Best British Short Stories
And that's before my embarrassing mishap gets splashed across prime time local TV news. But being rescued by hot firefighter Logan Patterson is worth it, especially when I find out he wants me with a passion that makes my head spin and every part of me throb with need.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book was fantastic ... from the way they met to the way he proposed... they were meant to be together despite his baggage ... she loved his little girl , no the ex wife.. it was sexy , romantic and fantastic ...."
"Another hot and sweet Mia Madison older man/younger woman read."
"This was a sexy quick read about Tia the daughter of the fire chief and Logan a new firefighter at the station. Tia and Logan met when she is caught in drain while trying to get the ring she dropped. They begin seeing each other and even though her father has is doubts about their relationship he knows he has to let Tia make her own dissensions."
"Her former fiance cheated and she is returning his ring to his office when someone bumps her and the ring goes rolling into the manhole. She can't find a job after graduating from college and her dad offers her a unpaid job at the firehouse. Eventually Logan learns that Tia is free and they start dating, against the wishes of her father."
"Lovely romance between an older, single dad, Logan (a firefighter) & Tia, 21, who still lives at home with her dad, the fire chief (yes, Logan's boss). Dad is overprotective, but Tia stands her ground (nicely, not disruptively); dad gives his "okay;" & Logan, eventually, asks Tia to marry him."
"Mia was on her way to take her engagement ring back to her ex, when someone bumped into her and she lost it down the sewer. Paul and Logan go back to the station and file a report of what happened."
"A fast paced steamy read about an older man who happens to be a firefighter, Logan, and the chief's daughter who happens to be way younger, Tia."
"Mia Madison did not disappoint me with this story and plot. A short and easy read but worth the time. I recommend it if you like to read romance stories with a cute twist."
Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, and Barbara Cornthwaite revisit Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Mansfield Park to deliver the uplifting holiday storytelling you're looking for. Her Christmas Gift by Robin Helm. Elizabeth Bennet finds herself snowbound at Rosings with two rejected, but highly eligible, suitors. No Better Gift by Wendi Sotis. On his way to Derbyshire to spend Christmas with his family, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy plans to retrieve an item he left behind during his rushed escape from Netherfield—and the country miss who touched his heart. "Throughout the holiday season, it seems like everyone has their own list of favorite things... For me, holiday JAFF is near the top of my own list of holiday favorites, so being able to indulge in a holiday anthology written by Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendy Sotis and Barbara Cornwaithe adds that extra touch of sparkle to my own holiday season." Claudine Pepe, JustJane1813, 5 stars "A Very Austen Christmas is a wonderful collection of novellas about our favorite Austen characters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""The matchmakers Christmas", Laura Hile. Entering the morning after the Netherfield ball, Charles is on his way to London and the rest of the party are planning to follow him when unexpected guests arrive. Trying to prove his heart and soul to be wrong about his attachment to Elizabeth he ventures into Meryton to retrieve a gift for his sister that he had forgotten in his hasty departure. He does find Elizabeth though and turns into her knight in shining armour... A bit darker than the previous stories, this was a deliciously emotional read. "Mistletoe at Thornton Lacey", Barbara Cornthwaite. This story is based on the characters from Mansfield Park and it shows that good intentions can be thwarted at every turn by well meaning relatives, neighbours and villagers and even by livestock... A funny and warm telling of a Christmas proposal."
"As a writer of Emma retellings, I wasn't sure what to think when I saw she'd chosen Mansfield Park as her setting, but I'm so very glad she did. Lovers of all things Pride and Prejudice will appreciate Robin Helm's lavish but judicious use of direct lines from the book in "Her Christmas Gift." And by that point, I loved this collection so much that when I got halfway through Wendi Sotis' "No Better Gift" I just had to stop and write a review. I loved seeing beloved characters in new settings with careful attention to Austen's style and historical nuances... right down to the glass tax!"
"Her Christmas Gift by Robin Helm. Her Christmas Gift is a sweet follow-up variation story for Pride & Prejudice. No Better Gift by Wendi Sotis. A variation that starts after the Bingleys and Darcy left Netherfield has a touching story of Darcy returning to find Elizabeth burdened with the care of those who've contracted a communicable illness in the neighborhood. It will be a story I come back to another Christmas season or two, I think. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better collection of stories to highlight the mood and sense of the holidays, bring out lovely what ifs and sequels to Jane Austen's stories, and showcase a talented team of writers who are all pretty much auto-buy for me at this point."
