As always, Diana Gabaldon has left me wanting more. I was genuinely surprised when it said “The End” despite the length of the book. Jamie and Clare‘s adventures in America continue to keep the reader enthralled, both with their own story and the history intertwined with their lives. At times it lagged a little, getting bogged down with military maneuvers, and there are so many characters to keep track of it was a bit disjointed in places.

I really wanted to like this book because I have loved everything Amanda McKinney has written before but this one misses the mark for me. I didn‘t believe in, or even like, the characters, and the narrative bounced around between them with barely any difference in their tone. I couldn‘t tell which one was telling the story, and to be honest, I didn‘t care. Sad to say I won‘t be reading The Recluse which is next in this series.

Thank you so much for my parcel of goodies. It cheered me up when I remembered and opened it last night.
I have had a very long week with my partner being rushed to hospital. He has autoimmune aortitis, which has caused an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He has had so many MRIs and PET scans to diagnose his pain that I haven‘t been able to hug him because of his radioactivity.
So, thank you @Teresereading it is a lovely gift.
#AussieSecretSanta

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, art, mystery, a huge dollop of romance and all set in Berry Springs. The characters are strong and likable which is always a plus for me, the story moved at a good pace and the pages kept turning. Once again Amanda has brought the town of Berry Springs to life with a fervor and realism which, in turn, makes for a gripping tale.

My Aussie Secret Santa gift arrived today. I‘m so excited! I need to get on with putting my tree up so I can place it underneath.
#AussieSecretSanta

My #AussieSecretSanta parcel is on its way at last. I totally forgot to take progress piccies but here is a photo of the chocolate books I made. Fingers crossed they arrive still resembling books, and not a melted lump of chocolate 🤪

A captivating story, told in dual timelines and perspectives.
There was just enough mystery to keep me reading and the ending, although a little flat for me, fitted the story perfectly.

Not what I expected but a good read nonetheless. I enjoyed the concept and the tie in with the suffragette movement was well done.

An interesting concept which kept me intrigued throughout the many convoluted chapters. This is a book which requires concentration to keep the story straight at first but once the characters were familiar to me it got easier to follow.

A good read, not suspenseful but quietly interesting. The back stories added another depth to the characters and although there were no great shocks or surprises it kept me turning the pages - figuratively, I listened to the audiobook.

I enjoyed this but parts of it felt contrived and forced. I couldn‘t find a connection to the characters but the story was interesting, mostly the war parts.

A quick read, I actually listened to the audiobook and knocked it over in a couple of days. It was interesting, sad and, of course, amusing in turns. I found myself reading at every opportunity which is always a good sign.

A story full of twists and turns that kept me enthralled right up until the terribly unsatisfying ending.

Just for my Aussie Secret Santa‘s information…

Brilliant! It‘s an honest, warts and all, peek into the man behind the jokes. He made me laugh out loud through much of the book but told his story in such a way as to make the reader feel his struggle at the same time. I highly recommend this book to Kevin Hart fans.

The third book in the series and another great adventure for Martin and Mandalay. These characters have developed and evolved over the series and this latest installment captures that sense of devotion and commitment to each other which has been forming throughout. The story is a wild and convoluted one which kept me on my toes with all the backstories and the ending was spectacularly unexpected.

Big hopelessly romantic sigh… ❤️

A bit of light reading and a change of pace from my normal book diet of murder and mayhem. This is a sweet story of childhood sweethearts who meet again as adults. The usual secrets from the past come back to haunt them, and conflicts and misunderstandings abound before the romance drifts off into the sunset and happy ever after land.

I struggled a bit with this as it frequently referenced previous storylines which I haven‘t read. Having said that though, the story was good and the characters strong, well-defined and completely likable. I enjoyed it and Elly Griffiths is always good value.

I can so relate to this quote. I was chronically shy and I kept my head down and desperately hoped the teacher would pass over me in class.

We are at our most vulnerable while we sleep. What if someone was watching…and what if no one believed you? This story played on my childhood fears that someone had been in my room at night. A thrilling journey into the world of voyeurs and victims which I could not put down.

Haven‘t we all wanted to start fresh in a new town, far away from our problems and past? This novel explores just that. Throw in a dash of steamy romance and you‘ve got the basis of Rattlesnake Road. I enjoy a good starting over story and although this one had a couple of wobbly bits for me in the beginning, it ultimately captured my interest.

A story of friendship, unrequited love, secrets, and betrayal. I LOVED this book. The relationships between the four friends are complicated and bound by mistakes and hidden truths which are gradually revealed as the story progresses. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Amanda‘s words hit me in the feels❣️

I love this ❤️💖♥️

A light and simple story with just enough mystery and suspense to keep me reading.

I took some time to get involved in this story. The characters were many and varied, the story filled with bad guys and good guys. I just couldn‘t feel anything for the storyline. By the end I was mildly enjoying it but definitely not one of my favorites.

