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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2593 KP) rated Brie Careful What You Wish For in Books
Apr 10, 2024
Murder of a Bad Customer
Business is booming at Carly Hale’s grilled cheese restaurant this summer, thanks in part to Ross Baxter’s new cash delivery service. He’s saving money for college this fall by delivering orders to seniors. One, however, is giving him problems with her constant demands and complaints. But when Ross discovers her dead body one day, the police think he could be the killer. Can Carly clear him?
I’d fallen in love with this series, so I was happy to be back for book four. With the victim being difficult, we had plenty of suspects, although we soon focused in on a smaller group. They did their job well confusing me. I had a few pieces figured out, but most of it was still confusing to me until I reached the end, when things made sense. I appreciated other characters warning Carly about the danger of getting involved at first, but it felt a bit one note as the story went on. Still, that’s a minor complaint. All the series regulars have key parts in the story, and I loved getting updates on their lives. The two gourmet grilled cheese recipes at the end sound delicious. Fans will find themselves wishing for another book when they set this one down.
I’d fallen in love with this series, so I was happy to be back for book four. With the victim being difficult, we had plenty of suspects, although we soon focused in on a smaller group. They did their job well confusing me. I had a few pieces figured out, but most of it was still confusing to me until I reached the end, when things made sense. I appreciated other characters warning Carly about the danger of getting involved at first, but it felt a bit one note as the story went on. Still, that’s a minor complaint. All the series regulars have key parts in the story, and I loved getting updates on their lives. The two gourmet grilled cheese recipes at the end sound delicious. Fans will find themselves wishing for another book when they set this one down.
Firefax
Book
"I would advise you, young man, to take care around anyone with the surname Firefax. I know not if...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2593 KP) rated Villains’ Realm in Books
Jun 6, 2024 (Updated Jun 6, 2024)
Enchantment Creating New Lands
Disney’s CEO has completely changed his mind about opening a Villains’ Realm in each park. The man was opposing it because it was a clear threat, giving the villains a foothold. But now, he’s greenlit them, and constructions has started immediately. In order to stop them from being completed, Eli and his friend Blair are going to have to team up with Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Can they stop it in time?
If you haven’t been following this saga, you’ll probably be lost trying to follow what is happening. Fans will want to read this book since it sets up the next book. Unfortunately, it falls into middle book trap. We don’t get any real battles with the villains, just stand offs. The climax is abrupt and the story just kind of stops. As usual in the series, the characters are thin as well. Plus some editing left me confused a couple of times. On the positive side, it’s always fun to watch the Kingdom Keepers interacting with Disney characters, and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the action taking place at the California parks. I’m curious to see where things are going, so I’ll be back for the conclusion.
If you haven’t been following this saga, you’ll probably be lost trying to follow what is happening. Fans will want to read this book since it sets up the next book. Unfortunately, it falls into middle book trap. We don’t get any real battles with the villains, just stand offs. The climax is abrupt and the story just kind of stops. As usual in the series, the characters are thin as well. Plus some editing left me confused a couple of times. On the positive side, it’s always fun to watch the Kingdom Keepers interacting with Disney characters, and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the action taking place at the California parks. I’m curious to see where things are going, so I’ll be back for the conclusion.
ClareR (6253 KP) rated Love Forms in Books
Mar 8, 2026
Love Forms was an enjoyable read - I liked it. It looks at the complex feelings Dawn has in the search for her daughter that she gave cup at birth. She now has two adult sons who are aware of their older sister, but Dawn still feels as though something, or someone, is missing.
She seems to have given up many things in her life all for the benefit of others. Giving up her daughter was to stop the scandal for her family; she gave up her career for the benefit of her marriage (it didn’t work) and her children. Being a doctor at the time was incompatible with motherhood for her.
This is a very melancholic read: Dawn appears to be lonely now her children have grown up and moved away. Her time is taken up with thoughts of her past, missed opportunities, and the search for her daughter. She has had failed attempts to find her daughter, and it sounds as though there were financial repercussions as well. There’s no mention of friends, as far as I can remember, just one male friend with benefits.
Should this have been on the Booker long list 2025 and now on the Women’s Prize long list? Why not, it’s an enjoyable, if rather sombre read.
She seems to have given up many things in her life all for the benefit of others. Giving up her daughter was to stop the scandal for her family; she gave up her career for the benefit of her marriage (it didn’t work) and her children. Being a doctor at the time was incompatible with motherhood for her.
This is a very melancholic read: Dawn appears to be lonely now her children have grown up and moved away. Her time is taken up with thoughts of her past, missed opportunities, and the search for her daughter. She has had failed attempts to find her daughter, and it sounds as though there were financial repercussions as well. There’s no mention of friends, as far as I can remember, just one male friend with benefits.
Should this have been on the Booker long list 2025 and now on the Women’s Prize long list? Why not, it’s an enjoyable, if rather sombre read.
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Lightkeepers (Tales of the Five Realms #3) in Books
Jan 28, 2025
LIGHTKEEPERS is the third book in the Tales of the Five Realms series, and I would definitely say you need to read the other two first.
Hagar has returned to school but Jude hasn't. She is still in the Lightkeepers and wants to concentrate on her studies. Things don't work out that way for her. Ortense and Rollow are the main focus of this book and they both have their own issues and plots to deal with.
