jenbsbooks's reviews
2277 reviews

I liked this a lot, just not quite everything to make it a 5*.   Just like "Don't Forget to Write" by this same author, I felt this had some similarities to the Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" ... same timeframe (60s), a Jewish feature. As this book starts up, the MC Beverly is much like Midge (Mrs. Maisel). The perfect wife, getting dinner on the table, with a little boy and little girl, totally supporting her husband. Then ... on her own.

This book was very political, in that politics was actually a central theme. Bev's husband is working on a campaign, Beverly's father was in politics, and Beverly goes to work for the opposing campaign. In all honesty ... I despise politics. I realize it's necessary, but all the spending, campaigns, promises ... it just leaves a bad taste. Even just reading about it in a fictional setting. 

I enjoyed the history here ... Kennedy and Nixon, the Cuban missile crisis, the treatment/role of women.  I really appreciated the Author's Note at the end (included in the audio, thank you!) which outlined which characters were inspired by real life people and events. There was also a Book Club Guide with 20 questions that did make me stop and think and ponder, and wish this had been a book club read, so that I could have a nice discussion with others who had read the book. 

1st person/past tense. Narration was very good - loved the darling voicing of the two year old little girl. Included in KindleUnlimited, text and audio. I went primarily with the audio, just skimming over the Kindle copy as I came to write up the review.  The discussion questions were only in the Kindle copy. 

No proFanity. Some sex, nothing explicit (mainly Bev catching her husband with another woman).

This installment dropped at the end of November ... I decided to sign up for one month of KindleUnlimited to get access to this book (and I'd enjoy some others with audio included at the same time, but I got KU for this). 

While I did enjoy this as usual, and there were some insights dropped about the background of our three fine fellows, it dragged just a bit for me.  The blurb highlights - Arabella/Aunt Eugenia, Charles Goddard, St. Crispian's ... but this will be the STONECROP installment. Prior to that outing, there is some Hawkes intrigue, then whilst at Stonecrop, major revelations about Islington and Pierce. 

Per usual, I had Emma-isms that I highlighted to save ...
*Women with pockets are a threat to the male-sex
*I am not commanding you, rather I am establishing a benevolent dictatorship in which a command may be given. 
*I am certain what you've said is true, however, I remain unmoved. 
*I need a dose of perspective,
*Question: Ought I read the papers more than I do? Answer: Likely  However: Books
*And then I kicked myself. Metaphorically.
*I did not intend to raise both eyebrows. However.
*Manners must prevail! When they suit one's situation, that is.
*I refrained from making a long-suffering expression. I did not. Long-suffering expression was made. 
*There were many threads I could have pulled in Islington's Tapestry of Irritation.
*I picked up my butter knife. "I am armed" ...
*I will give you the solid shoulder of camaradic support through it all. Is camaradic a word?
*One can love many places and still miss home. 
*Best write it all out I suppose - exorcise the demons.
*Metaphorical but as painful as any physical injury.
*One should go away long enough to know the cotton-soft contentment of coming home. 
*Mother will throw a fit. And a fit she did throw.
*Beautiful, unexpected, not simple, yet glorious.

Reading with my eyes (vs audio, as there is no audio) I am able to make my notes and highlights. It takes me longer to get through a book (as I tend to fall asleep if I stop moving, attempting to read). I enjoyed this, but didn't feel absolutely compelled to continue. It took me a few weeks to finish. 

Heard about this in a FB book group,  rave review (especially for the full cast audio). It sounded so familiar, one I had tried but DNF, but that was a different one [book:Accidental Mystic|59961135] ... this almost ended up a DNF for me too. Maybe I don't care for the theme? I did really like The Accidental Alchemist and The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (although the sequels of the latter didn't do it for me, have yet to try the sequels of the former), and they both have some similar feel. 

This had the Kindle copy in KU, and the audio (full cast) on Hoopla (and some Libby, although not my local library). While it was touted as Graphic Audio, and it did have a full cast, there was still the background narration of regular text (not just dialog). The Table of Contents from the Kindle copy, 32 chapters, did not line up with the Hoopla version (just six sections) so this made it difficult to switch between formats. 

1st person/past tense.

