Angels are Kids and Furkids: 2020

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Book Review: Come Homicide or High Water

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Come Homicide or High Water

by Denise Swanson

A nice relaxing end of her maternity leave, that's all Skye wants before going back to her job as school psychologist who also helps her police hubby at times with his cases too. Life has a whole different plan though when she is called back early for helping her intern with some difficult cases. Then her life is full swing when a parent is so mad about some results concerning her daughter that she is suing the school's acting principal and later is found murdered in her own backyard. Plus her husband asks for her help with a missing elderly woman suffering from dementia. Now Skye is dealing with finding the right nanny for their twins before going back to work full time, helping find a missing woman who may be in danger because of her mental state, trying to figure out who murdered the parent, and how to keep everyone in her life happy with her own personal decisions in life. Is Skye in over her head though with investigating a sensitive murder that she is so entangled in the lives of the suspects for? After all she works with most of the suspects. Who really killed the parent? Why are so many of the staff she works with acting so oddly? What kind of secrets are really happening in people's lives that she had no idea about? Is she putting her new family in danger digging into the murder or the missing person?

This may have been the next in a series, but it was a great stand alone book. There were a few points that made me wonder if there was more to something I read, but then it was touched on enough to make me go, oh okay got it. Nothing to make me want to stop reading and start the series just to understand. I think some things would make more sense on the character level if I went back and read the other books though, but nothing that was pertinent to understanding the plot in this book. I loved the characters in this book! I could see myself being friends with Skye and her family. They are just all around great characters. I love how she is taking to motherhood of twins and keeping life together while living in an RV while their new house is being built. She is a strong woman to keep her life in order while doing that. This plot had me guessing until the very end. I was so surprised about multiple things that happened and just found myself staring at the book. This was a book that made me laugh out loud at multiple parts. I enjoyed the mystery, the secrets, the characters, and the writing style of the author.

5 out of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Misery

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I will start by saying that normally I am full on in love with any and every Stephen King book. That being said...I actually did not care for this one at all. I wanted to make myself love it....it started right in the action and had the feel of a good book, but for some reason I found it hard to read and hard to stay focused on. I kind of liked the characters and watching them develop and trying to figure them out. I did like the theory of the plot line, but I just didn't find it "grabbing" me enough. It took me forever to get through. I had to manage through because it IS a Stephen King book and I've read almost all of his. Haha. I know this may not seem like much of a review, but I really feel like I got nothing here. I didn't care for it and I felt it moved fast, yet slow. I found myself drifting like Paul does in the midst of his drug induced states while I was reading. So....as a mystery and King book goes, I am glad I read it to say I read one of his older books I hadn't read. However, I wouldn't read it again, nor would it be the first book I would recommend of his or for any read. Sorry for the short review, but I feel like I have nothing to really say about this book besides I normally love the author and the characters were pretty good to watch develop throughout the book.

2 out of 5 Stars

Book Review: Sugar Cookie Murder

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Sugar Cookie Murder

by Joanne Fluke

Hannah is just going to host a little Christmas potluck to test out some recipes to see which ones should make it to the Christmas cookbook. Easy right? Her night ends up being consumed by little things along with the food tasting for pretty much the whole town. You know...chit chat trying to get to know people like her Mother's new boyfriend (who she really doesn't like or trust) and a friend's ex husband's new flashy Vegas wife whose fur coat is worth more than a car...keeping an eye on her very pregnant sister who is devouring Christmas chocolates like they are a lifeline...keeping people calm and comfy during a blizzard that has them all stranded until the weather clears some...and just a tiny murder mystery of the new Vegas wife. Hannah quickly enlists her sisters and even her Mother into helping her snoop around to figure out who, in her cozy town, could murder. Why murder the flashy Vegas wife and why did they have to use her Mother's antique cake knife worth mega money? As she digs she discovers all is not as it seems. Is she stranded with a cold blooded murderer? Will there be more blood shed?

I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it like a real sugar cookie. I was hooked from chapter one. I have not read any of the other books in the series, but that luckily didn't matter. I was able to read this book without any issues of feeling like I needed to read the ones before it. I quickly fell in love with Hannah and her sisters. If I could bring a character to life to have as a friend I would pick Hannah. She is funny, serious when needed, an amazingly talented baker, smart, relentless, and really a great sleuth. All the characters in this book really were great and so much fun to watch develop and become who they were meant to be. I loved how the plot was quick to move, but kept me guessing the whole way too. I never saw the conclusion coming. I love how no one bats an eye at Hannah asking things about them or their lives or there whereabouts at the party, they just answer and keep on eating and enjoying the party. Hannah's love life is one of the things that I'd love to keep reading the series for. I'd love to see how things go for her and who she really decides to be with in the grand scheme of things. I loved the mystery, I loved the characters, and I finished the book in 2 days. This is an absolute must read for any mystery lover. It was a great way to get into the Christmas feeling too seeing it took place near Christmas and in a snowstorm.

5 out of 5 Stars!

