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The Ghostly Guide to Alcatraz by

Theresa Emminizer

Theresa Emminizer’s The Ghostly Guide to Alcatraz is a brief and easy-to-read book detailing the history of the very famous island and prison. I enjoyed the book’s eye-catching design and bright pictures. The information is interesting but it is a little underwhelming, especially the ghostly tidbits.

This is a very easy-to-follow and understandable book for younger readers. Emminizer’s nicely simple language is concise and accessible. The book is divided neatly into simple, comprehensive, and super short chapters. The easy-to-read information includes fascinating facts about Alcatraz’s long history (it became a maximum security prison in 1934 and closed in 1963), the prison’s infamous inmates like Al Capone, as well as mentions of infamous prison escape attempts. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the Native peoples. Did you know that it’s possible that the Native peoples believed the island was haunted and may have used it as a spot of punishment?

I also appreciate the inclusion of a glossary, a short timeline of Alcatraz’s history, as well as a section with books and websites so kids can learn more about Alcatraz on their own.

However, there is disappointingly little information on Alcatraz’s haunted aspects. I would have loved to see more pages on the alleged hauntings and sightings. I also would have liked to see more specific facts or stories.

I really appreciate the book’s colourful and appropriately spooky design which definitely makes the reading experience quite fun and exciting. I also love that there are so many interesting full-colour pictures and this will definitely appeal to younger readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Rosen Publishing Group for this book in exchange for an honest review.

👻👻👻 out of 5 ghosts!

#The Ghostly Guide to Alcatraz #Theresa Emminizer #book review #book reviews #books #book #netgalley #picture book #illustrated #children #children's non fiction #travel

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Doom and Bloom by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Doom and Bloom is another entertaining and quick read starring everyone’s favourite octogenarian sleuth. I enjoyed the well-crafted and funny characters. However, I wish the writing was stronger and that the mystery was more interesting and less predictable. This is the twenty-third book in the series and it doesn’t really work well as a standalone.

It is spring in the small town of Bradley, North Carolina. The local Garden Club is hosting a flower show. Of course, retired English teacher turned amateur sleuth Myrtle Clover is attending with her psychic friend Wanda. However, things quickly go rotten when the friends discover the murdered body of the flower show judge Hortense Winston. With several viable suspects including the victim’s ex-husband and a fired landscaper, Myrtle must weed out the murderer before the bodies pile up!

I am a longtime fan of the Myrtle Clover mystery series and I did like this witty and entertaining book. However, the mystery plot is too predictable and choppy to be truly enjoyable. I did like that the mystery started quickly and had some good red herrings and great action. Hortense is a perfectly nasty victim with interesting skeletons in her closet. There are some memorable and viable suspects like Hortense’s recently dumped ex-boyfriend botanist Arthur, her garden club rival Martha, as well as ditzy Emily who supposedly stole Hortense’s beloved flowers.

The big reveal is also pretty exciting. However, the culprit’s motives are not very plausible nor interesting. I also would have liked to see more done with the suspects. Furthermore, while I always love Myrtle’s blatant sleuthing, I want to see new ways for her to snoop and worm her way into the investigation. I also love how poor germaphobic Miles gets roped into helping her. However, this small town is filled with a cast of hilarious and memorable characters and I definitely think it would be interesting to see some of them help more during investigations.

I always enjoy Craig’s mature, easy-to-follow, and deftly humorous writing. The characters are consistently excellently written. However, the book needs a very thorough round of editing because there are some glaring inconsistencies and distractingly choppy transitions. I also find the writing and conversations are a little repetitive.

This is a solid book and I love clever and hilarious Myrtle. However, I really would have liked to see much more effort in this entry.

💐💐💐 out of 5 flower arrangements!

#book review #elizabeth spann craig #doom and bloom #book reviews #book #books #fiction #cozy mystery series #cozy #cozy mystery #reviews #review #adult fiction

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The Bear and Her Book written by Frances Tosdevin with art by Sophia O’Connor

The Bear and Her Book written by Frances Tosdevin with gorgeous art by Sophia O’Connor is a gentle and easy-to-read story filled with adventure and kindness.

An inquisitive and book-loving bear sets out on a journey to explore the world. The only thing that accompanies her is her special book “Bear’s Big Book of Being Wise.” Bear’s adventures take her to amazing locations. She travels from her beautiful home in the mountains to the seashore where she helps a wounded crab and then to the jungle where she helps a sick crocodile. She also goes to the desert and meets a lizard in need. Bear’s final stop is the world of people. She soon discovers a wealth of exciting books and realizes that is exactly where she wants to be!

This is such a serene and calming book! The rhyming and easy-to-read sentences are excellently done with great word choices so that everything flows seamlessly. The rhymes effortlessly move the story along and they really are fun to read out loud. Kids will particularly love the repetition.

