Search

Search only in certain items:

Bootyversary
Bootyversary
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Peyton and Lance are about to celebrate their one year Bootyversary. They have been making booty calls for the past year. With Lance in the military and shipping out every few weeks, it's hard for them to make a plan to be together. Plus, Peyton doesn't want to be with a man in the military. That was how she grew up and she didn't want to have to go through all the worry her mom went through every time her father was away. But they love each other, right? Will love conquer all?

Thank you to the authors and BookSprout for a copy of this book to read and review.

Another quick cute story from Frankie and C.M. For me, this one wasn't as exciting as the first book in the series Bootyogomy (The Booty Call Series #1) by Frankie Love. I think it was because I knew what was going to happen at the end. I still enjoyed the book and will read the rest of the series.

I never had the desire to date anyone in the military. Not for the same reasons as Peyton, but because I knew a few people in the military growing up and there were not my cup of tea. If you're looking for a quick steamy romance with a HEA, pick this one up.
  
Pumpkin Spice Peril
Pumpkin Spice Peril
Jenn McKinlay | 2020 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Exhibiting a Murder
Over the years that best friends Mel Cooper and Angie Harper have run Fairytale Cupcakes, they have made friends with some of their customers. Near the top of that list are husband and wife artists Peter and Rene. Every Friday, Peter comes in to pick up cupcakes for Rene, who is currently putting the finishing touches on a major art installation to be unveiled in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mel and Angie are providing the cupcakes for the opening night party. However, the night before the big event, someone dies under suspicious circumstances. Has Mel been pulled into another murder?

While the murder happens a little late in the book, the time is well used to introduce us to characters and provide plenty of conflict. I was never bored, and that only increased once the murdered happened and Mel started uncovering secrets. The series regulars all sparkle as always, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The new characters are just as strong. The book has a more somber tone than some of the others in the series, but it fits the events of the plot. Don’t worry, there are still some good laughs along the way. We get four new cupcake recipes at the end that sound delicious. I raced through this book like always. This is another fun entry in one of my favorite series.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Bear Bottom in Books

May 25, 2021 (Updated May 25, 2021)  
Bear Bottom
Bear Bottom
Stuart Gibbs | 2021 | Children, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Missing Necklace and Bison
Teddy Fitzroy is in Yellowstone with his parents and the McCrackens to evaluate a ranch that J.J. McCracken is thinking about buying. The ranch is just outside of the national park, and the Fitzroys are also using the time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The ranch raises bison, and they’ve had a couple go missing, so Teddy is asked to try to figure out what has happened to them. Before he can even start on that, the house where everyone is staying is broken into by a Grizzley bear. In the aftermath, Mrs. McCracken’s expensive necklace disappears. Can Teddy solve both mysteries?

Part of the fun of the FunJungle series is the setting and the recurring characters. I’ll admit I missed them. However, this book does have a core cast of regulars, and I enjoyed spending time with them. Both mysteries are intriguing and kept the pace steady. Watching Teddy work is always fascinating, and we got some wonderful action scenes along the way. While the series always tackles some environmental issues, I felt like this book lectured a bit more than the series usually does. It doesn’t help that one thing intended to be funny didn’t come across that way to me; instead, if felt like more lectures. I still did enjoy this book overall. It’s just not quite up to Stuart Gibbs’s usual high standards.
  
Open for Murder
Open for Murder
Mary Angela | 2020 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Opening Weekend Features Murder
Zo Jones is thrilled to have her best friend Beth Everett back in her life. The two were inseparable every summer when Beth would visit her aunt in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Beth has inherited the lodge her aunt owned, and, after renovating, she is ready to reopen just in time for summer tourists. However, the first night the lodge is opened, one of the guests is murdered. The victim was a local competitor, and the police begin to look at Beth as their prime suspect. Zo doesn’t believe her friend would do something like this, but can she find the proof?

