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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2097 KP) rated Consigned to Death (Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Josie's new antique auction house in New Hampshire is beginning to take off, but then a potential wealthy client is found murdered and Josie is a suspect. The plot and characters were good, but the ending was weaker than it should have been.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-consigned-to-death-by-jane.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-consigned-to-death-by-jane.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mothergamer (1521 KP) rated A Christmas Story (1983) in Movies
Dec 9, 2021
I remember watching this movie with my grandparents when I was a kid. We all enjoyed it and laughed so much at things like the leg lamp, Ralphie saying the big bomb swear word, and so much more. It's become a tradition in our house to watch it every Christmas season because it's funny and full of heart as well. It's a wonderful classic.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Old Haunts: A Simon Serrailler Short Story in Books
Oct 21, 2018
A very short story of a flashback to a point in time when the main character Simon Serrailler reminisces about his first foray into undercover work. It also includes an extract from the newest full length book The Comforts of Home.
Although it's just enough to wet your appetite, it's not enough to really get your teeth into but I would definitely recommend you read the full length stories and use this as an added extra.
Thank you to the publisher, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Although it's just enough to wet your appetite, it's not enough to really get your teeth into but I would definitely recommend you read the full length stories and use this as an added extra.
Thank you to the publisher, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Uptown Oracle (24 KP) rated The House of Mountfathom in Books
Jun 30, 2017
Family, Adventure and Magic
Family, adventure and magic. A perfect combination for this middle grade book. The House of Mountfathom is set in Ireland during times of unrest. The Driochta, always peacekeepers, must choose a side to survive.
My favourite aspect was how alive the house felt as it was so full of magic. The House of Mountfathom seemed like another member of the family almost like it had a mind of it's own. There was so much time given to explaining the house, magic and family though, that it reduced the actual plot to the second half of the book.
The House of Mountfathom has a strong focus on family. The Mountfathom family are the protagonists of the book. The Order of Driochta are another kind of family. There's no romance subplot which was a big plus point for me.
Another thing was that the house was in Ireland. I cant think off the top of my head another book I've read based in Ireland. The introduction of both historical aspects and folklore was great. There's also a distinct discussion about class systems. The 'big houses' aka the upper class in Ireland are in trouble, including the Mountfathom house, even though they're trying to keep the peace.
A problem I had was the format seemed odd, I assume it would be best in a printed book. My kindle seemed to push everything together and it was difficult to discern between chapters. The illustrations would have also worked much better within a book. Since this was an e-ARC though, I wouldn't take that into account.
Another problem is the book doesn't seem quite finished. Understandable as Nigel McDowell passed away in February. Although the ambiguous ending does give something towards the mysterious aspect of the book as a whole.
I really enjoyed how McDowell described the hows of magic. The first part of the book follows Luke as he grows up and learns magic. The five principles are distinct in how Luke learns them. I would compare The House of Mountfathom to Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman's Coraline. It was a bit dark and creepy in places. Full of intrigue and magic.
My favourite aspect was how alive the house felt as it was so full of magic. The House of Mountfathom seemed like another member of the family almost like it had a mind of it's own. There was so much time given to explaining the house, magic and family though, that it reduced the actual plot to the second half of the book.
The House of Mountfathom has a strong focus on family. The Mountfathom family are the protagonists of the book. The Order of Driochta are another kind of family. There's no romance subplot which was a big plus point for me.
Another thing was that the house was in Ireland. I cant think off the top of my head another book I've read based in Ireland. The introduction of both historical aspects and folklore was great. There's also a distinct discussion about class systems. The 'big houses' aka the upper class in Ireland are in trouble, including the Mountfathom house, even though they're trying to keep the peace.
A problem I had was the format seemed odd, I assume it would be best in a printed book. My kindle seemed to push everything together and it was difficult to discern between chapters. The illustrations would have also worked much better within a book. Since this was an e-ARC though, I wouldn't take that into account.
Another problem is the book doesn't seem quite finished. Understandable as Nigel McDowell passed away in February. Although the ambiguous ending does give something towards the mysterious aspect of the book as a whole.
