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jordanelliotbeaven's reviews
40 reviews
All the Lies by S.T. Abby
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The Babysitter by Sheryl Browne
3.0
As someone who likes remarkably fast paced, heart racing and breathtaking psychological thrillers this book was too slow for me. However, the story line and character’s perspective varying from chapter to chapter was great!
Overall the whole storyline is good, the plot, and the twists held my curiosity and wanted me to fray on to reach the end in order to find out what happened and how ‘the babysitter’ worked her ways.
I loved that each chapter was from the perspective of one of the three characters (Mel, Mark & Jade). It was very obvious from the start that Jade (the babysitter) wasn’t going to be nice, however I couldn’t take any liking to her which normally I do end up becoming quiet attached to the ‘baddie’ this time I couldn’t stand the character,and wanted everything coming her way to happen!
The author managed to keep grip of my interest although I did find the book becoming slow in parts and it took until a long way in for the pace to pick up however this book has been well written.
I’m a bit confused as to the last ‘chapter’ and if that means there is another book to come out as a follow.
I wouldn’t take just my views on this book written by Sheryl Browne in a way that should stop you from reading as you may read this book and think it held you at the edge of the seat. For me it didn’t but I would love to hear your views on ‘The Babysitter’
Overall the whole storyline is good, the plot, and the twists held my curiosity and wanted me to fray on to reach the end in order to find out what happened and how ‘the babysitter’ worked her ways.
I loved that each chapter was from the perspective of one of the three characters (Mel, Mark & Jade). It was very obvious from the start that Jade (the babysitter) wasn’t going to be nice, however I couldn’t take any liking to her which normally I do end up becoming quiet attached to the ‘baddie’ this time I couldn’t stand the character,and wanted everything coming her way to happen!
The author managed to keep grip of my interest although I did find the book becoming slow in parts and it took until a long way in for the pace to pick up however this book has been well written.
I’m a bit confused as to the last ‘chapter’ and if that means there is another book to come out as a follow.
I wouldn’t take just my views on this book written by Sheryl Browne in a way that should stop you from reading as you may read this book and think it held you at the edge of the seat. For me it didn’t but I would love to hear your views on ‘The Babysitter’
Being (Sick) Enough: Thoughts on Invisible Illness, Childhood Trauma, and Living Well When Surviving is Hard by Jessica Graham
4.0
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy of ‘Being (Sick) Enough” by Jessica Graham. This book which is due to be published on the 14th January 2025 was an incredible read for anyone that’s struggling from PTSD, invisible illnesses and those are tick the neurodivergent spark.
As a fellow person who deeply resonates with the experiences and struggles that Jessica’s Graham, reading this book felt like I finally had been heard. After 23 years on earth I have never felt understood or listened too, that all changed reading this book!
For the first time in my life I didn’t feel on my own and that nobody truly understands, Jessica Graham felt like a friend. Telling a story as if sat with her over a cup of tea.
This book is the lived experience of the author, Jessica Graham and her experience of childhood trauma, chronic & invisible illnesses and being diagnosed late in life with Autism and ADHD. She talks about the life after suffering trauma and navigating the world trying to not allow her complex ptsd to rule it. Jessica Graham found her way of coping and moving forward by a lot of spiritual beliefs. meditation and by going to a church that was accepting who them as a person.
Although I’m a far from religious and spiritual person ‘Being (Sick) Enough’ wasn’t a read I felt uncomfortable with and actually opened my eyes to the spiritual world, the way the author describes her spirituality is in such a thought provoking manner and to be be honest the whole book is thought provoking. Some of the parts of the authors life which were mentioned throughout this book I could hear myself saying how ‘I thought that too!’, both with Jessica’s life that were a huge part of the childhood trauma and with the recovery and learning to live life again.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers with some sort of mental illness, invisible or chronic illness and any form of PTSD/C-PTSD as well as professionals and friend & family of loved ones who are struggling also.
Jessica Graham has outdone herself with opening up to hopefully more awareness and acceptance of issues that so many individuals go through, Jessica Graham is allowing thiose, who like me, have never felt heard, who nobody could understand & who feel invisible to be listened too, understood and seen.
As a fellow person who deeply resonates with the experiences and struggles that Jessica’s Graham, reading this book felt like I finally had been heard. After 23 years on earth I have never felt understood or listened too, that all changed reading this book!
For the first time in my life I didn’t feel on my own and that nobody truly understands, Jessica Graham felt like a friend. Telling a story as if sat with her over a cup of tea.
This book is the lived experience of the author, Jessica Graham and her experience of childhood trauma, chronic & invisible illnesses and being diagnosed late in life with Autism and ADHD. She talks about the life after suffering trauma and navigating the world trying to not allow her complex ptsd to rule it. Jessica Graham found her way of coping and moving forward by a lot of spiritual beliefs. meditation and by going to a church that was accepting who them as a person.
