Lisa's Updates en-US Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:46:55 -0700 60 Lisa's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg GiveawayRequest699864977 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:46:55 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/76072012-lisa">Lisa</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/404584-the-missing-half The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
10 copies available, ends on April 30, 2025
Enter to win ]]> GiveawayRequest699864387 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:45:26 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/76072012-lisa">Lisa</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/410282-the-meat-teacher-cookbook-the-ultimate-backyard-bbq-guide-for-an-a-in The Meat Teacher Cookbook by Matt Groark
25 copies available, ends on April 25, 2025
Enter to win ]]> ReadStatus9187118032 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:53:45 -0700 <![CDATA[Lisa started reading 'Hood']]> /review/show/7403639369 Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead Lisa started reading Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead
]]> ReadStatus9187112444 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:51:45 -0700 <![CDATA[Lisa is currently reading 'Stephan Lawhead Book Set']]> /review/show/7403635605 Stephan Lawhead Book Set by Stephen R. Lawhead Lisa is currently reading Stephan Lawhead Book Set by Stephen R. Lawhead
]]> Review4374678952 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:41:41 -0700 <![CDATA[Lisa added 'Chasing the Boogeyman']]> /review/show/4374678952 Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar Lisa gave 3 stars to Chasing the Boogeyman (Hardcover) by Richard Chizmar
The story is set up with photographs, interviews and details of the investigation of a serial killer by the police, the FBI, the author and a journalist friend - as though it were an actual true crime story - with the main character being the author. The author mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of a local serial killer (fiction) who kills 4 beautiful young high school students (fiction) shortly after the author returns to his hometown after graduating from college (fact) and moves in with his parents (fact) while waiting for his upcoming wedding (fact).

I figured out who the serial killer was long before the author finally reveals it - but overall it was a fairly quick and easy read. At the end of the story is a chapter explaining how the author put together the story.

If you enjoy true crime stories and police procedural shows - you will probably enjoy this book.


]]> ReadStatus9167879036 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 18:46:53 -0700 <![CDATA[Lisa started reading 'Chasing the Boogeyman']]> /review/show/4374678952 Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar Lisa started reading Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar
]]> Review7356803200 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 18:25:46 -0700 <![CDATA[Lisa added 'The Spellshop']]> /review/show/7356803200 The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Lisa gave 2 stars to The Spellshop (Hardcover) by Sarah Beth Durst
The Spellshop is a young adult fantasy romance story geared towards readers aged 10 - 13.

A young librarian (Kiela) with a talking plant (Kaz) for an assistant rescues a number of magical books from the library she works at when it is set on fire during the revolution.

Kiela and Kaz flee from the Alyssium and sail to her home island of Caltreya. On the island Kiela meets her neighbor, a handsome fisherman named Larran. As Kiela cleans her abandoned family home she makes the decision to open a jam shop because she needs to find something to do so that she purchase supplies to live. Using some magic spells that she finds in the books rescued from the library she manages to get the berries to flourish.

The jam shop is a success. Along the way she falls for her neighbor Larran and meets mermaids, merhorses, flying cats. a singling apple tree and even a unicorn.

Just when things are going swimmingly well - The Imperial Army shows up looking for the only living heir (Radane) to the throne of Alyssium who has been hiding out on the island of Caltreya to avoid being sentenced to death.

What started out as a charming fantasy very quickly devolves into something else. There is a non-binary plant named Meep and lesbian love story.

It very quickly lost a star or two (because it might be far to controversial for a long of 10 - 13 year olds) - but maybe not. If you are an open and accepting parent you might not have a problem with the storyline - in which case I would give it a solid 4. ]]> ReadStatus9120017075 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:25:00 -0800 <![CDATA[Lisa is currently reading 'The Spellshop']]> /review/show/7356803200 The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Lisa is currently reading The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
]]> Review7343757388 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:10:31 -0800 <![CDATA[Lisa added 'The Glorious Guinness Girls']]> /review/show/7343757388 The Glorious Guinness Girls by Emily Hourican Lisa gave 1 star to The Glorious Guinness Girls (Paperback) by Emily Hourican
bookshelves: crap-wish-i-didn-t-read
This book almost ended up as DNF (Did Not Finish). It dragged on forever about how terribly boring it is to be rich and have every advantage. Believe me - most people today would probably love to have that problem.

This book is a historical, fictional account of the lives of the three young women who are the children of the founder of the Guinness beer company. Apparently all three are incredibly beautiful, spoiled, wealthy beyond belief and totally vapid. The eldest is Aileen who can't wait to be married and away from the endless parties, Maureen who appears to be bi-polar (needlessly cruel one minute and positively giddy the next) and baby Oonagh who gets lost in the shuffle.

The story is told by Felicity, a young woman who is sent to live with the wealthy family after her father passes away in WW1 and leaves his own family destitute.

Its 376 pages of drivel, where nothing happens; which seems impossible given the time period in which it all occurs: England during/after WW1, the stock market crash, WW2 and into the 1960's. It is so bad - the narrator tells her entire life story and the climactic ending (if you can even call it that) - is that she returns to the family home that has been turned into a convent, looking for a note that may or may not create a scandal for the family. A note which contains only 3 words. "I'm sorry. Forgives? M" Seriously 376 pages for that.

Save yourself - do not read unless you like to be bored to tears. ]]> ReadStatus9101366122 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:55:42 -0800 <![CDATA[Lisa is currently reading 'The Glorious Guinness Girls']]> /review/show/7343757388 The Glorious Guinness Girls by Emily Hourican Lisa is currently reading The Glorious Guinness Girls by Emily Hourican
]]>