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emileereadsbooks's reviews
1120 reviews
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Imagine the Great British Baking Show set in America at the home of a renowned baker who is also the judge and host. Now pepper in a very colorful cast of characters with maybe subversive motives for being on the show. Sprinkle in things going awry in the kitchen as the competition heats up. Now some characters have definitely reached their boiling point because a dead body is found. Who is handling the heat and and who is causing people to leave the kitchen?
This was a fun, immersive, and entertaining read. Being a full cast audio is definitely always a bonus to me. Although the murder is revealed at the beginning of the book, it is definitely not the focus of the book. The book is more about the characters and their motivations and relationships with one another. And although I liked the characters, I didn't love any of them to root for them. They all felt a bit icky to me. And I would slot this one into the cozy mystery category even though it doesn't follow the normal format of that genre.
So, if you like a slow burn, character driven mystery, and don't need someone to root for, this book might be a great fit for you.
Warning: you will crave baked goods while reading.
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
Finlay and Vero are in deep with the mob after they did her a favor in saving her ex-husband from the hit out on his life. Seeking safety and a way to do some sleuthing, they enroll in a citizen's police academy run by hot cop Nick. Finlay is just trying to keep her head above water as she wades through all her responsibilities of managing her kids, a book deadline, and her less than legal after dark activities. This 3rd book in the series takes you on a whole new adventure.
I love how Cosimano throws a new setting into the series in this book with the police academy. It added a closed room mystery vibe while also not excluding the circumstances and characters of the previous two books. I loved the summer campy vibe and how it continued the plot of the drama of the other books. It once again wrapped up the story enough to satisfy us, but also left me salivating for book 4!
Finlay and Vero are in deep with the mob after they did her a favor in saving her ex-husband from the hit out on his life. Seeking safety and a way to do some sleuthing, they enroll in a citizen's police academy run by hot cop Nick. Finlay is just trying to keep her head above water as she wades through all her responsibilities of managing her kids, a book deadline, and her less than legal after dark activities. This 3rd book in the series takes you on a whole new adventure.
I love how Cosimano throws a new setting into the series in this book with the police academy. It added a closed room mystery vibe while also not excluding the circumstances and characters of the previous two books. I loved the summer campy vibe and how it continued the plot of the drama of the other books. It once again wrapped up the story enough to satisfy us, but also left me salivating for book 4!
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
Picking up just after the drama of book 1, Finlay is struggling to meet her book deadline and now trying to figure out who has put out a hit on her ex-husband. Still in cahoots with her nanny and partner in crime (literally) Vero, she is just trying to have a normal life, but circumstances are giving her a life that is worthy of the pages of her novels instead.
I thought this was such a fun jump back into Finlay's world. I love how Cosimano has constructed this world full of amusing and intriguing characters that have chemistry that just compels you to keep reading. Yes the circumstances are a bit unrealistic, but they feel read when you are reading and that's all that matters to me. This book leaves you satisfied enough with the ending, but also will make you very glad that there is book 3 (and 4 coming!) so that you get to keep experiencing these characters.
Picking up just after the drama of book 1, Finlay is struggling to meet her book deadline and now trying to figure out who has put out a hit on her ex-husband. Still in cahoots with her nanny and partner in crime (literally) Vero, she is just trying to have a normal life, but circumstances are giving her a life that is worthy of the pages of her novels instead.
I thought this was such a fun jump back into Finlay's world. I love how Cosimano has constructed this world full of amusing and intriguing characters that have chemistry that just compels you to keep reading. Yes the circumstances are a bit unrealistic, but they feel read when you are reading and that's all that matters to me. This book leaves you satisfied enough with the ending, but also will make you very glad that there is book 3 (and 4 coming!) so that you get to keep experiencing these characters.
Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don't Want to Forget to Remember by Lauren Graham
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Thanks to Libro.fm, PRH Audio and Ballantine Books for the gifted book.
Audio is the way to experience this one because who doesn't want Lauren Graham telling you stories from your life? With her trademark wit and frankness, she spills the tea on her experiences in the entertainment industry and what it's like to exist in an industry that wants a version of you to be frozen in time. These essays are funny and smart and oh so very entertaining.
