Pallas Poppies

I liked this more than “The Last Chance Library” so I guess it should get a five star but it’s not like it’s as good as “Pride and Prejudice”. Nah, I’m holding back but a very strong four.

Grumpy older woman Dorothy is a nosy neighbor and after her apartment complex has been listed for demolition and one of the other residents is attack, grumpy Dorothy and standoffish Kat are joining forces.

Some more cozy vibes than “The Last Chance Library” and maybe Sampson should head for a full blown cozy next?

Oh and in my mind Dorothy was Miriam Margolyes, I could hear her voice.

“12 Trips in 12 months: Make your own Solo Travel Magic. Bestselling author Jen Ruiz takes readers on a trips around the globe in 12 Trip in 12 Months, defying societal expectations of what a woman is supposed to be - and empowering others to do the same.” Sounds great, I don’t have travel buddies and I want to visit some places so here we go, inspire me and empower me please!

So I thought it would be some fun travel stories and tips and idea to make your traveling happen but it’s not that. This is a woman contemplating her terrible love life while traveling, she even writes herself a powerful letter how she needs no man only to break down immediately by contacting some asshole man from the past and then hooking up with some random guy she found at an airport in Thailand after crying. See she's just turned 30 and is grieving.

At the end of the book, “If you’re thinking of casually changing your life, I happen to know the secret, I took 12 trips in 12 months. Now it’s you’re turn.” And in the epilogue I get the advice to sign up for a free web seminary…

There’s nothing in this book on how to have the courage to travel more, especially as a solo woman. Other than charge it to the credit card and be an influencer I guess. Disappointing.

“12 Trips in 12 months: Make your own Solo Travel Magic. Bestselling author Jen Ruiz takes readers on a trips around the globe in 12 Trip in 12 Months, defying societal expectations of what a woman is supposed to be - and empowering others to do the same.” Sounds great, I don’t have travel buddies and I want to visit some places so here we go, inspire me and empower me please!

So I thought it would be some fun travel stories and tips and idea to make your traveling happen but it’s not that. This is a woman contemplating her terrible love life while traveling, she even writes herself a powerful letter how she needs no man only to break down immediately by contacting some asshole man from the past and then hooking up with some random guy she found at an airport in Thailand after crying. See she's just turned 30 and is grieving.

At the end of the book, “If you’re thinking of casually changing your life, I happen to know the secret, I took 12 trips in 12 months. Now it’s you’re turn.” And in the epilogue I get the advice to sign up for a free web seminary…

There’s nothing in this book on how to have the courage to travel more, especially as a solo woman. Other than charge it to the credit card and be an influencer I guess. Disappointing.

Bunny and McGarry never disappoints. This time, like usual, Bunny and the boys stumble into some trouble that reads like an 80’s movie staring Steven Seagal but better as none of Bunny or his friends would kiss a dictators ass.

A charming quick read that hit a little close to home.

June Jones life stops when her mother gets sick and dies a few years later. She lives in their old house, surrounded by the same things, even taking up her mothers job at the local library.

One day the council drops a bomb, they need to close libraries to save money. Junes library is one of those that might be closing down.

A lot of people depend on the library and they need to save it.

A story about friendship and healing, a love letter to libraries.

DNF: I read 22 chapters but... I saw that it was out soon as an audiobook where I get my audiobooks so I thought I'd give that a try and after one chapter more I was like, nope.

It's supposed to be adult but this is not adult.

And the characters are so annoying, these two immature assassins arguing in, "Asshole!", "I know you are but what am I?" kind of way. It's... ugh. I dislike them both.

And I can't stress enough how stupid these two are, they are the best assassins in town and one of them walks into a broom cupboard in the first chapter instead of the exit. They have habits and can easily be followed. They allow a person into the assassin headquarters because... she's hot maybe?

I did like the setting but I'm Swedish and they mentioned Bellman at the start so I just imagine 1700's Stockholm covered in snow, not sure it was on the page.

Booksirens read.

Judith St Clair moves with her father and siblings as he accepts a new position as rector. They arrive in Derbyshire shortly before Christmas.

Louisa-Margaretta Haddington has also had a rough move to the parish but for different reason.

The two you women are different but join forces after Louisa-Margarettas aunt dies at the Christmas ball and it's up to them to find out what happened. Along the ride we get to know the two women and maybe they aren't that different after all.

It’s a quick read and if you like books by D.S. Lang, Anita Davidson, Ava Ness or Anna Castle you’ll probably like this one too.

I was excited at the start and there were a few phrases that was fun and a hint of Austen but, quickly things are slowing down and I felt so uninterested.

Mr. Wickham is murdered in a house where basically everyone wants him dead. It would have been so funny of the whole house party was like, “We have to make it look like an accident!” and everyone is just trying to cover up the murder from the law.

It slowed down so much that it was dull to read but I made it to the end (and it felt like a victory) and by then I didn’t care much.

I haven’t read all Austens books but a few and I have liked them. None of these re imaginations are anywhere near capturing the core of the characters.

Less PTSD and sex and more sleuthing, over 60% in and it starts to sleuth some more but a little late.

Feels like the friends to the MC are not really in this. It feels flat and meh.

I still like the nature and animals being a part of the book and I feel the place standing out because of it, I do like that.

Annie dropped her plans of becoming a privet investigator when her best friend who she was going to start her agency with is murdered their last year of college. Instead she moves to the small town of Redwood Groove and works at a bookstore. The store is struggling and to make some money they have a book festival which brings tourist and money, but also people from her past… and before you know it, she stumbles upon a dead body.

Annie is likable enough with an interesting back story but…

I wish there was a reason for her to get involved in the investigation. And I don’t like how the investigator just shares everything with the MC because they know each other. There’s nothing at stake here.

The love interest and Annie has this dislike for one and other and they have “banter”. Annie always says he’s so annoying and I can’t really see that he is. Give us a reason for him to be annoying and then have it change over time. I call this a false Darcy and it’s a pet peeve of mine.

I liked the elderly gay couple, you don’t see that very often. But I didn’t always like how Clem treated Margery.

There wasn’t much proper sleuthing, no proper reason for them to get involved. Need to get my hands on a “real” cozy, feels like it’s been ages since I read one. I won’t continue this series.