Review: The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel

The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out for a while, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner. 

I am really enjoying this series.  Freya and her zany Aunt Carole are off to another adventure, this time on a cruise around the Red Sea ending in Jordan.  Once again Arthur has left clues for the pair to uncover and thwart "The Collector" once and for all.  With help from some familiar faces Freya is able to use her antique's knowledge and her ability to solve puzzles to put together the clues to figure out who is behind the trafficking of the artifacts.

This was another fun, cozy mystery as Freya tries to establish herself as an expert in antiques recovery.  Carole is up to her antics again trying to matchmake Freya and the FBI agent as well as make friends everywhere she goes.  This had a fun cast of characters that keeps you on your toes wondering who the shady Collector is.  Arthur's clues weren't as present as they were in the first installment, but they were there and as always his orchestration is key to the plot.  This is a fun read and I am looking forward to getting to the third installment and seeing what Freya and Carole get up to next and who returns to aid them and who is still getting in the way.

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Review: The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This book was like an intense fever dream. You were never quite sure if main character Macy was actually experiencing the things happening or if she was having a bad dream that she can't quite wake up from. Down on her luck after the passing of her father and unable to keep a good paying job to support herself and her teenage sister, Macy is desperate. She finds a weird add on Craigslist for what turns out to be a housesitting job with some strange stipulations, but the pay is too good to pass up. She figures she can follow the weird rules for 3 days, she can really use the money. Her younger sister doesn't want her to take the job, but they need the cash.

This quickly takes on the unreliable narrative as we get to know Macy and her backstory. You aren't quite sure if the anxiety and dread she is feeling is actually happening or if it is a side effect of her grief and depression. This book is atmospheric and leaves you with that feeling of isolation and tension that you want from a psychological horror/thriller. You never know what is coming next and every time you put it down you are left with questions of "what did I just read?" and "what is happening?" especially at the end! The worldbuilding is done so well to leave the reader with the doom and gloom feeling and the feeling that the house and the woods are just as much of a character as the "visitors" and Macy are. If you are looking for suspense and madness this is a great read.

This book is a great lesson for not taking weird Craigslist jobs for homes in the middle of nowhere with weird rules, no matter how good the pay is and no matter how desperate you are.

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out a few years, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner.  The third book in the series has recently come out and I have all three books for review and I wanted to start at the beginning of the series.

This is marketed as a thriller/mystery but it definitely leans more on the cozy side!  Freya Lockwood loves hunting for antiques and her passion is making sure they return to their rightful owners, but long ago her mentor betrayed her and her passion was taken from her.  This really impacted Freya's identity, and she has spent the last 20 years in an unhappy marriage and in a job she doesn't really love.  Her Aunt Carole, who is eccentric and wonderful, has called to let her know that her mentor Arthur has died suddenly.  While Freya has no love for Arthur any longer, she loves her Aunt like a mother and is quickly thrust back into the world of antique hunting and mysteries that she swore off when Arthur betrayed her.  With Carole and Freya on the case they are sure to find out if there was foul play involved and what Arthur was really up to all those years ago.

I really enjoyed getting to know Freya and Carole as they navigate the eccentric cast of characters and the darker side of the antique trade.  The writing is a bit repetitive at times, but overall I enjoyed Freya's character development and her search for the truth.  This was a nice mix of humor, history, and cozy mystery.  I look forward to going on more adventures with Freya and Carole in the future.

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Review: Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young

Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book set on the small island community of Leth Sholas.  While this does read as a complete standalone, there are things mentioned that will make more sense if you have read Half-Light Harbor prior, though they aren't critical to Quinn and Taran's story.

Taran has returned to the island she grew up on to take care of her ailing mother and her affairs after moving away for college and having her heart broken.  The cause of her heartbreak still lives on the island and wants to pay his respects and make amends after 19 years.  Quinn was never good at sharing his emotions when they were younger and he realizes that it may have been what truly caused him to make the biggest mistake of his life.  He and Taran still have unresolve feelings for one another and alot of unspoken words to say if she ever will give him an opportunity to say them.  It is pretty clear if they can come to terms with their emotional baggage their second chance romance might just be the happy ending they were both looking for and the whole town has been rooting for.

I love a good second chance romance especially when the couple is willing to talk things through.  While it takes both Taran and Quinn a bit to get there, they slowly come around to laying things out on the table and be honest with each other.  Fortunately for both of them they have good support systems in place as they come to terms with their feelings and where to go next.  This is also important as the suspense aspect of the book takes place as Taran and Quinn are harassed in and out of town.  The suspense aspect was minimal, taking backseat to the romance.  I thought the reveal was a bit obvious compared to some of the other more complex suspense plots we've seen from the author in the past, it worked given everything else that was going on in the book.  

