Scan barcode
angieleigh's reviews
7 reviews
Reading Up a Storm by Eva Gates
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Bodie Library Lighthouse series is my favorite cozy mystery series ever and this third installment, even the second time around, just solidifies that. Especially as it took me almost the entire book to figure out who the killer was.
Between the deliciously descriptive writing of the Lighthouse Library, Jake's Seafood Bar, Josie's Bakery, and the cozy feeling I get when reading about Lucy's friends, this third book may be my favorite of the series so far.
Minus Louise Jane being a right pain in the bum. Someone needs to sweep that girl off of her feet and away from the Library.
Between the deliciously descriptive writing of the Lighthouse Library, Jake's Seafood Bar, Josie's Bakery, and the cozy feeling I get when reading about Lucy's friends, this third book may be my favorite of the series so far.
Minus Louise Jane being a right pain in the bum. Someone needs to sweep that girl off of her feet and away from the Library.
Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is my second time listening to this book and I'm reminded just how much I enjoy listening to Elise Arsenault narrate this series. She, along with Karen Cass, can narrate anything and I'd love to listen. 5* for her narration!
Lucy's mother comes for a surprise visit and, boy oh boy, does she remind me of my own mother in several ways. Lucy's mother is a wealthy Boston snob - though you would never know that she, along with Lucy's Aunt Ellen, were raised off the coast of North Carolina by a fishing family - wanting her only daughter to return home and marry her ex-boyfriend, Ricky.
Fat chance of that happening, Suzanne.
I am definitely not a fan of Lucy's mother, especially in how she treats others. Especially people who knew her long ago when she was growing up. And now she's being investigated in the murder of her former high school BFF, Karen.
...I might actually despise her more than I do Louise Jane and that's really saying something because that woman is just...horrible. Absolutely, down right horrible.
I actually forgot who did kill Karen and was surprised at the end of the book!
If you're looking for a cozy mystery that is a quick and easy listen, I highly suggest this series. Eva Gates has written such a good series centered around a Lighthouse Library that I wish there were at least two in every state.
Lucy's mother comes for a surprise visit and, boy oh boy, does she remind me of my own mother in several ways. Lucy's mother is a wealthy Boston snob - though you would never know that she, along with Lucy's Aunt Ellen, were raised off the coast of North Carolina by a fishing family - wanting her only daughter to return home and marry her ex-boyfriend, Ricky.
Fat chance of that happening, Suzanne.
I am definitely not a fan of Lucy's mother, especially in how she treats others. Especially people who knew her long ago when she was growing up. And now she's being investigated in the murder of her former high school BFF, Karen.
...I might actually despise her more than I do Louise Jane and that's really saying something because that woman is just...horrible. Absolutely, down right horrible.
I actually forgot who did kill Karen and was surprised at the end of the book!
If you're looking for a cozy mystery that is a quick and easy listen, I highly suggest this series. Eva Gates has written such a good series centered around a Lighthouse Library that I wish there were at least two in every state.
Necklace Without A Trace by Lucy Penrose
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Disclaimer: Even though I had requested/received a review copy of Necklace Without A Trace through BookSirens, I enjoyed the book so much that I ended up purchasing a copy via Amazon afterwards.
When I saw the cover of this book I was intrigued. I have read less than a handful of Steampunk books & really liked them; Necklace Without a Trace adds another reason why I should read more of the genre!
There really isn't a character I didn't like - except maybe the hotel receptionist who thinks it's a good idea to go around waking up guests at 6am to ask when she can expect rent money...even though Sierra was paid up for another week! Or the annoying little pixie who tried to pull her hair out of her head.
As Sierra makes her way through the throng of magical creatures, and humans like herself, on the crowded streets of Deva City, we learn a lot about her quickly. Joining the esteemed Guild as the very first female agent is her dream. It took her three weeks, and almost all of her meager life savings, before she was finally given her probationary case: To find a missing necklace when there are absolutely no clues left behind and three people who had been in the room around the time it went missing.
