#ReviewShare #BookReview #Mystery - Steps Into Darkness (Shakertown Adventure) by @BenSWoodard

Steps Into Darkness by Ben Woodard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book started off slow for me but I recommend that you stick with it. As the mystery develops, the plot becomes tighter and you breeze by the pages as quickly as you can. One of the downfalls of teen mysteries is that sometimes authors are unable to create natural dialogue or settings. This book wasn’t like that.

I enjoyed the story, the editing was close to perfect and the cover was perfect for the title. Simple, to the point and it automatically evoked “mystery” in a reader’s mind. The character interactions were important to me because it was this way that I connected most with the plot and overall story.

For parents or schools looking at setting up book clubs for younger folk, this is a book that must be included. A truly, marvelous read.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Horror - Imaginary Friend by Troy McCombs @sonne3

Imaginary Friend by Troy McCombs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you love being surprised, this is a book for you. I must mention that despite the fact that this touches on child abuse, it is no way meant to be read by anyone who is younger than 18. There are some very strong themes of violence, bloody scenes and some younger readers may find this too much to digest.

To start, you have the old cat man’s usual rant. Guessed it yet? Sure, you have. The book cover. It’s black. It’s tacky and it despite its best effort to create an imagery of Max, all I got was, no. Knocking three images together does not make a good cover. I like the idea of it but presentation did nothing for me. Would I pick up this book based on the cover alone? No. Which is a pity because this was a fantastic read.

The mystery of Nathan’s imaginary friend and the way it was unfolded really appealed to me. The author’s writing style was easy to connect with. Overall story progression and plot was good, made more interesting by side characters Nathan meets along the way.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Poetry - The Poetic Art of Seduction by @ClarissaClemens

The Poetic Art of Seduction: Erotic Poetry Collection by Clarissa O. Clemens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyday is Valentine’s day with a collection like this. The words flowed like silk and almost every poem was something I could imagine. Where technique is concerned, the old cat man does recommend it for poetry lovers who appreciate the sensual theme. The author makes it a point to communicate honestly, raw emotions are visible in every stanza while the reader is gently whisked away to a state of pleasure in body, mind and soul.

It’s a good book, correct? Yes. I’ve made that very clear and I will say it again I loved the way the poems were written. Now, here’s the big BUT. My usual rant is about to commence about book covers. Why black? This was a point of curiosity from more than one reader I knew. The poems were about passion, love, seduction … which are introduced with a big chunk of black. Then, there was the text on the cover. Without a magnifying glass or reading glasses, if anyone can clearly read what it says from the second line onwards, I am in awe of you. Because try as I might, from the cover, I can’t even read the author’s name.

The other thing that significantly bothered quite a few of us were the pictures used in the book. I’m certain not all the images were taken by the author or are of the author and yet no source, photographer or site name is cited. This is definitely something I think the author should look into fixing to avoid any confusion later on. Were the pictures used with permission? Were there stock images? Too many questions.

In a nutshell, the cat man more than liked this book and thinks where the writing is concerned, it definitely deserves your time.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #YA - Devolution by @PeterClenott

Devolution by Peter Clenott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an unusual story with unusual characters. It’s like an older version of Tarzan filled with mystery and drama. Chiku is an endearing character that many teenagers will be able to relate to. Overcoming obstacles and soul searching would be the best two ways to describe this book.

Chiku goes in search of her missing father. Seems normal right? Here’s the twist. She was also raised by chimps. Her second family follows her on an adventure of a lifetime, albeit dangerous adventure and the reader is presented with a story that will stay in their minds for a long time.

In Devolution, Peter Clenott skillfully uses drama, humor, adventure to relate the story of Chiku, the plot is reader friendly and character development consistently sparks reader interaction.

One of the most endearing scenes is when Chiku announces her decision to stay because “the chimpanzees need me.” I thought this was mighty mature of a teenager to put her needs ahead of others. A story that was both informative and intelligent. Must read.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #BookReview #LegalDrama - Malpractice! by William Louis Harvey @sexandlawnovel

Malpractice! the novel by William Louis Harvey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first chapter usually dictates the overall tone of the book and Malpractice by William Louis Harvey was no different. It captured my interest and based on the author’s writing style, I knew I wanted to read more. However, as the book progressed there were numerous minor editing errors that distracted me and what would have been a quick read turned out to be much longer.

As I neared the end, we were given newer edited version which was significantly better but I had struggled through the first 80% and so I kept going. An operation to save a child becomes the focus of malpractice lawsuit and the author uses this as a hook for the rest of his story.

