I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel, which also happens to be my last book for the When Are You Reading? challenge. I didn’t hook me from tI really enjoyed this historical fiction novel, which also happens to be my last book for the When Are You Reading? challenge. I didn’t hook me from the start as I had a few problems with it. I actually started off listening to the audiobook a few months ago keen to get the challenge finished. Unfortunately I didn’t like the way the narrator was reading it, so switched to the paperback when it was available at the library. It’s a dual timeline story set in the 1400s and also the present day.The present day story was absolutely fine, but I had problems with the 1400s story. Last year I listened to an audiobook also set in the 1400s, about the same family, and I kept getting confused about them and thinking about that book. My mind would not switch off about the other book and took my enjoyment of the story away. This was actually a clever mystery that I would otherwise have loved if my brain had shut up and let me enjoy it. I loved how it was all tied up at the end and how the mystery of Caitlin’s disappearance was explained. This hasn’t put me off the author at all, in fact I already have her latest book, The Winter Garden, out from the library. Definitely recommended if you enjoy dual timeline historical fiction novels....more
I love this series and was so glad when this latest audiobook popped up on Scribd recently. This is book ten and the series is still going strong. ThisI love this series and was so glad when this latest audiobook popped up on Scribd recently. This is book ten and the series is still going strong. This story is set in New York, where Kat was born and grew up, and she was supposed to be showing Harry around her hometown whilst they were there on holiday. If you’re familiar with the series you’ll know that there’s no way that that was going to happen, because they always get caught up in something and this time it was a kidnapping case. This was the first time Harry and Kat were involved in such a case and you could tell they weren’t too sure how to tackle it. Fortunately help was at hand in the guise of friends, family and a former mentor of Kat’s to guide them a long the way. Just like in an Agatha Christie mystery everyone seemed suspicious and looked like they could be involved in Teddy’s disappearance. Harry and Kat had to work quickly to discover what was going on so that they could hopefully rescue Teddy in time, although they didn’t quite expect such a big show down, and neither did I! I loved the descriptions of New York in the sweltering heat, and I loved the way Harry marvelled at all the sights and sounds of the city, it really made me feel like I was there with them. As always Nathaniel Parker’s narration was perfect. I loved all the different New York accents he did for all the different characters, he really did bring this story to life in a brilliant way! I highly recommend this on audio if you enjoy cosy mysteries set in the 1920s....more
I loved this audiobook. In fact I loved it so much that I ended up buying it, even though it was included in the audible plus catalogue. It’s a lovelyI loved this audiobook. In fact I loved it so much that I ended up buying it, even though it was included in the audible plus catalogue. It’s a lovely book full of fun, adventures, and magic. It was the perfect escape from real life. There were so many funny moments throughout as the children went on adventures with both the carpet and the phoenix. Their parents were hardly around most of the time. Their father was at work, and their mother seemed to go off visiting relatives or getting away for health reasons, and just leaving the children with the servants. I know this book is over a hundred years old, but it was so odd!! The children weren’t bothered about being left by themselves, in fact they loved the adventures, because they were really bored stuck at home in Camden, in London. I loved the BBC series when I was a child, but had never read the book, probably because it was considered a classic, and I didn’t read classics except for O’levels and the less said about that the better! I’ve just discovered a clip of the series from 1976 on YouTube and although it looks pretty ropey, it captures the book very well. Johanna Ward’s narration was perfect, she brought all the characters to life brilliantly. I particularly liked her portrayal of the Phoenix, who although pompous at times was also good fun. If you enjoy children’s books I highly recommend this lovely story, especially on audio. ...more
