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rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)
I enjoyed this book, even though it was off to a bit of a slow start. I hadn't realized that each book in the series featured new characters, so at first I was a tad confused about how everyone fit. However, once Emma arrived at Penford Hall it really picked up. The descriptions are so beautifully written and now I wish I could visit the grounds and gardens (Especially the ruins) of the Hall. The characters were interesting and I was excited to follow the daily living in an old home like this. I have to say, the mystery was pretty light - there wasn't a lot of typical "investigating". BUT there were many secrets to be discovered and when the largest one was revealed and laid out for Emma - wow I was blown away. What a creative piece of the story and at that point I could not put it down. I wish we saw more of Aunt Dimity in this one, though the casual mentions of her did add to her mystique. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I really enjoyed how this was put together and I can't wait to read more in this series.
Yes! I read this is one day and I still can't wait for more. Though this one is a little repetitive with Mia worrying about Michael, Kenny, and the dance. I would have liked her to get along with Lily more since she is a hoot and is starting to be less annoying (IMHO). I do want to see more of her show and the crazy things she comes up with. Mia is still over dramatic and maybe of her reactions had me cracking up. I was glad she was much happier by the end of the book and now we get to finally see Genovia in the next one!
Overall I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me. I thought the plot was pretty predicable and very slow moving. The last 1/3 was way more interesting, but I still just didn't find any surprises. I don't mind a slow burn if there are big surprises along the way, but I could see everything coming (and was shocked that the MC couldn't). It was strange to see how revolved he was by the idea of kidnap and torture - he avoided even old documentaries about it. And yet was willing to stalk, and have someone else do the dirty work (when usually it was his idea). I just think his character was confusing and not at all consistent, which made it all seem false. I did like that last line - it truly gave me shivers.
4.5 stars
Yes! This book just exemplified the reasons I love cozy mysteries so much. It has all the best elements - a nosy citizen with lots of skeptical, but encouraging and sweet friends and family, a distrusting lead detective, and lots of different possible suspects (even a furry friend!). I even didn't mind the love triangle, but I knew exactly who I wanted Blake to choose.
Though I hadn't read the first book in this series, I easily jumped right into this book and the Mystery Cup Café setting. Blake is smart and funny and addicted to coffee - a perfect MC in my opinion. I felt comfortable very quickly and felt a connection to the characters easily. The writing was wonderful and flowed so nicely; I didn't want to put it down (but unfortunately life kept getting in the way).
I really enjoyed the starting twist in this story - Blake sees a murder, but there is no body, weapon, or evidence found! Was it a prank?! Blake doesn't think so, but no one seems to believe her. She investigates anyway and finds a couple likely suspects along the way. I love her sister Kyle who is a police detective, but clearly values her sister's insight into the crime.
The ending was great - the romance kicks up and notch AND Blake gets closer and closer to finding the killer. It was action packed, but not drawn out or over the top.
I real love Blake and her cast of friends, family and even her enemies. I can't wait to read more!
Yes! This book just exemplified the reasons I love cozy mysteries so much. It has all the best elements - a nosy citizen with lots of skeptical, but encouraging and sweet friends and family, a distrusting lead detective, and lots of different possible suspects (even a furry friend!). I even didn't mind the love triangle, but I knew exactly who I wanted Blake to choose.
Though I hadn't read the first book in this series, I easily jumped right into this book and the Mystery Cup Café setting. Blake is smart and funny and addicted to coffee - a perfect MC in my opinion. I felt comfortable very quickly and felt a connection to the characters easily. The writing was wonderful and flowed so nicely; I didn't want to put it down (but unfortunately life kept getting in the way).
I really enjoyed the starting twist in this story - Blake sees a murder, but there is no body, weapon, or evidence found! Was it a prank?! Blake doesn't think so, but no one seems to believe her. She investigates anyway and finds a couple likely suspects along the way. I love her sister Kyle who is a police detective, but clearly values her sister's insight into the crime.
The ending was great - the romance kicks up and notch AND Blake gets closer and closer to finding the killer. It was action packed, but not drawn out or over the top.
I real love Blake and her cast of friends, family and even her enemies. I can't wait to read more!
If you are looking for a book that reads like a Grey's Anatomy book then this is definitely for you. (Beware if you are squeamish, this book is very bloody and gruesome with lots of gory descriptions). I was hoping for more of a friendship based drama, but more than half the book is about patients in the trauma service. Don't get me wrong, I found that part interesting as most people do, but soon discovered that the medical drama was MUCH more interesting than the friendship drama.
We are teased many many times about something that happened in Zadie and Emma's third year of medical school that changed them forever, but they refuse to talk about. The reveal was so dragged out (so many chapters when they would ALMOST start talking about it and then get interrupted). As the past story very slowly unfolds, it becomes obvious what the secrets are very quickly. When the betrayals and the past secrets are revealed, it was so obvious that the drama was kind of lost.
I can say that it was overally written very well and I loved some of the characters, but not so much Emma or Zadie. For main characters, I thought they could be more well developed (though we do get some insight into Emma near the end). For a lot of the book I got confused about who the narrator was - their voices/POVs are too similar.
