rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)

This is my comfort series! Every time I jump back into this series it's like getting a warm hug from the best characters and cat companions.  Charlie is a great amateur sleuth and has such a cozy tone to his words and thoughts.  He's smart and savvy and understands people so well. And I love how he is surrounded by lovely family and friends. I was very intrigued by this mystery and shocked by the ending. I already can't wait for more!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it!

This author i just not for me. I was looking for a fun, juicy summer story and this was too repetitive, long, and not interesting enough for me. Yes there is drama, but everything is just so predictable and slooooow that it didn't quite produce the desired effect. I hated every single character, their dialogue was immature and cringy (does every sentence need to start with either "Ha!" or "Hey chica" or "Heeeeyyyy". Do people really talk like that? I feel like the dialogue was trying to make the story laid back or something, but it annoyed the heck out of me.  There wasn't even anything remotely interesting until about 80% and by then I could barely care less and just wanted to get the answers. There was one  good twist but I didn’t care much by that point.

I'm sure people will enjoy this book, but I think this author's writing/storytelling is not for me.

 Phew. This book was a lot. A LOT.  It was so good and so very well written because I felt the tension and the anxiety pulsing off the pages. I did not anticipate crying from this book, but I teared up multiple times; the writing, atmosphere and characters were THAT good. I love books that give me a visceral reaction and this book certainly did.  I was fascinated, horrified and curious the entire time.  The twists were impactful, but even during just descriptions and story setting scenes I was engrossed and apprehensive.  These characters will stay with me for quite some time! 

I LOVE this series. This book was even better than the first.  Maddy and Baby are the best main characters and amateur sleuths.  There are a few intriguing story lines going on, but they are easy to follow and all contribute an important role to the mystery. I loved getting to know all the characters and the town more in this book.  I did guess the ending, but it was more interesting to follow Maddy as she used her network to piece things together with her signature upbeat, no quit attitude.  And a budding love interest always makes me smile.  This is super cozy and I cannot wait for the next one.

Note: I LOVED the audiobook and highly recommend going that route if you can!

 Somehow I didn't feel quite the same magic as I have from this author's previous books and I think that's because I didn't quite feel the same connection to these MCs.  The book started off with so many characters and complicated relationships thrown at us, even before we even knew the two MCs.  Though some of those are explored/explained more as the story went one, I already felt a bit lost.  There were also a lot of plots and directions this book took which also I felt diluted a bit from the character-driven magic of getting comfortable in this setting and enjoying the MCs.  Also most of the big secrets are revealed within the first 50% which did lose a bit of the hook. 

I did love the baking tips at the start of each chapter, especially since Verbena seemed like a sweet and sassy person. I also love reading anything bakery related, especially when there is magic mixed in. And the theme of following your dreams and letting go of the past is always enjoyable.

Overall, I do recommend this book as an easy summer read if you are looking for a book filled with drama over one focused on magic.

Audiobook:  The narration for this book is pretty good, but I did sometimes have trouble keeping the MCs straight and I'm not sure if it was the narration or the story, or a combination of both. 

 Be ready to sobb.  Be ready for your heart to squeeze with empathy and happy moments and terrible pasts.  Be ready to feel pain of loss and healing of future possibilities. Be ready to root for and want to befriend Lenny Marks. Be ready to want to fight people who mistreat Lenny and hug her found family.  This book ran me through the gamut of emotions and I enjoyed it so much.  I would love to be Lenny Marks, a smart misunderstood, caring teacher who is comfortable with her status quo until something opens up her mental box of what happened in her past. The writing was lovely and so easy to listen to and fall into the story.  A delightful doggy sidekick and some amazing side characters make this such a good book.

Note: Listening to the audiobook added so much depth to this sweet and gripping story that definitely heightened the experience.

TW: child loss, child abuse, domestic abuse, animal cruelty 

Oh my gosh I LOVED this book. From the very first chapter to the very last sentence. I did not want to put it down and was disappointed that I actually had to stop to sleep at night.  Mavis is flawed, overwhelmed, loving; perfect motherhood representation.  I don't think I've ever related so hard to another character, sometimes it was like she was in my head.  I laughed a lot and especially at her interactions with her amazing lovable daughter Pearl. She did NOT hold back in her mind and is a mom I would love to hang with if I was ever force to join the PTA. A mystery and splash of romance made the story even better, though I think I would read just about anything that Mavis was up to. 
 The challenges she faced from balancing work, motherhood, investigating, to trying to bring real change for the elementary school kids through her new role of DEI chair, was so well portrayed in a true and messy way. 

There are some shocking revelations, tense moments, people that will enrage you; balanced out with laughter and adorable moments and you cannot help but root for Mavis to find all the answers. Mavis is far from perfect, but she is the perfect amateur sleuth MC.

Please please please let there be more books!

note: I listened to some parts of this book on audio and loved the narrator!

This was a great summer book, I read it in one day because it kept pulling me and I needed ANSWERS! Fast paced, intriguing, a funny and light-ish missing person investigation.  I enjoyed both POVs, but preferred Mac's and her inner dialogue.  She is kick ass with her brain and her krav maga.  The chemistry between these characters is instant and is enemies-to-lovers vibes (though it's more competitors than enemies as Jackson quickly sticks up for Mac against some gross men).  Though I wouldn't say it's a romance book as that is a small and unresolved portion. I was shocked by the way this investigation went and how everything ended. 

Note: I enjoyed the audiobook, which had two narrators who both did a great job embodying these characters.

Wow. What a fast paced, dramatic book that had me actually on the edge of my seat.  I am so glad I read this in one day because after the intro to the story, there was no point at which I would have been able to put it down.  Lots of action, this manhunt goes off the rails quickly and the danger is palpable.  So many shocks that are almost too quick to digest. This is my first Mike Bowditch book, but it was so easy to jump right in due to the beautiful descriptions of the area and easy character portrayals.  I will definitely be reading more of these!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it's definitely the way to read this fast paced, heart pounding story.

Oh the nostalgia.  Even though this takes place through the year, starting around Thanksgiving, it felt like the perfect summer beachy read. Maybe this is because my family spent so many years going to Rehoboth Beach for our big family vacation.  But I could clearly see the boardwalk, the beach, the green bookstore awning, and the various restaurants along the boardwalk and in town. I could almost smell the sweet, salty air, a perfect mix of ocean, popcorn, and waffle cones.  

This was quite the character driven story, and I instantly loved them all. The author made quick work of making each flawed character relatable and I loved the found family feeling of this family restaurant and all its employees.  Full of emotion, nostalgia, loss and love and second chances, this was a quick read.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed this version!