Jaye22
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The Four Winds
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 15 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds. Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey?
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Excellent in all aspects
- By Anonymous User on 07-02-21
- The Four Winds
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
*Emotional Read/Listen*
Reviewed: 31-08-24
This book really ripped my heart out. It is historical fiction at its best. This is set in the Great Depression era in America. Cruelty was an understatement and this will not be the last Kristin Hannah book I read.
The main character Elsa grew up in a household that never wanted for anything. They had servants and try as Elsa tried to fit in her parents continually reminded her that she was insignificant.
Her voice became weak as she tried to disappear. She was very tall and unlike her beautiful siblings she was always reminded of her unattractiveness.
One day she defies her parents and goes out. On this journey she meets a very young man. Little did she know this would shape her future. The next thing she knows she is married and disowned by her family and taken in by her husband’s family.
She learns how to farm, cook and so much more. The family grow to love her with a passion she has never known.
Disaster strikes when she is left to fend for herself and her 2 children. She makes her way to a brighter life in California.
Sadly, my heart goes out to her when hardship really hits. That really is where my heart sank the most as they experience all the things that no adult should see, let alone children.
One thing that stood out is how Elsa begins to find her voice. Especially as she and others are tested beyond anything they have ever known
There is an author’s note at the end.
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The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
- By: Laura Pearson
- Narrated by: Penelope Freeman
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’. But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’. Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.
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Heartache, loss, love and life
- By Amazon Customer on 08-12-23
- The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
- By: Laura Pearson
- Narrated by: Penelope Freeman
*Taking Chances*
Reviewed: 24-08-24
**4.5 Stars**
Mabel was married over 60 years to Arthur who loved to make lists. When he passes away quietly in his sleep, Mabel finds another one of his lists. On it was the words ‘Find D’ that was the only thing written on the list. This stands out for her as it is the initial of her best friend Dot who she lost touch with.
Mabel sauntered through life quietly and although Arthur was a good man in her eyes she never felt fulfilled and he seemed to love her despite of that. But like everyone he had his flaws.
Mabel has never taken chances and lived life in the safe lane. Little does she know that by taking a chance that she may gain more than she bargained for. The big question is that after 60 years of being apart will Dot still be alive? How will her life change and will she open herself up to the life she has always dreamed of?….
This for me was about friendships, love and daring to step outside of your comfort zone. I absolutely loved it.
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The Chosen Ones
- Detective Robyn Carter, Book 5
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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On a hot summer’s morning, a young father is found murdered in a cornfield outside the quiet town of Colton, tied to a post, arms spread wide. Detective Robyn Carter is reminded of the crucifixion, and she knows she’s looking for a killer with a twisted sense of right and wrong. Robyn vows she will find the killer - no matter what. But then a local doctor - a popular woman with a young family of her own - is found dead outside her surgery. There are similarities between the first body and hers, and Robyn must take another look at the picture-postcard town, where no one has any enemies.
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brilliant and gripping but the accents...........
- By Kaz.vincent on 20-06-18
- The Chosen Ones
- Detective Robyn Carter, Book 5
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
*Disturbing*
Reviewed: 21-08-24
**3.5 Stars**
This is the last instalment of the DI Robyn Carter series, this starts off with a gruesome murder, not for the faint hearted. The murders are staged with a religious theme running through them and Robyn and her team are struggling to get a breakthrough.
This is a frustrating case as the culprit is a hiding in plain sight. They have an uncanny knack of being an accomplished liar.
How will Robyn and her team ever fit the pieces of this puzzle. The culprit runs rings around them all as they perform one gruesome murder after another.
The ending was a disappointment for me as it felt unfinished regarding a personal matter for Robyn.
There is a short story at the end of the kindle book called ‘Endgame’ which answers my questions somewhat but I wanted more.
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The Summer Fair
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Beth loves her job working in a care home, looking after its elderly residents, but she doesn’t love the cramped and dirty house-share she currently lives in. So, when she gets the opportunity to move to Nightingale Square, sharing a house with the lovely Eli, she jumps at the chance. The community at Nightingale Square welcomes Beth with open arms, and when she needs help to organise a fundraiser for the care home they rally round. Then she discovers The Arches, a local creative arts centre, has closed and the venture to replace it needs their help too.
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Brilliant!!!
- By Shell Barrett on 14-05-22
- The Summer Fair
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
*Summer Revelations*
Reviewed: 19-08-24
This is book 5 of 6 books all featuring the residents of Nightingale Square based in Norwich.
This instalment is about Beth. She works in a care home dealing with some feisty characters. They are mischievous and Beth loves every moment working with them. The one thing she detests is the house she is currently sharing with a group of lazy and filthy housemates. They even expect her to clear up after them. She desperately needs a change of living arrangements. Suddenly she has an opportunity to live in ‘Nightingale Square’. Sadly it is almost a no go for her due to the price of the rent but, things happen and it becomes a reality.
