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Post by garej on Feb 10, 2020 1:28:48 GMT 1
A SMILEY for THE MICHAELMAS MURDERS.
It's part of the series called The Number Two Detective Agency where 2 cats go around solving mysteries. The cats are anthropomorphic creatures in the series as they have jobs and do human type things. The Michaelmas Murders is set around a show in a stately home where there's a fete Only a cat gets murdered and it's up to the agency to solve it. There's more to the story but I don't want to give away spoilers.
I liked this book because it's not a taxing read as the chapters are short. It's the second in the series I have read (the first being The Death of Downton Tabby) and hope to read more in the future.
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Post by garej on Feb 10, 2020 14:59:30 GMT 1
I have started Jump to the Stars. Good so far. Unless it ends up being horrendously bad it will be a smiley.
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Post by rallycairn on Feb 10, 2020 16:08:02 GMT 1
SMILEY for INCAPABILITY BROWN.
Finished Incapability Brown a few days ago. I really liked that it was a nice long book -- I enjoyed the time spent in the Yorkshire world the author created very much!
A little bit of a mixed bag, though -- Izzy was almost too inept and mushy and wishy washy to be likeable for a good part of the book, but she finally began coming in to her own. Also for me, there was too much "romance book" feel to the plotting and the protagonist's inner maunderings (not the bodice ripper type of book, I don't mean that -- no smut -- but just that I would have preferred more emphasis on Izzy finding herself as a person in a more general way rather than being so obsessed with men and what they think of her). But all that said, it was certainly a recommended read. I really loved the way the people in the book were really focused on being a family and making a home, especially for the girls in the story (Izzy's charges). Plenty of good horse stuff -- mostly accurate, too.
I did immediately buy the sequel MISTLETOE AND WHINE on my Nook ereader tablet -- it was a good bit shorter but a very nice followup, and less romance-y, so for that I kind of liked it better -- i.e., the sequel was definitely more of a novel about family relationships rather than a romance novel. Still plenty of horses, and I'd love to live where Izzy does -- which I think is Claire's neck of the woods, maybe?
Whose star read was INCAPABILITY BROWN? I went through the Summer Reading Challenge site and didn't see it starred, but Haffy, it was on your list -- would love to hear your thoughts on the book!
CLAIRE -- since I've already read and commented on it, would you mind if I add MISTLETOE & WHINE by Cressida Schofield to my list, and it gets a SMILEY? THANKS!
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Post by tintin on Feb 11, 2020 11:43:16 GMT 1
Hello Claire - it gets a smiley because of the very, very good writing. Some of the best I have read. Brophy really does conjure up a picture - whether a trip to the music hall, working in the sewers or a botched drill parade at Sandhurst. However, the story is strange, more than a little "psychological" - pretty downbeat, but nowhere near miserable enough for English Literature teachers to like it - it still manages to be interesting and exciting. Makes you care about the characters and worry what is going to happen to them after the last page
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Post by Claire on Feb 12, 2020 12:13:37 GMT 1
Thanks for clarifying Tintin.
I am on to Incapability Brown now. Interesting comments by you Rallycairn which echo my own views on the book - though I'll add more when I've finished it. I wasn't sure I'd like it when I started as I'm not much of a 'chick lit' type person but am finding it surprisingly enjoyable so far.
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Post by susanb on Feb 12, 2020 20:37:58 GMT 1
Hi Claire, just a heads up, I think the " Hi there, please accept my apologies for not getting back to you sooner, I just noticed you have bought two books from me. My ebay shop should have been closed down as I am away in Spain for a few weeks, however for some reason it allowed you to purchase these! As you have ordered them I will get someone to send them for you. I'll also send a refund for combined postage." that is next to my First House was meant for someone else? Mine was just a smiley And I finished Why Didn't They Tell the Horses, smiley there too, I really enjoyed the backstory of Christine McKenna's introduction to horses and riding (sidesaddle!), under the gun, so to speak, of filming Flambards
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Post by trixiepony on Feb 13, 2020 1:54:52 GMT 1
Brumby Mountain gets a smelly face in fact I think it gets my Stare read as well. there are some sad bits in it but it ends very much in a high.
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Post by Claire on Feb 14, 2020 17:45:49 GMT 1
Lol Susan I don’t know for the life of me how that got there!! I have changed it to a smilie! I’ve also noticed that the smilies that I give when I’m on the laptop are different r to those from my mobile phone! Anyhow we’ll done for being the first to complete the challenge.
Rally yeah I can add Mistletoe and Whine to your list. Incapability was Haffy’s star read.
Gareth and Trixie, glad you are also enjoying the challenge.
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Post by rallycairn on Feb 15, 2020 17:34:15 GMT 1
trixiepony I got a chuckle out of smelly face! I am loving the mini winter reading challenge!
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Post by darkhorse on Feb 15, 2020 19:11:14 GMT 1
Smiley face for Jump to the Top please. I haven't read it in many years but have enjoyed it as much as I did as a teenager and may re-read all 3 books in the series now.
