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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Murder on the Bucket List (A Bucket List Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Francine and her friends are working hard at crossing off the items on their bucket lists. Last one night while meeting at Alice’s pool to go skinny dipping, they find a dead body instead. Charlene is thrilled since solving a murder is the top item on her list. But can the friends do it?
I picked up this book because the characters, all in their 70’s, sounded like fun. Boy was I right! They are a hoot, and I was smiling as I enjoyed the entire story. The number of characters is a little overwhelming at first, but I was quickly able to sort them all out. The plot is strong with some nice revelations and twists before the end. I can’t wait to meet this feisty group of ladies again.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-murder-on-bucket-list-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I picked up this book because the characters, all in their 70’s, sounded like fun. Boy was I right! They are a hoot, and I was smiling as I enjoyed the entire story. The number of characters is a little overwhelming at first, but I was quickly able to sort them all out. The plot is strong with some nice revelations and twists before the end. I can’t wait to meet this feisty group of ladies again.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-murder-on-bucket-list-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated A Cajun Christmas Killing (Cajun Country Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With a couple of weeks to go before Christmas, Maggie should be focusing on getting into the Christmas spirit. However, she’s just learned that a businessman is trying to take over her family’s bed and breakfast built on their family’s plantation. When he turns up dead, naturally, they are all suspects, and Maggie begins to try to figure out what really happened. With a list of suspects that only grows, can Maggie find the killer?
We are getting quite a nice community in this series, and I was glad to revisit Maggie and her friends and family. The characters only grow stronger here and some relationships take surprising turns. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end, and sub-plots compliment the mystery and enhance the characters. Throw in some Louisiana recipes and Christmas traditions and you’ve got a holiday winner.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-cajun-christmas-killing-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
We are getting quite a nice community in this series, and I was glad to revisit Maggie and her friends and family. The characters only grow stronger here and some relationships take surprising turns. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end, and sub-plots compliment the mystery and enhance the characters. Throw in some Louisiana recipes and Christmas traditions and you’ve got a holiday winner.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-cajun-christmas-killing-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Murder with Ganache (Key West Food Critic Mystery, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Hayley's family is coming to town for her best friend's wedding, but things get off to a rocky start with her teenage step-brother. When he goes off to explore on his own and disappears, the family begins to panic. Will they find him? What might he have gotten into?
This was my introduction to the series, and I'm regretting that. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was great and completely pulled me in. While the characters could have been a little better introduced to those of us who don't know the series, I didn't have too much of a hard time getting them all figured out. The ending could have been a little smoother, but everything was explained by the end. I'm going to have to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-murder-with-ganache-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was my introduction to the series, and I'm regretting that. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was great and completely pulled me in. While the characters could have been a little better introduced to those of us who don't know the series, I didn't have too much of a hard time getting them all figured out. The ending could have been a little smoother, but everything was explained by the end. I'm going to have to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-murder-with-ganache-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated License to Dill (Pickled & Preserved Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Piper’s ex-fiancee arrives in town hoping to get back together even though she has told him repeated they are over. However, the attention soon turns to the soccer team visiting from Italy and the mini-tournament against a team of locals. The Italian team’s manager was an exchange student when he was in high school, and his reappearance has opened old wounds from back then. When he is murdered, it becomes a question of which of those deeds from the past came back to haunt him in the present?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were just as fun and charming as they were in the first in the series. The plot was wonderful with so many suspects and twists to the story I had a hard time putting it down. Yet things came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-license-to-dill-by-mary.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were just as fun and charming as they were in the first in the series. The plot was wonderful with so many suspects and twists to the story I had a hard time putting it down. Yet things came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-license-to-dill-by-mary.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Sayonara Slam (Mas Arai #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The World Baseball Classic has come to Dodger Stadium, and Mas Arai is excited about the upcoming match between Japan and Korea. He’s on hand early and witnesses a reporter drop dead at a press conference. Mas has no desire to get involved in the investigation until a friend’s grandson hires him as a driver and interpreter. What will they uncover?
I haven’t read most of the books in this series, but I’ve been wanting to return to it for a while now. The characters are good, although I think I missed some of the character development since I’m not super familiar with them. Some sub-plots bogged down the plot a bit early on, but as the book continued, the mystery got stronger. I learned a bit about World War II history along the way to the logical climax.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-sayonara-slam-by-naomi.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I haven’t read most of the books in this series, but I’ve been wanting to return to it for a while now. The characters are good, although I think I missed some of the character development since I’m not super familiar with them. Some sub-plots bogged down the plot a bit early on, but as the book continued, the mystery got stronger. I learned a bit about World War II history along the way to the logical climax.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-sayonara-slam-by-naomi.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Dying for Strawberries (A Berry Basket Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Marlee Jacob has settled nicely back into her home town of Oriole Point, and she is quite happy running her business, The Berry Basket. However, she quickly finds herself in trouble when her good friend goes missing, a surprise announcement rattles all the local business owners, someone tries to kill her, and then she finds a dead body. What is going on?
