Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 12-3-24 Adult - Historical Mystery |
Murder in Season- Mary Winters: As a lady of the ton and the secret author of a popular advice column, Amelia Amesbury is used to juggling multiple things at once. But when her younger sister Margaret unexpectedly turns up for the London season, Amelia finds herself in a tizzy. It seems Margaret has caused quite a scandal in their hometown and hopes to make a fresh start for herself. However, when a young suitor dies after an incident with Margaret at a ball, society is quick to blame the hot-headed newcomer. As if murder wasn't enough, there is also a burglar prowling the streets of Mayfair, stealing precious jewels from well-to-do families. Amelia is sure these two events are connected, so she must again don her investigator hat to clear her sister's name and bring the real criminal to justice.
I loved the first two books in this series. They had everything I love in a historical mystery, including a plucky heroine you can't help but root for. Amelia is such a fun character to follow. She's whip-smart, witty, and determined when she sets her mind on something. I love following along while she ferrets out clues and pieces together mysteries. I also love her dynamic with Simon and how he's always willing to help with whatever scheme Amelia concocts. The tension between them is what keeps me coming back for more. As for the mystery aspect, it was okay. I was a little bored, but I still liked how everything wrapped up. While I don't think it's the best installment, it's still one of my favorite historical mystery series.
I loved the first two books in this series. They had everything I love in a historical mystery, including a plucky heroine you can't help but root for. Amelia is such a fun character to follow. She's whip-smart, witty, and determined when she sets her mind on something. I love following along while she ferrets out clues and pieces together mysteries. I also love her dynamic with Simon and how he's always willing to help with whatever scheme Amelia concocts. The tension between them is what keeps me coming back for more. As for the mystery aspect, it was okay. I was a little bored, but I still liked how everything wrapped up. While I don't think it's the best installment, it's still one of my favorite historical mystery series.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 12-3-24 Adult - Contemporary |
PS: I Hate You- Lauren Connolly: Growing up, Maddie Sanderson learned early on that the only person she could rely on was her older brother, Josh. Their mother, when she was around, spent more time putting Maddie down and often left them to be looked after by their equally neglectful grandmother. Maddie didn't mind so much, as long as she had Josh, but when he dies shortly before his thirtieth birthday from cancer, Maddie is left reeling. The only thing keeping Maddie from sinking into a deep depression is the last task that Josh left her: to spread his ashes in eight different locations that Josh never got to visit. That should be simple enough, but there was a stipulation-- Maddie has to do this with Dominic Perry, Josh's best friend and the man who broke Maddie's heart when she was younger. The pair haven't been around each other in years, but Dom is nothing if not a strict rule follower, and Maddie doesn't have the heart to refuse her brother's last wishes. As the pair embark on this goodbye mission, the ice between them starts to thaw, and Maddie realizes her brother may have had a different reason for sending her and Dom on this trip.
I've never read anything by Connolly before, but if this was any indication of the rest of her books, then I can't wait to dive into her backlist. It was such a tender and heartfelt look at grief, loss, family dynamics, and healing. While the subject matter was heavy, Connolly infused levity so nothing felt too daunting. At first, I didn't love Maddie, but the more we got inside her head, the more I related to her and understood her actions. I adored the bond between her and her brother and her desire to do whatever she could to hold on to him for a little longer. Her relationship with Dom felt real, and I loved watching them work through their issues and shift into something more. There were moments of the plot I figured out, but I was still satisfied with how it all turned out and thought it was a beautiful read.
I've never read anything by Connolly before, but if this was any indication of the rest of her books, then I can't wait to dive into her backlist. It was such a tender and heartfelt look at grief, loss, family dynamics, and healing. While the subject matter was heavy, Connolly infused levity so nothing felt too daunting. At first, I didn't love Maddie, but the more we got inside her head, the more I related to her and understood her actions. I adored the bond between her and her brother and her desire to do whatever she could to hold on to him for a little longer. Her relationship with Dom felt real, and I loved watching them work through their issues and shift into something more. There were moments of the plot I figured out, but I was still satisfied with how it all turned out and thought it was a beautiful read.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 2-10-23 Adult - Contemporary |
Powerless- Elsie Silver: After a family tragedy left a teenaged Jasper Gervais homeless and alone, he was taken in by the Eaton family and raised as one of their own. Jasper is close with the whole family, especially Sloane Winthrop, the Eaton's cousin. When the pair met as kids, Sloane couldn't help but get drawn to the quiet boy with the sad eyes, and soon, the pair found themselves spending their nights on the roof just talking. What started as friendship turned into something more for Sloane, but she quickly stuffs her feelings down when it's clear Jasper doesn't reciprocate. Now, years later, Sloane is ready to marry a man her father picked out for her, but right before the ceremony, things take a turn, and Jasper does what he has done since they were kids and rescues her. But when the pair embark on a road trip together, it's clear there's some underlying tension between them that has them questioning their entire relationship.
Elsie Silver has become my go-to author when I need something quick and fun to read. Her books are guaranteed to pull me out of any reading slump because they're so entertaining. I've been intrigued by Jasper since he was introduced, so I couldn't wait to get to his book. It was heartbreaking hearing about what happened to him as a teen and how much trauma and anxiety he carries with him. Due to everything he went through, he has a habit of pushing people away, and I loved how the Eatons, especially Sloane, never left his side. The support and love they showed for him was my favorite thing. I liked the relationship between him and Sloane, but I couldn't fully get behind it because I couldn't look past the whole "kinda cousins-kinda not" dynamic. They aren't family, but they were raised as family, so it was weird. I also thought it went from zero to a hundred way too quickly. It had moments, but it's not my favorite in the series.
Elsie Silver has become my go-to author when I need something quick and fun to read. Her books are guaranteed to pull me out of any reading slump because they're so entertaining. I've been intrigued by Jasper since he was introduced, so I couldn't wait to get to his book. It was heartbreaking hearing about what happened to him as a teen and how much trauma and anxiety he carries with him. Due to everything he went through, he has a habit of pushing people away, and I loved how the Eatons, especially Sloane, never left his side. The support and love they showed for him was my favorite thing. I liked the relationship between him and Sloane, but I couldn't fully get behind it because I couldn't look past the whole "kinda cousins-kinda not" dynamic. They aren't family, but they were raised as family, so it was weird. I also thought it went from zero to a hundred way too quickly. It had moments, but it's not my favorite in the series.
Rating: 3/5
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