Harmony's Updates en-US Sat, 03 May 2025 09:37:23 -0700 60 Harmony's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7473103863 Sat, 03 May 2025 09:37:23 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony added 'The Quiet']]> /review/show/7473103863 The Quiet by Barnaby Martin Harmony gave 4 stars to The Quiet (Kindle Edition) by Barnaby Martin
bookshelves: earc, kindle-edition
Many thanks to PanMacmillan and NetGalley for a free eARC of this book.

Slow paced yet gripping. A disappointing ending yet an engrossing read.

The book begins and continues with a steady, slow pace yet the situation and characters pulled me in, and I lived this book through the main character’s eyes. I loved Isaac and feel a second book, where he and his special abilities are explored further, would be beneficial and interesting.

As it is, the ending withholds answers, lots of threads are left hanging, and Isaac’s abilities could have been more central. However, mostly, the story focuses on how far you’d go to protect a loved one. A vulnerable child who needs to stay away from anyone in authority. From anyone who may see and report his musical ability. For, since the Soundfield arrived, music and musical ability has turned into a guaranteed arrest and assessment—if you pass the authoritarian-government’s scientists keep you. It isn’t clear what happens to those who fail. The taken children are never seen or heard from again.

A few great one-liners stayed with me, and here are some:

‘That’s what you do when you think the world is ending: you become everything you haven’t been before. In reality, though, the world doesn’t end in a point, but a curve.�

And �

‘I try to order things in my mind, but every move I make dislodges something else. A knot in my head that I can only make tighter.�

And �

‘Mum and I would spend a few hours together, looking at things that were too expensive to buy and buying things that were too cheap to survive.�

A slow but gripping book with more than one theme, and it goes deep. Though I would have preferred a stronger, more definite ending, I enjoyed the read immensely, and had I been able, I would have read this in one or two sessions, easily. If you enjoy futuristic dystopian novels with a dictatorial, authoritarian government, this will make a good read for you!

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.


5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! � Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER � Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! � An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book. ]]> ReadStatus9293671261 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:29:30 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony is currently reading 'One Dark Night: Dr Ethan Quinn']]> /review/show/7478117642 One Dark Night by Molly Garcia Harmony is currently reading One Dark Night: Dr Ethan Quinn by Molly Garcia
]]> Review7389278311 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:20:11 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony added 'You Will Be Mine']]> /review/show/7389278311 You Will Be Mine by Molly Garcia Harmony gave 5 stars to You Will Be Mine (Dr Ethan Quinn) by Molly Garcia
bookshelves: arc-audiobook, audiobook
Many thanks to Grant Love, the wonderful Scottish narrator, for a free eARC audiobook.

Another brilliant audiobook and the second of what’s shaping up to be a gripping series.

The narrator, with his lyrical Scottish accent, is a joy to listen to, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Moving straight to book 3 now.

I highly recommend the Dr Ethan Quinn series written by Molly Garcia and narrated by Grant Love. You Will be Mine gets a solid 5 stars from me.
]]> ReadStatus9286331918 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:43:13 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony is currently reading 'The Quiet']]> /review/show/7473103863 The Quiet by Barnaby Martin Harmony is currently reading The Quiet by Barnaby Martin
]]> Review7397740264 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:36:26 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony added 'The Maid’s Secret']]> /review/show/7397740264 The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose Harmony gave 3 stars to The Maid’s Secret (Molly the Maid, #3) by Nita Prose
bookshelves: earc, kindle-edition
2.5 ⭐️

Many thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this free eARC book.

For me, Molly the Maid should have stopped after the brilliant book 1. Book 2 was okay, but I’m afraid book 3 misses the mark. While I enjoyed the chapters of Gran’s younger life, it didn’t portray the wise, calm old lady we’ve come to know and love.

The tension didn’t arrive until around 50% of the book. When the plot twist came at 83%, I guessed what was going on immediately, so there wasn’t even a mystery, let alone a cosy one!

