Cute story, good holiday fare. The girls made a pact to see each other married, and the younger brother proves to be a much better man than the one thCute story, good holiday fare. The girls made a pact to see each other married, and the younger brother proves to be a much better man than the one the heroine's been set up with....more
I recently read a fairly early book by Colgan, and this one, published some 18 years later, is certainly on a whole other level. In her earlier books I recently read a fairly early book by Colgan, and this one, published some 18 years later, is certainly on a whole other level. In her earlier books it seems to me she is very much dealing with the rather cloistered life of young(ish) adults, with their problems of romance, flat shares, jobs... but it remains very insular. In the Kirrinfief series (and probably elsewhere) she begins to touch on issues beyond the British isles - there, there is a character working to send money home to his family in Eastern Europe. Here we have the very real and painful situation of a refugee, waiting anxiously for news from his family, left behind. Here too, although it is a romance novel (at least there's a happily ever after for now, for Flora, the main character), not all is soap bubbles and roses - death and illness intrude, just as they so annoyingly do in real life. I love that this is set in the Scottish isles, and look forward to reading the rest of this series. ...more
The first in a new series, and the first that I've read co-authored with L.H. Cosway. I found this considerably steamier than many of the Penny Reid'sThe first in a new series, and the first that I've read co-authored with L.H. Cosway. I found this considerably steamier than many of the Penny Reid's I'd read - perhaps this is a by-product of this collaboration. I am certainly not complaining. Although I found the pairing of Annie and Ronan rather unlikely, I did very much enjoy the book (and appreciated the pun in the title). I do like the diversity offered in many of Reid's stories. I'll be curious to see how the rest of this series goes....more
The other title for this book is Talking to Addison, and this appears to be (one of?) the first books written by Jenny Colgan. This wasn't one of my fThe other title for this book is Talking to Addison, and this appears to be (one of?) the first books written by Jenny Colgan. This wasn't one of my favorites, as here the heroine is so all over the place that it's hard to warm up to her. All's well that end's well, but it's a bit too close to slapstick for my taste. I don't know how people not at all familiar with British society, social classes etc would react to some of the humor - I'm sure much went over my head although I do have some notions of what was being alluded to. Read on a journey, entertaining, but not quite the Colgan hug of a book I was hoping for. ...more
Comme je savais que mon mari apprécie beaucoup cette auteur, j'ai decidé de m'y lancer. L'entrée en matière est un peu lente, avec les differentes couComme je savais que mon mari apprécie beaucoup cette auteur, j'ai decidé de m'y lancer. L'entrée en matière est un peu lente, avec les differentes couches historiques, mais à la fin j'étais pleinement dedans. Interessant, et je suis contente de savoir que l'équipe reste ensemble dans d'autres (ou les autres?) livres de la series. ...more
Not sure where I heard about this, but where ever it was, it made it sound well worth reading. It was a pretty fun but very light read. not sure it waNot sure where I heard about this, but where ever it was, it made it sound well worth reading. It was a pretty fun but very light read. not sure it was quite up to all the hype. I found the heroine‘s impulsiveness rather irritating, also her initial „lie by omission“ seemed just silly and so not worth the repercussions....more
Let me say straight off that I am a huge fan of this author's books, so it's easy to say I enjoyed this one too. I did, however, find Ned's issues verLet me say straight off that I am a huge fan of this author's books, so it's easy to say I enjoyed this one too. I did, however, find Ned's issues very confusing. Maybe I wasn't in the correct frame of mind while reading this but somehow I found it hard to really discern what was going on or if there was some sort of latent diagnosis I was missing. I have hypotheses, of course, and a number of ideas, but I spent a bit too much time trying to figure that out. This lack of clarity was of course what Kate has to learn to manage... and their to-ing and fro-ing and skirting around each other was at times almost painful. The challenge Ned joined his wife in, helping Kate's friend, was major and crucial, and I really appreciated that part of the story. On the whole, as always, I really liked this, but there were a number of aspects which were a bit of a trial... Maybe I need to read it again at a less busy time. ...more
C'est peut-être un peu exageré que d'étiqueter ce livre comme suspense, dans la mésure que l'on ne sent pas de danger ou grande menace pour ceux qui sC'est peut-être un peu exageré que d'étiqueter ce livre comme suspense, dans la mésure que l'on ne sent pas de danger ou grande menace pour ceux qui sont encore vivants dans l'histoire, mais il y a quand-même un mystère à resoudre. Je ne connaissais pas cet auteur, pourtant très connu, mais j'étais bien contente de le découvrir. Les deux protagonistes sont tellement revêches l'un avec l'autre que la suite est relativement prévisible. Je ne veux pas dévoiler quoi que ce soit, mais on est porté en avant, voulant savoir comment les choses vont se résoudre. Absente de la vie quotidienne française pendant plus de vingt ans, ce livre était aussi instructif sur le langage contemporain!...more
A while ago now this author and one of her books was talked up on a podcast I listen to regularly, but I don't remember which of the books in this serA while ago now this author and one of her books was talked up on a podcast I listen to regularly, but I don't remember which of the books in this series was discussed. I may just have to go on and read the third, as I don't think this was it.
