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Clovenhoof (Volume 1)
marcijo28 avatar reviewed on + 277 more book reviews


I loved this book! It is so well written and funny. I laughed out all the way through. Smart, witty and just plain enjoyable!


Always the Last to Know
Always the Last to Know
Author: Kristan Higgins
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
reviewed on + 359 more book reviews


Good read


Oakley, Mostly Good
Oakley, Mostly Good
Author: Kristen Grainger
Genre: Children's Books
Book Type: Paperback
BoysMom avatar reviewed on + 711 more book reviews


Oakley, Mostly Good by Kristen Grainger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cute illustrations and an engaging introduction to a âmostly goodâ dog.

Oakley, the main character in author Kristen Grainger's fun children's picture book, Oakley, mostly good, is a charming and lovable goof of a mutt. I enjoyed, and I know my boys would have liked reliving his antics every night during story time before settling down to sleep. Just like my sons when at the age for bedtime stories, Oakley is still learning and, sometimes, makes mistakes. This message would be a valuable one to share and compare with both children and the adults in their lives. I particularly liked the style of illustrations by Sophie Barlow for Oakley and Mavis, the ever-patient cat. We, too, have had our own Mavis and one or two Oakleys in the house as well over the years.

OAKLEY, MOSTLY GOOD is perfect for sharing with family, in the classroom, and in after-school programs.


The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
marcijo28 avatar reviewed on + 277 more book reviews


I love Christopher Moore's writing! This was a great & very funny Christmas tale!


hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2541 more book reviews


It may be true John McKinney's story had never been 'told' in a book before this one, but I have run across mention of his exploit in other books. So I was glad to finally read an entire book about him. In many ways McKinney was another Audie Murphy---another Medal of Honor awardee---in that he came from a poor Southern family, was poorly educated and provided them with food due to his ability with a rifle. Except John McKinney never went on to become a movie star. By the way, I am a fan of Audie Murphy and enjoyed watching many of his B-Westerns. Sadly, both suffered from life-long, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

This is a wonderful story and I recommend it. Officially McKinney was credited with killing over 40 Japanese soldiers. But this is based on the accounts of eyewitnesses. However, he actually killed well over that, perhaps as many as 100, as many died in the shallow river and their bodies drifted away. It's important to note McKinney always felt bad about killing these soldiers.

However, while the author tells McKinney's story well, he makes a number of historical mistakes. Some of them are exceptional. And being who I am, I have to list them.

On page 86, he states Admiral Halsey "led the Navy fleets." Halsey always commanded the Third Fleet. Admiral Spruance commanded the Fifth Fleet. The problem is both fleets were mostly the same ships. The fleet number depended on who was in command at the time. This confused the Japanese, and allowed one fleet commander and his staff to be planning the next major operation while the other fleet commander and his staff were engaged in an actual operation. He makes the same mistake on page 120. Many writers of World War II history still don't understand this.

On page 93, he has the Japanese army planning to invade Australia. This was never a part of Japanese planning, as they didn't have sufficient resources to do so. They simply wanted to neutralize Australia.

As filler for his book on several pages in different sections of the book, the author discusses German plans to supply the Japanese with enough material to build an atomic bomb. This is substance to this story as a German or Japanese submarine loaded with materials and plans for a bomb and perhaps a jet fighter was sunk by the British in the Indian Ocean near the end of the war. I remember reading about it in several books, but can't recall specific details. Where the author really blunders is he has German Admiral Doenitz in command of that submarine. Doenitz was commander of the German submarines fleet until 1943. In that year he became the commander-in-chief of the entire German Navy. At war's end, after Hitler committed suicide, he became the leader of Germany for about a month before Germany's unconditional surrender. So he never left Germany. How the author made such a stupid blunder bewilders me.

On page 255, he has Private John McKinney promoted "one grade" to sergeant after his heroic stand. Well, actually that would be three grades. After private the next rank a soldier would normally hold is private first class, then corporal, and after corporal a sergeant. This is another really silly mistake. Obviously, the author never served in the military.

But it is not hard to look up the real facts. The book was published in 2017, and all of that information was available online, even if he just searched Wikipedia. Mistakes like these makes you wonder about mistakes the author made which you didn't find.


Henrietta Who? (Inspector Sloan, Bk 2)
WhidbeyIslander avatar reviewed on + 685 more book reviews


A very satisfying read -- well written, interesting and with good characters (although Henrietta herself can get a little tiresome.) Well constructed and yes, there is a clue you won't recognize until the detective points it out at the end.