Bear is a lovely, kind, and helpful character. I love her sense of adventure and desire to experience new things. I also love that she makes friends wherever she goes. I do wish she had a name but the lack of it doesn’t negatively affect the story for me.

I love the uniqueness of an adventuring bear who loves to read. I really like that Bear’s beloved book helps her gain knowledge but also leads her to new friends and adventure. I particularly love the book’s ending with a promise of more fun to come! This book gently encourages little readers (and us adults!) to be kind, be open to wonder and adventure, and to enjoy all the experiences that books can bring.

I am in absolute awe of the full-page and full-colour illustrations. They are so soft and eye-catching. Bear is very cute with her pleasant and friendly face. I love her ever present little book bag around her neck! I also love that she looks very much like a real bear and not a cartoon bear.

The animals and the scenery aren’t painstakingly fully detailed. However, that doesn’t really matter because I really appreciate the softness and whimsicalness of the art with its serene and breathtaking scenery. The many animals like the crocodile and lizard still do show some great personalities.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 out of 5 book-reading bears!

#THE BEAR AND HER BOOK #FRANCES TOSDEVIN #SOPHIA O'CONNOR #book review #book reviews #book #books #netgalley #children's fiction #picture book #illustrated #children #fiction #kids

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Cat’s Café by Matt Tarpley

Matt Tarpley’s Cat’s Café is a gentle, fun, and uplifting read. The colourful and sweet artwork is super cute and I love that the book so sensitively and accurately deals with mental health issues.

I adored the second book in this series so I just had to get my hands on the first one! And I love this one just as much! This book is like a sweet and warm embrace that you’ll want to return to again and again.

This easy-to-read book introduces us to Cat’s Café. This cosy and cute neighborhood coffee shop is a beacon of friendship and warmth for everyone. This book is filled with so many different and lovely animal characters like kind café owner Cat, anxiety-riddled Rabbit, and coffee-obsessed Penguin (me too, bro) and his feisty little pet Kiwi. These characters are sweet, funny, and relatable as they navigate friendships, feelings, mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and self-esteem troubles.

I particularly love the comics of the animals cheering each other on and supporting each other through sad and difficult times. I also appreciate the well-balanced storylines. Although the book is extremely positive and uplifting, it doesn’t shy away from gently and sensitively depicting the dark times. There are heavy and serious moments when the characters face self-doubt and loneliness. However, there are also many wonderful and light comics filled with sharing coffee with friends, openly asking for and giving support, making new friends, and achieving goals. I also really love the comics where Tarpley invites us into the story like when he asks us to celebrate our wins.

The adorable artwork is colourful and so fun! Every page is a delight and brings a smile to my face! I particularly love the variety of cute animals with their distinctive and expressive faces! They all have such excellent and memorable personalities that really shine through. I particularly love the cuteness and cosiness of the coffee shop. I also love the beautiful blues of the underwater world with Whale and bestie Remora as well as the gorgeous nature scenes filled with fall colours and snow!

I cannot recommend this book enough! It is just a perfect pick-me-up filled with goodness and warmth. I can't wait to see more in this series!

☕☕☕☕☕ out of 5 cups of coffee!

#cat's cafe #matt tarpley #illustrated #fiction #book reviews #book review #book #books #children's fiction #picture book #comic #comic strip #comics

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Pancake the Cat: From Funny to Fearless by James Coleman with art by Lucy Pirogova

Pancake the Cat: From Funny to Fearless by James Coleman with cute art by Lucy Pirogova is a lovely and easy-to-read story filled with humour and kindness. The book features great messages about acceptance, change, and inner strength.

Fluffy and adorable cat Pancake lives with his kind owners Mr. and Mrs. Buttons. His humans spoil Pancake with delicious pancakes for every meal. Soon, he begins to resemble his favourite food! He quickly finds out that he can’t do the physical things that other cats can and his friends continuously make fun of him. Poor Pancake is devastated. However, a chance meeting with a starving mother cat and her kittens allows Pancake to become the true hero that we’ve always known he is!

This is such a sweet and meaningful book! I love the humour and puns. I love cute and relatable Pancake who is good, kind, and always willing to help others. I really admire how Coleman manages to gently and effectively represent many messages in this quick and approachable tale without being preachy. Through Pancake’s journey, both kids and adults can learn about the values of courage, kindness, and a good heart.

There’s also the important lesson that one’s appearance doesn’t impact one’s goodness. Pancake helps the starving cats in a sweet way which is so uniquely him and stays true to himself. This can help to encourage self-love and self-acceptance in kids. However, I also like that the book ends with Pancake choosing to work on himself by improving his diet while still making room for his beloved pancakes. I think this is also an important message that it is perfectly okay to change yourself if you want to!