I really enjoyed how McDowell described the hows of magic. The first part of the book follows Luke as he grows up and learns magic. The five principles are distinct in how Luke learns them. I would compare The House of Mountfathom to Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman's Coraline. It was a bit dark and creepy in places. Full of intrigue and magic.
BookCritics (259 KP) rated There's Someone In Your House in Books
Sep 13, 2017
I was expecting so much more from this, and especially a side step from the romance. In all honesty, I was skimming through the many make out sessions just to get to the next killing and even they didn’t really leave me freaked out
Critic- Heart Full Of Books
Original Score: 2 out of 5
Read Review: https://heartfullofbooks.com/2017/07/20/review-theres-someone-inside-your-house-by-stephanie-perkins/
Original Score: 2 out of 5
Read Review: https://heartfullofbooks.com/2017/07/20/review-theres-someone-inside-your-house-by-stephanie-perkins/
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Great House in Books
Oct 5, 2020
This is a very complicated story to tell, as well as an ambitious one, as this story spans easily 80 years. Nicole Krauss never seems to worry about that and from the outset, tackling each story and stage of the journey as if it was the only one she was telling. You can read my full review here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/02/01/a-great-book-for-your-house/
After getting a phone message from their mother warning that a spy is after them, Nick and Tesla find their uncle's house full of suspects. Who is the spy?
Another fun book filled with a great mystery, good characters, and a few laughs. The target middle grade audience will love it and enjoy building their own spy camera, code wheel, and more after they've found out who the spy is.
NOTE: I received this book via Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-secret.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Another fun book filled with a great mystery, good characters, and a few laughs. The target middle grade audience will love it and enjoy building their own spy camera, code wheel, and more after they've found out who the spy is.
NOTE: I received this book via Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-secret.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2097 KP) rated The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Grace family has moved into the house of a distant relative. The first night, the kids hear a noise in the walls. The next day, they find an old manuscript. Might it explain what is happening? It's an important first step in this series of interconnected novellas, but just being set up weakens it some.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-field-guide-spiderwick.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-field-guide-spiderwick.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2097 KP) rated Arsenic and Old Puzzles (Puzzle Lady #14) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cora Felton has found herself involved in another murder when a Sudoku shows up on the body of a man poisoned at a boarding house in town. It's the usual verbal sparring and puzzles fans of the series will love. I was just bothered by one action Cora took part way through the book.
<a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-arsenic-and-old-puzzles-by.html">My full review at Carstairs Considers</a>.
<a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-arsenic-and-old-puzzles-by.html">My full review at Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Beast House (The Beast House Chronicles #2) in Books
Jan 26, 2021
16 of 250
Book
The Beast House ( Beast House chronicles book 2)
By Richard Laymon
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Author Gorman Hardy is hot on the trail of another bestseller and if half what's said about Malcasa Point is true, he's bound to make a killing. Petite and pretty Tyler and sexy Nora visit Malcasa full of expectation. But Malcasa Point is a place of pain, bestiality and death in The Beast House.
Well I have to say it’s 100% better than The Cellar! I can see from other reviews a lot of people agree on it. I found myself enjoying this. It was a classic horror in my opinion and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of classic. I enjoyed the captains story on Bobo it was very King Kong based except this was a rampant rabbit monster gone wild! A bit of cheese to keep a girl who loves horror happy.
Book
The Beast House ( Beast House chronicles book 2)
By Richard Laymon
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Author Gorman Hardy is hot on the trail of another bestseller and if half what's said about Malcasa Point is true, he's bound to make a killing. Petite and pretty Tyler and sexy Nora visit Malcasa full of expectation. But Malcasa Point is a place of pain, bestiality and death in The Beast House.
Well I have to say it’s 100% better than The Cellar! I can see from other reviews a lot of people agree on it. I found myself enjoying this. It was a classic horror in my opinion and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of classic. I enjoyed the captains story on Bobo it was very King Kong based except this was a rampant rabbit monster gone wild! A bit of cheese to keep a girl who loves horror happy.