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Kicks (Pleasure Seekers, #2)
8.0
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Eddie Channing has never bothered with a career. Yet somehow he’s become the best salesman at...
Contemporary MM Romance Friends with Benefits to Lovers Workplace Romance Family Issues
A Scaly Tail of Murder
7.0
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A new fiancé, an old boyfriend, and a murder that will change everything. Frankie Chandler is...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated A Feast Most Foul in Books
Jun 8, 2024
Murder in a Neighboring Kingdom
Duchess Jacqueline is making her first official trip after becoming ruler of her kingdom. She’s attending a two-week tournament hosted by her grandfather, a duke in a neighboring kingdom. They have a strained relationship (at best), so she isn’t looking forward to it. But the first night, a knight is killed and the evidence points of Jax’s intended. Can she find more evidence to clear his name?
I enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed. We are still in the novellas that started this series, so it is a fast read, but it doesn’t skimp on plot with plenty of twists that kept me engaged. I enjoyed watching the relationships grow for the returning characters, and the new cast are just as engaging. If you haven’t read the first book, be aware there are some hints as to what happened in that book. I also am really enjoying the light fantasy setting of the series. I’m looking forward to catching up with Jax again soon.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed. We are still in the novellas that started this series, so it is a fast read, but it doesn’t skimp on plot with plenty of twists that kept me engaged. I enjoyed watching the relationships grow for the returning characters, and the new cast are just as engaging. If you haven’t read the first book, be aware there are some hints as to what happened in that book. I also am really enjoying the light fantasy setting of the series. I’m looking forward to catching up with Jax again soon.
Ripped (Mars Fitness #1)
10.0
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Sometimes heartache is a blessing in disguise. I thought my life was perfect, and then I walked...
Contemporary MM Romance Series
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff in Books
Aug 27, 2025
Finding Danger at a Pop Up Carnival
Best friends James Lessor and Skip Moore are spending the weekend at a traveling carnival so that James can get a feel for it in his new job as their marketing director. Then the owner asks them to put their new PI license to use finding out who is sabotaging the rides. There have been injuries and one death due to these accidents. Will the two get the help from the carnies they need to solve things?
My love/hate relationship with this series continues. I do like the characters and want to see them succeed. But I also wish they were a little smarter and that Skip would stand up for himself. The mystery was good, but the ending could have been stronger. The suspects were interesting. Do keep in mind that these books aren’t cozies and are just old enough for the technology to be dated. I’m hoping some growth we saw here carries over to further books, but I’ll find out when I get to the next book.
My love/hate relationship with this series continues. I do like the characters and want to see them succeed. But I also wish they were a little smarter and that Skip would stand up for himself. The mystery was good, but the ending could have been stronger. The suspects were interesting. Do keep in mind that these books aren’t cozies and are just old enough for the technology to be dated. I’m hoping some growth we saw here carries over to further books, but I’ll find out when I get to the next book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated A Thief of Time in Books
Apr 16, 2026
Missing Anthropologist
Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is dealing with the loss of his wife. He’s been on leave and plans to retire when his leave is over. But when a colleague invites him along to execute a search warrant in an area Joe knows well, he agrees to go along. Only, when they arrive, they learn the woman they are supposed to serve the warrant on has been missing for two weeks. Meanwhile, Officer Jim Chee is trying to find a piece of heavy equipment that vanished on his watch. The trail leads him to dead bodies. How are these cases connected?
The title of this book caught my attention years ago, so I was glad to finally get to it. I enjoyed the slow yet natural progression of Leaphorn and Chee’s working relationship. I did find Chee’s personal subplot a bit repetitive. The pacing of the plot slowed down a couple of times, but by the time we reached the end, I was completely hooked. Overall, this book makes it easy to see why the author has so many fans.
The title of this book caught my attention years ago, so I was glad to finally get to it. I enjoyed the slow yet natural progression of Leaphorn and Chee’s working relationship. I did find Chee’s personal subplot a bit repetitive. The pacing of the plot slowed down a couple of times, but by the time we reached the end, I was completely hooked. Overall, this book makes it easy to see why the author has so many fans.
