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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Gardener’s Plot in Books

Nov 9, 2024  
The Gardener’s Plot
The Gardener’s Plot
Deborah J. Benoit | 2024
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Debut Wasn’t Quite Ready to Bloom
Maggie Walker has inherited her grandmother’s house in a small town in the Berkshires. She’s long been a gardener, so when she is asked to help Violet with the new community garden, Maggie jumps in with both feet. But the morning of the grand opening, Violet is nowhere to be found. Then, a member of the community finds a boot in his plot in the community garden. A boot attached to a dead body. With the police thinking Violet might have something to do with it, Maggie’s set out to find her friend and prove she is innocent. But can she do it?

Since this book won a contest to be published, it caught my attention. Sadly, I don’t think it was quite ready for publication. The writing seemed a little vague at times, filling in details later, after we’d already made our impressions of things. The plot bogged down in the middle as Maggie spun her wheels before leading us to a good climax. The main characters were great, but the suspects were a little flat. The setting was charming, and even this non- gardener loved hearing about the plants. I wish I had liked this book better, but I probably won’t be moving on with the series.
  
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ClareR (5991 KP) rated The Briar Club in Books

Oct 14, 2025  
The Briar Club
The Briar Club
Kate Quinn | 2024 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Kate Quinn books I’ve read so far have been set during WW2, so I was intrigued to see how the Briar Club would go. It’s set in 1950, a time of gangsters, women knowing their place (but wanting more), and McCarthyism.

The house, Briarwood House, is at the centre of this book, and even has its own voice. It helps to tell the story of its inhabitants and enjoys the weekly dinner parties that one of the women, Grace, sets up.

All of the women have secrets that they’d rather other people didn’t know about, and as the book goes on we find out just what those secrets are.

I don’t read many books set I the 1950’s, and it was fascinating to see how single women lived at this time. What also surprised me, was how Washington D. C. was considered to be almost a small town! I didn’t get the impression of a buzzing metropolis at all.

This is a puzzling mystery with strong female leads (I’m a fan) and gave me the opportunity to read about a time I was unfamiliar with. I liked that some of the politicians had actually existed - which was a really nice touch.
  
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Merissa (13358 KP) rated Seducing the Sheriff (Charming Butte #2) in Books

Oct 17, 2025  
Seducing the Sheriff (Charming Butte #2)
Seducing the Sheriff (Charming Butte #2)
Morticia Knight, Sue Brown | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SEDUCING THE SHERIFF is the second story in the Charming Butte series, and features the new Sheriff, Cash, and newcomer to the town, Greg.

Greg has decided to finally put down roots after many years of flipping houses and moving from one place to another. He chooses a doer-upper with lots of potential. Unfortunately for him, or maybe fortunately!, he smells something off-putting not long after he moves in. Upon searching, he finds a mummified body behind a false wall in a closet, and does what any sane person does - he rings the police! Enter Sheriff Cash.

These two are the sweetest couple I've read in a long time. Both of them are introverted, with many similarities between them. Once they are in each other's orbit, they can't stop circling ever closer to each other.

If you are looking for a low angst, feel-good story, with two amazing MCs and a whole host of supporting characters, then look no further. I also liked the small catch-ups with Dex and Meyer from book one.

Just what I needed and absolutely recommended by me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oct 17, 2025