Bogormen

Title: The House Sitter
Author: Mira V. Shah
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 276
Date read: December 2024

TWO WEEKS AGO
I woke up in a hotel room next to a dead man, with no memory of the night before.
Panicked, I cleared up any trace that I was there and fled.

ONE WEEK AGO
I was offered the perfect the chance to housesit a gorgeous villa in a remote corner of Italy.
Desperate to get away, I jumped at the chance.

NOW
The owners have unexpectedly shown up at the house. The only problem?
They're the family of the man I woke up next to, two weeks ago.

ONE OF THEM KNOWS MY SECRET.
AND THEY'VE COME TO FIND ME.


I almost gave up on this within the first 30 pages, because I couldn't get used to the writing style, but promised myself to give it until page 50 ... and on page 47 I had not only gotten used to it, but the book took a turn that made me drop any ideas of giving up on it!

The book is split up into three acts, and the first one is definitely just to set the scene - the book gets a lot more interesting in the second two, with the last one almost reminding me of "Murder on the Orient Express" or "Knives Out" in the way it goes through all the suspects, all the possibilities, and all the new secrets that are revealed on almost every page. By that time it had definitely turned into a page turner, and I had to know what happened next.

In the end, it mostly delivered. Most of the ends were tired up, and most of my questions were answered (with one glaring omission, where I'm wondering if I just accidentally skip past it), and the motive kinda made sense.

So a good book, but not a great one.

... but seriously - can anybody tell me who actually invited Aahnaya to house sit, and why she looked so much like Marina???

Title: The Wishing Game
Author: Meg Shaffer
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~9hrs
Date read: November, 2023

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.


Basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" for grown-ups :-D
- A sad backstory for the main character? Check.
- The main character really needs money for something noble? Check.
- A mysterious recluse suddenly reappears after many years' silence? Check.
- Same recluse invites a bunch of people to an exclusive contest on his island/factory? Check.

It was heartbreaking in places though... hearing about Lucy's childhood just made me want to snatch her up myself and hug her close. Some 'parents' just don't deserve that honorific.

But fortunately, there was a lot to love about it too... I loved (most of) the characters, I loved the riddles (and guessed most of them ahead of time too! Go me! ;-) ), I loved Clock Island, and I really loved Christopher. He was utterly adorable! The ending was a tad too quickly/easily tied up, which is what subtracted the last half star - but up until then it was a clear 5-star read, and I definitely understand why it was nominated for Goodreads' book of the year.

Title: Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer
Author: Priscilla Shirer
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 211 pages
Date read: June 2018, December 2020

You have an enemy... and he’s dead set on destroying all you hold dear and keeping you from experiencing abundant life in Christ. What’s more, his approach to disrupting your life and discrediting your faith isn’t general or generic, not a one-size-fits-all. It’s specific. Personalized. Targeted.

So this book is your chance to strike back. With prayer. With a weapon that really works. Each chapter will guide you in crafting prayer strategies that hit the enemy where it hurts, letting him know you’re on to him and that you won’t back down. Because with every new strategy you build, you’re turning the fiercest battles of life into precise strikes against him and his handiwork, each one infused with the power of God’s Spirit.


A really good book with some concrete examples of how we can pray specifically and strategically for the areas in our lives where the devil is most likely to attack us. Priscilla uses personal examples to make the issues relatable to the reader, and offers verses from Scripture to use in our prayers.

I don't think I learned so many new things from this book, but I appreciated the specific examples of how to apply her ideas to my existing prayer-life. Especially the part about praying specifically and individually for family and friends rather than just the litany of "bless him and her and her and...". Prayer blesses both the one being prayed for and the one praying, and this tactic allows me to focus more distinctly on whoever I'm praying for. Not that there's anything wrong with the other method - and sometimes that is indeed all I have time for - but it's good to be reminded of alternatives.

Title: The New Rector (Tales from Turnham Malpas, #1)
Author: Rebecca Shaw
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 264
Date read: January, 2017

When Peter Harris arrives in Turnham Malpas as the new rector, he finds the village people welcoming but set in their ways. Yet despite his own weaknesses and the sadness of his childless wife, he comforts and advises his new parishioners, growing more and more involved with the rural way of life. Then the whole village is rocked by spiteful trick that goes terribly wrong, and a gruesome murder that points to a killer in its midst. Now, more than ever, Peter's pastoral role is crucial - and yet he is wrestling with his own private hell that may still wreck his own life.


A nice account of life in an English village - written in much the same style as Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy (although a LOT more simplistic). It was extremely soap-opera'ish at times, but despite its weaknesses and occasional OTT'ness, I ended up really enjoying it. The characters were likable and (with certain memorable exceptions) believable, and I got to really care for them.

Not high literature in ANY kind of way (see above re. soap opera), but a fun read, if you're able to keep your eye-rolling at bay.

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 2
# pages: 335
Date read: December, 2013

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

Deciding what to rate this book was more than a little difficult. I didn't dislike it, it wasn't okay, and I didn't like it either... so what's left? The first 50'ish chapters were fine. Nothing special, but an okay dystopian YA novel. Had it continued like that, I would probably have thought it a solid 3-star book. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a decent enough book.

But then part 6 happened... and more importantly, chapter 61 happened. I cannot remember ever before having had such a visceral response to a book. It was like reading a nightmare. It was a trainwreck that I wanted to look away from, because it made me feel physically and mentally sick, but where I just couldn't. Even now I shudder (literally) to think about it. If I had read this as a teen I would have had nightmares about it.

Obviously it takes really amazing writing to make me react that strongly, which should result in 5 stars... 4 at least - but at the same time I absolutely despised what I was reading... so that's a 1.

At the end my feeling of disgust surpassed my awe at his writing, so 2 stars it is. And I have NO idea whether or not I'll read the sequel as well. I'm thinking that he can't shock me like that twice... but on the other hand, I don't want to find out if I am wrong.