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Post by trixiepony on Feb 16, 2020 10:50:59 GMT 1
trixiepony I got a chuckle out of smelly face! I am loving the mini winter reading challenge! Chuckle yes I am hopeless at prof reading my own typing. Yes Claire I am loving the mini reading challenge as well.
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 18, 2020 19:43:42 GMT 1
SMILEY for INCAPABILITY BROWN. Finished Incapability Brown a few days ago. I really liked that it was a nice long book -- I enjoyed the time spent in the Yorkshire world the author created very much! Yes it was my star read so pleased you enjoyed it. I was the same as you and immediately went on to read the sequel too, i hope there may be more to come about the characters too as i really enjoyed the little world she wove around them. I quite liked Izzy's character,i thought she was endearing and I found her quite relatable and maybe that's why, I also enjoyed the romance element it had (I don't actually mind a bit of smut either ). I thought Carlotta (? it was a while ago i read it now -eldest daughter) was a complex character too with potential for her own story. I sort of see her as a Perdita type maybe (Polo, Jilly Cooper)
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 18, 2020 19:46:33 GMT 1
Smiley for Never again, it was a sequel to a book a read a little while back. Not horsey and not for everyone.
Currently started A Horse called Red and hoping i can motivate myself to read it quickly, so i can read the kate lattey book before my kindle unlimited subscription runs out (not been using it much and they didn't make me an offer this time when i went to cancel)
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Post by brumby on Feb 20, 2020 1:51:10 GMT 1
Cobblers Dream gets a smiley face. It took me a while to get into the story perhaps early on not enough about the horses. But once I read about Charlie the pit pony I was totally hooked (and in tears). Will definitely read the others in the Follyfoot series
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Post by brumby on Feb 25, 2020 2:56:26 GMT 1
Ride a dark horse - Lyn Hall gets a smiley. I really enjoyed this modern pony book, it was set in a racing stables and is also a mystery. Will definitely try to read more of Lyn Halls books
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Post by Claire on Feb 26, 2020 17:59:00 GMT 1
Finished Incapability Brown and really liked it - much more than I thought I would. I must confess I chose it as it was on my kindle unlimited app and was a quick and easy choice - was quite prepared not to like it. In some ways I didn't relate to the character of Izzy, especially at the start, as she seemed a bit shallow and materialistic but she grew on me as the book went on and she become more interested in animals and less material things. By the end I really liked her. The romance was quite predictable, not really my cup of tea, but not too overdone. I liked the characters of Taryn and Carlotta too: as Haffy said, Carlotta (and IMHO Taryn too) were complex characters. I live near where the book was set so that was quite nice also. I will defo go onto read the sequel. Thanks to Haffy for introducing me to the series.
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Post by susanb on Feb 28, 2020 2:31:01 GMT 1
Thanks Claire, I really loved doing the mini-winter series....maybe a new tradition is born? It's nice to have something fun to look forward to during the post-Christmas winter nights
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Post by darkhorse on Mar 2, 2020 23:06:01 GMT 1
Finished Cobbler's Dream and a big smiley for it please. It was quite harrowing in parts, especially the beginning. A very well written book and great characters.
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Post by Claire on Mar 3, 2020 14:21:49 GMT 1
Hi all, hope you are all enjoying the challenge. Just to say that although the official end date is 5th March, if you need more time to finish no problem. It's still Winter in the UK that's for sure!
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Post by brumby on Mar 4, 2020 23:24:04 GMT 1
White Poles & Look before you leap by Shirley Faulkner-Horne both get smileys. The first is about Jennifer central character when she is young getting her first pony at 14, if I had read this book when I was a teenager I'm sure it would have been a favourite. In Look before you leap Jennifer has finished school and goes off to Switzerland for finishing school, and then despite her parents wishes of a an office job she pursues a horsey career and becomes a three day eventer (at one stage I was worried she would go down the Jill Crewe path!) The other real beauty of these books are the beautiful dust jackets and illustrations by Peter Biegel.
Thank you Claire for organising the mini Winter reading challenge have really enjoyed it.
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Post by rallycairn on Mar 6, 2020 5:41:03 GMT 1
Still need to read my final book -- will get on it!
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Post by darkhorse on Mar 6, 2020 21:57:26 GMT 1
Finished on time for once! Smilie please for Treasure Trove. There wasn't actually much horsey in the book but it was an enjoyable story with nice characters.
Thanks for arranging the Mini Challenge Claire.
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Post by Claire on Mar 11, 2020 15:42:24 GMT 1
Hi all, is anyone continuing with the challenge?
I forgot to give a summary of my last book, Dark Horse. It got a smilie. A decent, if not outstanding, read. It ran along similar lines to the PT Riders On The March series in which a riding school struggles in an urban environment, a subject rarely explored in pony books. It didn't quite have the depth that the PT's characters show though. It has a little bit of romance, but it's quite understated. Worth a read.
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Post by garej on Mar 12, 2020 13:05:33 GMT 1
I haven't finished Jump to the Stars yet Claire.
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Post by haffy f a n on Mar 14, 2020 20:30:11 GMT 1
I'm afraid i haven't been very motivated and my kindle unlimited subscription has now ended before i finished my second book (they didn't offer me another cut price offer and i'm not reading enough at present to pay for it.
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