The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala

The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala is the third book in the Book Club Mystery series and I am not sure if it is the last. It did come out in 2016 and no word of any other in the series coming out since.

Amy-Faye with her party planning company is back for another mystery. Having arranged a charity auction and costume party with famous authors Amy is happy all is going well until an unknown man turns up dead in an office that was suppose to be off limits to the party goers. In the middle of another mystery Amy is determined to find out what happened, who the man is, why he was killed, and avoid the deadly killer who seems determined to get away no matter the cost.

I really could not connect to the murder. The last one was so personal for Amy when her brother was charged and this one just seemed to affirm to people that Amy attracts dead bodies. I am not sure what I will read next but I think I am burnt out on mysteries for a bit since I struggled to stay interested throughout the whole story.

The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle

The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle is the second book in the Book Club mystery series. I have been meaning to read it for some time.

Once again Amy-Faye is in the middle of a mystery but this time it involves her brother, Derek. With the grand opening of Derek's pub a huge success until Derek's partner Gordon is murdered Amy-Faye thinks noting else can get worse. Wrong Derek is arrested for the murder of Gordon. Knowing her brother is not capable of murder Amy-Faye decides to investigate and find the truth behind the murder.

I will admit it has been years since I read the first book. I vaguely recall loving the first story in the Book Club mystery series but this one did not catch my attention as much. While I am not 100% sure I believe the series is only three books and I do have The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala already downloaded on my tablet. 

The Life She Was Given

The Life She Was Given did not turn out like I expected at all. I thought it would be the story of a girl adjusting to living in the outside world after having been a captive all her life along with some information about early circuses. It was nothing like that.

Lilly's parents have kept her in the attic all her life ashamed of how she looks. Determined not to let that bother her Lilly lives the best life she can in the tiny room using her imagination to make the long hours pass until one day mother tells her to get dressed and come with her. Freedom at last but it is nothing like Lilly expects instead of being accepted by her family for who she is Lilly is sold to the circus to be an act in the freak side show. Terrified, uncertain of what to do, and fearing people around her will hurt her Lilly continues to fight back all her life.

Julia has never had a good relationship with her parents and as soon as she turned eighteen she was gone. Stuck in an abusive relationship with a job that does not pay nearly enough Julia is shocked when she learns she has inherited her parent's estate. Unable to do anything but go home Julia starts digging into the secrets of the manor each discovery becomes more horrifying then the last.

I am not a huge fan of stories that switch between points of view and time periods. I feel it throws my reading pace off too much. I did prefer Lilly's story to Julia's story. At parts it seemed like Julia's story was repeating the same events while Lilly's showed some growth and development. I am horribly at figuring out mysteries I always have been but I figured out this one so I am guessing most people will figure out the mystery easily. This was not a lighthearted read either, it goes into a lot issues such as abuse, animal cruelty, and slavery to name a few.

The Rise of Magicks

The Rise of Magicks is the third book in the Chronicles of the One trilogy. Honestly I only read it to see how the trilogy ended and I ended up skimming the parts that were too long out and boring in my opinion.

I have never really seen a trilogy that worked the way The Chronicles of the One did. Year One starts out with Lana and how a virus is rapidly killing people. I thought that would be the focus but no instead people start developing powers and fighting back, some people suddenly become elves, other fairies, and some turn dark. Then Of Blood and Bone takes a different turn and introduces Lana's daughter Fallon as the savior of the whole world.

Fallon is a hard character to like she is perfect in all she does, everyone instantly loves her, and she never seems to make a big mistake that causes problem. I saw almost no growth in Fallon and kept hoping something horrible would happen to see how she would react. At the end everything just seemed too convenient. Maybe Nora Roberts just does not have a writing style I like but I will not actively seek out her book again.

The Dutch Wife

I would so have buyer's remorse if I had purchased The Dutch Wife. Lately I have read several interesting and well written stories about World War II and was eager to give another a try.

Marijke de Graaf is arrested along with her husband for being supports of the resistance. Separated she is taken to a camp and after a few weeks offered a chance to have a slightly better life working in a prisoner's brothel. The thought of food and being in the same camp as her husband is the deciding factor in here agreeing.

 Karl Müller is a young Nazi officer who secured the position through his father. Disgusted by the brutal condition of the camp and having to give orders to treat the prisoners badly Karl turns to the brothel but not the officers brothel he goes to the prisoners brothel. After meeting Marijke he quickly becomes enticed by her spirit and beauty. 

Luciano Wagner is in Argentina and it is a different time period. Arrested for being part of the Resistance Luciano deals with being tortured, abused mentally, and starved. Not understanding what is happening his story is him mainly writing letters to his Papa in his head.

I really wanted to like The Dutch Wife but the story just did not work. Things did not flow, it was odd having Luciano thrown into the story. Transitions were not smooth between chapters and I was constantly confused as to what had happened. The worst part is the ending it just stopped, nothing really came together nor did the story feel complete. Just was not a story that was withing my preference.

The Carnelian Crow

The Carnelian Crow is the fourth book in the Stoker and Holmes series. I had forgotten how good the series is and hoping the last book in the series does not have a long waiting list at the library.

I really love how Mina and Eva are two different people but clearly masters of their art form. Mina is desperate for something to entertain and challenge her mind. With the Ankh having escaped yet again a new mystery appears in Mina's lap when a crow delivers an oddly shaped pin to her window in the middle of the night. Eva is happy for a break from hunting the Ankh and determined to go back to hunting vampires until her sister in law informs her she must marry to save the family from becoming bankrupt. With each girl facing their own problems and the Ankh reading the next step of her plan action is not lacking with each turn of the page.

The duo has grown a lot from the time when they hated each other and could barely work as a team to becoming friends. With so many cliffhangers at the end of The Carnelian Crow I cannot wait to start on The Zeppelin Deception which is sadly the last book in the series.

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore is the third book in the Haunted Vintage Mystery series. No real reason I choose it other then I am working on finishing up series before starting new ones this year.

Always interested in promoting her vintage clothing store Cookie jumps on the chance to let models use some vintage clothing articles in a local fashion show. Everything is going great with the show until Cookie finds the manager dead with a model standing over her. To make matters worse a new ghost shows up demanding Cookie retrieves his 1950s fedora for him. Once again surrounded by ghosts Cookie must solve a murder, with the help of the original ghost Charlotte, fedora loving private eye Sam, Cookie's best friend Heather, and the ever mysterious Wind Song the cat Cookie must use all the skills she has learned to solve the deadliest murder mystery to date.

Rose Pressey's writing is getting crisper and showing a better balance between describing vintage clothing but not forgetting the story line. I like how Cookie is evolving as a sleuth and learning she cannot do everything on her own. I did read a teaser for the next book in the series, Haunted is Always in Fashion, but it is checked out at the library. I hope to continue the series soon.