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: A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs

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Cozy Mystery Book Review of A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs
A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs is the second installment in the Mooseamuck Island cozy mystery series. The story begins when the body of an “outsider” is discovered stuffed inside a crab boil pot just before the island’s annual Crab Festival opens to the public. Determined not to let a murder derail their beloved celebration, the islanders press on...until it becomes clear that several locals had motives. As suspicion spreads, can retired police investigators Claire and Dom put aside their differences long enough to solve the case?

I originally bought a copy of this ebook years ago purely because I loved the title. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more of the books I already own instead of constantly buying new ones, so I finally decided to give A Crabby Killer a try, knowing absolutely nothing about the story beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised.

Leighann Dobbs does an excellent job of providing background on recurring characters for new readers without making it feel repetitive for those already familiar with the series. At first, I assumed the main characters were much younger, only to realize they are actually senior citizens. Despite the age difference, I still found them relatable and engaging. I also appreciated that the book works well as a standalone; I never felt lost even though I hadn’t read the first book, A Zen for Murder.

The writing is strong and filled with plenty of red herrings, which kept me guessing right up until the end. I did briefly suspect the true murderer at one point but quickly dismissed the idea. If you’re curious about who did it and their motive, you’ll have to read the book yourself because I won’t spoil it!

Overall, A Crabby Killer is a fun, lighthearted beach read and a solid entry in the Mooseamuck Island series. I definitely plan to go back and read the first book and any others that follow. I hope Leighann Dobbs continues the series. I rated A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs four out of five stars.

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