Harm Not the Earth
8.0
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When Southwest Pennsylvania's summer rains flood the Casselman River, State Police Trooper Jim...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated Death at Tidal Creek in Books
Mar 18, 2026
Murder is Garbage
Clark Thomas is slowing building a relationship with Andrea, who has just opened a business next door to his bookstore. So when two people are found dead near the garbage bins at Tidal Creek Brewery, near where Andrea lives, Clark takes note, especially when one of the is the president of Andrea’s HOA. But it’s only when Andrea finds herself involved in the HOA that Clark fully gets involved. It turns out the late president was up to some shady business. Is that why he was killed?
As always, this book had great beach vibes. I’m curious how the love triangle storyline is going to get resolved. We did get some good growth in Clark, interesting new characters, and a couple more tantalizing clues to his wife’s murder. The main mystery was good. I figured out a piece early but didn’t have it all put together. The ending was a bit exposition heavy as always, but my questions were answered. If you are looking for a beach vibe mystery, this is the book, and series, for you.
As always, this book had great beach vibes. I’m curious how the love triangle storyline is going to get resolved. We did get some good growth in Clark, interesting new characters, and a couple more tantalizing clues to his wife’s murder. The main mystery was good. I figured out a piece early but didn’t have it all put together. The ending was a bit exposition heavy as always, but my questions were answered. If you are looking for a beach vibe mystery, this is the book, and series, for you.
Merissa (14146 KP) rated Spice (Unhinged Holidays #1) in Books
Oct 8, 2025
SPICE is the first novella in the Unhinged Holidays series, and I can't wait for more!
Willow is a barista, working at The Cauldron, with small magic of her own, or so she thinks. Her life is upended when Ezra walks in for a pumpkin spice latte and realises she is the witch to break his curse. What follows is instalove, hot, spicy, and oh-so-sweet.
It isn't 'just' s3x, though; it's the connection between the two, the romantic lines from the heart, the attention to detail, and the setting. All of it combined is a novella to keep and re-read every October.
I would love for this novella to be expanded into a full-length novel. I want to hear more about Willow's relationship with her grandmother and mother. More about how Ezra was cursed and why. And more about the two (then three) of them together. Basically, I just want more.
Absolutely fantastic and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oct 8, 2025
Willow is a barista, working at The Cauldron, with small magic of her own, or so she thinks. Her life is upended when Ezra walks in for a pumpkin spice latte and realises she is the witch to break his curse. What follows is instalove, hot, spicy, and oh-so-sweet.
It isn't 'just' s3x, though; it's the connection between the two, the romantic lines from the heart, the attention to detail, and the setting. All of it combined is a novella to keep and re-read every October.
I would love for this novella to be expanded into a full-length novel. I want to hear more about Willow's relationship with her grandmother and mother. More about how Ezra was cursed and why. And more about the two (then three) of them together. Basically, I just want more.
Absolutely fantastic and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oct 8, 2025
GustavoCampello (6 KP) rated Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) in Movies
Feb 10, 2022
The film reminded me a lot of the Mexican Leap Year, despite being a more pop version, as its Latin counterpart is rawer, denser and sadder. It doesn't mean that this film doesn't have its moments of rawness, density and sadness, but it is aesthetically more beautiful, it has a certain American film standard. The scenes of Juha trying to hold on to his wife's memories are very sad. The actors make the movie work, the duo, as strange as it may seem, managed to forge a nice chemistry. There is a lot that was left open and that could be better worked on in countless points, Juha's relationship with her daughter is just one of them. The ending left me with mixed feelings, but I got into the mood. The film only gets lost when it tries to emulate some points of Hollywood cinema, otherwise it made a good film. Krista Kosonen steals the scenes in which she appears, an actress who deserves much more than being an extra in Blade Runner.