Monday, November 30, 2020

Book Review: 15 Minutes of Flame

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15 Minutes of Flame

by Christin Brecher

Stella, a candle maker in a small town, seems to have stumbled upon an amazing find. She has found an old and perfectly spooky house to host the Girl Scout haunted fun night at and at that house she stumbles upon an amazing, old time candle maker sign. She quickly calls the owner of the home and he says if she takes it down it is all hers. She makes quick work of taking it down off the old stone fireplace wall, but she soon gets way more than she bargained for when she finds a skeleton behind the wall. It looks very old, so it is quickly given to archaeologists to investigate. Soon her small town is a hustle and bustle of new people....some archaeologists, a movie maker, and all kinds of mysteries secrets from all. Soon they are led to another old skeleton and a deeply hidden family secret. While trying to sort out the secret and find a promised treasure hidden by these historical skeletons they may not all make it out alive. What secrets can be found from hundreds of years ago? Who wants secrets to stay hidden? What actions may be taken to keep secrets hidden? Can Stella figure it all out while also having her own problems of a boyfriend that is acting oddly and a window being broken out of her apartment and now needing a new home for a bit?

I must admit, I got this book in a Halloween Box I ordered. This is book three in a series, which had me worried, but I was able to follow along just fine. A few things may have made more sense about comments made by some of the characters had I read the other two books first, but it was nothing that impacted the plot of the book at all. I came to really enjoy this book and was unable to put it down.....however, I did not start reading the book that way. I must admit I felt the first bit of the book to be slow, drawn out, and I almost pushed it into my DNF (Did Not Finish) pile. I went to the ladies of my book club and they quickly reassured me that if I could just stick it out a bit longer I would become hooked and be so glad I didn't abandon it....they were 200% correct! Once this book got rolling it became the most amazing cozy mystery I have ever read. I was kept guessing until the very end when I went...ooooohhhhhh, yeah that makes sense. Will I read more of the series?...Honestly, probably not. While I did come to love the characters, I don't think I became invested enough to rush to read on in the series or read the first books. Good read for a Halloween cozy mystery though!

4 out of 5 Stars!

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Book Review: We Were Liars

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We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart

Cady is just a teenager, a pretty privileged teenager actually, if you as others. Every summer she goes to the island where her Grandfather lives to enjoy the summer on her family's island and enjoy the carefree summer fun with her Mother's family and Cady's favorite three friends...Mirren and Jonathan who are her cousins and Gat a misfit of a teen that is not really part of the family, but looked at as family by some. One summer Cady has an accident and has head trauma, she later wakes up on the mainland back at home with her Mother, who tells her that she needs to heal and that they will not be going to the island that summer. Cady is horrified because that is the only time she has with Mirren, Jonathan, and Gat....especially Gat, who she is starting to fall in love with. Powerless she skips the island that summer, but decides to write to the other three for the first time ever. Her emails and letters go unanswered, but she thinks nothing of it, as the island doesn't get great reception or any outsiders to it really. Finally she talks her Mother into going back to the island the next summer. She is excited, but quickly sees that no one is treating her the same way and her three musketeer friends are acting even more oddly. She chalks it up to not seeing anyone for awhile and things start to move forward. Then Cady starts to remember things, things from her accident, things she would love nothing more to remember more clearly, but at the same time forget again. Will she finally discover why her family and friends are acting so different towards her and around her? Is she really just an invalid who can do nothing on her own anymore because of her head injury? Will she never have the care free life she once had? Will her love for Gat be given back to her by him?

I honestly cannot give much in the way of details for this book without slipping some spoiler in. I was hooked on this book from the first pages and found myself staying up into the wee hours of the mornings reading. At first I was all in with Cady, wanting to know why in the world her own family was so different with her and how come her friends were acting so oddly. As I read on and things fell into place some, my mind went....wait, I know what is going on. Then my mind was blown when all was finally revealed! BLOWN!!! Like I said, I won't give much, but I will say that this is a MUST read for anyone looking for a Young Adult book that is full of mystery, friendship, family loyalties, and things that you will never have seen coming. I enjoyed this book very much and think it is a must read for anyone really, young or old. It was a great story with even better characters who you instantly love or hate or love to hate, whatever the case may be for your opinion. I found I wanted to just hug Cady at so many points in this book. She is so young, so confused, and just wants to be loved...by her Mother and by her Gat. I found myself relating to Cady at points too. Just a girl with a love, trying to decide what to do about it and if he loves her back.

5 out of 5 Stars!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Book Review: November Road

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November Road

by Lou Berney

Kennedy was just assassinated and Mob Boss Carlos knows all the details of the who. Once one of his men, Guidry, stops to think about a job Carlos asked him to do concerning a car to be taken care of he realizes that he knows too much and may now be in danger from the Mob Boss too. He decides to act normal and go on a job he is asked to do, even though he knows this is his last job that will more than likely end with him being "taken care of". While doing the job and acting normal for the Boss, Guidry starts planning his tricky escape into the wind by risking asking some shady characters for help that may or may not have his best interest in mind. Along the way he runs into Charlotte, a wife who has decided she needs to do what is best for her and her 2 daughters and leave her abusive alcoholic husband and go to the only relative she knows and hopes will help her....in L.A. Charlotte has some bad luck and Guidry sees it as an opening to sell his story of a traveling man by helping her and having people think they are a family. Te Mob Boss is looking for a single guy after all. Will he make it to Vegas to meet the guy he hopes will help him disappear from the Mob Boss's sight? Will Charlotte make it to L.A. to start her new life? Will running into a guy like Guidry put Charlotte on the Mob Boss list too and put her and her daughters in danger? Is there really any outrunning a Mob Boss?

