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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated On Borrowed Time in Books

Dec 15, 2019

On Borrowed Time

Jenn McKinlay | 2014 | Mystery

9.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Can Lindsey Find Her Brother Before Time Runs Out?

Lindsey Norris is getting ready for the weekly Crafternoon meeting, but she finds a surprise guest hiding out in their usual meeting room – her brother Jack. She wasn’t expecting to see him for a few more weeks when her entire family arrived for Christmas. He begs her to keep his presence a secret and promises to explain everything after a nap. Lindsey returns after the meeting, but instead of her brother, she finds a dead body on the floor. Who is the dead man? Where is her brother? And how much danger is he in?

I originally picked up this book thinking I’d get a Christmas themed cozy. It was quickly obvious that wasn’t going to be the case, but that is hardly a complaint at all. The story was so strong I didn’t want anything slowing it down. It kept my attention the entire time, from the fast-paced opening until it reached the action-packed climax. The love triangle is still going strongly here, although it seems obvious to me which way Lindsey is leaning. It doesn’t take over from the main mystery, and it provides some fun humor along the way. One of the guys gets some nice character development. All the regulars are here and very strong. The new characters don’t get a whole lot of page time, but they do come alive with what little page time they do have. This is a great book that will please fans of the series.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Second to Nun in Books

Apr 20, 2020

Second to Nun

Alice Loweecey | 2015 | Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Mystery of the Haunted Bed and Breakfast

Former nun turned PI Giulia Driscoll’s newest client is MacAllister Stone, aka Mac. Mac runs a bed and breakfast in her family’s old non-working lighthouse. Lately, something sinister seems to be at work at the bed and breakfast with possible ties to the legend of a family ghost. Giulia and her husband, Frank, go undercover as guests. But this job is turning out to be rougher than it sounds as the strange events seem to be increasing in frequency. Before Giulia finds the culprit, she will have to determine if she is looking for a ghost or a flesh and blood villain.

Giulia spends the first few chapters wrapping up her current cases before heading to the bed and breakfast, so the main mystery gets off to a slow start. Once it does begin, we are treated to plenty of mysterious events until Giulia brings it to a logical and satisfying conclusion. The characters are wonderful. The new cast grow as the book progresses, but I love spending time with the regulars. They’re one reason why the opening chapters were still so much fun. These characters have such great chemistry with each other, including teasing each other, and that humor kept me smiling if not laughing throughout the book. The book does have a smattering of foul language, certainly more than the cozies I normally read, but that is worth noting only in passing. If you are looking for a delightful getaway, this is the book to pick up.