Search
Search results
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Oliver and the Seawigs in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Oliver's parents are retiring from exploring, and Oliver is looking forward to living a life in one location and making friends. However, they haven't even spent one night in their new home when his parents set off to explore some islands before they and the islands disappear.
This is a transitional book from easy readers to chapter books, and it's a lot of fun. The illustrations are great, the story is fast moving, and the characters are fun and creative. In other words, it's perfect for the target 2-5 grade audience.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-oliver-and-seawigs-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a transitional book from easy readers to chapter books, and it's a lot of fun. The illustrations are great, the story is fast moving, and the characters are fun and creative. In other words, it's perfect for the target 2-5 grade audience.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-oliver-and-seawigs-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated I Even Funnier (I Funny, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
As Jamie Grimm prepares for the regionals in the Planet's Funniest Kid Contest, he must continue to deal with typical middle school problems like figuring out girls and relationships, his friend's problems, and tutoring his cousin who also happens to be the class bully.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, possibly because I saw the more slice of life nature of the book. Some stories start and end early while others for running threads that last longer. Holding it all together is the comic contest. The fun illustrations help make this book a very fast read.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-i-even-funnier-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, possibly because I saw the more slice of life nature of the book. Some stories start and end early while others for running threads that last longer. Holding it all together is the comic contest. The fun illustrations help make this book a very fast read.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-i-even-funnier-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated The Clockwork Teddy: A Bear Collector's Mystery in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Brad and Ashleigh Lyon are in California for a teddy bear show when Brad witnesses a robbery. That night, he's visiting with his old police buddies when he goes to the scene of a homicide. The catch is, Brad finds evidence linking the two events. And how does the robotic teddy bear found at the scene fit in? I love spending time with this duo, and this book was no exception. I did figure part of the story out before the characters, but I really didn't mind. And the climax had me turning pages as fast as I could.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-clockwork-teddy-by-john-j.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-clockwork-teddy-by-john-j.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Puzzled Indemnity (Puzzle Lady #16) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Becky’s latest client is worried that her husband is having an affair and plotting to kill her, so Becky hires Cora to learn if the client has reason to be worried. When Cora confirms the affair, the client hesitates long enough for things to really explode.
Series fans will love this latest case for Cora and company. The banter and word play is present, but it advances a story that has some nice twists and surprises. The characters could be better developed, but that’s long been an issue with the series. It’s a fun fast read, and that’s exactly what it sets out to be.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-puzzled-indemnity-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Series fans will love this latest case for Cora and company. The banter and word play is present, but it advances a story that has some nice twists and surprises. The characters could be better developed, but that’s long been an issue with the series. It’s a fun fast read, and that’s exactly what it sets out to be.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-puzzled-indemnity-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Heathere' (25 KP) rated The Fox and the Hound (1981) in Movies
Mar 21, 2018
If you've never seen this movie, do it now
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is one of my favorite Disney movies and I still remember watching it in the theater when I was 7 or 8 years old. I cried then and cry every time I watch it. Tod is a fox who was orphaned and raised by Widow Tweed. Amos Slade is Widow Tweed's neighbor and owner of Copper, a hound dog. Tod and Copper meet up and become fast friends, unaware that they are meant to be enemies. There is great music, a great story and a wonderful message about friendship. Best of all, it doesn't focus on beautiful princesses looking for a hero.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Siege and Storm in Books
Feb 19, 2018
This continuation of the story started in Shadow and Bone has Alina running from the Darkling, the Apparat, and at times even trying to run from her own power and the person she is becoming. I thought the author did a good job keeping the dynamics between the characters from getting stale while still keeping them believable. Whenever there is a romance (especially, it seems, in YA), there has to be some type of conflict to keep it interesting if it is going to span a series. Here there is conflict both within Alina’s inner circle and from without, which keeps it interesting and keeps the story flying along at a fast pace. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Hide & Snoop (An Odelia Grey mystery, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
After a merger at her law firm, Odelia finds herself with a new boss who seems to have it in for her. While trying to get her job from rival paralegal Mark Baker, Odelia gets saddled with her new boss' niece. But searching for the little girl's parents start turning up dead bodies, and Odelia suddenly finds herself in way over her head. I love this series (hence the reason I got my name in this book), and this was another great mix of humor, strong characters, and fast moving plot. If you don't read this series, fix that today.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-hide-and-snoop-by-sue-ann.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-hide-and-snoop-by-sue-ann.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Wardy7836 (0 KP) rated A Kiss of Shadows (Merry Gentry, #1) in Books
Jun 23, 2018
Great Introduction
I think Laurell K Hamilton is a marmite author you either love her or books or you dont. I am a hughe Anita Blake fan and was worried and this world would not live up to my expectations and it did. There are a number of uncomfortable scenes so if you a squeamish Maybe give it a miss. Overall I fell in love with characters and their world and can’t wait to start the next in the series
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Mafia Captive in Books
Jul 12, 2018
Okay, so this is one of those guilty pleasure books that will keep you entertained and a little embarrassed that you are entertained.
Things I liked about the book: The psychology behind the main characters, the use of conditioning, and how fast of a read it was.
Things I didn't like about the book: Sexual Assault, Stockholm Syndrome, and the stupidity of the characters.
The book has a different kind of plot and it is very dark compared to other novels that I have read. The main character is kidnapped, held hostage, forced into sexual experiences. This book frustrated me in the fact that BDSM does NOT equal abuse, or rape. Safe, Sane, and Consensual are the three things that don't really make an appearance.
Things I liked about the book: The psychology behind the main characters, the use of conditioning, and how fast of a read it was.
Things I didn't like about the book: Sexual Assault, Stockholm Syndrome, and the stupidity of the characters.
The book has a different kind of plot and it is very dark compared to other novels that I have read. The main character is kidnapped, held hostage, forced into sexual experiences. This book frustrated me in the fact that BDSM does NOT equal abuse, or rape. Safe, Sane, and Consensual are the three things that don't really make an appearance.
ashezbookz (32 KP) rated Night of the Living Dummy (Goosebumps, #7) in Books
Jul 5, 2018
That was fast... I remember being terrified of this book when I read it as a kid lol reading it as an adult sure changes perspective on a book.
I read it like I was watching a Goosebumps show - same vibe and everything I could picture it all playing out in my head, it was very different reading it like that. It was still creepy in a way, it was very fun nostalgia wise to read it. It was super quick and fun. Not at all scary like it was when I was a child reading it for the firs time and hiding it from view so I wouldn't have to look at the dummy face every time I looked at my book shelf.
I read it like I was watching a Goosebumps show - same vibe and everything I could picture it all playing out in my head, it was very different reading it like that. It was still creepy in a way, it was very fun nostalgia wise to read it. It was super quick and fun. Not at all scary like it was when I was a child reading it for the firs time and hiding it from view so I wouldn't have to look at the dummy face every time I looked at my book shelf.