This actually Did really remind me of The Accidental Mystic, in that pretty much from the start, I just knew I wasn't really going to like this. I got further, and probably should have gone ahead and DNF this one too.  It was just too silly and while paranormal (were/shifters, vampires, etc) isn't an issue, this set up didn't work for me. Some of the lines felt so hokey. I'd provide examples, but as mentioned above, when listening, I did know where I was in the Kindle copy, because the "chapters" didn't line up from audio to text. I just remember rolling my eyes and thinking "really, uggg" 

1 proFanity (I figure, go with it and use a few, or keep it "clean" and don't use any).  There was some slight sexual stuff, I think, I was just pushing through as I didn't have my next book queued up.  When I think that someone LOVED this, and it does have high ratings ... I guess it just goes to show "different strokes for different folks" ...

I enjoyed this ... our MC is aware of "A Christmas Carol" and figures out what is happening, and what to expect. Instead of random ghosts, it's her mother, who passed away in a car accident on Christmas Eve 20+ years ago. Now our MC doesn't care for Christmas, or others, just money, money, money (Scrooge).  The future was a little too much ... in my opinion. 

Just as Scrooge made a complete turn-around, what Alexis sees ... her past/present and future is enough to completely change her view of herself, those around her, and Christmas. Were we expecting anything different for a "retelling" of a Christmas Carol? I liked the little tidbit where the one little girl could see Alexis and her mother during the visitation (and remembered Alexis when she came again).  The "present" confused me a little (just "present" in general, some was still a little "past" and "future" but the current time period/Marc). 

No title tie-in. 

Did we ever find out how she ended things with Steve (just never saw him again after that night)? Any real connection to seeing Justin that night (what was he doing there, was it ever addressed?)

There were two narrators - Alexis is the main character and has the majority of the chapters in her head (3rd person/past tense). Then there were a few chapters from Justin's POV (3rd person/past tense), and I'm not sure I was sold on the switch to his, why it was needed. Otherwise we(the reader) wouldn't know as much about Justin (because Alexis hasn't deigned to find out anything about her employees) but still, it seemed a bit of an odd switch. 

I went mainly with the audio, but checked out the Kindle copy a few times. I wished the Table of Contents made some differentiation between Alexis's chapters and Justin's ... but I guess the book didn't even do that with Headers or anything. Easier to figure out the switch in audio, as there was a change in narrators. 

One thing I note - when a song is sung in the writing, does the narrator sing or speak it in the audiobook? Here, the female narrator Bahni Turpin, spoke the songs (mostly Christmas carols) ... I don't know how I would have felt about her singing them, but the monotone recitation of the lyrics was grating. The male narrator JD Jackson sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and I appreciated that, over just speaking the words. 

I guess this was made into a Hallmark movie, back in 2018 (unlike the book, not great ratings, 5.8/10 on IMDB). This book wasn't published until 2023 ... so was it originally just written as a screenplay, then into a novel? In the movie, Alexis and Justin are black. I had assumed as much from the pick of the narrators, but there was nothing in the book that actually said that (not that it matters either way, it just seems the characters ARE described somewhat in most books). Justin is described as "tall, dark and handsome" but nothing more specific unless I missed it. 


Clean - no sex or profanity

I've really enjoyed the premise of this Middle Falls series ... love the "what if" possibilities of different choices. The first several books were included in KindleUnlimited with text and audio. The later books just the Kindle copy, audio available but needed to be added on for a fee. I went ahead and bought several of the later installments during some Audible sales. 

While I liked this one in the end, I struggled at the start somewhat. The MC just isn't a very likeable character, the choices he makes aren't great, even given multiple attempts. Some really tough situations, with his wife, his mother, his brother ...

It was a bit frustrating for me, to have "an event" in his early life alluded to, but we're not told what happened until much later in the book. Something with his brother(s) ... there were three boy, not just two, one is missing his arms and has served a prison sentence for manslaughter. FINALLY, it's addressed, but not until 3/4 of the way through the book. 

In the first several/many Middle Falls, our characters are "reset" to a certain time in their life. Always the same spot. At some point (book 12 or so?) the workers at the Universal Life Center start getting a little more flexible/creative in switching up the  "restart" point. In some ways, this is a bit of a cop out ... these characters can't get it "right" until they go back far enough or to a certain point to change a specific event that was the "lifechanging" thing.  The MC here is flopped all around, back to his middle age, then back to right before his death, then further back, further back (until that "unexplained event" with his brothers that has been alluded to but never explained). 

