lauraslittlebooknook's reviews
45 reviews
Haunting Adeline, by H.D. Carlton
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a deliciously dark, hot and twisted listen. Hamilton and Sparks delivered Carlton’s story perfectly.
With the gorgeous backdrop of Adeline’s gothic manor home in the middle of the woods, this cat and mouse romance had all the spicy and witty banter you could ask for.
This one isn’t all spice and sex, but has a storyline that sucks you in, full of sinister underworld atrocities and a classic who-done-it murder mystery!
The cliff hanger ending has me champing at the bit to get the next in the series, but I’ll be sure to pick up some more Carlton while I wait!
With an abundance of trigger warnings, I do suggest looking these up before venturing into this wild and steamy read.
With the gorgeous backdrop of Adeline’s gothic manor home in the middle of the woods, this cat and mouse romance had all the spicy and witty banter you could ask for.
This one isn’t all spice and sex, but has a storyline that sucks you in, full of sinister underworld atrocities and a classic who-done-it murder mystery!
The cliff hanger ending has me champing at the bit to get the next in the series, but I’ll be sure to pick up some more Carlton while I wait!
With an abundance of trigger warnings, I do suggest looking these up before venturing into this wild and steamy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Rape, Gun violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Murder, Sexual violence, and Stalking
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well that was just bloody wonderful.
Had life not gotten in the way, I could have devoured this one in one sitting. Grumpy/sunshine, found family, LGBTQ+ rep, witches and the best dog. This book has it all!
Following our protagonist witch, Mika, on her journey of discovering her self worth and being true to herself, this book has secrets and revelations, love and friendship, laughter and tears. Mandanna has woven a story to warm the cockles, and I loved it.
Had life not gotten in the way, I could have devoured this one in one sitting. Grumpy/sunshine, found family, LGBTQ+ rep, witches and the best dog. This book has it all!
Following our protagonist witch, Mika, on her journey of discovering her self worth and being true to herself, this book has secrets and revelations, love and friendship, laughter and tears. Mandanna has woven a story to warm the cockles, and I loved it.
Tower of Dawn, by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Book Eaters, by Sunyi Dean
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fairy Tale, by Stephen King
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Book of Night, by Holly Black
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Her Majesty's Royal Coven, by Juno Dawson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is quite possibly the best book I’ve read all year.
The nostalgia, the banter, the girl power, the representation. All of it.
Dawson has written a phenomenal story of sisterhood, acceptance, love and loyalty. I laughed, so much. I raged, so much. I loved constantly.
The next instalment cannot come quick enough.
The nostalgia, the banter, the girl power, the representation. All of it.
Dawson has written a phenomenal story of sisterhood, acceptance, love and loyalty. I laughed, so much. I raged, so much. I loved constantly.
The next instalment cannot come quick enough.
Blue Water, by Leonora Nattrass
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
This is a great wee murder-mystery! Although this is a sequel to Black Drop, which I haven’t read and features our protagonist, Laurence Jago, I had no issues reading it as a stand alone (but will definitely be picking up Black Drop to read in the future!).
Set during a voyage from Britain to Philadelphia in 1975, we follow Mr Jago on a hunt to find the Treaty between the Brits and Americans that has gone missing aboard their ship. Never knowing who to trust, and always suspecting someone, Jago tries his best to discover which of his fellow shipmates has the most incentive to steal the treaty and, dare we say it, commit murder to get their hands on it!
This is a wonderfully written story, full of superstition and seances, intrigue and secrets, with a little romance and even a dancing bear! It really does have a little something for everyone!
With short chapters and a story that had me hooked from the get go, I found this to be a fairly quick read. I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction and a classic “who done it” Murder mystery!
One of Your Own: The Life and Death of Myra Hindley, by Carol Ann Lee
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
I found this book really difficult to rate, and think this review will be equally as difficult to write, but here goes.
This is a very well researched book, with an abundance of quotes, from people who knew Hindley or were involved in the police investigations, and excerpts from the criminal proceedings and media at the time. It gives, in my view, a very unbiased account of events.
My only criticism of the book itself would be that it includes a transcript from the tape of the torture of Lesley Ann Downey, which I felt was a bit much (although I appreciate it emphasised the brutality of what happened, I could have understood that without hearing word for word the pleading of a little girl being tortured).
I listened to this one on audible, which is maybe where my above criticism stems from.
With the delivery of the narration on audible, my only criticism would be the narrators accents used throughout when quoting anyone and everyone.
I got, understandably, angry while listening to this. Angry at how manipulative and cruel Hindley was, not only in relation to committing the murders, but while she was in prison gaining the trust of lords and priests and prison officers, and how dismissive she was of the emotional reactions of her victims families, particularly towards her consistent attempts at parole, and her refusal to confirm where Keith Bennett was buried.
Although, I’m not sure my anger stemmed from the quality of the writing as much as it did from the detail of the research into the events that took place.
I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
This is a very well researched book, with an abundance of quotes, from people who knew Hindley or were involved in the police investigations, and excerpts from the criminal proceedings and media at the time. It gives, in my view, a very unbiased account of events.
My only criticism of the book itself would be that it includes a transcript from the tape of the torture of Lesley Ann Downey, which I felt was a bit much (although I appreciate it emphasised the brutality of what happened, I could have understood that without hearing word for word the pleading of a little girl being tortured).
I listened to this one on audible, which is maybe where my above criticism stems from.
With the delivery of the narration on audible, my only criticism would be the narrators accents used throughout when quoting anyone and everyone.
I got, understandably, angry while listening to this. Angry at how manipulative and cruel Hindley was, not only in relation to committing the murders, but while she was in prison gaining the trust of lords and priests and prison officers, and how dismissive she was of the emotional reactions of her victims families, particularly towards her consistent attempts at parole, and her refusal to confirm where Keith Bennett was buried.
Although, I’m not sure my anger stemmed from the quality of the writing as much as it did from the detail of the research into the events that took place.
I’m not sure I’d recommend it.