Pallas Poppies

Abigail Dixon has been sent to Paris for work as a journalist, she wants to do real news but she’s stuck with dull fashion and society. On her first assignment she stumbles upon the dead body of her estrange stepmother and now has to avoid the guillotine.

This book benefits from the previous cozy I just read was pretty bad so this is coming off as a lot better.

The sleuthing falls into the background and there’s a lot of Gossip Girl makeover fashion moments that takes up too much time and the MC is suddenly a muse for a designer and goes to parties to market his designs, luckily for her she comes across people at these parties that might have facts that can help her.

More sleuthing in the next book perhaps? I might give it try. Unless more real historical people pops up in that one, I hate that.

This was fun and I do want to run, and I’ll eventually will give it a go. I did listen to this when I was out walking and I did run in a few places just because of it. Very basic for beginners. Didn't know there was such a thing as virtual races.

I also like the trigger warnings ahead of certain chapters about counting calories and such.

Netgalley read

On a morning bike ride influencer and blogger Emily falls over the dead body of her frenemy.

Our hero rolls out of bed everyday and gets fed sugary treats by her gay BFF and he also takes care of her dog pretty often while Emily… ? Um posts a random post on her blog? She even says “Bloggers and influencers often worked more than most people realized.” Not this one.

She then for no really good reason asks her followers for tips about the murder and could possibly destroy the whole investigation for the police. Her response is to stomps her feet and tells the cop “You can’t tell me what to do. This isn’t high school. I’m a grown up.”

I guess if this was an early draft and you cleaned it up, flesh out characters and make them more real and likable it could be good. Feels unfinished at this point.

This story takes place on a small castle island in Lake Garda during a wedding, say no more. There’s several POVs and yes, I liked it! (wow, what an amazing review...)

I will look for the rest of Tom’s books.

Netgalley read

On a morning bike ride influencer and blogger Emily falls over the dead body of her frenemy.

Our hero rolls out of bed everyday and gets fed sugary treats by her gay BFF and he also takes care of her dog pretty often while Emily… ? Um posts a random post on her blog? She even says “Bloggers and influencers often worked more than most people realized.” Not this one.

She then for no really good reason asks her followers for tips about the murder and could possibly destroy the whole investigation for the police. Her response is to stomps her feet and tells the cop “You can’t tell me what to do. This isn’t high school. I’m a grown up.”

I guess if this was an early draft and you cleaned it up, flesh out characters and make them more real and likable it could be good. Feels unfinished at this point.

This story takes place on a small castle island in Lake Garda during a wedding, say no more. There’s several POVs and yes, I liked it! (wow, what an amazing review...)

I will look for the rest of Tom’s books.

Been awhile since I read this series, I think? But I don’t remember Olivie being such a “not like other girls”. There are a few moments in the book where Olive says that and I rather see it and think it myself.

I didn’t really get the motive for the murder, and I did end up not caring all that much and lost interest towards the end.

Also, seemed like the locale police had it covered and didn’t need her. And please can we stop the “foreigner getting English idioms wrong”, it’s not cute or funny, I hate it. Hopefully the next is better.

Been awhile since I read this series, I think? But I don’t remember Olivie being such a “not like other girls”. There are a few moments in the book where Olive says that and I rather see it and think it myself.

I didn’t really get the motive for the murder, and I did end up not caring all that much and lost interest towards the end.

Also, seemed like the locale police had it covered and didn’t need her. And please can we stop the “silly foreigner getting English idioms wrong”, it’s not cute or funny, I hate it. Hopefully the next is better.

This was fun and I do want to run, and I’ll eventually will give it a go. I did listen to this when I was out walking and I did run in a few places just because of it. Very basic for beginners. Didn't know there was such a thing as virtual races.

I also like the trigger warnings ahead of certain chapters about counting calories and such.

I had the audiobook, might not be the best format for this. A physical book where you can jump around sounds much better.

I don’t know much about hiking so I don’t know if this is good. But I still want to go hiking and it seems like an honest view on the ups and downs of being on the trail. Brings up pre hike diet and exercises and all sorts of part of the planning. Also brings up some post trail TLC.

I wonder what post trail depression will do with my current depression?

I don’t know. I liked the first book because of the humor. I’m missing the humor but I will finish off the books so I know what happens but did I enjoy this? Not really.

I started this book back in October last year but I stopped due to one of the character getting cancer which is a little triggering for me and then a moronic asshole cop trying to pin a murder on a kid because? Anyways, kept popping up as recommendations so I gave it another try. I did enjoy this book as I care about the characters, Jack and Lana more than Beth. This 3 is stronger than meh which is usually how I feel about books that I give a 3 to but it’s missing in the mystery and suspense area. Sure they are sleuthing but there’s nothing at stake, there could have been more done.

I had the audiobook, might not be the best format for this. A physical book where you can jump around sounds much better.

I don’t know much about hiking so I don’t know if this is good. But I still want to go hiking and it seems like an honest view on the ups and downs of being on the trail. Brings up pre hike diet and exercises and all sorts of part of the planning. Also brings up some post trail TLC.

I wonder what post trail depression will do with my current depression?

Another ebook so maybe that’s why? But I doubt it. It was pretty flat and… The MCs sister gets into trouble at work and the whole family gets together with group hugs, sure I’m a bit messed up and my family don’t hug but it felt a little odd, than it got more so. The MC shows up to her sisters job to try and get it back?

I’m not much for paranormal or witchy cozies and I thought the talking cat would be an issue here but the dull characters and plot is. Even if a cat with human intelligence and this is actually all cats but this one just learned to talk to humans for some reason does bring up some issues but whatever.

The characters are flat and the romance is dull. Paper thin.