Review: Edwin of the Iron Shoes

Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Muller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: Rules for a Proper Governess

Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Completion Post - Week 9
Space: 78


Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley
Pages: 320
Qualification: Mackenzies & McBrides #7
Read: 3/24/22
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: You know how you want to fall in love with a book, but you just really end up being good friends? That was this book for me. I liked Bertie. I did. She was spunky and was trying to make a better life for herself. And she had some bad circumstances to overcome. I think the miss for me was Sinclair. He was grumpy, with a hard outside and a marshmallow inside. That's usually ok. But something just wasn't true love forever with him.
I still enjoyed the story, and I'll keep on with the series. It just wasn't my favorite. 3.5 stars. Sorry, book. It's me, not you.

View all my reviews

Review: Death of a Dustman

Death of a Dustman by M.C. Beaton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hamish, oh Hamish. You were born under a lucky star. This time, Lochdubh has a murder (gasp) and then another one (gasp). These people need to move to Strathbane, or they need a larger police force because Hamish and his copper of the week can't handle the body count.

Hamish noses around in everyone's business, tries to protect the people of Lochdubh as usual, and shows up Blair. Plus takes a lot of naps and eats tons of food while still pining after Priscilla. These books have a formula, and it works for me. I still miss Towser,

View all my reviews

Review: Miss Julia's School of Beauty

Miss Julia's School of Beauty by Ann B. Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: Second Grave on the Left

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charley, Charley, Charley. You carry a lot on your shoulders, being the Grim Reaper. But I have to be honest, girl. You and Reyes are a recipe for disaster. You know this. I know this. He knows this. But you just can't quit him. Your decision quality is suspect, but you know I will be back for more fun in book 3.


View all my reviews

Review: The Wild Inside

The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First in a new series, and new author, for me. Imagine you are Ted. Ted lost his father in a bear attack at Glacier National Park when he was a young teen. Yes, you heard me. GRIZZLY BEAR. Like, drug the poor man off and left poor Ted alone. So what do you choose as a career? A special investigator for the Department of the Interior? As in the National Parks? Yep, you guessed it. Poor Ted is haunted by his past. And this case involves death and grizzlies in Glacier.
Ted is a decent bloke and the plot was a tiny bit loose, but I stuck with it and will take on book 2. On to the next!


View all my reviews

Review: The Redbreast

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So, I was told to start this series with #3. Since I like to do things in order, I feel like I should have trusted my gut and read 1 & 2 first. Both were referenced very briefly in the story, but I wanted more about Harry. Anyway, he seems to be a brilliant cop even though he's a hot mess. I liked him, and I'll go back and read books 1 & 2. And I liked the alternating timelines between WW2 and the present. Solid plot, and I really enjoyed the characters and the setting, although not sure it reached 4 star love status for me. What can I say?  I like my characters flawed and complex.    

View all my reviews

Review: Many a Twist

Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I'm six books into this series, and I seriously almost left Ireland with the last one. But I went back for more, because I am a glutton for punishment, and it fits my current challenge. Maura is still ridiculous. She wasn't as ridiculous as book 5, but she still bugs me. We had a big plot surprise that I won't spoil here, and I'm curious where we go with these new developments. I hate myself, so I'm sure I will read book 7 and complain the whole way. Maura, you are dumb. Barely 3 stars, but only because I like Mick and Rose.

View all my reviews

Review: Death by Bridle

Death by Bridle by Abigail Keam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Oh, Josiah, your life is rough right now. And you made a couple of bad decisions, but I still like hanging out with you.

Shaneika Mary Todd's son Lincoln sees something he shouldn't see, and Josiah is on the case. This woman cannot help herself. Seriously, she can't. This mystery takes us deep into the past, and we get more information about what happened to Josiah with the O'Nan situation (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to stop snooping on book 3 in the series and start with book 1).
Anyway, I'm frustrated about Matt, and I feel like it was way out of character, but everything else was classic Josiah.

Not my favorite series, but I will continue on. What can I say? I like horses, bees, and mysteries. 3 stars.

View all my reviews

Review: Stone Cold

Stone Cold by C.J. Box
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joe, Joe, Joe. You are my favorite Dudley Do-Right lawman, but you were over the top this time. I know you are absolutely driven to always do the right thing, but seriously, you can give people a pass with the citations for fishing without a license. The mystery was good, the side mystery was good, and I love it when they get Joe out of Twelve Sleep County.


View all my reviews

Review: On the Way to the Wedding

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love spending time with the Bridgertons!

I liked this one much better on the second read-through. Gregory reminded me of Colin, and I don't remember thinking that the first time. I did wish we had more family in it, but I think it made sense considering how much younger he was than the other boys and that he was on his own.

How much time will I wait before I go back to the beginning of the series? Not sure, but it will definitely get another go. 4 stars.



View all my reviews

Review: Miss Julia Meets Her Match

Miss Julia Meets Her Match by Ann B. Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thinking about what to write on this one. I get that it was published 17 years ago, and thinking towards transgender people has evolved, but I still didn't find that storyline amusing. I'm not sure how I would have felt 17 years ago, though.

Back with more thoughts later.

View all my reviews

Review: Good as Dead

Good as Dead by Susan Walter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A deadly hit and run. A payoff. And secrets at every turn. Welcome to Good as Dead.

