Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Merissa (13169 KP) rated Love, Isidor in Books

Sep 15, 2023  
Love, Isidor
Love, Isidor
Nell Iris | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
LOVE, ISIDOR is a short standalone that details a second-chance romance. We join Henri after he and Isidor have been separated for a decade. He receives a letter from his old flame out of the blue and he has a decision to make.

For all this is a short story, it has everything you could ask for. Told from Henri's perspective, you still manage to hear Isidor's words in the letters he wrote. And, my word, they are so heartfelt. You find out the reason they split, and what they've been up to since, as well as catching up with them now.

This was a great story that was full of emotion and I loved every word. Absolutely recommended by me.

** 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!
Sep 15, 2023
  
CO
Carry on, Jeeves (Jeeves, #3)
P.G. Wodehouse | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rather than a novel in its own right, this is a loosely connected collection of Jeeves and Wooster short stories, all told ion the first person narrative (nearly all by Wooster except the very last) and largely split between the UK and the US.

In the collection I read, the stories included are as follows:

1) Jeeves Takes Charge (the first meeting of Jeeves and Wooster!)
2) The Artistic Career of Corky (New York)
3) Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest (New York again)
4) Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg (also in New York)
5) The Aunt and the Sluggard (still New York)
6) The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy (Paris)
7) Without the Option (London)
8) Fixing it for Freddie (English seaside)
9) Clustering Round Young Bingo (English countryside)
10) Bertie Changes His Mind (the one told from Jeeves point of view)

Whilst maybe not the best PG Wodehouse Jeeves books I've read, they are nice as a palate cleanser after something heavier!
  
JB
Jail Bird
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
68 of 235
Book
Jail Bird
By Jessie Keane
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder, loyalty and vengeance collide in Jessie Keane's gritty fourth novel. Blonde and beautiful Lily King is back on the scene - and not in a good way. Her family haven't missed her. Her husband, London villain Leo King, certainly hasn't, because he's dead. Lily killed him and did time for it. At least, that's the story. Everyone believes it. But Lily knows it's not true. She knows she was fitted up by someone close to her. Now, she's just hit thirty, she's out, and she doesn't do forgiveness. But in her absence, things have moved on, the old order has changed, and now she's ready to reclaim her position as head of the King family. Fuelled by vengeance and power, Lily King is back. London won't know what hit it.

Loved it! Can’t imagine being locked away from everything you love especially being innocent! I love Jessie Keane her books really pack a punch!
  
40x40

ClareR (5950 KP) rated The Party in Books

Sep 7, 2025  
The Party
The Party
Tessa Hadley | 2024 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Even though this is a novella there’s so much packed into it. From the party in the pub to the smaller gathering in the old mansion.

The Party is richly atmospheric and descriptive. The post-war pub is lively, crowded and seems like a lot of fun! Post-war Bristol is described in such a way that I had no problem seeing the damage around the port and the pub as I read.

The contrast of the sisters is also interesting: Moira is worldly wise, Evelyn is young and inexperienced, which shows particularly at the mansion gathering. These people are clearly from a different social class to the sisters. At first, they’re not exactly welcomed by some of their hosts, but everyone warms up as the evening progresses - in a number of ways. It’s an entertaining evening!

Another enjoyable read from Tessa Hadley, and I’m reminded yet again why I’m always happy to pick up another of her books.
  
All We Ever Wanted
All We Ever Wanted
Emily Giffin | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
8.2 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wow. Just wow. This book is SO relevant right now with the #metoo movement and #timesup. It breaks my heart to realize how often stories like this happen, to anyone, of any age or social/financial status - there is no discrimination, and sadly there just isn't enough conversation about these topics. I applaud Emily Giffin for writing this book.

I had no idea in detail what this story was about when I requested it from NetGalley. I like to be surprised with Emily's books, and I've never read one I didn't like. And I sure was surprised by this one! It's almost like, "If you could walk in someone's shoes" - I felt like i was dropped into this book, as if I was in on a secret, and I just sat back and watched the secrets unravel and unfold.

Something happened to Lyla. Something not good at all. It started with a bunch of elite private high school kids (and some not-so-privileged) at a party, with a lot of alcohol... and you can just imagine it from there. Something happens. Accusations fly, lies are told, people unravel, secrets come out, and trusts are broken.
This books tells the story from several angles and I found myself so attached to them all. They are so well written I honestly felt as if I was in a mother's head, a father's mind and in the thoughts of a 16 year old girl.

I sailed through this, as I do most of Emily's books because I love her writing style and how easily I can just jump into her stories. I wanted to find out more, I wanted justice, and I craved a neat and tidy resolution, but we all know these types things are never neat and tidy.

This book is important. I wish everyone would read this. Although every #metoo story is different, this casts a glimpse into how each and every incident causes so, so much pain, to so many people - and ultimately how getting these types of stories out in the world, can hopefully ease some of that pain by helping and educating others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to review this amazing book.
  
A Snapshot Of Murder
A Snapshot Of Murder
Frances Brody | Mystery, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Snapshot of Murder
By: Frances Brody
Crooked Lane Books
Mystery and Thrillers
Publish Date 19 April 2019
Pages 448
#ASnapshotOfMurder #NetGalley
<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/23cda8f5b390052c84bafb486921760c8733c9f5"; width="80" height="80" alt="10 Book Reviews" title="10 Book Reviews"/>
<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/9a41056d7201c045d3f9e5c161f9569494687ae1"; width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

This book is set in the year 1928 in London. The time is in April.
Characters are Harriet the niece of Kate Shackleton. She has been living there for about 7 months.
Kate Shackleton is a private investigator of sorts. Her husband Gerald is no longer around since the war.
Carine Murchison is a photographer friend.
Tobias Murchison is Carine Husband. He isn't well liked.
Edward Chester Carine's old flame
Carine's father
Derek another Photographer
Rita a friend of Carine's
This story is mostly about Carine and her family. When she was five her mother was going away but promised to come back and get her. Her mom never came back. She has had dreams off and on about a spot in the cellar in the studio that belongs in the family. Carine takes pictures just like her mother and Grandmother. Carine stopped going to school at the age of 13 because her Dad needed her to take pictures to make a living. Carine never did know her Grandma but is named after her. The Studio is name Carine Photo Studio. Her father is a drunk. Carine falls in love with a Poet named Edward Chester. Her father doesn't like and does everything in his power to stop this relationship which he does. Edward goes off to war and is killed. After the war she meets Tobias who happened to a friend of Edwards and tells her of his death. Carine's father likes Tobias and helps him to marry Carine.
As the story goes on Edward returns from the died but is disfigured from the war. The books tells why Carine thought was dead.

As the time has now changed to summer they go to an old farmhouse to see the parish hand over and old church for a museum for the Bronte Sisters. During this trip Tobias ends up dead. Who killed him or did he kill himself. Why him and someone else.
There were a lot of characters and each of them had a reason but who did it and why. I did enjoy this book and recommend that you read it. There are some interesting turns. Since this is a thriller/ mystery it is hard to go into details because I don't want to spoil it for you.