Louise's Updates en-US Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:49:19 -0700 60 Louise's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review6763585808 Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:49:19 -0700 <![CDATA[Louise added 'The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie']]> /review/show/6763585808 The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie by Freida McFadden Louise gave 5 stars to The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie (Kindle Edition) by Freida McFadden
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Review6447413965 Mon, 22 Apr 2024 01:49:48 -0700 <![CDATA[Louise added 'The Venice Hotel']]> /review/show/6447413965 The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods Louise gave 5 stars to The Venice Hotel (Paperback) by Tess Woods
I was lucky enough to win an advanced proof copy of Tess Woods� wonderful September 2024 release, The Venice Hotel.

This five-star read transports the reader straight into the heart of Venice. The story is told with such vividness that you'll feel as though you’re not only there in person but that the characters are your own family and friends� and you’d do anything for them. The descriptions of the streets and canals, plus the mouth-watering Italian cuisine, provide a delight for the senses. In contrast, the characters' journeys are fraught with secrets, past hurts and a myriad of social issues.

Woods masterfully intertwines the lives of her characters, creating personal stories that are as engaging as they are significant. Each character is meticulously crafted, with their individual narratives woven into the larger story in a way that addresses pressing social issues with sensitivity and insight. I would love to elaborate here but there would be too many spoilers. But I do have to highlight the character of Sophie and how, by most characters, she was accepted, loved and admired for exactly who she was � as we all should be. And the wonderful Rocco � I think I was drooling more than Sophie!

What makes The Venice Hotel particularly compelling is how Woods balances the beauty of Venice against the backdrop of the city’s ongoing environmental crisis, providing an insight into the city's dual reality as both a tourist paradise and a threatened community.

The resolution of the intertwined stories and conflicts (of which there are many!) leads to a conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking. Overall, The Venice Hotel is a brilliantly told story that is as enlightening as it is entertaining.

Thank you, Tess. You are an author who shines a light on social issues that many people are unaware of or choose to ignore. Can't wait to see what you tackle next! ]]>
ReadStatus7722797720 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 03:46:24 -0700 <![CDATA[Louise wants to read 'My Sister's Baby']]> /review/show/6236967167 My Sister's Baby by Louise Guy Louise wants to read My Sister's Baby by Louise Guy
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AuthorFollowing100413885 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 03:46:58 -0700 <![CDATA[<AuthorFollowing id=100413885 user_id=110239958 author_id=6524488>]]> UserFollowing297846771 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:16:23 -0800 <![CDATA[#<UpdateArray:0x0000555595419138>]]> Rating693119256 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:08:30 -0800 <![CDATA[Louise Guy liked a review]]> /
Happy Ever After in Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen
"When Cass Marshall received the call from her sister in London to ask her if she would have Justin, her son; Cass' nephew, to stay, the words that Vi was saying about Justin made her wary. But she agreed, and before long nineteen year old Justin arrived from the UK. Cass and Vi's mother was in the Bellbird Bay nursing home, not expected to last much longer. Cass had been her mother's carer with Vi so far away, and the heartbreak Cass was feeling was difficult. Justin went with his aunt to meet his grandmother, but was distressed at how she was. Cass learned from Justin that his father wanted Justin to follow him into law, and Justin hated it. So it was Cass' job to "sort him out".

Mick Roberts was a changed man after his second heart attack, and was doing as his doctor told him. He and his brother Pete had had to put their father into the nursing home after the fall that had broken his hip - the home they'd all lived in was too big for their father now. Once he'd recovered from surgery, would the cantankerous old man agree to enter the over 55's place, where he'd own his own cottage? Mick had recently caught up with Cass, a woman he'd known a long time, and there seemed to be a spark between them. Could anything come of it? Both of them had things they'd rather forget about their pasts - could they be happy together?

Happy Ever After in Bellbird Bay is the 9th and final book in The Bellbird Bay series by Aussie author Maggie Christensen and once again I really enjoyed it. Catching up with the locals where the surf was always good, the whale watching cruises an experience to look forward to, the Surf Club's meals were raved about - and old Ruby Sullivan watched over her town; Bellbird Bay is somewhere I'd love to at least holiday at, if not move to :) I'm sad to be saying goodbye to them all, but the author mentioned a few of Bellbird Bay's locals could pop up in her new, upcoming series which will be set in the fictional town of Pelican Crossing, set on the coast of Queensland. Highly recommended.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review."
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ReadStatus7551908695 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 04:20:48 -0800 <![CDATA[Louise wants to read 'My Sister's Baby']]> /review/show/6236967167 My Sister's Baby by Louise Guy Louise wants to read My Sister's Baby by Louise Guy
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Rating684626144 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 04:22:30 -0800 <![CDATA[Louise Guy liked a review]]> /
My Sister's Baby by Louise Guy
"The story about three sisters. After their father dies and their mother is unable to cope, two of the sisters Liv and Toni try to help their youngest sister Mandy who has special needs.
Toni is desperate for a baby and Liv decides to help her too.
A family drama with some twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review."
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