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ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Duke Meets His Match in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I had a love hate relationship with the novel. The hate comes from my annoyance with the certain character traits. I dont enjoy the tortured heroes/heroines who push people away because they feel they dont deserve love or have done terrible things in the past. However, I loved the strong female lead and her willingness to take things into her own hands to get things done and the sassy male lead who didnt know what hit him. The hero actually ended up being one of my favorites to date particularly for his ability to realize he is not infallible and must correct his own wrongdoings/misconceptions.
Overall, it was an enjoyable novel. The pity parties got old, but I enjoyed watching the main couple fall in love. It was an easy kind of love that happened over time rather than forced. Not to mention the female lead had a brain on her shoulders. Always a plus in my book!
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Overall, it was an enjoyable novel. The pity parties got old, but I enjoyed watching the main couple fall in love. It was an easy kind of love that happened over time rather than forced. Not to mention the female lead had a brain on her shoulders. Always a plus in my book!
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
How would you react if you went from being a normal high school kid with a plan for your future to seeing ghosts, finding out the paranormal is real, and everything you thought you knew about your family was wrong? These are the challenges Lainey faces in this book.
Lainey is almost 17. She is a straight A student, with a plan for her life. Then she starts seeing a ghost, which sets events into motion. With her best friend, and a cute guy she just met to help her figure out what's going on. Then the help of her Uncle and his girlfriend Lainey tackles struggles bigger than any high schooler should have to handle.
This book was amazing. It had me on the edge of my seat, grinning from ear to ear and crying at times. I would highly recommend it. With a few minor kissing scenes and a couple of violent scenes I would say it is still appropriate for kids over the age of 13.
Lainey is almost 17. She is a straight A student, with a plan for her life. Then she starts seeing a ghost, which sets events into motion. With her best friend, and a cute guy she just met to help her figure out what's going on. Then the help of her Uncle and his girlfriend Lainey tackles struggles bigger than any high schooler should have to handle.
This book was amazing. It had me on the edge of my seat, grinning from ear to ear and crying at times. I would highly recommend it. With a few minor kissing scenes and a couple of violent scenes I would say it is still appropriate for kids over the age of 13.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd (Flavia de Luce, #8) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s December 1951, and Flavia is back from her exile in Canada. However, her welcome home doesn’t go as planned. Her father is sick and in the hospital, and her older sisters and younger cousin are as obnoxious as ever. However, she finds the perfect distraction when an errand to the next village ends with her finding the body of a wood carver hanging upside down from his bedroom door.
As much as I enjoyed Flavia’s adventure in Canada, it was good to be back in familiar surroundings with familiar characters. The usual crew are up to their usual antics, which was fun. I especially enjoy Flavia’s interactions with her cousin since she doesn’t see the parallels between that and her old sisters. The mystery was good and a focus of much of the book, although I did figure a couple pieces of it out early. Still, the ending surprised me.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-thrice-brinded-cat-hath.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
As much as I enjoyed Flavia’s adventure in Canada, it was good to be back in familiar surroundings with familiar characters. The usual crew are up to their usual antics, which was fun. I especially enjoy Flavia’s interactions with her cousin since she doesn’t see the parallels between that and her old sisters. The mystery was good and a focus of much of the book, although I did figure a couple pieces of it out early. Still, the ending surprised me.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-thrice-brinded-cat-hath.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated On the Road with Del and Louise: A Novel in Stories in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This book is a collection of six stories starring Del and Louise, a couple constantly on the move. Some of it is trying to outrun crime, and some of it is trying to start a life together. We meet them in New Mexico as Del is planning on last robbery to set them up in a life on the right side of the law. Will it work? If not, will they be able to survive without turning back to crime?
I must admit I had a hard time getting past the fact that this duo are criminals, but as they grew as characters, I got caught up in their story. They are really the only characters who are in the entire book, but they can pull it off well. The various capers, schemes, and plots they find themselves in are all different, keeping us from getting bored while exploring the characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-on-road-with-del-and-louise.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I must admit I had a hard time getting past the fact that this duo are criminals, but as they grew as characters, I got caught up in their story. They are really the only characters who are in the entire book, but they can pull it off well. The various capers, schemes, and plots they find themselves in are all different, keeping us from getting bored while exploring the characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-on-road-with-del-and-louise.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Fogged Inn (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s the off-season in Maine, and Julia and her boyfriend Chris are operating a dinner restaurant in the building where their friend Gus has his breakfast and lunch restaurant. When Gus comes in one morning to open, he finds a dead body in the refrigerator. The victim had come in for dinner the night before, but he is a stranger in town. Who was he? And why was he murdered in the restaurant?
