I enjoyed this book for what it was, though I really hesitated if it was more a 3 star or a 4 star read. Because I enjoyed the rep in this book and haI enjoyed this book for what it was, though I really hesitated if it was more a 3 star or a 4 star read. Because I enjoyed the rep in this book and had overall positive feelings, I bumped it up to 4, but I do have a few issues with it.
Mainly that the book just felt too long, the author was already trying to pack two romance stories into it, so all the other side plots just made it feel a bit crowded. Especially because they were about pretty serious topics and didn't entirely feel like they got the space to really do it justice. I also didn't feel the romance between Greta and Carys as much, though I did enjoy Greta's other plot points more.
Overall, this was't as light as I expected, but still enjoyable. It just feels a bit like two books squished into one. ...more
This book was great, just like the other books in this series. I love the dynamic between the sisters and the way they get through the different advenThis book was great, just like the other books in this series. I love the dynamic between the sisters and the way they get through the different adventures. I've also really loved how for most of these stories, the setting is entirely different. It gives the author a lot of freedom, which makes for a fun adventure.
I do have one critique of it that is a slight spoiler, so I'm putting it in a spoiler tag. (view spoiler)[ At the climax, there was a reveal that seems to imply a romantic relationship between two women, only for the book to immediately reassure the reader that that's not the case and they are referred to as 'sisters' soon after. I was very disappointed by that, it was an easy place to put some LGBT+ representation that felt extremely natural, in a series that hasn't touched on that at all yet. (hide spoiler)]...more
I really liked this book. It was exactly what I expected, a fun and cozy read in a fantasy setting. I'm glad to see this type of book a bit 4.5 stars!
I really liked this book. It was exactly what I expected, a fun and cozy read in a fantasy setting. I'm glad to see this type of book a bit more lately, I can't wait to see what else the author will write in this universe. The story was fun and low-stakes, the romance was cute. Loved it! ...more
In this series so far I think this book ranks second for me, the first one still hasn't been beaten. I did really like the plot in this, the ending waIn this series so far I think this book ranks second for me, the first one still hasn't been beaten. I did really like the plot in this, the ending was good and set up some interesting things for the future. I like how the characters are developing and how the relationships are changing. I wonder how many books will be in this series overall.
Am a bit sad to be caught up now, though. Now I have to wait....more
Hm. This book was a little disappointing for me. Honestly more a 2.5 stars but I'm rounding it up.
The first half really worked for me, the way the atmHm. This book was a little disappointing for me. Honestly more a 2.5 stars but I'm rounding it up.
The first half really worked for me, the way the atmosphere was set up and the premise of the story were fine. I loved the dynamic of the town the main character was returning to and thought it all felt very cozy and fun, with enough tension to make it interesting. But the romance was just a little bleh for me. It felt too easy, like the characters rolled into their romance without really discussing what happened in the past. The inevitable conflict was both too predictable and too easily resolved.
And the epilogue was wild to me, not in a good way. I had to read a few times to make sure I was understanding it correctly. I don't need books like this to be realistic, but (view spoiler)[them getting married seconds after she proposed as a surprise (hide spoiler)] just felt too weird. ...more
This book was alright, a solid 3 stars for me. I think the mystery was interesting and pretty well done, but I feel like the author is not really doinThis book was alright, a solid 3 stars for me. I think the mystery was interesting and pretty well done, but I feel like the author is not really doing enough with the setting to keep it intriguing. These books have been fun to listen to, but also a bit difficult as I keep losing my focus and losing track of what is happening. After three books, I'm still not all that invested in the main character or her relationships. With all that, I think I'm giving up on the rest of this series for now. They're decent books but I'm just not really captured by them as much as I had hoped....more
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read this one. I didn't quite like it as much, but I was still hooked and read iI absolutely loved the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read this one. I didn't quite like it as much, but I was still hooked and read it in one day. Once again, I didn't figure out who the killer was, though I also found myself speculating less than I had with the first book.
The tone of this book was a bit different, there was less focus on the retirement home and the residents and more on Elizabeth's past as an intelligence officer. It also felt a bit darker, probably because of that.
Still a great book, I can't wait to read more....more
The thing I've seen most about this book was that it was very confusing, though I also heard a lot of people say it is very good. I can agree on both The thing I've seen most about this book was that it was very confusing, though I also heard a lot of people say it is very good. I can agree on both accounts. I did need a recap of the book after reading it to truly understand what had happened, but the confusion didn't bother me while reading it. It helps that Gideon was also confused a lot of the time.
Gideon was an amazing character to read about and her relationship with Harrow is absolutely incredible. I can't wait to see what the sequel will be like. I have to pick it up soon....more
I enjoyed this book more than the first one, it had an interesting and layered mystery, as well as more interesting side characters. I also am enjoyinI enjoyed this book more than the first one, it had an interesting and layered mystery, as well as more interesting side characters. I also am enjoying seeing Olive develop a bit more as a character.
Will definitely continue this series, the setting makes it a lot of fun. ...more
I'm really getting more and more into cozy mysteries, so I'm trying out as many different ones as I can. I was intrigued by the 1920s setting of this I'm really getting more and more into cozy mysteries, so I'm trying out as many different ones as I can. I was intrigued by the 1920s setting of this one, though I don't think it shone through as much as it could have.