Characters are believable, the plot interesting and the main story has a firm foundation in the book. I did not have issues with the steamy sex scenes but it must be noted to readers that the plot was sometimes overshadowed by lust.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Thriller - Lethal Journey by @KimCresswell

Lethal Journey by Kim Cresswell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you haven’t read any of Kim Cresswell’s book, you’re definitely missing out. This is the second book I am reading by her and she definitely has a talent for twisting your mind. Lauren Taylor starts out as a force to be reckoned with but as she becomes involved in a murder conspiracy so personal, you see the vulnerable sides of her which is of course where the chemistry kicks in.

We had continual debates on how much romance a thriller should have? I think this book had the right balance but as the genre is thriller, some readers may expect that the romance is minimal. For this reader, it worked and I liked it.

I read Reflection by Kim Cresswell and between the two, this is definitely my new favourite by the same author. She’s definitely set a standard for what thrillers are about.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #Fantasy - The Soul of the World (Legends of Amun Ra, #2) by @JG_Silverman

The Soul of the World by Joshua Silverman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some chapters of the book were a too wordy for me but far better than some fantasy books where the plot is lost in a tumble of cliches and jargon. The Soul of the World is just as exciting as the first book in the Legends of AmunRa series. There are a lot of details to remember and the author has included guides in the beginning which helps a lot.

I’m definitely in love with this series and its special cast of characters. What really stood out for me was character development. Leoros is forced into a situation he does not want to be but the fact that he does not give up was a much needed lesson for himself and for the other characters.

Atlantia worked in some ways and didn’t work in others. Some of her actions seemed forced and didn’t fit. Some minor errors were also found in the book. For example, “Kevin aughed. “So what happened?” but to me these errors were not to the point that I could enjoy the rest of the story.
Definitely a good read for any fantasy fan.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Paranormal - Cast in Blood by Michelle Rabe @MichRabe

Cast in Blood by Michelle Rabe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aside from the vampires, I loved the mystery and suspense this book had. The author has a fantastic way of building up a scene to the point you cannot breathe and you’re not sure if Morgan will make it through. My favourite scene was the discussion she has with Nicholas and he thinks, “Gods know I want and need whatever information she can give, but now is not the time. The fever seems to worsen when she gets stressed or fearful. I’d rather have that under control before I question her.”

Morgan as a main character was sizzling and I absolutely fell in love with her. This was definitely a sizzling escape into the supernatural. The author did an awesome job on all counts and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #YALit - Haunted by @EileenMaksym

Haunted by Eileen Maksym
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked the cover very much and after reading the book realise the creepy dark eyed creature in the background of the cover. Haunted was a really interesting book. It had a bit of a slow start. The introduction was also puzzling. While the author attributes AP as a news source there is no date or timeline as to when this report was written. This made me think of whether it is real or not? When I searched on Google nothing was found which then makes me wonder if the author should have not included a real news agency or indicated that the report was part of the fictional story.

Haunted was also mysterious which worked great for me because that left some room for me to be surprised. The surprise elements created a lot of appeal for me. The twists and turns meant that not all characters were being honest and were part of the story more than they were letting on.

My favourite part of the book was the bond between Tara and her father. I think the bond some of us have with our parents last a lifetime and although it can’t be explained, some parents look out for their children long after they are gone. The discussion about Paul and Tara kissing was a little childish and this occasionally happened in other parts of the book as well. Other than this tiny flaw, I was able to lose myself in the pages and liked the book very much.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #BookReview #PNR - Date with the Dead (Ripsters, #1) by @CMyersFiction

Date with the Dead by Chris Myers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chris Myers uses Date with the Dead to explore the most impressionable relationships for a teenager. Friendship, young love and the stress of falling in with mum's plans are some of the challenges Jolie faces in her new school. This book was a much lighter version of The Ghost Whisperer tv series and the old cat man loved it.

I liked Chris Myers' snappy writing. From start to finish, the reader has a clear sense of what is happening. Drew's character was more important to me because he was the one who propelled Jolie towards who she could be. In terms of character, Jolie is exceptional and it's really hard not to fall in love with this "ripster." If there was one thing about the book I did not like, it did sometimes feel there were too many characters grabbing the limelight from Jolie.

The cat man's favourite scene? When they the sheriff that someone shot Distal and he insists he doesn't believe in ghosts. The irony of it all as he soon starts to soften towards Jolie's 'abilities.' Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #SciFi - A Diabolical Onslaught (Darkness & Daemons) by @RiottNight

A Diabolical Onslaught by Riott Night
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The main theme of the A Diabolical Onslaught is survival and it was developed well enough for the reader to connect with the characters. The event that I liked the most was 'Beasts' which was the best written of them all in terms of setting and description. This story was completely different from most science fiction stories.