Although I’m a far from religious and spiritual person ‘Being (Sick) Enough’ wasn’t a read I felt uncomfortable with and actually opened my eyes to the spiritual world, the way the author describes her spirituality is in such a thought provoking manner and to be be honest the whole book is thought provoking. Some of the parts of the authors life which were mentioned throughout this book I could hear myself saying how ‘I thought that too!’, both with Jessica’s life that were a huge part of the childhood trauma and with the recovery and learning to live life again.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers with some sort of mental illness, invisible or chronic illness and any form of PTSD/C-PTSD as well as professionals and friend & family of loved ones who are struggling also.
Jessica Graham has outdone herself with opening up to hopefully more awareness and acceptance of issues that so many individuals go through, Jessica Graham is allowing thiose, who like me, have never felt heard, who nobody could understand & who feel invisible to be listened too, understood and seen.
A Body Under the Bridge by P.F. Ford, P.F. Ford
4.0
This is my first book written by the author and wow what a read!
An elderly man reports his friend missing after missing the men’s weekly chess session, the detectives go to the missing man’s house where they enter and find the house has hardly any furniture but his dog had been left, which isn’t usual. The detectives get an investigation going, neighbours on either side of the man’s house are questioned and interviewed after a body was found. But is that body Gareth Jenkins? Why is he miles away from his home if he never left the house?
A BODY UNDER THE BRIDGE is my first book by P.F. Ford and I don’t think this will be my last! This isn’t my usual genre but it was such a welcome read that I think I need to read more of the authors books. I realise as I write this review that this is the latest book in the series and I will be going on to read the rest of series.
The way the book is written is remarkable, it really does feel as if you are on the case with the detectives, getting to know their every thought and theory, second guessing there theory’s and wanting to shout at them because they’re not thinking the obvious, however I must admit I was wrong many times thinking I knew what happened next but just as I thought “AH HA” there was a twist.
I recommend this read however I can’t say much as to the rest of the series other than I’m looking forward to going back and also exploring other books this author has written.
I give 4 stars instead of 5 as I found the ending to be sudden and unexpected without any follow on, wether there may be another book in the series I don’t know but I really hope so! I also found there was a lot of dialogue that it was confusing knowing who said what sometimes, although it could just be me and the fact I sometimes struggle with reading and I just haven’t read the speech very well on this occasion.
I read a copy of this book courtesy of Joffe Books via NetGalley in return of an honest review. All views are my own
An elderly man reports his friend missing after missing the men’s weekly chess session, the detectives go to the missing man’s house where they enter and find the house has hardly any furniture but his dog had been left, which isn’t usual. The detectives get an investigation going, neighbours on either side of the man’s house are questioned and interviewed after a body was found. But is that body Gareth Jenkins? Why is he miles away from his home if he never left the house?
A BODY UNDER THE BRIDGE is my first book by P.F. Ford and I don’t think this will be my last! This isn’t my usual genre but it was such a welcome read that I think I need to read more of the authors books. I realise as I write this review that this is the latest book in the series and I will be going on to read the rest of series.
The way the book is written is remarkable, it really does feel as if you are on the case with the detectives, getting to know their every thought and theory, second guessing there theory’s and wanting to shout at them because they’re not thinking the obvious, however I must admit I was wrong many times thinking I knew what happened next but just as I thought “AH HA” there was a twist.
I recommend this read however I can’t say much as to the rest of the series other than I’m looking forward to going back and also exploring other books this author has written.
I give 4 stars instead of 5 as I found the ending to be sudden and unexpected without any follow on, wether there may be another book in the series I don’t know but I really hope so! I also found there was a lot of dialogue that it was confusing knowing who said what sometimes, although it could just be me and the fact I sometimes struggle with reading and I just haven’t read the speech very well on this occasion.
I read a copy of this book courtesy of Joffe Books via NetGalley in return of an honest review. All views are my own
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have read this whole book and I have related to a lot of the words that have formed sentences and paragraphs.
In such a way some will see this book as just a depressing story, some will say it is just a murder mystery or a thriller. But I have to say that although this book is fiction, it takes you into the scenes of real life.
Reading those poetic and emotional words my heart just wanted to reach into my kindle and grab hold of Daisy giving her the biggest hug. Being bought up and being part of a family that treats you the way she has and with myself too it makes my break and I know there so many people out there who go through these types of abuse or they are also people who have ‘been handed a death sentence’ who should be loved and cared for, not bullied and destroyed and wishing they could die not even because their ‘broken’ illness but because they just want to be happy and loved. What makes this worse was the fact daisy was only a child when All of this was happening to her. I’ve related to this story still going through the same although different still at the age of 23.
