Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery
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Books:
marilyn-s-challenge
(741)
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9798874759957
| B0CZ2YDBQR
| 4.45
| 11
| unknown
| Aug 06, 2024
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 2024
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not set
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Jul 22, 2024
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Audio CD
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| 1728268702
| 9781728268705
| B0CLT6JK36
| 4.09
| 268
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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really liked it
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The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Shauna Robinson. As the title suggests, this book was
The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Shauna Robinson. As the title suggests, this book was about family a lost recipe and lots of secrets. Mae Townsend, recently engaged to Conner Parker, all of a sudden had a real desire to get to know her father’s side of the family. She had had no contact with them at all in a very long time. Mae remembered that her late father had always traveled to North Carolina every year for his family’s annual Fourth of July barbecue. As much as Mae begged her father to let her accompany him, he always went by himself. With her and Conner’s wedding rapidly approaching, Mae wanted the members of her late father’s family to attend her wedding. Mae was a product of her parent’s biracial marriage and now she was following in their footsteps by marrying Conner, a white boy from a very affluent family. When Mae learned about her paternal grandmother’s death, she informed Conner that she was going to go to North Carolina to attend her funeral. Mae wanted to reacquaint herself with the Black members of her family and try and get them to come to her wedding. It was time that Mae got to know this side of her family. She could take care of last minute wedding plans long distance and could also work remotely. Mae promised Conner that she would return as quickly as she could but a lost recipe and an offer to plan the annual Fourth of July barbecue prolonged Mae’s stay longer than she had intended. Would Mae be able to worm her way back in the graces of this part of her family with the promise of replicating the traditional Fourth of July barbecue? Would Mae be able to discover the secrets that led to the estrangement with this part of her family? Could Mae accomplish all this before her wedding? I listened to the audiobook of The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster that was well narrated by Chante McCormick. Each character’s voice was easily recognizable and distinguished from the other characters. I appreciated the characters that Shauna Robinson brought to her book. Mae and Mae’s cousin, Sierra, were my favorites. I admired Mae for her determination and how she came to terms with very significant issues in her life. Sierra was the most difficult and unwelcoming of all of Mae’s family in the beginning. It was touching how Sierra’s and Mae’s relationship changed over the course of the book. As an added touch, Shauna Robinson mentioned and included many Southern dishes throughout the book that made my mouth water for them and my imagination feast on them. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was about family, secrets, racism, acceptance of biracial marriages, standing up for what is right and the importance of passing down family recipes. I will definitely seek out more books by Shauna Robinson in the future. I recommend this book if you enjoy family drama and women’s fiction. Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 25, 2024
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Jul 27, 2024
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Jul 15, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1471415589
| 9781471415586
| B0CX88H5LQ
| 4.52
| 31
| unknown
| Jul 30, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 glowing stars! The Girl in the Sky was the third book that I have had the pleasure of reading by author, Suzanne Fortin. Her newest one, The Girl
4.5 glowing stars! The Girl in the Sky was the third book that I have had the pleasure of reading by author, Suzanne Fortin. Her newest one, The Girl in the Sky, was so captivating. Much of The Girl in the Sky was inspired by real people, events and places. The Girl in the Sky was well written and impeccably researched. It took place during World War II in England and France and explored aspects that occurred during World War II that I had not previously known about. The characters were well developed and believable. It was hard for me to put this book down once I started reading it. The Girl in the Sky was everything I have come to expect from author, Suzanne Fortin, and then some. Geraldine Fritz-Herbert grew up in Badcombe House in Cambridgeshire, England. Everyone except for her father called her Fritz. He always called her Geraldine. She tragically lost her mother when she was eight years old. That loss defined much of Fritz’s life in regard to her behavior, actions and choices. Fritz’s father, Edward, remarried within a year after Fitz’s mother died. Her father married, Camilla, a much younger woman. Fitz resented Camilla from the very start. She went out of her way to make Camilla’s life as miserable as she could. In July of 1939, Fritz was twenty-one years old. She was still living in her father’s home with her half brother, Michael. Fritz adored her younger brother and tried to protect him as much as she could. The one thing that Fritz had a true passion for was flying airplanes. It gave her a true sense of freedom. Fritz had talked her father into giving her flying lessons at the local airfield. Her instructor, Johnny Fisher, was supportive of Fritz’s passion for flying and stuck up for her among the male pilots who questioned her ability and desire to fly. Fritz loved flying the Tiger Moth planes and had gotten really good at flying them. However, Fritz’s flying days were numbered. When England declared war on Germany, civilians were banned from the airfields. It was now occupied by RAF pilots and troops. Fritz wanted to do her part for the war effort. She joined the Women’s Land Army and began helping a neighbor with the chores on his farm. The neighbor’s son had been called on to serve his country. When news came that the neighbor’s son had been killed in action, the neighbor lost all his desire to keep the farm running. Fritz had to find something else to do. She had heard about the Air Transport Auxiliary or ATA where women pilots ferried planes to different bases. That was what she really wanted to do. Fritz had to convince her father that she would be safe doing it. Her stepmother had other ideas for Fritz, though. Camilla wanted Fritz to go to Scotland and care for one of her elderly aunts. There was no way that Fritz was going to Scotland. She ended up signing up with ATA. In the end, her father was proud of Fritz’s decision but also concerned for her safety. Fritz boarded a train for the training camp she was required to attend. When the train arrived, Fritz met other women who had been accepted to ATA. A very handsome American pilot came to her rescue when some English pilots started harassing Fritz and some of the other women. Fritz was surprised at how attracted she was to American Flight Officer Sam Carter. After he valiantly saved her from the incident with the other pilots she thanked him and knew that she would probably never see him again. That was so far from the truth. Flight Officer Sam Carter kept showing up when Fritz least expected him. In 1941, Fritz and the other women that had been accepted to train in the Air Transport Auxiliary reported to the Central Flying School in Maidenhead and learned how to fly Tiger Moths and Spitfires. Fritz was one of the better pilots. She ferried the different planes from one base to another. When Fritz was sent to RAF Tangmere, she always hoped that she would get to see Flight Officer Sam Carter. Fritz had always been bold and confident. She never went anywhere without applying her red lipstick, the exact same shade that her mother used to wear. It was against the rules for the women in ATA to wear any makeup but that did not stop Fritz. Very shortly after meeting Sam, Fritz and Sam mutually agreed that they enjoyed spending time together. They began to develop feelings for each other. Fritz was scared by this. All she wanted was to have a good time. She was not supposed to feel this way about anyone. Scared by the feelings Fritz was developing for Sam, she ended things with Sam. It was the hardest thing that she ever had to do. Despite, ending their relationship, Sam was never out of her thoughts. On one of Fritz’s numerous trips to Tangmere, she encountered some French pilots. Fritz had learned French as a young girl through her many French born governesses. She spoke to the pilots in perfect accented and flawless French. That led to Fritz being asked to train as a spy for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Right before Fritz was due to depart for France, she went to see Sam. Fritz learned that Sam had recently been assigned to fly a plane into Nazi occupied France and had been shot down. No one knew what happened to him after that. Fritz had come to tell him that she was in love with him. Now it was too late. She had to believe that Sam survived. Right after hearing that devastating news, Fritz was sent into Nazi occupied France on a very dangerous mission. With all the detailed planning for this mission, who would have expected that the mission