She will be sharing with a guy called Eli. She does not meet him until the day after she moves in. There is a secret she is keeping and he brings back terrible memories by playing music.
Something happened in her life that made her swear she would never revisit the time when she had a dream. As Eli and Beth get to know each other she wants to keep music completely out of her life.
Eli has a reason that he only keeps music in the background. He was in a band with his now ex girlfriend and his best friend. That girlfriend made him choose between his friend and her. Sadly he chose the now ex girlfriend which meant losing his friend, his biggest regret.
The residents in the Square want to host a Summer Fair and they want some sort musical entertainment for the evening. Beth keeps her mouth shut and Eli even backs her up saying how much she hates music etc. He is unaware of her secret.
One day she finds herself humming in the house to his music. This leads to a showdown with Eli as he is pleased she is starting to appreciate music. She takes it personally and attacks him with her cutting words.
Now how does the author Heidi Swain tackle this? It was another great and easy read
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The Silent Children
- Detective Robyn Carter, Book 4
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The boy studied the bruise turning yellow at the base of his neck. With quick fingers his mother tightened his tie and pulled his collar high above it. Her eyes alone said, We will not speak of this.... Years later a man is found shot dead in a local park. On his phone is a draft text: I can’t keep this secret any longer. The recipient is unnamed. Detective Robyn Carter knows this secret is the key to the case, but his friends and family don’t offer any clues, and all her team have to go on is a size-ten footprint.
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brilliant!
- By Lisa Matthews on 14-02-18
- The Silent Children
- Detective Robyn Carter, Book 4
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
*Distraction*
Reviewed: 14-08-24
**3.5 Stars**
This is book 4 of 5 of the Detective Robyn Carter series. This one was very frustrating. There is no doubt that she is talented but it felt like she was off her game. Reeling from a revelation at the end of the last book, distracted and still grieving a personal loss her mind is all over the place.
With all that going on in the background she is often on the back foot and it feels like she is two steps behind.
The pressure is on when a body is found in a car at in a local park. The man was about to send a text but the recipient is unknown. It reads “I can’t keep this secret any longer”
What is this secret? When another body is discovered Robyn feels that there is a connection but she needs proof. As usual she treats every case as a puzzle. This particular case is full of dead ends.
Well, for me the last part of the book ramps up the pace as Robyn is in a race against time, she also feels like her new DCI is waiting for her to fail.
Will Robyn get to the root of the killer’s mind and prevent the bodies from piling up?
There is also the question of who is behind the strange things that are happening in her private life….
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The Winter Garden
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Freya Fuller is estranged from her parents and has been following her childhood dream of becoming a gardener ever since. When an opportunity to design a winter garden opens up at a Victorian property in Nightingale Square, Freya jumps at the chance to make a fresh start. But while the majority of the residents are welcoming, local artist Finn seems determined to shut her out, and when Freya's family makes a surprise appearance, it seems that her new life is about to come crashing down.
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An uncomfortable read! Red Flags and triggers
- By Collette on 18-12-20
- The Winter Garden
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
*Winter Chills*
Reviewed: 13-08-24
This is book 3 of 5 of the books that feature the residents of Nightingale Square. In this instalment we meet Freya Fuller. She is never happier than when she is working in a garden. This is exactly what she has and is a live in gardener on a an estate in Suffolk owned by a lovely lady called Eloise.
When Eloise sadly passes away, the estate passes on to her obnoxious American nephew. In a heartbeat he is making changes that Freya does not like and he seems to be all about money.
Freya was very close to Eloise and considered her to be her best friend. She finds herself by her graveside asking for a sign. Freya has Nell her owners dog, the nephew wants the dog gone.
By chance while she is pondering what to do, there is a radio advert about Prosperous Place in Norwich. She makes her way seeing it as a sign and is very taken by the place. Before she knows it she is offered a job, Luke the owner and his partner Kate really take to her. They pull out all the stops to accommodate her to be the lead gardener creating a winter garden. I found it interesting that he is so proactive trying to deal with his SAD disorder.
Once she starts work she quickly finds out how welcoming the people on the square are. There is one person in particular that she clashes with and armed with all of Heidi Swain’s ingredients, misunderstandings, jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, colourful characters etc I just sat back and enjoyed the process. A very easy read.
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The Missing Girls
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 3
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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When a girl's body is found at a Midlands storage unit, it is too decomposed for Detective Robyn Carter to read the signs left by the killer. No one knows the woman in blue who rented the unit; her hired van can't be traced. But as the leads run dry, another body is uncovered. This time the killer's distinctive mark is plain to see, and matching scratches on the first victim's skeleton make Robyn suspect she's searching for a serial killer.
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Excellent story
- By Mrs CJ on 08-04-21
- The Missing Girls
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 3
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
*Retribution*
Reviewed: 08-08-24
**3.5-4 Stars**
This is book three of five in the DI Robyn Carter series. She is known for following her gut instincts but she gets very little support from her new DCI.
