Pam
I started reading the Ernest Cunningham books because of the titles. The first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, was a fantastic start to the series. Throughout the entire series, the titles have been attention-grabbing. Even better, the stories and the storytelling are also attention-grabbing.
In this book, Ernest finds himself in an unprecedented situation, trying to solve multiple mysteries, from theft to murder. Some of these happen in the book, but a few do happen before the book begins. Cunningham is a writer by trade and, as such, insists on telling the story in the style of Golden Age mysteries, where all the clues are on the page for readers to process at the same time as the detective.
Obviously, I’m not going to spoil anything that happens in the book. But I do have to say that my biggest issue is that a couple of events in the book run counter to Cunningham’s way of telling the story. A few things revealed as the story progresses that don’t feel like they were referenced earlier in the book.
One of my favorite aspects of this book, and the series as a whole, is the fact that Ernest Cunningham tends to break the fourth wall. I don’t believe I have ever read another series, or even a book, that has a main character do that.
Overall, I believe anyone who enjoys reading mysteries will enjoy the Ernest Cunningham series.
I added The Bodyguard Affair to my TBR last summer after reading the synopsis. It sounded like such a fun read. And it was a fun read, with a side of heart and reality.
While the book is over 400 pages long, it doesn’t feel like it’s drawn out. There’s nothing that feels like it needs editing. Sure, Andi has her moments where she comes across as a pick me girl, but don’t we all at one point or another in our lives? Just like, there are times when Nolan comes across as a loner who doesn’t need anyone. We all know the truth! But these personality traits are what make them feel human to me.
And their chemistry? It’s there from the beginning. And what a meet-cute they have in the first chapter! That was a scene for the ages. I couldn’t stop laughing.
My biggest ick with the book begins around the halfway mark, when they start exploring their feelings. I’m all for characters doing that, especially in a romance. But this is more than that, when Andi opens herself up, intimately, Nolan comments, “Good girl!” If this was said once or twice in the book, I think I would’ve been okay with it. It feels like he says it every time!
Overall, The Bodyguard Affair is a fun read that I think many people will connect with.
Abby Jimenez has become an auto-read author for me. I’ve enjoyed reading all of her books thus far, and The Night We Met is no different. Honestly, I was surprised to get it from my library so soon after its release. Jimenez isn’t a best-selling author for no reason.
The premise of The Night We Met actually had me more curious than any of her other books. I mean, how do you write a romance where the main characters can’t be together? That said, this one is definitely a slow-burning romance if ever there was one. But the slow burn made sense, and the chemistry between Larissa and Chris was palpable from the beginning.
It was obvious from the moment you met Mike that he was not the man for Larissa. I could explain my thoughts and reasoning for saying that, but I feel like that would spoil the book. I hate that it took Larissa so long to see it. Of course, if she had seen it sooner, the book wouldn’t have been as long. And no, that’s not a bad thing. I never want a Jimenez book to end.
My biggest issue with the book was the last chapter. I’m not sure if a friendship group that had been together as long as the one in this book would move on so easily. I feel like if I say more, it would be a spoiler, and I really strive not to spoil books.
If you are concerned that this is part of a series, don’t be. Like all of Jimenez’s books, you can read them as standalones. That said, there are occasionally characters and settings that overlap from previous books, so there may be some spoilers.
Overall, The Night We Met is another fantastic book from Abby Jimenez, and I can’t wait to read more from her. Sadly, it’ll be a while before we get book three in this series.
I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead is a look at one woman’s loss and grief. It’s a look at how she processes the world around her and strives to survive. Is this book for everyone? No, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t read it.
I debated adding Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead to my TBR due to its subject matter. Twenty-six years ago, I was a young woman, excited to be madly in love and shocked to find out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, only a few days later, I lost the baby. It destroyed me and left me questioning so much. A couple of years later, when I found myself pregnant again, I was a mess until I got to hold my baby in my arms. As discussed in the book, this kind of loss never really leaves you; it just hurts a little less each day.
Setting my concerns aside, I decided to give Nguyen’s sophomore novel a read. And I’m glad I did. While reading it, you can feel she cares for Cleo and those around her. In the pages of this book, you will find sadness and sorrow. There’s no way around that. You may also question Cleo’s actions. But as you read, you find yourself understanding her actions.
My biggest issue with the book is one of the side characters, Dr. Posey. It’s scary to think there are doctors like that in the world. One willing to push medication onto their patients without really listening to their concerns. One willing to let patients medicate without restraint. Don’t get me wrong, I know doctors like that do exist. But I found myself screaming at her to stop, and actually to look at the woman in front of her.
Overall, I believe everyone can relate to Cleo Dang and her pain, even if you’ve never lost a child. While it may not be an easy read, it is one that everyone can benefit from.
While this is a bit darker and moodier than I normally read in mysteries, it was a fantastic read! The characters are all flawed, some more so than others. My biggest issue was the sexualization of women. Most of the time, the size of their bust or bottom (or even both) was used to describe them. This was done not only in conversations between the police officers but also in the narrator's thoughts. I'm still looking forward to reading more in the series.
I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Love by the Book. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
4.75 stars rounded up to 5
I added Love by the Book to my TBR as soon as I learned about it. Why? Because I read Jessica George’s debut novel, Maame, and loved it. I am so glad that I did, because I loved this book! It was so hard to put down. When I wasn’t reading about it, I was thinking about Remy and all of her friends.
Remy is asexual and is ok with not having a long-term romantic relationship with anyone. She loves her friends and family fiercely, and she is more than happy with those relationships. As the group begins to change, Remy finds herself feeling lost. She feels left out of the group and believes her friends are leaving her behind.
