Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross

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book review hidden beneath maine clambake mystery 11 barbara ross

Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross is the story about Julia and her mother Jacqueline attending a memorial service on Chipmunk Island for Ginny, who was an old friend of Jacqueline.  When something seems off at the memorial, Julia decides to delve into the cold case of Ginny, and in the process of the investigation, a murder takes place on the island.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the Advanced Readers Copy of Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross in exchange for my honest review.  I first became familiar with this series and author while reading a collection of short stories that included one from the Maine Clambake Mystery series.  I was excited when I was approved to read this newest book and was not disappointed.

This newest edition can be read as a stand alone as the author does a fantastic job of recapping the backstories of the characters from previous books in the series.  I found all the main characters to be incredibly likable.  With that being said, I didn't care for most of the supporting characters that were friends with Ginny.  They seemed very cliquey, which is something I don't expect of grown women, let alone ones in their sixties.

The story was entertaining, and I enjoyed the fact that there were two or three of different mysteries that were presented in the book.  Trying to figure out the connection between them was fun.  However, it did seem to take a bit too long to find out how it all connected together, but the story ended with a bang, which more than made up for any slow parts.  I had no clue as to the identity of the murderer, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Five out of five stars is what I gave Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross.  The expected publication for this book is June 27, 2023.  I have a long wait for the twelve book in the series, so I'll tide myself over by reading the books that came before this one.

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