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shelleys_book_nook's reviews
391 reviews
The House in the Water by Victoria Darke
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is one of my favourite authors, Victoria Scott, writing as Victoria Darke. I have loved every single one of Ms. Scott’s books; they all have a 4.26 or higher rating. I recommend you go to her page and check them out, you won’t be disappointed.
The author goes in a completely different direction with this story and it worked for me. We have two timelines and two female main characters. Ellen is a nurse in 1943 in an old house and Meredith (Merry) is working on the same house in 2013. We also have Merry reading Ellen’s diary and I liked that it was somewhat of an epistolary novel. As is usual for me I loved the older timeline, getting a peek at what it was like to live during that era was amazing. The story has a gothic vibe, a creepy house and a natural disaster and it all comes together perfectly in the end.
Lots of tough topics, miscarriage, grief, PTSD, sexual harassment and lots of secrets revealed. There were some very barbaric practices back then for those suffering from mental health issues and the author has done some impressive research on it. There is such a wonderful backstory to the plot, not just for the older timeline but for a lot of the characters in the present. I really thought the author was going to go one way with the story and it very much surprised me (and made me very happy) that she didn’t, I loved the way it ended, Darke weaved everything together seamlessly. As I said, the research is impeccable, the writing is absorbing and the story engrossing.
I recommend you read the author’s notes at the end of the book, you’ll be glad you did. I also want to mention the cover, it is absolutely gorgeous and I love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy. And a special thank you to Victoria Darke for asking the publisher to give me a copy.
The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love by Eve Devon
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book and I honestly tried but it was so slow going and oh so repetitive. The same thing happens over and over again…she cleans, he tries at work, her mother bugs her about a date for a wedding, his girlfriend ignores him, she goes out for coffee and cake, he has a panic attack. This was on repeat until the halfway mark and by that time I was sick of these two. I am not into love triangles and I don’t understand the need to have a date for a wedding. My friend is getting married in September and I am going solo. Is there something wrong with me?
The bakery that Ashleigh hangs out in belongs to Ozzie and Carlos and it is called…Oscars! (Taking the beginning of both their names) I liked that and I liked them. I found them funny, interesting and full of drama. Too bad the main characters weren’t the same. Their dynamic and drama are the only thing that saved this book for me and had me giving it two stars.
I struggled to finish this one and it saddens me because I loved the premise, the cover and really had high hopes but it fell flat because it was such a slow burn. No one should have to read about two hundred pages before the couple talks to each other or meets face to face. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between these two, other than Ashleigh drooling over his photo and they were both with someone at the start so that’s a big no from me.
Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed The Second Chance Holiday Club so when the author reached out to me with a widget from NetGalley I jumped at the chance and am I ever glad I did.
I am a lot younger than the ladies in this story (Dorothy and Gina) but I could relate to them with my kids being grown and being divorced. Plus their sense of humour was great too…Gina’s son called the dog shithead for eating shoes etc. and I died laughing. I adored these ladies and how they helped each other and at the same time helped themselves.
The chapters alternate between the two main character’s points of view and I loved being inside their heads…they don’t suffer fools easily and it was amazing reading about female leads of a certain age (and a third young woman in her early teenage years joins them.) I loved these three characters so much. Not all the characters are likable, especially Leonard, I loathed him and his ilk. But even some of the bad ones are trying to do better and I admire anyone who does that. Leonard likes to think of himself as an art connoisseur but he’s really just a hoarder of expensive things. I loved the descriptions of the art, I could visualize each piece so clearly. And I am a lover of Murano glass from Italy.
Even though the book was quite humourous there are some tough topics in the story, especially dealing with grief and divorce. Gina is also having to deal with going back to work and finding a new job late in life. Galley knows how to write strong female characters and their being older just added to the fun. This one goes into cozy mystery territory and I was so here for it. I loved the ending and am wondering if there will be a book two. (Please)
The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph by Kate Braithwaite
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed this historical book very much. Braithwaite's writing was so easy to read, considering the dialogue was close to the time (late 18th/early 19th century) and her research was meticulous. It had to be...because this is a retelling of a true story. I was fascinated by these sisters, their bond and relationship. They may have come from wealth but they did not have easy lives, always depending on the men in their family to support them...father, husband, brother. My we ladies have come a long way in the time since.