A compelling narrative of overcoming anxiety, living with grief and ultimately becoming the person you were meant to be.

This book disappointed me until this quote at the end when my son pointed at me and laughed as he heard the narrator say it. I always wear brooches.
The story was hard to follow with the switching between the two time lines but that might have been more to do with the fact it was an audiobook than the writing.
Although at the end when the killer was revealed I was a bit lost and confused because I genuinely didn‘t remember that character at all.

A dual timeline which helps the story to unravel as the characters develop. A teenage crush impacts heavily on those directly involved and haunts the grown up Layla. Threatening messages consolidate the guilt until she finally faces her past. Well written and an easy read with a couple of surprises along the way.

What a brilliant idea, the ability to check out lives you could have lived if you had made different choices along the way. I enjoyed most of the book and couldn‘t wait to pick it up at every opportunity, some of the ‘lives‘ annoyed me and some brought me to tears but the inevitable ending seemed rushed to me. A good read all in all.

Really not my thing but I persevered until the end. The story was quite good in parts but it just didn‘t grab me. When the murderer was finally revealed I couldn‘t even remember who it was.

A complex mystery set in idyllic surroundings gives the reader much to think about and mull over.

I don‘t really know what I was expecting but the fast paced, short paragraphs left me feeling a bit disappointed. I had some laugh out loud moments and enjoyed listening to Jerry read his own book, it was nice to hear that voice again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this one a bit slow and with a lot less of the usual gore and imaginatively graphic crime scenes I have come to expect. Much of it was just plain old detective work. I suppose that is is to be expected given the tremendously tragic event that Chris had to deal with while writing it. It was still a good thriller though, and the explosive ending more than made up for the lackluster start.

An awesome read! I took a while to find the rhythm of the story but once it got going - pow! I couldn‘t put it down. Lots of twists and surprises along the way keep you guessing until the very end. Well worth a look!

I lost my hero today…
The man who taught me to ride a bike, checked under my bed for monsters, and rubbed my back when I was sick. He became a doting Grandpa who played endless games of Uno, sat on the hard floor to roll marbles until his new hips ached, and kicked a soccer ball until it was too dark to see.
Alzheimer‘s gradually stole his sunny smile and pulled him into the darkness but he was still my hero, my Dad, and I adored him.

I love this dedication - “We weren‘t prepared.”

Another brilliantly chilling episode in the Robert Hunter saga has left me sleeping with the lights on. This one toys with the trauma of helplessly watching a loved one die because of something you can‘t remember. I can‘t get enough of these books!

I read some mixed reviews on this one but I have to say that I enjoyed it. The final twist totally shocked me and I love it when that happens. I floundered a bit at the beginning as the characters were being introduced and ‘fleshed out‘ but The pace picked up and I was ultimately carried away by the story.

Another brilliantly creepy story from the disturbed mind of Chris Carter. I couldn‘t put it down and read far later than I intended each night. This Robert Hunter series just improves with each new installment and I can‘t recommend them highly enough.

Overall I enjoyed reading The Memory Wood - but I have to admit to needing to go back and reread some parts. My poor brain got somewhat confused at times but there was so much going on and changing between characters that I think that is understandable. Or maybe I‘m getting old lol. Anyway it has suspense, mystery and all the good things a thriller needs so a pick from me.

This is a beautiful story about the strength of love through the harrowing journey of Alzheimer‘s. Having watched my darling Dad retreat further and further into the mist of his memories, this was a particularly difficult, yet uplifting, book for me. The idea of him being kidnapped from the nursing home by his wife, and taken on a road trip to get home is perfectly adorable and I wish I could have done the same for my Dad before he deteriorated.

To be perfectly honest this just didn‘t grab my attention. The story plodded along, switching back and forth from Before and After. The main characters were rather self-absorbed, and quite frankly, by the time I got to the end I really didnt care who had killed their father.

These books really are like a TV box set. Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia are hunting for yet another sadistic killer, this one is terrorizing his victims with their deepest fears. Grisly, gruesome and totally addictive, The Executioner will give you chills.

Another rollicking yarn from Joy Ellis and her feisty DI Galena. I always enjoy these, they are easy to read, have great stories and the characters are quite likable.

I enjoyed most of this but some parts were a little tedious for me. The characters were well rounded and developed, the story flowed well and the mystery kept me guessing. Not my favourite book but certainly a keeper.

I have always loved Alan Davies and his comedy style but I had no idea of the depths of sadness this funny man covers up with humour. From losing his mum at the tender age of 6 to shoplifting to make friends in a new schooli, this man has lived a relatively solitary life, despite his success.

A gently meandering love story, with a bit of mystery at its epicenter. This is a sweet tale of sacrifice and the heartache of family tragedies.

The heartbreaking story of when one sibling is adopted into a loving family and the other is raised by the system. I will admit there were times when I threw the book across the couch in annoyance at the behaviour of some of the characters but there were also moments when I got soppy and sentimental. Not the best book I have read this year but certainly not the worst either.