One thing that let the cat man down was the cover. For the longest time, I assumed the lines running across the middle was frequency until someone pointed out that those were trees and the lower half was a river. Did not see that coming.

Characters were well fleshed out despite the fact that there were so many of them. Despite the different perspectives, transition from one event to another is smooth and most questions are answered by the end of the story. And that ending, wow. With a few tweaks, the cat man thinks this book will do very well. Overall, I recommend this story for idea and writing.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.



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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Thriller - Dangerous Past by A.F. Ebbers

Dangerous Past by A.F. Ebbers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When we started to read and discuss this book, the Malaysia Airlines plane MH370 had just gone missing so of course we were all jumping ahead of ourselves in the fiction and real world. The cat man says, let''s get the negatives out of the way. This is an old screenplay which has been rewritten as a book, this is what I understood from reading bits of the author's interview with my other book club members.

The effect of this is there's no social media, no relevance to current society. Had a timeline or year been given in the description, we would have been more prepared. It isn't the first time the cat man has said it. The description sets the pace for the reader, this book's description offered two lines. End result, we didn't know to be surprised or shocked.

Frank and Nicole, I liked. Their quirky, unconventional relationship kept the pages turning. When a man loves a woman, the things he will do. The plot was strong and picked up as soon as Nicole gets kidnapped. Love, right, wrong and all Frank believes in is about to get an overhaul. Recommended but the cat man thinks some improvement could make it better.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.



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#ReviewShare #BookReview #SciFi - Transcender: First-Timer (Transcender, #1) by @SavageVicky

Transcender: First-Timer by Vicky Savage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jaden starts off as a promising character but somewhere between her stilted dialogue and unreal way in which she could be all childlike one minute and a grown up the next. Characters like Ralston, Ryder, Drew and Maria were at times more focused in the plot that Jaden was.

So why read the book? Because the writing will take you to a whole different world, literally. If it weren't the cover, I wouldn't even have given a thought to the author being self-published but in all honesty, the cat man says, with a cover like that, people are definitely going to be thinking twice about picking up the book.

The problem most writers have with science fiction is world building. They aspire to create a world which can suck the human reader in to the point we don't want to leave. Vicky Savage does exactly this and because she gave me a cliffhanger ending, I made sure to read the second book in the series as well which was even better than the first. Extremely talented writer who deserves more readers for a long time to come.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.



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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Memoir - Loving Conor by Tami Arlene Urbanek @TamiUrbanek

Loving Conor: A Clairvoyant's Memoir on Loving, Bonding and Healing by Tami Arlene Urbanek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think there was an episode in Oprah that mentioned if an issue in life is not dealt with, it will keep popping up its ugly head until the issue is dealt with thoroughly to the point the person knows when and how to walk away from making the same mistakes again.

Tami, the author of the book is in a terrible marriage and finds herself in the difficult position of walking away from this marriage to become a single parent. The old cat man has never married but I do believe that no woman should be disrespected, whatever the circumstances. If it's anything a man must do right, it must be to respect the women he meets in his life.

As she progresses from marriage to motherhood and then to single parenting, her daughter Bethany follows in her footsteps of bad men and bad experiences. I specifically use the word 'follow' because from reading this memoir I felt something was held back as to why this circle of life happened and that Bethany's behavioural problems weren't entirely her own.

Bear in mind, I am not judging and the four stars are in no way a reflection of Tami's life story. I salute her for taking the courage to share story and for Bethany and Conor to be a part of her journey as mother, author and friend. However, in my humble opinion, the writing wasn't able to draw to me in as much as I would have liked to.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Children - My Grandma Lives in Florida by Ed Shankman

My Grandma Lives in Florida by Ed Shankman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the better children's book I've read more recently. Children are a tricky audience - too little and it's not interesting enough, too much and you're boring. Never easy to find a good balance but I must say Ed Shankman is very close to perfection.

Based on My Grandma Lives in Florida, children between the ages of 3 and 6 will adore his book. In this book, his use of travel, family interactions and speech to teach a child unconditional love is beyond impressive. It's okay to have your imperfections, people will still love you - this is an important lesson for children to learn from a young age as they grow up in a society that demands unattainable perfection.

Illustrations are very well done and are well-suited to the story. Colours are vibrant and catchy for a child. Younger children learning to read may find the text a bit small but this also depends on the type of reading device and format. All in, fantastic work. Ed Shankman definitely has a new fan.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #AmReading - Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis @DermotDavis1

Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story of Robert Munro isn't fiction. It's the story of every man and woman who has a family to provide for. The conflict of drawing the line and not bringing work home in a bag or in your mind. The juggling act that no one really wins in the end. Wife, child, self.

