Recently, we had a short break, of just one week in Queensland. and I have been reflecting on the books that I read while away. During our holiday week, I read only three books, much less than usual, as the main purpose of the holiday was to visit family. They were a mixed bag of books. One, I didn’t enjoy at all, one that was ok and one that I loved.

No Room For Regret by Janeen Ann O’Connell

This book was recommended by bloggers in the #WOYBS linkup. When I read the review, I knew this was a book that I would enjoy, and I was able to get the kindle version free on Amazon, an extra bonus. I often get caught with free books as they are usually the first in a series. If I enjoy the free book, I then need to purchase the subsequent books. It can quite easily get out of control as I have a long and ever growing TBR list.

No Room For Regret, the first in a series of four books, is my very favourite genre, Australian historic fiction.The story begins in England in 1812, when 18 year old James Tedder, the son of a prominent businessman, due to circumstances, commits a crime, and is transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). This is the story of the life he made for himself and his family in Australia. I’m looking forward to the continuation of this story in book #2.

I’m sure that anyone who loves historical fiction and particularly Australian historical fiction, would enjoy this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Keeper by Sarah Langan

The Keeper is horror, a genre that I don’t usually read. The only exception is for one of my favourite authors, Stephen King. His style of horror doesn’t seem to bother me. Had I realised this books was horror, I probably wouldn’t have even picked it up. I rarely read the back cover of a book, and occasionally do get caught out and find myself reading a book that I wouldn’t have chosen.

This story is set in Bedford, Maine, a town in decay where it seems to rain constantly and appears to be cursed. When the local paper mills close, the unemployed in Bedford have little to occupy their time, and switch their focus to the once local beauty queen who is now thought to be the local whore.

Susan haunts the town, silently prowling the muddy, deserted streets. Her presence brings dreadful visions of violence and horror to the people in the town. Many leave, but leaving isn’t possible for everyone. Life becomes a horrifying nightmare for those who can’t leave.
I would have liked to put this book down, but found I was invested in the outcome, and had to continue. There were paragraphs and even pages that I had to skip over due to the horrifying events. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading horror.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

When Lydia takes a job running the Senior Citizens’ Social Club three afternoons a week, she assumes she’ll be spending her time drinking tea and playing gentle games of cards.

The members of the Social Club, however, are not at all what Lydia was expecting. From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to Daphne, who has been hiding from her dark past for decades to Ruby, a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn, these seniors look deceptively benign—but when age makes you invisible, secrets are so much easier to hide.

When the city council threatens to sell the doomed community center building, the members of the Social Club join forces with their tiny friends in the daycare next door—as well as the teenaged father of one of the toddlers and a geriatric dog—to save the building. Together, this group’s unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as the police don’t catch up with them first.” – Goodreads

I didn’t enjoy this book at all, but, I’m sure it was never going to be a book that I would enjoy. I don’t often read comedy, so when it came up as a bookclub book, I suspected that I might struggle. Perhaps, I haven’t come to grips with ageing, but most of the time, I felt that the senior citizens were being mocked and belittled. I noticed that most of the readers in the book club, enjoyed the humour and the book. Goodreads reviewers mostly gave it four or five stars, so I accept that I am the odd one out with this book.

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book.
For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Star Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

The books mentioned in this post is of my own choice and has not been sent to me to review. My opinions are my own and I receive no renumeration at all for them.

Have you read any of these books. If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I promise to reply to all comments.

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This post is linked to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share

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