I liked it, but I think you need to be prepared to suspend a little bit of disbelief. Storyline is a little far-fetched with many layers. I loved the I liked it, but I think you need to be prepared to suspend a little bit of disbelief. Storyline is a little far-fetched with many layers. I loved the remote setting. Good atmosphere.
Excellent narration, but there were background sounds that sounded like the rustling of papers....more
Meh, this was quite boring. For a short novella, this was overly drawn out! There was not much point to the whole story which was supposed to be a mysMeh, this was quite boring. For a short novella, this was overly drawn out! There was not much point to the whole story which was supposed to be a mystery. Most of the book encompassed the journey -- hence the title -- of two women travelling to the dead woman's mother to hand-deliver a letter.
Although I own the book, I listened to the audiobook through the Audible Plus catalog. Had I read instead of listened, I may not have gotten through it. Narrator was excellent, so I can't fault him.
The story took place just before Christmas, and the ending ties in with the meaning of Christmas. Other than that, I can't see how this story has anything else to do with Christmas.
This is my first read from this author, and I love Christmas novels. She has written quite a few of them, so I'll probably give this series another chance and hope the next one is better....more
I have no idea what a "meet cute" is, but I saw this in my library's OverDrive catalog and requested it since I was in the mood for a holiday romance.I have no idea what a "meet cute" is, but I saw this in my library's OverDrive catalog and requested it since I was in the mood for a holiday romance. I wasn't expecting this to be so smutty! I was thinking Hallmark movie, so that was a little bit of a shock for me. I wasn't put off by it, though. It just wasn't what I was expecting.
So, a plus-size porn star meets her teenage idol who is a bad-boy singer from a boy band. They are co-stars in a holiday romance where Bee is trying to make a legit break into acting minus the porn. Her porn persona is under wraps, but her bad-boy co-star knows exactly where he has seen her before!
This was funny and made me laugh while listening. I liked Bee a lot, and I liked Nolan even more for making Bee feel how beautiful and desirable she is. Great chemistry between these two!!
Dual narration by Joy Nash and Sebastian York. Both did a great job at bringing these characters to life.
Sweet story. I liked Elle, and I very much liked William. He gave her the greatest gift, even though he didn't know it. Great story of forgiveness andSweet story. I liked Elle, and I very much liked William. He gave her the greatest gift, even though he didn't know it. Great story of forgiveness and second chances, and that it's never too late to make amends....more
Cute story about a broken-hearted woman who returns home for Christmas and finds everything she ever wanted. I loved how everything tied back to LindyCute story about a broken-hearted woman who returns home for Christmas and finds everything she ever wanted. I loved how everything tied back to Lindy’s childhood - her roots. Billy seems like quite a catch, and it’s easy to see how Lindy could fall for him....more
This characters are so different from those in the show. Tyreese is such a big lug, a gentle giant, in the show. Here, he can’t keep his dick in his pThis characters are so different from those in the show. Tyreese is such a big lug, a gentle giant, in the show. Here, he can’t keep his dick in his pants. Same with Carol. Michonne is more of a bitch, not a warrior. Rick has more of a hard edge to him, but I still like him best.
I enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it last year. This one, however, was a disappointment.
It was an utter slog to get through. I find I enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it last year. This one, however, was a disappointment.
It was an utter slog to get through. I find my mind wandering while I was listening, and I really just wanted it to end so that I could start something else. I don't think it was a narrator issue, as she seemed fine, but this one did not hold my interest at all. I also felt like I was missing parts of the story. At times, there were references made to events where I had no recollection of hearing them previously. Are they from the first book, or was my mind really wandering that badly that I missed hearing them earlier in this book? No idea, and I don't care to go back and re-listen again. I tried that a few times, re-listening to chapters again but that still did not fill in the missing pieces. Maybe, there are gaps in the writing.
I love the author's isolated settings, which is what drew me to her books. I probably would still try her again, but maybe I need a break from these types of books for a while....more
Loved it! This was just like watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Quick read, lonely woman meets attractive bachelor who just happens to be rich. And, Loved it! This was just like watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Quick read, lonely woman meets attractive bachelor who just happens to be rich. And, his father — a crotchety old guy who is reminiscent of Scrooge — owns the property where Christina’s business is located. Throw in an adorable girl named Wink, who is the bachelor’s niece, and you have a sweet Christmas story.
The last two books that I read were both underwhelming, so I was so pleased at how much I enjoyed this one. ...more
I've put this one off for a while, thinking it's too soon to read about the pandemic. I chose to read it now, and I'm glad that I did. I learned a lotI've put this one off for a while, thinking it's too soon to read about the pandemic. I chose to read it now, and I'm glad that I did. I learned a lot.
We all heard the news and the warnings when the pandemic first struck and lockdowns began, yet this cruise ship still set sail. At that time, I didn't feel any compassion for the passengers who recklessly chose to set sail and then were not able to find any port who would allow them to disembark. Hey, they chose to travel in spite of the warnings!! That was their decision, and they took the risk.
Now, after listening to this insider perspective and especially from the workers on board, I feel differently. The cruise line should be held accountable, and they are the ones ultimately responsible for the fate of their passengers. The most heartbreaking part was Wiwit's story, the Indonesian head of laundry services who had worked aboard cruise ships for decades and had plans to soon retire and be with his family. He worked abroad to support his family, and his retirement plans never came to fruition.
