Pam
I want to thank Trafalgar Square Publishing, Orenda Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of SON. All opinions presented here are my own.
4.75 rounded up to 5
I wanted to read SON because I've been drawn to books set in Scandinavia for a while. Little did I know this book was going to shake my world! I was hooked from the first page. There were times I had to set the book aside to process what I had just read, because some of the descriptions were a bit darker than I had anticipated.
The book starts with Kari and the disappearance of her son on his birthday seven years prior. Then we are brought to the present day, with the girls at the summer home setting up for a Halloween party and the events after that. The action in the story ebbs and flows, but it never truly relaxes all the way just enough to let you catch your breath.
One of the main discussions throughout the book is about memories. Are our memories of the events as they happened, or have they been corrupted over time?
My biggest pet peeve with the book is the frequent switches in point of view. When readers are with Kari, the story is told in first person. The chapters often begin with a description of what Kari is seeing or doing, and āIā is usually one of the first words in the sentence. When we are with any of the other characters, the story is told in third person. While I appreciate the changes, there are very few chapter headers to indicate who we are seeing the story with. Thankfully, much like the chapters with Kari, the character's name is mentioned early in the chapter. But this can still be confusing when there are multiple characters at the start of the chapter.
While I had my suspicions about who the murderer was, I was still surprised when I found out. The list of suspects may not be long, but it seems many characters had a motive for murder.
Overall, I enjoyed reading SON and look forward to reading more by this duo. Who do I think would enjoy this book? Maybe people who enjoy reading books set in Scandinavia, or reading atmospheric books. Definitely, people who enjoy reading thrillers.
Picked this up for a road trip audiobook to share ith my husband while driving WTH? There's minimal plot, it feels more like a steam of consciousness at points.
The narrator is the Cleaner. Other than her, there's only 3 other characters on a regular basis. And she's got a God complex. She knows better than everyone, just ask her, she'll tell you that she's the most important person in the office. And most of the other people are morally gray AF!
I want to thank Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Re-Write. All opinions presented here are my own.
The Re-Write is a romcom that isn't quite a romcom. Sure, there's some romance and some funny scenes. But is that enough to make this a romcom? I'm not quite sure.
Temi is in her mid-20s, trying to find her way in life and fighting for her dream to be a published author. Wale is in his mid-20s, trying to find his way in life and fighting everyone's perception of him. They dated, had a public breakup, and then he appeared on a reality TV show focused on romance. She wrote a book about their relationship to vent her feelings about everything. They reconnect after the show, when she's hired to write his memoir. She realizes she didn't know the real him, and tries to stop her book from coming to light.
Does that sound like a romcom to you? I thought it sounded like a good read. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver. Temi came across at times as an entitled, self-absorbed brat. Wale was so focused on what others thought of him that he didn't show people who he is. If you're so worried about people's perceptions of you, why wouldn't you let those closest to you in first?
I stumbled over the names a few times, but that is a me problem. Once I figured out the proper pronunciation, I had no issues. There were a few phrases or descriptions that were decidedly British. They also caught me unaware, but I was able to move past them without being slowed down. I will say, reading that someone was wearing a vest under a sweatshirt was a bit confusing for a minute. Then I remembered that a vest in this situation isn't a normal vest you would find with a suit. It's referencing an undershirt.
Overall, The Re-Write was an okay read. I was tempted to DNF it because the first 30% didn't grab my attention. But I pushed through and read the last 20% in one afternoon. I accept that I may not be the intended target of The Re-Write.
I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding. All opinions presented here are my own.
Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding is the perfect addition to the Halloween Bookshop mysteries. It's a fantastic blend of cozy mystery and Halloween!
Elyan Hollow is a town that was used as the filming location for an iconic Halloween movie. The movie has such a huge fan base that people come from all over to see the filming sites. What's a town to do when that happens? They lean into it and celebrate what has made them famous. Several businesses in town have Halloween-themed names, and a month-long Halloween festival is held.
Elyan Hollow is a small town where everyone seems to know everyone else. Bailey lives in the house her mom grew up in and runs the bookshop that her grandfather first opened. Several of her friends are either people she attended school with or individuals who watched her grow up. It's that kind of small town!
The new additions to the cast are welcome. As is the developing relationship between Bailey and Rex. Some of the family drama from the first book has carried over to this book. And it leaves me wondering if there's a larger, overarching mystery at play.
If you are a fan of movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown, you probably would love to visit the towns where they were filmedāa town much like Elyan Hollow. While waiting to take that trip, why not give Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding a read?
I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes. All opinions presented here are my own.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
I will admit, I was drawn to Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by both the cover and the title. Both are enough to pull you into the book. And at under 350 pages, it's easy to stick around and read.
One thing I like is when mysteries offer multiple suspects to choose from. And Savvy finds herself with a list close to ten when she starts her investigation. As the book progresses, she does narrow that list down, but also finds herself adding to it as she goes along. I had my suspicions about the culprit, and while I may have been correct, I was also wrong, especially regarding the motives.
