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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2605 KP) rated Wedding Bride and Doom in Books

Nov 27, 2024 (Updated Nov 27, 2024)  
Wedding Bride and Doom
Wedding Bride and Doom
Mary Karnes | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fatal Flowers
When Kate Ludlow's marriage ended, she packed up her teenage daughter and moved from Southern California back to her hometown in Connecticut. She also went about turning her part time gig as a wedding planner into a full business, hustling to prove herself to her new customer base. The florist she works with the most is Lori-Sue, which can be awkward since the two have a history dating back to high school. So when Kate finds Lori-Sue's body one day, she also finds herself the prime suspect. Naturally nosey, Kate gets involved. Can she clear her name?

This debut sounded fun, so I was looking forward to it. It starts out well, with Kate finding the body quickly. However, the further I went into the book, the more I struggled with it. The plot seemed disjointed at times, but connections are made at the end. Meanwhile, we learn things late in the book about Kate that would have been nice to learn earlier. Finally, the climax only works because Kate is stupid. On the other hand, I really did like the characters, and the cliffhanger is intriguing. Still, I think I will probably pass on the sequel, unfortunately.
  
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Merissa (14082 KP) rated Twister in Books

Aug 4, 2025  
Twister
Twister
Kayla Halleur | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TWISTER is a standalone novel in a wider selection of books set at the same time (ish) in the same town (ish). Daniel is looking after his daughter and his farm, while Marshall is trying to figure out what to do with his life. When a twister blows into town, all bets are off as they work together.

There are many parts of this story I loved - the meet-cute, Rose, Bucky, KAJIR!!!, Jackson - loved all of it. What I didn't get on so well with was the sheer speed of it. Also, there were a lot of hot topics covered, but none in-depth, again, because of the fast pacing.

This author is new to me, but I would definitely be happy to read more of her work. This had me laughing out loud at the over-the-top personalities, eyes leaking in the hospital, and the devastation at the farm, plus both during the wedding ceremony.

A fast-paced, fun read that I definitely recommend.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 4, 2025
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2605 KP) rated A Fashionably French Murder in Books

May 1, 2025 (Updated May 1, 2025)  
A Fashionably French Murder
A Fashionably French Murder
Colleen Cambridge | 2025 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Tabitha Must Find a Well Dressed Killer
Tabitha Knight, who grew up learning both French and English, is making some money tutoring various people in French. She’s now landed a job as a translator for a diplomat’s wife who is looking to buy an haute couture dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Their first stop is Maison Lannet, where they are treated to a fabulous fashion show. But when Tabitha realizes she left her gloves behind, she finds the designer dead. Can she figure out what happened?

It was nice to be back in 1950 Paris, once again seeing what life was like for people trying to rebuild their lives after the war. Yes, Julia Child has a strong presence in this book again, so there is lots of talk about French cuisine. So expect your mouth to water. The pacing of the mystery was a bit uneven, thanks in part to a couple of subplots, but I appreciated some of the twists we got along the way. The characters are fun as always, and I am curious to see where one storyline will go in the next book. All told, anyone interested in Julia Child or life in Paris in 1950 will be glad they picked up this book.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2605 KP) rated Edam and Weep in Books

Aug 6, 2025  
Edam and Weep
Edam and Weep
Linda Reilly | 2025 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Carly Finds Murder at a Fundraiser
As this book opens, it’s just over a month until Carly’s wedding to Ari. But today, she’s focused on the 50’s diner themed fundraiser for the local high school’s gym. While she’s selling simple grilled cheese (of course), some of the other vendors are offering various other offerings. But the man selling sodas clearly doesn’t want to be there, and his rude behavior leads to a confrontation with Carly’s mom. When the man is found dead later with the scarf that her mom was wearing around his neck, Carly jumps in to figure out what really happened.

When I heard about this book, I quickly added it to my reading plans since I’ve enjoyed the earlier books in the series. Sadly, this one was disappointing. There are two dualing storylines, but they both losing steam in the second half. The mystery plot felt a bit familiar, although I didn’t have the killer pegged. Fortunately, the characters are still charming, and I enjoyed spending time with them. We get two cheese themed recipes at the end. This is one that fans will want to read to the end. But if you are new to the series, start with an earlier book.