Review: Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

the characters
*the main idea
the plot or what it's done with the idea
the style of writing
the ending

Review: A Dangerous Place

A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very interesting series, however I felt this was a bit cut and dried, went too fast over what happened to Maisie in Canada and a bit too unbelievable as far as the episode in Gilbralter.

When Maisie was in Gilbralter, she discovered the body of a man, a photographer so she was told. Eventually, Maisie, being Maisie with all her curiosity, just had to investigate to discover what had happened to that man.

A good read and still my favourite series.

Review: Leaving Everything Most Loved

Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Another very intriguing episode with Maisie Dobbs.

In this installment Maisie has decided to do some travelling and luckily,
Billie has landed a good job and Sondra is working for the writer. Maisie closes up the business, for now.

Her father has recently married Maisie's housekeeper so the thought of Frankie being alone will not be a worry and Maisie is free to go where she wishes. She now is a woman of means and can afford to see the world.

Meanwhile, James has given Maisie an ultimatum with a deadline of six months, March 31st, to give her answer. Will she marry him or not. Maisie seems reluctant to marry as a married lady "lunches" and Maisie is much too ambitious for that. We will have to wait and see how the next six months go in that regard.

Maisie has boarded a ship travelling to India but won't arrive for many weeks. Can't wait to hear about her next adventure.

Review: The Bend in Redwood Road

The Bend in Redwood Road by Danielle Stewart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I did have high hopes for this book, the start of a new series and I like this writer. The story fell flat for me. I couldn't seem to like the characters. One side of the mix the people were very cold and lacking in feeling and the other side were very sickly sweet. Just too much of both. The story was very dragged out as well with little or no substance.

An adopted girl with a very loving adoptive family sends off her DNA test to discover that she has siblings.

Very disappointed as I was looking forward to this new series.

Review: Elegy for Eddie

Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this installment of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series, Maisie is chastised by her good friend for being "too good" to people and trying to organize everyone and being very controlling. Maisie is quite upset by this, but does begin to realize that she has been doing this.

A young man who was a gentle and simple person was killed at his workplace and some of his friends have asked Maisie to investigate the death. There is a lot more to things that meet the eye.

As usual a great story.

Review: A Lesson in Secrets

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another lovely episode in the life of Maisie Dobbs. We have seen Maisie rise from a servant at the age of thirteen to a respected business woman and also a woman of wealth. What is next for Maisie? I am hoping that she can settle down to a happy life. Looks like I am a romantic after all.

In A Lesson in Secrets Maisie is recruited to a teaching position in a college by the Secret Police in order to gain information required in a case. She took to the position like a duck to water, as usual for her, and was able to put pieces together that previously others had overlooked.

A very interesting read.

Review: The Liar's Wife

The Liar's Wife by Samantha Hayes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I never like to give a bad review as someone took a long time to write the story and it does have some merits. However when things become so frustrating to read I have to decide that life is just too short.

Please do take a chance on the book though as it will definitely be a great read for some. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

Review: The Mapping of Love and Death

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maisie must cope with the approaching loss of her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and her growing awareness that she is once again falling in love.

April 1932. London psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs is retained by Michael's parents, who have recently learned that their son's remains have been unearthed in France. They want Maisie to find the unnamed nurse whose love letters were among Michael's belongings—a quest that takes Maisie back to her own bittersweet wartime love. Her inquiries, and the stunning discovery that Michael Clifton was murdered in his trench, unleash a web of intrigue and violence that threatens to engulf the soldier's family and even Maisie herself. 

Another great story by Jacqueline Winspear.

Review: Among the Mad

Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another winning story by Jacqueline Winspear. In this installment Maisie is recruited by Scotland Yard to help with an investigation. A threatening note has been received and Maisie's name was mentioned in the note. In order to make people believe that the threat is serious, the mysterious person has been killing animals and birds with what appears to be some sort of mustard gas substance.

While in the midst of her work with Scotland Yard, it seems that Maisie has picked up a love interest, well, on his part anyway. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Review: An Incomplete Revenge

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

the characters *
the main idea
the plot or what it's done with the idea *
the style of writing *
the ending *

I love this series by Jacqueline Winspear and have become quite attached to all the characters in the series. Maisie is a private detective/psychologist and goes about helping people solve certain mysteries that others are not equipped for.

Always look forward to the next installment in the series.

Review: Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent story, but very sad. I won't forget this for a long time.

Review: Messenger of Truth

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am very drawn to the private detective and psychologist and especially to the time, which is just following the end of WWI. In London just following the war was an interesting time in the clothing and speach and of course lifestyle. There was still quite a divide between the rich and the working class. It is refreshing in many ways to visit the simplier way of life and it is eye opening to realize the luck we have now in current times with living conditions, employment and health care. Ms. Winspear has it all just right and as we open the book, we are immediately taken back to that long ago time.

Maisie helps people solve mysteries and is often hired by people who can afford her help. But she is almost phychic in her ways. Her and her assistant, Billy, find themselves in some sticky situations but Maisie always seems to be able to steer them to clear waters.

A lovely series.

Review: 11/22/63

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Lady in the Lake

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

*the characters - 0 unlikeable
*the main idea - 1
*the plot or what it's done with the idea - 0
*the style of writing - 0
*the ending - 0

Just couldn't rate this book as it seemed to go on and on and with nonsense. It was impossible to even like the characters. The redeeming feature was the main idea, which was good, but the story just went off in too many directions.