Zo owns a souvenir shop, and between that and the setting, I had to give this series a try. I loved the setting. The book took a couple of chapters before it introduced us to the victim and suspects, but it picked up from there. I did find some of the motives weak early on, but they got stronger the further into the book we got. Likewise, it takes a bit for the characters to be developed. There is still room for the main characters to grow as the series progresses. We get a recipe for a delicious sounding S’more brownie at the end of the book. If you are open to a new series, this is one to check out.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Spy School at Sea in Books

Sep 13, 2021 (Updated Sep 13, 2021)  
Spy School at Sea
Spy School at Sea
Stuart Gibbs | 2021 | Children, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cruising for Danger
Ben Ripley is off on another mission. The CIA has reason to believe that Murray Hill is boarding the cruise ship Emperor of the Seas, so Ben, Erica Hale, her parents, and Ben’s friend Mike, are all joining the ship for a cruise through the Panama Canal to find Murray and stop him. The ship turns out to be much bigger than they envisioned. Will they find him in time? Can they figure out his plan and stop him? And will Ben and Mike be able to keep the secret they are hiding from the Hales?

This is book nine in a delightful middle grade mystery series, and fans of the series will be thrilled with this entry. Those new to the series will find some minor spoilers for the previous book, but everything they need to know is explained here. The plot is fast moving with multiple action scenes that had me turning pages as fast as I could. There is some depth to the characters, and that continues to be explored here without slowing the action down. Meanwhile, the laughs are plentiful, and I was glad I wasn’t reading this book in public. I’m a decade or three beyond the target middle grade audience, but I don’t care. These books are wonderfully fun for all ages.
  
Free Fall (Life Sucks, #7)
Free Fall (Life Sucks, #7)
Elise Faber | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Honestly? Connor deserves a medal!
FREE FALL is the seventh book in the Life Sucks series. This one features Connor and Raven. She is recovering from the house fire whilst staying at Connor's and realising just how much of a pain he is, simply because he cares. When things get too much, Raven runs... straight into the arms of Aunt Pat, who sets her straight on more than one issue.

This was a great story that highlights just how much your past can affect your present and future. Raven is... erm... 'slightly' grumpy at the beginning and it does take a while for her to show her nice side. She does have one, honest. You understand why she is the way she is but, honestly, Connor deserves a medal.

You don't necessarily have to have read the previous books in this series although it would help as more than a couple of them make an appearance. I thought this was a wonderful addition to the series and I can't wait to read Lex and Frankie's story next. Definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
40x40

Merissa (12882 KP) rated Delirium (Reveler #6) in Books

May 8, 2021 (Updated Apr 12, 2023)  
Delirium (Reveler #6)
Delirium (Reveler #6)
Erin Kellison | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This series just keeps on getting better and better. It is intricate, involved, unique from my perspective and absolutely gripping. The concept behind these books is a fantasy, some might say, but Erin Kellison has made it a reality within her stories. They are all incredibly well-written with a smooth story and no plot holes.

Delirium is mainly about Harlen's new job in the Darkside Division which will mean absolutely nothing to you unless you've read the previous books in this series. You NEED to read these in order for it to make sense and to gain the most enjoyment out of them. There is major intrigue in this as no one is who they appear to be and you can't trust anyone.

This is gripping stuff and it does come complete with a cliffhanger ending so fair warning. If you want a short read that is paranormal but not full of vampires or shifters, then I can highly recommend this to you. Start at book 1 and gain the maximum enjoyment out of this magnificent series.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 13, 2015
  
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Maria DiRico | 2021 | Mystery
8
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Enjoy Christmas with The Family
The Belle View Catering Hall is busy with events as Christmas approaches, but Mia Carina gets distracted when the Boldano family asks for her help. Someone has shown up claiming to be Jamie’s long-lost brother. That’s a shock since Jamie didn’t even know he was adopted. Things get even more heated when Mia finds a dead body in her neighborhood. Can she figure out what is going on?

Those new to the series are in for a treat. Yes, this is a different cozy series since we have mobsters as characters and it is set in Queens. Yet these elements don’t overwhelm, and this feels like a cozy series. That’s mostly thanks to the characters, who come across as very real and likeable. In addition to the puzzling mystery, there are multiple sub-plots, which keep things hopping as we read the book. I did feel the climax didn’t quite work. Our questions are answered, but it was just a bit much. There’s plenty of Christmas spirit in this book, including a hilarious sub-plot about a Christmas light display contest. We get seven recipes and a couple of event tips at the end of the book. Fans new and old will enjoy spending this Christmas with Mia.