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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A House of Bells in Books
Jan 9, 2024
7 of 220
Kindle
A House of Bells
By J.T. Croft
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman haunted by fate, a child silenced by fear, and a house full of secrets and bells.
1918. Stripped of her reputation and haunted by a spirit she failed to protect, the young governess Grace Meadows finds herself out of time and growing more and more desperate. But when she’s offered a strange job from an eccentric medium, she never could have imagined what she was signing up for.
Tasked with caring for a troubled young girl who has lost the ability to speak, Grace must unravel the dangerous secrets at the heart of a run-down country mansion and find the source of the horrors which now threaten both of their lives.
As she’s forced to confront her own demons and reconcile the ghosts of past and present, can Grace protect the child from the living and dead? And what is waiting for her beyond the mysterious silk and bells which protect them from forces unseen?
This was a haughtily beautiful gothic horror. It was so well written. The characters were endearing and dislikeable when needed. I’m glad to have found this author and looking forward to reading more.
Kindle
A House of Bells
By J.T. Croft
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman haunted by fate, a child silenced by fear, and a house full of secrets and bells.
1918. Stripped of her reputation and haunted by a spirit she failed to protect, the young governess Grace Meadows finds herself out of time and growing more and more desperate. But when she’s offered a strange job from an eccentric medium, she never could have imagined what she was signing up for.
Tasked with caring for a troubled young girl who has lost the ability to speak, Grace must unravel the dangerous secrets at the heart of a run-down country mansion and find the source of the horrors which now threaten both of their lives.
As she’s forced to confront her own demons and reconcile the ghosts of past and present, can Grace protect the child from the living and dead? And what is waiting for her beyond the mysterious silk and bells which protect them from forces unseen?
This was a haughtily beautiful gothic horror. It was so well written. The characters were endearing and dislikeable when needed. I’m glad to have found this author and looking forward to reading more.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Black Thorn in Books
May 22, 2024
I found Black Thorn on my kindle, downloaded last year from NetGalley and forgotten (I’m sorry). So in recompense and quite a lot of guilt, I bought the audiobook. I’m very glad I did. Imogen Church does a great job of reading this rather disturbing story from Agnes Gale’s point of view. She’s the adult daughter of one of the men responsible for the building and sale of the houses in an exclusive development on the Cornish cliffs.
Just weeks after moving in, six people, including children, are dead. All the remaining inhabitants are told to leave their homes as they’re deemed unsafe, and the whole development is cordoned off. Agnes is sure there’s more to it, so she decides to investigate.
There’s a really unnerving atmosphere to this story, probably made more so coming from Agnes’ point of view. She’s autistic, and even though she’s adamant that something isn’t right, she’s largely ignored because of her autism. The insights into Agnes’ personality and her inner thoughts were sensitively handled and realistic, I thought.
All of the characters were really well developed: Errol, Agnes’ friend; Christie her brother; and Trevor her fathers business partner, especially.
This was a thoroughly good listen, and I’m so glad that I (eventually) found it!
Just weeks after moving in, six people, including children, are dead. All the remaining inhabitants are told to leave their homes as they’re deemed unsafe, and the whole development is cordoned off. Agnes is sure there’s more to it, so she decides to investigate.
There’s a really unnerving atmosphere to this story, probably made more so coming from Agnes’ point of view. She’s autistic, and even though she’s adamant that something isn’t right, she’s largely ignored because of her autism. The insights into Agnes’ personality and her inner thoughts were sensitively handled and realistic, I thought.
All of the characters were really well developed: Errol, Agnes’ friend; Christie her brother; and Trevor her fathers business partner, especially.
This was a thoroughly good listen, and I’m so glad that I (eventually) found it!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Witness in Books
Feb 10, 2024
25 of 220
Kindle
Witness
By Caroline Mitchell
⭐️⭐️⭐️
To Rebecca it was a brave decision that led to her freedom from domestic abuse. To Solomon it was the ultimate betrayal.
It’s been ten years since Rebecca’s testimony saw Solomon locked away. Enough time for the nightmares to recede, the nerves to relax; enough time to rebuild her life and put the past behind her.
Then one day a phone rings in her bedroom—but it’s not her phone. Solomon has been in her home, and has a very simple message for her: for each of the ten years he has spent in jail, Rebecca must witness a crime. And, to make matters worse, she has to choose the victims.
