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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2318 KP) rated Long Island Iced Tina in Books

Feb 24, 2021 (Updated Feb 24, 2021)  
Long Island Iced Tina
Long Island Iced Tina
Maria DiRico | 2021 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Reappearing Painting and Murder
Mia Carina is thrilled for her friend Nicole, who is expecting her first baby. Nicole has chosen Mia’s catering hall, Belle View, as the location for one of her baby showers. Despite Mia’s best efforts, the baby shower is interrupted by a fight between Nicole’s mother and step-mother. Then, one of Nicole’s presents turns out to be a valuable painting stolen years before. Things only get worse when Mia finds the body of a shower guest the next morning. Is the murder linked to the painting?

I enjoyed the first book in the series, and this one was great as well. The painting added a fun element to the mystery, and I really enjoyed seeing how that played out. The mystery had some great zigs and zags along the way. The climax was a bit complicated, but I was able to think it through, and it did make sense. All the characters were wonderful, with some interesting growth for the series regulars. Mia’s grandmother provides a very funny sub-plot, and there are other great moments of humor throughout the book. At the end, we get four recipes and a hit for hosting events yourself. The series is set in Queens, and Mia’s family is involved in the mob. Even so, this is most definitely still a cozy series. Grab some ice tea and enjoy this delightful book.
  
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Merissa (12681 KP) rated Cash (Ruthless Daddies #6) in Books

Aug 17, 2022  
Cash (Ruthless Daddies #6)
Cash (Ruthless Daddies #6)
K.L. Hiers | 2022 | Contemporary, Crime, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sweet as candy with no 'damsels' in distress to be found.
CASH is part of the Ruthless Daddies series but is the first one I have read so, obviously, you don't have to have read the series to read this. Now, I really want to, though, as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Brick was a brilliant character - Mr Normal compared to Jules being the Mob-man - but that doesn't mean he will take any attitude and, if you come at him, you'd better knock him out or he will finish the job. I loved how he Macgyvered his way out of things. No shrinking violet or damsel in distress, this one. Jules was besotted and caring, everything a Daddy should be. Their relationship was natural and smooth, and oh-so-caring.

The storyline with what was missing, the murders, the attempted murders, the threats - it all worked. I could follow along completely without having read any of the others. The secondary characters really helped to flesh this out, although I would have enjoyed Brick meeting Rowena!

All in all, this was a great read to a series I want to read more of! Definitely recommended if you want a sweet as candy story.

** 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!
  
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ClareR (5854 KP) rated Small Mercies in Books

May 22, 2023  
Small Mercies
Small Mercies
Dennis Lehane | 2023 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’ve never read Dennis Lehane before - and what a place to start! This novel is phenomenal, and I ended it thoroughly heartbroken.

1970s Boston, America, and the school districts want to merge the separate schools for black and white children. Except your average white Southie doesn’t want that to happen, and they’ll do anything to ensure that.

There are violent demonstrations, tensions boil over, and amongst all this a young black man is murdered. At the same time, Mary Pat Fennessy’s daughter goes missing. At first, these two events seem unconnected, but as Mary Pat searches for her daughter it starts to look otherwise. And somehow, the Irish mob are involved.

Mary Pat is the ultimate tiger mother. Her daughter Jules, is her only surviving child, and she’ll stop at nothing to find her - dead or alive.

This is brutal, and proves that ultimately revenge profits no one. The heat simmered off the page, as did the threatened and real violence. The writing is gorgeous despite the violence, and is a masterclass in how a writer can make the most ugly things so astonishing.

I’m expecting to see a film adaptation of this at some point - it reads like a screenplay.

This may well be my first novel by Lehane, but I doubt very much that it will be my last. Thanks for introducing me to another new-to-me author, Pigeonhole!