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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated The Tell-Tale Tarte in Books

Apr 9, 2021 (Updated Apr 9, 2021)  
The Tell-Tale Tarte
The Tell-Tale Tarte
Maya Corrigan | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Impersonating Danger
A new year has started, and Val Deniston’s grandfather appears to be making some changes in his life. He’s updated his look, including a new haircut and new outfit. He claims it is for a new job he’s landed for his investigations business. Then Val is on the scene when a man dies at a nearby shopping center – a man who looks just like Grandfather does now thanks to his new look. The case soon points to Rick Usher, a local author who has made a career writing tales inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Is Grandfather the next target of the killer? How does Rick play into the mystery?

I must confess, I know little about Poe (I feel like I should know more considering how much I love mysteries), but that wasn’t a hamper to enjoying this book. Poe lore is certainly a big part of the inspiration of the story, and bits and pieces of his life weave their way into the book. Even without that, we get a strong mystery with plenty of intrigue. I did feel the ending was a little weak, but it did wrap everything up. The characters are fun and continue to grow here. I’m especially interested to see where some of those relationships go in the future. We get six more five-ingredient recipes at the end. Whether you are a fan of Poe or not, this book will keep you guessing until the end.
  
Wintersfall (Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria #1)
Wintersfall (Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria #1)
Sarah Westill | 2021 | Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
WINTERSFALL is the first book in the Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria series and the reader is introduced to a complex world where ranks are important, as well as limiting.

Following the murder of her mother and sister, Katria joins a government team on the understanding that an investigation will take place to find out who killed them. Fast forward three years and Katria has grown into a more than capable agent. With one fail to their name, the team is called back to Haven City and the intrigue really starts!

This was a great, twisted story with an amazing cast of characters, both main and supporting. I found it slightly difficult to get my head around the hierarchy and hated having to keep switching back and forth to the explanation given at the beginning of the book. In the end, I gave up and just read it as was.

The story isn't completed, by any stretch of the imagination. The focus may be moving from Katria and Sean but, make no mistake, there is so much more to come. I don't think we've even scratched the surface yet.

A great story that I thoroughly enjoyed and can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended by me.

** 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!
  
Traitor's Moon (Gladstone Shifters #2)
Traitor's Moon (Gladstone Shifters #2)
Alexander Elliott | 2019 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TRAITOR'S MOON is the second book in the Gladstone Shifters series and it does follow on from book one so I definitely recommend you read that book just to get the full picture.

Ben and Evan are still trying to make their Pack a safe home but Wilburn still has other plans. Jack and William are 'on tour' trying to bring the reality of True Elders to other packs.

There is so much intrigue in this book, making it fast-paced and full of action without it being rushed. As a reader, you daren't blink in case you miss anything. And yet, there is still time for romance, for love, for hope. And not just for MM couples either. Personally, I think this is one of the best parts of these books - instead of just one romance, you get a couple or more!

The world-building is excellent and you also get the political structure and problems too. Although there are a host of characters, each one is fully fleshed out, making every single one of them completely believable.

This is a fantastic addition to the series and I look forward to carrying on with their stories. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Jonah!

* 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!
  
The Accidental World
The Accidental World
K.A. Griffin | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Accidental World is one of the more unique stories I have read of late
The Accidental World is one of the more unique stories I have read of late. Ethan Scott is thrust into a world of intrigue in an alternate world where the only lifelines he has are the vague instructions left to him by his grandfather before his disappearance and the board game that he has played since he was a child. There are those who help him along the way, but there are always more questions than answers and he has a role to play.

On the surface this seems like a tropey Y A novel with an unlikely hero who is thrust into the role of savior (yada yada), but it is really such a well written imaginative world that comparisons like that fall by the wayside in favor of well paced and exciting adventure. The book is packed full of interesting characters who engage the reader full throttle. In my mind it played out just like a movie, especially the gaming sequences and the action near the end.

The cliffhanger ending has me wanting to return to this world and these characters to see what happens next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy through IRead Book Tours for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
Something felt a bit off about this second book. I’m not quite sure what it was. There was definitely just as much tension as the first and it most certainly didn’t lack any of the previous intrigue. Throughout this second book, I was just as curious, if not more so, about who the UNSUB could be. The author points the finger in multiple directions, shedding a suspicious light on so many people, it makes me wonder if who the main suspect is really could be the serial killer they’re all looking for. My aggravation is probably a little higher, but that may be due to the fact I’m aware this trilogy is coming to an end, so I’m more desperate to get answers. Luckily, I did have at least one question answered: I now know what Colton did to push him into the BDSM scene. Actually, I’m not quite sure what to think of that situation – I suppose I understand where he’s coming from on an emotional level, but my morals won’t let me completely look over what he did, even if it was an act of love and mercy. Even still, I was thrilled to have my answer, despite another dozen questions popping up. Like I mentioned before, I’m not sure what it was, but I wasn’t as interested. Don’t worry – I still really enjoyed the story and I can’t wait to read the third and final book and uncover all the secrets!
  
All the Money in the World (2017)
All the Money in the World (2017)
2017 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.



This is a difficult one to sum up. I managed to see this by the skin of my teeth, it flew out of the listings almost as quickly as it arrived. The trailer did the film a lot of good, there was enough intrigue and star quality to make it appeal. But I'm not sure it delivered what I was hoping for.

Plummer worked well as the formidable Getty. I'm not sure I could have seen Kevin Spacey playing the part, the initial casting seems truly bizarre. I can't help but wonder how much the reshooting affected the final product. For a week and a half of reshoots though you have to give them credit for the efficiency of it.

Even now I'm struggling to find things to say about this one. I was left bored and surprisingly unengaged. A terrible habit that I haven't actually done in about a year resurfaced during this film... when I'm bored and without anything to do I will sit and bite my nails, and about half way into this film I was fully aware that I was rapidly losing length on my nails.

The story is an interesting one but it never felt like it really made its way from being a two dimensional story.