Seagull

Enjoyable, but certainly not her best

Reviewed: 16-03-24

I've read and enjoyed pretty well all Trisha Ashley's books, sometimes more than once. This one, although a cosy romantic listen, did feel as if it was written to fulfil a deadline. The plot is predictable and entirely without surprises, and although I'm always quite happy with a bit of background detail, this time there was so much given that it teetered very close to 'padding'. I'd also love to know how, with details of so many meals and cakes being eaten, Garland manages to remain so tiny! However, (and despite the strangely misleading title), I would say that if you are looking for a purely comfort read, you could do much worse than this one.

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Excellent

Reviewed: 01-07-23

Agatha Christie in her usual excellent form, and read by a great narrator. What's not to like?

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This could have been a good book.

Reviewed: 16-03-23

I don't like giving up on a book halfway through, especially if it has an interesting setting and likeable characters, as this one does. However, the continual non-stop reiteration of their hidden lustful longings finally defeated me. Dear Romance Writers everywhere, if you tell me two or three times that the characters fancy each other, then I stay interested. However, if you tell me two or three thousand times that they fancy each other, then I do what I have done today. I give up through sheer boredom and irritation.

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Not for me

Reviewed: 26-01-23

Having enjoyed The Midnight Library, I was looking forward to listening to more of this author's work. However, this one was definitely not for me. Full marks for originality of subject matter, but I did find it extremely slow moving - not helped by the many, many chapter breaks. I also found it difficult to find much sympathy for any of the characters. I did finish it, but only after resorting to skimming through towards the end. And it's certainly not a book for anyone squeamish about blood!

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10 people found this helpful

Pleasant enough

Reviewed: 22-12-22

This was a pleasant enough Christmas story, with a lot to enjoy. But there is an awful lot of repetition, without which it would have been a better book. I did get very bored with the amount of times the heroine told us how much she fancied the hero. Once or twice would have been fine, but having established the fact, I'd have been perfectly happy to have it left to my imagination.

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Disappointing

Reviewed: 04-11-22

I've read and enjoyed other books by this author, but not this one, I'm afraid. It's very well narrated, but the book itself seemed to get longer and gloomier with every chapter. However, I can see by other comments that I'm in the minority here!

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Not good

Reviewed: 13-08-22

I do find Heidi Swain's books a bit hit and miss. Some are really excellent - others, like this one, are not. I really couldn't warm to the heroine Kate, who came across as both judgmental and peevish (although the latter fault might have been down to the way it was read). The writing also had a tendency to descend into purple prose when describing the hero's charms, which I found rather cringe-making. I won't give up on Heidi Swain's books, but I definitely won't be revisiting this one I'm afraid.

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Thoroughly confusing

Reviewed: 30-07-22

It might be because I listened in several different instalments, but I found it very difficult to follow all the various threads of this story. Although the narrator differentiated between the various characters quite well, none of the voices felt credible. Campion in particular sounded like a querulous old lady.

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Great story, beautifully read

Reviewed: 12-01-22

Not always a comfortable read, but definitely one to expand our understanding of the autistic spectrum. Funny as well as sad, and with a positive feeling to the whole book. Wonderfully well read by Charlie Sanderson.

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Definitely worth getting

Reviewed: 07-12-21

This is a great book for any Barbara Pym fan. It's probably the most thorough biography of BP I've come across, and despite its length, remains interesting throughout. Would certainly recommend.

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