I enjoyed this book with how it played with some cozy mystery tropes early on while still providing us with a compelling cozy mystery. There’s plenty happening to keep us entertained all the way through, and the twists of the plot come together for a logical climax. Some of the supporting characters are still a bit thin, but we can get to know them better in later books. Marlee herself is wonderful, and the rest of the suspects are also viable characters.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-dying-for-strawberries-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I enjoyed this book with how it played with some cozy mystery tropes early on while still providing us with a compelling cozy mystery. There’s plenty happening to keep us entertained all the way through, and the twists of the plot come together for a logical climax. Some of the supporting characters are still a bit thin, but we can get to know them better in later books. Marlee herself is wonderful, and the rest of the suspects are also viable characters.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-dying-for-strawberries-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sarah has been working hard to set up the largest community yard sale in New England. When the day arrives, some fires outside of town are the only thing that goes wrong – or so she thinks. After the day is over, she learns her friend Carol was robbed of a painting she was doing on commission. The next morning, Carol finds a dead stranger in her shop. What is happening?
This is a very fun mystery filled with great characters. Seriously, I love spending time with them. The plot includes a few intriguing sub-plots that all tie together in some way at the end of the book. The result kept me turning pages. One word of warning, one part of the first book is spoiled here, but there is no way to continue Sarah’s personal life without doing so.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-longest-yard-sale-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a very fun mystery filled with great characters. Seriously, I love spending time with them. The plot includes a few intriguing sub-plots that all tie together in some way at the end of the book. The result kept me turning pages. One word of warning, one part of the first book is spoiled here, but there is no way to continue Sarah’s personal life without doing so.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-longest-yard-sale-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated A Palette for Murder (Aurora Anderson Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Vista Beach is in the middle of a heatwave, and thieves are taking advantage of people leaving doors and windows open. It looks like Rory has stumbled on the aftermath of one such burglary when she finds her neighbor, Willow, dead on her kitchen floor. But the police aren’t buying robbery as a motive, and they focus on Rory’s friend Dawn as the killer. Can Rory learn the truth?
Naturally, it turns out that Willow had a number of secrets, and those kept the pages turning until we reached the end. I did figure things out a bit early, but my jaw still literally dropped at a couple of the twists along the way. The characters are good enough to make us care about the outcome, but they could still be a bit more developed. Still, this is a fun book that flew by all too quickly.
NOTE: I received an ARC.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-palette-for-murder-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Naturally, it turns out that Willow had a number of secrets, and those kept the pages turning until we reached the end. I did figure things out a bit early, but my jaw still literally dropped at a couple of the twists along the way. The characters are good enough to make us care about the outcome, but they could still be a bit more developed. Still, this is a fun book that flew by all too quickly.
NOTE: I received an ARC.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-palette-for-murder-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Roxy the Raccoon: A Story to Help Children Learn about Disability and Inclusion by Alice Reeves is a book about Roxy who is disabled and needs a wheelchair and what her life is like.
This heart felt book for ages 4-8 shows children that there are ways to include a person who can not walk or stand, in their games and life, and how to be creative in finding ways around obstacles.
Roxy the Raccoon is differently-abled and cannot do the same thing as some of the other animals in the forest but with a bit of thought and working together they are able to play together and hang out and see and do the same things. This beautiful story shows how Roxy's friends make her feel included. The illustrations done in watercolor and are eye catching. A stunning book for all children.
I received an ARC from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.
This heart felt book for ages 4-8 shows children that there are ways to include a person who can not walk or stand, in their games and life, and how to be creative in finding ways around obstacles.
Roxy the Raccoon is differently-abled and cannot do the same thing as some of the other animals in the forest but with a bit of thought and working together they are able to play together and hang out and see and do the same things. This beautiful story shows how Roxy's friends make her feel included. The illustrations done in watercolor and are eye catching. A stunning book for all children.
I received an ARC from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Rosie the Tarantula: A True Adventure in Chicago’s Field Museum in Books
Jun 14, 2018
Rosie the Tarantula: A True Adventure in Chicago’s Field Museum by Peggy Macnamara is a cute picture book. It is a story about a pink footed tarantula, Rosie, who lives at the Chicago field museum. One day in 2011 she escaped from her room. She didn’t appear until 2012. This book imagines the adventure she might have had. It is also used to describe what can be found at the field museum. Plus there are lots of notes at the end about the real rosie, and other animals mentioned in the book. I will say the rhymes are hard and do not flow well, but for this book I don't think it is needed. I applaud the author for getting the words to rhyme in the first place. And while this book is about a Chicago based institution, lots of kids will love its story and colorful illustrations.
I received an ARC from Northwestern University Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give the book 4/5 stars.
I received an ARC from Northwestern University Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give the book 4/5 stars.