mollyreadsandcrafts's Reviews (978)

Malcolm and Seong-Jae are assigned to the murder of a nightclub mogul. But Malcolm is still struggling with trauma of the last case, making him sloppy and unfocused.  Seong-Jae doesn't know what to do as his partner becomes more erratic and closed off. In order to successfully work like they did before and catch the killer, they need to both open up in ways they haven't before. 

Malcolm and Seong-Jae might not be together romantically but the tension! Part of the reason that Malcolm is going through a rough time is his attraction to Seong-Jae that he just can't shake. Their opposite personalities pull them towards each other and they've started to slowly peel back the layers on one another. It's the little moments between them where they show they listen and care that tease how good they can be. When they get together it's going to be explosive and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for it to happen. 

The case was pretty okay for me. I was able to guess who did it which always makes it a bit more meh. The writing though was once again impeccable. I'm still blown away by the quality of these books. The last probably 10% was the most exciting part of the book. In the aftermath of solving the crime, both Malcolm and Seong-Jae deal with bits of their past. There is still so much we don't know about them and I'm so impatient to find out all the drama (though it's probably traumatic for them). These enigmatic characters will be the death of me, but I'm really looking forward to where their next case takes them.

Read if you like:
• romantic suspense 
• slow burn  
• opposites attract  

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Ellery is the king of stumbling into crime scenes and what better place for a mystery than a masquerade? I liked it, but I felt it was a touch less intriguing than the other books so far. Jack was pushing my nerves a bit in the beginning, I'm not sure how I feel about him and there's a chance I'm slightly team Dr. Mane right now (though I know there's really no competition with how down bad Ellery is for Jack). I didn't know who committed the murder or anything at all, but in hindsight there were definitely obvious signs. The last bit really caught my attention and picked up the pace, it ended on a really solid, good note! These audios are perfect for what I want right now and I'm having such a good time with these stories. Bring on more small town cozy mystery and mayhem!

Read if you like:
• cozy mystery 
• slow burn 
• small town 

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Juno is hit with the devestating news that he's losing his sight. As he tries to come to terms with this, his favorite customer/secret crush at his bakery, Piper, makes him an offer - a bucket list trip while he still has some vision left. Piper is like no one he's ever met before, and as they embark on their trip Juno gets a glimpses of a different, better, future for himself. 

 

As sad as it is to read about someone losing a part of who they are, it is really a feel good kinda story. I've never read someone with this kind of disability, I can't imagine what's worse - waking up with completely no vision or having to watch it fade away day by day. Juno is going through such a dark time and I couldn't imagine a better partner than Piper. He's so sweet and patient, willing to do anything for Juno. He's exactly what Juno needs after his rough childhood and years of not feeling good enough. Juno can be a closed off over-thinker, but Piper gives him nothing but reassurance and love. Piper is struggling with what to do now that his career is over, and Juno brings him new life and perspective. Piper is a natural caretaker and is the perfect person to love and dote on Juno. Even though Piper has some of his own medical issues, they show how love, genuine connection, and affection can overcome any obstacle. 

There were just a few little things that bothered me throughout the book. I could never remember where everyone lived, and so when Juno talked about visiting Oliver (I only remembered he lived somewhere in New England) and Miles, I didn't know where Juno lived in relation to them or where Miles was. It just confused me when they were talking about all the travel. I also thought it was different to have Miles story pretty much complete and talked about in this book without his full length novel published. Lastly, I wish we knew their ages! It's mentioned at the end it's a 15 year age gap, but I have no idea how hold Piper is. He could be anywhere from 40-late 50s in my imagination. Just little details were missing that could've really tied the characters together better. 

Besides those very specific things I obviously couldn't let go, I did really like this story. It was a fast read and had such cute moments. I loved the inclusion of Juno's brother - Juno has always wanted that familial connection and he seemed like he got himself a good one just when he needed it most. I'm also really curious about Piper's brother, definitely checking out his story. I love their friend group, though I wish I read all their books close together to get the full experience. I'm patiently waiting for Miles' book, and hitting up Nix's novella in the meantime! 

Read if you like:

• age gap 

• hurt/comfort   

• disability rep   

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Malcolm Khalaji is an older homicide detective in the Baltimore PD. When he's called to a case, his Captain surprises him with a new partner. Seong-Jae Yoon is ex-FBI and a LA transplant. Even though they are complete opposites and work better alone, they have to put it all aside to find the killer as they escalate and put more people in danger.  

This series is set up a little differently than usual. It's similar to a TV series where this first "season" has 13 "episodes", aka this first series has 13 books, with one overarching series theme and one case per book (the case per episode thing is more of a guess, but I'm assuming that's how it works). The books are on the shorter side, so I'm not too worried about the amount of books. I think it's a really cool setup and I'm curious to see how it'll all work with the story! Every book probably won't get a full review, but to start I had stuffs to say. 