would be derailed right from the very beginning. Fritz was left to her own devices and instincts. Everyone else had been captured by the Nazis. She knew where she had to get to so she cautiously proceeded on her own under the cover of darkness, forests and the few genuine good souls that provided her with food and a place to sleep. As she cautiously approached villages and towns, she was horrified by what she saw. Along her way, she acquired a dog that she named Scout and a young girl named Yvette, who had been hiding from the Nazis in a well. There had been a mass murder in the church in the center of the town. It seemed to Fritz that the entire village had been executed. All the people in young Yvette’s town were dead. Fritz was not sure what the fate of Yvette’s mother was but Fritz knew that she couldn’t leave the girl there all by herself. With no other choice, Fritz took Yvette with her. Would Fritz’s mission be successful? Will she make it back to England safely? What will happen to Yvette? What happened to Sam? I really enjoyed reading The girl in the Sky by Suzanne Fortin. Prior to reading this book, I had not known that women were trained to ferry planes between the air bases during World War II. It was not always as safe as some believed. The women were often tormented by the male pilots who did not believe that women should be allowed to fly planes. I enjoyed how strong, confident, intelligent and determined Fritz was. She was also extremely brave, courageous and caring. Her mother’s death left her unable to emotionally commit to anyone for fear of losing them. Rescuing Yvette brought many of Fritz’s feelings of losing her mother back. Fritz tried to give Yvette what she needed by recalling what she had longed for all those years ago. There were instances of Nazi brutality and cruelty. Some of the places that were mentioned in The Girl in the Sky still exist. Among them are the RAF baes of Tangmere and Westhampnet and Bignor Manor House that housed SOE agents prior to sending them to France. It was also nice to be reminded that good people existed among all those that sided with the Nazis. There were those that were willing to share their limited rations and provide a bed for those that were trying to escape from the Nazis. Unfortunately, they were far less than those who were Nazi supporters. I really enjoyed reading The Girl in the Sky and highly recommend it. Thank you to Embia Books for allowing me to read The Girl in the Sky by Suzanne Fortin through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2024
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Jul 27, 2024
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Jul 03, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798986893099
| unknown
| 4.10
| 29
| unknown
| Mar 19, 2024
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really liked it
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The Birthday of Eternity was the second book in the Comfort & Company series by A. D. Price. I enjoyed reading these books back to back. It really gav
The Birthday of Eternity was the second book in the Comfort & Company series by A. D. Price. I enjoyed reading these books back to back. It really gave me a true sense of who the characters were and what they brought to the table and to each other. As in the first book in this series, The Birthday of Eternity took place in Los Angeles in the later years of 1940. Similarly, like the first book, The Birthday of Eternity's chapters alternated between Kit and Henry and a third person who in this case was the missing person that Kit and Henry had been hired to find. She was the much younger wife of a prominent, respected and wealthy doctor. The Birthday of Eternity was fast paced, well plotted and drew me in immediately. I didn’t think that A. D. Price’s second book could come anywhere close to how good the first book in this series was but was I wrong. All the characters I came to love in the first book were back along with a few new ones. The Birthday of Eternity focused on the discovery of a suspicious cult that existed within Kit’s and Henry’s domain of Los Angeles and on seances that were conducted and seemed to attract those who had lost husbands, brothers, sons or daughters in the war. Loved ones craved one more chance to communicate with those that they had lost. Both the cult and the seances that Kit and Henry were tasked to explore relied on deception, deceit and illusions. The deeper Kit and Henry dug into Lillian’s (the doctor’s missing wife) disappearance, the more danger they were exposed to. I enjoyed knowing that Kit and Luca, the psychiatrist who had previously treated Stanley, Kit’s brother, had given into their attraction they had towards each other and had become romantically involved. Kit deserved to have someone special in her life that doted on her and that she looked forward to seeing. I enjoyed learning about Kit’s obsession with hats. It was easy to visualize the hats she chose to wear. Both Kit’s and Henry’s thought processes were easy to follow as they worked to solve their new case. I was glad to learn that Stanley had made progress in his recovery and had taken an interest in science fiction once again. The Birthday of Eternity was suspenseful and captivating. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Birthday of Eternity that was narrated once again by Elizabeth Schmidt. Her atmospheric voice was perfect for these two audiobooks. I highly recommend this detective mystery highly. Thank you to Findaway Voices for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Birthday of Eternity by A. D. Price through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 07, 2024
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Jun 20, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1835256481
| 9781835256480
| B0CWVFP5GM
| 4.15
| 246
| unknown
| Jun 24, 2024
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really liked it
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The Florence Letter: Absolutely spellbinding and page-turning dual narrative fiction by Anita Chapman was a captivating and engaging book that drew me
The Florence Letter: Absolutely spellbinding and page-turning dual narrative fiction by Anita Chapman was a captivating and engaging book that drew me in immediately. It was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Anita Chapman. I enjoyed that Anita Chapman chose to set The Florence Letter in both Surrey, England and in Florence, Italy. The two protagonists in The Florence Letters were both resourceful, strong and intelligent women. A dual timeline was used to tell each of these two women’s stories which eventually converged. It detailed the common thread that tied the hopes and the plight of both women together as they helped each other fulfill a promise that was made long ago. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by both Emma Powell and Sophie Roberts. Their performance was enjoyable and kept me engaged throughout the entire audiobook. Margaret or Mags as she liked to be called lived in London with her mother during The Blitz. She had secured a position at a popular department store and was enjoying her profession when the store suffered a direct hit from a German bomb and was destroyed. When her livelihood was eliminated, Mags’s aunt invited her to come to the countryside where she lived with the promise of helping Mags secure another job. Mags accepted her aunt’s offer and had hoped to live with her aunt for awhile before she sought employment. Her aunt, like many that lived in the countryside, had taken in boarders who occupied all of her aunt’s extra bedrooms. There was no room for Mags to live with her aunt. Her idea of an extended stay was not to be. Mags soon became a lady’s maid to Lady Violet at Gatley Hall. In a short period of time, Mags had earned Lady Violet’s trust and respect. Over the time Mags served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid, she became privy to secrets, a scandal and the recipient of a promise she vowed to keep. At ninety-one years of age, Mags was still trying to keep that promise. In 2015, Caire, a thirty year old woman, was ready to accept a new challenge. Her relationship with her boyfriend of many years was going nowhere fast. She finally realized that her boyfriend had no intention of marrying her and starting a family with her. It was time for Claire to move forward. She accepted a position at Gatley Hall. Claire was to put together an exhibition entitled “Under the Stairs”. She was to recreate what life at Gatley Hall had been like during World War II. While Claire rummaged through boxes and drawers, she hoped that she might discover something that could be useful for the exhibit. In a drawer full of letters, Claire came upon one letter written by a woman named Margaret who appeared to have served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid during World War II. As Claire read the letter, she discovered that Margaret was searching for the whereabouts of a young woman named Tabitha. Claire’s interest was piqued. She was determined to find out who Margaret was. Her mission became clear. Claire must locate Margaret and find out who Tabitha was and why Margaret was so intent on finding her. Her quest began in Surrey and eventually led her to Florence, Italy. Anita Chapman proved to me that she is a masterful storyteller. The Florence Letters was well written and it vividly described the landscapes of both Surrey and Florence. I really enjoyed learning about both Margaret’s and Claire’s lives and stories. They were both women who made some unfortunate decisions and choices but overcame them and became stronger as a result. I found it very interesting that the people in England that lived during World War II were encouraged to write in diaries and keep a record of their impressions and daily occurrences. There were a few twists in the story that kept me engaged and wanting more. I also enjoyed witnessing the romances that slowly took shape and grew for both Margaret and Claire. They both deserved to find happiness. By the way, I loved the cover of this book as well. I really enjoyed listening to The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman and highly recommend it. I will definitely look for books written by Anita Chapman in the future. Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 24, 2024