I really wanted to love this read, but it just didn’t hit any of the right notes for me.

It had some great one-liners and brought the odd smile, which is why it gets 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for rating purposes.


***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.


5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! � Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER � Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! � An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

]]> UserQuote92682058 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:20:27 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony Kent liked a quote by Kahlil Gibran]]> /quotes/7881
Harmony Kent liked a quote
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� Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness. � � Kahlil Gibran
]]> UserQuote92682052 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:20:13 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony Kent liked a quote by Masashi Kishimoto]]> /quotes/284733
Harmony Kent liked a quote
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� All things that have form eventually decay." -Orochimaru ...more � � Masashi Kishimoto
]]> Review7351858934 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:51:34 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony added 'The Summer Guests']]> /review/show/7351858934 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen Harmony gave 5 stars to The Summer Guests (The Martini Club, #2) by Tess Gerritsen
bookshelves: earc, kindle-edition
Many thanks to TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this free eARC.

The Matini Club goes from strength to strength and is so much fun to tag along with!

Tess Gerritsen is one of my all-time favourite writers. I’ve read the paperback of book one already and loved it. Hubby and I are waiting for the paperback of The Summer Guests to release, so I was beyond excited to see the review copy of this available.

This second book in The Martini Club didn’t disappoint. In fact, I enjoyed the read so much I forgot to make highlights of the lines that stood out for me. I read this every opportunity I got, and were I able I’d have pulled an all nighter to read this in one go. Alas, life gets in the way, lols.

As ever, this group of retired CIA operatives remains quirky, nosey, and provides plenty of laughs with their antics and banter. The characters continue to entrance, and the chief police officer, Jo Thibodeau, grows on you more and more.

So, here’s one quote I did manage to grab to share with you:

� � she found a toxic waste dump of dirty underwear and socks on the floor.�

I cannot recommend this author or series highly enough and trying not to hold my breath as I wait for book three! The Summer Guests gets a resounding five stars from me. Go and grab this book. Grab the series! I love how different these are to other books I’ve read by this author, yet they remain quintessentially Tess Gerritsen.


***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.


5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! � Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER � Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! � An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book. ]]> ReadStatus9178625607 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:40:27 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony is currently reading 'The Maid’s Secret']]> /review/show/7397740264 The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose Harmony is currently reading The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose
]]> Review7351858934 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:39:40 -0700 <![CDATA[Harmony added 'The Summer Guests']]> /review/show/7351858934 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen Harmony gave 5 stars to The Summer Guests (The Martini Club, #2) by Tess Gerritsen
bookshelves: earc, kindle-edition
Many thanks to TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this free eARC.

The Matini Club goes from strength to strength and is so much fun to tag along with!

Tess Gerritsen is one of my all-time favourite writers. I’ve read the paperback of book one already and loved it. Hubby and I are waiting for the paperback of The Summer Guests to release, so I was beyond excited to see the review copy of this available.

This second book in The Martini Club didn’t disappoint. In fact, I enjoyed the read so much I forgot to make highlights of the lines that stood out for me. I read this every opportunity I got, and were I able I’d have pulled an all nighter to read this in one go. Alas, life gets in the way, lols.

As ever, this group of retired CIA operatives remains quirky, nosey, and provides plenty of laughs with their antics and banter. The characters continue to entrance, and the chief police officer, Jo Thibodeau, grows on you more and more.

So, here’s one quote I did manage to grab to share with you:

� � she found a toxic waste dump of dirty underwear and socks on the floor.�

I cannot recommend this author or series highly enough and trying not to hold my breath as I wait for book three! The Summer Guests gets a resounding five stars from me. Go and grab this book. Grab the series! I love how different these are to other books I’ve read by this author, yet they remain quintessentially Tess Gerritsen.


***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.


5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! � Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER � Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! � An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book. ]]>