Audio is the way to experience this one because who doesn't want Lauren Graham telling you stories from your life? With her trademark wit and frankness, she spills the tea on her experiences in the entertainment industry and what it's like to exist in an industry that wants a version of you to be frozen in time. These essays are funny and smart and oh so very entertaining.
Flight Risk by Cherie Priest
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.
Physic travel agent Leda Foley is still getting used to taking on clients who want her to solve their mysteries, the latest being a man wanting to find his missing sister. Seattle PD Detective Grady Merritt wants to find his lost dog, and gets more than he bargained for when his dog shows up carrying a severed leg. Thanks to DNA matching, Grady and Leda find out their cases overlap and they can hopefully work together to find out the mystery behind this missing husband and wife duo.
This series combines humor and whimsy with mystery and some light paranormal activity and all that together makes for an enjoyable read. Full of colorful characters and quirky situations, this series is just getting off the ground and I can't wait to see what is to come.
Physic travel agent Leda Foley is still getting used to taking on clients who want her to solve their mysteries, the latest being a man wanting to find his missing sister. Seattle PD Detective Grady Merritt wants to find his lost dog, and gets more than he bargained for when his dog shows up carrying a severed leg. Thanks to DNA matching, Grady and Leda find out their cases overlap and they can hopefully work together to find out the mystery behind this missing husband and wife duo.
This series combines humor and whimsy with mystery and some light paranormal activity and all that together makes for an enjoyable read. Full of colorful characters and quirky situations, this series is just getting off the ground and I can't wait to see what is to come.
Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thanks to Netgalley and Bantam Books for the gifted book I read along with the library audio.
Ellie Christie is beginning a new chapter by returning to her Colorado hometown to help her sister run their family's historic bookshop. It's a picturesque bookish destination in a small town perched on a mountain side. But when a man is found dead on the gondola and a rockslide forces the town into lockdown, things start to get very questionable.
Charming is the key word to describe this book. A charming town, bookstore, and characters. You feel like you are in the tiny Colorado town, hunting with the Christie sisters for clues. I thought the way the mystery unfolded was very interesting and how the layers of characters and clues were revealed was quite satisfying.
This is a cozy mystery, so nothing too gruesome here.
Ellie Christie is beginning a new chapter by returning to her Colorado hometown to help her sister run their family's historic bookshop. It's a picturesque bookish destination in a small town perched on a mountain side. But when a man is found dead on the gondola and a rockslide forces the town into lockdown, things start to get very questionable.
Charming is the key word to describe this book. A charming town, bookstore, and characters. You feel like you are in the tiny Colorado town, hunting with the Christie sisters for clues. I thought the way the mystery unfolded was very interesting and how the layers of characters and clues were revealed was quite satisfying.
This is a cozy mystery, so nothing too gruesome here.
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door by Melanie Jacobson
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Melanie Jacobson for a free copy of this book!
Paige is trying to make her life the one she has dreamed of for her and her daughter. And when she purchases a cottage that is a bit of a fixer-upper, she doesn't expect that on top of fixing her house, she will need to fix her neighbor's grumpy attitude as well.
I loved all the Christmas exuberance in this one. Paige, her daughter Evie, and the hottie Henry are all great characters, but the side characters just add that much more delight to the story. I like that the book also dealt with pain, grief, and how to handle yourself in the aftermath of both.
Paige is trying to make her life the one she has dreamed of for her and her daughter. And when she purchases a cottage that is a bit of a fixer-upper, she doesn't expect that on top of fixing her house, she will need to fix her neighbor's grumpy attitude as well.
I loved all the Christmas exuberance in this one. Paige, her daughter Evie, and the hottie Henry are all great characters, but the side characters just add that much more delight to the story. I like that the book also dealt with pain, grief, and how to handle yourself in the aftermath of both.
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted book.
Liv wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea how she got there. And when she goes to her apartment, evidently she doesn't live there anymore. Then she realizes she's missing her phone and in it's place is a bloody knife, and there is writing on her skin that says "stay awake." New York doesn't feel like the city she knows, but she can't place why it feels so off. Then she gets a glimpse at the news reporting a bloody murder where there was a message left at the scene, the same that's on her arms, "stay awake".
