Every Heart a Doorway–Book Review

Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1)Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was so much fun! I loved the concept, and the characters were strange and wonderful. The ending seemed abrupt, which is really the only thing that kept me from giving this five stars. And the scene at the very end? I did not expect that! Now I feel like I don’t know where the next book is going to go, and I’m really excited to find out.

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Better Read Than Dead–Book Review

Better Read Than Dead (Psychic Eye Mystery, #2)Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the mystery part, but I really wish these characters seemed more like real people. Too much sudden jumping from one emotion to another that feels artificial. And the tarot reading scene where Abby learns to do the Celtic Cross spread, which is described as the easiest, in only an hour had me rolling my eyes. There were also an awful lot of cliches and stereotypes about mafia families. And the resolutions were too easy and felt contrived. I have an oddly large number of complaints about a book I also managed to enjoy. I’m sure I’ll read more of these, but I’m hoping for more depth.

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Abby Cooper–Psychic Eye Book Review

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (Psychic Eye Mystery, #1)Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun and rompy kind of read. The characters are interesting, the clues to the mystery were just enough to make you think you might figure things out before Abby does. It was a perfect palate cleanser after reading something heavier, too. I think this is definitely going to be a fun bingey kind of series.

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Devolution–Book Review

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch MassacreDevolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a hard book to read. I loved the way we got the story–interviews and excerpts from a few sources plus a diary that’s been left behind. But from the beginning we know the dark outcome for the most part, so the story felt hopeless. We start getting to know these people, and we even have some empathy for them and understand them, and they become real, and we know what’s coming. I had to read this one with breaks to read other, lighter things. Also–that ambiguous ending! I would have at least liked a full wrap-up!

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What’s a Ghoul to Do?–Book Review

What's a Ghoul to Do? (Ghost Hunter Mystery, #1)What’s a Ghoul to Do? by Victoria Laurie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise is fun. I love ghost hunting stories. But I was bothered by the two main characters and their relationship.

Slight spoilers below.

M.J. is supposed to be an independent woman, but she acts completely weird for no reason around Steven. And he is aggressive with his pursuit of her and sudden grabbing her to kiss her to the point of being inappropriate and making it feel like mild sexual assault, except she seems to want to kiss and grope him back. The relationship is like an old romance novel, and this was published in 2007, so I expect better.

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Bellweather Rhapsody–Book Review

Bellweather RhapsodyBellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kate Racculia wrote another whirlwind of a book with so many fun and quirky characters and a fascinating setting. I really enjoyed visiting this place, and having it filled with band and chorus students made it even more fun. My only complaint is that this isn’t anyone’s story. We move from character to character, circling back through them, so the story is about all of them. But there’s no lead, really, and that always makes it harder for me to stay immersed in a story. I still highly recommend this one, because the vivid writing and all the oddballs overcome that relatively small flaw.

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Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts–Book Review

Tuesday Mooney Talks to GhostsTuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know what to say about this book. Glorious, wild, kitschy, offbeat mystery puzzle of a story. Like Clue and Knives Out and all the best of that genre. With people I fell in love with and can’t believe aren’t going to tell me more stories and have more adventures for me to follow along. I’m so in love with this book and so very sad it’s over, and I can’t wait to read it again. This was a dreamy delight.

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The Sun Down Motel–Book Review

The Sun Down MotelThe Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so good! I wish I could read it again for the first time. It was eerie, the mystery was well done, the characters pulled me right in to their stories. I loved how the clues unfolded, making me think I knew what was going on but still leaving enough uncertainty that I was happy with the reveal. I even loved the story being told in two timelines which is something I don’t always like. This was a fantastic story, and I love it!

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The Ghost Tree–Book Review

The Ghost TreeThe Ghost Tree by Christina Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this–definitely stayed up too late the last two nights reading it. The small town setting was right on. I feel like I’ve been to that town. I would have liked more direct interaction with the monster, or at least more direct menace from the monster, but that’s a pretty minor complaint. I feel like the end set up a possible sequel, and if there is one I’ll definitely be reading it.

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