This first book was more of an introduction to the characters and definitely built some intrigue. I love the writing in this book, I think it really brings the characters to life. Malcolm being described as the grizzled wolf in elegant clothing, but with a soft side, then Yoon having the poise and mystique of a sleek bird of prey. It really shows off how different they are, but damn their tension and chemistry is there. One kiss and I'm sold. They also have opposite work styles, but their determination and logic work perfectly off one another. 

The mystery was a bit of a bummer and surprisingly kind of dark and gory. McCade did mention in the authors note/afterword that not all of them will be like this because he does want the character relationship to shine. So I'm really hoping that's true for this series at least because it was a bit rough. It was written really well, and I actually loved the chapter at the end that gave some closure on the victim. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book. I know it's going to be a long ride but I'm in it and ready to see what all happens. We have two complicated characters and there are many more murders to solve! 

Read if you like:

• romantic suspense 

• slow burn  

• opposites attract  

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Ellery's ex unexpectedly shows up in Pirate's Cove to research for his next novel. As he digs up dangerous town secrets, he becomes a victim himself. Ellery, once again having to prove his innocence, stumbles into a tragic secret past that puts him directly in the path of the killer. 

Ellery is just out here trying to do his best and be a good person. Honestly if I was Ellery I would be so offended that all these people think I committed murder, twice! I understand where Jack is coming from, but I don't know. He seemed to be very hot and cold towards Ellery and I just want him to be nice because Ellery is such a sweetheart. They had a slight glimmer of hope for their budding romance, but it definitely is on a bit of a pause right now. I'm hoping we see them - Jack - work through their hang-ups and be all cutesy together soon. 

I didn't love how Nora kept pushing Ellery into solve the case, nosy old ladies aren't my cup of tea. But I do like the small town vibes and cast of characters, it definitely keeps it interesting. The mystery was pretty good! Not as suspenseful as the last book but all the secrets were pretty intriguing. By the end I could tell who the killer was but if you told me at the beginning I wouldn't have believed it. 

Another easy and interesting listen. These are the perfect books for my audiobook mood right now and I'm really enjoying them. I'm a big cozy mystery fan and these are the epitome of that genre. Who knows what's going to happen next in this small town, but I'm hoping we get some more of Ellery and Jack!

Read if you like:
• cozy mystery 
• slow burn 
• small town 

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A good old cozy mystery, what's not to love! Ellery Page has inherited his dead relative's house and mystery bookstore, located in the small island town of Pirate's Cove, Rhode Island. Giving up his NYC lifestyle, he now spends his days renovating the house and trying to save the bookstore for closure. One night, he stumbles upon a murder in his bookstore - the body of a man trying to buy his store from him. As Ellery becomes the main suspect he tries to prove his innocence, even if it means going toe to toe with the handsome Chief Detective Carson. 

This had everything I wanted in a cozy mystery - a slew of cute characters, a fun and twisty mystery, and a lovely setting in a quaint small town with a deep history. Ellery is such a normal character, besides yelling murder throughout the streets, and I really enjoyed reading from his POV. It's a slow burn and I'm curious how the whole romance plays out, but it was a promising start. It was a great easy listen, perfect for what I wanted right now. Onto the next small town murder mystery!

Read if you like:
• cozy mystery 
• slow burn 
• small town 

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•spoilers• 

Noah and Colton are two rival farriers in small town Darling. When their heated tension comes to a head, the unexpected happens. One kiss becomes more as the former adversaries come to terms with their past and new budding feelings. 

I thought this was a sexy and fun story, but it didn't knock my socks off. I liked Noah, he's a no nonsense kinda guy who never takes family for granted after his tragic childhood losses. Colton was more just okay for me. I thought he was a bit childish, just hating on Noah for doing simple things like running a business? He got better as the book went on and I did really like their dynamic. Their hatred fueled tension crackled into this off the charts chemistry, an undeniable push and pull that keeps them coming back for more. Once they get past their issues, they are really pretty similar. They both love their family, their town, and can't help but have a sweet spot for one another. 

One thing I just didn't get was why they hated each other. For 85% of the book it didn't make any sense to me so it felt like they were being a bit immature about it all - it's been fifteen years and you're almost 40, like let's move on. We finally get a reason for why Noah hated Colton and while in hindsight I could see it being alluded to once or twice, I wish it was brought up sooner. More for my sake as a reader because I just spent almost the whole book thinking their hatred was a bit ridiculous. 

Still a good time all around. I liked the ending when the pace picked up a bit and I'm a sucker for a big old dramatic love confession. I love the small town setting and cowboy vibes, with some extra horse-y moments this time around. The Darling family wasn't quite as involved as in the last book, but I'm really looking forward to Lawson's and Remi's stories! 

Read if you like:

• rivals to lovers

• small town romance 

• sexual awakening 

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