We get several switching perspectives: Holly, who is involved in a hit and run where she loses her husband. Savannah, their teenaged daughter. Evan, the fixer. Jack, Evan's boss. Libby, the nosy neighbor with her own issues. And Andy, the nosy neighbor's wife. Quickly shifting POV and short chapters kept everything moving along, and this read like a movie in the way it played out.

I suspected the ending way early, but I still found it entertaining. 3 solid stars - recommend if you enjoy thrillers.

View all my reviews

Review: Blood Sport

Blood Sport by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was a darker plot than a lot of Dick Francis's novels. It holds up very well for a book written in 1967. You could see it happening in today's world, with less smoking and better technology. This time, our everyman hero is Gene Hawkins, a "civil servant" with a very particular set of skills. He is very good at his job, but struggles with depression. To save him from himself, his boss dangles an irresistible case in front of him - three missing stud stallions have vanished without a trace over the past few years. Could they be related? And can they be found? Well, yes, friends, or we wouldn't have a mystery to solve.

Francis gives a pretty honest perspective of Gene's dark thoughts and how he grapples with life and what to do with the one he has. The supporting characters are well-developed, too. Especially Walt, the insurance investigator who joins Gene on his quest to solve the case and recover the funds to his company. This one takes us from England to all across America, and finally back home again. One of my favorites, and we didn't even really go racing. 4 stars.

View all my reviews

Review: The Hidden Staircase

The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nancy sticks her nose in everyone's business and saves the day, round 2. Once again, she's with her friend Helen Corning, with no sign of George and Bess. Helen is a good friend, and up for most anything, but really is there to serve as a plot device to showcase Nancy how brave and clever Nancy is at every turn.

Helen's great grandmother's old mansion is haunted, naturally, as all good old mansions are. Nancy and Helen go to stay with her and Helen's mother, catch the ghost, and solve the mystery. But wait, Nancy's amazing father, Carson Drew, is wrapped up in a land dispute and is in grave danger. You better believe both cases are connected, friends. Of course they are, and Nancy is there to solve them both, find the hidden staircase, and save the day (and her father). Nancy stays clever, kind, and beautiful as always, and we are on to book 3. Three crime-solving stars.



View all my reviews

Review: In the Darkness

In the Darkness by Karin Fossum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new nordic mystery series for me. I liked it even though I think a few things might have been lost in translation. I will spend more time with Inspector Sejer.

A woman and her daughter find a body floating in the river. Instead of calling the police, she calls her father to chat. Because that's not suspicious at all. Ok, Eva. The setting is dark, like all of the nordic noir I've read. Cold, bleak, and stark. Eva is a hot mess, and she makes suspect decisions throughout the entire book. The plot unwinds in a series of time jumps and while I enjoyed the book, I wanted more time to explore Inspector Sejer. I'm hoping he is more of the focus in the next books.

I did not expect several of the twists and it kept me guessing until the end - things I love in my mysteries. A good start to a new author and series for me. Three solid stars.

View all my reviews

Review: The Secret of The Old Clock

The Secret of The Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

 
Where it all began. Nancy sticks her nose in everyone's business and saves the day. Spoiler, the rest of the series is going to follow this formula.

Nancy almost runs over a young girl, chases down some robbers, and gets involved with a missing will. I'm going to give you three guesses where it's hidden, guys, and the first two don't count. She gets captured, breaks out, nearly gets captured again, and saves the day. Did we expect anything else?We don't get any Bess & George, but don't worry, they are coming soon. Plenty of Carson Drew, father of the year, and Hannah Gruen, the best surrogate mother around.

These books are silly but I loved them growing up. I review them all so you don't have to. You're welcome.


View all my reviews

Review: An Obvious Fact

An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Henry Standing Bear, I love you and I like you.  Walt, while I hold you in deep admiration, Henry has my whole heart.  

My favorite partners in crime (fighting) are headed to Sturgis.  Guess who is there waiting for them.  Lola.  THE Lola.  She finally makes an appearance, and she's just as crazy as you might expect.  The whole story I was picturing Cha Cha DiGregorio from Grease.  No judgment, Henry.  We all have some skeletons in our closets.  And her son was run off the road on his motorcycle, and he's in a coma.  Walt and Henry to the rescue, mostly.

Lots of plot threads happening with the ATF on the scene, family drama, and the Walt stepping on local law enforcement's toes left and right.  And some laugh out loud dialogue and hijinks, like you expect from Longmire.  I'm vaguely disappointed because we didn't get real answers to a few things and it left my wanting more, but all is forgiven because Henry and Walt are my favorite Wyoming boys.  3.5 stars, but not going to round up because it just didn't quite hit 4 star territory for me.

View all my reviews

World Passport 2022

 

It's time for a fresh year of exploring the world through books.  This year I am taking a new approach.  I have broken up the globe into 12 different regions, and I will look for books that are set in those areas in the corresponding month.  Follow my travels here: World Passport

Review: A Bucket of Ashes

A Bucket of Ashes by P.B. Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A satisfying end to the series.  I'm a marshmallow and love that HEA.

Life can never be simple and straightforward for my girl, Nell.  She is still in love with Will, and dealing with the consequences from the end of book 5.  Her past comes up to stare her straight in the face: Duncan, Dr. Greaves, and her estranged brother, Jamie.  The mystery isn't a particularly mysterious one, but we do get most things tied up in a bow and I am satsified that my favorite governess will go on to live happily ever after.  Girl, you deserve it after all you have been through in life.  

Sad to see this series end, but happy with the epilogue and the hope for the future.  4 stars.

View all my reviews