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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated F is for Fugitive (Kinsey Millhone, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Seventeen years ago, the murder of a teen shocked the small community of Floral Beach. The young man who confessed to the crime broke out of prison a year later, but he’s been recaptured and Kinsey has been hired to prove his innocence. With the trails cold, she has her work cut out for her, and it seems everyone in town is hiding a secret. Can she learn the truth of what happened all those years ago?
One again, we are off on a wild ride that only gets wilder as we go along. Since we spend almost the entire book outside of Kinsey’s normal stomping grounds, the cast of characters are all new, and they are fantastic. Everything comes together for a great and logical ending, and I’m curious to see how the growth Kinsey experienced here will translate in the next in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-f-is-for-fugitive-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
One again, we are off on a wild ride that only gets wilder as we go along. Since we spend almost the entire book outside of Kinsey’s normal stomping grounds, the cast of characters are all new, and they are fantastic. Everything comes together for a great and logical ending, and I’m curious to see how the growth Kinsey experienced here will translate in the next in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-f-is-for-fugitive-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Death Crashes the Party (Liv And Di In Dixie Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Liv McKay is working with some clients to plan an anniversary party for them when they find two dead bodies in their garage. The murder victims worked at the trucking company Liv’s father-in-law owns. Soon, rumors are swirling about Liv’s family, and the police are uncovering some things that are upsetting the family. Liv and her best friend Di Souther start their investigation to find out what is really happening. Can they figure it out?
This was a very enjoyable debut with some twists on the usual cozy set up, which I really enjoyed. Liv is a fantastic main character, and Di is a wonderful sidekick. I did feel they were a bit passive early on, but that soon changed and they threw themselves headlong into solving the mystery, which featured plenty of surprises and twists. Throw in a bit of humor, and you have a winner. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-death-crashes-party-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a very enjoyable debut with some twists on the usual cozy set up, which I really enjoyed. Liv is a fantastic main character, and Di is a wonderful sidekick. I did feel they were a bit passive early on, but that soon changed and they threw themselves headlong into solving the mystery, which featured plenty of surprises and twists. Throw in a bit of humor, and you have a winner. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-death-crashes-party-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Murder on Gramercy Park (Gaslight Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy arrives at the scene of Dr. Edmund Blackwell’s death thinking it is a suicide. However, as soon as he views it, he realizes it was murder. By that point, he’s already involved midwife Sarah Brandt as she is attending the dead man’s wife, who has gone into labor from the shock. Dr. Blackwell was a magnetic healer, bring relief to people suffering from pain. Who would want to kill a man like that?
And just like that, we are once again traveling back in time to 1890’s New York City. The book really does a great job of bringing the time and place to life. Frank and Sarah are fantastic main characters who share the sleuthing and page time as our third person point of view characters. The mystery is sharp with plenty of secrets to be uncovered. I thought I had it figured out early, but I was missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-murder-on-gramercy-park-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
And just like that, we are once again traveling back in time to 1890’s New York City. The book really does a great job of bringing the time and place to life. Frank and Sarah are fantastic main characters who share the sleuthing and page time as our third person point of view characters. The mystery is sharp with plenty of secrets to be uncovered. I thought I had it figured out early, but I was missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-murder-on-gramercy-park-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Savage Secrets (Titan, #4) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
A Must Read, Wow
This has to be the BEST book in the series so far. Absolutely fantastic military romance. This book is set in London, Virginia, and Spain and as the title suggests Rocco Savage has a secret but then so does Mi6 interrogator Caterina Cruz. The chemistry between the pair of them is super hot and I love the way Cat gets Rocco going by talking Spanish to him and the way she handles a weapon whether it be a gun or a super large knife held between her teeth. If big hot guys with big guns who pull out all the stops to save the girl is your cup of tea then this is defiantly for you.
**WARNING** This story has a violent sexual scene and Cristin Harber has done a great job of portraying the horror of the attack without making it overly graphic and I would also join Cristin in saying that...
"Rape is a crime. Talking about it isn't. There are many resources out there, Including After Silence to help in the healing process"
This has to be the BEST book in the series so far. Absolutely fantastic military romance. This book is set in London, Virginia, and Spain and as the title suggests Rocco Savage has a secret but then so does Mi6 interrogator Caterina Cruz. The chemistry between the pair of them is super hot and I love the way Cat gets Rocco going by talking Spanish to him and the way she handles a weapon whether it be a gun or a super large knife held between her teeth. If big hot guys with big guns who pull out all the stops to save the girl is your cup of tea then this is defiantly for you.
**WARNING** This story has a violent sexual scene and Cristin Harber has done a great job of portraying the horror of the attack without making it overly graphic and I would also join Cristin in saying that...
"Rape is a crime. Talking about it isn't. There are many resources out there, Including After Silence to help in the healing process"
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Glitch (Glitch, #1) in Books
Jun 6, 2018
I absolutely loved this book!! I was a bit scared thinking I wouldn't like it based on the majority of reviews, but I loved it!
It does start off a bit slow. I was about halfway through it before it started picking up. After that, it was hard to put down!
I love dystopian novels. (Brave New World being my favourite). This one didn't disappoint me either.
I could actually imagine something like this happening in the future. It's quite scary to think about.
I loved the characters of Zoe and Adrien. They are so cute together!!
However, I couldn't stand Max! I was secretly hoping throughout the book that he'd be killed off.
The one thing that really annoyed me about this book was the made up swear words. I understand that it's in the future, but still...surely they could've just been left out. Eventually, about 75% through the book, I just got used to it.
I would definitely recommend this book. I thought it was fantastic! I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
It does start off a bit slow. I was about halfway through it before it started picking up. After that, it was hard to put down!