Here, like some of the other books, the MC has to grapple with marrying a woman just to get his children (will everything be the same, will they be the same kids?). Having been estranged from his family for 20+ years, will he now step up and take care of his aging mother (who killed herself after being put in a home in the "original life").  In a couple scenarios, the MC is able to take advantage of knowledge (Microsoft will do well, buy stock ...) but when reset further back?

Some SPOILERS ... I thought the whole "treasure hunt" thing was a bit off the rails, and the first experience (did he kill those two guys, yes, somewhat self-defense, but was that never investigated, did he get off scott-free? Hadn't he only taken a small portion that first time, was that enough?) Then learning to work with gold as a way to "clean" it in another life ... it was all over the top. Really?  Did our character LEARN a lot (yes, some) and improve, or did he just prevent a bad accident that had impacted everyone, and get rich, and in that one FINALLY get things right? When life was going smoothly and he had oodles of money, yeah, life is good. 

The whole Brandi (mistress in the original life and first redo) ends up marrying his son in the final life? Really? And ALL THE ARTIE'S references. Was there NO OTHER PLACE TO EAT? I was so sick of Artie's. I'm pretty sure the owners of Artie's were in a previous story, but it was too much.

While I've enjoyed this series, I think maybe I'm at a stopping point ... at least if I have to buy the books. If they (17+) are in KU with audio, maybe I'll try jumping back in. 

Included in KindleUnlimited, read and listen. I went with the audiobook ... but had to turn to the kindle copy when I came to write this review, because honestly, I couldn't remember how it ended. Did a quick little re-read of the last few chapters. 

The cover is misleading, looking a lot like all the other "Hallmark Christmas Romance" types out there. The romance, if you can call it that, was slight. This was more about a family relationship (MC and her great aunt) ... these often make me feel a little bad, should we all have such strong connections to extended family? 

I liked the memory of a book, the search for said book ... does it even exist (one with hand-drawn illustrations). The search uncovers some other details along the way, which were enjoyable. There was a conclusion with the book, and the "romance" while ambiguous, is there at the end.

The story was fine ... I don't think I'll remember it though, just one that will fade and mix with the other stories out there. Not sure this had to be a "Christmas" story ... it could have happened at any time of year. 

No profanity/clean .... I noticed the mention of "mullioned windows" (just a description I notice, it's in more books than you'd think). 

Nick Spalding books ... they aren't ones I'd totally recommend to others (very crass/vulgar, British accents in audio,  over the top silly) BUT I seek them out. They are a perfect palette cleanser, generally quick and easy ... and they make me laugh. I was laughing here. There is a scene early on, when the MC wanted nice background music by The Light Touch Quartet playing "All of Me" and gets a different attempt. One thing I note in books, when a SONG is being sung in the book, is it sung by the narrator in the audiobook? Here? Yes. "Some of me loves all of you. All of me loves parts of you. Chunks of me love lumps of you. OOMPAH OOMPAH. "  I laughed :)  

"Bu..bu...bu"  Poor Ollie.   I thought the little Easter Egg of Dry Hard (which I have read also) was funny. I think my most memorable was Fat Chance though. The Dumped Actually tied in just a bit to the current season, as Love Actually is considered a Christmas movie.

There was a small "suicide" moment ... I'm not sure it was really that essential to the storyline.  Then the book shifts into Ollie's writing of Dumped Actually, and some of the experiences and responses/recommendations on how to overcome his heartache. Some learning along the way. I have to say I did feel for Samantha from the start, that she should never have been villainized. If she wasn't feeling it, wasn't ready, what SHOULD she have done?  I'm not a fan of big over the top proposals.

I always try to grab a Nick Spalding book when I have Kindle Unlimited ... they are definitely not ones I can read back to back, I need to space them out, and I'm honestly a little surprised I like them as much as I do.  These are "read and listen" and I thought the audio was well done. The "singing" added to that small part, and much of this is internal thoughts. I did look over the text too, I like having both. I was disappointed in the Table of Contents. The chapters had clever headings, and I just don't know why they aren't included in the TOC (not on Kindle or Audible). 

