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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated Death of A Bad Apple (A Food Festival Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Darcy, Aunt Abby, and the rest of the crew head up to Apple Valley for the annual apple festival. However, when they arrive, they find themselves in a not so festive atmosphere when a fire breaks out down the road from the B&B where they are staying and a fellow guest is murdered. What have they gotten themselves into?
Despite the change of location from San Francisco (the setting for the first two books in this series), all the regular characters are still present, which is a great thing since I love them all so much. Nothing about that has changed here, and I enjoyed watching their relationships continue to grow. The plot is great and kept me guessing until the end when everything came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-death-of-bad-apple-by-penny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Despite the change of location from San Francisco (the setting for the first two books in this series), all the regular characters are still present, which is a great thing since I love them all so much. Nothing about that has changed here, and I enjoyed watching their relationships continue to grow. The plot is great and kept me guessing until the end when everything came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-death-of-bad-apple-by-penny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1804 KP) rated Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street, #6) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
My thought were sweet. I really enjoyed this book. I love how it ends and I am really glad for what happens to some of the woman in the book. You get see how the friendship develop and Relationships are tested though out the book. How friends can help and see the understanding. You get to see how part of the adoption take place and how thing can be tested with out knowing can happen unexpected. Love can happen though strange whys. Never did I expect what would happen at the end of the book.
The Author did a wonderful job with the character and matching them up but doing in a way that would happen natural to find out how it all happen. It was nice reading about them all and not confuse me while reading it. I will want to read books 1-5 understand completely soon though. I am going to be reading 5 "Twenty Wishes now."
The Author did a wonderful job with the character and matching them up but doing in a way that would happen natural to find out how it all happen. It was nice reading about them all and not confuse me while reading it. I will want to read books 1-5 understand completely soon though. I am going to be reading 5 "Twenty Wishes now."
Lindsay (1804 KP) rated A Lady at Willowgrove Hall in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
What a lovely story this. Sarah E. Ladd out did herself with this book. There are two other books to this series. I have not read them but I may find them to read. This story is sweet and loving but also a bit harsh.
We see the changes in both Cecily and Nathaniel. There are secret in both their past. Will this break or make their love stronger. Nathaniel has a secret past and deals with Willowgrove hall. Cecily has a secret past that deals with a man at Willowgrove hall and her family.
Will their be a romance formed? What could their secret be? Cecily arrives at Willowgrove hall to do her job as a lady companion. Nathaniel is a steward at Willowgrove and feels trap in a life that his not his. What could be Nathaniel secret. Mrs. Trent seem to know more or has the truth about Andrew Morton and Nathaniel Stanton past.
We see the changes in both Cecily and Nathaniel. There are secret in both their past. Will this break or make their love stronger. Nathaniel has a secret past and deals with Willowgrove hall. Cecily has a secret past that deals with a man at Willowgrove hall and her family.
Will their be a romance formed? What could their secret be? Cecily arrives at Willowgrove hall to do her job as a lady companion. Nathaniel is a steward at Willowgrove and feels trap in a life that his not his. What could be Nathaniel secret. Mrs. Trent seem to know more or has the truth about Andrew Morton and Nathaniel Stanton past.
Marvelous! I'd missed more short pieces than I realized, so this book was even more of a treat than anticipated. I read quite a few anthologies, so I had thought that only the much-anticipated new novella would be new to me. Even the ones I've read before are good enough to revisit, though - a sure sign of a very good author. They were like revisiting old friends.
The new novella, <i>Aftermath</i>, was fascinating. I don't want to say too much, as I know that quite a few people ended up with too many spoilers about the end of [b:Changes|6585201|Changes (The Dresden Files, #12)|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1250016196s/6585201.jpg|6778696]. I think I'll just say that the it is well worth reading and leave it there. As promised, it does pick up right at the end of <i>Changes</i>. If you've read that, you want to read <i>Aftermath</i>. Come on, you know you do!
The new novella, <i>Aftermath</i>, was fascinating. I don't want to say too much, as I know that quite a few people ended up with too many spoilers about the end of [b:Changes|6585201|Changes (The Dresden Files, #12)|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1250016196s/6585201.jpg|6778696]. I think I'll just say that the it is well worth reading and leave it there. As promised, it does pick up right at the end of <i>Changes</i>. If you've read that, you want to read <i>Aftermath</i>. Come on, you know you do!
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Hope's Folly (Dock Five Universe, #3) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
As usual, too much romance for my tastes--but the rest made up for it. I keep reading Sinclair's work, even though it is largely romance, because she also has good plots and does a good job with character development. Unlike many authors, each of her main characters is a well-defined individual, not "another good guy" or "another beautiful-yet-insecure woman." There was a touch of beautiful-yet-insecure in Rya Bennton (SUCH an annoying clich@eacute;!), but she got past it.