This case? This isn't like any probationary case that a man would get. They get kittens tucked up into trees that need rescuing, not historical and very expensive jewels that disappear without a trace, such as the Burgeon Necklace.
Yes, there is a feminist theme lightly weaved in, but Penrose does a fantastic job with it. I mean, Sierra's the first woman to even be considered and that's after three weeks of badgering the Guild receptionist (Charlene, who doesn't seem to realize she's dead)! When the Guild realizes that she was mistakenly given a case much too senior for someone so very green, they quickly rectify that and I was glad to see it handled so very gracefully by the Guild Director.
Because that meant she got to work with Logan, the Museum's security guard, more. I really like him and how he was able to help Sierra, letting her lead the investigation and stepping in only when it was absolutely necessary. I absolutely think those two work well together as friends, business associates, or even as a potential couple down the road. He may be a shapeshifter, with quite the temper, but she is the key to helping him to reign it all in and learn control.
Rosie is the best friend that everyone deserves. I absolutely adore her and hope that she makes appearances in future installments in this series. Sprocket, the kitten, and Iggy, the lizard, were absolutely adorable and even the gnomes captured my heart! And I'd love to see Conor and Bethany again.
I was able to figure out who the thief was very early on, but the reason why they stole the necklace was not what I had had in mind, so that was a surprise. The ending sets up the sequel nicely and I can't wait to see what's in store for Sierra (and company?) next.
The only "con" is that the book could do with some more proofreading and another round or two of editing, otherwise, I really enjoyed this quick & easy read (I was finished within an hour of starting it!).
When I saw the cover of this book I was intrigued. I have read less than a handful of Steampunk books & really liked them; Necklace Without a Trace adds another reason why I should read more of the genre!
There really isn't a character I didn't like - except maybe the hotel receptionist who thinks it's a good idea to go around waking up guests at 6am to ask when she can expect rent money...even though Sierra was paid up for another week! Or the annoying little pixie who tried to pull her hair out of her head.
As Sierra makes her way through the throng of magical creatures, and humans like herself, on the crowded streets of Deva City, we learn a lot about her quickly. Joining the esteemed Guild as the very first female agent is her dream. It took her three weeks, and almost all of her meager life savings, before she was finally given her probationary case: To find a missing necklace when there are absolutely no clues left behind and three people who had been in the room around the time it went missing.
This case? This isn't like any probationary case that a man would get. They get kittens tucked up into trees that need rescuing, not historical and very expensive jewels that disappear without a trace, such as the Burgeon Necklace.
Yes, there is a feminist theme lightly weaved in, but Penrose does a fantastic job with it. I mean, Sierra's the first woman to even be considered and that's after three weeks of badgering the Guild receptionist (Charlene, who doesn't seem to realize she's dead)! When the Guild realizes that she was mistakenly given a case much too senior for someone so very green, they quickly rectify that and I was glad to see it handled so very gracefully by the Guild Director.
Because that meant she got to work with Logan, the Museum's security guard, more. I really like him and how he was able to help Sierra, letting her lead the investigation and stepping in only when it was absolutely necessary. I absolutely think those two work well together as friends, business associates, or even as a potential couple down the road. He may be a shapeshifter, with quite the temper, but she is the key to helping him to reign it all in and learn control.
Rosie is the best friend that everyone deserves. I absolutely adore her and hope that she makes appearances in future installments in this series. Sprocket, the kitten, and Iggy, the lizard, were absolutely adorable and even the gnomes captured my heart! And I'd love to see Conor and Bethany again.
I was able to figure out who the thief was very early on, but the reason why they stole the necklace was not what I had had in mind, so that was a surprise. The ending sets up the sequel nicely and I can't wait to see what's in store for Sierra (and company?) next.
The only "con" is that the book could do with some more proofreading and another round or two of editing, otherwise, I really enjoyed this quick & easy read (I was finished within an hour of starting it!).