Brother
perryfran avatar reviewed on + 1168 more book reviews


A few years ago, I ran across a post on Twitter which purported to list the ten best horror writers alive today. On this list was Ania Ahlborn who I had never heard of before. Since then, I have read a few of her books including THE DEVIL CREPT IN, which I thought was a very good horror novel, and THE SHUDDERING, that I thought was only so-so and somewhat cliched. Well, BROTHER took horror to a whole 'nother level. This one reminded me a lot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre about a family of serial killers living in the backwoods of West Virginia. The story focuses on Michael Morrow who was actually kidnapped when he was four years old by the brutal family of the Morrows. He is trained to take part in the brutality but never takes pleasure in it unlike the rest of the family. But then he falls for a pretty young woman named Alice who works at a record store in town. Can he forget what a monster he really has become and try to have a normal relationship? His brother, Rebel, makes sure that he can't.

Be forewarned. . . this novel is one of the most gruesome and disturbing books I have ever read. But it is also very compelling and kept me turning the pages. What really happened to Michael and his real family was very shocking. I did see some of it coming but it was mostly unexpected. Ahlborn really knows how to draw you into the story. Her setting for this was also very interesting. It took place in the late 70s or early 80s and she described the time period very well especially with her references to the music and movies of the time. Not sure where Ahlborn gets her weirdness but I'm sure I will be reading more of her.


Master of Souls (Sister Fidelma, Bk 16)
reviewed on + 1435 more book reviews


Once again Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf team to work to solve a mystery while others emerge. It all begins when a merchant ship from Gaul is wrecked on Ireland's coast. Lured by a light onto the rocky shore during a storym that is believed to be another ship. The only survivor is the ship's captain. Meanwhile an an abbess is slaughtered and six religieuse are abducted. Strangely, an elderly revered scholar also is murdered at the Abbey of Ard Fhearta. The question for the two investigators is whether these deaths are connected or is it just coincidence?

The Abbey and its surrounding lands belong to the Ui Fidgente,
a people who find it difficult to accept the king whose armies defeated their own a few years ago. Many are sworn enemies of the Kingdom of Muman. Thus the conflicting evidence and individuals make unraveling why the deaths these deaths occurred. At times one wonders whether Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf can survive this situation. I found the plot the most interesting of the books in this series to date. It's exciting and throught provoking.


reviewed on + 3083 more book reviews


This has been a great series! but now it needs to come to an end

I always looked forward to the next book and did this one too, however, I didn't care for it at all, I didn't like the storyline and the 'retreat'? just seems like a sham all the way through

I know there is a next book #20 and I'll get it but I think it's time to move on from this series, after 19+1 books what else can happen to Josie?


The Mysterious Mr. Oliver (Miss Fleming, Bk 2)
dizz avatar reviewed on + 623 more book reviews


No. 2 in the "Miss Fleming" series. Charming, quietly witty, lowkey romance about a younger son at odds with his family who meets the daughter of a very vulgar couple whose other daughter has married an earl and is now expecting (that's Book #1 in the series). A very agreeable way to pass an evening.


Lessons in Chemistry (Large Print)
cathyskye avatar reviewed on + 2259 more book reviews


(Review of audiobook)

I kept hearing about Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry, but it took me a while before I finally got around to finding out what all the talk was about. I decided to listen to the audiobook, and I found Miranda Raison's narration perfect. She brought Elizabeth Zott to life.

Elizabeth Zott will strike a chord with most women. Like it or not, most women have dealt with the same problems she has. What makes this story truly wonderful is that no matter the experiences she must endure, Garmus tells her story with a light touch. She never mines the depths, and the reader is never far away from a smile.

Readers may learn a bit about chemistry, research labs, and television in the early 1960s, but that's merely a byproduct. What I loved about Lessons in Chemistry was the cast of characters surrounding Elizabeth Zott. Calvin, the man who loved who she truly was. Her daughter, Mads. Her neighbor and friend, Harriet, and Walter, her boss at the television station. Oops! I almost forgot her dog, Six Thirty, which is based on the author's dog. The story would not be complete without Six Thirty.

Speaking of the author, there's an author interview at the end of the audiobook which everyone should read after they've read the book. (It contains spoilers.) I think it brought me just as big a smile as Elizabeth and her friends and family did.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good story, here it is. I loved every bit of it.


Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, Bk 1)
robinmy avatar reviewed on + 2038 more book reviews


Marilla Cuthbert and her brother, Matthew, decide that they are getting old and need help with the farm. They make arrangements to adopt a boy who is old enough to help with the chores and can be taught how to take care of the farm by Matthew. But the train doesn't drop off a boy. Anne, an eleven-year-old, red-headed orphan, is sitting at the train depot, waiting for the Cuthberts to take her home.

Every year I try to fit in a couple of classics that I never got to read when I was in school. I saw the audiobook of this book and decided to give it a try. Anne is a very dramatic kid. I couldn't help smiling at some of the things she said. I can see why the Cuthberts decided not to send her back to the orphanage. She definitely grows on you.

This was a full-cast recording with different actors for each voice. I loved it! It was so easy to figure out who was talking. I also loved the surround-sound. You could hear horses clomping, birds singing, crickets chirping...it added so much to the story. My rating: 4.5 Stars.


Paladin's Grace (Saint of Steel, Bk 1)
dragoneyes avatar reviewed on + 788 more book reviews


Kingfisher is a "go-to" author for me. I'm on a mission to read everything she has out there. So far, I have never been disappointed. This book is another example of how wonderfully she writes characters. Along with the setting and the enjoyable humor, the book pulls you in and has you rooting for the characters. I would consider this one a Romantasy and although romance doesn't do much for me, this one did. Looking forward to book 2.


Isabella and The English Witch
Isabella and The English Witch
Author: Loretta Chase
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
Jerseygirltoo avatar reviewed on + 448 more book reviews


Two connected Regency romances, the "villain" in Isabella becomes the hero of The English Witch, so it's great that they're published together like this. Loretta Chase's writing is clever, funny, and altogether delightful!


Something is Killing the Children, Vol 2
dragoneyes avatar reviewed on + 788 more book reviews


This picks up right after the first volume. Things seemed to be a lot of the same. Just when I was hoping for more, I got what I wanted. We get more background details along morbid action. So far, so good on this series.


Titanic Facts: 200+ Facts About the Unsinkable Ship
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3242 more book reviews


This is a well-researched and well-organized story about the Titanic. I had not seen many of the photos included, so that was a bonus. Generally, we are not told about the rank-and-file members of the crew. This author has, and it is fascinating reading. So, it was true; the band played while the ship sank (none of them survived).


The Jews of Iberia: A Short History
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3242 more book reviews


This is a well-researched, clear explanation of the treatment of Jews in Spain and Portugal through the centuries. No wonder the Jews decided they needed a homeland of their own. This is sobering reading. Looking at the other two major religions, Islam was less problematic than Christianity because Islam accepted that Jews were "of the book." It seemed that no matter where the Jews moved, some wanted to eradicate them. This is a sad commentary on the state of religions through the centuries.


Napoleon?s Escape from Elba: The History of the French Emperor?s Return from Exile and the Road to Waterloo
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3242 more book reviews


Seeing this title, I realized I didn't know the story of Naponeon's defeat and exit to Elba. I was surprised to find out how the Allied group defeated Napoleon (other than the Duke of Ellington and Waterloo). Therefore, this was a story I wanted to read.

The author did a masterful job of setting the scene and showing how Napoleon eventually lost France. I didn't know (or forgot) that when Napoleon escaped Elba Island, he was taken to a further island (5000 miles from France).

This story covered some interesting facts about Napoleon. He divorced Josephine because he didn't get an heir, and being the proud man he was, he had to blame his wife. He married an Austrian to cement ties with this former foe. When it was time for her to join Napoleon in exile, she passed on the opportunity, saying she had a new love. Ouch.

It is interesting and well-worth reading.


The New Couple in 5B
reviewed on + 3083 more book reviews


When I saw this has timeline parts I quit--I don't read anything that has that format!

Read reviews, along the line of Rosemary's Baby, anyone read that one lately? doubt it


Hunted Hotshot Hero (Hotshot Heroes, Bk 10) (Harlequin Romantic Suspense, No 2273)
scoutmomskf avatar reviewed on + 2527 more book reviews


Fast-paced suspense with nearly nonstop action that kept me glued to the pages well past my bedtime. I could not put it down until I had finished reading it. This book has two targets. Rory, as a member of the hotshot team experiencing attacks by a saboteur, and Brittney, a reporter determined to unearth the truth behind the plane crash that only Rory and Ethan (Hotshot Hero in Disguise) survived. The book opens with Rory in a coma because of an attack at the firehouse, followed by Brittney receiving threats to stop her investigation.

