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ClareR (6225 KP) rated The Retreat in Books
Jan 17, 2023
The Retreat is an exciting thriller, set on the infamous Reapers Rock. It’s a wellness retreat called LUMEN, and seems perfect. Until a body is found on the rocks.
Initially it looks like a tragic accident, but it transpires that the victim shouldn’t have even been there. And then it’s followed by a diving accident.
There’s loads of mystery, action and secrets on the island, and Detective Elin Walker is the one to solve the crimes.
I felt that Elin was much more together and confident than she was in The Sanitorium, which I think is the reason for her boyfriend Will’s behaviour (honestly, it’s not great behaviour 🤷🏼♀️).
I loved how the secrets were slowly revealed - lots of deep intakes of breath on my part!
Absolutely NOT somewhere I’d want to be going on holiday, but a fabulous read!
Initially it looks like a tragic accident, but it transpires that the victim shouldn’t have even been there. And then it’s followed by a diving accident.
There’s loads of mystery, action and secrets on the island, and Detective Elin Walker is the one to solve the crimes.
I felt that Elin was much more together and confident than she was in The Sanitorium, which I think is the reason for her boyfriend Will’s behaviour (honestly, it’s not great behaviour 🤷🏼♀️).
I loved how the secrets were slowly revealed - lots of deep intakes of breath on my part!
Absolutely NOT somewhere I’d want to be going on holiday, but a fabulous read!
Kara Skinner (332 KP) rated The Mistletoe Bride in Books
Sep 10, 2019
Sometimes we all need a little bit of a pick-me-up during the holiday season. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year and all that, but it’s frickin’ stressful. Between the in-laws and the holiday shopping (not to mention the calories. Yikes!), December can quickly turn into a jolly nightmare. However, The Mistletoe Bride is perfect for getting into the holiday season.
You see, Eve is having her own trouble this Christmas season. Two weeks before Christmas, her fiance breaks everything off with her because he had been having an affair with his secretary and had gotten her pregnant. This leaves her single and with two tickets to paradise she had been going to surprise her husband with. And she plans to do something crazy. Instead of moping at home, or going on vacation by herself, she plans on asking a perfect stranger on going on vacation with her.
Nick Christmas is shocked when a beautiful and mysterious woman asks him to go on a trip with her, and he’s a little wary, too. But after talking with her for a few minutes in a coffee shop, he’s drawn to her. He’s more than ready to go on vacation with Eve and help her forget her sorrows, but he knows there’s more to everything than an innocent holiday when she starts hearing bells in his laugh. After all, Nick is destined to become the next Santa Claus– and it looks like Eve is destined to be his bride.
First of all, “Two Tickets to Paradise” by Eddie Money will get stuck in your head when you’re reading this. So if you know the song but hate it (but why would you hate it, unless you’re insane?), this might not be the best stress reliever. (I happen to like the song just fine, so no harm done to me.)
Like I said before, this is a great pick-me-up for the holiday season. And that’s all it is: a pick me up to enjoy that will get you in the mood for Christmas. If you like made-for-TV Christmas romances, then you’ll probably like The Mistletoe Bride. It’s adorable. Eve is all innocent and vulnerable and kind, and Nick is all strong and protective and kind. He really wants to help Eve heal from the damage done from her last relationship, and he doesn’t rush her even though he knows she’s his mistletoe bride. It’s incredibly sweet. And I really like how Scarlett Jade build the magic and myth of Santa Claus like she did. Inheriting the role of Santa, a magic suit that fits all Santas perfectly, the knowledge of everyone, as if he’s a god…. it’s pretty awesome.
But the book isn’t perfect. It was anticlimactic, honestly. Yes, there was a lot of suspense what with the Winter Elf trying to destroy Christmas and the race to the altar and everything, but it was rushed. The Winter Elf didn’t even come in until later and probably just to add a little spice to the mainly bland aftermath of Eve’s and Nick’s betrothal. The big villain in the whole book just wanted to make toys for Santa’s workshop. That’s it. I mean really? It’s a romance, not a thriller, I know, but we could have drawn it out a little bit more.