I loved being in late 18th/early 19th century America while reading this novel, it was such a fascinating time in history especially in the South. It was wonderful getting snippets of thoughts from Nancy's slave, Phebe. It was amazing how close Phebe and Nancy were and how they cared for each other. Phebe knew a lot more than she was letting on but kept her mistress's secrets.
I was impressed with the author's knowledge of the story as very little information is available. This was an amazing historical fiction book about a true life story I had never heard of before. This was an adventurous read with a twist of mystery...What did Nancy really do?
The only reason I am not giving this five stars is the two time hops in the story. I would have loved to have read about what happened during those time frames especially while Nancy was supposibly pregnant. And the other time hop was ten years with nothing really said about what happened during that decade.
A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over by Gabi Coatsworth, Gabi Coatsworth
slow-paced
1.0
I really wanted to like this book but the writing style was kind of pedestrian and was more like a girlfriend telling me a story than reading a novel. I know it sounds weird to say because it is a story but this book missed some finesse. I also wish the book focused more on books and the shop. There is a missed opportunity there. A lot of the book was repetitive and it got boring after awhile. Her friends nag her, she sees her dead husband, miscommunication... rinse and repeat.
Why couldn't Molly's friends just butt out and accept that she didn't want to date or wasn't ready to? They kept pushing her even though she wasn't interested in it and I get that...sometimes it'll come for you when you least expect it...when you're not looking for it. She's hurting and she doesn't want to go through it again, she's always been someone's mother or wife and she finally has herself to herself. I would have told them both off, but I have a big mouth.
Don't be fooled...The Goodreads rating for this book is really high at the time of this review (4.3) and I have to be honest and say I think they're all author and friend reviews because there is no way this book deserves four stars or more.
Why couldn't Molly's friends just butt out and accept that she didn't want to date or wasn't ready to? They kept pushing her even though she wasn't interested in it and I get that...sometimes it'll come for you when you least expect it...when you're not looking for it. She's hurting and she doesn't want to go through it again, she's always been someone's mother or wife and she finally has herself to herself. I would have told them both off, but I have a big mouth.
Don't be fooled...The Goodreads rating for this book is really high at the time of this review (4.3) and I have to be honest and say I think they're all author and friend reviews because there is no way this book deserves four stars or more.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was utterly unique mixing a wide range of genres. Normally I don’t enjoy books where the author can’t make up their mind what category their book falls into but Kaliane Bradley makes it work. The way she mixed time travel, romance and a spy story was so intelligent and extraordinary that I just got lost in the words and the world-building. I also enjoyed how she researched and mixed a real-life character with fictional ones.
Even though there are serious spy vs. spy issues throughout and a budding romance I found the book to be very humorous. I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud at the expats. The characters behaved like their timeframe and were very well developed. They had idiosyncrasies and personalities…their needs and wants were realistic. This is a wonderfully well-plotted book. I can imagine the author with lots of Post-it notes all over a storyboard trying to keep everything together in their proper order and timeline. Her world-building style made it so easy to read and imagine. I could picture in my mind’s eye the devices, clothing, the ship in the Arctic ice etc.
Overall Bradley is a genius. The twisty ending blew my mind and I did not see it coming. I read all 350+ pages in a few sittings, I was riveted. I can’t believe this is a debut, remarkably well done.
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an adorable romance about a couple of people of a certain age and it was so refreshing to have middle-aged leading characters. Nora is a single mother and screenwriter for The Romance Channel and gets her big break when she writes a script about her divorce. It becomes a big-time movie with big-time Hollywood stars. Parts of the movie are filmed at the Tea House in her yard and I loved the meet cute of Nora and movie star Leo. Leo realizes he needs a break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities (L.A. and New York) and he wants to stay in Nora's Tea House. Nora lets him hide out there because she can use the rent money. Not only does Leo muscle into Nora's home but he also invades her heart and the hearts of her children.