I love dystopian novels. (Brave New World being my favourite). This one didn't disappoint me either.
I could actually imagine something like this happening in the future. It's quite scary to think about.
I loved the characters of Zoe and Adrien. They are so cute together!!
However, I couldn't stand Max! I was secretly hoping throughout the book that he'd be killed off.
The one thing that really annoyed me about this book was the made up swear words. I understand that it's in the future, but still...surely they could've just been left out. Eventually, about 75% through the book, I just got used to it.
I would definitely recommend this book. I thought it was fantastic! I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Double Star in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ally's on her way to an interview that will change her life. Little does she know, her life's about to turn upside-down, and not in a way she ever expected.
Double Star is a wonderful book, published by an up-and-coming company that rates its books so readers are prepared for what lies within the pages. I'm incredibly glad I got to read it, as I think it's a perfect example of a story that everyone could, and probably should, read. Throughout, I paused to reflect on my own life, about how I've taken many of the things I have for granted, and what I would do if I ever lost them. I think that's a fantastic thing to take from a fictional story, meant to entertain, and I would definitely recommend this to pretty much anyone. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment, and will keep my eyes peeled for more releases from Clean Teen Publishing.
5 stars =)
Ally's on her way to an interview that will change her life. Little does she know, her life's about to turn upside-down, and not in a way she ever expected.
Double Star is a wonderful book, published by an up-and-coming company that rates its books so readers are prepared for what lies within the pages. I'm incredibly glad I got to read it, as I think it's a perfect example of a story that everyone could, and probably should, read. Throughout, I paused to reflect on my own life, about how I've taken many of the things I have for granted, and what I would do if I ever lost them. I think that's a fantastic thing to take from a fictional story, meant to entertain, and I would definitely recommend this to pretty much anyone. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment, and will keep my eyes peeled for more releases from Clean Teen Publishing.
5 stars =)
Kristin (149 KP) rated Pandora's Succession (Ridley Fox & Nita Parris #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fox is trying his best to have a normal life, but the bad guys just keep coming. Seconds from handing in his resignation letter, all hell breaks loose, and a virus found frozen in a glacier is set loose. This virus is wanted by several individuals for horrible purposes, and it's up to Fox to try and stop it from getting into the wrong hands, causing the end of the world as we know it.
I can definitely say that this novel held my interest all the way through. The characters are great, the premise is one that (horrifyingly) could happen in this day and age, and the pacing was superb. I will admit that I got a little confused trying to keep up with who was working for who, who was double-crossing who, etc., but that's how these things go in real life!! The ending is fantastic, and I'm certainly going to add the next one to my TBR list. Great job!
4 1/2 stars
Fox is trying his best to have a normal life, but the bad guys just keep coming. Seconds from handing in his resignation letter, all hell breaks loose, and a virus found frozen in a glacier is set loose. This virus is wanted by several individuals for horrible purposes, and it's up to Fox to try and stop it from getting into the wrong hands, causing the end of the world as we know it.
I can definitely say that this novel held my interest all the way through. The characters are great, the premise is one that (horrifyingly) could happen in this day and age, and the pacing was superb. I will admit that I got a little confused trying to keep up with who was working for who, who was double-crossing who, etc., but that's how these things go in real life!! The ending is fantastic, and I'm certainly going to add the next one to my TBR list. Great job!
4 1/2 stars
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Apollo 13 (1995) in Movies
Jul 21, 2018
No problems here!
Everyone was waiting to see what Tom Hanks would do next after winning his back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. It ended up being another wondrous film about the true story of the doomed space mission and the many people who banded together to help save the lives of the three astronauts.
Everything about the film is fantastic including the acting, screenplay and special effects. If this film were made today, I think filmmakers would have tried to go too high tech and CGI when this is a human story and a triumph of the human spirit vs. something more savvy.
I really miss Bill Paxton most of all. His performance in the film was magnificent and hilarious, just like all his memorable characters. I truly miss him every day.
Through my melancholies, I was able to enjoy a perfect film like this. You know you are watching something truly awe-inspiring when you know how it's going to end and it still chokes you up.
Everything about the film is fantastic including the acting, screenplay and special effects. If this film were made today, I think filmmakers would have tried to go too high tech and CGI when this is a human story and a triumph of the human spirit vs. something more savvy.
I really miss Bill Paxton most of all. His performance in the film was magnificent and hilarious, just like all his memorable characters. I truly miss him every day.
Through my melancholies, I was able to enjoy a perfect film like this. You know you are watching something truly awe-inspiring when you know how it's going to end and it still chokes you up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Floating Light Bulb in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Eli Finds Himself Creating Magic and Stalking a Killer at the Mall of America
Magician Eli Marks and his uncle Harry are taking in a magic act at the Mall of America since the magician is a former student of Harry’s. The show is lackluster at best, but it gets worse when the magician misses a cue at the end of the show. It turns out that’s because the magician is dead, and soon Eli finds himself taking his place in an effort to help find the killer. Will he learn anything useful?
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Kristy S. (3 KP) rated Kindle E-Reader in Tech
Aug 10, 2018
Perfect for an avid reader who can't carry all their books with them
I purchased a Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader a few years ago. I had previous thought that "I could never give up holding a book." However, the Kindle has been a lifesaver on trips. It is small, light, and easy to take with me wherever I go. I purchased a case, so I could have the feeling of holding a book and to protect the tech. The Paperwhite looks like paper, but has a back light for when I am in darker spaces. I am able to download books from Amazon instantly as well as get books from my library delivered. In the end, it has saved me a ton of money as I am on several discount e-book newsletters and I can check out many books from the library no matter where I am. My only complaint is that the touch screen has a bit of lag time, but otherwise it is fantastic.