Elle Hartford
Great Cozy!
It was so fun to read a cozy set in another country, and I love Mei! I did figure out the mystery early on, but the end was still very satisfying. I would definitely recommend this to any cozy reader!
An excellent sequel!
A very thrilling, enjoyable read! The plot is twisty enough to keep you guessing and we meet some fun new characters along the way. (And some scary ones too...) I especially loved learning more about Rabbit and seeing Tara in action :D I'd wholeheartedly recommend this, even if you haven't read the first book (although you should!). :)
I read this as part of a research project, and it is a nice survey for that purpose–but you have to bear in mind that this book is now over twenty years old. It gives interesting perspective, but that perspective doesn't always align with the expectations of today!
I really enjoyed the modern feel of this cozy, and the strong friendships! And it featured a rewarding mystery, too. :)
Slight spoiler!!! –> I hated the ex and all interactions with him. Which is fine, it just made me a little frustrated sometimes xD All turned out well!
A very fun collection of stories showing many sides of NYC! I love the variety and the cleverness of the mysteries. I'd definitely recommend it to mystery lovers and lovers of NYC alike.
And yes, I am a little biased because one of my stories is in the collection . . . But really, I was blown away by the rest of the stories included in the book! :)
Fun Magical Cozy!
I really enjoyed this magical cozy, and would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries with witches, shifters, and the paranormal. The setting is perfect and the characters are lots of fun. I love the descriptions of the spells and magic, too! Already looking forward to the next one :)
I loved this book! It was so fun to read a cozy set in Arizona, and with two such adorable dogs as companions. :) Alara has a wonderful support system and truly cares for her friends – and to me, the feel of the community is what really makes a cozy mystery stand out. This one knocks it out of the park in that regard, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes cozies (especially paranormal ones!). I'm excited to read more!
I loved this start to a new series! The town is idyllic and in one of my favorite settings, upstate New York. The mystery is really twisty and keeps moving along. But my absolute favorite part of the story is the bonds between the characters! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys cozies or small-town mysteries, and I'm already looking forward to the next one. :D
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion, and I'm very happy I did! :)
I really loved the premise of this story, and the clever way the fairy tale has been retold!
I really enjoyed this peek into Lilly's life, and the mystery was well done, too. I especially liked Harry – what a sweet coworker! :)
Very enjoyable, just like the first–my only complaint was that I wanted to spend more time with the characters in the last two chapters! ;)
Okay, so, this book was written very lyrically, and it wasn't bad. The problem is that it is marketed as something very different than it is! The back cover blurb talks about mermaids and fantasy, and feels a bit uplifting–that is not what this book is. It seems to be more along the lines of historical fiction, and . . . well, not uplifting. A “meditation on an adventurous but lonely life of struggle” seems more appropriate. It's not the sort of thing I would read normally, and if the blurb had reflected that, I would have known to stay away, haha.
If you like historical fiction though, particularly about the visceral struggles of being a woman in a man's seafaring world, you'll probably love it!
A lovely book! The design and illustrations are beautiful. I was instantly drawn in by the variety of stories–each one seemed more magical than the last! And the fact that it supports such a worthy cause is the icing on the cake. I'll be looking into more of the collections in this series, for sure!
This book moves fast because it's structured like a series of blog posts, and it goes back and forth between “real life” and a fantasy adventure. I enjoyed the way the two interplayed!
A very worthy sequel, full of interesting characters and a twisty mystery!
I loved getting a better understanding of Alara's family (and her relationship with a certain someone!). It's great to see her support network in action, and to learn some answers about her past! And I have to be honest, I was totally rooting for Todd too–despite his mishaps, he's a very endearing character.
From start to finish, this story was relatable, intriguing, and fun! I'm already looking forward to the next one. :)
I really enjoyed this; in my experience, it's a very unique way to tell history (framed as a travellogue). Moving downriver along the Nile and stopping at all ancient Egypt's major sites along the way dovetailed very well with piecing together the history and mythology, and it helped me frame everything in my mind. A very enjoyable read!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, and I'm very happy I did! It's a very fun collection of historical cozies. Even though I haven't read many historical lately, I was immediately sucked into these tales! Perfect for putting you in the holiday spirit. I definitely recommend this to lovers of cozy mystery and historical fiction alike!
A captivating, enchanting, and thrilling story!
I loved the previous series (the Door to Door mysteries)–BUT I love this book even more, and that's saying something. :D
It's not a cozy, and Lucie deals with some dark themes and experiences on her journey to becoming a stronger witch. However, that's exactly what makes her so compelling. She's dedicated to her goals, and she is extremely brave. We'll forgive her for being a little indecisive during the first part of the book . . . she does have a lot going on, after all. ;)
And while I loved Lucie and her friends, I have to say, one of my favorite parts of the story was the continued world-building (everything from the past series is explained, so you can easily jump in with this book). The use of fairy tales, poetry, and prophecy is so intriguing, and for that alone I know I'll be back for book 2!! I also was fascinated by some of the new types of magic/magical roles introduced in this book, and can't wait to learn more about them.
All in all, this book completely absorbed me, and I have no regrets! It's a wonderful continuation of the larger story (and P.S.—-slight spoiler for the Door to Door series!!!—-Emily as a bride-to-be is adorable!). :)
I loved this world! I think I may have read this once before a long time ago, because the mystery itself felt a little familiar. But that didn't matter because I had so much fun exploring the setting and being envious of the main character, haha. I'll definitely be looking for the other titles in the series – can't wait to see how all the characters develop!
I picked this up for light afternoon reading as an atmospheric period piece, and it is . . . kind of that. xD The story's beginning is extremely long, and the middle and end are very short. There was lots of people telling the main character long stories, and I admittedly lost some interest in keeping track of the names. Plus, the whole relationship between the main character and the man running the orphanage was . . . so unnecessary. It's very much a book of its era!
I picked this up in a thrift store and was immediately intrigued. It's a unique take on fairy tales, which becomes even more interesting and fantastical as it goes on! The narration, as another reviewer notes, is extremely immersive. All in all, it feels like a story of great possibility!
I loved being swept back in time with Lucas and Clara!
The Problem with Dead People is a wonderful introduction to the characters and the series. It's actually a series of five novellas, each of which tie into the next one seamlessly. It was really fun to see the characters in a variety of situations facing some very different problems–by the end, I felt like I really knew them! Plus, the ghosts Lucas encounters are so varied and interesting, I was always looking forward to the next one. (Hmm–perhaps that's not the right thing to say about ghosts? ;) )
And the romance . . . absolutely perfect. <3
Living in the 1920s alongside Lucas and Clara felt like second nature, and I can't wait to dive into the next book!
A sweet modern fairytale! The romance between the main characters is tender, but I have to admit it was the side characters who really stole my heart (love Evie!!). I also really appreciated the importance the characters give to reading. All in all it was a nice adventure through well-loved libraries and the Irish countryside!
A fun, colorful read! My favorite part was definitely Darwin, and the siblings' relationship in general. The mystery had some good twists as well. Good beach book!
The edition I got is a beautiful hardcover, a perfect “coffee table book” full of interesting tidbits. Because of its comprehensive information–a combination of chemistry, botany, and some folklore–the book is a great example of the way plants intertwine with our lives (pun intended, haha). In my opinion, it's a worthy reference! If interested, you can find a more complete review on my blog:
https://ellehartford.com/book-review-plants-that-cure/