I must say, this was not a book like I usually pick up. To be honest it was a book that fit into a reading challenge I am doing for my book club, November in the title, so I decided why not. It was an interesting book and one that I was eager to keep reading. It was interesting to watch the characters unfold into what they really were. It was a mystery with a true story hint with the assassination of JFK being in it, but it was also almost a romance story when Charlotte met and started to trust Guidry. This was by far the best dramas I have read in a long time. I think it was good to me because I really didn't expect much out of it because it wasn't my "typical" read of murder mystery and yet it drew me in and kept me reading just to see what really happened to the characters. I won't go into much detail, as it is an easy book to spoil if I say too much, but I do recommend it if you are looking for a dramatic read with a little of everything in it. I will say though, the ending!!! Never saw the ending coming at all. It was a different ending than any ending I have ever read.

5 out of 5 Stars

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Book Review: The Haunting of Ashburn House

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The Haunting of Ashburn House

By Darcy Coates

Adrienne is down on her luck; not just a little down on her luck either. Then she feels like life has thrown her a lifeline when she finds out her long lost great aunt Edith; who she never knew even existed, has died and left her a huge estate. It has a wonderful house that she could only dream of owning, it is near a small town that she is convinced will be just the close knit warm community she has dreamed of, and it has a great amount of land with the house. It may be dark and look a bit....creepy, but she is determined to make the most of this. She quickly learns that there is more to the house and her great aunt than she ever expected. The small town is full of whispers about the weird old lady that lives in the haunted house and who never walked into town to see people, but only to buy a paper and her daily groceries and go back to her home. Soon odd things are happening to Adrienne and her visitors she has gotten that she hopes to befriend. She dismisses it all as kids investigating the spooky house and ghost stories they have learned from generations before them, but soon she learns that not all stories and rumors are fiction. She sets out to figure out what is really going on in her new home and who her great aunt really was and what the truth of her past really is. Thing is....she may wish she didn't dig into anything as she realizes that not all ghosts of the past are friendly, nor do they want you to learn about them. With her furry companion by her side, will Adrienne be able to see what her great aunt was all about and what secrets her past held? Or will the secrets be too much for her to handle.....or survive?

I finished reading this book in just 3 days and I would have finished sooner had life not gotten in the way. I finished reading and literally just sat there staring at the book, just in shock of how much I loved this book and how invested into this book I had become while reading it. This was by far one of THE most amazing and most immersive books I have ever read! I read this book mostly during the day, but found myself so creeped out and on edge that my phone rang and I jumped, not realizing how much I was focused on the book and into it. I love Stephen King and how his books can suck me in...Darcy Coates was right there with how Stephen King books make me feel! I loved every moment of the book and it seemed so real to me I found myself double checking dark spaces and mirrors in my own home!!! If you are a fan of scary, creepy, and realistic all at the same time...this is the perfect book for you. I cannot recommend this book enough. I loved the characters, especially Adrienne and her wonderful cat Wolfgang. She is someone that I would love nothing more than to pull out of the book to have sitting next to me as my real life friend. I can relate to her in so many ways and her personality is just so easy to come to love and her situation is one I found myself really invested in and feeling empathy for her on.

5 out of 5 Stars!!

Monday, October 26, 2020

Book Review: The Outsider

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Book: The Outsider

Author: Stephen King

Summary from book back:

A living nightmare has come to Flint City, Oklahoma, as an eleven-year-old by is found brutally murdered in a local park--an unspeakable crime that rocks local law enforcement to its core as the most heinous atrocity anyone there has ever witnessed. Equally stunning is the identity of the prime suspect: Terry Maitland, one of Flint City's most popular citizens, as well as Little League coach, English teacher, and devoted husband and father. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose own son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Multiple eyewitnesses and irrefutable evidence mean an ironclad case . . . until the investigation expands, and horrifying new details begin to emerge. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answers is revealed it will shock you as only master storyteller Stephen King can.

I am a huge Stephen King fan, having read almost all his books...new and old, and having watched every movie that was based off of his books. As a kid I fell quickly in love with his works under R. L. Stine also. I finally got around to reading this book of his and fell in love with his writing all over again. He may have longer books, but they never feel long to me. I quickly got sucked into this book and found myself reading it every free moment I had. I really don't want to go into details of any kind with this book because anything I say may tip you off to the secret of this creepy mystery. I will say this...I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire book and found myself feeling the creepy creeps too. While reading before bed I found myself needing to stop and then play a round of a game on my phone before settling in to sleep. It was a creepy book that was also so realistic you can't help but find yourself checking dark corners and under your bed before you go to sleep. The characters were amazing and I fell in love with Detective Anderson and Holly in a very short time after seeing them introduced. I loved how the plot stayed a main plot, but also spread like darkness to encompass a much broader issue than just the murder of the first child found. This is a great book and I highly recommend it to any mystery, horror, or Stephen Kind lover!! You may want to read with the lights on though.