I have never been on a cruise and, now, will likely NEVER go on a cruise!
Excellent narration by George Newbern. He was very engaging....more
Really good! I am very impressed with this debut author. I did figure things out early on, but then I started questioning my gut instinct as time wentReally good! I am very impressed with this debut author. I did figure things out early on, but then I started questioning my gut instinct as time went on because the author was convincing in her writing and red herrings! She held my attention throughout, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
Loved this book! Such a wealth of information that I’ve ordered the book to keep as a reference.
I would have given it five stars, except that I did nLoved this book! Such a wealth of information that I’ve ordered the book to keep as a reference.
I would have given it five stars, except that I did not agree with his opinions on salt and kombucha. First of all, if you are eating whole foods and avoiding processed foods as he recommends, you need salt. Not table salt, but something like Redmond’s sea salt. Majority of salt in the diet comes from processed food, which is what makes it bad. Salt is essential in our diet. For more on that, I recommend The Salt Fix.
Secondly, kombucha and other fermented foods are healthy for the gut. His recommendation is to avoid, and I disagree. Drinking kombucha and incorporating more fermented foods into my diet is what enabled me to decrease my Nexium dose and then get off it altogether. It improves and heals the gut, aiding digestion.
My experience with authors narrating their own books hasn’t been great. However, in this case, the author did well. It really felt more like I was sitting in an auditorium and listening to him speak. He is passionate about health, and it comes across in how he speaks.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and strongly feel that it should be required reading! As with everything, take from the book what works for you and leave the rest. I’m going to watch his videos on his not-for-profit website and read more of his books....more
This is my first read from this author. I was excited to pick it up and intrigued by the writer's fictional pandemic taking place ten years after the This is my first read from this author. I was excited to pick it up and intrigued by the writer's fictional pandemic taking place ten years after the COVID-19 pandemic and the plan for this group to shelter in place on an island isolated from the outside world.
Part of the story is told in the past through journal readings in epistolary fashion.
This book took me a long time to get through it. It was a bit too slow for me and didn't hold my interest very well. The reactions of the characters on the island as to what was taking place there also felt very implausible to me. Seriously?! I don't think anyone batted an eye. I seemed to feel as disconnected to the characters as they felt to each other. I really didn't feel much towards any of them.
For me, this one fell short. There was good potential and I liked the backstory of the island being a haven for typhus patients. Liadan, the young lady who was rescued by the ship back in the 1800s, before it came to the island was also an interesting angle. Then there is also a supernatural element. It just felt like all the pieces weren't knitted together very well, like the author had all these great ideas and didn't know which way to go so they were all thrown into the pot but just didn't gel.
Will I try this author again? Probably, as there are some other books from her on my TBR.
Loved it! Such great chemistry between Drew and Sunny. Drew actually sounds like the perfect book boyfriend! I love his sensitivity and how much he adLoved it! Such great chemistry between Drew and Sunny. Drew actually sounds like the perfect book boyfriend! I love his sensitivity and how much he adores kids and animals. He’s very warm and caring, and he’s also very selfless.
I wish that this wasn’t a novella because I’m not ready to say goodbye to this duo yet! I hope we see more of them....more
I liked it. It was a Kindle freebie, and I like the idea of this More Than Words collection paying homage to real-life women. Props to Rhonda Clemons I liked it. It was a Kindle freebie, and I like the idea of this More Than Words collection paying homage to real-life women. Props to Rhonda Clemons and the important work she has done, supporting single moms and their children in need.
As a single mom, I can totally relate to Dory. Clay is super sweet, and he genuinely is a giver which is something that Dory isn’t used to…and that he gives without the expectation of anything in return. Dory is lucky to have a neighbour like that!...more
When I first started this one, I had to go back and check to make sure that I got the right book because I didn’t recognize any of the characters whicWhen I first started this one, I had to go back and check to make sure that I got the right book because I didn’t recognize any of the characters which is odd because the usual ones are recurring in the Virgin River series. It wasn’t until I got a bit into it that the familiar characters made an appearance.
I really liked both Lilly and Clay. Even with the age difference, they had good chemistry and seemed to just fit. I loved Lilly’s BFF, especially when he gave her a dose of some tough love!
I very much enjoyed hearing about the Hopi and Navajo customs.
Another excellent book in the Kate Burkholder series!
I love how personally invested both Kate and John get into solving crime. Even when the parallelsAnother excellent book in the Kate Burkholder series!
I love how personally invested both Kate and John get into solving crime. Even when the parallels hit so close to home, they don't shy away from it. It was nice to see Kate on John's territory for once, and navigating their relationship while still are both trying to tiptoe around the other and not put too much pressure on themselves even though it's clear that they both want the same thing!!
The crimes in this series are always dark and disturbing. Castillo has a way of gripping your attention and not letting go.
Fingers crossed that Kathleen McInerney is the same narrator throughout the series! She is excellent and perfectly suited for the characters....more
I love survival stories and isolated settings, so this one appealed to me.
However, it wasn’t what I thought that it would be. This is a character-drivI love survival stories and isolated settings, so this one appealed to me.
However, it wasn’t what I thought that it would be. This is a character-driven story, and it took me a while to figure that out. It wasn’t the setting that was the danger, but the people. I kept waiting for some catastrophe to occur on the island, and once I realized that wasn’t happening, then I settled into the characters.
I enjoyed it, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. ...more