The way the story was written, having the such smooth poetically pleases words written down on a page. This is one of my ‘up-there’ books and possibly one of my favourites.
The way the author manages to captivate your attention to keep you on tenders hooks as murders carry on happening, one-by-one. The twists and the turns keep you constantly guessing and then second guessing yourself as you have doubt on your mind. The story itself is just written so well and the pages just kept turning.
I really didn’t think too much into who was to blame at the end but I was starting to figure it out towards the end, I had my doubts but also couldn’t second guess the real ending.
I do highly recommend this book
I have read this whole book and I have related to a lot of the words that have formed sentences and paragraphs.
In such a way some will see this book as just a depressing story, some will say it is just a murder mystery or a thriller. But I have to say that although this book is fiction, it takes you into the scenes of real life.
Reading those poetic and emotional words my heart just wanted to reach into my kindle and grab hold of Daisy giving her the biggest hug. Being bought up and being part of a family that treats you the way she has and with myself too it makes my break and I know there so many people out there who go through these types of abuse or they are also people who have ‘been handed a death sentence’ who should be loved and cared for, not bullied and destroyed and wishing they could die not even because their ‘broken’ illness but because they just want to be happy and loved. What makes this worse was the fact daisy was only a child when All of this was happening to her. I’ve related to this story still going through the same although different still at the age of 23.
The way the story was written, having the such smooth poetically pleases words written down on a page. This is one of my ‘up-there’ books and possibly one of my favourites.
The way the author manages to captivate your attention to keep you on tenders hooks as murders carry on happening, one-by-one. The twists and the turns keep you constantly guessing and then second guessing yourself as you have doubt on your mind. The story itself is just written so well and the pages just kept turning.
I really didn’t think too much into who was to blame at the end but I was starting to figure it out towards the end, I had my doubts but also couldn’t second guess the real ending.
I do highly recommend this book
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
2.0
I won’t lie I really struggled with this one, I persevered as THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by Lisa Jewell came highly Recommended to me! Lisa Jewell as an author came highly recommended to me as one of the first Thriller Authors to read.
I didn’t quite get into this book until nearing the end of it. The timeline shifts were really hard to keep up with and I actually started this book again trying for a second time with the Audible Narration as I read on my Kindle.
The second try was a lot better in terms of getting into the storyline as being able to Listen to the different voices during the differentiating times made reading this book easier to follow. However I still didn’t quite understand and grasp what was really happening until quite a way through and even more so near the end.
I’ve been told that the second book is so much easier and better than the first but the first is 100% needed to read the second.
This review is posted a little while after I finished reading THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS as I needed time to digest and try to come up with a review as I wasn’t really sure where to start. I have had a little break and red a couple of books since finishing this one and I’m about to start the second in the series - The Family Remains.
I’ll write a review for the second book to see if I’m able to enjoy it better than I have this one, I had such high hopes but we will see where the series takes us. I’m not giving up with reading Lisa Jewell so maybe I just need to read another of her books to really fall in love with her.
I know this review may seem far and few as the book has been really popular, at least in the groups I’ve been apart of, but I just really couldn’t get myself lost in it, it took more concentration and reading this didn’t feel enjoyable - which is what I like reading to be (enjoyable).
I didn’t quite get into this book until nearing the end of it. The timeline shifts were really hard to keep up with and I actually started this book again trying for a second time with the Audible Narration as I read on my Kindle.
The second try was a lot better in terms of getting into the storyline as being able to Listen to the different voices during the differentiating times made reading this book easier to follow. However I still didn’t quite understand and grasp what was really happening until quite a way through and even more so near the end.
I’ve been told that the second book is so much easier and better than the first but the first is 100% needed to read the second.
This review is posted a little while after I finished reading THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS as I needed time to digest and try to come up with a review as I wasn’t really sure where to start. I have had a little break and red a couple of books since finishing this one and I’m about to start the second in the series - The Family Remains.
I’ll write a review for the second book to see if I’m able to enjoy it better than I have this one, I had such high hopes but we will see where the series takes us. I’m not giving up with reading Lisa Jewell so maybe I just need to read another of her books to really fall in love with her.
I know this review may seem far and few as the book has been really popular, at least in the groups I’ve been apart of, but I just really couldn’t get myself lost in it, it took more concentration and reading this didn’t feel enjoyable - which is what I like reading to be (enjoyable).