I usually enjoy steamy books (and this one fit that bill completely) but I was not really drawn into this. Maybe the situations described are simply too remote and alien for me to relate to them? This being said I read loads of books far removed from my life, and often am able to sink into them fully. Is it the bad guy tamed by the good girl trope I struggle with? I wouldn't think so... I don't know, but I guess at some point I will give this series another go....more
I heard about this author on a podcast (I think) and had read a different book by her, but was not really blown away. I think this book was then mentiI heard about this author on a podcast (I think) and had read a different book by her, but was not really blown away. I think this book was then mentioned and I decided to check it out. I liked it more than the other, and it made for a nicely entertaining read during an all-day train ride. This fits into a specific genre- it happens I've read a number of Jenny Colgan books which are like this - city girl makes good in the country after initial bumbling (here read: arrogance, pre-conceived notions etc etc). The switch element is fun and it's enjoyable -seeing the grandmother smoothly humanize the big city is heart-lifting, although I don't know to what extent it's credible. A fun read, even if a number of aspects are so wildly predictable. ...more
A fun train read. It seems to me that I wasn't so keen on the previous book by this author that I read, and this reminded me that I do generally enjoyA fun train read. It seems to me that I wasn't so keen on the previous book by this author that I read, and this reminded me that I do generally enjoy her stories. ...more
This is the third and probably last in this series (although hope springs eternal). I liked this one the best. It’s interesting that in all three, theThis is the third and probably last in this series (although hope springs eternal). I liked this one the best. It’s interesting that in all three, the heroine has some sort of condition… here it’s diabetes. I am not entirely sure why I liked this one more than the others, but I appreciated the hero a lot - strong, but so human, and the wise-cracking and oh so clever (genius) heroine was great. ...more
Read on the train. This is probably the last in the series (although there are, as ever in life, a few unresolved threads). I enjoyed these books veryRead on the train. This is probably the last in the series (although there are, as ever in life, a few unresolved threads). I enjoyed these books very much and found the various stories (don’t want to create a spoiler) moving. So glad I chose the first from a bookcrossing VBB....more
This was on some list somewhere so I put it on hold at the virtual library. I knew it was the Jim from Huckleberry Finn - but ideally I suppose I shouThis was on some list somewhere so I put it on hold at the virtual library. I knew it was the Jim from Huckleberry Finn - but ideally I suppose I should have re-read the original perhaps. This being said I really appreciated this book. I was dazzled by the code switching and the ingenuity and philosophical meanderings of James. An excellent read which I will recommend for my bookclub....more
I didn't realize this was a novella when I borrowed this from the virtual library. It made for a very quick read. I read the previous book in the seriI didn't realize this was a novella when I borrowed this from the virtual library. It made for a very quick read. I read the previous book in the series far too long ago to find the link with this. As ever I appreciate Milan's scientists and mathmaticians and all round smart women. Here it's the mother who is the genius, and I very much liked how that worked out....more
When my bookclub decided to discuss this one next, I was convinced I had a copy somewhere and had probably even already read it. Not the case, and to When my bookclub decided to discuss this one next, I was convinced I had a copy somewhere and had probably even already read it. Not the case, and to my surprise it was not easy to come by on the virtual library. Fortunately the copy I ordered came relatively quickly. This seems to be my week for reading very strange books. On the whole I enjoyed this, but I can't say it's a whole-hearted yes. This being said, I'm still mulling. The story drove me on, the writing was engaging, the characters were complex and strong... but somehow I found myself wondering "why?". Is there some huge metaphor happening here, or an analogy that I am missing? The main character is mostly endearing, but not always, and the book certainly provides an interesting take on America, especially at the beginning of the previous century. The various tragedies and difficulties faced and somehow endured are - dizzying. Perhaps that's the point. I'll be curious to hear what the others have to say when we discuss it later this month....more
At some point I needed to check the date of publication for this one, which is pretty telling in and of itself. Early on in the book I have to admit tAt some point I needed to check the date of publication for this one, which is pretty telling in and of itself. Early on in the book I have to admit that I started wondering if this was a joke - how many ludicrous tropes can we throw in and still get away with it? I generally enjoy time travel books a lot, and ironically just finished another book about time travelling, but a very different mood. No werewolves in that one. This came pretty close to a DNF, but short of losing the book I try not to do that. I figure the author put the time and work in, I can at least see where it goes. I have enjoyed some of the books written by her under the name of Dawn MacTavish, although I see that many of the things that irritated me in her other books (under both names) prevail here. For one, the fact that the hero behaves like a beast even when he is theoretically himself, and yet the heroine is swept away by him is simply baffling. She fell in love with his portrait?? Every time he might begin to redeem himself by behaving like a normal person, he screams at a servant, belittles a local or loses his temper or whatever. The "not my nephew" is a whole labyrinth in and of itself... The relationship with the Gypsy healer... The confusing explanations of lay lines.. Good news, I did read it to the end. If it was a prank, kudos for getting it published, I guess. Not my cuppa. ...more
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