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Jun 27, 2024
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Jun 07, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798990295810
| B0CWFRCXB8
| 3.49
| 84
| unknown
| Apr 12, 2024
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really liked it
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The Cicada Spring: A Potomac Shores Novel by Carolyn McBride was a great introduction to this new series. It took place in both Virginia, along the ba
The Cicada Spring: A Potomac Shores Novel by Carolyn McBride was a great introduction to this new series. It took place in both Virginia, along the banks of the Potomac River, and in Miami, Florida. The timeline for The Cicada Spring coincided with the onset of the Pandemic. It also saw the reemergence of the cicadas who had been dormant for seventeen years. The Cicada Spring explored mother/daughter relationships, second chances for a new life, friendships, support systems and loss. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Maria Marquis. The cover was my initial draw towards choosing to listen to the audiobook of The Cicada Spring but I was quickly immersed in the story as soon as I started listening to it. Katie Young was an involved and loving single mother soon to become an empty nester. Her beautiful, strong and independent daughter was about to become a college freshman. Katie had focused all her time, energy and attention on her daughter for the past seventeen years. What would she do now? Fortunately, Katie had just received an offer for a new job. The timing was perfect. Her daughter was excited for her. The only thing that made Kate hesitant was that she would be leaving her mother in Virginia but the job was too good to pass up. Living in a warm climate was enticing as well. Soon after Katie dropped her daughter off at college, she traveled down to Florida to start her new job. Just when Katie didn’t think things could get any better for her she met a man who was easy on the eyes and managed to sweep her off her feet. They had a whirlwind relationship that culminated in marriage within a very short period of time. Both Katie’s daughter and mother warned her that it was too soon to enter into a marriage with this man but Katie knew how she felt. He was too good to be true. Everything about him was perfect. He was attentive, caring and romantic. They would make his houseboat their home until they decided where to live. However, as soon as they had married, everything started to fall apart right before Kate’s eyes. She tried to ignore the red flags and the changes that surfaced but it was difficult. Katie realized that her marriage was over before it began. Her new job was in jeopardy as well. Covid was just becoming a reality. Then Katie received the worst news she could have ever imagined. Her mother had been infected with Covid and had died from it. Katie didn’t have to think twice. She left Florida, her marriage of less than six months and her husband who had become a complete stranger to her and returned to her mother’s home in Occoquan, Virginia. Katie returned to her childhood home, the home where her mother had died, to her memories of her father, his boat and the river and to her support system, the Bonfire Beach Babes. As the spring thaw took over the land and the cicadas began to emerge, Katie was pulled toward the river and the boat she had loved as a child. More than anything, Katie wanted to go out on the boat and connect with the water and nature again. The boat had not been used in a long time. Was it fate that brought a helpful stranger to assist Katie in getting her boat back on the Potomac? Did Katie believe in second chances? Who was the handsome stranger that had come to her rescue? I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Cicada Spring by Carolyn McBride. Katie’s character evolved over the course of the book. She became stronger and more confident and learned how to believe in herself again. The friendships that Katie forged with the women evolved in the Bonfire Beach Babes were authentic and beautiful. I enjoyed how Katie and her daughter became even closer after Katie’s return to Occoquan. Second chances, friendships, family, nature, hope and love were some of the themes that helped make this book so memorable for me. I recommend The Cicada Spring if you enjoy romance and women’s fiction. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank you to Make Waves Press for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Cicada Spring: A Potomac Shores Novel by Carolyn McBride through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 14, 2024
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Jul 22, 2024
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May 07, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0CKLYT55F
| 3.67
| 930
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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it was ok
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DNF! I tried but between the slowness and the narrator’s annoying voice I just couldn’t get into it. On to better choices.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 24, 2024
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Jun 24, 2024
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May 02, 2024
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Audible Audio
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| 0063299526
| 9780063299528
| B0CCP7GK4K
| 4.42
| 1,375
| Apr 2024
| Apr 23, 2024
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it was amazing
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Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was one of the most beautiful yet powerful books I have read in a very long time. Leave it to a masterfully talented a
Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was one of the most beautiful yet powerful books I have read in a very long time. Leave it to a masterfully talented author like Lois Lowry to create a friendship between an eleven year old girl and an eighty-eight year old woman. It was a friendship based on sincerity and love. I grew up reading Lois Lowry’s books and had recommended them to my students that I taught over the years but Tree, Table, Book was in a class of its own. Its message was compassionate and so powerful. I listened to the audiobook of Tree, Table, Book that was recorded as a voicegalley. I listened to it in one sitting since I was not able to pull myself away from it. It was tender, hopeful, sad and so meaningful. Sophie Henry Winslow was an only child who grew up in a small town in New Hampshire. She was socially awkward and did not have many if any girlfriends from her school. Sophie was eleven years old which is an awkward time in any girl’s life but couple that with having to wear not so fashionable glasses and having to follow a very healthy yet strict diet of choice and you have the recipe for a life absent of any meaningful friendships. Sophie was unperturbed about this because her best friend lived right across the street from her. This friend did not attend her school, though. Sophie’s best friend was an eighty-eight year old woman named Sophie Gershowitz. The two Sophie’s enjoyed playing word games together, sipping tea in the older Sophie’s kitchen and talking about things they both found interesting. One evening, Sophie Winslow overheard a conversation her parents were having about her best friend, Sophie Gershowitz. Apparently, the older Sophie’s son was growing concerned about his mother’s failing cognitive functioning. Sophie Gershowitz’s son was an accountant and lived in Akron, Ohio. He was planning on coming to New Hampshire to take his mother to be evaluated by a doctor. If the son’s suspicions were proven correct he planned on taking Sophie back to Ohio and placing her in a facility that would provide a safe place for Sophie to live and a place where she would be cared for. Young Sophie was not going to let that happen. Her friend was just fine. She was not going to allow anyone to take her best friend away from her. The next day, Sophie Winslow got hold of a Merck Manual. In it she found the type of tests the doctor would conduct on Sophie. The older Sophie was able to ace many of the tests but there was one that proved quite difficult for her. It was impossible for the older Sophie to recall a combination of three words that the younger Sophie told her after a few minutes had lapsed. Young Sophie had an idea to help her friend remember those words and be able to recite the words back to her. Sophie Winslow believed that if older Sophie was able to associate a common word with a story or memory it was going to probably be easier for older Sophie to recall the words. Thus, young Sophie spoke the words tree, table, book and asked old Sophie to remember them. Young Sophie repeated the word tree and asked old Sophie to tell her a story about a tree she remembered. Sophie Winslow repeated this process with all three words. The stories that Sophie Gershowitz shared with her young friend were about her childhood growing up in Poland and her family’s experiences during World War II. Young Sophie learned so much about her best friend that day. Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was classified as a middle grade book but I believe that adults, (including myself) will enjoy it just as much. I admit that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. At first glance I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. It ended up being one of my favorite books that I have read so far this year. Tree, Table, Book gave a whole new definition to the meaning of friendship. It was about friendship above all but also about love, acceptance and sharing. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry and highly recommend it. Thank you to Harper Audio for allowing me to listen to Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 29, 2024