I really love Lucy Pirogova’s homey and whimsical art. Pancake is so cute with his fluffy body and sweet blue eyes. I also really like all the different cats who have such unique personalities and figures. The typography is also super cool. It is fun and exciting while nicely fitting the story and matching the changing moods.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞 out of 5 stacks of pancakes!

#PANCAKE THE CAT #JAMES COLEMAN #LUCY PIROGOVA #book reviews #book review #netgalley #children's fiction #picture book #children #illustrated #fiction #book #books #animals #kids

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The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook by Ashley Craft

Ashley Craft’s The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook is a wonderful cookbook that will bring the magic of the American Disney parks straight into your kitchen!

This well-organised recipe collection is divided into chapters on Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers and Snacks, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks. The book also features a very helpful section on The Disney Parks Restaurants Experience which gives readers some fascinating facts about several of the most popular Disney restaurants like Tiffins Restaurant and Be Our Guest Restaurant. There is also a chapter on The Disney Parks Cook’s Essentials which lists the tools like piping bags and syrups that you’ll need to whip up your own fanciful feasts!

I am a huge Disney fanatic and I cannot wait to start whipping up these goodies! I love that the book features a range of both easy and more complicated dishes. There are approachable Breakfast dishes like Mickey-Shaped Pancakes but I will need a more experienced cook to help me with Melba Crepes (fruit filled homemade crepes!). Simple Lunch dishes include the bright The Sun Bonnet Trio Strawberry Salad while there are more time and labour-intensive meals like Lobster Bisque with homemade lobster stock!

Fun appetizers include the intricate Five-Blossom Bread and the crowd-pleasing Fried Mozzarella. You can also enjoy Jambalaya or try hybrid Curry-Spiced Pizza with from scratch pizza dough! Everyone’s favourite Desserts section features the decadent Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake and the super cool The Sword in the Sweet (a pudding with a cookie sword in it!). Funky drinks include The Happy Haunts Milkshake (topped with a chocolate glazed donut!) and the fan favourite Rum Blossoms (a bright fruity alcoholic drink with boba balls that can also be made non-alcoholic!).

The recipes are clearly detailed and easy-to-follow. Craft’s writing is concise and friendly. She begins the recipes with a brief write-up which can include fun facts about the dish’s history, the restaurant location, tasting notes or serving tips. Many of the ingredients are fairly accessible and moderately inexpensive. Craft also often offers several ingredient swaps. There are several specialty items like flavoured boba pearls and buckwheat flour. But, they are still moderately inexpensive and not too difficult to find.

Also, several recipes do require the use of specialty equipment like a bacon press and aluminum cream maker but, thankfully, Craft offers utensil swaps for those of us who do not want to purchase these things. While many of the recipes encourage creating items from scratch, I also appreciate the use of convenience items like cake mix, Hawaiian rolls, and pot sticker wrappers. There are also great tips for making drinks non-alcoholic and I also appreciate that there are quite a few vegetarian recipes.

The book’s layout is simple, clean, and elegant. I do wish it was more exciting to suit the magic of Disney. I also like that many of the recipes have simply staged but lovely full-colour and full-page pictures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Adams Media for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🥄🥄🥄🥄 out of 5 spoons!

#ashley craft #The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook #book review #book reviews #netgalley #book #books #cookbooks #cooking #recipe book #disney #food #food recipes

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Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör is a spooky and well-paced read. I love the well-crafted setting and the cool and creative format which really enhances the reading experience!

There’s something odd happening at the supposedly perfect Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. The store is falling short of sales expectations and merchandise is being mysteriously destroyed overnight. Our protagonist Amy just wants to keep her head down until she can transfer out of the store. However, that’s hard to do as deputy store manager Basil seems to have it out for her. Basil ropes Amy and star employee Ruth Anne into staying overnight at Orsk with him to uncover the mystery behind the store’s happenings. They are soon joined by fellow employees and amateur ghost hunters Trinity and Matt who are hoping to find some ghosts at the store and get a TV show deal in the process. However, these Orsk employees soon uncover a supernatural nightmare lurking behind the store’s bright lights.

This is a very interesting and unique book! I love that Hendrix takes elements of the traditional haunted house story and really updates it by placing the book in a super modern setting. Orsk is an excellently crafted and memorably spooky location. I was totally immersed and felt completely claustrophobic and unnerved for the entire book.

