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Christine Allard (22 KP) rated The Secret History in Books
Jan 26, 2018
Coming of age, why dunnit, college, and flawed characters
Contains spoilers, click to show
This book has been one of my all-time favorites for years, and one of the few I re-read about every year or two.
A clique of "gifted misfits" find one another and form a clique at a liberal arts school (think Middlebury) on the East Coast. One is dead very early on. The rest of the book unfolds with. their incredibly intertwined, co-dependant, and complex relationships as you slowly learn what happened, why it did, and what's going to go down after.
A clique of "gifted misfits" find one another and form a clique at a liberal arts school (think Middlebury) on the East Coast. One is dead very early on. The rest of the book unfolds with. their incredibly intertwined, co-dependant, and complex relationships as you slowly learn what happened, why it did, and what's going to go down after.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2613 KP) rated Masking for Trouble (Costume Shop Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In a town that loves costume parties, Halloween is a huge deal, which means things are very busy for Margo Tamblyn in her family’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit. However, this year things are looking grim thanks to Paul Haverford, who has grand designs for the city, plans that include closing down small shops like Disguise DeLimit. However, when Margo finds Paul’s body at the opening party, she finds herself as the prime suspect. Can she find the killer and clear her name?
I loved the first book in this series because the characters are so wonderful. It was great to see them again and watch their relationships grow and change. The plot was fun and unique, and I enjoyed that as well. Plus the book made great use of the Halloween time frame.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-masking-for-trouble-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I loved the first book in this series because the characters are so wonderful. It was great to see them again and watch their relationships grow and change. The plot was fun and unique, and I enjoyed that as well. Plus the book made great use of the Halloween time frame.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-masking-for-trouble-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
On the day Winnie Johnson has to close her bakery due to a huge rent increase, she inherits an antique ambulance. She decides to use it to reopen her bakery as a mobile business, rushing her desserts to those in need. But when her neighbor is murdered, it puts a definite damper on her plans. Who would kill an elderly man?
The mystery aspect takes a back seat at times to getting the new business up and running, but I find the concept of this business absolutely brilliant. I’m wondering why no one hasn’t tried this in real life. The mystery does reach a logical conclusion that wraps things up. The characters are strong, and I’m looking forward to seeing where relationships go in future books. Rush out and get this debut.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-eclair-and-present-danger.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The mystery aspect takes a back seat at times to getting the new business up and running, but I find the concept of this business absolutely brilliant. I’m wondering why no one hasn’t tried this in real life. The mystery does reach a logical conclusion that wraps things up. The characters are strong, and I’m looking forward to seeing where relationships go in future books. Rush out and get this debut.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-eclair-and-present-danger.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2613 KP) rated A Churn for the Worse (An Amish Mystery, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The peaceful summer in Heavenly, Pennsylvania, is ruined when one of the Amish farmers is murdered. Was he targeted because he is Amish? Or was it part of a string of burglaries hitting that part of town? Claire and Jakob will have to work together to find out.
Once again, we are transported to the town of Heavenly and get to spend time with characters we have come to love. The growth in the characters and their relationships we see here is absolutely amazing. The mystery is good as well. I thought I had it figured out, but I only had a small portion of it figured out. If you like this series, you’ll love this book. And if you have yet to start this series, fix that today.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-churn-for-worse-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Once again, we are transported to the town of Heavenly and get to spend time with characters we have come to love. The growth in the characters and their relationships we see here is absolutely amazing. The mystery is good as well. I thought I had it figured out, but I only had a small portion of it figured out. If you like this series, you’ll love this book. And if you have yet to start this series, fix that today.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-churn-for-worse-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The town of Frog’s Ledge, Connecticut, is celebrating the start of the holiday season with their big tree lighting, and Stan is doubly excited since her new pet patisserie is opening the next day. However, things take an unexpected turn when Santa dies on his way to light the tree. Meanwhile, two other men are missing. Is there a connection?
I was hooked from the start with this book. Even though I figured out one thread early on, I still wanted to know how it was all going to play out. I did feel the climax was rushed, but that is my only complaint about this book. I love these characters and the relationships that have grown over the course of the series, and getting to spend time with them helped add to the Christmas spirit in this book for me.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-purring-around-christmas.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was hooked from the start with this book. Even though I figured out one thread early on, I still wanted to know how it was all going to play out. I did feel the climax was rushed, but that is my only complaint about this book. I love these characters and the relationships that have grown over the course of the series, and getting to spend time with them helped add to the Christmas spirit in this book for me.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-purring-around-christmas.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2613 KP) rated Scam Chowder (A Five-Ingredient Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Val Deniston’s grandfather is hosting a dinner party with a secret agenda. He’s hoping to confront Scott, a man who scams retirees out of their savings. However, before the confrontation can take place, Scott gets sick and leaves. The next day he is dead from poison. With the other dinner guests as suspects, Val must figure out what happened before the police arrest her grandfather.