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Apr 30, 2024
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Apr 29, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798985408676
| B0CW1HLBR9
| 4.61
| 36
| unknown
| May 07, 2024
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it was amazing
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5 inspirational stars! Review to follow.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 27, 2024
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Aug 2024
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Apr 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1800183151
| 9781800183155
| B0D61VMXMM
| 4.40
| 55
| unknown
| Jun 13, 2024
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really liked it
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Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance was Iqbal Hussain’s debut novel. It was a compelling and heartfelt coming of age story about
Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance was Iqbal Hussain’s debut novel. It was a compelling and heartfelt coming of age story about a talented Pakistani boy, Rafi Aziz. Rafi seemed to march to the beat of his own drum from a very young age. He was the youngest of his siblings and the clear favorite of his mother. His parents had moved from Pakistan to the suburbs of Blackburn, England so their children could experience more opportunities than they would have had in Pakistan. Blackburn was located in the northern part of England. Northern Boy was very well written and the characters were well thought out and quite believable. It was written in a dual time line that captured Rafi’s early years and then picked up twenty years later when Rafi returned to Blackburn for his best friend Shazia’s wedding. Rafi’s story began in the early 1980’s. He was a young, impressionable and musically inclined boy who much preferred to sing, dance and play with his best friend Shazia than to play sports and hang out with other boys his age. Rafi’s dream was to become a Bollywood star. Rafi received encouragement from his mother who also loved to sing and wear colorful and exotic clothes. He often belted out songs by his favorite group, ABBA or played songs by ear on his toy baby grand piano. All of this was fine for Rafi to do as long as it was done in the confines of his own home. The day Rafi decided to showcase his music and rather flamboyant style of dress outside of his home was the day Rafi began to receive mixed messages from his mother. She was more concerned about how Rafi would be perceived by her neighbors. Rafi was confused by the mixed messages he was getting from his mother. He was just being himself and doing the things that made him the happiest. Rafi was tormented by bullies at school. He went out of his way to avoid these boys but somehow they always seemed to find him. Rafi was very concerned about graduating from the school he was attending. His parents had made it very clear that they expected Rafi to attend Everton High School. Rafi knew that there was a particular boy that attended Everton that would go out of his way to make Rafi’s life miserable there. Rafi was trying to figure out a way so that he didn’t have to go to Everton. Perhaps Rafi’s salvation laid in the hands of his music teacher, Mr. H., who recognized Rafi’s untapped potential and inborn talents. Mr. H became Rafi’s mentor, teacher and friend. He encouraged Rafi to apply and audition for a spot at one of the top music schools in England. Rafi was granted an audition. Although Rafi’s parents had denied their consent for Rafi’s audition, Rafi and Mr. H decided to go anyway. This was an opportunity that Rafi could not pass up and it could be his ticket for not attending Everton. Rafi was not only offered a spot but he also received a full scholarship. He never looked back. Twenty years later, Rafi found himself living in Australia. He lived with his handsome partner and their dog. Rafi had built a successful career in the theatre as an actor/ musician. He had put up walls between himself and his family. Rafi had never revealed anything about his personal life to his family or friends back in Blackburn. He was still afraid of what they would think of him. Keeping his distance was just easier but now he was offered no choice but to return to Blackburn. His best and oldest friend Shazia was getting married. Rafi decided to travel to Blackburn solo. His partner would remain in Australia. Someone had to take care of their dog. Right? Rafi felt that it would be easier to go to Blackburn by himself. There would be less explaining to do. How would Rafi’s brother and sister be with seeing him after all this time? Can Rafi and Shazia pick up right where they had left off and renew their friendship? Who else will Rafi encounter? How has Blackburn changed over the many years Rafi has managed to avoided going back? Will Rafi’s mother embrace him or scorn him? Northern Boy reminded me in some ways of Billy Elliot. It was a beautiful story that made me laugh and even shed a few tears. It was about family, dreams, identity, hope, being part of a community, bullying, friendship and romance. Rafi was a boy who was comfortable about who he was and what he wanted. As a man, Rafi, hid his feelings and how he identified himself from his family. Above all else, Rafi was unique, determined, strong, so talented and very resilient. I fell in love with Rafi’s character and found myself rooting for him. Northern Boy was a very touching story that I enjoyed tremendously and recommend highly. Thank you to Unbound Firsts for allowing me to read Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance by Iqbal Hussain through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for January 28, 2025. ...more |
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Jun 11, 2024
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Jun 15, 2024
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Apr 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1805083333
| 9781805083337
| B0CVV7F4N7
| 4.09
| 215
| unknown
| May 14, 2024
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really liked it
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The Secret Daughter of Venice was a very captivating historical fiction book by Juliet Greenwood. I had not read the first book in this series previou
The Secret Daughter of Venice was a very captivating historical fiction book by Juliet Greenwood. I had not read the first book in this series previously but that did not hamper my enjoyment of this one. The Secret Daughter of Venice was the second book I had read by Juliet Greenwood. After reading both of her books, I was quite impressed by her writing, impeccable research, choice of characters and points of history she had chosen to write about. There was a strong element of mystery throughout The Secret Daughter of Venice as well as a touch of love, romance, friendship, belonging and an overwhelming desire to find and solve a puzzle that lay just beyond reach. Kate Arden had been told that she had been adopted by the Arden family for as long as she could remember. She lived with her very controlling father, Leo, her sisters, Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia and her two brothers, Will and Jamie at the Arden estate located in Brierley at Stratford- Upon-Avon in England. Her mother had died and she had a stepmother now. Even though Kate loved her sisters and brothers dearly, she never quite felt as if she fit in, belonged and was truly a part of this influential and wealthy family. There had always been a nagging thought in back of her mind that she was not able to quite capture about her true identity and who her real family had been. In 1941, Kate found herself at the Arden Estate missing her sisters and brothers. She tried to help with the plantings and gathering of vegetables as much as possible on the farmland they still possessed. Arden Estate, once very grand, was in great disrepair. Kate’s brother Jamie had unearthed and discovered remains of a Roman structure from long ago buried on their property. One day, as Kate worked in the garden, she came upon a beautiful cup made from glass. She was excited to discover the origins of the cup so Kate convinced her stepmother to let her accompany her to the market. Once in town, Kate planned to consult Miss Parsons, the local teacher and also the proprietor of the local museum, about the cup’s history. Miss Parsons had been a very close friend and confidant of the late Mrs. Arden. Celia Arden had asked Miss Parsons to present each of her daughters with a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets upon her death. Buried in each book was a hidden message from Celia that pertained to her hope for each of her daughter’s futures. After Miss Parsons examined the cup and promised to clean it up and try and trace its roots, Miss Parsons inquired if