Book Reviews – Page 93 – Carol's Notebook

Chaos by Iris Johansen

October 6, 2020October 6, 2020 by CarolNo Comments

It's been a long time since I've read any romantic suspense and I don't think I've read anything by Johansen before. Our main characters here are CIA agent Alisa Flynn and billionaire inventor Gabe Korgan. They both want to be in charge and while they bicker a lot, the attraction is clear. And that's one thing that sometimes annoys me about romantic suspense: we're in the grimy wilderness, desperate to stop the bad guy and save the teenage girls, but my mind just keeps going to sex. Really? As a couple, though, they're pretty good. They're both strong, a little short on trust, and long on independence. The bad guys are really awful human beings. The story is violent, with rapes and beatings, but not overly graphic. And while you know Alisa and Gabe will rescue the girls, even Sasha, Alisa's ward, the tension lies is how they'll do it and how much harm will be done to the girls...

Without a Brew by Ellie Alexander

October 1, 2020August 18, 2020 by CarolNo Comments

Sloan Krause and her business partner Garrett are ready to make their Nitro Brewery opening into a bed and breakfast. They plan on a soft opening, but things get out of hand when a lack of local hotel rooms means they end up with a full house. When one of the guests is discovered missing the following morning, and her room ransacked, Sloan immediately calls the police chief. With the guests as the prime suspects, Sloan must use her resources to find out what is going on, and keep the business thriving. I like while Sloan helps solve the mystery, she always lets the police take the lead. She serves as an extra set of eyes and ears, but always shares her information with the police chief. Sloan is good at listening and talking to people, which is how she picks up clues. The mystery was well done. There were several suspects and a couple of twists. Everything pulled together well...

Death in Damascus by Karen Baugh Menuhin

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 by CarolNo Comments

I've been thoroughly enjoying this series. I love Lennox and his relationships with his butler Greggs and with his friend Detective Swift. I love his affection for animals, especially his delightful dog, Mr. Fogg. That being said, I did not enjoy this as much as the others. In this one he and Swift go off to Damascus, Syria, to help out lovely Persi Carruthers, the archaeologist we met in the previous book and who now may be Lennox's love interest. It seems she needs help proving the innocence of her ex-fiance, who has been accused of murder and is in the custody of the French police in Damascus. I don't know if it's the change of scenery, maybe I prefer Lennox to stay in England, or the not very believable romance- Lennox and Persi have little chemistry and most of their interactions are stiff- but this one was just not as good as the first three. Percy's ex-fiance has been accused...

A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas

September 18, 2020September 18, 2020 by Carol2 Comments

This is the second Lady Sherlock book, and Miss Charlotte Holmes has set herself up as the supposed sister of an invalid brother, Sherlock, who is brilliant at solving baffling mysteries. Charlotte is still living with Mrs. Watson, who I just adore, and they really have the whole thing set up well. Only a few people know that Sherlock does not exist, including Charlotte’s sister Livia, Inspector Treadles, and Lord Ingram Ashburton, Ash, Charlotte’s closest friend since childhood. This book takes over just after the first, and really, although it could be read as a stand-alone, I would encourage you to read A Study in Scarlet Women first. Charlotte receives a note requesting an appointment from a Mrs. Finch, but Charlotte immediately recognizes the notepaper and realizes that the letter comes from Lady Ingram Ashburton. The situation is rather tricky, as Ash and his wife are not a happy couple. Moreover, Ash and Charlotte are secretly in love with one...

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020 by Carol2 Comments

If I had to guess, I'd say most people either hate or love this book. I feel like it's a hard one to be meh about. There is nothing new here. These lessons can be found in other self-help books and pop cultures. We are capable of manifesting our world. The basic idea is that our thoughts create our world to a large extent and for most people, our self-doubt does get in our way. When we let our insecurities rule, it can be difficult to think we deserve something and so we end up sabotaging ourselves. The thing is, most of her stories she says, she talks about the universe helping her out, but her friend set are well-off people who have means. She may be vibrating on a high level, but it helps that she's safe. If she buys a car she can't afford, she will not go hungry. If she can't find a place to rent,...

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

September 16, 2020September 18, 2020 by Carol4 Comments

I have a tendency to read most Holmes knock-offs I come across. A Study in Scarlet Women was free with Audible's new Plus program. Sherlock is actually Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte is socially awkward, but , of course, incredibly observant and intelligent. She creates Sherlock so she is allowed to solve mysteries and problems. Women at the time are not expected to be able to manage on their own, let alone to be smarted than the police. I like that Charlotte makes her own choices and is trying to live life on her own terms. She teams up with Mrs. Watson, a widow who used to be on stage, to set up the whole "consulting detective" business/Sherlock deception. I do love both of these women, tough, independent, but also vulnerable in their own ways. This time, the main mystery centers on three deaths, supposedly natural connections, but Charlotte knows they are related murders. And proving who the killer was matters, if only...