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Wanted in Paradise
6.0
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Wanted in Paradise is a steamy romantic suspense novel filled with the drama of forbidden love, the...
Scandal's Bride
3.0
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Marry in haste… Lady Gwendolyn Pettigrew longs to be a mother, but refuses to marry the...
Historical Romance Regency
Hazel (2934 KP) rated For Your Own Good in Books
Sep 5, 2021
Fun and Over The Top!
I read a lot of thrillers and I am getting harder to please but I'm happy to say that For Your Own Good pleased me!
This book had me hooked and I read it in super quick time. It is full of thoroughly unlikeable characters where few had any redeeming qualities and I have to admit that I actually smiled when at least one of them came to their sticky end!
The story is written from various points of view and whilst this puts you right into the heads of the characters, it does take away some of the tension and thrills but it was fun being in the heads of people who had clearly lost the plot!
This was a fun and over the top read that I would recommend to those who are able to put reality and plausibility aside for a few hours and just hop on and enjoy the ride.
My thanks go to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
This book had me hooked and I read it in super quick time. It is full of thoroughly unlikeable characters where few had any redeeming qualities and I have to admit that I actually smiled when at least one of them came to their sticky end!
The story is written from various points of view and whilst this puts you right into the heads of the characters, it does take away some of the tension and thrills but it was fun being in the heads of people who had clearly lost the plot!
This was a fun and over the top read that I would recommend to those who are able to put reality and plausibility aside for a few hours and just hop on and enjoy the ride.
My thanks go to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Dec 15, 2017
A disappointment
After such a good comeback with The Force Awakens and a fantastic prequel in Rogue One, my expectations for The Last Jedi were high and sadly it comes as a bit of a disappointment.
To me this just seems like a filler film. There isn't a massive amount achieved in the nearly 3 hour run time, to the point where I found most of it to be verging on boring. Until the final part, there was no excitement or tension or intrigue. The comedy too was surprisingly illfitted - where's K-2S0 when you need him? Even Luke coming back didn't feel quite right and some of the other characters too were severely underused.
Maybe The Force Awakens felt better because it was the first (good) Star Wars film in a long time, whereas this is the third in as many years with yet more to come. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad film and it was enjoyable to a point. It just wasnt as good as it could've been and it just came across as sadly lacking.
To me this just seems like a filler film. There isn't a massive amount achieved in the nearly 3 hour run time, to the point where I found most of it to be verging on boring. Until the final part, there was no excitement or tension or intrigue. The comedy too was surprisingly illfitted - where's K-2S0 when you need him? Even Luke coming back didn't feel quite right and some of the other characters too were severely underused.
Maybe The Force Awakens felt better because it was the first (good) Star Wars film in a long time, whereas this is the third in as many years with yet more to come. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad film and it was enjoyable to a point. It just wasnt as good as it could've been and it just came across as sadly lacking.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated The Close (Maeve Kerrigan #10) in Books
Apr 9, 2023
We’re back with Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent in The Close, and they certainly have a full case load!
Maeve starts investigating the murder of a hospital consultant, whose body is found in his car in the hospital car park. She is also roped in to helping Josh on another case. One where they have to go undercover as a house/ dog sitting couple, whilst they investigate the death of a man with a learning disability. Oh, what a bind - to be stuck in a house with Josh Derwent for weeks!
Well, all doesn’t go quite as expected, but the tension is high with both Maeve, Josh and the case!
There are some great interactions in what appears at first glance to be an idyllic neighbourhood. It really isn’t.
The crimes are shocking, and it comes as no surprise that outwardly good people do terrible things.
I can’t wait to see what happens between Kerrigan and Derwent in the next book, but I suppose I’ll just have to!
Highly recommended!
Maeve starts investigating the murder of a hospital consultant, whose body is found in his car in the hospital car park. She is also roped in to helping Josh on another case. One where they have to go undercover as a house/ dog sitting couple, whilst they investigate the death of a man with a learning disability. Oh, what a bind - to be stuck in a house with Josh Derwent for weeks!
Well, all doesn’t go quite as expected, but the tension is high with both Maeve, Josh and the case!