5 out of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Musseled Out

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Title: Musseled Out
Author: Barbara Ross
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 2015
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"The busy summer tourist season is winding down in Busman's Harbor, Maine, but Julia Snowden senses trouble simmering for the Snowden Family Clambake Company. Shifty David Thwing - the "Mussel King" of upscale seafood restaurants - is sniffing around town for a new location. But serving iffy clams turns out to be the least of his troubles....

When Thwing is found sleeping with the fishes beneath a local lobsterman's boat, the police quickly finger Julia's brother-in-law, Sonny, as the one who cooked up the crime. Sure, everyone knows Sonny despised the Mussel King...but Julia believes he's innocent. Proving it won't be easy, though. It seems there's a lot more than murder on the menu, and Julia needs to act fast....

Includes traditional Maine clambake recipes!"

My Review:

I was looking for a nice fall setting book and when I saw this one was set in October it fit the bill nicely. I loved this book. It was a softer mystery, but a mystery that quickly sucked me in. It was the type of book that was very relaxing to read. This was a third book in a series, so I was worried that I wouldn't be able to follow it, but it was a great stand alone book too. The parts that did reference the previous books were just that, a sentence or two that mentioned something that happened in a previous book, but were not of great importance to the story going on. The plot was interesting and the characters were amazing and I loved watching them develop throughout the book. The setting of Maine was a nice thing to read about too. I loved the lobstering point of view too. It was different and something new in a book for me. I was so convinced that I knew exactly what happened, but then as the book got closer to the end I was surprised to change my view on what I thought happened. This was a very good book and if you enjoy mysteries this is a great book for you to pick up and give a whirl. I simply can't go into much details without giving away the main parts of the book. So...I will just leave it at this....if you are seeking a mystery that is not too heavy, is fast moving, has a beautiful setting, has great characters, and will keep you guessing to the end, this is a book you must read.

5 out of 5 Stars!

Book Review: The One and Only Ivan

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Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Pages: 300
Publication Date: 2012
Version: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope."

My Review:

I sought out this book originally simply because I needed a book told from the perspective of an animal for a book club. I had heard so much about this book for so long and then heard about it even more when the movie was being made. I finally decided now was the perfect time to read it. This book was a change of pace for me seeing I am usually a mystery reader. It was like a breath of fresh air and I actually devoured it in one day only, I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I have a great love of animals and this book pulled on that love with all the fun animal characters like Ivan the Silverback Gorilla, Stella the elephant, Ruby the baby elephant, and Bob the dog. My heart strings were pulled throughout this entire book. It was such a change of pace to have a book from an animal stand point instead of a human one...I loved it. I loved how the animals talk about how confusing humans can be and I found myself chuckling as I read about how when they watch humans kiss they call it Face Licking. It made me think just how much humans really do make things complicated way more than they need to or should. I must say, this book was filled with all kinds of emotions for me from humor and love to heartbreak and wonder. I loved the friendships they all formed with each other simply because they were in the same situation, even if they came to that situation from greatly different lives. The bond they all had was amazing to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone, young or old, that wants a great, easy, and emotion packed read that will stick with them forever. It may be a young adult book, but I think an adult reading it will take out different things from it than a young adult may that reads it. Perhaps it is a book to read while young and when older to take away all the lessons and feelings. Very good book that I am very happy I decided to finally pick up. Will I watch the movie? Probably not, some parts of the book would be very hard to see on the screen if they put them in the movie for me, too many heart strings would be pulled. Also, I am a firm believer in the books are way better than the movies.

5 out of 5 Stars!!!

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Book Review: Fogged Inn

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Fogged Inn

By Barbara Ross

Adult Fiction, Mystery

Julia Snowden is passing the time of the off season of her Clambake season by joining forces with her boyfriend, Chris, and running the Gus Too; a dinner restaurant that is open after Gus closes up his morning and lunch business for the day. Her daily routine is quickly ruined when a customer is found dead in their walk in fridge. He may have been a stranger in town, but she just knows there is an explanation. There were only certain people in her restaurant that night...was that just a coincidence or was there a reason only they were inside? Is there some connection between each of the customers and the customers and the, now dead, guy in the fridge? Soon Julia can't help but stick her nose into the situation and dig around to find out what really happened to the dead guy in her fridge. She is told to stay out of it, she is told it is dangerous, but she just can't help herself. Soon she finds it really is dangerous and she really should have stayed out of it after all. Her boyfriend Chris soon worries she won't survive all her sleuthing around and that she may be starting to cross over into crazy thinking. Some secrets are meant to be kept buried.