Fail to respond and you get hurt. Talk to the police and you die. Ready to play? You have sixty seconds to decide…
As the crimes grow more severe, the victims closer to home, Rebecca is forced to confront a past she had hoped was gone forever.
This was good. Well written and an interesting story that kept you reading. Didn’t get me overly excited but I did enjoy the read. A new author for me. Does contain Domestic abuse and controlling behaviour.
Kindle
Witness
By Caroline Mitchell
⭐️⭐️⭐️
To Rebecca it was a brave decision that led to her freedom from domestic abuse. To Solomon it was the ultimate betrayal.
It’s been ten years since Rebecca’s testimony saw Solomon locked away. Enough time for the nightmares to recede, the nerves to relax; enough time to rebuild her life and put the past behind her.
Then one day a phone rings in her bedroom—but it’s not her phone. Solomon has been in her home, and has a very simple message for her: for each of the ten years he has spent in jail, Rebecca must witness a crime. And, to make matters worse, she has to choose the victims.
Fail to respond and you get hurt. Talk to the police and you die. Ready to play? You have sixty seconds to decide…
As the crimes grow more severe, the victims closer to home, Rebecca is forced to confront a past she had hoped was gone forever.
This was good. Well written and an interesting story that kept you reading. Didn’t get me overly excited but I did enjoy the read. A new author for me. Does contain Domestic abuse and controlling behaviour.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Conclave (Devils Bight 3.5) in Books
Jun 27, 2024
125 of 220
Kindle
Conclave ( Devils Night 3.5)
By Penelope Douglas
⭐️⭐️⭐️
DAMON
Will is gone. He hasn't been seen in months, and the texts coming from his phone are almost certainly forged. Something's wrong. We need to act now.
Michael is ready to tear down The Cove, Rika's hiding something, Evans Crist is a threat, and Winter's father is still out there. Everyone is off in a million directions, and we're vulnerable.
It's time to do this. It's time to claim our place.
RIKA
A few years ago, I never thought I'd be here. On board Pithom. Miles out at sea. At a table with Michael Crist, Kai Mori, and Damon Torrance—men I now consider family.
We've locked ourselves on this yacht for however long it takes to address our agenda, and we won't leave until everything is on the table. Even things I don't want to talk about. Things Michael doesn't know.
We will find Will. We will solidify our plans, and we will remove any threats.
If we survive Conclave.
This was a quick catch-up with the characters also a lead into the next book. It was a quick read and I like it I’m looking forward to the next one.
Kindle
Conclave ( Devils Night 3.5)
By Penelope Douglas
⭐️⭐️⭐️
DAMON
Will is gone. He hasn't been seen in months, and the texts coming from his phone are almost certainly forged. Something's wrong. We need to act now.
Michael is ready to tear down The Cove, Rika's hiding something, Evans Crist is a threat, and Winter's father is still out there. Everyone is off in a million directions, and we're vulnerable.
It's time to do this. It's time to claim our place.
RIKA
A few years ago, I never thought I'd be here. On board Pithom. Miles out at sea. At a table with Michael Crist, Kai Mori, and Damon Torrance—men I now consider family.
We've locked ourselves on this yacht for however long it takes to address our agenda, and we won't leave until everything is on the table. Even things I don't want to talk about. Things Michael doesn't know.
We will find Will. We will solidify our plans, and we will remove any threats.
If we survive Conclave.
This was a quick catch-up with the characters also a lead into the next book. It was a quick read and I like it I’m looking forward to the next one.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Decision at Thunder Rift: Book One of The Saga of the Gray Death Legion in Books
Mar 9, 2025
Battletech.
Giant stompy robots, very much - it seems to me - the Western version of Japanese mecha.
A board (miniatures) game that's been around since the 1980s, with a fair few PC games and other associated elements spin-offs.
With said spin-offs including a series of novels which - although aware they existed (in much the same way as do Start Trek or Dr Who novels) I never really read any of them - I think I might have tried one, back in the mid 90s or so, but it was forgettable at best.
So, when I was recently looking for something light to read in between bouts of heavier literature (I hate that word), I thought I would give this one a try, since it is - apparently - #1 in the entire series, and since it was on sale for something silly like 99p on Kindle.
What I got was pretty much what I expected: a sci-fi war story, where the 'mechs are basically the equivalent of futuristic tanks, with a light smattering of intrigue but with the real draw, of course, being on the mech vs mech action.
