Pam

I was drawn to this book because of the cover. I mean, seriously, it is so eye-catching.

I found this book interesting, but it felt a bit unorganized. The stories told would skip around; one moment, you are in the late 1960s, then you're in the mid-60s, and back. It made it hard to keep the women in the right place. And one of the women was really only mentioned in one chapter. Her story sounded the most interesting to me.

Great book! Wonderful characters!

Read my full review over at my blog: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=361

It's a quick and easy romance to read. There are a few spots, when Samson and Rhi are being intimate, that may be a bit more graphic than I was expecting or wanting to read at that moment.

But overall a good read.

It was the easy, mindless read I needed at the moment.

I'm not sure if my rating is because I didn't enjoy the audiobook's narrator or if it was the writing.

I found the first half of the story a bit slow, and I was tempted to just DNF it. I did finish it and was happy to see it get better as it went.

Check out my blog post for a more in-depth look at my opinion: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=306

Find my thoughts on the book at my blog: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=302

I appreciate the desire to tell multiple stories around a trip on the Orient Express, but I feel this would have been better had it focused more on one story. I was drawn into the Adele and Jack relationship, but at the same time, I felt it didn't belong. If the book had focused on Imogen and Danny, then the Adele and Jack part would have felt more appropriate.

To learn more about my thoughts on this book, visit my blog: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=299

If I could use half stars, I would give this 2.5 but I rounded up instead.

I enjoyed some parts of the book, but not a lot. The authors seemed to have trouble keep their times/days correct. The events all happened fairly close together, some on the same day. There were points the characters said something happened 2 nights ago instead of the previous night.

I also did not enjoy the addition of Holmes. Was he supposed to be comic relief?

Personally, I found this story powerful and moving. I found myself feeling sad for Adunni and horrified at some of her situations. She is a 14-year-old girl with a little education, lots of self-worth, yet valued by many around her as nothing more than something to be treated like an object and not a person.

I know it is a work of fiction, but I feel that the story tells the truth for many young girls the world over.

For a more in-depth review, check out my blog post: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=289

This was a bittersweet read for me. It's the end of an era, but it was a wonderful ending.

I don't think it's a spoiler to say that it ended the way we knew it would. It's Uncle Rick, and he can't be that evil where something negative would happen at the end of a series.

That said, the story was quite the adventure. One I enjoyed. One that I think many will enjoy.

Is it strange that my biggest issue with a book is the fact the chapters are so long? There are about 400 pages in the book and only 8 chapters.

The writing is brilliant. I loved looking at the darker side of superheroes.

For a more in-depth review, visit my blog: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=280

This is a great debut novel.

Set in WWII Germany, this book offers a look at what if, sort of. I say sort off because some of the characters are based on real people and set in real places.

The premise of the book has Anke, a midwife, brought from a labor camp to Berghof to assist Eva Braun deliver her baby. Who's the father, as Miss Braun isn't married? The Führer himself.

There appears to be speculation that the events may have actually happened. But no one really knows as the suspected infant was killed shortly after birth.

Visit my blog for a more in-depth review of this novel: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=273

This is an easy read, but one that left me feeling a little cold. I'm not sure why other than the fact Sen Roberts is not a nice person. It could also be that this book had lots of hype, and I just don't feel like it lived up to it.

Here is a link to my blog post where I give my opinion of the book: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=270

It's refreshing to see a plus-sized woman as the protagonist in a romance novel. So many times they are a side character, maybe the best friend or co-worker. But rarely the focal point.

Here is a link to my blog, where I share more of my thoughts on the book: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=267

In typical Christie form, you stumble across a dead body early in the book and then spend the rest of it trying to figure out who did it. In this entry, Poirot had 4 built-in suspects, as they were the only people in the room with the murdered man. But they all claim innocence and ignorance. So who committed the crime?

I read this as a part of the #ReadChristie2021 reading challenge at the official Agatha Christie website.

Arthur Pepper is a pensioner who is missing his wife. She passed away the year before the book starts. On the anniversary of her passing, Arthur decides it's time to clear her things away. While doing so he stumbles across a charm bracelet he didn't know about. And starts his journey of discovery.