There are some great interactions in what appears at first glance to be an idyllic neighbourhood. It really isn’t.
The crimes are shocking, and it comes as no surprise that outwardly good people do terrible things.
I can’t wait to see what happens between Kerrigan and Derwent in the next book, but I suppose I’ll just have to!
Highly recommended!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Fall [Audiobook] in Books
Apr 30, 2023
![The Fall [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/9c3/727e33aa-e44e-4df8-8acc-1a9bf4ad09c3.jpg?m=1682868403)
This was an enjoyable book to listen to partly because of the mystery surrounding who pushed Caily off the bridge but also because of the excellent narration.
There are lots of elements and sub-stories to this book which created additional mystery to an already intriguing story. There are a lot of characters and the book is told from multiple points of view however, whilst you might think this would be confusing, it is anything but ... the narrator does an excellent job of being able to distinguish between each of the characters with subtle changes.
Louise Jenson managed to create a lot of tension and some great plot twists that caught me off guard. The pace worked well for me and I found myself looking for reasons to listen for a bit longer ... even hoping for a traffic jam!!!
Overall, a really good book to read/listen to with loads to hold your interest and my thanks go to HQ an imprint of HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Fall.
There are lots of elements and sub-stories to this book which created additional mystery to an already intriguing story. There are a lot of characters and the book is told from multiple points of view however, whilst you might think this would be confusing, it is anything but ... the narrator does an excellent job of being able to distinguish between each of the characters with subtle changes.
Louise Jenson managed to create a lot of tension and some great plot twists that caught me off guard. The pace worked well for me and I found myself looking for reasons to listen for a bit longer ... even hoping for a traffic jam!!!
Overall, a really good book to read/listen to with loads to hold your interest and my thanks go to HQ an imprint of HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Fall.
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.
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.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Never Seen Again in Books
Mar 13, 2022
I admit to being a fan of Mr Finch's work, having read and thoroughly enjoyed a few of his previous works and Never Seen Again is yet another one to add to the collection.
Here we have a twisty and dark thriller with a plot that is complex which although develops quite slowly, it ramps up and quickly becomes a rollercoaster of a ride with lots of tension and action.
The characters are excellent and well developed. The main character, David, is a journalist who starts off with few scruples and, as a consequence, I found he isn't a particularly likeable person ... at the start at least; he does grow on you as the story progresses. He and his sidekicks, Anushka and Norm, make a great team and I wonder if there is more to come from them? I certainly hope so.
Overall, a great read and I my thanks must go to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Here we have a twisty and dark thriller with a plot that is complex which although develops quite slowly, it ramps up and quickly becomes a rollercoaster of a ride with lots of tension and action.
The characters are excellent and well developed. The main character, David, is a journalist who starts off with few scruples and, as a consequence, I found he isn't a particularly likeable person ... at the start at least; he does grow on you as the story progresses. He and his sidekicks, Anushka and Norm, make a great team and I wonder if there is more to come from them? I certainly hope so.
Overall, a great read and I my thanks must go to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Merissa (12995 KP) rated Dear John in Books
Sep 12, 2023
DEAR JOHN is part of the #WorldLetterWritingDay collection and we have Logan, an undercover cop, and Zion, an artist, stuck together on a remote island with no Wi-Fi, internet, or anything digital. Logan wasn't there to keep an eye on Zion, but rather his rather dodgy boyfriend.
I enjoyed my escape to the island. I found the revelations from Zion to be sad and loved how Logan was there for him. Yes, it was insta-love, but sometimes it's just got to be!
This is a short story but there is still a steamy time, plus the tension of not knowing if said dodgy boyfriend would show up. And don't forget the letters that Zion sent, which definitely made me chuckle. A thoroughly enjoyable story that I definitely recommend.
** 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 12, 2023
I enjoyed my escape to the island. I found the revelations from Zion to be sad and loved how Logan was there for him. Yes, it was insta-love, but sometimes it's just got to be!
This is a short story but there is still a steamy time, plus the tension of not knowing if said dodgy boyfriend would show up. And don't forget the letters that Zion sent, which definitely made me chuckle. A thoroughly enjoyable story that I definitely recommend.
** 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 12, 2023