I loved how sweet this romance was with enough touch of the serious so that it wasn't too schmaltzy or saccharine. I liked the realness of all the characters (especially the kids) and that realness is what makes a great book in my opinion. The way their relationship started and the slow build-up made this a winner in my eyes. It's a fairly short read and did not drag at all. I related to Nora as a single mom with a falling-down house she loves and having to be budget-friendly all the time and I appreciated that she pretty much stayed the same even after her luck changed.
One thing that stops me from giving this four stars is the lack of communication between Leo and Nora when he has to go away for a bit...a simple text or phone call would have prevented the entire problem and that was super annoying. As much as the miscommunication frustrated me I did enjoy this for the most part because it was very charming and heartwarming.
I loved how sweet this romance was with enough touch of the serious so that it wasn't too schmaltzy or saccharine. I liked the realness of all the characters (especially the kids) and that realness is what makes a great book in my opinion. The way their relationship started and the slow build-up made this a winner in my eyes. It's a fairly short read and did not drag at all. I related to Nora as a single mom with a falling-down house she loves and having to be budget-friendly all the time and I appreciated that she pretty much stayed the same even after her luck changed.
One thing that stops me from giving this four stars is the lack of communication between Leo and Nora when he has to go away for a bit...a simple text or phone call would have prevented the entire problem and that was super annoying. As much as the miscommunication frustrated me I did enjoy this for the most part because it was very charming and heartwarming.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Another disappointing thriller with 4+ star rating and I am an outlier once again. I don't agree with the rave reviews for this one either, but I can understand the hype...The chapters were short and punchy making them easy to read and the pages did turn quickly. It just didn't work for me personally for a couple of reasons.
That stupid voice inside the main character, Lucy's head became annoying and repetitive. I know some found it funny but to me it was just dumb. Police didn't check the blood on Lucy, was it splattered there? Is it dripped? Was it because she was holding her friend? Forensics nowadays can figure this out easily. I think Lucy and the police quit too soon, which was unrealistic. It was like Lucy didn't care about the murder of her best friend and that isn't true because throughout the book she makes it clear it is important to her.
Lucy comes off as snarky and downright rude. I didn't find it humorous at all as some have. It grated on my nerves. She is accused by many of being a murderer and she doesn't remember anything so it is quite possible she is a murderer. She uses sarcasm to deal with it instead of trying to find out the truth and I am so over the amnesia trope, it's been done to death.
When Lucy decides to go home for her grandmother's birthday she gets roped into agreeing to do a podcast about the murder and ends up sleeping with the guy, not to mention making out with two others. Why do authors insist on putting sex in thrillers, or making women into sluts? It wasn't necessary here, Lucy and Ben could have just done the podcast and been done with it. I was willing to look past the snark trying to be funny but the gratuitous sex in a murder mystery ruined it for me.
This was absolutely a fast-paced thriller and I liked the way the podcast sections were done but the ending fell flat and the book had me shaking my head too many times. I just don't get it.
That stupid voice inside the main character, Lucy's head became annoying and repetitive. I know some found it funny but to me it was just dumb. Police didn't check the blood on Lucy, was it splattered there? Is it dripped? Was it because she was holding her friend? Forensics nowadays can figure this out easily. I think Lucy and the police quit too soon, which was unrealistic. It was like Lucy didn't care about the murder of her best friend and that isn't true because throughout the book she makes it clear it is important to her.
Lucy comes off as snarky and downright rude. I didn't find it humorous at all as some have. It grated on my nerves. She is accused by many of being a murderer and she doesn't remember anything so it is quite possible she is a murderer. She uses sarcasm to deal with it instead of trying to find out the truth and I am so over the amnesia trope, it's been done to death.
