Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review

Pride and Prejudice and puppies? Should be a home run for me.

And yes, whilst I loved the love story that is woven between Kelsey and Ian, there are things (that run throughout the series so far) that just annoyed me so much I had to take half a star off.

So, here we go *takes a deep breath* the people of Helen, Alaska need to take a good, hard look at themselves and grow the eff up

There, I said it.

The fued between the two families is making all those involved look stupid, and ruining a wonderful town,

I liked that Kelsey has finally stood up to her father and told him what's what.

I liked that Ian is telling people that the fued is stupid.

I loved the puppers.

I loved Kelsey and Ian together,

Now, please, in future Heart of Alaska stories, please can we end this dumb a$$ feud.

I do want to read more of the series, but any more of these so called grown ups acting like 2 year olds might be enough to do me in,


a>

ARC received from 852 Press for an honest review

Wow! Richard Evans has given us his best book yet with The Kill Bill.

From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked. I didn't want to put it down to go to work,

Many stories and lives intertwine, all seamlessly coming together as we wander through the minefield that is voluntary euthanasia (note, I am all for it. We treat animals better at end of life than we do human beings, but that is a debate to have with me another day).

One thing that I am certain about is that we need a separation of church and state. As an athiest myself, I do not want a church telling me how to live my life, and they should not be getting involved in our government systems (again, another debate to have with me another day) and when the Vatican gets itself involved in Australian legislation in The Kill Bill, it cements that for me. They have enough things they should be looking at in their own house instead of getting involved here.

And it only made me hate the church more.

I like how the main players in this tale - The Prime Minister, the Attorney General and a PM wannabe/treasurer take different stands on the church involvement, even when they are conflicted. I liked how this was dealt with.

Richard Evans experience as a politician shines through as he tells a tale full of scandals, ethical dilemmas, and the tale as old as time - everyone out for what they can get for themselves.

He delivers the world of political and church machinations, the wheelings and dealings that will get you thinking (and probably adding another healthy level of cynacism to it!)

I hope we get more of the Referendum series in the future.


a>

Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

What a lovely tale Joanna Nell has told us with The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital.

My mother worked at a hospital for a lot of my childhood, and my sister spent a huge chunk of time int he children's ward at the same hospital,so as I was reading this story, I was picturing the cafeteria at that hospital.

And yes, I could see the Hilary, the Joy and the Chloe in the ladies that ran that cafeteria.

I enjoyed peeling back the layers of these ladies as the story progressed, and the friendships that they build. These three ladies shouldn't work, would never have met outside of the cafe environment, but they really do come together well and their friendships are true.

I also love how they come together really is fun and the way their attitudes to life shift is something we could all learn from.

This was my first Joanna Nell novel, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.


a>

Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

Well, what a delightful read The Clanlands Almanac was.

I enjoyed watching Men In Kilts, so to me this is just a more involved look into things to do in Scotland.

I mean, who needs a Lonely Planet guide when we have these guys?

You could hear their friendly jabs and jibing at each other come through as they give us a monthly run down of events in the Scottish calendar. I loved the history that they tell us, and I did laugh at their antics and their anecdotes.

I was quickly engaged in the story that Sam and Graham were telling, and I laughed out loud at times.

A thoroughly enjoyable romp through Scotland, it has made me want to go back and watch some Outlander.


a>

Wel, that was..... disappointing really.

I have been really looking forward to Colin's story, but he really was not the kind of man i was expecting.

Is that man menopausal? Bipolar? The mood swings had me wondering WTF?

And the big reveal at the end was just.... blah

I did freaking love everything about Penelope though

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I liked the premise of this book, and picked it because of he cute cover - what books isn't better with a dog or two?

I liked the story for the most part, however the pacing felt off, all over the place. Yes we spend a lot of time with background which takes longer, but then it drags, then raced to the reveal and the conclusion so fast my head was spinning.

And here is my bone to pick - the dogs have names, use them. To me it felt pretentious that every second time one of the main dogs, Harlow or Noodle were mentioned, we didn't get their name, we got their breed. Ugh. It was like we were reading a kennel club booklet. It might not bother anyone else, but it irritated me.

I liked the story enough that I would read more by this author or series if it were to happen.

DNF at 34%..
Wait, what, these women are 45? They came across as much much younger. I think if they were written as say 20 years younger they would come across as more believable.

The narrations were good, just the story didn't work for me

Copy received from author for an honest review

Cat Johnson had me at SEAL - like she always does.

But Shadow Lies didn't grab me like the other SEALs books and the other book in the Shadow SEALSs series by Ms Johnson.

I liked it, but it was more Karate Kid than sexy SEALs for me. Even as I write this I have Kung Fu Fighting playing in the back of my head.

I like Kane, I like Alexis, and adore them together (since she has crushed on him forever) however I just didn't really connect with the story at all. I wasn't invested in the SEALy stuff, and I spent most of the time disliking Charly and her machinations.

But this is probably just my thing and everyone else will probably love it.

ARC received for an honest review

Batter (and other things

Cute story, great narration (though some of the sound effects were a bit ick).

I have to say though, that Sam stole my hair!