I enjoyed this audiobook, a story I’ve been meaning to read for years, having enjoyed the TV series with Richard E. Grant, and of course Carry on Don’I enjoyed this audiobook, a story I’ve been meaning to read for years, having enjoyed the TV series with Richard E. Grant, and of course Carry on Don’t Lose Your Head. It began really slowly and I almost gave up, until at last the mystery began and the pace quickened. It wasn’t the swashbuckling adventure I was expecting, but rather more of a slow story of cat and mouse and secret identity. It was actually first written as a play in 1903 by the author, who then due to it’s popularity turned it into a novel, which then became a series. Whilst listening, I Googled the story to see if there was any truth to it, and discovered on Wikipedia something quite different to what I was expecting: “Orczy’s premise of a daring hero who cultivates a secret identity disguised by a meek or ineffectual manner proved enduring. Zorro, Doctor Syn, the Shadow, the Spider, the Phantom, Superman and Batman followed within a few decades, and the trope remains a popular one in serial fiction today. Read by Stan Lee as a boy, the Marvel co-creator called The Scarlet Pimpernel “the first character who could be called a superhero.” Maybe next time I’m watching a Marvel film I’ll be thinking about the Scarlet Pimpernel! ...more
This was a wonderful historical fiction set during the Spanish Civil by a new to me author, Maggie Brookes. I do love historical fiction, especially whThis was a wonderful historical fiction set during the Spanish Civil by a new to me author, Maggie Brookes. I do love historical fiction, especially when I don’t much about the setting. I’ve only read one book set during the Spanish Civil War, so I was eager to read this and it did not disappoint at all. I was hooked right from the first page and enjoyed every single minute. I loved the main character Lucy, and could understand her frustration about her home situation, and the reason why she went off to Spain to bring the brothers back. She was very brave, but also a little naive to think she could bring them home. The romance was complicated and I could understand why she felt the way she did about both Jamie and Tom. I was fascinated with the situation in Spain and how the two brothers were facing it, and how Lucy got stuck in to helping the refugees. I felt like I was there with her and the other characters trying to help. I particularly liked the information about the children’s homes and the printing presses, really fascinating. the author’s note at the end of the book was illuminating, definitely worth reading. Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Cornerstone for my digital copy...more
Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! After loving Daisy Jones on audio back in 2020, I wasn’t quite ready for Malibu Rising when it was published laTaylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! After loving Daisy Jones on audio back in 2020, I wasn’t quite ready for Malibu Rising when it was published last year. I listened to a sample, but it really didn’t grab me and in fact I thought it sounded rather boring. I mean who wants to read about rich entitled people having a party? Not me that’s for sure! So what changed to make me listen to it a a year later? I remembered Jonetta @ Blue Mood Cafe’s fantastic review, and then bought the Kobo ebook for 99p, and then the audiobook was an Audible daily for £1.99, so I had to take a chance! I’m so glad I did, as I’ve loved every single minute listening to the story of the Riva family. Just like Daisy Jones and the Six I felt like I was listening to the saga of a real family. How does she do it? Make you believe that her characters are real people, like it’s a documentary and not a novel I’ve been listening to?! I felt like I’d been transported to Malibu and time travelled back through the years as I learnt more about the family, from the late 1950s up until the night of the party in the 1980s. I could see the fashions people were wearing, and imagine the music they were listening to, and see the cars they were driving. In other words I was there in my mind whilst listening! I loved the Riva children, (especially Nina) and their Mum June, but I detested their father Mick Riva, particularly from the beginning. Nina was amazing and reminded me a lot of my eldest sister, but without all the sacrifices Nina made over the years. As for the party? Well that felt real too with all the different people there, famous people and normal party goers. Oh yes Carrie Soto, from the author’s next book, was there too! I can’t wait for that book, which comes out next month, especially as it’s all about tennis! Of course I can’t write this review without mentioning the amazing voice talents of Julia Whelan. She did a phenomenal job with all the different characters in this book. This book confirms to me that she is still very much one of my favourite narrators! Highly recommended, especially on audio!...more