When Lucy decides to go home for her grandmother's birthday she gets roped into agreeing to do a podcast about the murder and ends up sleeping with the guy, not to mention making out with two others. Why do authors insist on putting sex in thrillers, or making women into sluts? It wasn't necessary here, Lucy and Ben could have just done the podcast and been done with it. I was willing to look past the snark trying to be funny but the gratuitous sex in a murder mystery ruined it for me.
This was absolutely a fast-paced thriller and I liked the way the podcast sections were done but the ending fell flat and the book had me shaking my head too many times. I just don't get it.
Baby X: A Thriller by Kira Peikoff
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was pretty good and very unique. I am not a big science fiction fan but speculative fiction floats my boat so I thought I’d give this a try and I am glad I did. What an imagination Kira Peikoff has.
Told from multiple points of view, my favourite format, Baby X is about the future of DNA, embryos and science that goes too far. The pacing of the book had me frantically turning pages as I wanted to find out what would happen next. I thought for sure I would be bored to tears with the scientific terminology but Peikoff kept it interesting and didn’t make me feel stupid. (She has a master’s in bioethics) Not all the characters are likeable but there are ones to cheer for and I liked getting each person’s perspective because I felt like I got to know them from the inside.
Three and a half stars is a decent book and I did enjoy most of it even though I figured out one of the twists. BUT…towards the finish there is another twist and I didn’t see it coming and I loved the way everything and everyone came together at the end. It did get a bit over the top but I am going to let it slide because it is speculative. I am going to round up (which I rarely do) because it was just so damn entertaining, it surprised me, it was a fast, easy read and I like popcorn thrillers to a certain extent. I ain’t mad I read it!
Told from multiple points of view, my favourite format, Baby X is about the future of DNA, embryos and science that goes too far. The pacing of the book had me frantically turning pages as I wanted to find out what would happen next. I thought for sure I would be bored to tears with the scientific terminology but Peikoff kept it interesting and didn’t make me feel stupid. (She has a master’s in bioethics) Not all the characters are likeable but there are ones to cheer for and I liked getting each person’s perspective because I felt like I got to know them from the inside.
Three and a half stars is a decent book and I did enjoy most of it even though I figured out one of the twists. BUT…towards the finish there is another twist and I didn’t see it coming and I loved the way everything and everyone came together at the end. It did get a bit over the top but I am going to let it slide because it is speculative. I am going to round up (which I rarely do) because it was just so damn entertaining, it surprised me, it was a fast, easy read and I like popcorn thrillers to a certain extent. I ain’t mad I read it!
Never Trust the Husband by Jessica Payne
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.0
No. Just no. This book was terrible and it's because of books like this that I don't read as many thrillers as I used to. I was really hoping for a winner but boy was I disappointed. This book has so many four and five-star reviews and a 4.21 Goodreads rating at the time of my writing this, I just don't get it and I am upset. I am more shocked and surprised by the high rating than by anything in the book.
I don't ask a lot from my thrillers, a good pace and a nice surprise or two is all. BUT when your front cover and Amazon title state "A totally gripping psychological thriller packed with twists" you better damn well deliver. Never Trust The Husband does not. It was repetitive...the same thing happens over and over again ad nauseam and too many things were simply unbelievable, like someone faking being a nurse and the RN's identity she stole just happened to have worked with the same charge nurse she is currently working under. Really? And plastic surgery to change the shape of her face so much that her closest loved ones don't know who she is (it's been three years not thirty) and then Gwyn just meeting her and letting a stranger have free rein to look through her house alone? Also, I figured out the big reveal almost right away and it was such a letdown. Boo! Hiss! Boo!
It took me forever to get through this book because I dreaded picking it up, I was going to DNF but kept hoping something thrilling would happen because of the high rating and it never did, it was just dumb. I don't claim to be very smart but it makes me angry when I feel my intelligence is being insulted and that's what the author did. I wish I could give negative stars but for now, we will go with zero.