There also shouldn’t have been any sex scenes in this book. I know, this is a really strange complaint for me. After all I love sex scenes and they’re never a problem, right? (But hell is not freezing over right now because the Winter Elf is too effing busy making toys for Santa to cause some damn chaos!) The thing is, the love interest is Santa. Even if he’s young and about to marry his soul mate, he should not have sex appeal. Why? Because he’s Santa. He defined at least a third of my childhood (I really love Christmas) and he’s supposed to be a jolly gift-giver who loves cookies. Having a Santa Clause with sex appeal is like having a Mickey Mouse with sex appeal. Just. Don’t. Do it.
Even Spock thinks a sexy Santa is weird.
Since I was in the right mood for this book when I read it, I’m giving it four out of five stars. But most days I would probably only give it three.
You see, Eve is having her own trouble this Christmas season. Two weeks before Christmas, her fiance breaks everything off with her because he had been having an affair with his secretary and had gotten her pregnant. This leaves her single and with two tickets to paradise she had been going to surprise her husband with. And she plans to do something crazy. Instead of moping at home, or going on vacation by herself, she plans on asking a perfect stranger on going on vacation with her.
Nick Christmas is shocked when a beautiful and mysterious woman asks him to go on a trip with her, and he’s a little wary, too. But after talking with her for a few minutes in a coffee shop, he’s drawn to her. He’s more than ready to go on vacation with Eve and help her forget her sorrows, but he knows there’s more to everything than an innocent holiday when she starts hearing bells in his laugh. After all, Nick is destined to become the next Santa Claus– and it looks like Eve is destined to be his bride.
First of all, “Two Tickets to Paradise” by Eddie Money will get stuck in your head when you’re reading this. So if you know the song but hate it (but why would you hate it, unless you’re insane?), this might not be the best stress reliever. (I happen to like the song just fine, so no harm done to me.)
Like I said before, this is a great pick-me-up for the holiday season. And that’s all it is: a pick me up to enjoy that will get you in the mood for Christmas. If you like made-for-TV Christmas romances, then you’ll probably like The Mistletoe Bride. It’s adorable. Eve is all innocent and vulnerable and kind, and Nick is all strong and protective and kind. He really wants to help Eve heal from the damage done from her last relationship, and he doesn’t rush her even though he knows she’s his mistletoe bride. It’s incredibly sweet. And I really like how Scarlett Jade build the magic and myth of Santa Claus like she did. Inheriting the role of Santa, a magic suit that fits all Santas perfectly, the knowledge of everyone, as if he’s a god…. it’s pretty awesome.
But the book isn’t perfect. It was anticlimactic, honestly. Yes, there was a lot of suspense what with the Winter Elf trying to destroy Christmas and the race to the altar and everything, but it was rushed. The Winter Elf didn’t even come in until later and probably just to add a little spice to the mainly bland aftermath of Eve’s and Nick’s betrothal. The big villain in the whole book just wanted to make toys for Santa’s workshop. That’s it. I mean really? It’s a romance, not a thriller, I know, but we could have drawn it out a little bit more.
There also shouldn’t have been any sex scenes in this book. I know, this is a really strange complaint for me. After all I love sex scenes and they’re never a problem, right? (But hell is not freezing over right now because the Winter Elf is too effing busy making toys for Santa to cause some damn chaos!) The thing is, the love interest is Santa. Even if he’s young and about to marry his soul mate, he should not have sex appeal. Why? Because he’s Santa. He defined at least a third of my childhood (I really love Christmas) and he’s supposed to be a jolly gift-giver who loves cookies. Having a Santa Clause with sex appeal is like having a Mickey Mouse with sex appeal. Just. Don’t. Do it.
Even Spock thinks a sexy Santa is weird.
Since I was in the right mood for this book when I read it, I’m giving it four out of five stars. But most days I would probably only give it three.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Cinco de Murder in Books
Apr 6, 2018
Celebration Leads to Murder
It’s Cinco de Mayo weekend, and Josie Callahan has a full plate. She will be waitressing at her family’s Tex-Mex restaurant as well as helping her uncle with the first annual chili cook-off and dancing in the parade. The last thing she needs is to find the body of Lucky Straw, one of the cook-off contestants. He wasn’t well liked, but who would kill him?
