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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Called to Justice (Quaker Midwife Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s the fourth of July, and Rose Carroll is taking the day off from her midwife duties to enjoy the holiday when an older teen, Hannah, approaches her and confesses that she is pregnant. Rose doesn’t know what to do to help Hannah, but she promises to try. Unfortunately, while enjoying the fireworks that night, Rose responds to a commotion in the crowd to find that Hannah has been shot. When a fellow Quaker accused of the crime, Rose sets out to figure out what really happened. Can she do it?
I enjoyed the first trip to 1888 with Rose, and this book was a wonderful return visit. The story starts strongly but gets a bit distracted by sub-plots as the book went along. Of course, those sub-plots were also strong, so I wanted to keep reading. The new characters made strong suspects, and it was nice to get to know the returning characters better. The time is really another character, and I felt transported back to the time period.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-called-to-justice-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I enjoyed the first trip to 1888 with Rose, and this book was a wonderful return visit. The story starts strongly but gets a bit distracted by sub-plots as the book went along. Of course, those sub-plots were also strong, so I wanted to keep reading. The new characters made strong suspects, and it was nice to get to know the returning characters better. The time is really another character, and I felt transported back to the time period.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-called-to-justice-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Custom Baked Murder in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Stan’s mother is engaged to Frog Ledge’s new mayor, and the pair are throwing a big engagement party. However, the groom to be isn’t there. Instead, Stan is running into several people she is less than happy to see again from her days in the corporate world, including her ex-boyfriend. The night gets worse when a body is found upstairs. The police quickly make an arrest, but something seems off. Are they trying to cover something up?
Since the last book took place out of town, it was wonderful to be back in Frog Ledge and spending time with our favorite characters. The author has really built a sense of community, and I love how she is growing Stan, the others characters, and their relationships. The downside of that is the murder moves slowly in the beginning as the sub-plots that help with the community building are front and center. But the mystery takes center stage in the second half, offering us several viable suspects and some great twists and surprises.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-custom-baked-murder-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Since the last book took place out of town, it was wonderful to be back in Frog Ledge and spending time with our favorite characters. The author has really built a sense of community, and I love how she is growing Stan, the others characters, and their relationships. The downside of that is the murder moves slowly in the beginning as the sub-plots that help with the community building are front and center. But the mystery takes center stage in the second half, offering us several viable suspects and some great twists and surprises.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-custom-baked-murder-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Charity Penn has been raised to trust no one, so she is immediately suspicious when she receives a letter stating she won a contest for cooking lessons in a chocolate shop in South Carolina – a contest she didn’t enter. When her friend goes down to investigate, he calls her teasing good news and then winds up dead in a vat of chocolate. Determined to figure out what happened to her friend, Penn goes to investigate. But can she trust anyone? What is going on?
This book started out slowly, at least mystery wise, since it had the hard job of setting up the series as well as solving the mystery. However, the second half included some good twists and turns as well as payoff for the set up. Penn is an interesting main character since she is pricklier than we normally see in a cozy mystery, but the reasons for her behavior as fully explained and understandable. I’m looking forward to seeing some growth from her as the series progresses, and we already see some of that here.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-asking-for-truffle-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book started out slowly, at least mystery wise, since it had the hard job of setting up the series as well as solving the mystery. However, the second half included some good twists and turns as well as payoff for the set up. Penn is an interesting main character since she is pricklier than we normally see in a cozy mystery, but the reasons for her behavior as fully explained and understandable. I’m looking forward to seeing some growth from her as the series progresses, and we already see some of that here.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-asking-for-truffle-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
When Holly White calls off her wedding, she returns to her family’s tree farm in Maine just in time for the annual Reindeer Games, which take place in the twelve days leading up to Christmas. However, the night before the games are set to start, Margaret comes in causing problems in her quest to keep the town exactly historically accurate. When Holly finds Margaret dead among the trees a few hours later, the police start looking a little too close to home. Can Holly clear her family and friends before Christmas?
