Thursday, July 21, 2022

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie by Anthony Del Col, Werther Dell'edera

This was... dark. Especially for anyone who grew up with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (and their parents) being beacons of good in the world. This series upends a lot of things you would've read while retaining some spirit of the original creations.
The Hardy Boys are at odds with each other. It seems that their father is a dirty cop. But now he's dead and can't defend himself. And Frank and Joe are turning against each other. There's someone that is willing to help them out though, an old friend. She's even willing to help when the evidence looks like her own father might be involved in something shady.

Three stars
This book came out November 28, 2017
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Wednesday, July 20, 2022

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

I had heard about this book on an episode of Fated Mates. It sounded like a fun and fluffy read so I thought I'd try it out. It was, indeed, fun and fluffy but it wasn't a book for me, just too much going on.
Shanna Whelan witnessed a murder so she's now in the Witness Protection Program. So now she's a night dentist. Except that she's afraid of blood so she's REALLY hoping that no one comes in. Too bad. Roman Draganesti is in and he wants a weird wolf's tooth implanted in his mouth.
Except that Roman is actually a millionaire. His seethe invented synthetic blood and now they're trying to create better ways to get it to vampires, especially the ones that would rather stick with the old ways. It's just his bad luck to test drive the mannequin (sex doll?) and accidentally stick his tooth where it shouldn't have gone.
Now they're off on a madcap, whirlwind adventure that just might end in a vampire war.

Three stars
This book came out July 26, 2005
Followed by Vamps and the City
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Pushing Up Daisies by Katherine Hayton

This was a very short story about Willow Foxglove and her "gentleman caller." So far, they had just met and sipped tea but Willow did enjoy his company. "Did" because the man has just been found dead in her garden. 
Willow is not considered a suspect though the police do look at her for a little while. It was only a short while but she is also concerned that the man's secretary is a suspect as well. The town gossip has it that the secretary and the man were involved but Willow bonds with her over their shared love of a TV show.

Three stars
This book came out May 25, 2018
Followed by Berry Murderous
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own




Monday, July 18, 2022

Southern Magic by Amy Boyles

Pepper Dunn's mother died when she was very young and her father more recently. That means she has no family when she gets fired from her day job as a waitress and then her roommate kicks her out. Peppers new-ish boyfriend didn't deposit the cash she paid him for her rent, the check bounced, and he's too busy watching football to help her mourn the way her life is going. 
To add icing to the suck-cake, there is a goth-looking guy hanging out around her car who seems to want to kidnap her. But the talking cat whose come to tell her about her inheritance helps her get away. And yes, that last bit is completely weird. But the cat does get her to town. And it does seem that Pepper finally has some family. Ones that believe that they are witches - in a witch town. 
That, along with learning that the highly-allergic to animals Pepper has inherited a pet shop. The man down the street offers to buy it off her but he is murdered before she can take him up on the offer. 
There was a LOT of world building and not much mystery. A little on the sweet side for me but an okay book.

Three stars
This book came out April 15, 2018
Followed by Southern Spells
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Sunday, July 17, 2022

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

Ever since she was young, Edie Meyer knew the day that she would fall in love. Her grandmother, Gloria, has a gift and it lets her know when people will fall in love. Today is Edie's day June 24, 2022.  She is heading out to watch her sister get engaged to the man she met on the day their grandmother predicted. Dressed to the nines, Edie is ready. When she sits down next to Theo, a rising band member and songwriter. 
As she starts to coordinate her sister's bachelorette party and leading into the wedding, Edie will have to examine whether she believes more in fate or herself.

Four stars
This book came out 
Hard copy borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Lucky Brat by Christophe Cazenove

Another delightful book with Maureen and Wendy showing the highs and lows of sisterhood. Whether it's Maureen trying to read Wendy's diary or driving Wendy nuts as she searches for the perfect four leaf clover. We again get to see glimpses of the two of them all grown up as well as time with their parents. A fast read and an enjoyable one.

Four stars
This book came out January 19, 2021
Follows Hurricane Maureen
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Friday, July 15, 2022

The Haunted Studio by Hayley LeBlanc

Hayley is starring in a TV show about a girl detective. Her two best friends on the show are her two best friends in real life, Cody and Aubrey. Her little sister on the show, Amelia,  is a diva in real life. Very dramatic; for example, she "faints" every time she forgets her lines. Their show moves to a new sound stage for their second season and one of the first things the trio learns is that there is a a ghost supposed to be haunting the set. Amelia quickly picks up the story and helps spreading rumors. Hayley has experienced some weird phenomena on the set herself. She doesn't want her show to end so she sets out to figure out what's going on. 
This was a fun start to a new mystery series. 

Four stars
This book come out August 19, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Kids and NetGalley
Opinions are my own