I don't know if it's the gap in books (it was 2022 when I read book 2) or just me, but I struggled with this one. I started it three different times before I decided to push through. The world is just as intricate as before but it didn't grip me this time. As for Rollo and Ortense, I found that I just didn't care.
If you have read the other two, then I definitely recommend you giving this one a go and decide for yourself.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2025
Hagar has returned to school but Jude hasn't. She is still in the Lightkeepers and wants to concentrate on her studies. Things don't work out that way for her. Ortense and Rollow are the main focus of this book and they both have their own issues and plots to deal with.
I don't know if it's the gap in books (it was 2022 when I read book 2) or just me, but I struggled with this one. I started it three different times before I decided to push through. The world is just as intricate as before but it didn't grip me this time. As for Rollo and Ortense, I found that I just didn't care.
If you have read the other two, then I definitely recommend you giving this one a go and decide for yourself.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2025
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Rough Harmony (Rough Harmony #0.5) in Books
Mar 16, 2026
ROUGH HARMONY is a prequel novella to a series of the same name. It's about an all-male, all-queer, leather-bound, a capella group that is the brainchild of Max and Theo.
You don't get much, but what you do get is enough to intrigue and draw you in, giving enough information on each singer to leave you wanting more. Each man is broken in their own way, searching for something to help them be.
Each chapter is either Max, Theo, or one of the new guys. It is hard not to find it at least a little repetitive when each one has to audition, but it's also hard to avoid. I found it hard to remember names, attitudes, and the little bit of backstory that we did get, but I know with a full-length novel, it will be easier.
A great prequel that has whetted my appetite, and I can't wait for more. A quick but intriguing read that I definitely recommend.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 16, 2026
You don't get much, but what you do get is enough to intrigue and draw you in, giving enough information on each singer to leave you wanting more. Each man is broken in their own way, searching for something to help them be.
Each chapter is either Max, Theo, or one of the new guys. It is hard not to find it at least a little repetitive when each one has to audition, but it's also hard to avoid. I found it hard to remember names, attitudes, and the little bit of backstory that we did get, but I know with a full-length novel, it will be easier.
A great prequel that has whetted my appetite, and I can't wait for more. A quick but intriguing read that I definitely recommend.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 16, 2026
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Batman (2022) in Movies
Mar 19, 2022
Visual effects (2 more)
Cast
Storyline
I was hesitant at first with this being the first reboot with Robert Pattinson as Batman. But I was pleasantly surprised, he played a darker and more brooding version of Batman than previous actors. While I loved the Christopher Nolan trilogy, this may be up there with them.
Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman was a good interpretation and as independent as you would want her to be. Also I knew that Colin Farrell was playing Penguin, but if I hadn’t have already known, I definitely wouldn’t have guessed!
The Riddler was much more insane than I could ever have imagined, and I think Paul Dano played him perfectly. I enjoyed watching his riddles unfold and him thinking his relationship with Batman was so much more than it was.
I loved how they changed well know places in Liverpool into the backdrop of Gotham, and once they were done with the editing if you weren’t as familiar with them you probably would have thought they were made for Gotham.
The only thing that stopped me from giving this 10/10 was the length of the film, it was extremely long but it did keep my attention for the entirety. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone!
Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman was a good interpretation and as independent as you would want her to be. Also I knew that Colin Farrell was playing Penguin, but if I hadn’t have already known, I definitely wouldn’t have guessed!
The Riddler was much more insane than I could ever have imagined, and I think Paul Dano played him perfectly. I enjoyed watching his riddles unfold and him thinking his relationship with Batman was so much more than it was.
I loved how they changed well know places in Liverpool into the backdrop of Gotham, and once they were done with the editing if you weren’t as familiar with them you probably would have thought they were made for Gotham.
The only thing that stopped me from giving this 10/10 was the length of the film, it was extremely long but it did keep my attention for the entirety. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone!
Santa Claus Worldwide
6.0
Rate It
Book
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme...
Christmas Holiday Santa Claus Christian Nonfiction History
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Victoria & Violet (Royal Maids #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2022
VICTORIA & VIOLET is the first book in the Royal Maids series and what a start this is! We see Victoria in her early years, a free-spirited and strong-willed young lady. We also meet Violet, a maid in the queen's service and firmly under the thumb of her social-climbing, manipulative, abusive mother. When Violet starts her service to Victoria though, she becomes her own person - through trials and errors.
This novel is perfectly paced and full of amazing characters, brought to life by Ms. Brimble's writing style. The story is genteel, full of hope and love, and yet simultaneously shows how hard life can be in certain situations and circumstances.
Each of the characters is interesting and intriguing in their own ways - whether you like them or not! I loved the epilogue giving us an insight into how their lives are turning out, and I can't wait to read more in this series.
An excellent start and highly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This novel is perfectly paced and full of amazing characters, brought to life by Ms. Brimble's writing style. The story is genteel, full of hope and love, and yet simultaneously shows how hard life can be in certain situations and circumstances.
Each of the characters is interesting and intriguing in their own ways - whether you like them or not! I loved the epilogue giving us an insight into how their lives are turning out, and I can't wait to read more in this series.
An excellent start and highly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Heart Fire (Under Violet Suns #1)
8.0
Rate It
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*The planet Falosia has an excess of females. The planet Verit has a surplus of males. The best of...
Adult Science Fiction Romance