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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2666 KP) rated Thicker Than Water in Books

Sep 18, 2026 (Updated Sep 18, 2026)  
Thicker Than Water
Thicker Than Water
Liz Milliron | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Young Woman in the Shack
When a college student walks into Sally’s office asking for protection from a man, Sally is willing to help. But the young woman doesn’t give many details before she disappears. Two days later, Jim is pulled into the hunt for a missing autistic young man. While the man is found, he is talking about a “sleeping blue lady” he saw in a nearby shack. Sure enough, there is a dead young woman there. And it’s the woman that came to Sally for help. Sally just can’t let it go, so she starts investigating on her own. Will the two be able to figure out what happened to the victim?

The plot quickly pulled me in. I appreciated that, as always, we got just the detail we needed on certain things to bring the story to life without going too far. There were a good number of twists, but the climax was a little messier than I would have liked. Still, it did tie everything up. I loved watching Sally and Jim take another step forward in their relationship while learning from what has come before. I’m as invested in their relationship as the mysteries in each book. As always, reading this book is time well spent.
  
FG
Faded Glory
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
68 of 230
Book
Faded Glory
By David Essex
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Albert Kemp is a lonely widower whose only son was killed in the war. Now, in 1953, he is working in a pub with a famous boxing gym upstairs.

It is here that Albert brings Danny, a fatherless boy he rescues from gang life. But as Danny begins to grow into a champion, the predators start to circle, luring him back into a life of crime in the corrupt world of match fixing. Will Danny listen to his wise old mentor?

Not what I was expecting! This came to me in a blind subscription box and it’s not something I would usually pick up. I think I’d have liked to give 3.5 stars so I went with 4 as it deserved a little more than 3. This is a heartwarming story of a grieving father helping a young tear away stay out of trouble with help of boxing. It was an easy read and really enjoyable. Got a bit emotional towards the end I’m not a fan of David Essex but you forget who’s writing. Also I had it finished within 12 hours so that’s always a good sign.
  
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mostlyinpyjamas (13 KP) rated Still Me in Books

Nov 25, 2017  
Still Me
Still Me
Jojo Moyes | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
8.7 (31 Ratings)
Book Rating
First chapter has me hooked.
I was lucky enough to receive a sample of the new Jojo Moyes book, Still Me, via Netgalley.

The blurb; Lou Clark is back in the ALL NEW Jojo Moyes novel Still Me, follow-up to the Number One international bestsellers Me Before You and After You. Read the first chapter here! Lou Clark knows too many things . . . She knows how many miles lie between her new home in New York and her new boyfriend Sam in London. She knows her employer is a good man and she knows his wife is keeping a secret from him. What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to meet someone who’s going to turn her whole life upside down. Because Josh will remind her so much of a man she used to know that it’ll hurt. Lou won’t know what to do next, but she knows that whatever she chooses is going to change everything.

                          ~

I absolutely love Jojo Moyes’ books, she writes in a way that gently pulls you in without you even realising, then by the end of the first chapter you know you’re completely hooked.

I’ve only read the first chapter of Still Me but already I feel as if I’ve met up with an old friend – Lou Clark – and can’t wait to see what’s next for her.

The story begins with Lou arriving in New York, about to start a new job as a companion to ‘a rich mans wife who gets depressed’.

I’m looking forward to reading about life with the Gopnik family and the adventures Lou will have on Fifth Avenue New York.

The only trouble with reading the first chapter of Still Me is that now I have to wait until 25th January 2018 to read the rest of the book.
  
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood | 1998 | Essays
9
8.3 (112 Ratings)
Book Rating
The ending leaves a little to be desire. (0 more)
The Handmaid's Tale By: Margaret Atwood
Adult Fiction 295 Pages My rating 4 stars

I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this because looking at the cover reminded me of nuns and I really didn't want to read about nouns. As I heard people talking about this book I finally decided to give it try.
I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this book. This book talks about the world as we know it but is no longer the same. We are still around but have gone back a little in time. The women are no longer allowed to hold jobs, have money or property. Everything they have now is now owned by the men.
Our main character is known as a handmaid and her job is to have babies. She is assigned to a family and once a month she has relations with the husband and yes the wife knows in fact she is there with them. She has a very boring life. She is only allowed to eat certain things and can not smoke or drink. She is allowed once a day to go outside to run an errand for the cook. She is not allowed to go by herself she meets up with another handmaid and they shop together. They are watched all the time.
She is adjusting but can still remember what life was like back a few years ago. Before all the changes she was married and had a little girl. She doesn't know what happened to her husband or her child.
You must read this book to find out the changes and how she got where she is now. The ending leaves a little to the imagination. Please give it a try, it is a good story.
  
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Elli H Burton (1288 KP) rated Miss Purdys Class in Books

Jun 16, 2019 (Updated Jun 16, 2019)  
Miss Purdys Class
Miss Purdys Class
Annie Murray | 2019 | History & Politics, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Feel good and sweet. (0 more)
Heartbreaking. (0 more)
Political themes meh.
Another Historical Romance which is my all time favourite thing to read. This is no exception and it ticks every box. A lovely read, gripping story and great writing.
A few downsides is that there is a relationship between Miss. Purdy and a student that seems to be more seasoned that explained in the book. This may be due to the fact that not until much later does the writing become Students point of view and therefore you don't actually know what is felt by them as the story progresses in the beginning. If and when you read it - i hope you see what I mean.
The love story isn't your typical one which is refreshing, I do always love a bit of change and this one is definitely one, it's absolutely heartbreaking though which in a critic point of view, is very well written and a good plotline.
The story has some real life issues from around that time included which was very political. As I am not politically inclined and I do most of my reading before bed, it was rather hard to keep interested when the characters went on page long rants about it. (Perhaps trying to read those parts during the day will help my poor mind keep up!!) The politics slowly takes over, but is quite essential to the story though unfortunately again for me, i found it hard to keep up.
All in all I'd say it is worth a read, although not my favourite Annie Murray book but I did thoroughly enjoy it.