#492 ~ A Man Above Reproach

A Man Above Reproach by Evelyn Pryce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I borrowed this as a Kindle Unlimited book, and luckily it came along with a free audio file.

Whilst it had all the constitute parts, they failed to make a really interesting and completely satisfying whole. I am not sure why that was the case, now matter how much I think about it. Mediocre is the best way to describe this offering.

The inevitable 'gotten' made an appearance (something that I abhor) and it felt like a few inconsistencies: can somebody who will inherit a Marquisate have an elder brother?

On balance I can't award it more than a 3 star rating ... even though I would like to have been more generous.

Hugs

Kay

xxooxx


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#491 ~ The Art of Letting Go

The Art of Letting Go by Chloe Banks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book, the first I have read by Chloe Banks, was on the shortlist for the People's Book Prize in 2015, and when I first started reading for about a chapter I did wonder why.

It was a slow-burn read told from the perspective of several chapters in alternating sections, there was also a nicely done epistolary element between one of the main characters and her long-time friend - I liked the imagination of the author in mixing up the delivery a bit.

There were no major plot twists and turns, rather it meandered along at a nice clip. It wasn't seat of the pants reading, but it was enjoyable and highly recommended with somewhere between the lower end of 4 and 5 stars.

I purchased mine with Amazon Kindle Unlimited.  Details HERE.


Errors/Bug Bears/Highlights:

The production value was really quite good, with only one mistake that I noticed:

Page 53:  'in the pub like nay normal person ...' - probably should be 'any'.


Hugs

Kay

xxooxx



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#490 - In the Light of What We See

In the Light of What We See by Sarah Painter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found it to be fairly slowed paced, but please don't take that as a criticism - sometimes a meander is just as satisfying as a fast-paced adventure.

Without giving any spoilers, it's a two stranded book with a contemporary and historical (pre-WWII) flip between chapters and there is a paranormal element to add a little texture.

I like the cut of this author's jib - whilst this was a good read - it was a little safe. I am fairly confident that she could really turn up the gas to produce something truly outstanding.

As I am a Kindle Unlimited Member on Amazon I got this free, you can get hold a copy HERE.


Highlights: 

Page 67 - 'Okay.  Now I knew I would have to get better, so that I could kick him in the nuts.' 


Bug Bear/Error:

A really goo quality production for this, with just one error I spotted at Page 171 'aggrieved tone he often used.' - I think it should have been 'she'.


Hugs

Kay

#489 ~ The Towers of Tuscany

The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first time that I have read anything by this author, but I am so glad I decided to try it.

We'll leave the ending aside for now (I don't want to add any spoilers), and instead will just discuss the overall standard of penmanship - it was simply outstanding, beguiling and beautiful. I wouldn't say it can be described as a romance, but it is romantic ... in the end I classified it as a saga, as it has all the possible elements for it to be such a thing.

The ending, for me, was completely different from the picture that I had been building in my head, but thinking about it now it completely fits.

It's difficult to get a 5 Star plus rating out of me - this book has achieved it.


Purchased as part of my Kindle Unlimited Bundle, you can see it on Amazon HERE.

High quality production with no errors, which is always impressive.


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#488 ~ No-One Ever Has Sex in the Suburbs

No-One Ever Has Sex in the Suburbs by Tracy Bloom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is not too much to say about this book really, other than ... it was simply brilliant.

Tracy has a masterful use of dialogue which is set within perfect comic timing and incite.

I loved it, and now I'm off to play the Artic Monkeys very loud, very loud indeed.

As usual I purchased this through the Kindle Unlimited package, but you can pick up a copy HERE.

As a footnote, I thought I would mention that the production values on this were very high, and it is a quality piece of work from whichever way you look at it.

Hugs and Happy Reading
xoxox





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#487 ~ Four Christmases

Four Christmases by Loretta Livingstone

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well constructed short stories; two with a religious theme.

They were nicely done - after studying A215 Creative Writing Module at University, I know how difficult it is to achieve a short story ... it is way harder than most people would assume.


I purchased my copy through Kindle Unlimited, you can find it HERE on Amazon.

Hugs and Happy Reading.


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#486 ~ Ghost Gifts

Ghost Gifts by Laura Spinella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Extraordinarily good, with really decently constructed characters.

I particularly like the modest pace and texture in the plot that kept me engaged and surprised by the plot twist.

I would certainly read Ms Spinella again.

The text only held two errors, which is a bonus, I like my books to have high production values.

Errors/Bug Bears:

Page 129:  'piss in his country-issue boots in heartbeat' - missing an 'a' there I believe.

Page 226:  'Pa said that all time'. - missing 'the'.

Purchase Details:

Another Kindle Unlimited book for me - this is such a brilliant option for somebody that reads a lot, but doesn't mind being restricted by the choices available.  At the moment I am pretty much sticking to it exclusively as I have limited recreational reading time, but will start buying more books when I have some more time University modules.

I got my copy HERE.  If you don't have the option to get a copy with Unlimited, at the time of publishing this the Kindle file was £3.98.

Happy reading.

Hugs


xoxo


Bibliography:

Spinella, L (1 March 2016), 'Ghost Gifts' published by Mortlake Romance on Amazon UK.