Fast Eddie: My 20 Years on the Run as Britain's Most Wanted Man by Eddie Maher
5.0
I listened to this via Spotify Premium, the way this book was written was just incredible. It kept me hooked on his life with him and his family’s life on the run. Although he says as the years went by it felt less and less like he was on the run and he was just a part of the “all American family” stereotype. The day he was caught he had just got home from dropping his youngest son off at school.
I really enjoyed this book, the way the book was read was awesome, it felt like his story was being told as if he were talking to a friend.
This is a story that shows the turmoil a man (or anyone actually) can go through from making one wrong decision or being born into a family where crime was your normal surroundings. I was really interested in all aspects of this book and honestly I think the way it’s written and also was spoken are probably my favourite part of this book.
The emotions I could hear in his writing as he misses his family, cutting off from all his life to live life on the run, the way the children & wife were left to try and get back to the UK and the pain in his words when he realised his wife was the one who suffered the most out of him and her as he knew his fate would eventually be he ends up in prison but his wife had to go through so much more especially not knowing her fate once Eddie had been arrested.
It shows that not all “criminals” are criminals as some may feel pressured into committing crimes and therefore ending up serving prison sentences. Especially those who have been bought up from a rough background but want to set themselves straight, this was showed when he worked his way up the cooperate ladder starting from scratch when they moved to America.
Yes the man committed a crime but I’m trying to look at it from the bigger picture, looking at society, the different ways of society depending on what working class you fall in.
In the end, it seemed that Eddie just wanted what was best for his family and he fell into desperate times which he didn’t want his family to suffer so he made the decision he thought was best at the time. It’s the same for millions of people in the world - it’s actually a rather sad reality especially when you’re on or below the poverty line.
I highly recommend this book, I loved the audio version. It felt more powerful and emotional.
This is my opinion and yours may differ but we are all entitled to our own views and this is just a take on mine.
I really enjoyed this book, the way the book was read was awesome, it felt like his story was being told as if he were talking to a friend.
This is a story that shows the turmoil a man (or anyone actually) can go through from making one wrong decision or being born into a family where crime was your normal surroundings. I was really interested in all aspects of this book and honestly I think the way it’s written and also was spoken are probably my favourite part of this book.
The emotions I could hear in his writing as he misses his family, cutting off from all his life to live life on the run, the way the children & wife were left to try and get back to the UK and the pain in his words when he realised his wife was the one who suffered the most out of him and her as he knew his fate would eventually be he ends up in prison but his wife had to go through so much more especially not knowing her fate once Eddie had been arrested.
It shows that not all “criminals” are criminals as some may feel pressured into committing crimes and therefore ending up serving prison sentences. Especially those who have been bought up from a rough background but want to set themselves straight, this was showed when he worked his way up the cooperate ladder starting from scratch when they moved to America.
Yes the man committed a crime but I’m trying to look at it from the bigger picture, looking at society, the different ways of society depending on what working class you fall in.
In the end, it seemed that Eddie just wanted what was best for his family and he fell into desperate times which he didn’t want his family to suffer so he made the decision he thought was best at the time. It’s the same for millions of people in the world - it’s actually a rather sad reality especially when you’re on or below the poverty line.
I highly recommend this book, I loved the audio version. It felt more powerful and emotional.
This is my opinion and yours may differ but we are all entitled to our own views and this is just a take on mine.
The Favour by Nicci French
3.0
I don’t really quite know how to write a review for this one!
Honestly, I kept getting lost, the story being so confusing. I mean the grand scheme of it I got the idea that people aren’t as they made themselves to be and can be the nastiest things on earth. Sucking a decent person into their absolutely terrible decisions and life.
I don’t know how to feel about this, I kept getting awfully confused, I don’t understand quite significant chunks of the story as I just kept getting lost as it continued on but I guess I did understand the bigger picture.
I am mind blown, I don’t really have the words and to be honest I think I’ve wasted my time reading this as I’m just left confused and baffled. But I guess that’s the case families of those killed feel when someone is murdered no matter the situation.
I don’t really know if I do recommend this or not, I can’t actually put the concept of this into my head. It really is a mindfck book so take that as you will!
Honestly, I kept getting lost, the story being so confusing. I mean the grand scheme of it I got the idea that people aren’t as they made themselves to be and can be the nastiest things on earth. Sucking a decent person into their absolutely terrible decisions and life.
I don’t know how to feel about this, I kept getting awfully confused, I don’t understand quite significant chunks of the story as I just kept getting lost as it continued on but I guess I did understand the bigger picture.
I am mind blown, I don’t really have the words and to be honest I think I’ve wasted my time reading this as I’m just left confused and baffled. But I guess that’s the case families of those killed feel when someone is murdered no matter the situation.
I don’t really know if I do recommend this or not, I can’t actually put the concept of this into my head. It really is a mindfck book so take that as you will!