I also love the book’s fun format which resembles a product catalog and which features fun media like posters and employee feedback forms. I appreciate that these elements not only really enhance the reading experience but actually contribute to understanding the book. This is a fairly quick read and the plot is very well-paced with not a single wasted word or incident. I love Hendrix’s mature and easy-to-read writing with deft touches of humour and heart. I like the sad and chilling story behind the incidents at Orsk although I really would have liked to see this part of the plot more rounded out. The horror and supernatural elements are gory and frightening enough to startle and disgust but they’re never played for simple shock value. However, this book is very much a quiet psychological piece so if you’re looking for a lot of action and big scares, this won’t appeal to you. I enjoyed the quietness of the story but I was hoping for a little more drama and oomph.

I enjoyed the tight cast of diverse and interesting characters. I definitely relate to resentful and moody slacker protagonist Amy and I loved watching her character grow organically. Her backstory isn’t particularly unique and she really could have been stereotypical but she is quite realistic and relatable. I also enjoyed loyal deputy manager Basil who seems like a boring corporate shill but is actually quite kind. However, while I do like ghost hunters Trinity and Matt, they both stayed mostly as cardboard cutouts.

👻👻👻 ½ out of 5 ghosts!

#grady hendrix #book review #book reviews #books #book #fiction #adult fiction #Horrorstör #horror #supernatural

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Milk & Mocha Comics Collection: Our Little Happiness by Melani Sie

Melani Sie’s Milk & Mocha Comics Collection: Our Little Happiness is a heartwarming and charming series of comics depicting quiet moments in the life of two little bears. I love the simple and happy stories as well as the cute art. But, I wish there was less repetition in the topics of the panels.

This sweet book instantly brightens up your day! It is also a quick and easy read. Most of the time, each page features a self-contained four-panel comic. These little slice-of-life vignettes are a lovely insight into these bears’ lives. Quietly serious brown bear Mocha and talkative and hungry white bear Milk are such a lovable pair! Their opposite but ultimately complementary personalities work wonderfully together.

These comics consist of relatable scenes like Milk and Mocha eating together, cuddling, enjoying a movie, and taking care of the other when sick. I especially love the segments where they adopt a cute pet dinosaur Matcha who makes a wonderful addition to the family! There are also sad and unhappy moments but there is always a fitting happy ending. I really appreciate that the book makes the simplest little actions seem extraordinary. It really encourages you to appreciate and romanticise the joy in your everyday life. It’s also a great reminder that love doesn’t exist only in grand gestures but is more often found in simple and everyday acts of love and kindness.

However, the panels are repetitive. I would have loved to see Milk and Mocha spending more time outdoors or changing up their activities because there is a lot of eating and cuddling but not much else. I also really wish the story of Milk and Mocha’s meeting was placed at the beginning of the book instead of at the very end. It would be a better introduction to this world and would also clear up any confusion for new readers.

These panels are fun, cute, and colourful! The simple art style is sweet and joyful. The bears are such great characters with distinct and adorable expressions! Grumpy and clumsy Mocha is quiet and endearing. I can definitely relate to loud, energetic, and hungry Milk! However, my favourite is the funny and fiery dinosaur pet Matcha! I also love that you can’t distinguish the bears’ genders so you’re free to interpret their story as you wish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🐻🐻🐻🐻 out of 5 bears!

#melani sie #milk and mocha #Milk & Mocha #netgalley #book #books #book review #book reviews #children's fiction #picture book #illustrated #fiction #children #Milk & Mocha Comics Collection #comics

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Hushed Up by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Hushed Up is a fun, well-written, and entertaining cosy mystery starring everyone’s favourite senior sleuth. The excellent and memorable characters are as funny as always while the mystery is interesting. This is the fifteenth book in this series but it works well as a standalone.

Florist Lillian Johnson is no blushing rose. She is a dour perfectionist who often butted heads with many people, including her own daughter. Retired schoolteacher turned investigative reporter Myrtle Clover isn’t particularly pleased with her either because Lillian ignored psychic Wanda’s warning that she was in danger. Predictably, Lillian is soon found murdered by Myrtle’s sidekick Miles. Myrtle and Miles must dig into this case to uncover the truth before anyone else in Bradley gets hushed up!

This is another solidly entertaining book in the series! The mystery is well-paced with interesting and viable suspects. Could the culprit be the victim’s favourite but flighty and spendthrift son Martin? Or could it be the victim’s estranged daughter Annie? Or could the murderer be the victim’s neighbour Tallulah with whom she often argued? The mystery features some good red herrings and interesting twists. I was sad that I figured out the identity of the killer very early on because of something incriminating that they said. However, their motives do make sense and fit the plot well. But, I wish the mystery was more intriguing with some more suspense. I do love the big reveal which is hilariously pitch perfect and nicely wraps up the book.

