Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Libby Audiobook: Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice, Dr Brené Brown

 


Choose discomfort over resentment 

Saying no is a moment of discomfort, gives you back 6 months worth of resentment.

Boundaries help you to live with integrity 

Extend true compassion when you are clear on your boundaries 

Fear, grief, perfectionis gets in the way

For forgiveness to happen, something needs to die. Grief is the biggest barrier to forgiveness.

4.5/5

Sunday, 23 March 2025

Kindle: A Man With One of Those Faces, Caimh McDonnell

 


I enjoy his writing, marvellously, dry, dark British humour.

The only problem is that this was my nighttime read, so I would more often than not, fall asleep. Which meant that I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters, but that was a 'me' problem.

4/5

Saturday, 22 March 2025

Libby Audiobook: One Medicine, Dr Matt Morgan


 

Written and read by Welsh doctor, Matt Morgan.

Very interesting all the lessons animals teach us in treating human illness. 

He encourages Dr to work with vets. Nurses with veterany nurses.

4/5

Friday, 21 March 2025

Kindle Audiobook: This one life, Amanda Prowse

 


Very sweet.
Madeleine gets pregnant with Jimmy's child, only realises she is pregnant at seven months.
She has no intention to be a mother. Her mom and dad as well as Jimmy raises little Edith while Madeleine heads up the corporate interior decorating ladder.

3.5/5

Libby Audiobook:Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer

 


Saturday, 15 March 2025

How to Survive a Tsunami, Rael Levitt

 


Enjoyed this book. Interesting to learn about Auction Alliance, their growth and downfal. Had a vague recollection of Wendy Appelbaum taking on some big organisation.


Good lesson on reputation and building relationships and what not to do.

Initially quite a bit of name dropping. But suppose that is part of the story.


4/5

Monday, 10 March 2025

Kindle Audiobook: You Killed Me First, John Marrs

 


Absolutely love John Marrs' work. This is his latest one, and a bonus was that it was an audiobook on Kindle Unlimited. Binge listened to it. Got a bit confused with all the names and keeping track of who was who and keeping track of what was going on, but, it all made sense, with marvellous twists along the way. Love the narration.

4/5



Saturday, 8 March 2025

Libby Audiobook: The Alice Network, Kate Quinn

 


The narrator was so good with all the accents.


Interesting book about women spies in the first world war. It ctosses over between first world war and right after the second world war.


4/5

Friday, 7 March 2025

Saturday, 1 March 2025

Libby Audiobook: Understanding and overcoming depression, Joyce Meyer

 


We grow in the hard times not the good times .

Don't waste a day by being depressed/unhappy 

Complain and remain.

Monday, 24 February 2025

Kindle Audiobook: Table for Five, Izzy Bromley

 



Very sweet, light read.

Abbie gets fired from a high powered marketing position. She befriends a motley crew that hang out at the coffee shop at a supermarket.


Ethel 84 year old ex ballerina, Bob, a homeless guy who lost everything when he was robbed, Dawn who l suspect is on the spectrum and Viraj who recently moved to Leeds but does not know anyone.


Reason for 3.8. I don't like present tense writing. And, I think it's highly unlikely that Ethel, at 84, after a stint in the hospital, would model clothes on point shoes.


Narrator was very good.


3.8/5

Saturday, 15 February 2025

Libby Audiobook: God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

 


Wasn't too keen on this one, but, it is actually quite beautiful.

But, oh so sad.


Learnt so much about the cast system.


So many layers.

4.8/5

Friday, 14 February 2025

Libby Audiobook: The Charming Man, C.K McDonnell

 


I am so enjoying this series. Vampires & monsters are definitely not my normal genre I enjoy. But, these are such fun. And, the narrator is absolutely brilliant.


Not full 5/5 because I did get a tiny bit confused with the characters.


Even the acknowledgements are fun!

Thursday, 6 February 2025

Libby Audiobook: Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer

What would Jesus think.

Don't be a stinker thinker.

Your attitude determines a lot.


Definitely want to listen to it again.


4.8 / 5

Why not 5/5 thought it was a book and parts she is laughing with the audience which is great, but clearly something happened was said there that we can't see. 

 

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Libby Audiobook: The Stranger Times, C.K McDonnell

 


Absolutely loved this! Just love his sense of humour and the narration just brilliant!

4.8/5 not five because some of it was a little bit disjointed and I had to relisten to get back on track.