Crushed by Sarah Hualde
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There is a running theme through this series that I really don't like which is why, even though I enjoyed everything else about the books, the fat-shaming and focus on Penny's weight by everyone she comes in contact with is too much to ignore.
1. None of the covers for the first three books (the only books I've seen and read so far) show a woman who is "chubby", "plus-sized", "pudgy", or any other verb in relation to how Penny describes herself. If you're going to have a plus-sized character, OWN IT. Make sure the cover matches your character(s). Even the cover with the human model on them does not reflect a plus-sized woman.
2. It's rather tedious that at least one or two characters in the book only paid attention to how much Penny weighed rather than Penny as a person. A person is worth more than what they look like/weigh. And so what that she's overweight? She OWNS it.
*Steps off of soapbox*
I adore Penny and just want to cuddle her. She carries around some mad guilt and insecurity, half because of the focus on her weight, and the other half because of the gift that she feels is a curse.
A gift/curse she's had since she was six years oldwhen she saw a raven and her father died, in her precious little arms, 24 hours later with her twin sister nearby .
Wherever she goes, Penny always makes a friend, and in this installment she becomes BFFS almost instantly with the lovely Shannon, hopeful supplement maker and fitness instructor at Crush Gym. Shannon saves Lucy from embarrassment when Lucy leans out of the shower (slightly stained blue as Penny has just dyed her red hair blue and it's turned a pretty shade of purple) to get her towel and it's gone. Shannon gets her a beach towel from the front desk and keeps people out of the shower room until Penny is safely ensconced behind the curtain of her changing stall.
Penny is offered a temporary part time job at the smoothie station of the gym when Paul, the owner and also Shannon's boyfriend/supplement partner, gets bogged down during a rush thanks to one of their workers being in the hospital. Being paid under the table works perfectly for her as her home is her VW van along with her spunky cat Ace of Spades - or Spade for short.
What I enjoyed:
1. TC and Penny's budding friendship/possibly a relationship. TC may not fully understand Penny's glimpses of impending death for those near her, but he is a staunch supporter of hers along with his snarky, and not always nice, assistant, Scrubbs.
2. Calling her former boss as proof that she is still alive. In a way, I think he is like a father figure to her.
3. That this is a fast-paced book that I easily listened to in just a handful of hours while doing digital cross stitch. The narrator's voice is perfect and I love her British accent for our semi-paranormal podcast host, TC.
4. While there's not exactly a happily ever after, things do progress in a good way for Penny as she is given directions and a name for her next employer, thanks to Granny Rosa, as she leaves town.
What I did not like (other than the above):
1. Penny mentions all these things that have happened to her in the past that would have made great series installments! Such a tease...I really would have liked to see how she was saved that one time...
2. That Penny somehow managed to forget to tell the police about who was at the hospital when she and Shannon got there to visit Blanca! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL THEM, GIRLFRIEND?!
I'm halfway through this lovely series and hope that as we go along, Penny learns forgiveness and to own her gift.
I actually listened to the audiobook, but Storygraph doesn't have that edition as it's an Audible audiobook.
1. None of the covers for the first three books (the only books I've seen and read so far) show a woman who is "chubby", "plus-sized", "pudgy", or any other verb in relation to how Penny describes herself. If you're going to have a plus-sized character, OWN IT. Make sure the cover matches your character(s). Even the cover with the human model on them does not reflect a plus-sized woman.
2. It's rather tedious that at least one or two characters in the book only paid attention to how much Penny weighed rather than Penny as a person. A person is worth more than what they look like/weigh. And so what that she's overweight? She OWNS it.
*Steps off of soapbox*
I adore Penny and just want to cuddle her. She carries around some mad guilt and insecurity, half because of the focus on her weight, and the other half because of the gift that she feels is a curse.
A gift/curse she's had since she was six years old
Wherever she goes, Penny always makes a friend, and in this installment she becomes BFFS almost instantly with the lovely Shannon, hopeful supplement maker and fitness instructor at Crush Gym. Shannon saves Lucy from embarrassment when Lucy leans out of the shower (slightly stained blue as Penny has just dyed her red hair blue and it's turned a pretty shade of purple) to get her towel and it's gone. Shannon gets her a beach towel from the front desk and keeps people out of the shower room until Penny is safely ensconced behind the curtain of her changing stall.
Penny is offered a temporary part time job at the smoothie station of the gym when Paul, the owner and also Shannon's boyfriend/supplement partner, gets bogged down during a rush thanks to one of their workers being in the hospital. Being paid under the table works perfectly for her as her home is her VW van along with her spunky cat Ace of Spades - or Spade for short.
What I enjoyed:
1. TC and Penny's budding friendship/possibly a relationship. TC may not fully understand Penny's glimpses of impending death for those near her, but he is a staunch supporter of hers along with his snarky, and not always nice, assistant, Scrubbs.
2. Calling her former boss as proof that she is still alive. In a way, I think he is like a father figure to her.
3. That this is a fast-paced book that I easily listened to in just a handful of hours while doing digital cross stitch. The narrator's voice is perfect and I love her British accent for our semi-paranormal podcast host, TC.
4. While there's not exactly a happily ever after, things do progress in a good way for Penny as she is given directions and a name for her next employer, thanks to Granny Rosa, as she leaves town.
What I did not like (other than the above):
1. Penny mentions all these things that have happened to her in the past that would have made great series installments! Such a tease...I really would have liked to see how she was saved that one time...
2. That Penny somehow managed to forget to tell the police about who was at the hospital when she and Shannon got there to visit Blanca! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL THEM, GIRLFRIEND?!
I'm halfway through this lovely series and hope that as we go along, Penny learns forgiveness and to own her gift.
I actually listened to the audiobook, but Storygraph doesn't have that edition as it's an Audible audiobook.
Grounded by Sarah Hualde
adventurous
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Actual Rating: 3.5*
This is my first Sarah Hualde book, but definitely not my last! This fast-paced, easy read refused to let me go to bed until I finished it.
Penny sees death, in the form of ravens in water vapor, puddles, mist, in coffee, tea...and sometimes in person. She gets clues through music or sometimes through the appearance of another raven.
In Grounded she works at a family-owned coffee & gift shop where both the husband and son are gross males who leer at Penny and make cracks about her weight and basically ignore the wife/mother, who is a sweet, sometimes forgetful woman, who befriends our dear Penny and is thankful that she's there to help out when they're in the middle of a crisis.
But things just aren't as they seem & I loved that about this book. There were so many twists throughout this story that every time I thought I figured it out, Hualde tossed in another twist!
However, the ending was satisfying and I can't wait to see where life takes Penny and her spicy cat, Ace of Spades in their VW Van tiny home.
I do hope that soon the focus of Penny being plus size (though you can't tell by the covers!) is not a huge hang-up in every book in this series. That can, and will, get very annoying very, very fast.
For the record, I listened to the audiobook, but Storygraph doesn't have that particular edition and I couldn't add it as it is an Audible audiobook.
This is my first Sarah Hualde book, but definitely not my last! This fast-paced, easy read refused to let me go to bed until I finished it.
Penny sees death, in the form of ravens in water vapor, puddles, mist, in coffee, tea...and sometimes in person. She gets clues through music or sometimes through the appearance of another raven.
In Grounded she works at a family-owned coffee & gift shop where both the husband and son are gross males who leer at Penny and make cracks about her weight and basically ignore the wife/mother, who is a sweet, sometimes forgetful woman, who befriends our dear Penny and is thankful that she's there to help out when they're in the middle of a crisis.
But things just aren't as they seem & I loved that about this book. There were so many twists throughout this story that every time I thought I figured it out, Hualde tossed in another twist!