The mystery in this book is very strong. I thought I could discount some of the suspects early on, but by the end, I felt they all could have done it. Yet, when the killer was revealed, it made perfect sense with clues pointing to his or her identity. I do wish that Val’s grandfather wasn’t so harsh to her, but the rest of the characters and their relationships are strong, and I’m anxious to see what happens to them next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-scam-chowder-by-maya.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The mystery in this book is very strong. I thought I could discount some of the suspects early on, but by the end, I felt they all could have done it. Yet, when the killer was revealed, it made perfect sense with clues pointing to his or her identity. I do wish that Val’s grandfather wasn’t so harsh to her, but the rest of the characters and their relationships are strong, and I’m anxious to see what happens to them next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-scam-chowder-by-maya.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2613 KP) rated Death of A Bad Apple (A Food Festival Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Darcy, Aunt Abby, and the rest of the crew head up to Apple Valley for the annual apple festival. However, when they arrive, they find themselves in a not so festive atmosphere when a fire breaks out down the road from the B&B where they are staying and a fellow guest is murdered. What have they gotten themselves into?
Despite the change of location from San Francisco (the setting for the first two books in this series), all the regular characters are still present, which is a great thing since I love them all so much. Nothing about that has changed here, and I enjoyed watching their relationships continue to grow. The plot is great and kept me guessing until the end when everything came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-death-of-bad-apple-by-penny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Despite the change of location from San Francisco (the setting for the first two books in this series), all the regular characters are still present, which is a great thing since I love them all so much. Nothing about that has changed here, and I enjoyed watching their relationships continue to grow. The plot is great and kept me guessing until the end when everything came together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-death-of-bad-apple-by-penny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1812 KP) rated Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street, #6) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
My thought were sweet. I really enjoyed this book. I love how it ends and I am really glad for what happens to some of the woman in the book. You get see how the friendship develop and Relationships are tested though out the book. How friends can help and see the understanding. You get to see how part of the adoption take place and how thing can be tested with out knowing can happen unexpected. Love can happen though strange whys. Never did I expect what would happen at the end of the book.
The Author did a wonderful job with the character and matching them up but doing in a way that would happen natural to find out how it all happen. It was nice reading about them all and not confuse me while reading it. I will want to read books 1-5 understand completely soon though. I am going to be reading 5 "Twenty Wishes now."
The Author did a wonderful job with the character and matching them up but doing in a way that would happen natural to find out how it all happen. It was nice reading about them all and not confuse me while reading it. I will want to read books 1-5 understand completely soon though. I am going to be reading 5 "Twenty Wishes now."
Awix (3310 KP) rated Joy (2015) in Movies
Mar 17, 2018
It takes a special kind of confidence to ask a movie studio to give you $60 million to make a two-hour-plus movie about mops and the home shopping channel, but David O Russell clearly has it and here is the result. What Fox were doing saying yes is probably less mysterious if you look at Russell's track record and the calibre of the cast he assembled for this movie.
Still, this is probably the most substantial movie ever released which is predominantly concerned with the realities of domestic cleaning and the intricacies of injection-moulded plastic and patent protection law - I suppose there is also a healthy element dealing with the protagonist's family and relationships, and the general hard-work-and-dedication-will-get-you-there-eventually ethos is the kind of thing that makes studios and audiences comfortable. Good performances, obviously; generally very engaging and watchable; educational, too, especially if you have trouble keeping the floor clean.
Still, this is probably the most substantial movie ever released which is predominantly concerned with the realities of domestic cleaning and the intricacies of injection-moulded plastic and patent protection law - I suppose there is also a healthy element dealing with the protagonist's family and relationships, and the general hard-work-and-dedication-will-get-you-there-eventually ethos is the kind of thing that makes studios and audiences comfortable. Good performances, obviously; generally very engaging and watchable; educational, too, especially if you have trouble keeping the floor clean.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Marvel's Jessica Jones - Season 1 in TV
Mar 14, 2018
film noir style (3 more)
amazing character development
strong female characters
perfect casting
She'll kick your ass, steal your wallet and all without spilling her drink
Jessica Jones Season 1 was such an amazing take on the comic books and really just gave me what I've been missing from the Marvel Universe. Krysten Ritter was not someone I would have picked to play Jessica Jones but she took the role by the horns and really just blew me away.
The show has some of the not only best female characters I've come across but has some of the best relationships between female characters which a lot of tv shows and movies miss out on for some reason.
For me though David Tennant was just the one that stole the entire show every time he was on screen he just drew you in and you just could not look away from him.
The show has some of the not only best female characters I've come across but has some of the best relationships between female characters which a lot of tv shows and movies miss out on for some reason.
For me though David Tennant was just the one that stole the entire show every time he was on screen he just drew you in and you just could not look away from him.