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Showing posts from February, 2023

Book Review: Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano

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Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4)  by Elle Cosimano opens with Finlay Donovan and her nanny, Vero, planning a trip to Atlantic City to pay off some debts, find Javi, and retrieve a stolen car.  But first, they come up with a cover story that backfires miserably.  Finlay and Vero have to be clever and sneaky to accomplish what they set out to do, but will they have to come clean? Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano.  This is one of the books I was most excited about being able to read before it was in stores.  I received the eBook for free in exchange for my honest review. The fourth installment picks up where the last book ended and ties up the loose ends from Finlay Donovan Knocks Them Dead (Finlay Donovan, #3)  . . . so much so that I thought that this was going to be the last book in the series.  However, Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice ends up having a couple of cliffhangers,
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Book Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Leng (Aloysius Pendergast, #21) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

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The Cabinet of Dr. Leng (Aloysius Pendergast, #21) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child was published on January 17, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing.  It tells the story of how Constance has found a way back to 1880 and is on a quest to save her sister and brother from a certain fate.  In the present day, Pendergast is searching for a way to reunite with Constance. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for free in exchange for my honest review.  I was thrilled to be given this chance as I've heard such great things about the writings of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  However, I wasn't aware that it was the twenty-first book in a series until after I started reading it. Well written, engaging, and entertaining are a few words that describe The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Preston and Child.  I really enjoyed reading this story and was glad that I was finally able to read something by these authors.  I will definitely go back to th
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Book Review: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

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I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is a heartbreaking memoir of former child actress Jennette McCurdy, best known for her roles on Nickelodeon's iCarly and Sam & Cat.  Jennette wanted nothing more than to please her mother so at six years old, she went on her first audition.  From there, Jennette starts restricting her calorie intake with the help of her mother.  Things get worse for Jennette, and she takes us on her journey to overcome many things. This is a book I wouldn't have read had the book club I belong to not chose it for our February 2023 meeting.  I vaguely knew who the actress was, but the title of her autobiography was a huge turn off for me.  With that being said, I am so glad that I bit the bullet and read her story.  I now know why Jennette chose the title she did.  The grass was definitely not greener on her side. I can not believe all the things Jennette had to endure from her mother, including but not limited to vaginal and breast examinations,
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Book Review: On Air with Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #2) by Janae Marks

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On Air With Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #2) by Janae Marks opens with Zoe Washington going to work with her birth father, who has recently been released from jail for a crime he was wrongfully convicted of committing.  As they have lunch together, Zoe finds out her father has a dream of opening up his own restaurant and hiring exonerees.  When she starts researching how to open a restaurant, Zoe realizes it is much more difficult than she thought it would be and takes to the airwaves by creating a podcast. I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Edition, or Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC), of On Air With Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #2) .  I was thrilled to be chosen to read this book in exchange for my honest review.  The expected publication date of this book is February 14, 2023.  When I asked to review this book and was waiting on approval, I didn't realize that it was the second book in a series.  It can definitely be read as a stand alone book,
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Book Review: My Fatal Valentine (Juniper Holiday, #5) by Leighann Dobbs

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My Fatal Valentine (Juniper Holiday, #5) by Leighann Dobbs opens with a Valentine's Day charity event being held at Juniper's mansion.  When the grand prize winner is found dead in one of the bathrooms, there are few clues and no witnesses.  Detective Mallard must solve the crime without the help of Juniper or lose his job. Even though this is a cozy mystery that has a murder, it still put me in the mood for Valentine's Day.  I loved the jealousy between all of the contestants because it made the story more realistic and gave a good motive.  There were a lot of red herrings, and I have to say that I was stumped as to who could be the murderer. What I loved about this edition of the Juniper Holiday series is that there was a little more fantasy involved with a witch needing to perform a spell to assist in solving the case.  The magical people of the town is something I feel like could be developed a little more in the series.  The characters were amazing, and I am still in
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Book Review: Masquerade Party Murder (Juniper Holiday, #4) by Leighann Dobbs

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Masquerade Party Murder (Juniper Holiday, #4) opens with Juniper Holiday setting up for her New Years Eve party, but the party goes horribly awry during the fireworks when the mayor is found dead . . . killed by a gunshot.  Juniper must find out who the murderer is and clear her dear friend's name. I have absolutely fallen in love with the Juniper Holiday book series by Leighann Dobbs.  The books in this series are the perfect beach read and super fun.  And, if I get in a funk while reading, these books definitely pull me out of that funk.  Masquerade Party Murder definitely pulled me out of a reading funk. What's great about this series is that you don't have to read them in order, although it definitely helps, and Masquerade Party Murder can be read as a stand alone book like the rest in the series.  Even though this is a cozy mystery, there are some fantasy elements in the story lines . . . witches and werewolves play a part, and of course, ghosts do as well.  If you
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Book Review: Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross

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Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross is a collection of three novellas featuring the Lucy Stone series, Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series, and Maine Clambake Mystery series.  Each story takes place in Maine and has a theme of St. Patrick's Day. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy of Irish Coffee Murder .  I'm a huge fan of Leslie Meier and Lee Hollis, so I was thrilled to be approved to receive it for free in exchange for my honest review.  I am now a fan of Barbara Ross. Irish Coffee Murder (Lucy Stone, #28.5) by Leslie Meier opens with Lucy being tasked to cover an Irish Step Dancing School and their upcoming regional competition called a feis.  When one of the dance moms is found dead, rumors start to spread about the ex-husband being the murderer.  I loved this novella particularly because I used to be an Irish Step Dancer and competed in a couple of feis.  I had my suspicions of
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Book Review: Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun (Finlay Donovan, #3) by Elle Cosimano

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Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun (Finlay Donovan, #3) by Elle Cosimano is the latest installment in the Finlay Donovan book series.  It opens with Finlay needing to identify who a contract killer is before Mob Boss Feliks does or else she will be killed.  Unfortunately, Finlay thinks the killer is a dirty cop, so she and Vero go undercover at a citizen's police academy to figure out who it may be, and chaos ensues. I'd like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun (Finlay Donovan, #3) by Elle Cosimano.  I was thrilled to be approved to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Elle Cosimano has done a phenomenal job with this series making each sequel more believable.  After a rough start with the series, I've come to love most of the characters and the books.  I think the only character that I don't particularly care for is Finlay's ex-husband Steven.  Where I
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