I must say I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book I have read from this author in this series, but I didn't read the whole series before them. It is a great stand alone book and any reference to the other books is usually just in passing and is just something that a character did. For instance the book referring to how Julia's Mom was when she first took a job compared to how she is fairing now with that same job. I love the characters in this book! They are fun, full of humor, and just filled with great personality. I love watching Julia that most, she is so full of spunk and can get into the most unusual situations. This book was a fast moving read for me. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was right with Julia on who I thought was the culprit of the murder and odd things going on in Julia's home. However, like Julia, every time I was sure I had it all figured out...something would happen and I was back to not really being sure at all. If you are looking for a great mystery read with lots of local secrets, this is the book for you!

5 out of 5 Stars!!

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Book Review: Someone Knows

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Title: Someone Knows
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 2019
Version: Hardcover
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Twenty years ago, in an upscale suburb of Philadelphia, four teenagers spent a summer as closest friends: drinking, sharing secrets, testing boundaries. When a new boy looked to join them, they decided to pull a prank on him, convincing him to play Russian roulette as an initiation into their group. They secretly planned to leave the gun unloaded—but what happened next would change each of them forever.

Now three of the four reunite for the first time since that horrible summer. The guilt—and the lingering question about who loaded the gun—drove them apart. But after one of the group apparently commits suicide with a gun, their old secrets come roaring back. One of them is going to figure out if the new suicide is what it seems, and if it connects to the events of that long-ago summer. Someone knows exactly what happened—but who? And how far will they go to keep their secrets buried?"

My Review:

I saw this book advertised on the ID channel and thought, I must read that because it looks amazing. Usually I don't pick to read books from seeing them on TV or hearing about them on the radio, but this one just peaked my interest. Plus I saw it on the ID channel....how could I possibly go wrong?!?! I am very glad I decided to pick it up! This book started in present day and then quickly jumped to 20 years earlier and then about halfway through the book, came back to present. I loved the flow of the book. It had me hooked from the first chapter and all throughout the book. The characters were absolutely amazing. They were so real that I quickly found myself liking, loving, and hating them or their decisions. I felt like I was living in the book when I was reading because it was described to well and so thoroughly. There are soooooo few books that shock me or lead me astray, but this one did. I found myself so surprised as the last chapters were unfolding that I literally was staring at my book with wide eyes and shock. I had never read anything by this author before and I was very impressed with her style of writing. Sometimes books with past and present can get a muddled feeling to them from back and forth, but this was not like that at all. I think a major reason it was not like that was because the book may have started in present and only stayed in it a few chapters at first, it was from there divided almost exactly in half between past and present. That made it easy to follow, but also amusing to follow to watch everything play out. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is in search of a mystery that they can really get lost in and will lose track of time in. You will not be disappointed in anything in this book! Characters, plot, secrets, loyalties, guilt, friendships, family dynamics, family secrets, relationships....this book has them all and all of them are edge of your seat exciting and come with twists and turns so sharp you may fall off that edge of the couch! AMAZING BOOK!!!

5 out of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Down With The Shine

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Title: Down With The Shine
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Pages: 355
Publication Date: 2016
Version: Hardcover
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Make a wish…

Lennie always thought her uncles’ “important family legacy” was good old-fashioned bootlegging. Then she takes some of her uncles’ moonshine to Michaela Gordon’s annual house party, and finds out just how wrong she was.

At the party, Lennie has everyone make a wish before drinking the shine—it’s tradition. She toasts to wishes for bat wings, for balls of steel, for the party to go on forever. Lennie even makes a wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was murdered six months ago.

The next morning gives Lennie a whole new understanding of the phrase be careful what you wish for—or in her case, be careful what wishes you grant. Because all those wishes Lennie raised a jar of shine to last night? They came true. Most of them came out bad. And once granted, a wish can’t be unmade… "

My Review:

Holy smokes!!! This was one of the best young adult reads that I have read in a very very long time. I picked it up, not actually realizing it was a young adult read, until I was a couple chapters into the book. I mean a book with a main component being Moonshine? I figured not super young adult. However, this book was more than Moonshine. This book was full of poor choices, peer pressure, a need/want to fit in, magic, mystery, friendships, love, strong bonds, and family secrets that fill up an ocean. I was quickly drawn in to love the characters, or hate them depending on the character. I quickly was transported into the book and lost in the goings on and felt like I was standing next to the characters and working through things with them. The main plot was quick to unfold and throughout the book I was eagerly reading onward to find out what would happen next and how Lennie would carry on and try to figure things out to fix mistakes from her past. I was quickly trying to wrap my mind around what was happening and why, just like Lennie and Smith were. I found a quick love for those two characters the most. I found myself cheering them on while reading and also pushing them together as "more than friends" in my head too! Throughout the entire book I was wondering how it would all play out in the end and how things would really end up. I was on the edge of my seat and could not believe how it all actually turned out!! LOVED IT!!!!! It was a little bit of a change of pace from my usual mystery reads of murder mystery, but I loved it none the less and it was an amazing change of pace. It also, in all fairness, did have a touch of murder mystery aspect to it, just not the main huge plot. If you are looking for a quick and amazing read, I highly recommend this book!!

