M.L. Sparrow's Blog

May 14, 2020

The House on Cold Hill

The House on Cold Hill, (House on Cold Hill Series, Book 1), by Peter James Blurb:Moving from the heart of Brighton and Hove to the Sussex countryside is a big undertaking for Ollie and Caro Harcourt and their twelve-year-old daughter Jade. But when they view Cold Hill House - a huge, dilapidated Georgian mansion - Ollie is filled with excitement. Despite the financial strain of the move, he has dreamed of living in the country since he was a child, and he sees Cold Hill House, with its acres of land, as a paradise for his animal-loving daughter, the perfect base for his web-design business and a terrific long-term investment. Caro is less certain, and Jade is grumpy about being separated from her friends. Within days of moving in, it becomes apparent that the Harcourt family aren't the only residents of the house. A friend of Jade's is the first to see the spectral woman, standing behind her as the girls talk on FaceTime. Then there are more sightings, as well as increasingly disturbing occurrences in the house. As the haunting becomes more malevolent and the house itself begins to turn on the Harcourts, the terrified family discover Cold Hill House's dark history, and the horrible truth of what it could mean for them . . .My ReviewUnfortunately, after looking forward to reading this book after a family member raved about it, I was very disappointed. I had so many issues with this book, the biggest one being that it was amazingly boring, apart from a few instances, it was basically just chronicling Ollie's daily life. Very repetitive and I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I never felt like I connected with the characters - honestly, they were morons and the awful dialog made it even worse... Then the twist at the end was predictable, really what else could happen, since it wasn't like Ollie spent any of the book trying to actually stop what was going on, he spent all his time feeling doubtful and worrying about all the money he was spending...
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Published on May 14, 2020 10:33

May 11, 2020

The Flatshare

The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary Blurb:Tiffy and Leon share a flat Tiffy and Leon share a bed Tiffy and Leon have never met… Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…My ReviewI don't read a lot of Chick Lit, but for some reason I decided to pick this up after seeing it on Insta a lot. I'll admit, for the first few chapters I wasn't interested at all and considered putting it away, but I'm glad a persisted, because once Tiffy and Leon started trading notes, I was hooked. I was also pleasantly surprised as to how well the author tackled the subject of emotional abuse and felt it added another level to this book. A quick, easy read, which was at times emotional, uplifting, laugh-out-loud funny and a really good read with great supporting characters which I really hope get their own books at some point, especially Richie; after everything he wen't through he deserves a HEA!
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Published on May 11, 2020 14:26

Circe

Circe, by Madeline Miller Blurb:In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.My ReviewI love The Song of Achilles and didn't think it was possible for the author to top it, but she did. I LOVED Circe, I'm totally obsessed. Madeline Miller's writing style really intrigues me; it is very dry, whilst still having patches of beautiful descriptions. Usually, I'd find that dryness boring and off putting, but she does it so well that it pulls me into the story... There are a few action scenes in this book, but it is largely characters driven, and what an amazing character Circe is. I marvelled at the way she grew into herself and her powers, becoming this powerful with who could stand against a goddess to protect her son and defeat a monster. Not only that, but it was interesting to see how her point of view and opinions on the gods changed over the years (hundreds of them!). A fascinating book that I just couldn't put down.
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Published on May 11, 2020 14:12

Cross Breed

Cross Breed, (Breeds Series, Book 23), by Lora Leigh Blurb:The Breeds are humans altered before conception with the DNA of the predators of Earth. But although they all carry the genetic material of beasts within them, Cassandra Sinclair stands apart. A unique mix of wolf, coyote and human, she is revered by many—but preyed upon by others. She is fiercely protected by her community…but no one manages to stop her when she slips away one day to offer her body in exchange for her sister’s safety. The man she succumbs to surprises her by unleashing her inner animal in ways she never dreamed possible—and provokes her deep, furious rage. To Cassie’s shock, he is the mate she has long awaited. She may never be able to forgive his deception. Still, as dangerous enemies track her, and as the threat of all-out war between Breeds and the humans who despise them hovers in the air, they must join forces and hold fast to each other. But the passionate union between them holds a potential that could change the world—and some will do anything to stop it…My ReviewI'm going to keep this short because I hate writing bad reviews. I've been following this series since I was a teenage, but stopped reading a few years ago, because I thought all the books were getting very samey - same plot, same kind of heroine, same kind of hero - and the plot seemed to be forgotten in favour of sex scenes. Anyway, when I saw Cassie was finally getting her book, I knew I had to read it because I've always been intrigued by her, only to find, surprise, surprise, all uniqueness has gone and she's now basically the same characteristics of all those who came before her, stuck with, you know it, a hero who is the same as all the others too...
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Published on May 11, 2020 13:00

A Dog's Promise

A Dog's Promise, (A Dog's Purpose Trilogy, Book 3), by W. Bruce CameronBlurb:A Dog's Promise continues the story of Bailey, the good dog whose journey started in A Dog's Purpose and continued in A Dog's Journey (both major motion pictures). This time, Bailey is joined by Lacey, another very special dog, who helps Bailey fulfill his promise over the course of several lives. This charming, wise canine soul brings joy, laughter, and comfort as he unites a family fractured by life's inevitable obstacles. The love and loyalty of these two memorable dogs shows us the incredible power of hope, truth, and unending devotion in this moving novel by award-winning author W. Bruce Cameron.My ReviewI love W. Bruce Cameron's books. He somehow manages to narrate the voice of a dog perfectly, how they think, how they see the world, how they feel. His stories are always so heartwarming - even though there is always a point in every book where I blub like a big baby - and it is impossible to read his work and not feel an overwhelming love for all canines.P.S. How adorable is the dog on the cover!
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:54

