A Novel Disguise
9.0
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When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she...
Merissa (13958 KP) rated Escape the Choice (The Choice Series #1) in Books
Mar 2, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)
Ali is friends with bad boy Oliver and sees a side of him no one else seems to. He doesn't like it when she speaks with her other male friend, Noah. The feeling is mutual, and Ali feels stuck in the middle. When her other friends give her food for thought, it helps bring matters to a head.
This was a well-written story that I thoroughly enjoyed but wanted more from. When I say I wanted more, I simply mean I would have been happy to sit reading a full-length novel. I was invested to see whether Oliver was misunderstood or playing with Ali, and I won't say which it is! Regardless, his behaviour, Noah's, Ali's, feelings all around - it's all here.
Thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely recommended by me, this is a fantastic debut by this author, and I look forward to reading more.
** 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!
Mar 2, 2022
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2542 KP) rated Malibu Burning in Books
May 4, 2024 (Updated May 4, 2024)
If you need to read a book that takes place in chronological order, this isn’t the book for you since the book jumps back pretty often in the first two thirds to show us how the criminals came together and set up their plan. These jumps are always easy to follow, although I do think there is a small timeline glitch at one point. The final third takes place in the same day and it is hot page turning action. One aspect of the climax didn’t sit well with me, but I think that’s more about me. Walker and Sharpe can be a bit cliché, but they become more developed as the book proceeds. As usual for this author, some of his humor doesn’t work for me, and this isn’t one of my cozies, so keep that in mind when you pick it up. Overall, this is a great new series debut from a reliably enjoyable author.
Andreas
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Starting from the ground up, the Galante family has developed fame and fortune as the owners of the...
romance contemporary romancee bookbuzz
The Jig is Up
8.0
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Irish step dance takes a deadly turn in this Celtic cozy series debut, perfect for fans of Carlene...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2542 KP) rated Root of All Evil in Books
May 23, 2025
I’ve been meaning to pick up this series for a while since I’ve enjoyed other books from this author. While this is her debut novel, it’s not the first story with these characters. I do wish this book had more introduction to the characters, but we did get to know them pretty well over the course of the story. Jim and Sally share point of view duties, which helps. The pacing seemed a little uneven in the middle, but that’s a minor complaint. I did feel one of the characters could have been smarter as the climax neared, but the wrap up did answer all of my questions. Since this is a police procedural, it will have more content than the lighter books I often read. Now that I’ve started this series, I’m hoping to get to visit the characters again soon.
An Invitation to Mystery (Deep Creek Detectives Club)
10.0
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A cryptic invitation arrives at the homes of Lauren Carr's most beloved detectives: an...
Mystery Murdery Mystery Novella
Murder on Devil’s Pond
10.0
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A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace–until a body is found on the property–in this charming...
A Killing in Costumes
7.0
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Stardom fades fast when you’re on the line for murder, in this debut cozy mystery perfect for fans...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2542 KP) rated Stakeouts and Strollers in Books
May 8, 2026 (Updated May 8, 2026)
When I saw this won Minotaur’s Best First Mystery aware, I knew I had to give it a try. The tone was darker than I was expecting, complete with some language and violence. Still, I did get some laughs, especially from the banter between Charlie and his wife. The plot went in some unexpected directions on the way to the logical climax. The characters were all well developed, and I fell in love with Charlie and his family. I did feel Charlie took some unnecessary risks, especially as a new father. One location in the San Francisco setting was a bit of a stretch, but few will care. Overall, I enjoyed this debut and will be back if we get a sequel.