5 out of 5 Stars!!

I'm Changing!

I will be changing my way of reviewing starting in November. I just am seeking a bit of an easier way of posting and reviewing and keeping things short and sweet for followers to read. I will be going to posts that include: Picture of the book (taken by me), Number of stars I give, short and sweet review with a synopsis given by way of that review (instead of an official summary from Goodreads like I do now).

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Book Review: Gone With the Whisker

Title: Gone With The Whisker
Author: Laurie Cass
Pages: 340
Publication Date: 2020
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery...until murder stops them in their tracks!

It's the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library's most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.

But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile's most loyal patrons. And she knows she--and Eddie--will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime."

My Review:

Wow! What a book! I must say that I absolutely was hooked on this book from the first chapter to the last chapter. It was full of amazing characters, who I only wish would live in my town to be my "real life" friends. They were hilarious and full of sass and curiosity and love and friendliness. I loved how I got to watch Minnie and her niece Kate grow over the season in the book. It proved to me that you really don't know what someone is really thinking, even if you ask, sometimes. Sometimes you have to stumble upon the truth of that matter to really see what you couldn't before. The relationships in this book were shown to be tried and true and unbreakable no matter what. That is something people dream of having. I loved reading about it and seeing how the characters developed throughout the book. The plot was great! No shortage of mystery in this book and no shortage of suspects either. I must say I was stumped on who could really be responsible for the murder, but as the book came to a close I "saw the light" and had my "ah ha" moment. This was a fast paced read with twists and turns along the way to really draw a reader into the whole thing! I felt like I was watching a movie when I was reading because everything was so well explained....from characters to settings. It may have been a little longer read, but I was never hoping it would end and I drank it all in as anxiously as I drink my morning coffee. If you are a mystery lover, this is the book for you to put on that "to be read" list for sure!

5 out of 5 Stars!

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Book Review: Killed on Blueberry Hill

Title: Killed on Blueberry Hill
Author: Sharon Farrow
Pages: 335
Publication Date: 2018
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"It's peak tourist season in Oriole Point, Michigan--the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt. Nothing draws the crowds quite like their annual carnival. And nothing turns it sour faster than murder . . .

The Blueberry Blow Out festival has begun and it's time for Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, to shine. Unfortunately it's also bringing out the worst in her fiance Ryan Zeller. Ryan's rivalry with Porter Gale, owner of Blueberry Hill Farm, spills over into a very public and very ugly fight. And after they compete in the pie-eating contest and a raucous tug of war, their orchard blood feud takes a deadly turn . . .

The death of the king of Blueberry Hill is a shock but not too surprising--he was a diabetic whose last pig out meal was deliciously fatal. But when authorities discover that someone tampered with Porter's insulin, a tragic accident is looking like murder--and Ryan is the key ingredient. Now Marlee's investigation to clear his name is taking her deep into the Gale family secrets, and she's being shadowed every step of the way by a killer whose sweet revenge is just beginning . . .
Includes Berry Recipes!"

My Review:

This....book....was....AMAZING!!! If you like mystery books and just a good 'ole who dunnit you will LOVE this book! From the start of the book I was hooked. The main mystery may have not taken place for a little bit into the book, but the book started in such a way that I was into the backstory and the characters and what was going on with the characters right away. Marlee was by far my favorite character and one that I would give anything to have be a real life person to become friends with. She is funny, independent, and yet can't help but investigate things that maybe she shouldn't be. There was so much happening in this book, yet it all worked perfectly. I loved the side plots and the feel of not just a mystery, but developing characters too and their lives. This was a book in a series, but it did very well as a stand alone book too. I had not read the previous books in the series, but was never confused or had the feeling that I should stop and read the others first. Some series are not like that, so to have this one be great as a stand alone OR as a continuation in reading the series was a great talent on the author's part. There were some parts that referenced things in the past books, but they were explained by the characters to make sense in the context of the scene. I was so sure I had the mystery all figured out, SO SURE, but then I got toward the end and went, wait.....what?! It's not too often I am completely wrong on my who dunnit thinking, but this book had me headed in the complete wrong direction. Kept me on my toes. This book was fast paced and always had me wanting to keep reading and not put it down. I absolutely loved it! Mystery lovers should check this book out for sure and I can tell you I will be looking for this author again and seeing where the characters continue going in their development. :)

5 out of 5 Stars!!

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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Book Review: Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Title: Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
Author: Sarah Graves
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 2018
Version: Soft Cover
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Life just got a little sweeter in the island fishing village of Eastport, Maine. Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and her best friend Ellie are opening a waterfront bake shop, The Chocolate Moose, where their tasty treats pair perfectly with the salty ocean breeze. But while Jake has moved on from fixing up houses, she still can't resist the urge to snoop into the occasional murder.

