Search

Search only in certain items:

A Dish to Die for
A Dish to Die for
Lucy Burdette | 2022 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder on a Neighboring Key
Even when you live in paradise, you need a break. That’s why Hayley Snow is taking a few hours with her friend Eric and their dogs and heading to a beach on one of the nearby islands. However, the day takes a sad turn when Hayley’s dog finds a dead body half buried in the sand. The man was G.G. Garcia, a Key West developer who had a bad reputation. The local police think there is something suspicious about his death, and Hayley gets pulled into the investigation. Will she figure out what really happened?

I’ve fallen in love with Key West thanks to this series, and I was happy to be back. Sadly, the mystery was very weak. Even the characters got frustrated by their lack of progress throughout the book. Plus, the victim was a little too evil, with a few things that felt thrown in just to make other characters feel virtuous. The book gets a little dark and edgy for a cozy as well. Finally, there’s a subplot that comes across as half-baked, the characters involved definitely deserved better. On the other hand, I really did enjoy the location and the series regulars. Nathan, Hayley’s husband, gets some good development thanks to a visit from his estranged father. If you are new to the series, this isn’t the book for you, but fans will enjoy catching up with the characters.
  
Hayley Snow has gotten roped into being a judge on a search for the top chef of Key West. However, when one of the judges is murdered after the first round, she begins to wonder if she’s in danger. Is someone determined enough to win to make sure the judges will vote for them?

The reality competition actually slows the plot down a little at times, but I still enjoyed this book. The very colorful assortment of characters kept me entertained, and I loved getting to see more of Hayley’s housemate, Miss Gloria.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-topped-chef-by-lucy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Christopher Robin (2018)
Christopher Robin (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
I'm probably very bias when it comes to this movie, because I am a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan, so I probably would have liked it no matter what. Basically, this movie was very much like Hook, only with Pooh bear.
I actually really liked the renders of Pooh and his friends, and how they looked more like the original drawings by Ernest Shepherd, rather than the Disney-fied version. Disney did not decide to go with modeling Christopher Robin on A.A. Milne's son, which, I was kind of ok with.
I thought all of the actors did a really good job. I'm a huge Hayley Atwell fan, and I was sad that she didn't get more screen time. Ewan MacGregor did very well, and his interactions with Pooh and his friends were pitch-perfect.