This book is filled with the consistently entertaining and familiar scenes of senior small-town life. I always love how Craig takes everyday situations and makes them into such hilarious scenes! There are the usual fun scenes of Myrtle bossing around longsuffering germaphobic sidekick Miles, trying to wrangle her unruly house help, remaining one step ahead of her police chief son Red, and, of course, inflicting her awful cooking on the victim’s loved ones. However, in this book, things are a little different as poor Lieutenant Perkins also falls victim to Myrtle’s cooking. I was howling at Myrtle’s disastrous breakfast party! I love Myrtle’s sleuthing which works so well simply because she knows everyone in town and her reputation definitely precedes her. However, I think that she was a little too outlandish in this book–especially when she blatantly crashed a police interview with a possible suspect.

🥀🥀🥀🥀 out of 5 dying roses!

#HUSHED UP #ELIZABETH SPANN CRAIG #book review #book reviews #fiction #cozy #cozy mystery #cozy mystery series #mystery #book #books

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Otto’s Epic Adventure at the Amusement Park written by Sue A. Stewart with art by Anna Duda

Otto’s Epic Adventure at the Amusement Park written by Sue A. Stewart with art by Anna Duda is a funny and easy-to-read rhyming adventure. The art is cute and colourful while the storyline is easy-to-follow. There are also some great activities like a word find and word matching game to really get little readers involved.

Little Tom and his family are heading out to have a fun-filled day at the amusement park. Loyal dog Otto is excited to go to the park too but is sad when he has to stay at doggie daycare. However, Otto refuses to be left behind! He sets out on a fun-filled trip through the amusement park to find Tom.

This is an entertaining and quick book! I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this one is a wonderful follow-up. Otto is such a cute and loyal dog to his owner Tom! Otto’s exciting adventure through the amusement park is a fun and quite mischievous romp. The simple and easy-to-read rhyming storyline as well as the short sentences and dialogue make this book very approachable for kids. For the most part, the rhymes are successful but there are a few times when they feel a little forced and do not flow very naturally.

I really enjoyed Duda’s bright full-page illustrations! The amusement park scenes are colourfully eye-catching. Kids will love seeing all the fun and exciting rides like the Ferris Wheel and Haunted House that may be familiar to them. I particularly love the pet parade and all the animals in their cute costumes! Adorable Otto is so sweet–I love his impromptu costume!

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🎡🎡🎡🎡🎡 out of 5 ferris wheels!

#Otto’s Epic Adventure at the Amusement Park #SUE A. STEWART #ANNA DUDA #netgalley #children's fiction #books #picture book #children #illustrated #book reviews #book review #book #fiction

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A Catered Halloween by Isis Crawford

Isis Crawford’s A Catered Halloween is a spooky cosy mystery that is bogged down with inconsistent writing. I love the setting and the delicious food. The mystery plot is interesting and I like the inclusion of the supernatural. However, there are too many characters and the plot holes are distracting. This is the fifth book in the series and I had difficulty settling in. The book is far from boring but there is a lot of missed potential.

Caterer sisters Libby and Bernie Simmons are hired to cater a Haunted House attraction at the old Peabody School. It is rumoured that the school is haunted and the most tragic death was that of schoolgirl Bessie Osgood who “accidentally” fell out a window. However, there’s more murder on the menu as the sisters stumble across the severed head of nasty socialite Amethyst Applegate. The sisters and their friends and family dig into both mysteries.

The book started off very promisingly with a strong beginning and wraps up with a decent ending but the middle was a struggle. I really did not enjoy the rotating third-person perspectives. Although Bernie, Libby, and their retired cop father Sean all have very distinct voices, the constant changes in point-of-view is distracting and often choppily done as the perspectives sometimes switch within the same page!

Furthermore, while the overall writing is mature and I love the delicious descriptions of food, the book lacks cohesion. The writing can be repetitive and sometimes nonsensical with awkward dialogue. There is a lot of talking and descriptions when there could have been more action. For instance, in the middle of one scene, Bernie painstakingly lists out a future catering menu for an extravagant dinner party for no other reason than she simply can!

The mystery plot is interesting and quick-paced with good suspects and some nice twists. The Haunted House setting is very nicely-done and I love the book’s spooky atmosphere. I enjoyed the dual mystery of Bessie’s death and Amethyst’s murder. I like how the two storylines converge. The big reveal is pretty interesting and I like that I didn’t see it coming! However, the mystery is filled with so many plot holes and unanswered questions that I couldn’t enjoy the book fully. I also wish the ending was more cohesive to properly wrap up the mysteries. I did love the supernatural aspect as I really wasn’t expecting the book to go there. However, I wish the supernatural elements were better written and more fully explored from early on in the book. There is a lot of potential but Crawford kept missing the mark.