I might pick up some more in the series, but don't think I'll be going out of my way to do so.
Giant stompy robots, very much - it seems to me - the Western version of Japanese mecha.
A board (miniatures) game that's been around since the 1980s, with a fair few PC games and other associated elements spin-offs.
With said spin-offs including a series of novels which - although aware they existed (in much the same way as do Start Trek or Dr Who novels) I never really read any of them - I think I might have tried one, back in the mid 90s or so, but it was forgettable at best.
So, when I was recently looking for something light to read in between bouts of heavier literature (I hate that word), I thought I would give this one a try, since it is - apparently - #1 in the entire series, and since it was on sale for something silly like 99p on Kindle.
What I got was pretty much what I expected: a sci-fi war story, where the 'mechs are basically the equivalent of futuristic tanks, with a light smattering of intrigue but with the real draw, of course, being on the mech vs mech action.
I might pick up some more in the series, but don't think I'll be going out of my way to do so.
Rachel (48 KP) rated The Streets (The Pines Trilogy #3) in Books
May 27, 2017
Stick with it!
Firstly - the formatting of the Kindle edition is pretty terrible. Half of sentences are missing, some are cut in half by paragraphs, words are missing and strange gaps appear where they shouldn't be. Hopefully these issues will be rectified soon.
If you are looking for a cheery, easy bed time read then this is definitely not it! The tone of the book is rather dystopian and gritty. It's certainly not suitable for younger readers!
I wasn't aware that this is the last installment of a trilogy. Although prior knowledge of the other books probably adds more layers to the story and characters it can be read as a stand alone. The first two books do not seem to be available yet on the Kindle.
It took me a few chapters to 'get' the style of writing. It starts off with a huge bang and then slows down considerably. The way the author writes creates a pretty tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that doesn't let up at all throughout.
One character is both the centre of the story and absent for the majority of the time. There are various sub plots that all lead to the same ending. The author deals with these well and it's rarely confusing, especially when you get to know the characters a bit so you automatically know which plot line they are in. Unfortunately the formatting issues I brought up at the beginning of the review can cause confusion. That is not the authors fault, though, so my rating is not affected by those issues.
It is rather disturbing at times and deals with an awful lot of taboo and hard hitting subjects. Some people will probably find it too much but I felt that, although sometimes they are hammered home a little too often, the author deals with them on the right way.
Some of the characters are pretty much impossible to identify with but I feel that is kind of the point! I can't really say that any of the characters are completely sympathetic because they all have a darkness around them - sometimes due to their overt actions and others just because of their complicity in certain situations and events. Again, though, this seemed to be the authors intention.
Can I say that I enjoyed this novel? I'm not sure. It is very bleak, extremely uncomfortable at times and I found myself thinking about certain events that happened whilst doing everyday things. So enjoyment isn't the right word but it is very well written, intense and I am planning to try to get copies of the two earlier books. That in itself shows just how much the story got into my head and is proof of the authors skill
If you are looking for a cheery, easy bed time read then this is definitely not it! The tone of the book is rather dystopian and gritty. It's certainly not suitable for younger readers!
I wasn't aware that this is the last installment of a trilogy. Although prior knowledge of the other books probably adds more layers to the story and characters it can be read as a stand alone. The first two books do not seem to be available yet on the Kindle.
It took me a few chapters to 'get' the style of writing. It starts off with a huge bang and then slows down considerably. The way the author writes creates a pretty tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that doesn't let up at all throughout.
One character is both the centre of the story and absent for the majority of the time. There are various sub plots that all lead to the same ending. The author deals with these well and it's rarely confusing, especially when you get to know the characters a bit so you automatically know which plot line they are in. Unfortunately the formatting issues I brought up at the beginning of the review can cause confusion. That is not the authors fault, though, so my rating is not affected by those issues.
It is rather disturbing at times and deals with an awful lot of taboo and hard hitting subjects. Some people will probably find it too much but I felt that, although sometimes they are hammered home a little too often, the author deals with them on the right way.
Some of the characters are pretty much impossible to identify with but I feel that is kind of the point! I can't really say that any of the characters are completely sympathetic because they all have a darkness around them - sometimes due to their overt actions and others just because of their complicity in certain situations and events. Again, though, this seemed to be the authors intention.