I have a HUGE problem with how non-white and non-skinny characters were portrayed. So many offensive stereotypes and even if these are based on real people the author know, it just's so unnecessary to have those be her POC voices (while tiny) in the book. ALSO I cringed every time she described someone's weight or looks - when she wasn't sure if she could get in an elevator because there was a "weight challenged" person who might put them over the limit?! Why was this necessary to include?
This book was okay and a quick read, but the story line was too predictable for me to really love it.
We are teased many many times about something that happened in Zadie and Emma's third year of medical school that changed them forever, but they refuse to talk about. The reveal was so dragged out (so many chapters when they would ALMOST start talking about it and then get interrupted). As the past story very slowly unfolds, it becomes obvious what the secrets are very quickly. When the betrayals and the past secrets are revealed, it was so obvious that the drama was kind of lost.
I can say that it was overally written very well and I loved some of the characters, but not so much Emma or Zadie. For main characters, I thought they could be more well developed (though we do get some insight into Emma near the end). For a lot of the book I got confused about who the narrator was - their voices/POVs are too similar.
I have a HUGE problem with how non-white and non-skinny characters were portrayed. So many offensive stereotypes and even if these are based on real people the author know, it just's so unnecessary to have those be her POC voices (while tiny) in the book. ALSO I cringed every time she described someone's weight or looks - when she wasn't sure if she could get in an elevator because there was a "weight challenged" person who might put them over the limit?! Why was this necessary to include?
This book was okay and a quick read, but the story line was too predictable for me to really love it.
I guess this is unpopular opinion time. While I enjoyed reading this book and actually finished it pretty quickly, I think it fell to the dreaded over-hype. I just didn't find the story line to be anything that was over the top unique about this book EXCEPT the amazing autism rep. That and the steamy romance got it a bit of a higher rating than my overall enjoyment of this book would have.
Stella is an awesome character. She is brilliant and funny and so very loving. She also has Asperger's and this book does an amazing job representing that, which is great because the author has this herself. I loved her character and was rooting for her immediately. All of her insecurities about her personality and how people have treated her made me just want to give her a big hug. But she's also super strong and successful, which I absolutely loved because that's not often something that is thought of when thinking of Autism.
Michael was just adorable, though he was extremely stubborn and at times I just wanted to shake him so he could actually see what was going on around him. He is so very in his head all the time and most of this book, he is overthinking things. He is so sweet in giving up everything to take care of his family, but it did bother me that he did it in secret - how did he know that no one else in his family would want to help him with this huge responsibility? Though both characters had major insecurities that kept them from seeing the other's love, I felt that Michael (knowing Stella's secret) should have actually taken the time to talk to her about her feelings rather than jump to conclusions.
The romance was steamy and I absolutely loved that. I just felt like the story itself felt a bit flat and repetitive at times. The romance happened so quickly, that I just wanted to see more of them dating and getting to know each other - rather than falling in love, but still harboring secrets. The pacing felt a bit awkward to me at times, sometimes moving slowly and then speeding up or jumping ahead. Especially when Stella hired Michael to learn about sex, but then that whole thing seemed to just be completely forgotten in the story line and it was magic all at once.
I did love that Stella was able to realize on her own that she was strong and she didn't need to change herself to something she saw as more "normal". She was starting to really value herself more and that was the growth that I really loved!
Overall I still recommend this book to any romance lovers because it did have some wonderful high points.
Stella is an awesome character. She is brilliant and funny and so very loving. She also has Asperger's and this book does an amazing job representing that, which is great because the author has this herself. I loved her character and was rooting for her immediately. All of her insecurities about her personality and how people have treated her made me just want to give her a big hug. But she's also super strong and successful, which I absolutely loved because that's not often something that is thought of when thinking of Autism.
Michael was just adorable, though he was extremely stubborn and at times I just wanted to shake him so he could actually see what was going on around him. He is so very in his head all the time and most of this book, he is overthinking things. He is so sweet in giving up everything to take care of his family, but it did bother me that he did it in secret - how did he know that no one else in his family would want to help him with this huge responsibility? Though both characters had major insecurities that kept them from seeing the other's love, I felt that Michael (knowing Stella's secret) should have actually taken the time to talk to her about her feelings rather than jump to conclusions.
The romance was steamy and I absolutely loved that. I just felt like the story itself felt a bit flat and repetitive at times. The romance happened so quickly, that I just wanted to see more of them dating and getting to know each other - rather than falling in love, but still harboring secrets. The pacing felt a bit awkward to me at times, sometimes moving slowly and then speeding up or jumping ahead. Especially when Stella hired Michael to learn about sex, but then that whole thing seemed to just be completely forgotten in the story line and it was magic all at once.
I did love that Stella was able to realize on her own that she was strong and she didn't need to change herself to something she saw as more "normal". She was starting to really value herself more and that was the growth that I really loved!
Overall I still recommend this book to any romance lovers because it did have some wonderful high points.
LOVED loved loved! I started this and wanted to cancel all my plans so I could just read it. Loved the format and I adored the characters. The romance was fun and the drama was just enough that it stirred the story, but didn't get too annoying. Seriously I want to now go adopt some goats! Love these two!
Absolutely Amazing! I read this shortly after it first came out, before it became so hugely popular. So imaginative I don't know how JK Rowling did it. She invented a whole other world with amazing characters which people of any age can enjoy!! I have reread this book many times and it is just as amazing each time!!