This is a fun mystery tying into a different holiday, yet it fits the theme of this series perfectly. The mystery is good, with several elements to keep us guessing until the end. I did feel that the book needed another edit to smooth things over as Josie’s changing theories constantly confused me, but not in a good way for a mystery. The series regulars are as fun as always, especially Josie’s abuela
This is a fun mystery tying into a different holiday, yet it fits the theme of this series perfectly. The mystery is good, with several elements to keep us guessing until the end. I did feel that the book needed another edit to smooth things over as Josie’s changing theories constantly confused me, but not in a good way for a mystery. The series regulars are as fun as always, especially Josie’s abuela
Emma (519 KP) rated Dark Winter in Books
Jun 13, 2019
Local story
I took this book on holiday with me,Ironically to the western highlands where the main character is from, and I live 20 miles from Hull where the story is based, which is why the story resonated wirh me so well. I enjoyed the feeling of being able to picture the areas that are being described in the book.
I thought for a debut novel David Mark did a fantastic job of keeping the reader enthralled by the drama of the story, but also kept the story nice and concise, it didn't drag on too long. Also I managed to guess who the culprit was, but had to read all the way to the end to find out how he/she was connected with the whole case.
Overall a very good book and I will definitely be buying more from this author.
I thought for a debut novel David Mark did a fantastic job of keeping the reader enthralled by the drama of the story, but also kept the story nice and concise, it didn't drag on too long. Also I managed to guess who the culprit was, but had to read all the way to the end to find out how he/she was connected with the whole case.
Overall a very good book and I will definitely be buying more from this author.
Carma (21 KP) rated Second Chances (Second Chances, #1) in Books
Jun 17, 2019
Carter wishes he could go back in time, 10 years, and make a whole lot of changes. At the top of the list is never letting Kenzie go. He was stupid for choosing work over her. If only there was a way to get a do over. McKenzie is in town for a book signing and Carter decides its time to try again.
After getting help from a holiday spirit, Carter finds himself back in time with a perfect do over. Unfortunately his new (old) life is less than perfect. He has made most of the same mistakes only this time he is married to Kenzie with 2 small children. Will he finally be able to right the wrongs and win back the love of his life.
Solid 4 star read for a magical story full of hope and promise, I really enjoyed this first read by the author.
After getting help from a holiday spirit, Carter finds himself back in time with a perfect do over. Unfortunately his new (old) life is less than perfect. He has made most of the same mistakes only this time he is married to Kenzie with 2 small children. Will he finally be able to right the wrongs and win back the love of his life.
Solid 4 star read for a magical story full of hope and promise, I really enjoyed this first read by the author.
Vegas (725 KP) rated The Hunting Party in Books
Jan 24, 2020
The setting (2 more)
The plot
Great whodunit
Great thriller which keeps you guessing
A group of friends set out for a reunion New Year's Eve holiday in a remote Scottish lodge, where they uncover secrets, lies, and more than they would have liked about each other.
A body is found, is it one of the guests, a stranger, staff member or even a local. Was it an accident or murder? We find out fragment at a time, with the author releasing just the right amount of info at any given time through flashbacks to push the story along...
The group of friends do come across as arrogant city types, and you wonder how hey managed to be friends but that is probably part of the deliberate way they are written so you do feel detached from them...
An enjoyable novel and recommend if you are into thrillers.
A body is found, is it one of the guests, a stranger, staff member or even a local. Was it an accident or murder? We find out fragment at a time, with the author releasing just the right amount of info at any given time through flashbacks to push the story along...
The group of friends do come across as arrogant city types, and you wonder how hey managed to be friends but that is probably part of the deliberate way they are written so you do feel detached from them...
An enjoyable novel and recommend if you are into thrillers.
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Rinder's Rules: Make the Law Work for You!
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Too many lawyers spout jargon...I'm here to cut the bulls**t. Robert Rinder. Have you had a holiday...