If you are looking for a Christmas cozy, this one is perfect. Each page oozes Christmas cheer, and the games sound like a ton of fun. I’d love to visit and play myself. Unfortunately, I did feel this got in the way of the mystery at times, and Holly spent quite a bit to time reacting to events rather than actually investigating at other points. Still, it held together well overall, and we got a great climax. The characters are already sharp, and their relationships help add to the Christmas cheer.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-twelve-slays-of-christmas.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
If you are looking for a Christmas cozy, this one is perfect. Each page oozes Christmas cheer, and the games sound like a ton of fun. I’d love to visit and play myself. Unfortunately, I did feel this got in the way of the mystery at times, and Holly spent quite a bit to time reacting to events rather than actually investigating at other points. Still, it held together well overall, and we got a great climax. The characters are already sharp, and their relationships help add to the Christmas cheer.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-twelve-slays-of-christmas.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated The Tiara on the Terrace (Young and Yang #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Like most teens in Luna Vista, Sophie Young and Grace Yang are working on the floats for the upcoming Winter Sun Festival. This is the 125th anniversary of the parade, and the town wants to make an especially good impression. Sadly, the work is interrupted one day when the festival president is found dead on one of the floats. Certain it wasn’t the accident the police think it is, Sophie and Grace begin to investigate. But when their pool of suspects could also be the next victim, can they solve the crime?
I really enjoyed the first book starring these two thirteen-year-olds, and I enjoyed this one just as much. They are realistic characters who just happen to solve crime. There is a large cast of other characters, but I was soon able to keep them all straight thanks to their distinct personalities. The clues were buried under red herrings, but as the solution came to light, it all made perfect sense. Definitely recommended for middle grade readers or anyone who loves a good mystery.
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/2016/01/book-review-tiara-on-terrace-by-kristen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I really enjoyed the first book starring these two thirteen-year-olds, and I enjoyed this one just as much. They are realistic characters who just happen to solve crime. There is a large cast of other characters, but I was soon able to keep them all straight thanks to their distinct personalities. The clues were buried under red herrings, but as the solution came to light, it all made perfect sense. Definitely recommended for middle grade readers or anyone who loves a good mystery.
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/2016/01/book-review-tiara-on-terrace-by-kristen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Biscuits and Slashed Browns (Country Store Mysteries #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
March brings a maple syrup festival to Brown County, Indiana, and Robbie Jordan is hoping to snag some of the tourists into her shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes. However, the festival has also brought Dr. Warren Connolly to town, a professor hated for many reasons. He is found murdered one morning before the day’s events can get started, and the police begin to look at one of Robbie’s friends as the killer. Then a local maple syrup farmer goes missing. What is going on?
I thought we might be in for some lectures as Dr. Connolly is first introduced to us as a climate change denier, however, this was dropped after the second chapter as we begin to find real motives for his murder. In fact, we get several strong motives and suspects that kept me turning pages and guessing until the end. While I missed one of the regular characters, the rest were present and accounted for and were as charming as ever. The setting is fantastic, too. I’d love to visit Robbie’s store.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-biscuits-and-slashed-browns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I thought we might be in for some lectures as Dr. Connolly is first introduced to us as a climate change denier, however, this was dropped after the second chapter as we begin to find real motives for his murder. In fact, we get several strong motives and suspects that kept me turning pages and guessing until the end. While I missed one of the regular characters, the rest were present and accounted for and were as charming as ever. The setting is fantastic, too. I’d love to visit Robbie’s store.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-biscuits-and-slashed-browns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Second Sister in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Lucy Toomey is busy working on a Presidential campaign. Her days and nights are consumed by work and punctuated only by late night calls from her sister, Alice, who still lives in Lucy's hometown of Nilson's Bay, Wisconsin. We learn that Alice suffered an accident at 18, which left her mentally disabled, and for which Lucy still feels guilty, many years later. However, not even her guilt can convince her to return to Nilson's Bay. Until she receives a call that Alice has passed away.
As the campaign winds down, Lucy finds herself once again in her hometown, settling Alice's affairs, living in her old home, and trying to figure out her life.
Overall, this is a fairly easy read, though I found the beginning a bit slow. Lucy is not the most likeable of characters, though she did grow on me as she herself grows. The plot is rather predictable, though you don't find yourself fighting the ending much. Once I got through about the first third, the book went quickly and was a pleasant read, but nothing amazing. (It did make me want to visit Door County, Wisconsin, however! Well-done on that front.)
Note: I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
As the campaign winds down, Lucy finds herself once again in her hometown, settling Alice's affairs, living in her old home, and trying to figure out her life.
Overall, this is a fairly easy read, though I found the beginning a bit slow. Lucy is not the most likeable of characters, though she did grow on me as she herself grows. The plot is rather predictable, though you don't find yourself fighting the ending much. Once I got through about the first third, the book went quickly and was a pleasant read, but nothing amazing. (It did make me want to visit Door County, Wisconsin, however! Well-done on that front.)