My biggest issue with the book was the excessive use of slang. While I appreciate what many would call local flair, I found some of it a stumbling block as I didn't understand what they were trying to say. There were a few instances when they tried to explain it to a character, and it only further confused me. As someone who grew up in the South, I had no problems understanding Great-Aunt Essie's sayings, as several of those are commonly said.
Overall, Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes was an okay read. Though I will admit, I'm not sure if I will continue with the series, if it's to become one.
I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Icing on the Murder. All opinions presented here are my own.
4.5 rounded to 5
I'm glad to see that I was wrong last year, thinking that book three, A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, was the last in the series. Icing on the Murder is a fantastic addition to the Baker Street Mystery series. And I still want more of Maddy and the gang. Please, Ms. Burns, can we have more of the Baker Street Irregulars?
As I did last year, I still recommend reading the series in order. While there aren't too many spoilers in this book for earlier ones in the series, I still suggest you read them in order. The first book is Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder.
Now, for the murder, I was making my list of suspects from the minute we were introduced to Serafina. I don't think I have ever cheered for someone's death as much as I did hers. She is probably one of the most despicable characters I have ever met. I think she's the most deplorable person anyone has ever met, as everyone in the book seems to wish she were dead. And that makes it hard to figure out who killed her.
While I understand Burns was setting the scene and adding tension, why did it take until after the 30% mark for the murder to happen? If anything, it made the rest of the book go quickly, because you had so many more suspects to consider, and less time to consider them.
Overall, I enjoyed Icing on the Murder as much as, if not more so, than the rest of the series. Do you enjoy reading books set in small towns? What about books that feature food, especially baked goods? Or nods to classic literary detectives? Then you should read Icing on the Murder! Or better yet, just read all of the Baker Street Mysteries! I, for one, look forward to returning to New Bison soon.
Valentine in Montreal is a unique story told in an unconventional manner. It was initially published as a weekly story in the Montreal Gazette, in the same way as Dickens' A Christmas Carol. As such, O'Neill worked to have each chapter function as a standalone, yet also as part of a story told in sequence. It was written in such a way that if someone missed the beginning chapters or was unable to finish the story, they still had read a story.
Each chapter of the story is titled after a metro stop in Montreal, as the metro system plays a significant role in the narrative. There are lovely descriptions of each stop in the book, enough that you can picture what these stops look like.
The story is told through the POV of Valentine, a young woman who was orphaned at a young age and grew up in and around the Montreal metro. As such, her life experiences are limited, and she thrives by using her imagination and observational skills.
As the story is Valentine's to tell, there is a lot of telling what is happening and going on versus showing. If Valentine is feeling nervous or scared, she tells us that instead of expressing her body's reaction to that emotion.
The events in the story are somewhat fantastical, though this is not a fantasy book. Sure, it's easy to see people being mistaken for other people, but some of the things that happen in the story are just a bit too far-fetched for me.
Overall, Valentine in Montreal was an okay read. Some people may read it and find a connection with the characters, and truly enjoy the read.
I want to thank Rising Action and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Fort. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
4.5 rounded up to 5
The Fort is a well-researched and well-written historical fiction. It's well-written in the fact that we aren't bogged down in facts and figures, as some historical fiction tends to do. We can understand that the book is set in the early 1800s, and that life isn't easy; yet, we are still able to find the characters relatable. Abigail wants to do what is right for her father and her son. Henry is trying to keep up appearances. Gabriel wants to live a life of his choosing, even if that goes against what others expect.
Another remarkable aspect of the story is the discussion of the expectations placed on women in the era in which the book is set. A woman's place was traditionally in the home, where she took care of her family and household. Abigail understands that, but has also learned a trade to help support her family. Several of the men in the very masculine cast are surprised to learn she knows blacksmithing and is a talented smith in her own right.
My biggest issue with the book is the lack of female characters. There are a few at the fort, and a couple of others appear in other circumstances. While I understand the setting is very male-dominated, and that there would have been only a handful of women in the forts, it feels like the cast is lacking.
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Fort. Who do I think it would be perfect for? Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction with medium stakes. Or anyone who enjoys reading books set in a period and location that is not the normal historical fiction.
3.75 rounded up to 4
Booked for Murder has the elements of a fun cozy mystery: crazy, quirky characters; relatable characters; a cat that appears just when needed; and possible romance or two for the main character. What is it missing? Not a lot, honestly.
I did find the beginning a little slow, but not to the point that it made me want to stop reading the book. Just slow enough to be annoying. I wanted to get to the heart of the investigation. Who set the fire? And why? What about the phone calls? Who was behind those? Were the two things connected, or were they unrelated?
Eventually, the action picked up, and the readers had their fair share of suspects to choose from. I must admit, I was surprised when it was revealed who set the fire. Though I also understand their thoughts and reasoning.
Overall, if you're looking for a fun cozy mystery, you should give Booked for Murder a try! Even better, the next book in the series, All My Bones, is set to release in December 2025.