I will start off my review by saying one of my least favorite tropes in books is the groundhog day trope. And while this book doesn't exactly follow the premise of that trope, it is close enough that it definitely taints how I feel about it. But once I got past the repetitive nature of this book, the premise is interesting and the twists and turns were enough to keep me engaged from beginning to end. I also appreciated that I did not peg the bad guy correctly and the police officers in the book seemed mostly realistic.
Liv wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea how she got there. And when she goes to her apartment, evidently she doesn't live there anymore. Then she realizes she's missing her phone and in it's place is a bloody knife, and there is writing on her skin that says "stay awake." New York doesn't feel like the city she knows, but she can't place why it feels so off. Then she gets a glimpse at the news reporting a bloody murder where there was a message left at the scene, the same that's on her arms, "stay awake".
I will start off my review by saying one of my least favorite tropes in books is the groundhog day trope. And while this book doesn't exactly follow the premise of that trope, it is close enough that it definitely taints how I feel about it. But once I got past the repetitive nature of this book, the premise is interesting and the twists and turns were enough to keep me engaged from beginning to end. I also appreciated that I did not peg the bad guy correctly and the police officers in the book seemed mostly realistic.
Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw by Chas Smith, Chas Smith
slow-paced
2.0
Thank you Abrams Books for the gifted book I read along with the library audio.
Chas Smith grew up fully immersed in the evangelic Christian bubble. His family included famous missionaries and megachurch pastors. But his Cousin Danny was the apple of his grandmother's eye. However, when Danny took a hard pivot from his picture perfect life to become an illustrious bank robber, Chas was not only shocked, but intrigued.
With that premise I expected this book to be a wild ride as we figured out the why and how behind Cousin Danny's criminal pursuits, but it was just Melba toast. Nothing was too exciting or captivating. I kept reading waiting for the big hook of story to grab me, but unfortunately the book ended and I still wanted so much more.
Chas Smith grew up fully immersed in the evangelic Christian bubble. His family included famous missionaries and megachurch pastors. But his Cousin Danny was the apple of his grandmother's eye. However, when Danny took a hard pivot from his picture perfect life to become an illustrious bank robber, Chas was not only shocked, but intrigued.
With that premise I expected this book to be a wild ride as we figured out the why and how behind Cousin Danny's criminal pursuits, but it was just Melba toast. Nothing was too exciting or captivating. I kept reading waiting for the big hook of story to grab me, but unfortunately the book ended and I still wanted so much more.
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the gifted book that I read along with the library audio.
Cressida Westcott is a clothes designer, forced back to her family manor she hasn't been to in years after her home and design house are lost in the London Blitz.
Violet Westcott is a socialite who is thrilled her aunt is coming to stay in this dreary village. Things have gotten quite dull with all the men gone and the parties cancelled.
Grace Carlisle is the vicar's daughter and is engaged to a man of the cloth. Her whole identity is wrapped up in the work she does to support the men in her life.
These three women's stories become interconnected as they each face what clothes rationing means for their lives and they interact through a wedding dress sewing circle which repurposes old garments to those worthy of celebration.
I loved this book. It fits into what my friend @FortWords has dubbed "uplifting WWII fiction." Despite being set in a horrible time period, it celebrates the tenacity and resilience of humanity and the good that can be found when you have to dig a little deeper. Each of these three main characters is loveable in their own way while not being without fault. And the side characters add such vibrance to the plot that they should be celebrated as well. What a delight of a reading experience.
Cressida Westcott is a clothes designer, forced back to her family manor she hasn't been to in years after her home and design house are lost in the London Blitz.
Violet Westcott is a socialite who is thrilled her aunt is coming to stay in this dreary village. Things have gotten quite dull with all the men gone and the parties cancelled.
Grace Carlisle is the vicar's daughter and is engaged to a man of the cloth. Her whole identity is wrapped up in the work she does to support the men in her life.
These three women's stories become interconnected as they each face what clothes rationing means for their lives and they interact through a wedding dress sewing circle which repurposes old garments to those worthy of celebration.
I loved this book. It fits into what my friend @FortWords has dubbed "uplifting WWII fiction." Despite being set in a horrible time period, it celebrates the tenacity and resilience of humanity and the good that can be found when you have to dig a little deeper. Each of these three main characters is loveable in their own way while not being without fault. And the side characters add such vibrance to the plot that they should be celebrated as well. What a delight of a reading experience.