Iron Kissed

Iron Kissed, (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 3), by Patricia Briggs Blurb:I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator... Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape - but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...My ReviewThis series just keeps pulling me back. I love Mercy so much, she is such a kick-arse heroine! Also, there was a lot more Adam and Mercy scenes in this book as their relationship develops, becoming more conclusive at the end after an incident that I should warn could be triggering for some readers as it involves rape. Though is sensitively written, it is talked about afterwards, which may upset some readers.The plot is fast paced and action packed, there is always something happening. My old gripe is still the same - info dumps and certain things are repeated a lot - but at this point nothing could put me off this series. The supporting characters are also very well written - I love Warren, Kyle and Honey, Samuel has also wormed his way back into my good graces, now that it's been established he no longer wants Mercy as a mate, but rather thinks of her as Pack. Also, I never thought I'd say this, considering how much of a dick he is, but I found myself coming around to Ben, the same as Mercy did - it's quite hard not to when there is a scene with him playing fetch in wolf form...
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:44

Wolf Children

Wolf Children: Ame and Yuki Omnibus, (Manga), by Mamoru Hosoda and Yuu Blurb:When Hana falls in love with a young interloper she encounters in her college class, the last thing she expects to learn is that he is part wolf. Instead of rejecting her lover upon learning his secret, she accepts him with open arms. Soon, the couple is expecting their first child, and a cozy picture of family life unfolds. But after what seems like a mere moment of bliss to Hana, the father of her children is tragically taken from her. Life as a single mother is hard in any situation, but when your children walk a fine line between man and beast, the rules of parenting all but go out the window. With no one to turn to, how will Hana survive?My ReviewIt's been a while since I read any manga, so decided to jump into this beautiful hardback omnibus that has been sitting looking pretty on my shelf for a while! This manga is beautifully illustrated - I especially loved the depictions of the children in their wolf forms. It is a very sweet, simple story, very easy to read. Although I enjoyed it and really loved the art work, I couldn't help but feel that it ended too early. There was so much potential for a longer plot line. I know so many manga's that have many instalments, running on the flimsiest plot line, however, this story had so many ways it could go, yet it stopped after only 3 books... That aside, this is a good read if you want an easy, family orientated manga with pretty artwork.
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:34

Blood Bound

Blood Bound, (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2), by Patricia Briggs Blurb: Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen... Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind. But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.My ReviewThis books was even more action packed than the first one! And it looks like Mercy is going for Adam over Samuel (the two werewolves courting her!) which makes me unreasonably happy! There are still quite a few info dumps and things repeated which bugs me, but really I love Mercy and her adventures too much for it to be too much of an issue. She honestly, the best heroine I've read about in a while; she is so relatable. Though it does amaze me that, despite her supernatural adventures, she still finds time to go to work! Also, I just have to mention my favourite scene... Adam picking Mercy up after she is found wondering around the city in Coyote form with a collar with his number on! Bring on the next one!
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:26

Moon Called

Moon Called, (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1), by Patricia Briggs Blurb:Mercedes Thompson, aka Mercy, is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...My ReviewIs this book perfect? No. Did I love it? Yes, yes I did! There are major info dumps all through the book and there are certain things that are repeated so much that I wanted to scream at the author "I bloody remember!", but still, this story absolutely hooked me.The plot is interesting and fast paced and the characters are intriguing. I loved Mercy, the main character - she is strong in a very real, relatable kind of way. She gets scared and needs help sometimes, but she always gets back up and gets the job done. I'm very interested in how her relationship with Adam develops - there is a kind of triangle going on between Samuel, Mercy and Adam, but I'd desperately hoping she chooses Adam. I liked Samuel in the Alpha and Omega Series (which has some of the same characters as this series) but I've been totally put off by the fact that he, a werewolf who is hundreds of years old, got a 16 year old to fall in love with him - sorry, but that's skeevy. Also, he only wants her so they can have kids - women are not brood mares. Little rant over. Anyway, jumping straight into the next book because I loved this one so much!
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:19

Still Me

Still Me, (Me Before You Series, Book 3), by Jojo MoyesBlurb: Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life. As she begins to mix in New York high society, Lou meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. Before long, Lou finds herself torn between Fifth Avenue where she works and the treasure-filled vintage clothing store where she actually feels at home. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself: Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you find the courage to follow your heart—wherever that may lead?My ReviewA quick, easy read. I enjoyed the first two books and enjoyed this one, too, however, I hope the author isn't planning anymore - I feel like it's reached an end now and doesn't need to continue... Anyway, I still enjoyed this book and, having worked as a nanny for some pretty rich people, I though the author did a very good job of portraying what that is like - in fact, some comments made me laugh, because I remember thinking the same thing. Seriously, rich people always seem to have people in and out of their houses! I'd hate that.Having followed Louisa through three books now, I like that she is always growing, new aspects of her character coming to light and I liked that in this book she learned that you shouldn't change yourself for anyone.All in all, a light, enjoyable read.
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Published on May 11, 2020 12:09