Jake and Ellie have been through a lot together, from home repair to homicide investigation. So when they decide to open a chocolate-themed bakery, they figure it’ll be a piece of cake. With Ellie’s old family recipes luring in customers, they expect to make plenty of dough this Fourth of July weekend. Having family home for the holiday only sweetens the deal for Jake—until the ill wind of an early-season hurricane blows up her plans. When the storm hits, Jake’s grown son Sam is stranded in a Boston bus station, and her husband Wade is stuck on a cargo ship. But as bitter as the storm is, something even more sinister is brewing in the kitchen of The Chocolate Moose—where health inspector Matt Muldoon is found murdered.

Ellie never made a secret of her distaste for Matt, who had been raining on their parade with bogus talk of health code violations. Now, with no alibi for the night of the murder, she’s in a sticky situation with the police—and it’s up to Jake to catch the real killer and keep Ellie living in the land of the free."

My Review:

I found this to be a great mystery read, however I did have some things that I disliked about it too. This was the first in a new series, so some things were due to that. First in a series books seem to start very slowly, as they are getting the characters and backstory going and out there for the reader. This book was the same way, very slow start and just seemed to take awhile to get momentum and moving along. Even after it kicked off and was moving along, I found this author to be one that is "wordy". Wordy to the point of me wanting to just skip huge sections of the pages because they were purely descriptive and to the point of, I just don't gain a dang thing from reading it and it just seems a waste of time. To test this theory I did a little experiment of my own...I read one chapter ONLY reading things in quotations or in the paragraph of the quotations and then I went back and read it as written. I found I missed absolutely nothing having skipped chunks. There is descriptive writing that puts you in the moment and makes you feel part of the book, and then there is descriptive writing that is a waste of words and paper and could have been skipped all together because it adds nothing but words....the last one is what this was. Now, the mystery itself and the characters were great and I did enjoy watching them and watching the mystery unfold. I knew pretty much what happened and who did what well before the end, but I did enjoy coming to the conclusions throughout the read. So, would I recommend this read? If you like "fluff" in your reading then by all means read this book, but if you are into hit the road running action in your mystery book then no I would not recommend this book for you.

3 out of 4 Stars!

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Book Review: Second Chance Summer

Title: Second Chance Summer
Author: Jill Shalvis
Pages: 339
Publication Date: 2015
Version: Soft Cover
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . . "

My Review:

Not going to lie, I had a rough time getting into this book. I did make it through, but it took work to continue reading. I think my mind was in the mystery mindset and this being strictly romance, it was just confused and not into it. It, overall, was a decent book, just wasn't for me. The characters were fantastic though and I loved watching them develop and change throughout the book. I felt like some of them I could easily see myself as being friends with. If you are looking for a book about love, family, secrets, and guilt then this is the book for you. I could relate a little to Lily's guilt over the death of her sister. I haven't lost a sister, but I have lost a Mom and some days you can't help but think there was something, anything, you could have done to have prevented the outcome that happened. Sorry, this review is so short and sweet, but being that it just wasn't my kind of book, I found it hard to write too much without giving the book secrets away. Now, would I recommend this book to others?...sure I think I would, but I would recommend to the people that are romance novel lovers thru and thru. :)

4 out of 5 Stars!

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Book Review: You Will Be Mine

Title: You Will Be Mine
Author: Natasha Preston
Pages: 281
Publication Date: 2018
Version: Soft Cover
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer together. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way...

The girls are touching up their makeup and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off.

Except Sonny never comes home. And a new note arrives:

YOUR TURN"

My Review:

I absolutely ate this book up!! I could NOT put it down and was hooked from start to finish. This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I love a good mystery and one that is fast paced and this book fulfilled just that! I quickly fell in love with the characters and their friendship bond they had with each other and felt like I was part of the group in hoping that the killer would be caught and quickly. Usually I am one to pick out or at least narrow down the who in the who dunnit quickly, but in this book I found I was completely off track. I was just as blindsided by the outcome as the characters were in the end. I needed a book like this, I have been in a book reading funk so to speak lately and just have been feeling nothing was fast paced enough to get me into it, but this book turned that all upside down and had me on the edge of my seat and reading late into the night again, Great plot, great characters, and amazing writing from the author all the way around. If I had to give one downside to the book it would be the epilogue, I don't want to give spoiler so I won't, but I was disappointed in the epilogue because I was expecting more or something different in it. All in all though, amazing book and a definite must read to any mystery lover!

4 out of 5 Stars!

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Thursday, June 25, 2020

Book Review: Endangered

Title: Endangered
Author: C.J. Box
Pages: 369
Publication Date: 2015
Version: Soft Cover
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"She was gone. Joe Pickett had good reason to dislike Dallas Cates, even if he was a rodeo champion, and now he has even more—Joe’s eighteen-year-old ward, April, has run off with him.

And then comes even worse news: The body of a girl has been found in a ditch along the highway—alive, but just barely, the victim of blunt force trauma. It is April, and the doctors aren’t sure if she’ll recover. Cates denies having anything to do with it—says she ran away from him, too—and there’s evidence that points to another man. But Joe knows in his gut who’s responsible. What he doesn’t know is the kind of danger he’s about to encounter. Cates is bad enough, but Cates’s family is like none Joe has ever met before.

