Teresa Gregory

This Is Familiar

Revisado: 11-28-24

Some of this may sound a little unconventional, but if you have suffered the loss of a spouse, this is truth. I was widowed 20 years ago and I still have that connection. I don't think I have ever read anything this spot-on before. Thank you!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Unexpectedly Entertaining

Revisado: 07-13-21

I don't remember how I discovered this book. The premise intrigued me. This book is both funny and poignant. I did laugh out loud several times. I admired Gilda's ingenuity in hiding her secrets while feeling sorry that she felt she had to. I hope she has a better life going forward, and I think she will.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Complex Flawed Characters

Revisado: 01-15-19

I just read "The Wife Between Us" and wondered if this pair of authors had written anything else. I saw a book was coming, so I pre-ordered it. When it dropped into my library I quickly finished what I was listening to so I could start it.

Like "Wife," this story is narrated by two women. It's very interesting to hear different perspectives of the same situations. I wonder if the authors each take a character to do the primary writing on to achieve the different voices, much the same as having two narrators (readers). And this is the reason I did not give this book five stars. I did not like the reader of Dr. Shields. Her dialog was more formal than Jess's but the reader's odd inflections made her seem much older than the character was. Of course, Julia Whelan has such a casual, believable delivery that it would be hard for anyone in comparison.

As in "Wife," the main characters are much more complex than initially presented. Joss has an interesting job as a cosmetologist who makes house calls for people who are attending special events. She meets Dr Shields while trying to make some quick money. The whole story evolves from one chance decision and escalates quickly. Block out some time because you won't want to put this one down.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I Wanted to Love This Book

Revisado: 03-14-18

Knowing the back story on this book, I really wanted to love it. I knew that the author had died suddenly, that the book was unfinished, but that the author's husband and associates wanted her work published. What she wrote is beautiful. The problem is, I thought this book was closer to publication than it was. Throughout, in chapters written by Michelle, there are editor notes about information that she had not included, some where her opinion had changed. Then there are whole chapters gleaned from a magazine article she had written or things that she excluded from the magazine article. The one chapter I did like was where she met an investigator and they toured one of the areas. This chapter was just the transcribed dialogue between them in the car which she had taped.

Michelle's chief investigator wrote the last chapter and told about all the information she had recently acquired that she was sifting through. He tried to wrap it up, but couldn't. I wondered why they bothered to put this book together and publish it. I understand that all who loved her wanted her words out there. But then I thought perhaps the real purpose was to get the word out and solve the case. That would be Michelle's true legacy.

Final thought: this book made me yearn for what it could have been had Michelle been the one to finish it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 90 personas

More than I expected

Revisado: 08-26-17

After reading several intense mysteries/thrillers in a row, I needed a mental break. I chose this thinking it would be a nice light summer read, and I was not disappointed. The author's early years, growing up in Detroit and Switzerland, were very interesting and a revelation. When you see an actor play the same type of character over and over, you assume that the man and the character are similar. Not necessarily so. As a Sherlockian, I was really impressed that he is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars. This is a very prestigious honor.

The author goes into a lot of depth about the making of several of the key movies in his career. Behind the scenes stuff is always interesting.

I also appreciated his honesty in not glossing over his political views and his personal histories of drug and alcohol use. Political views, especially, can alienate an audience.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a light read and has an interest in the inner workings of the film and television industry.

One HUGE disappointment: Once again, I will have to go to a bookstore and pick up a print copy to see the pictures. I hadn't thought of photographs until he mentioned them in the last chapter, the acknowledgements. Had I purchased a Kindle (or other e-book) I would have seen the pictures. Audible, please find a way to include them in the future. I am a long time member. I've seen so many good changes over the years. I think this one is way overdue.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Seemed Slightly "Off"

Revisado: 06-28-17

I'm a huge Jo Nesbo/Harry Hole fan. I pre-ordered this book as soon as I saw it was coming out. I missed sleep over it because I didn't want to stop the chapter. I sat in my car today listening to the last 8 minutes. But there was something slightly off. I'm not sure if it was the kinder, gentler Harry or that there were just too many characters.

I did like the timeliness of having people meeting on Tinder and the use of the 3-D printer. I have a friend who owns several 3-D printers, and I was telling him about the discussion of it in this book. Jo has done his research.