Ten years have passed since Diana Hunter, once the youngest spook in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, was captured by the elusive professional assassin known only as “Surgeon.” Now a magazine editor and a consultant for the Vancouver Police Department, Diana has been taunted for years by the shadowy psychopathic genius who continues to elude the grasp of the world’s top police and intelligence services. Praise for the Diana Hunter mystery series:"This book deserves more than the max five stars. I loved the danger, the characters were all people I could relate to and I enjoyed the descriptions, they jumped of the page into my imagination. To get your free copy of Hunted, the prequel to the Diana Hunter mystery series, plus two more books, updates about new releases, exclusive promotions, and other insider information, sign up for the Cozy Mysteries Insider mailing list at: cozymysteries.com/diana.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I started reading the first book in this series and after that, I couldn't put them down, reading though all 4 of the books in a week's time. This book continues the story of Diana Hunter and the characters and relationships are developed a bit more in each book, leaving you anxious for the next book to come out for more."
"Chopped by Alison Golden is Book #4 in The Diana Hunter Mystery Series. Since I have loved all the books in this series, I was super excited when I found out book #4 had been released! I would recommend you get the other books in the Diana Hunter Mystery Series and read them in order. You will be very happy with your decision to get them because your reading experience will be that much better...you will get to know the characters more as you move from one book to the next."
"This is the 4th book in the Diane Hunter series and it continues to build a relationship between Diane and her partner, Peter."
"Just when I thought they had caught the bad guy and were moving on to set up the next book, here comes a twist, and what a great one!"
"This is the 4th book in the Diane Hunter series. In this one, Diane's enemy The Surgeon, is back and killing people. Can Diane and her fellow law enforcement people finally put an end to The Surgeon and his evil ways?"
"The book could be read as a stand alone, but will be appreciated more if the earlier stories have been read."
"As she works with her partner at VPD and CSIS to track him down once and for all, she is willing to do whatever it takes to get his attention - even if it means her life."
"Diana Hunter is back and she is more intense than ever!"
Best British Poetry
Pillow Thoughts is a collection of poetry and prose about heartbreak, love, and raw emotions. So we have poems about heartbreak, about missing someone, we have poems for when we're sad, or for when we're lonely. In August 2017 she published Pillow Thoughts and The Road Between via US publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing. When Courtney isn't writing she enjoys keeping fit, listening to music, and hanging out with her two dogs, Hero & Dakota.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"2.5 Stars."
"Just started reading and I’m already in love, it’s a great poem book."
"I LOVE this book."
"This book has put so much into perspective for me."
"I loved the love poems and the sad ones were so beautiful and this book was just amazing."
"I love this book."
Best British Historical Literature
Scarlet and Ellie are in awe of her courage and competence, but the experienced nurse is well aware of the dangers of the job they’ve chosen—and even she is terrified they won’t make it home alive. “In Soraya M. Lane's captivating historical drama, three heroic nurses brave bullets, blood, and heartache to survive wartime France, all the while struggling to keep hope alive for a peaceful future. Scarlet, Ellie, and Lucy’s journey through the horrors of WWII is, at the same time, moving, harrowing, and ultimately satisfying.” —Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm a nurse, and this book is a very accurate description of many of the things we go through, especially with trauma patients. Ellie grew up in a close-knit, loving family, and maintains a sunny, positive, and lighthearted attitude toward life. Lucy is a strong nurse, confident in her abilities, and puts others first, no matter the risk to herself. I loved the author's other book, "Voyage of the Heart" and this book is equally as enjoyable."
"I really enjoyed this book , it kept my interest the whole way through , I just had to keep reading it , it was raw with emotion, I am a retired nurse whom had a bit to do with military men & woman from the Vietnam war , I was also privileged to have worked with Nurses from the 2nd world war as well ."
"This book follows new nurses during Normandy and the horrors of war and how they struggle at times to handle the situations they are faced with."
"This story spoke volumes of the bravery that the battlefield nurses showed during the war."
"Wives of War is the story of three young women, from different backgrounds, who volunteered to serve as nurses in London during the war."