I enjoyed this audiobook, although it was quite slow in the beginning. However, thinking it back on it now, I realise there were lots of clues as to wI enjoyed this audiobook, although it was quite slow in the beginning. However, thinking it back on it now, I realise there were lots of clues as to where the story was headed and what was going on. Miss Marple wasn’t very involved in this story, but she did help the Chief Inspector a lot, especially towards the end. I’ve actually listened to an excellent BBC radio version with June Whitfield as Miss Marple, but couldn’t remember much about it. I also saw a TV adaption a while ago and didn’t really enjoy it as it felt too whimsical and aspects of it seemed to be highly unlikely. I was very pleased that this original story was so much better, more realistic for time period. Stephanie Cole’s performance was fantastic! I’d heard her read The Body in the Library, another Miss Marple a few years ago, so I knew I was going to be for a good time with this audiobook. ...more
I do love a Maisie Dobbs story and have been reading Jacqueline Winspear’s fab series for years I always love catching up with Maisie. I love finding I do love a Maisie Dobbs story and have been reading Jacqueline Winspear’s fab series for years I always love catching up with Maisie. I love finding out what’s going in her personal and professional life, it’s like I’m catching up with an old friend. This is the 17th book in the series and while it’s not my favourite in the series, it’s still a good historical cosy mystery. I must admit that I did get a bit confused at times with the ins and outs of the mystery, because there were a few strands to it, but that’s definitely down to me as my concentration hasn’t been that great recently. As always Jacqueline Winspear writes about really interesting aspects of the time and I loved reading about different women involved in the Air Transport Axillary. They really were very brave women ferrying RAF aircraft to different parts of the country, without no back up and no way to defend themselves against enemy aircraft! I knew about these women but didn’t realise that they weren’t able to defend themselves should the need arise! I also didn’t realise that on occasion aircraft was flown all the way from Canada and that there were no toilets on board, so the pilots had to wear adult nappies! I also loved seeing a different feisty side to Maisie in this book with regard to her daughter Anna and bullying at school. It was really good to see Maisie in protective mother mode, rather than her usual professional mode, and it really suited her! I still love this series and definitely recommend it if you enjoy cosy historical mysteries set in WW2. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy via the NetGalley app....more
This was an amazing audiobook, one that I found via Twitter around Holocaust Memorial Day last month. I’d not heard of Eddie Jaku before which is extrThis was an amazing audiobook, one that I found via Twitter around Holocaust Memorial Day last month. I’d not heard of Eddie Jaku before which is extraordinary as his story is incredible! I loved Jacek Koman’s narration, he really brought Eddie’s story to life, and I felt like I was actually listening to Eddie himself. One thing that Eddie mentioned throughout his story, was how important friends were to him over the years, especially in Auschwitz. He said that one friend in particular kept him going, and it reminded him of his father’s words, that friendship and love were more important than money or possessions. He also remembered how important his education had been, particularly his education in engineering, that saved him from the gas chambers many times. He really was an inspiration even after the war when he moved to Australia with his new wife Flore. I must admit that it was a very difficult listen at times, especially as he described the horrors he went through, revealing things I’d not read before, or maybe not taken in before from books about the Holocaust. It was an upsetting story, but also a hopeful one and one I’m very glad to have listened to. Definitely recommended if you are interested in Holocaust memoirs....more
I enjoyed this audiobook by Kate Mosse, the second book in the Languedoc trilogy. Just like the first book Labyrinth, I actually read this back in 2011I enjoyed this audiobook by Kate Mosse, the second book in the Languedoc trilogy. Just like the first book Labyrinth, I actually read this back in 2011, and going by my original brief 2 star review on Goodreads, I thought it was very slow and only got better towards the end. I didn’t like some of the main characters in the 1891 timeline and mostly preferred the modern day story. This time however the story grew on me and I enjoyed it a lot more. It was a slow burn of a novel which doesn’t always work for me. I preferred the modern timeline from the beginning, but the 1891 storyline definitely improved for me in the second half of the book. I realise now that Kate Mosse likes to slowly build the storylines in her books, so that you get to know her characters and settings deeply, as the tension and mystery grows. There was a lot of tension and mystery in this book, involving Tarot cards and local folklore. Some of the story is set in the autumn months leading up to Halloween, so I think it