Thursday, 30 January 2025

Libby Audiobook: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Kim Michele Richardson

 


It was very interesting to learn more about the blue skinned people of Kentucky. The condition is called methemoglobinemia.

The story is just hectic with everything that Cussy has to go through and everything that happens to her. 

Didn't love this book.

3.5/5

Monday, 27 January 2025

Libby Audiobook: Strong Like Water, Aundi Kolber

 


This book was ok. I can understand that it can be a great resource for some, but I didn't resonate with it.


3/5

Saturday, 25 January 2025

Libby Audiobook: Cop Under Cover, Johann van Loggenberg

 


Wow. What Johann van Loggenberg had to endure and achieved before the age of 30 is incredible, being in the police force and going under cover, specifically the drug under world and having to deal with hectic criminals, some of whom were also in the police force. What is incredibly sad is the lack of support and trauma counselling provided. No acclimatisation given when he returned to normal life.

Gys de Villiers narrated the book well.

Very interesting.


4.5/5

Friday, 24 January 2025

Libby: The Lost Apothecary, Sarah Penner


This book made me angry on so many levels.

It did start out strong. And, the Nella/Eliza 1790's part was fairly interesting.

But the Caroline part set in modern day was just so irritatingly unrealistic.

Besides Caroline being incredibly grating what annoyed me:

1. Finding the hidden Apothecary and then messing with the historical integrity by going inside the room and then going through Nella's book without gloves.

2. Hiding information from the police. 

3. After Gaynor, the librarian went over and beyond helping her to get information about the vial, she doesn't want to share the information she found about Eliza with her!?

4. After finding this artefact, instead of preserving it, she throws it back into the Thames, what the actual.

Nope. 

2/5

Thursday, 23 January 2025

Kindle Audiobook: The World Played Chess, Robert Dugoni

 


Absolutely loved The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

This one, I did not enjoy nearly as much.

Three view points:
1. William in Vietnam war
2. William meeting and working with Vincent.
3. Vincent grown up.

Too confusing, difficult to keep track of who is who.

2.5/5

Sunday, 19 January 2025

Kindle Audiobook: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, Robert Dugoni



This was such a beautiful novel. Sam is born with ocular albinism (red eyes); the book is about his parent's unconditional love and support, and his best friends Ernie and Mickie. 

Most importantly, everything happens for a reason and to have faith in God's will.

He writes with such sensitivity and wonderful sense of humour.

Loved this book.

5/5


Thursday, 16 January 2025

Kindle Audiobook: The Last Green Valley, Mark Sullivan


Ah, this book is the third that I have read of this author, and it has just cemented that I am a raving fan of his work. Initially it took me a little bit longer to get into this book than the other two. But, it is just beautiful how love, faith and an unwavering belief in a positive outcome, will get you through the most horrific and difficult times. It is again a novel based on real people and events. Mark Sullivan has such a gift of bringing history to life.

4.5/5


Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Libby Audiobook: You're not broke, you're pre-rich, Mapalo Makhu

 


Isn't this a great name! 

It says it is targeted at Millenniums but, I think there is a lot of good advice for all ages.

Wills, SARS, investments, savings.


4.5/5

Friday, 10 January 2025

Kindle: The Sky Beneath Us, Fiona Valpy

 

I have been spoiled with Mark Sullivan's historical books. This one is fine, didn't bliw my hair back.

I audiobooked this, the staccato of the one narrator got incredibly annoying, that I think I missed some good wisdom the author tried to share. Even speeding it up didn't help.

We meet Daisy who is on a pilgrimage to find out more about her great aunt Violet

I won't be rushing out to read more of her books.

Meh. 

3/5


Libby: My sister, the serial killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite



Quite good, satirical take on how Korede, a nurse, copes / helps her beautiful sister, Ayoola with all her boyfriends that die off.

Korede confides what is going on with a man that has been in a coma for months and the prognosis is not good for him to wake up, but the thing is, he does!

3/5

Sunday, 5 January 2025

Libby Audiobook: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Holly Jackson

 


🙄 Highly unrealistic story, grating main character, and, the dog dies.

Pippa is doing a project on the disappearance of Andy Bell and the death of Sandy Singh and the role of the media for a school project. She is told not to approach either of the families or it won't be accepted. First interview, Sandy's brother.


Saturday, 4 January 2025

Kindle Audiobook: Under the Scarlet Sky, Mark Sullivan

 


I just love how Mark Sullivan brings history to life. Beautifully written.
All about Pinot's part in the second world war and being a driver and translator for General Leyers and his love for Anna.