The book has a large cast of characters and I wish there were less so that the important ones could have been better developed. My favourite is funny, fashionable, and smart Bernie who boldly snoops all over town! I also like anxious and sensible Libby and the ways that her supernatural powers play into the plot. The sisters are total opposites but both are well-developed, interesting, and likeable characters. I wish they had gotten to sleuth together more because I enjoy their sisterly relationship. I wish there had been a lot less of brusque and unlikeable Sean as I don’t believe his chapters contributed much. Furthermore, there are too many side characters like the crazy ghost hunting brothers and the sisters’ employee Amber. It is hard to keep track of or feel connected to all these people.

🎃🎃½ out of 5 pumpkins!

#isis crawford #a catered halloween #cozy mystery series #cozy mystery #cozy #fiction #adult fiction #book review #book #books #book reviews #halloween

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Berried Motives by Peg Cochran

Peg Cochran’s Berried Motives is an okay and well-paced mystery that really missed the mark. I did enjoy the plot and the interesting setting. However, the book lacks the signature cosy charm while the unmemorable characters act implausibly. This is the sixth book in the series but it works as a standalone.

Our protagonist is Monica who lives and works on a busy cranberry farm. The farm is in full harvest mode and she’s thrilled to learn that they will be featured on a local TV show. The filming goes well but the show’s unlikeable host Betsy DeJong leaves a bad impression. However, she is soon found murdered on the farm! The lengthy suspect list includes the victim’s sleazy politician fiance, her high school boyfriend who works on the farm, and the mysterious new farm photographer. As Monica digs into Betsy’s past, she uncovers secrets that anyone would kill to keep hidden.

It’s taken me three years to read this book because, honestly, it doesn’t grab your attention. Although the writing is mature, it can be quite repetitive and dull. This is especially evident in the cast of characters who are forgettable and fairly one-dimensional. Monica is a dedicated and likeable but boring protagonist. There are glimmers of personality in her eccentric stepmother Gina as well as her baking assistant Kit but they are both underutilised. But, I did appreciate the cute animals, especially the adorable dog Hercule.

The book also lacks that signature cosy charm and fun. Even the descriptions of the food are so boring! But, the quaint little town and Sassamanash Farm sound so lively and interesting. I would love to live there! I wish the book spent more time exploring this lovely world instead of noting every little detail of Monica making cranberry goodies or cooking meals.

I do like that this is a quick read and the mystery is well-paced with several viable suspects. There are several red herrings and a few predictable but still good twists. I like that I didn’t figure out the murderer until the big reveal but their motives do make sense. However, Monica’s response to the killer’s reveal is absolutely stupid. If I wasn’t near the end of the book, I really would not have finished reading. I also wish the overall mystery had more thrill and suspense because I never fully believed Monica or anyone else was in danger at all.

Furthermore, Monica’s snooping took me out of the book. She investigates Betsy’s murder because of vague hand wave gesture. She barges into places without any skill or finesse and the suspects simply info dump huge secrets at her. I almost abandoned the book when a smarmy salesman (who met Monica twice!) outright tells her that his boss is laundering money. She doesn’t seem to have much of a personality so I’m not sure why complete strangers are simply confessing their business to her other than to force the plot along.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🐶🐶 ½ out of 5 dogs!

#peg cochran #berried motives #netgalley #book review #book reviews #books #fiction #cozy #cozy mystery series #cozy mystery #mystery #adult fiction

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Little Whale written by Anna Brett with illustrations by Carmen Saldaña

Little Whale is a lovely and informative picture book. Anna Brett’s educational story is approachable and I love Carmen Saldaña’s cute illustrations!

This easy-to-read story follows a day in the life of adorable humpback whale calf Little Whale. He lives in a pod with his mom, dad, and other family members. The humpback whales live in both warm and cold waters. But, this time, they are setting out to find food in The Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we learn many interesting facts about these majestic gentle giants. There is information on their annual migration, whale songs and how they communicate with each other, as well as their familial relationships in their pods. Did you know that humpback whales only sleep for 30 minutes at a time? Did you know that these gigantic whales consume a diet of small fish and krill (little shrimp)?

First, we have a wonderful story followed by a great fact and photos section that also includes case studies as well as fun crafting and quiz activities! I also love the pictures of real humpback whales as well as the story of Migaloo the albino whale. This is a great way to show kids that the whales that they’ve been reading about actually exist! The fictional story is fairly short but engaging and effectively conveys a lot of information without being too overwhelming. Brett’s writing is simple and approachable. But, there are some difficult words that younger readers may need help with.

I learned so many new things about these amazing gentle giants! Furthermore, I never felt like I was being bombarded with facts or being preached to. I also like that Little Whale is our story guide because it makes learning relatable and fun for young readers. I definitely think this book will encourage kids to learn more about conservation, whales, and the wonders of marine life!