Yet again, Samantha Young has me longing for a trip to Scotland with her descriptions of the lovely people, the landscape, the music, the food, and more.  I hope to one day travel there with my love and see it for myself.

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Review: We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a sad one, but it also contains hopeful moments as Don and Rodney face the end of the world.  Be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting this one and have a box of tissues nearby as this one gets quite emotional, especially at the end.

Don and Rodney have been together for over 40 years, and as the world faces annihilation they have a promise to keep that will take them across the country during Earth's last days.  They are opposites with Don being friendly and outwardly caring, while Rodney is gruff and a bit of an introvert.  Their journey not only has them personally facing their own emotions and reflecting on their own lives, feelings, and regrets; but they also meet a host of people doing the same.  Some are good people just wanting to share space and live their best lives with other good people as things come to an end, while others just can't comprehend what is happening and act in unexpected ways.

This book asks the question "did I do the best I could, and was it good enough?" which as a parent I really related to.  I really enjoyed the vast cast of characters the couple encounters along their journey.  They really cause them to reflect on their feelings and charge forward with their mission.  As the story unfolds we find out their true goal, and it truly is lovely but this is an emotional rollercoaster for sure.  As always TJ Klune knows how to break you in such a beautiful way.

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Review: A Spot of Tea and Sorcery: a whimsical, cozy romantasy by Sylvia Mercedes

A Spot of Tea and Sorcery: a whimsical, cozy romantasy by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

This was adorable. This follows a former dark sorcerer who has decided to change his evil ways and open a sweet and sensible flower shop. Nigel has moved to a small town where his type of magic is illegal, but green magic is allowed and he uses what he can to nurture his plants. Not one for gardening like his father, he does what he can for the plants and hopes to live a simple life selling flowers and staying out of anyone's dark plans.

Luna has been branded for use of illegal magic because some second cousin or other was involved in dark arts. Luna is a tea witch and has never done anything sinister in her life. She is breath of fresh air and the sunshine on a cloudy day, especially when it comes to Nigel Grimm. She literally blows through his door during a storm, and Nigel is quite enchanted with her even in her bedraggled state. She can tell there is something magical going on in the flower shop and is drawn to it despite her fears of getting caught up in sorcery. All is going well until she finds out about Nigel's past and an unruly tiger lily escapes its pot and things get interesting.

I loved this first installment of this serial. You can tell Nigel is already a goner for Luna, and I'm looking forward to their relationship developing. This was so fun and at times funny. I love serial novellas, and this one was cozy and magical. I loved that the flowers had some personality with a little bit of autonomy, but they were still flowers. Luna and Nigel are great characters. She is such a people person, willing to listen and solve any problem usually with a cup of tea. He is more reserved and introverted. If you are looking for a sweet, fun, cozy read go grab a cup of your favorite tea and give this a go.

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Review: How Not to Fall in Love by Karla Sorensen

How Not to Fall in Love by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley and the author, all opinions are my own.

This was such a sweet romance.  Archer has a reputation as a bad boy quarterback, but underneath all that anger and attitude is a heart of gold and trauma from his daddy issues.  Remi is a single mom who tries to do it all.  She takes care of her grandpa, raises her son, runs an animal shelter, and so much more.  Remi is her own worst enemy when it comes to fun and relaxation as she is always putting everyone and everything before herself.  Moms single or in a relationship can relate as most of us feel that, as there is always 1000 things to do and we are always exhausted.  When Archer comes crashing into her life, literally, she is not happy about it.  He's gruff and grumpy but he's willing to pay his penance and make amends.  The more time he spends at the shelter doing his community service the more sparks fly between Archer and Remi, but they are both determined to keep things professional.  This leads to a slow burn romance as the emotional moments build and they get to know one another.

I'm a sucker for a great grandparent character, and Remi's grandpa was awesome.  He raised Remi, and now that he's gotten older and has some heath issues, he needs some help.  He still gives her hell and advice when she needs it.  I loved him.  I also loved Remi's best friend Ness, she was funny and always on Remi's side.  Archer's younger sister was sweet despite being raised by such a cold father, and as the story unfolds we get to see her and Archer open up and learn more about their backstory.  Archer's teammates are great as well, they tentatively offer support to their standoffish QB, creating some silly scenes and much needed comradery.  There isn't much actual football in this sports romance, but it is mentioned a few times.

I mainly listened to the audiobook, and both narrators were awesome.  They truly brough Remi and Archer to life.  This book got emotional at times and it really came through in the narration.  The humor also came through as there were also really funny parts.

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