Review: The Marshland Mystery

The Marshland Mystery by Kathryn Kenny
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another adventure with Honey & Trixie. I have to say, this marginalization of Miss Trask and Regan is not sitting well with me.

This time we have a child prodigy who is misunderstood, and a little spoiled. Trixie, of course, isn't having it, as you might expect. Come on, Trixie, and grow up a bit, ok? She's a child, and you are a teenager. We also have a mystery involving treasure, some dried plants, and an old woman who lives alone on the edge of the marsh. It barely hangs together, folks. I promise this is one you can skip if you'd like because it kinda stinks and Trixie is a little mean.

I'm still giving it three stars but it is close to being 2.5.

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Review: By Book or By Crook

By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not a particularly strong start to a series, but I will probably read the next one.

It wasn't that I hated the MC, but she has serious family issues. It made her annoying, and I wasn't really rooting for her at any point. To keep her job, to find love, to stay in town. I just didn't like her enough to care. Plus the mystery was loosely held together and I didn't believe the motive for the cartoonish villain.

But...like I said, I'll probably read book 2 someday, because I just can't stay away from cozy mysteries. 2 stars. Well, 2.5 stars because of Charlie.

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Review: The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate

The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What's your love language?

I'm Acts of Service mixed with Quality Time. My husband is Physical Touch. After over 2 decades of marriage, we have figured out how to make it all work, but it helps knowing how people need to receive love. I'm not sure how much is nurture vs nature, but in the end, if you care about someone you should be able to show them how they need to hear it. Or maybe that's my Acts of Service showing. Anyway...some good take aways here that can apply to all sorts of relationships. 3 stars.

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Review: The Gatehouse Mystery

The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More adventures with Trixie and Honey. What a charmed life they lead!

Seriously, though, how large is the Wheeler's estate that they have a deserted Gatehouse on the grounds that people have forgotten about? I'm trying to picture a world where her mother and father didn't immediately tear it down. Deserted, dirty, holes in the roof...definitely a surprise that they let that stand. Anyway, the girls decide it will be their clubhouse, naturally. And then Trixie finds a diamond (Honey immediately can tell it's real, because the girl is overflowing with diamonds, yo). Bad guys are on the prowl, and the mystery is on. Oh, and we get a new chauffeur because my boy Regan hates anything that doesn't run on 4 legs and Miss Trask is busy being a total boss babe.

What will happen with the diamond? Guess you will have to read for yourself. This one is especially stretching the bounds of imagination, but I still gave it 3 stars.

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Review: The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've had this one on my list absolutely forever and finally got around to it. I did the audio and the narrator was decent, if a bit hard to understand in parts. I was hoping for so much more in this book.

I have to admit, I went in knowing nothing but it was a romance set in Australia and it was made into a movie. I didn't know the plot, and I think that actually helped. I loved the intrigue around Lucy, how the secrecy impacts everyone's lives, and the back and forth perspectives. And while it wasn't the best book I've ever read, I did enjoy the story. It drives home how secrets are damaging and sometimes no good comes from the truth, too. Be careful what you wish for.

I liked the ending but wanted to have more the blanks filled in for the missing years. 3 solid stars.

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Review: A Shot in the Bark

A Shot in the Bark by C.A. Newsome
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, at least it had dogs in it. That's worth one of the stars.

We have a quirky artist, a prickly cop, dogs, and a serial killer. While that sounds like a solid 3 star read, it really was barely 2. We get to bounce into the mind of the killer, which was an interesting take on it, but the execution was fairly boring. I forced myself to finish. And color me surprised at the twist ending. No, seriously, I was a little surprised, but I'm not sure I'm surprised enough to read book 2. Those dogs are going to have to take themselves to the dog park. 2 stars.


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Review: Abby: Mail Order Bride

Abby: Mail Order Bride by Verna Clay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The series title says it all: Unconventional. We have a 38-year-old woman, firmly on the shelf. We have a widower who needs a mother for his kids. Abby takes a chance and they all live HEA.

Come on, now. You know that wasn't a spoiler. Why in the world would we read mail order bride books if they all didn't live happily ever after? Nothing too crazy in this one. It has sweet moments, both hero and heroine made it all work and outside of a lack of communication that made me a little crazy it was good enough for 3 stars. I'll probably check out book 2 someday.

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Review: The Governess Game

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fun historical romance by Tessa Dare. Not quite as wonderful as book 1, but still really great.

We have an unexpected, and unconventional heroine. Smart, snappy, and a little weird. We have the party boy, misunderstood hero. A comedy of errors brings her to him as a governess for his two strangely adorable nieces. She's what they all need to turn their lives into a HEA, my favorite kind of book.

Now that I've had time to reflect on the plot and how much I liked it, I'm revising my star rating to 3.5, rounding up to 4. The half star is subtracted because it annoys me when people have misunderstandings because THEY. JUST. WON'T. TALK. TO. EACH. OTHER. Still fun, and I'm sure I'll read it again someday, so 4 stars.


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Review: A Killer Collection

A Killer Collection by J.B. Stanley
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A real stinker. Unlikeable characters, a plot that barely hangs together, and a unflattering light on people who collect antiques.

The only high point was the ending, and that is saying a lot. I would pass on this one unless you need this book for a specific challenge. At least it is a fast read! 1.5 stars.

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Review: The Happy Valley Mystery

The Happy Valley Mystery by Kathryn Kenny
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Still adjusting to the change in writing styles. If I remember correctly, it evens out in a bit, or I just get further away from the first six books and forget how they read.

Trixie and the Bob-Whites are headed to the most exotic of locations: Iowa. As a midwestern girl, this one hits home for me. I grew up just across the border, Trix. You're gonna love your sheep farm adventure. Uncle Andrew invites the Bob-Whites to stay at his farm while he is in Scotland. Ok...a little weird on the host's side, and kinda crappy on his farm help team, but whatever. They hop on a plane and boom, Iowa, folks. And there is a mystery, natch, about missing sheep which Trixie is bound and determined to solve. Will she? Let's hope so, or no one will buy book 10.

We get some fun references to life in the midwest - 4-H, school dances in the gym, skating on the pond - and a scary flood, plus a little teen romance at the end. Not gonna lie, I've been waiting for this. Still enjoyable, even with the writing change. 3 stars.

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