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#485 ~ Treasured by Thursday

Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#7 of Weekday Brides Series



More of the same from Catherine Bybee - she is a good solid author, and it is nice sometimes to have a no surprises read; she is at what I would classify as holiday reading.

I borrowed this (along with all the series on Kindle Unlimited), but unlike all of the six books this one did not have the accompanying audio file. Very frustrating, and I don't understand why they would offer 6 out of 7 with audio format and leaving the concluding book in the series hanging high and dry without it - it's a problem specific to me I know, but still Amazon, why?

You can get a copy of this book HERE

Happy reading.

Hugs

xxoxo



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#484 ~ Not Quite Dating

Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#1 Not Quite Series



Having worked my way through most of this author's Weekday Bride series, I thought I would try another one from a different one of her series.

This author does what it says on the tin, contemporary romance, but in such a delightful way the reader tends to forget that they are follow a formula. That's not necessarily a bad thing, an it is probably more noticeable if you read several in a row.

That having been said, I loved it and rated it a 4, based on the audio file I listened to rather than the written text as it was free with my Kindle Unlimited Download.  You can get a copy of the book HERE.

Hugs


xoxox

#483 ~ Seduced by Sunday

Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #6 in the Weekday Bride Series




Just because I find Ms Bybee's work a little formulaic, does not mean that I do not absolutely love them - because I do love them!

I do realise that I've been pushing the envelope by going for it, and reading (listening in this case) to the whole series over one week though, and it isn't really to be recommended. Maximum enjoyment is reached if you spread them out a bit. Still, one more in this series to go.

Get a copy HERE.

#482 ~ Taken by Tuesday

Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #5 of the Weekday Bride Series



Still happy to report that this series continues to be enjoyable. However, I have come to realise that she uses stock phrases spread across the series, such as 'poster child for ...' - although this is probably not that noticeable unless you read them in a straight run.

Again, I listened rather than read this as I got a free audio file with the Kindle Unlimited download.

Get you copy HERE.

Hugs

Kay

#481 ~ Single by Saturday

Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#4 Book from the Weekday Bride Series




More of the same quality from this author, but with this being book 4 on the trot I did come to realise that it is some what formulaic - not that there is anything wrong with that! An entertaining read is, when all is said and done an entertaining read.

I read - or in my case listened to it - when recovering from a nasty bout of flu, and it made my load a little lighter. The fact that it came with a free audible file was a real bonus as I couldn't hold my little weak arms up.

You can pick up a copy HERE.

#480 ~ Fiance by Friday

Fiancé by Friday by Catherine Bybee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 3 of Weekday Brides Series




I actually listened to this as a free audible file that came with the Kindle Unlimited book.

With a nasty case of Man flu at the time it helped sooth the pain ... girls it's true man flu is far so more serious than any normal strain!

Although this kind if brash American chic lit that I would avoid ... full of 'gotten' etcetera ... I really like her literary voice and style.

You can pick up a copy HERE.  

#479 ~ Married by Monday

Married by Monday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 2 in Weekday Bride Series




Not such a good rating as 'Wife by Wednesday', I just didn't find it as interesting.

It's just a good solid read - or listen in my case, as I got a free audio file with the Kindle Unlimited.

You can pick up a copy HERE.

#478 ~ Wife by Wednesday

Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was expecting trashy Americanised Chic Lit to get me through a bout of flu, and ended up striking gold with Catherine Bybee.

A thoroughly enjoyable read ... or listen in this instance ... as a free audio file came with the Kindle Unlimited file.

#477 ~ The Last Queen of England

The Last Queen of England by Steve Robinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am beginning to think that Steve Robinson's books are my guilty pleasure.

Another excellent read, I can't wait to get my hands on more of this series.

#476 ~ To The Grave

To the Grave by Steve Robinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





Book #2



I don't want to give any spoilers for this one; it was really well written and the audio version was first class. I am definitely a Steve Robinson fan, and love JT. Recommended read.

Luckily, I am an Amazon Unlimited Kindle reader, so I paid not a thing for this book. Although, I am happy to admit that I would have been happy to pay the full asking price.

Kay

#475 ~ Hard Times

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bought as a set book for my Open University Module.

There is nothing to add about Dickens that hasn't been said already. It was a little hard-going in places, but that is more down to the style of its writing than the substance.



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#474 ~ Circ

Circ by Simon Fairbanks et al

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An interesting collaborative writing by Giselle Thompson ('Receiver of Stolen Words') et al.

Engaging, interesting and well written. A group of this size was always a risk working in collaboration, but they pulled it off completely.

I loved it ... a triumph of good writing, humour and application of craft.

You can find it HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay xoxo





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#473 ~ In the Blood

In the Blood by Steve Robinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#1 in the Jefferson  Tayte Genealogical Mystery Series




I've gone for 5 stars on book from Kindle Unlimited.

Overall whilst it was well written and kept my interest it was slightly on the predictable side as far as plot goes. However, the writing and grammar were accomplished (a refreshing change from some of the rot out there) and therefore I rounded up the 4.75 I'd allotted in my head to a 5 stars.

I have downloaded the others in the series, and will be interested to see how JT gets on finding his own family connections.


Hugs

Kay






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