Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)’s
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(group member since Nov 16, 2021)
Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)’s
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from the Aussie Readers group.
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I'm in too please. 💕📚September Featured Author - C.J. Sansom
Duration: 1/9/23 - 30/9/23
Level: HARD 10/10
AA: 4/4
#1. C.J Sansom writes Historical Mystery and is best known for his Matthew Shardlake series set in Tudor England under Henry VIII.
**Read a book with the genre of Historical Fiction OR
**Read a book set in England
Historical fiction AND set in England -
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson COMPLETED 15/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...#2. Before becoming a full-time writer Sansom practiced as a lawyer.
**Read a book with a character who is literary in some way (writer, librarian etc.) - Librarian
Midnight Is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead COMPLETED 28/09 ⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...In her small hometown, librarian Ruth Cornier has always felt like an outsider . . .
#3. Sansom is most famous for his Matthew Shardlake series which has seven books to date.
**Read a book from a series -
The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths #11 in the Dr Ruth Galloway series COMPLETED 21/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...#4. As well as his famous series, Sansom has written two stand alone novels. One of them, Winter in Madrid is set just after the Spanish Civil war.
**Read a book where both the author's initials are found in Winter in Madrid. - Michael Robotham (AA)
Watching You by Michael Robotham COMPLETED 26/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...SPELL OUT
L
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson COMPLETED 08/09 ⭐⭐⭐.4 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...A
The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty (AA) COMPLETED 03/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...W
The Well of Saint Nobody by Neil Jordan COMPLETED 10/09 ⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Y
You Don't Know Me by Sara Foster (AA) COMPLETED 24/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...E
The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths COMPLETED 02/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...R
Rainbow Cove Christmas: 6-in-1 Collection/His Christmas Feast/Her Christmas Kisses/Her Christmas Homecoming/His Christmas Pearl/His Christmas Escape/His Christmas Pride by Susanne Bellamy (AA) COMPLETED 23/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Carolyn wrote: "Sandysbookaday wrote: "
It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"Thanks Carolyn. I have just fixed it. 💕📚
August Featured Author - Tricia StringerDuration: 1/8/23 - 31/8/23
Level: MEDIUM 3 AA
TASKS COMPLETED: 10/10 PLUS BONUS
#1. Tricia Stringer writes Contemporary, Rural Romance and Historical Fiction and has won one award, with several titles shortlisted.
**Read a book in one of the genres above OR
**Read a book which has won an award
The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge by Martin Edwards - Historical fictionCompleted 03/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2. Trisha lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, on the traditional lands of the Narungga people.
**Read a book set in South Australia OR
**Read a book by an Australian author
Day's End by Garry Disher - Australian author COMPLETED 13/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ AA https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...#3. Tricia has spent many years in education as a teacher, a librarian and an IT coordinator, owned a post office and bookshop and worked part-time in another bookshop – stories have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.
**Read a book about books OR
**Read a book where the first letter of the title starts in STORIES
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons- A book about booksCOMPLETED 04/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4. Tricia loves to walk on the beach and travel across Australia’s vast array of communities and landscapes as well as to overseas destinations. A sense of place in her stories is very important. There’s always another tale to be written…
**Read a book with the beach on the cover (show cover) OR
**Read a book where the MC travels somewhere (say where)
I'll Leave You With This: A totally heartbreaking and gripping page-turner by Kylie Ladd - a book with a beach on the cover COMPLETED 05/08 AA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Bonus: I have read all Tricia Stringers currently published books. I have just received an ARC of her latest book Back on Track by Tricia Stringer Back on Track due for publication October 2023. If at all possible, I will also read this for the challenge.
Back on Track by Tricia StringerCOMPLETED 29/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...SPELLOUT:
T -
To Die For by Lisa Gray COMPLETED 19/08⭐⭐⭐.6
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
R -
The Returned by Amanda CassidyCOMPLETED 23/08⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/upda...
I -
In Her Blood by Caro Ramsay⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
C -
A Change of Circumstance
by Susan Hill COMPLETED 12/08⭐⭐⭐.8
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I -
The Inn on Bluebell Lane by Kate Hewitt COMPLETED 25/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A -
At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities
by Heather Webber COMPLETED 07/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Returned: A gripping Irish crime thriller by Amanda Cassidy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My Favourite Things Spring ChallengeDuration: 1/9/2023–30/11/2023
Level: Easy
Progress: 7/7
AA: 4/4
TASKS
#1. Your favourite genre - Mystery/Thriller
The Pit by
Peter Papathanasiou AA COMPLETED 14/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2. Written by one of your favourite authors
Billy Summers
by Stephen King COMPLETED 25/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3. Your favourite colour cover - sea blue
The Storyteller by the Sea
by Phyllida Shrimpton COMPLETED 17/09 ⭐⭐⭐.7 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4. Your favourite place as the main setting - Australia!