would make a perfect spooky book for that time of year. The characters that annoyed me last time weren’t as irritating this time, and I could even understand why they behaved in the way they did. It was good to be reacquainted with one of my favourite characters from Labyrinth, in fact I’m pretty sure they are in all three books. I’m still not sure if I enjoyed Lorelei King’s narration, sometimes she was a bit too mysterious in her presentation, but she was very good at the different characters’ accents. Part of the problem was that I was listening to an old library audiobook alongside the updated ebook and there were quite a few differences in the text (changed chapters and updated writing). Also in one of the final chapters she kept using the wrong name for one of the characters in a key moment in the story, which definitely didn’t help! :/ Apart from those niggles I enjoyed this book more this time, and definitely recommend the trilogy if you enjoy historical fiction with dual timelines. However I do suggest you either listen to the audiobook or read the book, not both like I did!...more
I love this series featuring American Cambridge History Professor Tom Wilde, and always look forward to a new book at this time of year. Mostly set in I love this series featuring American Cambridge History Professor Tom Wilde, and always look forward to a new book at this time of year. Mostly set in Germany in the summer of 1945, the Allies are on the hunt for Hitler believing he is still alive somewhere in the mountains. Tom Wilde is called in to join the search, partnered by Lieutenant Mozes Heck, a Dutchman in the British Army, who detests Nazis with a passion. A real loose canon who gave me the feeling that anything could happen when he was asking the questions! I felt very sorry for Tom at the beginning of this book when Philip Eaton of British Intelligence came calling again. As far as Tom was concerned the war was over, he was finally feeling settled at home again with Lydia and Johnny their young son. Tom’s instant reaction was that there was no way he was going to leave home again, but Lydia managed to convince him that he’d be a fool not to go looking for Hitler. And so a hunt for the most hated man in the world begins, taking Tom Wilde already over Germany as he follows leads from former Nazis who’d been close to their leader. Was Hitler alive and hiding, or had he really killed himself in his bunker in Berlin? Their path was full of unknown dangers and twists and turns, as Wilde and Heck looked for information in the villages of the Bavarian countryside, refugee camps and the mostly obliterated cities of Germany. I learnt so much about Germany in 1945 reading this book. I didn’t realise how devastating the Allied bombing had been, leaving people starving and homeless. I was shocked to learn that the refugee camps were guarded by Germans who’d probably been Nazis and were now in charge of Jewish refugees!! What a truly nightmarish scenario! This was another fab book in this fantastic series, with a lovely twist at the end, that will hopefully continue the series with more adventures for Tom Wilde, and Lydia too! Thanks to the publishers for my copy for the blog tour....more
I absolutely loved this audiobook by Kate Mosse, the first book in the Languedoc trilogy. I actually read this back in 2011, and going by my original bI absolutely loved this audiobook by Kate Mosse, the first book in the Languedoc trilogy. I actually read this back in 2011, and going by my original brief 3 star review on Goodreads, I thought it was very slow and confusing, but got better in the second half. This time however I was hooked from the beginning, and loved every minute of it. It was one of those stories that I felt fully immersed in, because the writing, characters, and plot were all so compelling. I loved both the 1205 and 2005 timelines. Louise Brealey’s narration was superb, bringing the story and the characters to life beautifully. Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction with dual timelines on audio....more
This was a fab audiobook transporting me to Ancient Rome through the eyes of twelve year old Dido, and her desire to become a charioteer and race in tThis was a fab audiobook transporting me to Ancient Rome through the eyes of twelve year old Dido, and her desire to become a charioteer and race in the Circus Maximus. This was such a good book full of thrills and drama and wonderfully researched details of ancient Rome. I read a book by the author years ago under a different name, also set in Ancient Rome, so I knew I’d be in for treat with this one. Dido was a great character a teenager who wasn’t annoying but was very focussed on what she wanted in a very male world. I loved following her journey from daughter of a well respected chariot trainer to outcast and then what happens afterwards is so exciting. If you love horses and all things Roman you’ll definitely enjoy this book. Eva Feiler’s narration was perfect, she really brought all the characters to life. I particularly liked her portrayal of Dido, Scorpus, Cassius, Justus, Atticus and the Emperor Caligula! If you enjoy middle grade children’s books I highly recommend this fantastic book on audio and can’t wait to listen to book 2!...more