Saldaña’s full-page and full-colour illustrations are so charming! I love the beautiful and gentle colours. The underwater scenes are beautifully rendered and I love the representations of sea life. The humpback whales are adorable. I especially love sweet Little Whale with his lovely cheerful smile! I particularly love the beautifully drawn last page of the story where Little Whale sends us off into the sunset with a smile and a stunning rainbow spray. It is a joyous and memorable sight and will definitely keep Little Whale imprinted in my memory!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🐳🐳🐳🐳🐳 out of 5 little whales!

#little whale #anna brett #Carmen Saldaña #book review #book reviews #netgalley #children's fiction #picture book #children #illustrated #fiction #book #books #animals #nature

[rebeccareviews]

Death of a Suitor by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Death of a Suitor is a wonderfully well-written, funny, and exciting cosy mystery starring everyone’s favourite senior sleuth. The memorable and unique characters are excellent as always and I love the interesting mystery. This is the eighteenth book in the series but it works as a standalone.

Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle has a problem. Her sidekick Miles is unenthusiastically dating the ditzy Eloise. Myrtle tries to avoid Eloise as much as possible which is quite difficult as Eloise is determined to befriend her and hang around Miles and Myrtle at all times. When Myrtle discovers that Eloise is also seeing town lothario Jax Jackson, she eagerly encourages Miles to dump two-timing Eloise. However, when Jax is found murdered, Miles becomes a suspect! Myrtle must uncover a killer to clear her friend’s name and before the killer strikes again!

This is such a fantastically entertaining book! While I love and expect a certain series of entertaining events with these books, this book progresses a little differently. Craig uniquely spices up the mystery, especially with regards to Myrtle’s involvement in solving the crime. The last quarter of the book is pleasantly surprising with exciting action. Myrtle’s uncovering of the murderer is unique, memorable, and hilarious.

The mystery is excellently-paced with so many viable suspects that I kept changing my mind about the murderer's identity! Could the culprit be the victim’s money-hungry daughter Nicole? Is the murderer Jax’s other girlfriend Marigold? Is cheating Eloise not so innocent after all? There are several red herrings and a few great twists. I didn’t figure out the murderer until the big reveal but their motives do make sense and fit the plot well.

I also love that Craig uses relatable small-town events as the setting to Myrtle’s snooping. These ordinary situations are always fun and humourous but never too over-the-top. I was absolutely living for Myrtle’s trips to the nail salon to interrogate a suspect–she even forces poor Miles to get a manicure! I also particularly love how Myrtle uses her lawn gnomes to declare Miles’ innocence while also irritating her Police Chief Son Red. Clever Myrtle is a consistently entertaining and unique protagonist. I always appreciate how believable and organic her investigations are. She is a long-time Bradley resident as well as a former teacher so Myrtle knows everyone and everything so her boldly interrogating suspects seems perfectly reasonable!

🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵 out of 5 cups of tea!

#elizabeth spann craig #myrtle clover mystery series #book #books #book review #book reviews #cozy #fiction #cozy mystery series #cozy mystery #women's fiction #death of a suitor

[rebeccareviews]

Moose Is On The Loose: The Great Escape written by Dodie Leigh with art by Janaka

Moose Is On The Loose: The Great Escape is a very cute and simple story about a friendly and loveable dog. Dodie Leigh’s story is fun and easy-to-follow while Janaka’s illustrations are adorable.

Moose is a very big and adventurous dog who lives with his family and sister dog Penny. He is a sweetheart who loves everyone! He also loves running and playing and dreams of escaping so that he can explore the neighborhood with all the new and exciting things to see and smell. One day, someone leaves the front door open and Moose sets off on a wonderful adventure!

This is a lovely and fun little adventure! Moose’s journey is exciting and super easy-to-follow. There is a fair bit of writing and the book is a bit on the longer side. However, the story is straightforward and filled with approachable words. Kids will love exploring the neighborhood with Moose! He finds a new human friend to play with him, meets some new dogs, tries to befriend a squirrel, runs away from Daddy and the girls, enjoys a nice cool swimming pool, dances with some beautiful butterflies, and tries to help himself to someone’s picnic basket! However, all great adventures must come to an end. Moose decides to head back to his loving home where he is greeted warmly by his human family. The book ends nicely with Moose falling asleep with dreams of another adventure!

Loveable explorer Moose will definitely appeal to kids and adults alike because he is such a friendly and adventurous dog! I love that he is just so sweet and makes friends wherever he goes. His innocently infectious happiness and eager desire to explore the world is also really heartwarming. Sweet Moose embodies all these great and timeless values that are applicable to all ages. But, his boundless energy will definitely be relatable to little ones!

Janaka’s cute and softly coloured full-page illustrations fit the story nicely. Big and fluffy Moose is so adorable! I love his happy and expressive face so much! I particularly love the depictions of the other dogs and the beautiful butterflies. His adventure through the neighborhood is also wonderfully and realistically rendered.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕 out of 5 doggies!