Of all the characters Dermot Davis has created, this is one that I connected with the most. Stormy Weather is a compelling story about a therapist who interprets dreams for a living only to soon realise he's about to become his own client. What a great premise. While the writing wasn't as sharp as Brain, it kept my attention throughout the book.

Robert Munro is as damaged as they come and was an amazing character in this quirky plot. Stormy Weather definitely managed to squeeze all emotions from me and that to me is proof of a good book. The old cat man says, young or old, you must read this book. You may not like the story, but you'll discover something about yourself.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #TimeTravel - The House by Sebastiana Randone @sebasti29567440

The House by Sebastiana Randone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This book has a good plot and a strong theme but many of the good points are buried in a heap of adjectives and jargon. Even if she had used big words all the way, most of us would have been okay with this but the combination of multiple adjectives, it was a strain on the reader and the characters.

A previous reviewer has pointed out in the description, "This is wonderful writing, with some great words, descriptive words and written in old British English," but this isn't quite the case. Dickens and even Shakespeare were easier to understand than some text this author used. The old cat man recommends that the author include this in her description early on to prepare readers and to remove as many adjectives as she can. Old English isn't everyone's cup of tea and this is probably going to catch some people off guard.

The multiple time frames were pulled off seamlessly and for this Sebastiana Randone deserves applause. Many time travel writers don't do a good job with this and readers are left stuck between time zones but in The House, the reader is introduced to the many characters and taken on a journey of wonders and love.

I recommend this read to anyone who would like to give Old English a try.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview - Maya & Filippo Look for Happiness in Tauranga by @AlinkaRutkowska

Maya & Filippo Look for Happiness in Tauranga by Alinka Rutkowska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second Maya & Filippo book I am reading from this delightful series by Alinka Rutkowska. The theme of the book is finding your own happiness and realising that you are in charge of your own feelings. No one owes it to you to make you happy and no one can make you unhappy without some participation from you.

Essentially, this is an important lesson for any child to learn and the author covers this very well using chocolates as a tool. However, she mentions so little about Tauranga. Te old cat man thinks if a child can discover emotions, they should be able to discover more of the island other than who lives on it.

For an illustrated ebook, it is neatly presented and the text is visible at all times unlike some children's ebooks where the text is lost in the cluttered images. From the two books I have read, Maya and Filippo are clearly a good series for children to discover new places and to learn about manners, attitude and treating other people. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #HickLit - Wilde Riders by Savannah Young @shortontimebook

Wilde Riders by Savannah Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two people meet in the last place they want to be. Is it destiny or a recipe for disaster? Riley Smith and Cooper Wilde are both ambitious and can't wait to leave the small town. I loved the fact that Savannah Young was able to create enough tension and romance on a page to slice through the strongest of nerves.

The theme for Wilde Riders is romance. Beneath the layers of discovery and charm, the more important issues include family life, priorities and deciding what is more important for the long-term. Savannah Young's writing is almost flawless. The only thing that kept the old cat man from giving her 5 stars was that I felt Riley seemed detached. They fell in love so fast, her character had no other to grow while Cooper was able to strengthen his character with interactions between him and his brothers.

Despite being near New York, I found it unique for the author to describe a small town. Between the gossip, a step back in style and manners, the reader is treated to a quirky love story that I hope is the beginning of a wonderful new series.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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#ReviewShare #BookReview #Literary - Broken Wing by Anna Klay @AnnaKlayBooks

Broken Wing by Anna Klay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title and description made it quite clear this book is about emotion, abuse and life. Anna Klay introduces us to Skye. Her mother has left her and she has been raised by her father who despite having done his best isn't entirely sure he's done a good job.

Enter Ray. The naive Skye sees him as a knight in shining armour and is soon pregnant with his child. But is Ray the right person for her? He has been physically abused as a child and these memories soon manifest into something much larger and he is unable to control himself.

This book will rest heavy on your heart. It uncovers emotions and abuse on so many different layers and stages of life, some chapters may not be easy for readers who have experienced the similar issues so the old cat man does recommend that the author include a trigger warning.

Technique wise, I would go easy on the adjectives. It was as if the author was sitting by a fountain of adjectives and had no concern about including more than one adjective in every other sentence. Each chapter is introduced with a tarot card much like the movie The Red Violin. Skye's gentle mannerisms and the setting in the small town also made me think of Cate Blanchette in the movie, The Gift. Good story, good writing which can be improved.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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