I really enjoyed this audiobook and think it’s one of my favourite Miss Marple stories. It’s actually the last Miss Marple, and was published posthumoI really enjoyed this audiobook and think it’s one of my favourite Miss Marple stories. It’s actually the last Miss Marple, and was published posthumously in 1976. I actually watched the TV dramatisation of this book a while ago, so I knew who the murderer was. I still wanted to listen to it, as I wasn’t sure if it had been changed for TV. As I listened to the story unfold I realised that it had been changed quite a bit, with a completely new storyline and new characters added. I can understand why it was necessary as I don’t think it would have transferred well to the screen without the new additions. I actually preferred the original story a lot more than the TV episode. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the house, and how Gwenda and her new husband went about trying to find out what happened all those years ago. Fortunately Miss Marple was there to gently guide them along the way, and even warn them in the beginning to leave well alone. I loved how she ‘innocently’ manoeuvred herself to be staying in the same seaside town as the young couple. She isn’t in the book very much, which seems to be the norm, but I loved it when she did appear, as her gentle manner seemed to bring a calm to the story. I enjoyed Stephanie Cole’s performance, but did find that some of her country accents were very simliar, fortunately it didn’t spoil the story because I loved her portrayal of Gwenda and Miss Marple....more
I listened to this for the When Are You Reading? challenge, to fit the 1500 to 1699 category. I loved the historical detail in this book, it was fasciI listened to this for the When Are You Reading? challenge, to fit the 1500 to 1699 category. I loved the historical detail in this book, it was fascinating, particularly how Henry VIII brought about the end of his first marriage, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. I’d never really thought about the intricacies of how it all happened, and this book richly imagines all the corruption and skulduggery that went on. I’m very glad I’m alive now and not in Tudor times, and especially not part of Thomas Cromwell’s world. You couldn’t trust anyone in Henry VIII’s court, or anyone remotely connected to him. Also with the religious persecution going on, as well, it was a terrifying time to be alive, and that’s without the low mortality rate! Dan Stevens narration was superb, and was one of the reasons I listened to this abridged version. It brought the book to life perfectly confirming that he is still one of my favourite narrators. I can see why this book has won prizes and why the whole trilogy has been raved about, but it was a bit too heavy for me. I certainly wouldn’t want to listen to the unabridged version of over 25 hours, and definitely not read it at almost 700 pages! However, I might return and listen to the other abridged audiobooks of the trilogy, if the When Are You Reading? challenge is still going in 2023 and 2024. I definitely recommend it to lovers of historical fiction set in Tudor times....more
This was such a wonderful audiobook! I actually pre-ordered the hardback in 2018 and it’s been sitting patiently on my bookshelves for years. It was eThis was such a wonderful audiobook! I actually pre-ordered the hardback in 2018 and it’s been sitting patiently on my bookshelves for years. It was even on my 20 Books of Summer list a few times, but this year I was too embarrassed to add it just in case I ignored it again! :/ Of course I’m kicking myself for not reading it back then as it was so, so good! Emmy was a wonderful character as was her best friend and flat mate Bunty! I loved their friendship and loved the glimpse I had into their wartime lives. As well as being uplifting it was also quite sad at times, and rather tense when the air raids were going on and Emmy was manning the telephones for the Pimlico fire station. I can’t imagine what life must have been like for those on the Home Front, or how many lives were lost and buildings destroyed during that time. How did people keep going? Thank goodness there were Agony Aunts to help those who didn’t have any one to turn to, but thank goodness they weren’t all like Henrietta Bird!! Anna Popplewell’s narration was perfect, she really brought all the characters to life. I particularly liked her portrayal of Emmy, Bunty, Clarence the post boy, Lord Overton, and of course the formidable Mrs Bird! If you enjoy uplifting books set during WW2, I highly recommend this on audio, and can’t wait to listen to the follow up, Yours Cheerfully!...more
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