1. Man Proposes, Woman Disposes
2. We Were Going to Ride an Elephant
3. Back to Actual Life
4. The Impossible Art of Saying No
5. Eyes of a Disapproving Doe
6. Vanity, Thy Name is Woman
7. The Trauma of the Tiny White Balls
8. It's Not You - It's Most Definitely Me
9. A One-Way Trip Into a Weird Little Mind
10. Vows
11.Everything is Going to be Fine
12. It's Just Meant to Be

As a reader - I love looking at the chapter headers after reading and having that little reminder of what was in each section. These SHOULD be included in the Table of Contents in my opinion. 

There are also several Interludes sprinkled throughout (these are letters from readers) and an Afterlude (haven't actually heard that term, and it's being flagged by spellcheck, IS it a word?)

Content: proFanity x45 and some sex/masturbation, suicide discussion

I actually grabbed this story in the larger "Mountain Springs Christmas" set of three short stories ... but I think I'll stop here at the one, so was glad to find just the first book/novella as an individual entry. I just have quite a few Christmas stories on my list, so unless I really liked an author, I'm spreading out my time. I did start the second novella "The Christmas Pact" which shifts the focus to the sister of the MC here ... maybe I'll come back to it, we'll see. Text in KU, audio on Hoopla.

This felt very Hallmark-ey ... it was a "cute and clean" and lots of "gran-gran" memories (that has never been a family term and just felt too much for me).  The one family was a little TOO Christmasy with all their little contests and traditions ... maybe I'm a bit of a grinch.

Past tense/3rd person, switching between the POV of Noelle and Jack ... her name as she was born on Christmas Eve, his, born in January, so "Jack Frost" idea.  Single narrator in audio, which is fine for the 3rd person presentation, but sometimes my mind would wander and I'd forget if we were in a Noelle or Jack chapter, and couldn't tell from the voice.

SPOILERS ... this had the boss/employee trope, which I'd just experienced in two other recent Christmas reads. The "solution" (her quitting) was what I expected. Not total "instalove" but still pretty quick, "in love" after a few weeks. The seems-to-be-standard "one year later" epilogue ... in which they have gotten married (recent/honeymoon mention). At least no baby in this epilogue, but the sick sister has miraculously recovered. A merry Christmas HEA ...

While this didn't quite have everything thing I need to give a book that elusive 5* rating, I think this was a favorite Christmas read. It was a random pick, seeing similar titles on Goodreads or something. Kindle copy included in KU (I subscribed for December) and audio was on Hoopla. 

There were five "parts" ... 1) The Plan  2)Frank  3)Jasper  4)Leo    5)Maggie's Decision ... multiple chapters in each part. It was 1st person (Maggie's POV) and present tense (well written, I didn't even notice). British setting/accents.

Our family is a fan of the British TV series "The IT Crowd" ... and this definitely had a similar set-up. The girl manager, and three guys, stuck in the basement, not always an included/appreciated part of the company.  Basic premise is that Maggie, who didn't have holiday plans, is going to spend a couple days with each of the guys over Christmas (she's actually helping out Frank as his Plus1 at a wedding, fake dating trope).  

There were a few laugh out loud moments for me ... I don't laugh out loud very often. 

Several references to modern tv/movies (didn't write them down, Downton Abby? Sean Bean was one).  Also a reference to Wordle (it's a family favorite too). 

I correctly predicted the ultimate decision ...

ProFanity x22, and while not as graphic/spicy as some books, there was still enough sex that I'd be hesitant to recommend to some family/friends.

I'd heard a bit of buzz about this one ... not available at the library, so when I indulged in KU for a month, I borrowed the Kindle copy, and added audio as it was inexpensive w/whispersync. I started with the audio, but my mind kept wandering. I had to stop, turn to the kindle copy, read, and then return to the audiobook. I was finally able to finish, and I liked it, didn't love it. I'll probably read the sequel, I haven't decided yet. The text is in KU, but the audio is a little more expensive, and the preview had Raihn/male narrator ... and that wasn't the voice I thought of with him, based on the first book's audio (just the female narrator voicing his dialog). 

This had a HungerGames feel for me ... contestants competing in difficult challenges, sometimes working together, but ultimately, only one can win(survive). And yes, an attraction between two contestants. Here, it was their choice to enter (unlike HG). Having read the IronFlame series, there was a little similar feel to that too (especially with all the profanity... x244, sex and violence). Here, it's vampires, with wings and powers. 

There were some twists and turns, not exactly how it would, or could, finish up ...