I enjoyed Arthur's story. I found his story to be one that I found relate to. Yes, some of his escapades are a little far-fetched (tigers in England?! Really?) but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. In a matter of a few weeks, Arthur grows and learns more about not only his wife but himself. I feel we are all on a journey of self-discovery.

This was an enjoyable read. I would rate this more than 3 stars, but not quite 4. More like a 3.5?! The first 1/3 was a bit slow while setting up the story. The last 1/3 just flew.

There were also a few places in the book where the editing team missed stuff (won't and can't in next to each other in a sentence).

I did enjoy the brutal honesty in this book. I've lived in small towns, but none as small as Quinn. I understand the fact everyone knows everyone and what everyone is doing. BUT how in the heck does the whole town turn a blind eye to underage children drinking, doing drugs, and having sex? I am not talking about 16-19 year-olds, I'm talking 11-12 year-olds.

While there was the mystery you expect from Agatha Christie, I found this felt more like a spy novel. Maybe it's because Tommy and Tuppence are acting like spies? And there is a sprinkling of romance.

I first started reading this book in the summer of 2017, but I had to stop. There was a lot going on that summer that impacted me emotionally and this book just made it worse. For my sanity, and those around me, I decided to stop reading the book and turn to something “fluffier.” Fast forward to February 2021, and I knew I had to give this book another go. And I am glad that I did. I read this book in just a few days.

This is a glimpse into a reality I knew existed, but never really was a part of. I think this is a book that most people (if not all people) need to read. I honestly feel as though a lot of it was written from the author's life. As if she knew a Khalil, a Starr, a Maverick, even a DeVante and King.

This book is so wonderfully unbelievable that you could almost see this be someone's real life. How does Allan, a man with only 3 years of education, manage to be a part of so many important political things in the world? Especially as he professes to dislike all things political.

It was an easy read, other than the names of most of the towns/villages in Sweden but that's just because I don't speak Swedish. I enjoyed reading Allan's adventures and sharing the highlights with my family while I read.

This book has been on my TBR for a very long time. It's one that I knew I would need to have time to read, as it's not a small book by any means.

I'm not sure why everyone seems to love this book so much, as it is excessively detailed (2 pages of Atlanta's history prior to the war?!) Maybe it's the fact I'm reading the book in 2021, and not 1936 when it was written, but it could have done with a bit more editing.

Here's a link to my full review: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=190

This book flowed smoothly from story to story. I'm not sure how the author decided to order the stories as they are not in chronological order. Each one is 4-5 pages long.

My biggest issue with the book is the title. The book is called Shooting War, 18 Profiles of Conflict Photography, but roughly a third of the pictures in the book are not war related. One shown on the back of the book is from the Haiti earthquake, another is from the Oklahoma City bombing. Neither is from a war or conflict, but instead a crisis.

I enjoyed reading the stories of these men and women, and marveling at their resilience and resolve.

For my full review visit my blog: https://readbakecreate.com

They Do It With Mirrors is the 6th book written by Agatha Christie that featured Miss Jane Marple. The book was originally published in 1952. I include this information because there is a line in the book that while socially acceptable then, is not in present. I will not mention the line, because it is an offensive word. Nor will I rail in protest that the book still exists, and quite possibly still be in print, because I am not a gatekeeper of books. You have the freedom to chose what books to read, I am just informing you that there may be a word or phrase that you may find offensive.

I love reading Agatha Christie's novels because I am often left wondering who the culprit is until near the end. This novel was not one of those. I knew early on who the murderer was, but I did not know or grasp the reason until the end. I will also state that I did not find their demise at the end of the book to be satisfactory. I wished to know more about their reasoning. Ah well, I will have to be left wondering.

Trigger warnings: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, depression, anxiety, suicide

Wow! I knew the subject going in would be intense, but I was unprepared for the whole thing.

I have heard of the eating disorders mentioned in the book, but not how they may begin or the total impact on those who suffer and those who love them.

The writing was quick, the story while heavy was fairly easy to read and find yourself wanting to know more.

While there is 91 chapters, they are all fairly short. Many are 2-4 pages. The text is also short and snappy.

I think this is definitely a book everyone should read.