Brittney is like a dog with a bone in that she refuses to back down. Despite the threats, she heads back to Northern Lakes to try to talk to Rory and Evan again. She is shot at and wrecks, ending up in the hospital just as Rory is being released. Instead of avoiding her like he intended, Rory is talked into watching over her until her brother arrives. That includes keeping her from haring off to investigate her crash. Rory has good reason to avoid Brittney. He has secrets that could get him killed if they come out. He also can't deny the unexpected and unwelcome need to protect her.

I loved watching Rory and Brittney team up. Initially, there is some distrust between them. Brittney knows Rory is hiding something big and won't give up until she uncovers it. Rory believes that Brittney would sell her soul for a story without regard for its consequences. As they worked together to identify the attacker, Brittney and Rory became closer and protective of each other. The attacks escalated in frequency and intensity, leading Rory to take desperate measures to keep them safe. Rory's confession was not what I expected and added to my respect for him. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. I could feel Rory and Brittney's fear for each other's safety as they faced their unexpected foe. I loved the ending and seeing them admit their feelings for each other.

The book begins and ends with scenes involving the saboteur targeting the hotshot team. It is now clearly a fellow member, but we must determine which one. The pool of possibilities is shrinking, and I can't wait to discover who it is and why they are doing it.

#netgalley


Baby Shoes: 100 Stories by 100 Authors
cwousn avatar reviewed on + 85 more book reviews


Truthfully, I only read half of this book. Every story was well written. They ran a gamut of subjects. Some were complete unto themselves. Others seemed as if they were the first chapter or an introduction to a longer tale and left me with a sense of dissatisfaction. Others just left me perplexed. So I'm leaving off to more predictable climes. Recommended, but read at your own peril.


The Engagement Party: A Novel
reviewed on + 3083 more book reviews


I think this book is a big mess!

It's another--lure everyone to a deserted island, power goes out, cell phones don't work, dead body, creepy? not really, old college friends that act foolish etc

This just wasn't a very good or written well book, it was mostly a jumbled mess and I didn't like any of the characters


The Burning (Kate Burkholder, 16)
esjro avatar reviewed on + 900 more book reviews


The Burning by Linda Casitillo is the 16th novel in the Kate Burkholder police procedural series. The reader is plunged immediately into the action as a former Amish man is burned alive by an unknown assailant as an apparent punishment for some unidentified transgressions. Police Chief Burkholder, her now husband and BCI Agent John Tomasetti, and Kate's small police force must uncover secrets about the victim that the Amish would prefer to keep hidden in order to determine who committed such a brutal crime. The case becomes personal when Kate's brother becomes a suspect.

The Kate Burkholder series remains of remarkably high quality even after 16 novels and numerous novellas and short stories. Those who have read the entire series will recognize some recurring formulas: Kate goes off by herself and almost gets killed (she really could use some funding for additional deputies), there is a tense conversation with the bishop, and Kate and John struggle with emotional intimacy. Nonetheless, I have read and will continue to read every entry of this consistently excellent series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this book. The thoughts and opinions shared in this review are my own.


Jarhead : A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles
fog avatar reviewed on + 139 more book reviews


If one is too believe the author the USMC is full of undisciplined men whose only interest is sex and drunkenness. Midway in to the book the author talks about a fellow Marine who embellishes and exaggerates his exploits and says that is the way a Marine will be to garner attention and to try and prove his importance tot he rest of the Marines. Well the author is just as guilty with his his embellishments. In the first part of the book he recalls going to a funeral for a fellow Marine and spends the time drinking and bar fighting. I highly doubt that any Marine called to honor a fallen comrade would resort to this type of behavior. His quote â â¦the great disrespect we'd done her dead son, that our drunken and violet behavior had permanently tarnished his deathâ¦.â He also embellishes what the Marine recruiters tell him while trying to enlist himâ¦they, the recruiters, plying his head with hookers to be bought, sex unimaginable to be had and raunchy parties to attend. While this book, for those not familiar with the military , may seem daring and up front hardline all I can say is there is a tagline that all veterans use to start a storyâ¦.âThere I wasâ¦â. It's called either ra war story or a sea story for the Navy and that is what this first words of this book should have been- âThere I wasâ¦..â
Taken as a true account of the USMC during Desert Storm this book leaves a lot to be trusted but taken as a novel, pure fiction, it could be considered a good book.


One Perfect Lie
RosieLPL avatar reviewed on + 2 more book reviews


Good read


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