Friends Sharing Book Love discussion
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Book Reviews
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Books You’re on the Fence About - 2023
Keith Urban by Jeff Apter 3 1/2 StarsLots of facts and very little soul.
My Review
The Buried by Lisa Childs 4-StarsWill the secrets of Banisworth Manor be reveled?
My Review
Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri
Not a bad collection. But expected far more from her.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I do have mixed feelings about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
Here's my non-spoiler review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Phrynne wrote: "I drowned in the overwhelming detail but there was a good book trying to get outMy review of The Seven by Chris Hammer
https://ww..."
It was one I didn't get, so now I don't feel so bad.
I found All That's Left Unsaid by Aussie author Rowena Holloway in a list of Kindle books I had bought a few years ago, but I don't know why. It might appeal to some readers. I could be snide and say it would have been better left unsaid, but that's a cheap shot. It seemed repetitive and not as compelling as I'd have liked. 
2.5~3★ My review of All That's Left Unsaid
My review for Me Without You
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for
Dreaming of Waterhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for The Faking Game
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Humbled - Kate Hawthorn -(California)
Genera: M/M/Romance/BDSM
3.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Porcelain Maker
was mildly interesting but fell into some cliches. My three star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Socialite’s Guide to Death and Dating by S.K. Golden
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Burglar In the Closet – Lawrence Block – 3***
In this second episode of the series, Bernie Rhodenbarr gets roped into stealing from his dentist’s ex-wife. It seems like an easy score, until he gets locked into the lady’s closet. When he comes out, the lady is dead and the jewels are gone. There are plenty of suspects, including the World’s Greatest Dentist, but Bernie really needs to solve the case before the police turn on him as the most likely suspect. Gosh but I love Bernie! He’s a burglar with standards and ethics. And he’s a gentleman when it comes to the ladies.
LINK to my full review
It Waits in the Woods is reason enough not to venture down that way. Josh Malerman has added his creepy short story to Amazon's Creature Feature Collection.
My review of It Waits in the Woods
A Witch's Guide To Murder - Aubrey Harper
A Book & Candle Mystery
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Still available for a couple of days is another Amazon Original Story, A Night at the Tropicana by Chanel Cleeton. Short romance, Miami and Cuba, 1939 and 1969.
My review of A Night at the Tropicana
Such Pretty Flowers - K.L. Cerra - (Georgia)
Genera: Suspense/Horror/F/F Romance
3★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Door to Door Bookstore
was more of a miss than a hit for me. My three star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blessing of The Lost Girls - J. A. Jance - (Arizona)
Walker Family Series Book #1
Joanna Brady Mysteries Book #20
Genera: Mystery Suspense/Thriller
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here's my 3.03 rounded to 3 stars review of A Murder at Balmoral
by Chris McGeorge:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alternative History with a Murder Mystery
Descriptive narrative
Suspenseful moments along with moments that seemed to drag
Twisty plot
Entertaining, but antagonist was too easy to identify
Thornhedge - T. Kingfisher
Genera: Fantasy/Fairy Tale
3★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 3.42 rounded to 3 stars review of Hunt on Dark Waters
by Katee Robert:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fantasy Romance
Great World-building
Good characterization
A couple of steamy scenes starting with the mid-point of the book
Somewhat uneven pacing
Instant physical attraction
Carol wrote: "A Witch's Guide To Murder - Aubrey Harper
A Book & Candle Mystery
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Carol wrote: "
Thornhedge - T. Kingfisher
Genera: Fantasy/Fairy Tale
4.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
These seem like pretty high ratings for this thread, Carol. Did you remember to post them in the thread for books you recommend so we don't miss them?
An Irish Country Girl – Patrick Taylor – 3***
On Christmas Eve, Mrs Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood, and how she found her gift of “sight.” Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.
LINK to my full review
The Creeper - A.M. Shine - (Ireland)
Genera: Horror
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Carol wrote: "A Witch's Guide To Murder - Aubrey Harper
A Book & Candle Mystery
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Carol wr..."
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Carol wrote: "A Witch's Guide To Murder - Aubrey Harper
A Book & Candle Mystery
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Carol wr..."
I copied the rating for the wrong one. I corrected it. Thank you for seeing it:)
My review of Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K.J. Parkerhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I listened to
The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As we move further into Spooktober, I've read the last two stories from the Creature Feature Collection. I'm not a horror reader, but I've enjoyed getting a taste of how these authors write. I was a bit iffy about this one, but horror fans will enjoy them all.
My review of In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
My review for The Remote Workers
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
my review for
Becoming the Boogeymanhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
my review for The Exchange: After The Firm
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Opposite House – Helen Oyeyemi – 2.5*
I appreciated many of the passages of Oyeyemi’s writing, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for me. The story meandered too much for me to keep track of what was happening; I found myself re-reading sections to get a grasp on it. I am usually a fan of magical realism, but in this case the other-worldly aspect of much of the magical realism simply confused me.
LINK to my full review
Death at the Dance by Verity Bright is a light-hearted, kind of silly cosy that fans of Lady Swift will enjoy more than I (at the moment).
My review of Death at the Dance
my review for The Witching Hour
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for
Alicehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for The Other Valley
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Echo Mountain – Lauren Wolk – 3.5***
Set during the Great Depression, Wolk’s novel shows the effects on one family when they lose their home in town and are forced to start over in a cabin on Echo Mountain. This is a lovely adventure story, focused on family, prejudice and discovery. Ellie is a great character – brave, tender, intelligent, resilient, eager to learn, open to new possibilities, and determined.
LINK to my full review
--------- * * * * * * * * --------
Better Nate Than Ever – Tim Federle – 3.5***
This was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a great big heart. Nate is a great kid – funny, intelligent, resourceful, brave. He has a chance at his dream, and he is going to go after it with all he’s got. The scenes are sometimes tender and sometimes a bit frightening, but there is also plenty of humor, and a sense of hope. Nate is so easy to cheer for. The book ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a sequel. Normally, I hate this device, but it was really the perfect ending for the book.
LINK to my full review
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins GilmanMy review 3★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Snowfly - Joseph Heywood - (Upper Peninsula of Michigan)
Genera: Mystery
3.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 3.12 rounded to 3 stars review of The Beautiful and the Wild
by Peggy Townsend:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More of a survival story than a mystery or thriller ----
Difficult living conditions, fearful for her life and that of her son, and some unexpected resilience make for an interesting story, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations from the synopsis. However, it is gripping and compelling at times and I wanted to know how it would end.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton was a mixed bag.
Here's my non-spoiler review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Pretty much a mixed read all the way. Had expected far more from this author.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay is evident that the author was still new at that time.
Here's my non-spoiler review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Spirited Tail - Leighann Dobbs - (New Hampshire)
Genera: Cozy Mystery/Paranormal
3.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Friends Sharing Book Love
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