Daisy and Kate
by Meredith Appleyard AA
COMPLETED 03/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5. Takes place during your favourite time period - Contemporary
Fiction
Bad Behaviour
by Liz Byrski AA
COMPLETED 12/11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#6. Takes place during your favourite season - Summer
Firefly Summer
by Nan Rossiter COMPLETED 31/10.23 ⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#7. Recommended by a favourite blog, friend, or podcast
Recommended by Shelleyrae at Book'dOut
Dead Heat
by Bronwyn Parry AA COMPLETED 29/10 ⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August Featured Author - Tricia StringerDuration: 1/8/23 - 31/8/23
Level: MEDIUM
TASKS COMPLETED: 10/10 PLUS BONUS
#1. Tricia Stringer writes Contemporary, Rural Romance and Historical Fiction and has won one award, with several titles shortlisted.
**Read a book in one of the genres above OR
**Read a book which has won an award
The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge by Martin Edwards - Historical fictionCompleted 03/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2. Trisha lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, on the traditional lands of the Narungga people.
**Read a book set in South Australia OR
**Read a book by an Australian author
Day's End by Garry Disher - Australian author COMPLETED 13/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ AA https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...#3. Tricia has spent many years in education as a teacher, a librarian and an IT coordinator, owned a post office and bookshop and worked part-time in another bookshop – stories have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.
**Read a book about books OR
**Read a book where the first letter of the title starts in STORIES
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons - A book about booksCOMPLETED 04/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4. Tricia loves to walk on the beach and travel across Australia’s vast array of communities and landscapes as well as to overseas destinations. A sense of place in her stories is very important. There’s always another tale to be written…
**Read a book with the beach on the cover (show cover) OR
**Read a book where the MC travels somewhere (say where)
I'll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd - a book with a beach on the cover COMPLETED 05/08 AA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Bonus: I have read all Tricia Stringers currently published books. I have just received an ARC of her latest book
Back on Track due for publication October 2023. If at all possible, I will also read this for the challenge. COMPLETED 29/08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...SPELLOUT:
T -
To Die For by Lisa Gray COMPLETED 19/08
⭐⭐⭐.6
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
R -
The Returned: A gripping Irish crime thriller
by Amanda Cassidy COMPLETED 23/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/upda...
I -
In Her Blood
by Caro Ramsay COMPLETED 13/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
C -
A Change of Circumstance
by Susan Hill COMPLETED 12/08⭐⭐⭐.8
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I -
The Inn on Bluebell Lane
by Kate Hewitt COMPLETED 25/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A -
At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities
by Heather Webber COMPLETED 07/08
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jul 19, 2023 11:07AM
The Lies She Told: A chilling crime thriller that will keep you guessing by Lynda Renham ⭐⭐⭐.7https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Doctor's Wife by Fiona Sussman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmF-7Okr4...
November 2022 - Final thoughts - **spoilers allowed ** - The unusual abduction of Avery Conifer
(13 new)
Nov 28, 2022 09:51AM
Relationships are an endless source of fascination for me. The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer is the story of mothers in their role as grandmothers (and one great-grandmother) doing what they do best - nuture and protect.Of course, as someone once famously said, 'you can't please all of the people all of the time,' and yet mothers constantly try as they do their best for their families. And these mothers certainly upset more than one person in their efforts to keep Avery safe and give Daniel a much needed wake up call.
Daniel is a character who is easy to dislike. He's one of those 'entitled' people, one who never takes responsibility for anything, who believes that he is treated unfairly, and - need I go on? You know the sort. He's manipulative and needy and controlling. What makes him so different from his brother and sister? Who knows, but he is different, very different.
But the crux of the story is what brings together two women who previously couldn't stand each other. Beth thinks Shirley is common; Shirley thinks Beth is stuck up; and Winnie thinks they both need to get over themselves. Shirley is worried that Winnie is in the early stages of dementia but Beth has a sneaking admiration for Winnie - she is capable of being sneaky and thinking on her feet.
I admired these three women for having the courage of their convictions. They tried to do the right thing the right way, but when that failed they took matters into their own hands. We need more women like these three. You only have to look at the skyrocketing child abuse numbers to know why.
An inspiring story told with empathy, pathos and humour.
The link to my full review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nov 24, 2022 08:49PM
I am definitely an outlier in my opinion of this book. I wanted to love Lily Harford's Last Request but, while I mostly liked it, I didn't love it. I found the characters hard to empathize with, hard to relate to, even Lily, whom I had expected to adore. The only character who I thought was really well portrayed was Donna, the very caring Nursing Assistant in the care home. I liked the way we saw into both her personal and professional lives and are made aware of how often her very important role is belittled and disrespected by others.
Pauline, Lily's HeadTeacher daughter, overpowered Lily's story which I thought was a shame. Although I could understand the author's intent in demonstrating the effects Lily's declining health has on her, she didn't come across well. I thought she was controlling and manipulative.
I would have enjoyed Lily Harford's Last Request more had it focused more on Lily and less on Pauline. The 'surprise' revelation at the end would have been better built up to, rather than just dumped in there. I think the conversations between Lily and 'Frank' would have made for interesting reading - a lot more interesting than Pauline's constant introspection.
Only ⭐⭐⭐ from me. Here are links to my full review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Retribution by Sarah Barrie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