Kate had discovered the hidden message her mother had left for her in the book. Kate had forgotten about the book since she had found no hidden messages initially. She just assumed that her mother had left the message out of her book. After all, Kate had been adopted. Miss Parsons assured Kate that there was indeed a message hidden somewhere in her book and Miss Parsons encouraged Kate to keep looking. When Kate arrived back at Arden Estate, she went directly to her room to re-examine the book. What she found hidden in the spine of the book both surprised Kate and triggered memories she had only glimpsed at in her dreams. Before her, Kate stared at the drawings of places that she was sure had something to do with her and her past. She recalled a time long ago when someone had taught her lovingly and patiently to draw, too. Those drawings would be the catalyst to help Kate discover who she was and who her real mother was. Kate embarked on a journey that took her from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Cornwall, to Naples, to Pompeii, to Mount Vesuvius to Venice. She was able to cultivate her artistic talents, teach and care for innocent orphan children who were victims of the war, use her art as a healing mechanism to help the orphans cope with their losses and their grief and form several meaningful relationships and friendships on her journey. Would Kate be able to discover her own story and fill in the gaps that had been beyond her reach for all these years of her life? Will Kate be able to finally find her mother and pursue her dreams of becoming an artist? I really enjoyed reading The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood. At some point, I may go back and read the first book in this series but I am definitely excited about reading the next one. There were several secrets that were hinted at throughout the book. They were all presented by the conclusion of this very memorable book. I was totally caught off guard when one particular secret was revealed. I had not seen it coming. The Secret Daughter of Venice captured the love for art Kate encompassed, her natural artistic talent, mother/daughter relationships, love, taking control of other’s lives, loss, deceit, greed, friendship and family. All my emotions were stirred while reading The Secret Daughter of Venice. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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May 07, 2024
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May 10, 2024
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Apr 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1665041579
| 9781665041577
| 1665041579
| 4.36
| 529
| 2024
| Apr 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 strong stars! Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this audiobook but I was surprised by how much I liked it! Four Minutes was the first book th
4.5 strong stars! Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this audiobook but I was surprised by how much I liked it! Four Minutes was the first book that I had the opportunity to read by authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. This book can best be described as a military thriller with elements of time travel and sci fi mixed in. Four Minutes was not my usual genre but it worked and I enjoyed it very much. It was fast paced and the characters were diverse, flawed and well developed. I listened to the audiobook of Four Minutes that was expertly narrated by Ray Porter. As Four Minutes began, Navy Seal Special Operation Chief, Tyler Brooks, was in the process of leading his team through a covert operation that should have been quick, easy and successful. Tyler was being advised by Navy Intelligence Specialist, Zee William, about enemy locations and other pertinent information that might impact their mission. Neither Zee nor Tyler saw what was coming until it was too late. Tyler’s team was met by enemy fire and somehow they were outnumbered and compromised. Many members of Tyler’s team died during that operation. It went terribly wrong. Both Tyler and Zee felt extremely guilty and sad about the members of their team that died that day. Even Tyler suffered a significant injury that day and had to be hospitalized for it. While Tyler was recuperating in the hospital, Zee William received a visit from a government agent named Pat Moody. Mr. Moody’s goal was to recruit both Zee and Tyler for a special team called Task Force Omega. Pat Moody was tasked with building a team to secure the future of the United States. As the team was carefully selected, the members of Task Force Omega would learn about the existence of a Time Machine that had been developed and tested and was ready for them to use. The purpose of the Time Machine was to allow the members of the team to go into the future so they would be able to detect and prevent potential threats that could put the United States in danger. Each member of the team possessed a special ability or skill. Some had photographic memories while others had the skills needed for combat missions. Each of the six recruits were essential to the success of Task Force Omega. If they were successful in their jumps into the future it was possible that they could help to prevent future shootings, massacres, bombings, wars and any other threats that might threaten the United States. Bravo and genius, you might say, but there had to be hitch and there was. The team only had a total of four minutes in the future to accomplish anything that they needed to. That was not a lot of time. Also, unbeknownst to the members of Task Force Omega and the people in charge, there was another team out there somewhere. There was a team who possessed the same capabilities as Task Force Omega, but one with the intentions of causing chaos, destruction and harm. Who will succeed and be triumphant? Four Minutes was absolutely brilliant and thrilling! I am so glad I had the opportunity to discover these authors. I will look for their books in the future. Stepping out of my comfort zone definitely paid off for me this time. The only criticism I had was that the ending left me wanting more of a closure. I’m hoping that perhaps there will be a sequel to this one so my questions will be answered. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend Four Minutes by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Four Minutes by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Apr 30, 2024
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May 03, 2024
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Apr 24, 2024
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Audio CD
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| 9780840716736
| B0CB1T8HN4
| 4.10
| 1,567
| unknown
| May 14, 2024
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really liked it
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Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the a
Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke, I was not aware that it was the last book in the Skymar series. I did not feel that I was at a disadvantage, though. Loyally, Luke can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. It was the kind of book that put a big smile on my face and made me laugh out loud at times. I loved the characters and was so glad that it ended with a happily ever after ending for Luke. I listened to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke that was very well narrated by a full compliment of narrators. Luke Edgewood was an all around good guy. The two things that Luke would have had a hard time living without were his flannel shirts and his cups of coffee. It was no surprise then, that Luke found himself in the coffee shop after he arrived at Skymar Island. The thing Luke never expected though was to lay his eyes on a woman who looked like the spitting image of Grace Kelly only with blonde hair. The other thing Luke didn’t expect was for his coffee cup to collide with “Grace Kelly’s”. What a disaster! Oh well, Luke realized that he would never see her again. No harm done! He apologized and proceeded to meet the driver that would take him to the construction jobs that he was to bid on. There was a renovation of an orphanage and a cabin that Luke hoped to lend a hand in restoring. It was not surprising that Luke was hired for both the orphanage project and the cabin renovation. What was surprising was that the first day on the job at the orphanage, Luke was introduced to the interior designer for the orphanage. She was no other than the “Grace Kelly” look alike from the coffee shop. There she was right before Luke’s eyes! I just knew that romance was sure to come but there were other surprises that I wasn’t expecting. Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham was a feel good book. I adored the characters and was more than satisfied with the ending. Even though I had not read the previous two books in this delightful series, I feel that I got a good sense of who Penelope and Izzy were and the relationship they had with Luke. At some point. I hope to go back and read the first two books in this series. I certainly will be watching for more books by Pepper Basham in the future. If you enjoy reading romance books then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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not set
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not set
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Apr 18, 2024
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Audiobook
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| B0CB1VRW4B
| 4.22
| 152
| unknown
| May 07, 2024
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really liked it
