - Season 5 in TV
May 18, 2019
Gripping and thrilling
What can I say, Line of Duty have done it again with another hugely gripping series with twists, turns and a stellar cast. Again I won’t say too much at the risk of giving away any spoilers, but this series continues the investigation into the mysterious ‘H’ and they really do pack a lot of intrigue and twists and turns. It’s good to see the wonderful Stephen Graham in this, I couldn’t imagine anyone else more fitting for the role of Clayton and it’s also good to see a bit more of Adrian Dunbar who has been slightly sidelined in past series in favour of the characters of Arnott and Fleming. The plot itself is action packed with a lot of twists you just wouldn’t see coming. Of course unsurprisingly the series ends with a bit of a bang but also doesn’t quite wrap everything up neatly, leaving me screaming for another that I’ll now have to wait for. Damn you BBC.
My only criticism about this show, other than the fact that some plot lines have been left hanging until the ends series, is a bit of a back handed compliment. From working in a police environment I cannot stress to you how realistic a lot of aspects of this show are. Yes they’ve obviously made the storylines thrilling and action packed and made up, but the little nuances and parts of daily ordinary police life are very realistic. Whilst I really love they’ve made it this realistic, there’s one part I find very irritating and that’s mainly because it annoys me on a daily basis at work. I can’t stand the dated way police officers refer to those of a higher rank as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’, it seems very outdated in a world where we’re all meant to be equal, except when you’re a higher police rank then you can’t be called by your first name by a lower rank... Doesn’t seem right to me, and you certainly wouldn’t catch me doing that at work - calling someone by name doesn’t mean you don’t respect their position any less. So I do get a little irritated with this hierarchical nonsense sometimes on the show, especially with Kate and Steve. But very realistic to say the least! Rant over ?
My only criticism about this show, other than the fact that some plot lines have been left hanging until the ends series, is a bit of a back handed compliment. From working in a police environment I cannot stress to you how realistic a lot of aspects of this show are. Yes they’ve obviously made the storylines thrilling and action packed and made up, but the little nuances and parts of daily ordinary police life are very realistic. Whilst I really love they’ve made it this realistic, there’s one part I find very irritating and that’s mainly because it annoys me on a daily basis at work. I can’t stand the dated way police officers refer to those of a higher rank as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’, it seems very outdated in a world where we’re all meant to be equal, except when you’re a higher police rank then you can’t be called by your first name by a lower rank... Doesn’t seem right to me, and you certainly wouldn’t catch me doing that at work - calling someone by name doesn’t mean you don’t respect their position any less. So I do get a little irritated with this hierarchical nonsense sometimes on the show, especially with Kate and Steve. But very realistic to say the least! Rant over ?
A Stain in the Blood: The Remarkable Voyage of Sir Kenelm Digby
Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY and THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE FOR...
History