Continuing to enjoy this series

Mission Impawsible by Krista Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Continue to love this series; this one had some great new characters, and many plausible red herrings.

I like getting to know Oma and Holly more, as well as the other main Wagtail community members.

I am going to continue this series, and truly wish I could visit the setting in these books.

Beverage Pairings: This is truly a cozy series, so naturally any tea of your choice will be a great pairing.

Enjoyable MG mystery

The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable MG book. The two main characters were interesting, and they had a supportive friendship.

While I appreciated their notebook entries, I am not sure how they added much to the plot; I think it would have been fine with just their chapter POV's.

If the story took place over a longer time frame, then I think the notebooks would have worked better. They weren't really distracting, but they didn't add much to the plot.

It always amazes me when two authors manage to write a novel together, and they did a very nice job with this story.

I thought the red-herrings, the plot twists, and the resolution were all done well.

Beverage Pairing: I am sure everyone will know which beverage to enjoy while reading this book: A glass of milk, naturally.

Enjoyable series.

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The premise sounded great, and I loved many things about the story.

The twists I wasn't expecting, and the one twist I was expecting were handeled adeptly.

The setting sounded intriguing, and I personally enjoyed the descriptions of the various fauna and the variety of crabs. (reading the afterword is helpful as well, in this regard).

I enjoyed reading more about Frankie's motivations, and liked many of the other characters.

The resolution for many was also a nice bonus, and I am left to wonder what happens next in Frankie's life. Hopefully this wasn't an ending for her. I expect she and one of the characters will partner up in a 4th book.

Beverage Pairings: A good chunk is set on an Atoll, thus you would expect some drinks with rum, but honestly a light beer for most of it will get you through the intensity of this plot. Afterwards, go to a bar and get yourself that tropical cocktail.

Total Cringe

Eruption by Michael Crichton
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I started this knowing full well that it would be over the top; a B movie in book form.

I don't personally care if it was more of Crichton's writing or Patterson's, I wanted a fun but believable disaster story.

The characters were ridiculous. Throughout we as readers are reading a countdown to the big eruuption (which is complicated by a military/environmental secret, which was literally the only thing I found believable..that a horrible waste product wouldn't be disposed of properly or cared for properly), yet while the characters (who also know exactly when the eruption will be) debate what to do, they also take time to go out for drinks and other unnecessary endeavors.

I do not mean they have months to prepare, this is when things are within days and then literally a few hours prior to the eruption. They have very petty squabbles on how to proceed (not learned debates on what makes the most sense). I probably sound petty here, but it is what made much of this unbelievable. Yes, there will be personality issues, and various opinions, and some people won't be respected who do indeed know a lot, in groups when things need to be figured out, but again, I just didn't buy the scenarios.

The main guy in charge, who happens to teach the local youth how to surf on the side, (I mean, seriously? He's from the mainland and he's teaching them to surf???) goes to the beach within hours of the eruption to see his favorite student??? Um, a phone call would have made more sense, but even then dude, time is ticking.....

Anyway, lots of reviews have bashed it because it doesn't read like a Crichton book. I have read a few of his, but as I said I wasn't expecting it to read like he wrote it. It had been a long buried draft, and Patterson took the project on at the behest of Crichton's wife.

I personally give loads of kudos to Patterson for his worthy work with literacy and independent bookstores. I truly love him for his work in those areas, and loved his early Alex Cross novels, his books for middle school students, and look forward to reading The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians.

I expected a fast read from him, but didn't quite expect the ludricousness of this plot.

I did put on hold a non-fiction book by Tamsin Mather Adventures in Volcano Land: What Volcanoes Tell Us About the World and Ourselves since volcanoes, and their potential eruptions, do indeed interest me.

Beverage Pairing Initially this was looking like a perfect pairing with any cold beverage of your choice, and a big bag of popcorn. A perfect B movie pairing, right? But, after just a bit the book was clearly turning into a not great book, and the only thing to drink would perhaps be chamomile tea or a tums or two to digest the blather in this book.