It was an interesting mystery that I didn't guess beforehand, but it also didn't really keep me hooked. I enjoyed it, but it is a definite 3 star for me. I'll be checking out more in this series, though, I want to give it a chance as there were a lot of things I enjoyed....more
I thought the premise of this one sounded interesting, but found the book to be a bit slow. It was a nice mystery and I think the setup was well done,I thought the premise of this one sounded interesting, but found the book to be a bit slow. It was a nice mystery and I think the setup was well done, but it also felt like a lot of it could have been cut.
I enjoyed it, though it didn't feel entirely like a cozy mystery to me, the atmosphere was a bit darker than I was expecting. I think I will check the sequel when its out, though. I did really like the characters. ...more
This isn't an easy book to read. It paints a rather dark world in which terrible things happen to the characters. It doesn't pull any punches and has This isn't an easy book to read. It paints a rather dark world in which terrible things happen to the characters. It doesn't pull any punches and has quite a few horrifying descriptions. But that makes it so effective, I think. Until the very last page, I wasn't sure if it was going to end well or horribly, and I think that was very well done. I loved the atmosphere in the book and thought the characters were very well done. I think the plot and pacing could have been a bit better, as it was a bit slow and tough to get into at first.
A big TW for animal cruelty and animal death, with many detailed descriptions of both. There's also other triggering things, but this to me felt like the biggest one to mention, as it really stood out to me. ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. I was already a bit apprehensive from the premise, but also curious. I liked it for the most part but found theI have mixed feelings about this book. I was already a bit apprehensive from the premise, but also curious. I liked it for the most part but found the tone of the book really jarring, there was such a casual approach to death and murder that clashed a bit with the cozy atmosphere. I agree with the message the author was trying to give, but it just felt a bit strange in this book.
I'm not sure if I'll give the sequel a go, I'll see how I feel once it's out. ...more
This was exactly what I wanted it to be. I loved this book!
What really stood out to me was the way the characters were written, they were each very unThis was exactly what I wanted it to be. I loved this book!
What really stood out to me was the way the characters were written, they were each very unique individuals and were easily distinguishable from each other. I loved the main four characters, but all the side characters were great too. This was a great cozy mystery with a few good twists and turns. It also got a bit emotional at times but balanced it well with humor.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series, honestly. ...more
The moment I heard about this book I knew it would be for me, I love time travel stuff and the premise really intrigued me. It didn't disappoint, I abThe moment I heard about this book I knew it would be for me, I love time travel stuff and the premise really intrigued me. It didn't disappoint, I absolutely loved it. The writing was amazing and I loved the different plot twists and turns. It wasn't boring at any point, I listened to half of it in one day because I didn't want to stop.
Great book, would definitely reccommend! Easy 5 stars....more
This was a really nice ending to this series. It was sweet and the mystery was nicely done. I liked how everything was wrapped up, though I do think tThis was a really nice ending to this series. It was sweet and the mystery was nicely done. I liked how everything was wrapped up, though I do think the conflict between Everly and Grady getting married was a little weak. I'm glad it wasn't blown up into a big thing and got resolved. The timeskip epilogue felt a little strange to me, but it was a nice way to show us the future of these characters. It also really wrapped up the story.
I'm glad I binged this whole series this summer, it was great. ...more
I was ready to give the first 70-ish percent of this book 5 stars, the last bit let me down a little bit. The overall story was great and I loved the I was ready to give the first 70-ish percent of this book 5 stars, the last bit let me down a little bit. The overall story was great and I loved the way the relationship developed, the way the miscommunication from the year before was reconciled, and the way the side characters interacted with each other. I had a hard time with Jack´s reaction when it all came to light. I don't think it was unrealistic or even an overreaction, but because we're in Ellie's head for all of the books it was hard to see it from the other perspective. I also got frustrated with Ellie for not telling her a lot, so my frustration was on both sides. I had the same thing with The Charm Offensive and the way that ended, it might be a theme for me with this author.
But I also couldn't really put this book down. I think the characters are flawed in a realistic way, but overall it was a good book. ...more
I loved this one as much as I loved the first one. I think the change of location really helped this book feel as exciting as A Pinch of Magic, as I dI loved this one as much as I loved the first one. I think the change of location really helped this book feel as exciting as A Pinch of Magic, as I didn't enjoy the second book nearly as much as the first and this one.
I really enjoyed the building of the creepy atmosphere in this book, it was expertly done. It was just a really fun and creepy adventure. I'm very curious about what the next book will be like. ...more
This really has become a comforting series for me, and I'm sad it's almost over. I'm definitely reading the next one soon while it's still a little biThis really has become a comforting series for me, and I'm sad it's almost over. I'm definitely reading the next one soon while it's still a little bit summer, as these books feel like they should be read in summer to me. I'll keep an eye out for more of this author's work in the future!
I enjoyed this one, though I did think it was a bit weaker than some of the other books in the series. The relationship drama felt a little forced, but it wasn't too bad. I'm curious how it'll be wrapped up....more
I'm honestly running out of things to say about this series because I just keep reading them one after the other, I can't get enough. It's such a fun,I'm honestly running out of things to say about this series because I just keep reading them one after the other, I can't get enough. It's such a fun, sweet atmosphere and just the right amount of tension at the end. I figured out who did it for the second time in this one, but that didn't take away any of my enjoyment.
Such a fun series! I'm sad there's only two books left. ...more