Some of the things that annoy me the most are, apparently, standard romance memes. Having relationship problems just because nobody will say, "Hey, this is what I want and need, how about you?" is fairly realistic, but I'd love to see SOMEBODY in a book who has grown past that.
Anyway, this was a worthy read, and it does stand alone, but everything will make far more sense if you read the earlier books in the same universe.
Some of the things that annoy me the most are, apparently, standard romance memes. Having relationship problems just because nobody will say, "Hey, this is what I want and need, how about you?" is fairly realistic, but I'd love to see SOMEBODY in a book who has grown past that.
Anyway, this was a worthy read, and it does stand alone, but everything will make far more sense if you read the earlier books in the same universe.
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated The White Road: The Nightrunner Series, Book 5 in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Thank goodness. A particular story arc is finally closed, spread over the length of this and the previous novel. It was interesting at first, then it got really tiresome. I will say that it was fairly unique, which is fairly rare, so kudos to Flewelling for that, and it really tested the relationship between Alec and Seregil while it lasted.
I'm not sure how much longer these books can stay fresh, although the world does offer more potential. Perhaps it's time for Flewelling to allow this couple to turn things over to a new generation? Their heritage does mean they'll be young enough for nightrunning for years to come, but that doesn't mean readers will stay interested in reading about them that long unless they go off to countries as yet unexplored. I, to be honest, would prefer to read stories including more female POV characters for a change. (I have nothing against gay male characters - I just like female characters, too.)
I'm not sure how much longer these books can stay fresh, although the world does offer more potential. Perhaps it's time for Flewelling to allow this couple to turn things over to a new generation? Their heritage does mean they'll be young enough for nightrunning for years to come, but that doesn't mean readers will stay interested in reading about them that long unless they go off to countries as yet unexplored. I, to be honest, would prefer to read stories including more female POV characters for a change. (I have nothing against gay male characters - I just like female characters, too.)
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Cracked to Death (A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery, #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This is the third book in the Webbs Glass Shop mystery series. If you havent read the previous books in the series, dont worry. Youll be able to catch on to whos who and whats happening easily enough that you can jump right in at this point without feeling lost.
I love the glass-making theme of this cozy series. The process is fascinating, and you can almost see the work being done from the vivid descriptions in the book. Its not all about the glass, though, and luckily Savannah has a great group of friends and colleagues to help her out when things get ugly. With another death in town, she needs them to help her track down a killer. This was a great addition to a fun series.
<i>NOTE: I was provided with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.</i>
I love the glass-making theme of this cozy series. The process is fascinating, and you can almost see the work being done from the vivid descriptions in the book. Its not all about the glass, though, and luckily Savannah has a great group of friends and colleagues to help her out when things get ugly. With another death in town, she needs them to help her track down a killer. This was a great addition to a fun series.
<i>NOTE: I was provided with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated Legacy of Secrets (Kingdom Keepers: The Return, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Kingdom Keepers are back in 1955, trying to follow clues to find Walt’s pen so they can make sure it is properly preserved so they can use it in the future. Meanwhile in the present, Amanda and Jess are trying to figure out how to help them and stumble upon long buried secrets that might change the game for everyone.
The two plots are balanced perfectly, keeping us entertained. Plus we learn some hows and whys that I didn’t know I cared about but explain much of what has been happening in the Kingdom Keeper series. We don’t get as much direct action as in previous books, but there is still some of that, and it is great. Plus, as a DisNerd, I was extremely green with all the Kingdom Keepers got to do in 1955.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-legacy-of-secrets-by-ridley.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The two plots are balanced perfectly, keeping us entertained. Plus we learn some hows and whys that I didn’t know I cared about but explain much of what has been happening in the Kingdom Keeper series. We don’t get as much direct action as in previous books, but there is still some of that, and it is great. Plus, as a DisNerd, I was extremely green with all the Kingdom Keepers got to do in 1955.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-legacy-of-secrets-by-ridley.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated The Last Detective (Elvis Cole, #9) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
While PI Elvis Cole is watching his girlfriend Lucy’s son, Ben is kidnapped. The caller says it is payback for something in Cole’s past, but he can’t figure out what that might be. As more people get involved in the case, the kidnapping puts a strain on Elvis’s relationship with Lucy. Can he find Ben?
This is a thrilling read from start to finish. Since we have gotten to know Lucy and Ben over the last couple of books, we care about the outcome here. I was so pulled in at the climax that I didn’t want to stop. The characters are strong as well, including Elvis and his partner Joe Pike. They are becoming more human. The flashbacks to Elvis’s past help with that, and they manage to be as engrossing as the main story instead of slowing it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-last-detective-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a thrilling read from start to finish. Since we have gotten to know Lucy and Ben over the last couple of books, we care about the outcome here. I was so pulled in at the climax that I didn’t want to stop. The characters are strong as well, including Elvis and his partner Joe Pike. They are becoming more human. The flashbacks to Elvis’s past help with that, and they manage to be as engrossing as the main story instead of slowing it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-last-detective-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.