#moose is on the loose #dodie leigh #janaka #netgalley #book #books #children's fiction #children #Picture book #illustrated #book review #book reviews #kids

[rebeccareviews]

A Body in the Attic by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s A Body in the Attic is a well-written and solidly engaging cosy mystery starring everyone’s favourite octogenarian sleuth. The funny and unique characters are memorably entertaining and the mystery plot is interesting. This is the sixteenth book in the series but it works as a standalone.

It’s another day in Bradley and there’s another murder mystery to solve! Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle and her sidekick Miles stumble upon the body of Miles’ friend Darren Powell. Quiet and mild-mannered Darren loved playing chess and exploring his attic. Who could possibly want to kill such an unimposing man? But, the more Myrtle and Miles dig into Darren, the more interesting he seems. Darren had recently come into money and the lengthy suspect list includes his wayward nephew, a smarmy lawyer, and a love rival. Can Myrtle crack the case before there’s another victim?

This is such a quick, light, and funny read with wonderfully mature writing! The mystery plot is excellently-paced with many memorable and viable suspects. There are several red herrings and a few nice twists. I like that I didn’t figure out the murderer until the big reveal but their motives do make sense and fit the plot well.

I love how familiarly consistent and entertaining these books are! This instalment is filled with the usual hilarious scenes of Myrtle’s sleuthing, butting heads with her Police Chief son Red, her cooking misadventures, trying to wrestle the book club members into having intelligent discussions, and bossing around poor long-suffering sidekick Miles. Although the same general scenarios remain a staple in these books, Craig ensures that they are never stale but, instead, they are always funny and unique and actually contribute to moving the plot along.

I particularly love that Craig imbues the ordinary activities of senior small town life with such fun and humour. The memorable and unique characters are fantastic as always! Savvy and formidable Myrtle is clever, nosey, and oh so funny! She’s one of the best and most consistently written characters in cosy mysteries. Myrtle’s shenanigans are laugh-out-ridiculous but realistic and are just the right touch of quirky without being outlandish.

🔦🔦🔦🔦 ½ out of 5 flashlights!

#Elizabeth Spann Craig #a body in the attic #myrtle clover mystery series #cozy #cozy mystery #cozy mystery series #book #books #book review #book reviews #adult fiction #mystery #women's fiction

[rebeccareviews]

Murder on the Ballot by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Murder on the Ballot is a well-written and entertaining cosy starring everyone’s favourite no-nonsense octogenarian sleuth. I love the humour and the excellent characters. This is the seventeenth mystery in the series and it doesn’t work as a standalone.

Former schoolteacher now investigative reporter and sleuth Myrtle Clover is running for the open seat on the town council. She is tired of the fighting and politics at the town council meetings in the tiny town of Bradley. Myrtle intends to teach them a dire lesson–before eventually dropping out. However, she soon stumbles across the body of her opponent Royce Rollins. The victim had no shortage of enemies including his own son and a secret girlfriend. Myrtle and her sidekick Miles must uncover the murderer before there are more victims!

This is a delightfully funny, quick, and easy read! I love the excellently crafted small-town setting of Bradley and all its quirky and memorable characters. Therefore, I’m so happy that a large portion of the book details Myrtle’s journey to join the town council like her fundraising activities and her interactions with other members of the town like prim and proper Tippy and nosy neighbour and new running mate Erma. These are all familiar and well-loved characters and it’s always amusing to see Myrtle’s interactions with them. Therefore, this book is unsuitable for new readers to the series because they won’t be able to fully understand and appreciate the setting and characters.

I love the usual funny shenanigans of Myrtle sleuthing, butting heads with her police chief son Red, and terrorizing poor Sloan at the newspaper. She is a fantastic, consistent, and amusing protagonist who is always living her best life. However, I definitely love the added fun of the council race, especially Myrtle’s ingenious use of her gnomes as a fundraiser as well as with Myrtle hilariously launching her campaign at the retirement home where she refers to the occupants as “inmates!”

The interesting mystery is well-paced with several viable suspects. I like that Craig spends time building up the town council plot because I really got to know the major players. There are some great twists and I didn’t figure out the murderer until the big reveal! However, their motives do make sense. I also love that this book heavily features psychic Wanda who is such a great and unique character. Although I do love germaphobic and long-suffering sidekick Miles, it’s fun to see Wanda helping out in Myrtle’s sleuthing. She really adds a new perspective and I also love watching the friendship develop even more between Myrtle and Wanda.

🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️ out of 5 ballot boxes!

#Elizabeth Spann Craig #murder on the ballot #cozy #cozy mystery #cozy mystery series #book #books #book review #book reviews #women's fiction #adult fiction #fiction #mystery