"I know this author writes primarily romance stuff, but I took a chance on this one because I generally like WWII novels, and hoped the war would mitigate an overdose of sweetness and light. I encountered lots of historical errors, which is surprising since WWII is not that far removed from the modern idiom, and Wiki is sooo convenient for the casual researcher. Admittedly, I nearly hit the Kindle delete key when I read that while the Normandy landings of June 6 occurred simultaneously as paratroopers dropped in on the port of Le Havre. I did find the author's attempts to slip in a few "Britishisms" amusing--"to do one's bit," for example, occurred with astonishing frequency. And then there is the author's strange tendency to have her female characters forge strong, everlasting, all-encompassing, and tight bonds of friendship that will sustain them throughout the rest of their lives, and certainly until the end of the book, within five minutes of meeting each other. I skimmed to the end because my interest waned rather quickly and because I've read far better, more complex, and more rewarding novels about women in the European theater of operations."
Best British & Irish Drama & Plays
The playscript for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was originally released as a 'special rehearsal edition' alongside the opening of Jack Thorne's play in London's West End in summer 2016. When Albus hatches a plot to go back in time to save the life of Cedric Diggory—what Albus views as the biggest mistake his father made—time becomes distorted and Harry is left to examine his own life, his relationship with his son, and how love can sometimes be much more complicated than it seems. This is an interesting extension of the "Harry Potter" universe, but readers should go into it knowing that it's its own beast. Rowling didn't write it (much to the fury and vitriol of many fans), and it is in script form, so it loses some of the magic that won over millions of readers back when it all began.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the books 2-3 times per year since I was a child. These books are a part of me, I've named my children after characters in these books. I have waited for this book like the rest of you. I get more of a harry potter vibe from the fantastic beasts trailer than this entire book. I think the best way to go into reading this and saving yourself from despair is to read it as a fanfic and not the true works of rowling."
"I keep wondering if there's a therapy group where all the disgruntled fans can congragate and weep together. The entire 7 book series was about friendship, love and loyalty, and Harry knew that; and most importantly, knew that's what made him different from V. You're telling me, he, Ron and Herm didn't continue to live and instil those values in their children? Harry wouldn't have choosen work over time with his family, which after all he'd been through WAS ALL HE EVER WANTED. This new book is the worst kind of trash, the one that destroys the soul of our hero. Also, what they did to calm, measured, quirky, wise Dumbledore, making him a weepy, rude mess, who spoke in cliches, issuing a completely unnecessary "apology" to why Harry was at the Dursleys, when Dumbledore had already apologized profusely for that in HP5 AND severely told off the Dursleys in HP6 for their abusive behavior! And what a weak, floppy mess Harry was during the fight scene?!"
"I am horrifically obsessed with these books, for the past 19 years (tattoos, pet names, my adult apartment covered in maps and memorabilia - you get the point). I sighed, scowled, and groaned mercilessly while reading, and eventually completely gave up trying to understand even a semblance of what was going on in this story.This is NOT cannon, nor something I can physically or mentally endure sitting on my bookshelves next to what was the light of my childhood (and early adulthood if I'm honest). **SPOILER WARNING**. So many issues: the timeturner now apparently having the ability to go back decades, and create butterfly effect implications; Hermione's visage as a cold, cruel, DADA professor; Harry's Hermione-like myopic focus on his work, above his family; Ron - as a whole; too many others to list without losing my cool once again."
Best British Humor & Satire Literature
Now Paul Mulchrone finds himself on the run with nobody to turn to except a nurse who has read one-too-many crime novels and a renegade copper with a penchant for violence. A Man With One of Those Faces is the first book in Caimh McDonnell's Dublin Trilogy, which melds fast-paced action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit. The characters inhabiting this hilarious, yet gripping story are just wonderful." Flipping easily between humour and terror so that I spent most of the book sat on the edge of my seat while chuckling." "Original, innovative, intelligent and laugh out loud funny." "If you like stories by Colin Bateman, Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey and Janet Evanovich then you'll enjoy A Man With One of Those Faces." Flipping easily between humour and terror so that I spent most of the book sat on the edge of my seat while chuckling." Maureen Carter, author of the Bev Morriss books "If you like stories by Colin Bateman, Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey and Janet Evanovich then you'll enjoy A Man With One of Those Faces." He has gone on to perform around the world and he regular supports two of the biggest stars of British stand-up on their theatre tours.A Man With One of Those Faces is his debut novel and he considers it the best thing he has ever done.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Witty dialogue and likeable protagonists."
