#418 ~ Walk of Shame

Watched on Netflix - 12/04/17

Total 5 star romcom ... highly recommended.

Local news anchor, Megan gets towed after a one night stand leading to a series of hilarious unexpected events just to get her car back and make it to the station to meet a major news channel.Te

Megan's a good Texas girl, but this movie illustrates the perceptions of others can be wrong.

Does she get any help?  Yes, from the most surprising sources.

If you haven't got Netflix, its available HERE on Amazon.

#417 ~ A Charmed Place

A Charmed Place by Antoinette Stockenberg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I normally enjoy this author, but this one seemed a little cumbersome. Although probably it is been more to do with the disjointed nature of the reading time I have had, rather than than the fabric of the book.





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#414 ~ Worst Laid Plans

Worst Laid Plans by Claire Robyns

Not exactly writing to set the world on fire. The characterisation was a bit weak in places, but it did have enough about the plot and timing to keep me turning the pages - and that is quite hard to do.

I was engaged enough in the world built by this author to read more of the series.

From an editorial point of view, the productions values were good with no errors to mention. The only bug bear I had was an ending that felt a bit like an emergency stop on a driving test. The ending could have been handled slightly differently to avoid this.

Other than that a solid three stars (the thick end of 3 nearing 4).

I purchased as part of my Kindle Unlimited package, but anyone not on that scheme can purchase a copy at just £2.99 at the time of writing this post HERE.



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#413 ~ The Ladies' Room

The Ladies' Room by Carolyn Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not outstandingly brilliant prose, but giving it consideration the author created a strong narrative voice that kept me in the moment - I could clearly hear the Southern drawl, even though there was no attempt to amend the writing to achieve this - very successfully done in my opinion.

The plot didn't set the world alight, but then I suppose that was probably the aim. It detailed a journey of self-discovery and awakening of confidence and courage.

Overall a decent job, and I would like to explore this author more.

Production values were high, and there are no bug bears etc. to detail.

Purchase details:

I purchased/borrowed as part of my Kindle Unlimited package, but you can download a copy HERE.  At the time of writing this post it's £3.49 which seems a reasonable price.



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#412 ~ The Bad Mother's Diary

The Bad Mother's Diary by Suzy K. Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading this brightened my day. It's joyfully delightful. After nearly 30 years of motherhood, and no privacy in the bathroom even now ... I am fully on her level.

The boring bits about purchase:

Part of my Kindle Unlimited package, but you can purchase it, you won't e disappointed, HERE.




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#410 ~ The Story of Our Life

The Story of Our Life by Shari Low
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

By and large this was quite enjoyable, but I had a big problem with the authenticity of the dialogue, it felt very American with many conjunctions missing - this did not match up to the characters and their demographic. This is quite disappointing for a seasoned author, so I knocked off a star.

Apart from that it was an okay read, but the plot felt a little ponderous at times.

If you're not looking for startling prose, but fully open to a holiday read format, give it a go.


Errors/Bug Bears/Highlights:

Location 69: 'squeeze in nine holes in before dinner.'

Location 1017:  '...buying into in the joke.'

Locoation 4382: '...truth in on my face.'



Purchased as part of my Kindle Unlimited deal, you can get a copy HERE.




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#409 ~Something Quite Beautiful

Something Quite Beautiful by Amanda Prowse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A first time read for this author, just to check whether her style etc., would fit me. I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be a decent paced and enjoyable short, which helped me make up my mind to give this author more attention.



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#507 ~ The Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a completely disturbing book on so many levels ... and yes, that statement makes it sound like I wasn't that happy with the book. Check out the stars though, it gained 4 of them even though my opening words are made up with 'completely disturbing'.

The subject matter was for the majority of the time deeply uncomfortable, and would be for any reasonably well adjusted individual, but it was a consuming read on the one hand repulsing me, and on the other full of hope that what seemed almost a hopeless situation could end in anything but an unhappy and upsetting way.

Only attempt to read this book if you have a strong stomach and interest in literature that is enquiring and in need of stimulation and food for thought and contemplation. If you have you will probably run the full spectrum of emotions that I have.

Purchase details:

Downloaded as part of my Kindle Unlimited package from Amazon.co.uk.

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#506 ~ Just One Damned Thing After Another

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book #1 in the series


EDITOR'S PICK



One of the most entertaining books I've read this year, and can't wait to catch up on the whole of this series.

A long time ago it had been one of my 'Daily Picks' and at the time it would have been free, but it was just dropped into my library and I'd forgotten all about it.

At the time the cover and title had been a draw but as I'd forgotten all about that, and thus my expectations when starting to read it were quite low.

Seriously funny and well written, and as it turns out it made the grade as one of my 'Editor's picks'.

If you like sci-fi definitely try it, but if you like to read funny and entertaining literature, it will be worth your consideration.

Git it a try, I am sure you won't be disappointed.

I was luck enough to download this Kindle file as part of my Kindle Unlimited package (it's not now available through that), but you can get it HERE ... oh, and a bargin at 99p for the Kindle version at the moment.









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#505 ~ A Time for Living

A Time for Living by Ruth Saberton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the Polwenna Bay series




You get easy reading, entertaining romance with Ruth Saberton. I am really loving this series and highly recommend it. There are no great surprises, just like slipping on a comfortable pair of slippers after a hard day walking on cold concrete, her books make you feel warm from the feet right up to the heart and beyond.

Part of my Kindle Unlimited package, but I would happily pay to read her work.






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#503 ~ Dead Romantic

Dead Romantic by Ruth Saberton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Editor's Pick

Absolutely loved this one. Novel plot with well-shaped and believable characters.

Ruth Saberton has the knack of realistic and sparkling dialogue which is really funny and authentic.

Producers and Commissioners out there, this book would translate so well to a film plot or for TV and literally would be 'totes hilare'.

It wasn't until I was putting this review together that I realised Ruth Saberton is also author of the Polwenna Bay series, which I am love too.

Nice to see fabulous production quality, I only think there was one (or maybe two) tiny thing:

Location 2680:  '...a long-ago December when Dad spend all Christmas ...' - spent.


Unless stated otherwise, most of my reading these days is part of my Kindle Unlimited reading package, but there are one or two old books that aren't, or I have to purchase them to get a full set of a series!

Happy reading.



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#493- Letting in Light

Letting In Light by Emma Davies

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I could rate it higher than five stars I would. It was the most beautifully written and carefully crafted story.

Emma Davies is an amazing author, weaving characters and setting into an evocative and compelling tapestry of the finest quality.

Setting the journey of the characters perfectly into a sinuous curve of well placed narrative with impeccable timing and pace.

Definitely an editor's pick for this year, and highly recommended.

Purchased as part of my Kindle Unlimited package on Amazon HERE, and read in one day as I couldn't put it down!



Highlights / Errors / Bug Bears:

No errors or bug bears, this was a piece of work with incredibly high production values.

A highlight:  'Room on the Broom' was mentioned.  Anybody who does that is a superb human-being.  It might of been the bedtime reading choice of my kids, but it was mine.

Author's website.


Happy reading.

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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#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