Can I say that I enjoyed this novel? I'm not sure. It is very bleak, extremely uncomfortable at times and I found myself thinking about certain events that happened whilst doing everyday things. So enjoyment isn't the right word but it is very well written, intense and I am planning to try to get copies of the two earlier books. That in itself shows just how much the story got into my head and is proof of the authors skill
The Complete Guide To Clinical Aromatherapy and The Essential Oils of The Physical Body: Essential Oils for Beginners
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Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Raven's Fall (World on Fire, #2) in Books
May 15, 2018
Raven’s Fall, the second book in Lincoln Cole’s World on Fire trilogy, picks up shortly after the ending of Raven’s Peak. Bristling with action, the book delves right into the heart of a new dilemma: the trial of Abigail Dressler for treason against the Council – a top-secret organization whose purpose is to protect the world from the supernatural forces that exist in the shadows.
I don’t have a whole lot to say about the characters that I didn’t say before. Although, there is a new diverse aspect of this book which makes me love Cole all the more: a gay main character. The best part? He’s not an embodiment of the flamboyant stereotype that we see so many homophobic individuals mocking. It simply exists, and that’s perfectly alright – the way things should be.
The plot is still pretty fast-paced. Coming in at a little bit shorter than the first big, Raven’s Fall is a quick read. It took me two sittings and that’s only because I fell asleep halfway through the book when I first sat down to devour it.
Naturally, I’ve already delved into the third book in this trilogy and I definitely look forward to reading more. My rating for this one is the same as the first book. If you’re interested, the series is available on Kindle Unlimited.
I don’t have a whole lot to say about the characters that I didn’t say before. Although, there is a new diverse aspect of this book which makes me love Cole all the more: a gay main character. The best part? He’s not an embodiment of the flamboyant stereotype that we see so many homophobic individuals mocking. It simply exists, and that’s perfectly alright – the way things should be.
The plot is still pretty fast-paced. Coming in at a little bit shorter than the first big, Raven’s Fall is a quick read. It took me two sittings and that’s only because I fell asleep halfway through the book when I first sat down to devour it.
Naturally, I’ve already delved into the third book in this trilogy and I definitely look forward to reading more. My rating for this one is the same as the first book. If you’re interested, the series is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Great to have
This application really helps me when I am shopping in a store. I often find exactly what I am looking for in the app instead of trying to place an order at a store I may never return to. With tons of items available, I often am able to find what I need no matter where I am. It also allows me to check my wishlists so when I am unable to get on my computer, I can access them from the comfort of my phone or tablet. I also find this useful when I am surfing through Facebook and find a book for my kindle in my feed as it takes me straight to the app and allows me to read reviews, ge a gist of the book, or allows me to purchase it. The app also allows me to manage any subscriptions I have through Amazon, which makes life easy when I don't feel like booting up my computer. The only thing I don't like about the app, and the may just be my phone itself, is scanning in my credit cards, because it doesn't always appear properly in the app as it should. However it ito is extremely useful to use and easy to use on your mobile device.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Need to Know in Books
May 22, 2019
A CIA analyst specializing in tracking down Russian sleeper agents in the US stumbles upon a file with photos of some of these. One of them turns out to be her husband. When she confronts him with the question 'how long have you been spying for Russia?' instead of denying it, he immediately replies, '22 years.'
This book makes you question how far you would go to protect your husband, your children and your life?
Even if you don’t typically enjoy spy or political thrillers, this is a fantastic read! It's hard for me to know what to say as I don't want to give anything away about the plot. Best way to describe is get in and buckle up for the thrill ride as more and more layers are peeled back and discovered.
We have here a strong female CIA Agent and a host of other well developed characters that add to the well developed boiling pot that is the plot.
Loads of twists and turns throughout. It kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. I literally found myself shouting at my kindle at times!!
Highly recommend reading this.
* Thank you to Random House UK for my 'wish for it copy' for which I have given an honest review in exchange*
This book makes you question how far you would go to protect your husband, your children and your life?
Even if you don’t typically enjoy spy or political thrillers, this is a fantastic read! It's hard for me to know what to say as I don't want to give anything away about the plot. Best way to describe is get in and buckle up for the thrill ride as more and more layers are peeled back and discovered.
We have here a strong female CIA Agent and a host of other well developed characters that add to the well developed boiling pot that is the plot.
Loads of twists and turns throughout. It kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. I literally found myself shouting at my kindle at times!!
Highly recommend reading this.
* Thank you to Random House UK for my 'wish for it copy' for which I have given an honest review in exchange*