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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Cozy Up to Christmas in Books

Dec 15, 2022  
Cozy Up to Christmas
Cozy Up to Christmas
Colin Conway | 2021 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Being a Mall Santa Turns Complicated
Ed Belmont has landed a job as a mall Santa at a run-down mall in Pennsylvania. He’s managed to hold on to the job for a month, and is looking at his final week on the job. Unfortunately, dealing with kids, not Ed’s strong point, isn’t his biggest worry. Someone has been robbing convenience stores dressed as Santa, and the police think Ed might be the culprit. Then Santa robs the mall after hours. Can Ed figure out who is really behind these thefts?

Those familiar with the series will immediately recognize that Ed is the latest identity of our protagonist, who is in witness protection. I knew seeing him playing Santa would be fun, and I was right. Unfortunately, a sub-plot intended to also be funny made me more uncomfortable. I do like Ed and enjoy watching him deal with his newest struggles. The rest of the characters are a bit thin. The plot does wander a bit at times, but it comes together for an interesting climax. I do enjoy watching Ed solve things. And this is a fast read. Fans will enjoy seeing what Ed gets up to in this holiday entry in the series.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Scared Off in Books

Aug 26, 2023  
Scared Off
Scared Off
Barbara Ross | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
While the Parents Are Away, a Corps Turns Up
Julia Snowden responds to a panic call from her niece, who was supposed to be spending the night with two friends but needs help when a party breaks out. The police have been called, and, while they are making sure everyone is gone, discover a dead body in the shed outback. Was Julia’s niece spending the evening with a killer?

If you are also a fan of this series but haven’t read, Shucked Apart, a word of warning that this story contains spoilers for that book. As I said earlier, it’s always great to spend time with the characters. It’s also hard to believe how old Julia’s niece is getting. I always lose track of book time in the series I read. Anyway, the mystery was great; I enjoyed the way it unfolded. As a bonus, there’s a recipe for you to enjoy at your own party.

NOTE 1: This is a novella, so expect something shorter than a typical novel before you pick it up.

NOTE 2: This novella was originally in the Halloween Party Murder anthology. If you’ve already read it there, you don’t need to buy it again here.
  
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Merissa (14046 KP) rated Something Shattered in Books

May 8, 2023  
Something Shattered
Something Shattered
Bailey Bradford | 2015 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the story of how a man moves to a small town to escape a horrifying event, that has affected him physically, mentally and emotionally. Caleb was attacked outside his home and the police never caught his attackers. So he moves to a small town, El Jardin, in New Mexico in the hope of it helping to heal him. However, his agoraphobia gets worse until just getting his mail is a massive achievement. With the help and friendship of Jesse, he starts to put himself back together and they can both move on.

This is a heart-warming and poignant story, that details brilliants the effects of an attack on a person and how debilitating they can be. It is a story of hope, of love, and yes, of hot and steamy sex too. Being well-written and with a steady pace, you are drawn into the story and the lives of these two men, who seem to face incredible odds and yet still are there for each other. Definitely recommended for all fans of MM Romance.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 4, 2016
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Lost and Clowned in Books

Jun 17, 2026 (Updated Jun 17, 2026)  
Lost and Clowned
Lost and Clowned
Dana Mentink | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Finding a Killer is a Circus
Pi Steely is the business manager for her uncle’s traveling circus. They are spending their Christmas break in a small California coastal town, putting on a rare holiday performance while there. The next morning, Pi finds a body on the beach. The police think the someone in the troop could be responsible. As Pi begins to dig in, she finds secrets from the past that might be related. Can she figure out what is going on?

The characters are grounded for a circus setting; in fact, the book is a bit more serious in tone than I was expecting. It took me a bit to get all the characters straight, but I was soon able to. Pi felt a bit immature to me a time or two, but it was minor. Likewise, the pacing stalled a couple of times, but nothing that lasted long. There were some good surprises and twists along the way to the logical climax. I enjoyed the Northern California setting. This appears to be a rare cozy standalone, but if we get a sequel, I will gladly revisit these characters. Those looking for an unusual cozy will be glad they picked this one up.