She is still grieving from a personal loss and in this instalment she was definitely not on her game. At times it felt like she was many steps behind the perpetrator.
This book was about a devastating tragedy in one family, it was to do with cyber bullying. The question is how far would you go when someone’s words have had a detrimental impact on your family? What would you do about it? Would you seek your own form of justice?….
There are a few red herrings and coincidences, Robyn who loves to treat each case like a puzzle 🧩 struggles to see all the pieces.
A body of a young girl barely a woman is accidentally found while a team is on a different shout. It then becomes Robyn’s case. Now, Robyn will have to pull out all the stops in order to prevent the next victim turning up.
Towards the end is a nail biting rush to save someone’s life will Robyn manage to prevent the bodies from piling up?…
There is a twist at the end, what does it mean?…
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Poppy's Recipe for Life
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Things haven’t always been straightforward in Poppy’s life but her dreams are finally within her reach. She's moving into a cottage in beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior belies.
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brilliant
- By Ally on 14-06-19
- Poppy's Recipe for Life
- By: Heidi Swain
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
*Fun & Sunshine*
Reviewed: 06-08-24
**3.5 Stars**
This is book two of five in the Nightingale Square series. The main character is Poppy as the title says. When she gets an opportunity to rent a house in the square she jumps at it.
Her mother is a nightmare and is usually so self absorbed that she thinks nothing of going away with her new man and leaving her teenage son Ryan to fend for himself. When Poppy calls to ask him to stay with her as it is closer for him to commute to college. Poppy is taken aback that he jumps at the chance. He has his reasons….
Poppy creates recipe cards for people to take and make something wholesome. She is instrumental in getting her grumpy neighbour to join in things. She also has a terrible habit of automatically expecting the worst in some situations and jumping to conclusions without all the facts. I found this quality sometimes grated on me.
Overtime as Ryan gets used to the people in the square he starts to thrive. He even joins in with the community efforts to create a space that reflects them all. He has a secret …. This secret will come back to haunt him and he will not be the only one affected
This story has all the Ingredients that Heidi Swain throws in, quite a few colourful characters to navigate but somehow she makes it work. There are assumptions, misunderstandings, comical moments, with a touch of love and trouble on the horizon.
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Secrets of the Dead
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 2
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying 'all debts paid', Detective Robyn Carter knows it's just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognizes the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed. With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can't find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.
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Good storyline
- By Shellybean1727 on 16-05-18
- Secrets of the Dead
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 2
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
*Riveting*
Reviewed: 03-08-24
This is book 2 of 5 of the Detective Robyn Carter Series. This is a book that once I started to read it was hard to put it down. The Carol Wyer books that I have read so far seem to draw me in.
In this instalment we see Robyn trying to follow her gut instincts and it does not always go to plan. Ever since her personal tragedy, she has been a bit off her game.
There is a serial killer out there and his calling card seems to be receipts to the value of 250k. What is the significance of the figure? None of the victims have any debts..
Robyn and her team are working around the clock to catch the killer. Robyn quite often views her cases like a puzzle. She desperately tries to find out if the victims are connected and each time there is another victim a new receipt shows Robyn her connection.
The pressure is mounting from her boss and there is another DI who is looking to swoop in and claim the glory.
There is a running commentary from the killer and once Robyn understands the reason and motive behind the murders, she has to take a chance in order to move in on her suspect. Will her gut pull through for her as she races towards a nail biting conclusion.
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Little Girl Lost
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 1
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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A teacher goes missing under suspicious circumstances and a man is murdered at a local reservoir. For Detective Robyn Carter, there's no obvious link between the cases. But as she starts to delve into them, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail's connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?
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Good story but totally ruined by the narration
- By J.J & G Robson on 30-12-17
- Little Girl Lost
- Detective Robyn Carter Crime Thriller Series, Book 1
- By: Carol Wyer
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
*Gripping*
Reviewed: 31-07-24
We meet DI Robyn Carter, this is book one of a five part series. I was hooked from the first page.
Abigail is living her best life. She has a beautiful baby girl called Izzy who she dotes on. She also has a handsome and loyal husband. Her world is about to implode as she has a terrible secret. A past that she wants to keep close to her chest. She has never told her husband because she wants to move forward and forget the worst time of her life.
Things start happening at home and she tries to keep it to herself. The culprit is making her look insane with her accusations and text messages that keep disappearing.
Robyn Carter has been getting ready to go back to work after a personal double heartbreak. The first case she has is a death, is it an accident or a murder?. Then more deaths occur and Robyn has to use all her wits and gut instincts to solve the case.
Then Izzy is abducted after Abigail is distracted…….
Robyn senses a connection with the deaths/murders to the abduction but Abigail is telling half truths.
Robyn is getting close to solving the case as the pieces of the puzzle start to slot together.
This is a very promising series and I have warmed to Robyn. My only frustration was that Abigail could have been truthful earlier but that also showed the level of her fear …..
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