"I read the prequel to this first, "Angels in the Moonlight", https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Moonlight-prequel-Dublin-Trilogy/dp/0995507546, and it does give the odd reference for this book, but you can get by without them."
"I was expecting this book to be highly amusing but it fell rather short on that."
"Kept me wanting to "turn the next page" even when I needed to be doing something wlse like read or sleep."
"Truly, a remarkable first novel!"
"First of all "myself" loves the Scots."
"Superbly drawn, wonderful book about an untidy old eccentric with a million things in every room - clocks all telling different times, mice running along the picture rails, umbrellas and spectacles and hats and quilts and books - thousands of books - and pictures and machines and plants and…. His grandchildren want to go to the park, but he can't go till he finds his spectacles… his false teeth… a succession of necessary items concealed amid the beautiful clutter."
"enjoyed the story within the story aspect of this."
Best British Contemporary Literature
Louisa's new best friend has it all - the house, the status, the money. Natasha du Plessis, The Book Club ★★★★ "it's intelligent, interesting, full of well written characters with just the right amount of creepiness . "Shalini Boland's psychological thriller is suspenseful , slowly building up to an explosive situation . ". Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers and dark adventures.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I could not put this book down! Yet I HAD to see what was going to happen in this book."
"How one woman can be your "friend" and drive you crazy at the same time."
"I wasn't sure this book would keep my interest but was I ever wrong."
"Loved it, highly recommend to anyone and everyone who enjoys reading a REALLY good suspense thriller."
"Kept me on the edge of my seat with wanting to read on and on."
"Excellent."
"This was another good book by this author."
Best Classic British & Irish Fiction
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom. The Lord of the Rings takes place in a fantasy world that is not too unlike the English countryside, though it has characters that range from hobbits to Elven creatures. Widely regarded as one of the genre's most loved works, The Lord of the Rings has garnered worldwide acclaim and praise from critics and fans alike. Originally broadcast in 1981 on BBC Radio, this full-cast adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy is justifiably regarded as a classic; unfortunately, in 2008, it faces inevitable comparison with Peter Jackson's films. Ian Holm (who appeared as Bilbo in the films) offers a mature, nuanced portrayal of Frodo that is far truer to the text than Elijah Wood's wide-eyed innocent approach.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I did a ton of research and decided upon this version (ISBN 116-1749849-2513827), illustrated by Alan Lee and published by Harper Collins in June 2014 (I am adding these details because the Amazon.com site does not make it clear what this version is). The only drawback is that the facsimile pages of the Book of Mazarbul was not included, which I found to be surprising and a bit disappointing Also, the ring inscription and the Gandalf "rune" are printed in black rather than silver and red. Probably the main issue is the clear plastic slipcover, which is barely bigger than the book itself, and it is difficult to slip the book back inside it after taking it out."
"I'll keep it brief, this is not a review of the actual story but of this specific edition."
"The font size seems to be based on the length of the books, the longer the books are, the smaller the font is (I suppose this was in order to keep them pocket-sized as well as consistent with the sizes of the other books throughout the set)."
"Most readers shouldn’t have an issue when you consider how comfortable the book is to hold in one hand. It’s a matte vinyl material that has a leather feel with recessed and stained cover lettering. After reading The Hobbit, with no special care, there were no creases in the outer binding."
Best Shakespearean Literature Literature
Each Edition Includes: • Comprehensive explanatory notes. • Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship. • Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English. • Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories. • An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. With text taken from the No Fear Shakespeare series, which modernized Shakespeare’s original language, this entry in the No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels line makes the Bard even more accessible. The language has been further simplified, but not dumbed down, and the story stays true to the arc of the play, with the monologues and interiors nearly intact.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They make all the difference to me, a new student to Shakespeare, at the ripe age of 59 years old....now I can understand and appreciate these amazing works of literature."
"I enjoyed Shakespeare in college (50 years ago) and now I get to attend a class with adults who are reading just for the joy, fun, of learning discussing."
"Although I was generally familiar with the story of Macbeth, it definitely made reading the play more enjoyable and understandable."
"Love Arkangel productions of Shakespeare plays."
"I got this for our 13 yr old daughter because I knew that she would like the story better if she could get around the language."
"I very much liked the play, but saw no signs of annotation."
"In Act I, scene ii, many times when Brutus is speaking, the audio is so low that we can hardly make out what he is saying. The same is true with the very beginning of Act II scene i when Brutus is having his monologue on whether to join the conspiracy or not."