However, the ending was satisfying and I can't wait to see where life takes Penny and her spicy cat, Ace of Spades in their VW Van tiny home.
I do hope that soon the focus of Penny being plus size (though you can't tell by the covers!) is not a huge hang-up in every book in this series. That can, and will, get very annoying very, very fast.
For the record, I listened to the audiobook, but Storygraph doesn't have that particular edition and I couldn't add it as it is an Audible audiobook.
Frosted by Sarah Hualde
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another fast and easy read by Sarah Hualde in the Penny Nicols series.
Thanks to TC and Scrubbs having her on the podcast, Penny's able to get some much needed tires for her tiny home on wheels. She finds herself at a small diner that's part of a motel and when she asks the server about finding a garage, well, the server's dad introduces himself and has her bring the VW over. I liked how he was honest with Penny and didn't try to fleece her, a single woman living in her van with a rather spicy kitty named Ace of Spades, Spades for short.
Of course the raven has made his presence known while she's there and she goes out of her way to save her new friend's life, while waiting for those tires.
A familiar theme that is testing my patience to stay with this series is the constant focus on the fact that Penny is plus size, and not just by Penny, but by everyone she comes in contact with. Give. It. A. Break.
Also? The girl on the cover is most definitely not plus size.
Thanks to TC and Scrubbs having her on the podcast, Penny's able to get some much needed tires for her tiny home on wheels. She finds herself at a small diner that's part of a motel and when she asks the server about finding a garage, well, the server's dad introduces himself and has her bring the VW over. I liked how he was honest with Penny and didn't try to fleece her, a single woman living in her van with a rather spicy kitty named Ace of Spades, Spades for short.
Of course the raven has made his presence known while she's there and she goes out of her way to save her new friend's life, while waiting for those tires.
A familiar theme that is testing my patience to stay with this series is the constant focus on the fact that Penny is plus size, and not just by Penny, but by everyone she comes in contact with. Give. It. A. Break.
Also? The girl on the cover is most definitely not plus size.
The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams Bianco
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
In a bid to win the war with insomnia, I have instituted a new routine of letting my Calm app read me a story as I fall asleep.
Well, in theory, it was a good plan. In actuality? I started crying at the end and couldn't fall asleep and decided to review it while waiting for my zzzquill to kick in.
I think the last time I read this was around 35 to 40 years ago (I'm 48, for reference), so I couldn't remember the whole story. Little Boy receives a beautiful Velveteen Rabbit (duh, Angie, that's the title) for Christmas, and then promptly forgets about the Rabbit until his little China Dog that he slept with every night went missing (never did get found...) and in her hurry, Nana snags the Rabbit out of the cupboard and tells Little Boy to sleep with him.
The conversation with the Skin Horse nearly wrecked me, to be honest, but the Nursery Fairy at the end....and what she did...*sob*
The story may be a little scary for really little kids because of what happens after the boy contracts Scarlet Fever, but it's a quick read and I'm glad that I listened to Anna Acton read it to me.
Now I want a rabbit to cuddle with at night...
Well, in theory, it was a good plan. In actuality? I started crying at the end and couldn't fall asleep and decided to review it while waiting for my zzzquill to kick in.
I think the last time I read this was around 35 to 40 years ago (I'm 48, for reference), so I couldn't remember the whole story. Little Boy receives a beautiful Velveteen Rabbit (duh, Angie, that's the title) for Christmas, and then promptly forgets about the Rabbit until his little China Dog that he slept with every night went missing (never did get found...) and in her hurry, Nana snags the Rabbit out of the cupboard and tells Little Boy to sleep with him.
The conversation with the Skin Horse nearly wrecked me, to be honest, but the Nursery Fairy at the end....and what she did...*sob*
The story may be a little scary for really little kids because of what happens after the boy contracts Scarlet Fever, but it's a quick read and I'm glad that I listened to Anna Acton read it to me.
Now I want a rabbit to cuddle with at night...
More...