I enjoy this author's writing

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 4th book in the Harbinder Kaur series, but it mostly focuses on characters we met in The Postscript Murders.

I enjoyed those characters, and it was nice to read about them again, but did wish Harbinder was featured more.

I found the mystery interesting, but the pace was a bit slow at times.

I didn't quite guess where it was all going, and that was enjoyable.

I wavered between a 3 and a 4 and went with the 4 because I do find the writing quite nice.



Beverage Pairing: Read with a nice pot of tea, or an occassional shot of espresso.

Slow start but overall a nice read

The Note: A Novel by Alafair Burke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this as an ARC from NetGalley.

Initially it didn't really grab me; it was quite slow, a bit convoluted in terms of their friendship, and the characters weren't terribly engaging.

I stuck with it, reading intermittingly between other more compelling (for me) reads.

Then it got interesting, and the murder mystery made me want to finish it. While it was somewhat easy to figure out the murderer, I did enjoy how it was solved.

The characters did eventually grow on me as well.

Beverage Pairing: A nice summer drink like a mojito would be the perfect pairing for this novel.

Lighthearted series

The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been enjoy Davis' other series (Paws and Claws), so thought I would try this series. I read the first book and enjoyed it; but rather than continuing the series as written (which would mean 15 more books) I jumped to the one just published which is the 17th.

Many of the characters were ones I met in the first book, so it was easy to read this one.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one, but didn't care as much for the little letters to Sophie and Natasha's respective columns that started each chapter. I simply got tired of the charcuterie board questions and responses, and didn't feel they added much to the story line. In the first book those letters were pertinent and set up an interesting relationship aspect between the women.

Relationships are key in this book, and made the main mystery even more intriguing.

Beverage Pairing: Sitting outside on a porch, or in your yard, read this with a nice chilled Pinot Gris. If you don't care for alcohol, or it is too early for wine, chilled peach juice would be perfect.

New setting in the series

A Limited Edition Murder by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had read earlier books in this series, but jumped ahead with this one. There had been numerous changes for the main character, Addie, since I had read the books, but this book easily caught me up.

I enjoyed the set-up, the mysteries, and the characters. Hopefully I will be on top of things and will pick up book 11 when it comes out.

Beverage Pairing: Even if you aren't in the UK, seek out a pub, order a pint of your favorite beer, and enjoy this book.

Summer read?

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the writing. As I started reading I was reminded of various Greek myths as well as the book, The Giver.

In all honesty keeping that book in mind is what kept me reading. There was a twist that surprised me (in hardcover version it was on page 142).

There were interesting philosophical questions raised at various points, that I appreciated (and continued to make me think of The Giver). Is it a Utopia or a Dystopia? That is probably the real mystery.

Beverage Pairing:

I think a nice sweet iced tea is perfect for this book. I know many might not feel this way, but this was kind of the perfect beach/summer read. Probably a bit more thought inducing than most summer reads, but that was my feeling when I finished the book.

King is the master of depicting characters

You Like It Darker by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this collection. Only one story was just okay for me.

I will do a simple blurb for each story.

1) Two Talented Bastids: Great story that I fell right into. Loved the line, "nothing can give you what already isn't there."

2) The Fifth Step: I knew there'd be a twist, but that was a doozy.

3) Willie the Weirdo: Creepy

4) Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream: Great characters, interesting premise, "belief is hard"

5) Finn: Just okay for me.

6) On Slide Inn Road: Really enjoyed this story. Could see it all.

7) Red Screen: Clever but kind of knew where it was going (not trying to imply I am clever..you will see what I mean when you read it.

8) The Turbulence Expert: Truly loved it. Can totally relate

9) Laurie: Wonderful dog story

10) Rattlesnakes: Three words: Cujo, Grief and ghosts. Great creepy story

11) The Dreamers: Scary. Could induce nightmares.

12) The Answer Man: Just a beautiful story.

It's all in the characters. King is simply a master with his characters. His afterword is worthy too.

Beverage Pairing: A nice french roast for most of the stories. Perhaps lemonade for Rattlesnakes