Simone has never really had friends; she had her sister and was more than happy with that. As an introvert and a very private person, she was content to have only her sister as a friend. Until something separates them, and she finds herself alone.
Remy and Simone are similar people, but so very different. And it turns out maybe they are just what the other needs!
My biggest issue with the book is the last couple of chapters. While we get the conclusion we expect, it still feels a tad too perfect. Sure, there’s the break-up and the reconciliation, but it’s some of the other bits in those last few chapters that feel too “perfect.” Maybe that’s just me?
I feel as though this book is a great look at friendships–how they start, how they grow, how they evolve. Who should read Love by the Book? Anyone wanting to read a romance that’s about platonic love friendships.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I want to thank ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Three Bengal Kittens. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I was excited to learn that a fourth book in the Dr. Bannerman series was being released, as I have enjoyed the first three. My introduction to the series was quite by accident, as I was scrolling through my library looking for a quick mystery to read. And of course, I want to support as many Canadian authors as I can. The first book, Fifty-Four Pigs, was quickly read, followed by the second, Six Ostriches. Upon learning of Three Bengal Kittens, I made sure to read the third book in the series, Eleven Huskies.
In the case of most mystery series, I would say you could read them in any order, with little to no issues. In many ways, this holds for this series, but I would still recommend reading them in order. This is to better understand the quirks and relationships among the assorted characters.
Peter is an interesting character, especially the more time you spend with him. He has certain mannerisms that may bother readers if they jump into the series midway through. Why do I say that? Well, because Peter is autistic. This is something that Schott does not shy away from discussing. Peter knows his mannerisms may bother others, but after a while, he doesn’t care. Nor should he; why should he have to adapt to fit other people’s ideals?
There are also discussions of mental health issues, as Sam has psychotic episodes. While these may not always be handled in the best ways, they are openly discussed. Unfortunately, they were also used as a way to look at Sam as a main suspect in the murder. Sadly, it’s also used to make him act in ways he might not normally.
Overall, my favorite character in the series has been Pippen. He is a champion scent dog. Who knew there were competitions for such things? Pippen is essentially Peter’s best friend and an almost constant companion throughout everything that happens.
One thing I will say about this book, and the series in general, is that it’s not a typical cozy mystery. There’s not much to make you laugh or smile while trying to solve the crime. These are more slice-of-life books in which the local vet finds himself in unfortunate situations.
That said, I feel that everyone who enjoys reading mysteries should give this series a read. The books are all under 300 pages, and are not as heavy as many other mysteries and thrillers.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I want to thank Del Ray and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Widow’s Charm. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added A Widow’s Charm to my TBR on a bit of a whim. Honestly, the main reason was that Caitlyn Paxson is a Canadian author, and I love supporting Canadian authors. While I don’t tend to read a lot of fantasy, I’m glad I read this one.
A Widow’s Charm could easily be classified as a cozy fantasy. And I’m okay with that! There’s plenty of fun, cozy moments, and some not-so-cozy elements added in. The reason this is labeled a fantasy is that some can use charms or work a specific type of magic.
While I didn’t mind the language, some readers may be offended by the use of more modern language in a book set in a more historical time period. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is swearing throughout, by a variety of characters. Some scenes are full of innuendo.
Overall, A Widow’s Charm is a fun read. And I am looking forward to reading more by Paxson.
I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Wild People Quiet. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added Wild People Quiet to my TBR because I want to learn more about the experience of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. For those who don’t know, the Métis are an Indigenous group that resulted when the fur trappers and traders, mostly the French, had relationships with Indigenous women. They are one of the three main groups of Indigenous people in Canada. As a result of these relationships, many of the children could pass as white. In a time of rampant racism, that could be a good thing.
Florence was one of those people. She wasn’t ashamed of who she was; she was ashamed of how she was forced to live. And took the opportunity she was given to rectify that. Would I be able to do what she did and hide who she was for so long? Probably not.
Gereaux wrote a compelling story with compelling characters. Wild People Quiet could have been a preachy book, telling the world where everything went wrong. Instead, the author took the time to show us the story of her people and how history books don’t always tell the true story.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
Keeper of Lost Children tells the story of the Brown Baby Plan. After World War II ended, US forces were sent to rebuild Germany and other parts of Europe. These soldiers and German women often had relationships. Many times these relationships resulted in babies. In the case of the babies whose fathers were African American, they often caused the mothers to be shunned for having relationships outside of marriage. As such, many of the women took the babies to churches and orphanages to protect the babies and themselves. One woman saw this happening and took it upon herself to put these babies with families who were unable to have children of their own.
While this is a work of fiction, Johnson works hard to make you believe every word. She has a way with telling the hard stories, the ones that often fall through the cracks, and making them easier to understand.
Keeper of Lost Children is told through three POV. Ethel is the woman behind the plan to send the babies to loving families. Sophia is a teen struggling to find her place in her family and her school. Ozzie is a young man who found himself in an awkward situation. Each POV is easy to discern; their voices are distinct.
There may be some language that readers find offensive, but it is used in the context of the time period, as the majority of the story is set in the 1950s and 1960s. While I’m not saying the language was ever right to use, it was more common in certain historical eras.
My biggest issue with the overall story was some of Ozzie’s parts. There were times his story felt like it was dragging the book down. Then I remembered he was a young man in a foreign country, in a tenuous situation.
Overall, I think everyone should read Keeper of Lost Children. It tells a true story that has often fallen through the cracks of time.