This book opens with the murder right away, and the pace never slacks. I did miss a few of the usual supporting characters who are reduced to cameos here, but the new characters more than make up for it. The book builds to a sobering climax that adds some nice depth to the book and even a couple of our characters. I love this series, and this is another great entry.
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/2016/02/book-review-fogged-inn-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book opens with the murder right away, and the pace never slacks. I did miss a few of the usual supporting characters who are reduced to cameos here, but the new characters more than make up for it. The book builds to a sobering climax that adds some nice depth to the book and even a couple of our characters. I love this series, and this is another great entry.
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/2016/02/book-review-fogged-inn-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Corpse with the Silver Tongue (Cait Morgan #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cait Morgan has traveled to Nice to present a paper for a sick colleague when she runs into her former boss, Alistair Townsend. Unable to say no, she finds herself at a birthday party for Alistair’s wife that night. Dinner is ruined when Alistair drops dead at the table and the other guests start feeling sick. With the police looking at Cait, she needs to figure out what is really happening.
Cait is an interesting character because she has an excellent memory but a habit of judging others quickly. I did find myself annoyed by her at times, but that never lasted for long. The suspects make a strong cast as they have layers to them that Cait has to peal back before she can solve the crime. And the plot heads into some areas I wasn’t expecting that I found interesting. I had a couple of niggles with the climax, but they were minor.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-corpse-with-silver-tongue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cait is an interesting character because she has an excellent memory but a habit of judging others quickly. I did find myself annoyed by her at times, but that never lasted for long. The suspects make a strong cast as they have layers to them that Cait has to peal back before she can solve the crime. And the plot heads into some areas I wasn’t expecting that I found interesting. I had a couple of niggles with the climax, but they were minor.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-corpse-with-silver-tongue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Mrs. Pollifax Pursued (Mrs. Pollifax, #11) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The last thing Mrs. Pollifax expected to find that day was a young woman hiding in her closet. Kadi is afraid of the men who have been driving by in a van for the last couple of days, and Mrs. Pollifax’s efforts to sneak her out of the house end with both of them on the run. A call to Carstairs at the CIA leads them to an unusual safe house and another mystery. Are the two related?
This is a bit of an unusual entry in the series since it takes place mostly in the US and Carstairs plays a much more active part in the story. However, I like it for that change of pace. The plot relies a bit more on coincidence than is normal for the series (which is saying something), but all the various threads do wind up playing a part in the end. Overall, another great entry in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-mrs-pollifax-pursued-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a bit of an unusual entry in the series since it takes place mostly in the US and Carstairs plays a much more active part in the story. However, I like it for that change of pace. The plot relies a bit more on coincidence than is normal for the series (which is saying something), but all the various threads do wind up playing a part in the end. Overall, another great entry in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-mrs-pollifax-pursued-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Murder Most Fowl in Books
Mar 9, 2018
One morning in March, Cam’s neighbor dies at his breakfast table, just hours after his chicken farm his hit by animal rights activists. Wayne was a very nice man, often offering Cam advice on her own heard of chickens. When the man’s daughter turns to Cam for help understanding what happened to him, Cam starts investigating. But can she find the killer?
I always enjoy my time on Cam’s farm, and this book was no exception. The pacing was a tad uneven, but that was only a minor issue. The mystery is still strong, with good clues, red herrings, and a great climax. While a couple of supporting characters sat this one out, the rest of the cast is back and as strong as ever. This will leave you turning pages until you read the end.
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/2016/05/book-review-murder-most-fowl-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I always enjoy my time on Cam’s farm, and this book was no exception. The pacing was a tad uneven, but that was only a minor issue. The mystery is still strong, with good clues, red herrings, and a great climax. While a couple of supporting characters sat this one out, the rest of the cast is back and as strong as ever. This will leave you turning pages until you read the end.
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/2016/05/book-review-murder-most-fowl-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 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 (2357 KP) rated A High-End Finish (A Fixer-Upper Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Shannon Hammer loves her life and her job of working on the many Victorians in Lighthouse Cove. She’s agreed to go on a blind date with Jerry Saxton, but he turns out to be a complete jerk. To Shannon’s horror, she finds his dead body in one of her houses a couple of days later. With the police looking at her as the prime suspect, she has to build a case against someone else. There are no shortage of suspects, but who did it?
More than a mystery with clues and red herrings, this book is a series of mysterious events, with Shannon reacting to the latest. There are some interesting twists, but the lack of true investigation bothered me. Still, the book does come to a logical climax. I loved these characters. Shannon has a strong group of friends and family, and I really liked them.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-high-end-finish-by-kate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
More than a mystery with clues and red herrings, this book is a series of mysterious events, with Shannon reacting to the latest. There are some interesting twists, but the lack of true investigation bothered me. Still, the book does come to a logical climax. I loved these characters. Shannon has a strong group of friends and family, and I really liked them.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-high-end-finish-by-kate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.