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The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn
The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn more and more to books that had to do with the Amish community. I was impressed with Kathleen Fuller’s ability to create very relatable characters that by themselves possessed flaws, different backgrounds, and problems but collectively were easily adaptable to making The Proposal Plot work for me. It had some funny, laugh out loud moments as well as some that made me want to jump into the story and shake a character or two. I enjoyed reading about the quaint and simple life of the Amish and Kathleen Fuller was able to capture their essence in The Proposal Plot. It was paced just right, had enough drama, confrontations, decision making and choices throughout to make The Proposal Plot a very satisfying read for me. Nelson Bontrager, a young Amish man, was down in his luck when it came to the romance department. He had recently found himself head over heels in love with two different women over a short period of time. Nelson had found himself rejected by both women for different reasons but the disappointment and hurt was the same. All Nelson had ever wanted was to be able to find a woman that wanted to marry him. He then saw himself working on the family farm. Nelson was so distraught after the second rejection that he made himself a promise to swear off women, romance and marriage altogether. An opportunity arose where Nelson was taught how to become a butcher. He embraced the opportunity and discovered that he was very good at it. Nelson was at the point where he was exploring the possibility of opening his own shop. He learned that an abandoned warehouse was available in a place called Marigold, Ohio. Nelson had family close by so he made arrangements to see the property. His nephew, Malachi, accompanied him. The warehouse that Nelson was interested in was right next door to the E and J grocery store that was owned by Ella’s and Junia’s father, Barnabas Yoder. Ella’s and Junia’s mother had died a few years ago and Ella had talked her father into moving to Marigold, Ohio and purchasing the grocery store. The store was doing fairly well. Ella seemed to have a good sense of how to manage the store and make it profitable. She had began coaxing her father to consider buying the warehouse to expand their business. When Ella discovered that someone else was interested in buying the warehouse her first reaction was to try and discourage the sale. Ella seemed to know no boundaries. She barged into the warehouse, invaded Nelson’s space and proceeded to try and talk him out of buying the warehouse. Needless to say, Ella and Nelson got off to a very shaky and turbulent start. They could not have made a worse first impression on each other if they had tried. The opposite was true of Nelson’s nephew and Ella’s younger sister, Junia. When Junia came to the warehouse to get Ella, she was immediately smitten with Malachi and he with her. Despite all of Ella’s efforts to persuade Nelson that he shouldn’t buy the warehouse, he ended up purchasing it. Even though Ella and Nelson went out of their way to avoid each other, they were continually thrown together. Can first impressions be wrong and altered? How will Ella and Nelson learn how to navigate this new path they were traveling on? I enjoyed how Ella’s and Nelson’s characters transformed and grew throughout The Proposal Plot. Ella started off as a very bossy, opinionated and impulsive young woman with a low self esteem when it came to her chances of finding a man that could love her. She was very smart and adapted to the role of running a business easily. Nelson, on the other hand, had built so many walls around him so he would not be hurt again. He was not sure how to go about starting a business and was not readily able to seek help. Ella’s sister, Junia, was lazy, spoiled and tried to get away with doing the least amount of work she could get away with. She was always shirking her responsibilities and putting more of her share of the work load on Ella’s shoulders. Both sisters felt a lot of resentment towards each other. They were constantly complaining about each other and arguing over everything. Their dad, Barnabas, lacked the ability to handle their outbursts and strained relationship. After loosing his wife and becoming a widower, Barnabas lost sight how to discipline his own daughters. Barnabas had entrusted those responsibilities to his sisters for a long while. After his wife’s death, he and his daughters had moved in with Barnabas’s sisters and he allowed them to take charge of his daughters. Now that Barnabas and his daughters were on their own again he knew that he had to take charge, but how? Who could help him learn how to step into that role again? There was another character that I really liked in The Proposal Plot. Her name was Wendy. She was not Amish. Wendy had been living in New York City where she had been an attorney in a high powered law office. When Wendy’s aging mother needed more care, it was the perfect opportunity for Wendy to leave New York City and her affluent clients behind. Wendy was becoming disillusioned with her own life as she knew it. She moved in with her mother and opened her own office right outside of Marigold. Would Wendy find happiness in Marigold? Could she embrace the life her Amish neighbors lived as her own? Was romance in the cards for Wendy as well? I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Marigold, Ohio. If you enjoy stories about the Amish people that possesses a touch of romance, then I believe that you will enjoy The Proposal Plot by Kathleen Fuller. I hope to read more books by her in the future. The audiobook that I listened to was very well narrated by Lauren Berst. I highly recommend the audiobook of The Proposal Plot. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Proposal Plot An Amish of Marigold Novel by Kathleen Fuller through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Jun 09, 2024
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Jun 11, 2024
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Apr 09, 2024
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Audiobook
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0840711999
| 9780840711991
| B0CMQ957DL
| 4.25
| 671
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 thrilling mysterious stars! Review to follow.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 27, 2024
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Aug 2024
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Mar 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0369747887
| 9780369747884
| B0CC9M55RM
| 4.12
| 365
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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really liked it
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I was excited to read Karen Robards’ newest book, Some Murders in Berlin. I had previously read The Black Swan of Paris and The Girl from Guernica by
I was excited to read Karen Robards’ newest book, Some Murders in Berlin. I had previously read The Black Swan of Paris and The Girl from Guernica by her and had been impressed with her writing and plot development in both of those books. Some Murders in Berlin definitely lived up to my expectations. It was fast paced, filled with tension and was action packed. It was set in Berlin, Germany during World War II and examined a very unique situation that was occurring in the city. I would describe Some Murders in Berlin as a World War II historical fiction murder mystery thriller. A serial killer had made their presence known in Berlin and had already killed eight young Aryan women in much the same way. The German government was trying to prevent the public from finding out about these horrific killings. They needed the German men to continue fighting for the Nazis. If German husbands, sons or brothers were made aware that a serial killer existed and was still loose on the streets, those men would probably want to return home to protect their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters. That was something that the Nazis wanted to avoid at all costs. The Nazis had their best personnel working on this case but so far they had not been able to stop the killings or identify the killer. They needed help. Shortly after the Nazis took control of Denmark, Dr. Elin Lund was summoned to Berlin. Dr. Elin Lund was a well respected psychological profiler. Many referred to Elin as “The Murder Doctor “. In September of 1943, Elin dropped her young son off with her late husband’s family and boarded a train headed for Berlin. Elin usually worked alone but this time she was accompanied by two academic colleagues of hers who were also members of the Danish Resistance. Both Pia and Jens needed an escape route from Copenhagen. They were in danger of being caught by the Nazis for the acts they carried out for the resistance. Pia was a photographer and was able to sketch portraits from verbal descriptions given by witnesses. Jens was a brilliant mathematician. Beside wanting to help them escape from Denmark, Elin knew their expertise would prove valuable in helping her solve the case. Elin was not thrilled about going to Berlin. The last time that she was there, Elin had been a young girl. She had accompanied her parents to Berlin. Her father was scheduled to speak at a conference in Berlin. Elin’s father had been a well known and respected police detective. The day her father was speaking, Elin and her mother spent the day together. That was the worst day of Elin’s life. Her mother had tragically died in a hit and run accident as her mother started to cross a road. The car came out of nowhere and hit her mother head on and then sped away. Elin