Joe’s going to find out the truth, even if it kills him. But this time, it just might."

My Review:

This was a heck of a book, that I must say had me fooled from page one. There was a LOT happening in this book that's for sure. It was pure action and mystery from the get go. I loved how there may have been multiple plot lines happening, but I was never confused or mixing them up. It was very well written. It was definitely a book based off a Father's actions because of his love and bond with his daughter. He was not willing to give up on finding all the answers he was seeking, even if the other authorities had stamped the case "closed". Joe shows just how far a Father will go to find answers when someone does harm to his family. I loved the twists and turns in this book! It took me a bit to finish this book, but it was no fault of the book, haha, it was life that got in the way of hours of reading at a time. It was a book that was easy to read, easy to follow, yet more interesting than any I have read in a long time. This book is part of a series, which I didn't really realize until after I was into it. It is a pretty decent stand alone book, a few references to past books, but it was nothing that hindered the current book. Mainly it was a few "inside jokes" if you will that I knew would mean more had I read more of the series before this book. I did find that there was one ongoing type of mystery that was going on though. It, again, was interesting and being that it wasn't the main plot of this book was not something that I was mad about really. I did finish the book and was starting to write this review when I thought, hey...that particular plot never really had a hard end end, but I wasn't mad, it had a pretty conclusive point that lead me to make my own conclusions about it. Not sure if it was meant to be that way or if it will be brought up again in the next book(s). Again, wasn't a big deal to me or a deal breaker for liking the book. The book was excellent! I loved the characters as well and hated others, but not because of writing development of them, but because of how they were in the book. I loved seeing the development of Joe, the main character, and he quickly was one I came to love in the book for many reasons. He is determined in both his work and family life. This book had a way of him putting his daughter and family first all while also putting his work, not first per say, but a dang hair of the chin close second. I would definitely recommend this read whether you are picking it up as a stand alone or if you are continuing on in the series.

5 out of 5 Stars!

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Book Review: True Colors

Title: True Colors
Author: Kristin Hannah
Pages: 491
Publication Date: 2009
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"True Colors is New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah's most provocative, compelling, and heart-wrenching story yet. With the luminous writing and unforgettable characters that are her trademarks, she tells the story of three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along.

The Grey sisters have always been close. After their mother's death, the girls banded together, becoming best friends. Their stern, disapproving father cares less about his children than about his reputation. To Henry Grey, appearances are everything, and years later, he still demands that his daughters reflect his standing in the community.

Winona, the oldest, needs her father's approval most of all. An overweight bookworm who never felt at home on the sprawling horse ranch that has been in her family for three generations, she knows that she doesn't have the qualities her father values. But as the best lawyer in town, she's determined to someday find a way to prove her worth to him.

Aurora, the middle sister, is the family peacemaker. She brokers every dispute and tries to keep them all happy, even as she hides her own secret pain.

Vivi Ann is the undisputed star of the family. A stunningly beautiful dreamer with a heart as big as the ocean in front of her house, she is adored by all who know her. Everything comes easily for Vivi Ann, until a stranger comes to town. . . .

In a matter of moments, everything will change. The Grey sisters will be pitted against one another in ways that none could have imagined. Loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their beloved town.

With breathtaking pace and penetrating emotional insight, True Colors is an unforgettable novel about sisters, rivalry, forgiveness, redemption—and ultimately, what it means to be a family."

My Review:

I must say this book was surprisingly amazing to me! I picked it up thinking, well I know murder mystery isn't the whole true plot of this book, but it looks like it could be decent so I'll give it a shot. I am so so so glad I did! True, murder mystery wasn't the sole plot of this book, but it played a role in the plot. Also included were family dynamics of three sisters and their lives, ever changing and difficult for others to understand. Three sisters that shared an unbreakable bond were pulled so far apart with such different views on things going on in their lives that that bond was tested and pulled to the point of breaking some of its strands, but not the whole rope of the bond. This was such an emotionally charged book from page one to page 491. I very rarely go through the emotions of the characters or find a book so emotionally charged that it pained me to read it at times in my own emotions, but this book did just that. I cried, I laughed, I found the hope in the situations and had it crushed just like the characters did, and I found myself torn about how to feel about so many of the things happening in the book...just like the characters. I was overcome at times even with emotions so much that I had to put down the book to take a break and regroup myself. Even having to do this I found myself rushing back to reading it to continue on the journey along with the Grey family. I related to a lot of this book too, I think that was why it was so emotional for me. To say I felt every emotion Vivi Ann had would not be far off the mark. I wanted to just hug her through the pages and tell her to stay strong and never give up. This may have been an emotion filled book that really was trying on my own emotions at times, but I am so glad I picked it up to read and I couldn't be happier to have read it and experienced it. It was very well written and very easy to be sucked into and to forget it was a work of fiction and not happening in your own community or with your own best friend or family member. I highly, very highly, recommend you take time to read this wonderful book!

5 out of 5 Stars!!!

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