Note: I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
A World Full of Animal Stories: 50 favourite animal folk tales, myths and legends by Angela McAllister is a beautiful and interesting book of folktales and legends that celebrate animals and culture. These stories are brought to life as the reader travels the globe to Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe, Australia and Oceania.
It is a book full of cultural stories, with strong messages and wonderful illustrations. Familiar stories such as The Billy Goats Gruff, The Nightingale, and The Ugly Duckling are in the book so the reader will learn where those stories came from. In the contents guide it has each of the stories listed under the continent they belong to, with the country that relates to the story in brackets next to its title, which is useful for finding a specific story or learning about a certain region.
The stories are not long, which makes it perfect for bedtime stories. One story a night will give your child something to think and talk about. This would also would be great for the classroom, particularly when learning about different cultural stories and traditions.
I received an ARC of A World Full of Animal Stories from NetGalley via Quarto Publishing Group and Frances Lincoln Childrens.
It is a book full of cultural stories, with strong messages and wonderful illustrations. Familiar stories such as The Billy Goats Gruff, The Nightingale, and The Ugly Duckling are in the book so the reader will learn where those stories came from. In the contents guide it has each of the stories listed under the continent they belong to, with the country that relates to the story in brackets next to its title, which is useful for finding a specific story or learning about a certain region.
The stories are not long, which makes it perfect for bedtime stories. One story a night will give your child something to think and talk about. This would also would be great for the classroom, particularly when learning about different cultural stories and traditions.
I received an ARC of A World Full of Animal Stories from NetGalley via Quarto Publishing Group and Frances Lincoln Childrens.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Hair-Pocalypse in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Hair-pocalypse by Geoff Herbach is a wonderful, funny picture book of a boy named Aiden who has wild. Aiden is a little boy with hair that has a mind of its own. This story takes us through a day in Aiden’s life with his wild hair and how he was able to deal with it. The overall message of the book is about compromise and understanding.
Aidan has wild and crazy hair. Aidan’s also a bit on the “grubby” side, as young boys are inclined to be. The book opens with Aidan’s hair in full on rebellion. With what appears to be a mind of its own the mop of hair undertakes to make Aidan’s life embarrassing and difficult.After yelling and screaming and fighting with his hair Aidan finally has a calm conversation with the unruly mop and works out an accommodation.
The illustrations are wonderful and help enhance the story. The pictures depict the personality of the hair and show its rebellion, and then it’s eventual abandon. The pictures show the support and energize the story, which helps the reader with getting into the story.
Thank you to Capstone and Capstone Young Readers via NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Aidan has wild and crazy hair. Aidan’s also a bit on the “grubby” side, as young boys are inclined to be. The book opens with Aidan’s hair in full on rebellion. With what appears to be a mind of its own the mop of hair undertakes to make Aidan’s life embarrassing and difficult.After yelling and screaming and fighting with his hair Aidan finally has a calm conversation with the unruly mop and works out an accommodation.
The illustrations are wonderful and help enhance the story. The pictures depict the personality of the hair and show its rebellion, and then it’s eventual abandon. The pictures show the support and energize the story, which helps the reader with getting into the story.
Thank you to Capstone and Capstone Young Readers via NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional: Choosing a Life of Steadfast Love One Day at a Time by Karen Moore is a wonderful devotion book. One page is specific to each day of the year. I have found this book to be a beautiful love centered reflection of God and His will for our lives.
This is a 365 day devotional, plus it has one for Leap Year, February 29. Each day has a title, a Scripture verse, then the devotional, and ending with a short prayer. Each devotional is centered around love how God fits into our lives and our hearts.
The colors of the cover and the inside are beautiful and eye-catching. There is a ribbon bookmark as well, which is a nice touch. In the back of the devotional is a scripture index for the texts used in the devotional. I felt the devotions did a great job having thought provoking devotions that can be read quickly for the busy individual, but leave the reader thinking about them throughout the day. Each devotion is relevant and inspiring.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a 365 day devotional, plus it has one for Leap Year, February 29. Each day has a title, a Scripture verse, then the devotional, and ending with a short prayer. Each devotional is centered around love how God fits into our lives and our hearts.
The colors of the cover and the inside are beautiful and eye-catching. There is a ribbon bookmark as well, which is a nice touch. In the back of the devotional is a scripture index for the texts used in the devotional. I felt the devotions did a great job having thought provoking devotions that can be read quickly for the busy individual, but leave the reader thinking about them throughout the day. Each devotion is relevant and inspiring.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.