had witnessed the entire incident. She had not been back to Berlin since that tragic day. When Elin, Pia and Jens arrived in Berlin, they were introduced to Kriminalinspektor Kurt Schneider, the head of the criminal police and in charge of the case Elin would be working on. Kurt Schneider was far from welcoming. He probably resented that Dr. Elin Lund had been brought in on this case. The two were forced to work together. Kriminalinspektor Schneider informed Elin that she always had to be aware of who was listening when she wanted to convey something. Phones were tapped and listening devices were planted everywhere. As Elin began to build a psychological profile of the killer, she suspected that the killer had ties to the police department, had a troubled childhood that included violence, was fluent in Kurrent, a distinct way of writing and reading German and had type A blood. As Kurt and Elin explored all the leads and clues they gathered, they started to develop respect for one another. That eventually led them to develop feelings for one another. There was more to Kurt than Elin had suspected at first. The more Elin got to know Kurt, the more she began to understand him and like him. Kurt became very protective of Elin once the killer set his sights on her. Real danger awaited both of them around every corner. Elin’s main goal was to identify and catch the killer as quickly as possible so she could return to Denmark and to her young son. She missed him dearly and worried about his safety. Would Kurt and Elin be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover who the killer was before the killer struck again? I really enjoyed reading this riveting historical fiction murder mystery book by Karen Robards. Some Murders in Berlin was full of twists. Many of the characters were harboring secrets, including Elin and Kurt. Karen Robards included many high profile Nazis in the book, explored the existence of German nightclubs which often played music that was forbidden by the Nazis and took a close look at the Lebensborn society and the Black Orchestra, a small group of Nazis who were secretly sympathetic to the welfare of the Jewish people and helped them escape. i couldn’t read Some Murders in Berlin fast enough to see what was going to happen next. It was the kind of story that put me at the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good mystery that was set in Nazi Germany during World War II. Thank you to Harlequin/ MIRA Publishing for allowing me to read Some Murders in Berlin by Karen Robards through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 14, 2024
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Mar 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0840716664
| 9780840716668
| B0CD3Q81S4
| 4.17
| 1,696
| Mar 2024
| Mar 12, 2024
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really liked it
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Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon a
Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon as I started listening to the audiobook I was hooked. Love, Scripted was set in a small southern town called Stillwater in the state of North Carolina. Stillwater was the kind of town where everyone knew one another and gossip traveled fast. I enjoyed Denise Hunter’s writing style and her choice of characters that made their appearances in Love, Unscripted. The audiobook was very well narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She made it easy for me to visualize the story as it unfolded before my eyes. Chloe Anderson had grown up and lived in Stillwater, North Carolina her whole life. Her mom, stepdad and brother also lived there. Chloe’s mom owned a restaurant in town that Chloe and her brother helped run. Fairly recently, Chloe had authored her first book. It was a romance and it had sold pretty well. The idea for the book came to Chloe shortly after she experienced a pretty bad breakup. Chloe used the book to create a prototype for the perfect boyfriend. The book had sold well and was now being made into a movie. Chloe knew that careful consideration had to be given to the selection of which actors and actresses were to be chosen to play the characters in her book. Each role had to be casted well to make that character believable. The role of the boyfriend was probably the most crucial role in the entire movie. Whoever was chosen to play that part had to fit with the characteristics that Chloe had created for him. The one actor Chloe definitely did not want to play that role was Liam Hamilton. Although Liam Hamilton was a good actor, very popular and quite handsome, he was completely wrong for that role in Chloe’s mind. Liam Hamilton was a womanizer, a player, everything that her character was not. As Chloe was telling these thoughts to her best friend in her bookshop that she owned, Chloe received a phone call from the producer of the movie. Chloe’s worst scenario was about to come to fruition. The producer of the movie informed Chloe that Liam Hamilton had been cast as the leading role in the movie. Chloe was angry, frustrated and disappointed. She let the producer know her feelings loud and clear. Little had Chloe realized that the producer had her on speakerphone and that Liam Hamilton had heard most of her irate comments. Although Chloe had meant everything that she said she was also embarrassed that Liam Hamilton had heard her voice them loud and clear. A few days later, about a week before production of the movie was scheduled to begin, Liam arrived in Stillwater. Liam’s reputation had begun to affect his ratings and popularity. He and his agent had devised a plan to help rectify it. The plan hinged on Chloe buying into it, though. When Liam spotted Chloe by a clothing store, he approached her. Chloe immediately apologized to Liam for her behavior on the phone. Liam suggested that they make a deal to “fake date” while the movie was being filmed. His agent believed that if Liam’s fans believed that Liam was in a committed relationship with such a wholesome woman as Chloe Anderson, his ratings would soar again. This arrangement might even help Chloe’s social media status. Chloe and Liam decided to give it a chance. What would happen? Could they pull “fake dating” off? Would Liam do the movie justice in his role of the “perfect boyfriend? What would Liam and Chloe learn through the process? Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter was humorous, sad, romantic and even downright frustrating at times. I really enjoyed both the characters of Chloe and Liam. I felt myself rooting for them. Certain topics were explored in Love, Unscripted. They included a dependency on alcohol to make troubles disappear, divorce, abandonment, bigotry, the need for communication and trust in a relationship, the act of forgiveness, being in denial of the truth, the importance of family and following the heart. I have come to enjoy books that are set in the south and permeate all the charm that the south brings with it. Love, Unscripted was a book that touched my emotions. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted and recommend it highly. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Mar 27, 2024
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Mar 29, 2024
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Mar 27, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| B0CKLYBHGK
| 3.76
| 536
| Jul 09, 2024
| Jul 09, 2024
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really liked it
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Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It
Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It took place shortly after the death of her mother. Her grief was still raw, very difficult to talk about and dictated her all but nonexistent social life. Humor Me was character driven and was told in the first person POV of Presley Fry. I listened to the audiobook of Humor Me that was well narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. This was my first time that I listened to an audiobook by this narrator. I enjoyed the performance very much. Presley Fry was a twenty-five year old woman who had recently lost her mother. Even though, Presley and her late mother had not always been close or had the most ideal relationship, Presley missed her presence in her life. Her mother had suffered from alcoholism and was often emotionally absent from Presley’s life but Presley missed her mother regardless. She found it difficult to talk about her mother’s death and how her mother’s death was affecting her thoughts and emotions. Presley lived in a small apartment that she shared with her best friend Izzy. The two had been college roommates and then just continued the same arrangement when they both moved to New York City and secured jobs. Presley had come to depend on Izzy to help her navigate her social life. If Presley had been left to her own devices, her social life would have been nonexistent. Izzy and Presley were best friends and relied on each other for almost everything. Presley worked as an assistant for a late-night comedy show. She loved her job and worked very hard at trying to impress her boss. Presley was trying to send the message that she was ready for a promotion. An assistant’s salary left a lot to be desired. Financially, Presley had to make sure that she was careful with her money. A promotion would improve her financial situation greatly. Presley had another best friend that worked with her. His name was Adam. Presley and Adam spent a great deal of time together both at work and outside of work. They spoke on the phone every night. Izzy and others constantly teased Presley that Adam had feelings for her. At first, Presley was adamant that she and Adam were just friends but at some point Presley started imagining what a relationship with Adam would look like. Perhaps they could be more than friends. She had to admit that she was developing feelings for Adam. Did Adam also have feelings for Presley? Presley allowed herself to picture a future with Adam in it. Would he feel the same way? Around this time, Presley was offered the additional opportunity of finding up and coming stand up comedians for the comedy show she worked for. She was really excited about this new responsibility. It allowed Presley to attend comedy shows and preview new talent. Presley was in her element when she was doing this. At about this time, Presley randomly ran into an old friend of her late mom’s. Susan Clark had grown up with Presley’s late mother. When Presley first arrived in New York City, it was Susan Clark’s husband that had helped Presley secure the job with the comedy show. Presley was aware that there were rumors about inappropriate behavior circulating around Susan’s husband but Presley was hesitant to bring the matter up. Susan was so glad to have run into Presley. She was determined to make Presley a friend even though there was such a big age difference. What evolved between Presley and Susan was really special. This new friendship was just what both Presley and Susan needed. Presley also found herself in the position of finding a new and exciting romantic connection with the most unexpected person. I really liked Presley’s character and admired the growth she showed throughout the book. Presley’s relationship with Adam proved to be a testament to Presley’s ability to stay true to her convictions and beliefs. I admired her for making her decision and sticking to it as hard as it probably was for her. The unlikely relationship that sprang up between Presley and Susan Clark was unexpected, fun and so special. If it was even possible, Izzy and Presley grew closer and more accepting of one another’s unique situations over the course of the story. They learned to support one another unconditionally and respect their choices. Humor Me was about friendships, ambition, mother/daughter relationships, acceptance and loss. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Humor Me by Cat Shook and recommend it highly. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
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Jul 23, 2024
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Jul 25, 2024
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Mar 26, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 4.28
| 3,305
| Apr 05, 2024
| Apr 05, 2024
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it was amazing
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Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I f
Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I felt about reading about a relationship between an older woman and a mouse. How silly of me! I soon discovered that this heartfelt story was so much more. It was written so beautifully and allowed me to feel the feelings of loss, discovery, sadness and hope. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Christine Rendel. I was so invested in the characters, the acts of love, and the changes in heart that I didn’t want Sipsworth to end. Helen Cartwright was an eighty something year old woman. She had moved from England to Australia as a young bride and never looked back. When Helen’s beloved husband died, though, and when her son died a senseless and premature death, Helen left Australia and returned to the home she had grew up in. It was located in England. Helen Cartwright had lost her will to live. She had returned home to England to wait for death to find her as well. She had lost all the reasons that were important to her to want to continue to live. All Helen Cartwright wanted was “to die quickly and without fuss”. Helen settled into a daily routine quickly. Her routine included taking her meals in front of the television where she watched the news in the morning and movies in the evening, venturing out to buy food and necessities, an occasional solitary walk and lots of naps. Helen was lonely and her existence was mundane. She often found herself reminiscing about memorable occasions in her past that included either her late husband or her son. One night, as Helen stood by the window, she observed her neighbor placing certain items of trash at the curb. Amongst the things her neighbor was getting rid of was an old aquarium. Inside the aquarium, Helen discovered a box and several children’s toys. These things spurred old memories that involved her son. Helen knew that she couldn’t let those things be carted away. Helen knew that she needed to save those things from being taken away by the garbage collectors. That night, Helen learned that beside the aquarium, box and children’s toys, she also inherited a little mouse. Over time, Helen and the mouse who became known as Sipsworth, learned to rely on one another in a way that I am quite certain Helen never imagined. Helen and Sipsworth found a way to wriggle themselves into each other’s hearts. One became dependent upon the other but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it became hard for both Helen and Sipsworth to imagine a life without the other. Sipsworth was so profound on so many different levels. As a person ages and looses the people they love and care about, their outlook on life can and often changes as it did with Helen Cartwright. Sipsworth came into Helen’s life for a reason. For others like Helen Cartwright, dormant feelings need to be sparked to give them a reason to want to continue living. Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them to want to live. For Helen Cartwright, it was Sipsworth. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Helen Cartwright. Her unique idiosyncrasies were welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed. Sipsworth packed a lot into its short length. It was most delightful, funny at times, sad at other times and quite relatable. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy and highly recommend it. Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and unbiased review. ...more |
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Apr 02, 2024
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Apr 02, 2024
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Mar 24, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1737360799
| 9781737360797
| 1737360799
| 4.18
| 625
| unknown
| Jun 24, 2024
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really liked it
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The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beg
The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beginning. When I requested the audiobook of The Last Hunt, I had not been aware that it was the second book in this series. Even though I usually enjoy reading the books in a series in order, I had no trouble reading The Last Hunt as a stand-alone book. However, based on how much I enjoyed Cameron Prescott’s character and the facts I learned about her past, I am very tempted to go back and read The Final Hunt now. That being said, I thought that Audrey J. Cole’s book, The Last Hunt, was so well plotted and offered a cast of characters that were genuine and authentic. There were also some characters that alternately raised my suspicious throughout the book. The Last Hunt took place in Tok, Alaska. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Leslie Howard. Cameron Prescott had not had a good track record when it came to picking the men in her life. She had moved from Seattle, Washington to Tok, Alaska to escape her troubled past. When Cameron learned that her ex-husband was a serial killer, Cameron knew what she had to do and she acted on her intentions without pause. Cameron was finally able to put her past behind her. She had settled in the small town of Tok, Alaska, started a dental practice, made friends and had begun a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Dane, who was a state trooper. All was well until it wasn’t. Tok, Alaska’s quiet existence was being threatened. Several murders had been committed. All the victims were young women with long brown hair. They were all teachers as well. This was too familiar for Cameron. She feared the worst but Cameron was sure that John, her serial killer ex-husband, had met his fate that day when he became the victim of a pack of wolves. There was no way that he could have survived or could he have? These murders had John’s name all over them. There were also rumors that the murders could have been committed by a law enforcement officer. The tire tracks found at the scene were from a vehicle used by the police. Could Cameron’s instincts about Dane be wrong? Had she been blinded for a third time? Could John be alive and coming after her? Cameron needed answers. The Last Hunt was fast paced and full of twists and turns. I found myself holding my breath and gripping the sides of my chair the further I got into the mystery of who was committing the murders. My opinion seemed to change more times than I would like to admit about who the murderer was. I really liked Cameron’s character and admired how strong and determined she was even when she was confronted with danger, anxiety or fear. I really hope that Audrey J. Cole decides to write another book in this series. If you enjoy well written mystery thrillers then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 23, 2024
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Jun 23, 2024
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Mar 15, 2024
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Paperback
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