Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2012)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Have a great break, Karen.

Hope this isn't too rude to post but it made me laugh. Reading my current book I found the word "moist" in the text... I glanced down to see what page it it was on. Yes... (view spoiler)[ Page 69.. I kid you not! (hide spoiler)] .

Finished . On shelf and s/sheet.

Second book in a really epic historical fiction series. Great unresolved ending making me want the next book.. right now.

Be afraid, be very afraid.. the Backroom BOM is back!

I'll take one for the team and volunteer for DQ's. It's hedgehog/wolf shifter erotica romance. The opportunity for double entendres and puns is mind boggling! A good laugh anyway.

Caps, MPG Military. Is War>Military Fiction okay?

And congratulations Paulette!

Alysa wrote: "Completion Post

People of the City

Details on spreadsheet.

Happy Mother’s Day, fellow mothers! 🥰"
Thank you Alysa. Hope you have a lovely day too.

Thanks Tina. Happy Mother's Day to all. I've been spoiled today and going out to dinner tonight.

Huh.... I think I'll take Jessi's advice. By the way, I'm known as the Queen of Overthinking 😁

Thanks Jessi and Karen.

Caps, not sure what this task means -

Title in format x and y?

Finished . Enjoyed it. Probably quite a bit more than our BOM . Two threads past and present which run parallel and a satisfying ending tying both together. It's on the shelf and s/sheet. 4 stars

Like your ending thoughts, Alysa. You were pretty close with who the mystery enabler was. And I agree, Lyle and his family were great. Bess landed on her feet there.

I've reserved the YA Book of the month f rom our Library but can't volunteer for DQ's because I don't know if I will get it in time.

Stacey (friend)
748 books | 34 friends
see comment historyDQ Day 5: Chapters 19-end

20. Charlotte has a very bad reaction to being returned. Do you think this is normal? Why do you think she reacted so extremely?

I thought it was very odd when Bess took Charlotte and she didn't even seem to care that she was leaving the mother that had raised her for six years. I guess that showed the emotional impact Alexandra's personality had on her. Intergenerational trauma. So she couldn't regulate her emotions or a more typical response to what happened.

21. Do you agree with Alexandra's decision to not pay Ned? Do you think she was right in doing this?

Yes. Ned was a despicable character and Alexandra although using him for her own ends called him out on it. Life was tough in that era yes but to sell out his own sister... enough said.

22. Alexandra seems to be very affected by the events that have happened. She seems less afraid, although maybe more reactive. She also manages to go outside for a short time. Do you think it will last? Will she improve? Why?

Losing Charlotte has seemed to "wake" her up and come to terms with her emotions and face her demons. She has turned a corner as evidenced in her leaving the house to see Dr Mead and making some proactive decisions. She always will be an introverted personality but the ending of the book was more positive for her.

23. The two women come up with an interesting arrangement for Charlotte and came to understand each other better in the end. Do you think that this could have happened if Bess hadn't lied?

Probably not, Alexandra was forced to face what was going on and deal with it. If Bess had been honest Alexandra would probably have thrown her out without any sort of resolution at all.

24. The ending had lots of happy events. Did you like it? Do you think it was realistic?
It all was all resolved for everyone's benefit a little too neatly. I can't believe I didn't realize Ambrosia was the missing link in the whole drama. Makes perfect sense.. now. It was a very readable book but the story won't stay with me so I gave it a 3.5 stars.

I just read it also so I volunteered for . I'll check out for the YA is at my library.

Volunteering for DQ’s for Team Carrot.

DQ Day 4 - Chapters 14-18

15. Knowing how Alexandra's parents died and seeing her state of mind after being surprised by Dr. Mead, Eliza, and Charlotte in masks, has your perception of Alexandra changed in any way?

Trauma was one of the possible explanations for Alexandra's behaviour so it was a ah ha moment. But she also had a very introverted personality. Put the two together and it explains a lot. I feel very sad for what it has done to the relationship between Alexandra and Charlotte.

16. What do you think of Bess running away with Charlotte? Looking at her reasons do you think she is being selfish or doing what is best for Charlotte?

This is a difficult question. Yes, Charlotte had every material thing and comfortable life but emotionally life in that house was not normal. The escape plan is ill conceived and based on Bess' emotional response. It's not looking good.

17. What do you think of Lyle and his willingness to help Bess escape with her daughter? Do you think he will remain in Bess's life?

Lyle was a great character.. it seems like he is going to be the man in Bess' life moving forward.

18. Was anyone surprised by Ned's theft of Eliza's money or subsequent betrayal of Bess? What kind of deal do you think he made for himself in exchange for information about Bess?

I think we all knew Ned was up to something, betrayal by those closest is always a bitter pill to swallow.

19. Charlotte certainly went through a lot in a short time during this section. How well do you think she handled the reality of being on the run with Bess? What do you think her reaction will be to being returned to Alexandra?

One of the saddest things in the book is the lack of a close relationship between Alexandra and Charlotte. I really noticed how Charlotte didn't seem to worry about leaving the woman who she thought was her mother for six years! Alexandra's behaviour really impacted on her daughter and I'm guessing she won't want to go back willingly.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I finished the BOM. . Now that I've finished I can't believe that I didn't work out what happened.. 3.5 stars"

haha
me either

[spoil..."

Yes, even me who enjoys a good HEA thought it all wrapped up conveniently for all. 😁

I finished the BOM. . Now that I've finished I can't believe that I didn't work out what happened.. 3.5 stars

Judith wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Y'all I read ahead through 14 and [spoilers removed]"

I think 'giving someone the whalebone' should become a new euphemism."

Hee Hee Judith. I like it.

Okay, now I'm really dating myself. My favourite childhood shows were Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. And who doesn't love Gilligan's Island.

DQ Day 3: Ch. 11-13

11. Do you think the author has been able to give Bess and Alexandra individual voices? Do you like books with multiple points of view?

I was really surprised when the POV switched to Alexandra. It works really well to get both sides of the stories and both women's background story from their own POV. Generally I really enjoy switching POV's although it can be problematic with a large cast of characters and can break the continuity of the story.

12. What do you think ‘Eliza’ and Agnes were talking about in the kitchen? Do you think either Agnes or Maria know that Charlotte came from the Foundling home?

I've read a bit past Chapter 13.. so (view spoiler)[ was Agnes gossiping about Alexandra and how Charlotte wasn't her biological child? (hide spoiler)]

13. I think that Alexandra will get much worse re her fears of the outside after the mask prank. Do you think her thoughts about ‘Eliza’ will suffer because of it?

I was really glad to get an understanding of Alexandra's mental health issues and that trauma was perhaps the start of it. It gave me empathy into her character but it definitely impacted Charlotte and what has happened further on in the story.

14. Do you believe that Dr Mead was telling the truth about not knowing about what happened to Alexandra’s parents? Why has he lied about who ‘Eliza’ is?

Not sure if he has ulterior motives or lives in his own world and really didn't know. I'm leaning towards the latter.