I was not especially happy with the ending. There were just too many people involved, and it felt like Jo had a checklist of loose ends to tie up.

This was not my favorite Jo Nesbo, but any Jo Nesbo is better than most other writers available today. And, of course, anyone who is a Harry Hole fan will need to read it no matter how good...or not...it is.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

This is "Dennis Lehane Lite"

Revisado: 06-18-17

I. Love. Dennis Lehane. He writes gritty intriguing stories with such elegant prose. Every so often, he drops in a random phrase so beautiful that I have to stop and savor it before I move on. Also, I always expect a surprise from him, a twist, a turn, one that I did not see coming.

This book is nicely written, but there aren't very many stop-me-in-my-tracks phrases that I love. The plot plods along well past the midway point before I get my first surprise. Because of these two issues, I kept forgetting I was reading Dennis Lehane.

Julia Whelan does her usual quality read, though a couple of times I was confused on which man was speaking.

This was an interesting story, though it requires a little more suspension of disbelief than usual. It gets grittier and more involved as it goes along. If you get this and wonder when the plot is going to pick up, stick with it, because once it does, it DOES. It was a nice summer read. Thanks, Dennis.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

The Author Channeled ME!

Revisado: 04-05-17

I have come out of the closet in the past year and have declared that I am a hoarder. I wouldn't become champion on "All-Star Hoarders," but I do my share. I called myself a saver or a recycler, but I had to finally come clean with myself and admit the truth. While I have "come out" as a hoarder to some people, I still do not have the candor that Eve Schaub has in this book. I love her so much.

I do have to admit a bit of jealousy knowing that she has that huge room and most of her clutter was confined there. Mine is not. But my house is much smaller.

The main thing I loved about this is that she honestly and rationally explained why she is the way she is. I, too, save things for sentimental reasons. As she said about her father, he didn't want to give things up because he might forget the memory that the item evoked.

Something that has prompted me to let go is the thought that my adult children will be burdened by my "legacy" if I don't cut it down.

I so appreciated taking this journey with Eve in making her Hell Room usable again. I'm not sure if I'm ready to get rid of that fifth grade report card (yes, I do have it!) but I hope to channel a little of Eve O. Schaub as I sort through the souvenirs of my life.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 15 personas

Cute Beginning of a Fun Series

Revisado: 03-17-17

I have read several of the later books in this series. I finally got around to reading the first.

Full disclosure: I have read several of these books because I heard the author speak one time. She was a pure delight and I thought her books would be as enjoyable and entertaining as she was. I was not disappointed. Professionally, Skye Dennison is very much like Denise Swanson. The author said that when she started writing, some of her friends asked why she was writing mysteries instead of the very lucrative romances. She said in her years of school employment she had never met anyone she wanted to sleep with, but she met a lot of people she wanted to kill.

I also enjoyed Skye's discomfort of being the country mouse who moved to the big city but had to come back home, tail between her legs. A lot of people can relate to that.

I did not care for the reader's portrayal of Skye's mother. She sounded like the grandma in the Stephanie Plum series. Skye's mother is not that old.

Ms Swanson's writing is warm and funny. I like her characters, especially later in the series when they are fleshed out more. This book is a nice cozy mystery to read on a cold winter night by the fire.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

If You Don't Like a Lot of Action, This Is For You

Revisado: 03-17-17

I am a huge mystery fan, but I tend to gravitate towards the more graphic grizzly authors. This was a pleasant outing, a palate-cleanser after reading Jo Nesbo and Tana French. I kept thinking what a boring life Isabel Dalhousie led. It seemed like she was living in another era, but I know that's not true. Perhaps it is more common in Scotland, but I heard her (audio book) as a set-in-her-ways older woman and had to keep reminding myself that she was in her 40s. I have a more interesting active life than she does and I'm 65.

This is my first book by this author. I heard him speak locally about six months ago. He is charming and funny and someone you'd love to have dinner with. I expected his writing to be similar to his speaking style, and it is, though he is much funnier than the characters in this book.

If you've been jitter-bugging all night, and you need a slow dance to catch your breath, this is just right. Have a cup of tea and a nice chat while you solve the mystery.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña