Tag: books
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Book review: On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the first in the Coffeehouse Mysteries book series. I wish I could give half-stars as ratings because this book definitely deserves a 3.5 star rating. Clare Cosi is the manager of a niche coffeehouse who finds her assistant manager at the…
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Book review: The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey
The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. I’ve been a fan of the author’s earlier works (her Valdemar series–especially the early books–was excellent). I’m a bit ambivalent about this one. The author does a vivid and convincing job…
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Book review: The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters
The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters My rating: 4 of 5 stars Below is why I love this series so much: The last lines of the book (no spoilers): “And now, I suppose,” he said, seeing his friend’s face still thoughtful and undismayed, “you will tell me roundly that God’s reach is longer than man’s.”…
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Book review: How to be a High School Superstar by Cal Newport
How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out by Cal Newport My rating: 4 of 5 stars As the parent of two teenagers, this was a really interesting book. The premise is that to get in the college of your choice, a student should focus on…
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Book review: The Adventures of the Bloody Tower by Donald MacLachlan
The Adventure of the Bloody Tower: Dr. John H. Watson’s First Case by Donald MacLachlan My rating: 4 of 5 stars The question of who murdered the Princes in the Tower (Edward V and his younger brother, Richard) has puzzled historians for centuries. Richard III, their uncle, has long been the leading suspect for those…
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Book review: The Scribe’s Daughter by Stephanie Churchill
The Scribe’s Daughter by Stephanie Churchill My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’m a fan of the fantasy genre and picky about my books. This is a very well written book with several interesting plot twists and surprises. The characters are well drawn, and the heroine is especially entertaining with her sarcastic sense of humor…
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Book review: Outlaw by Angus Donald
Outlaw by Angus Donald My rating: 4 of 5 stars A good friend recommended this book to me, since I am also a huge fan of Sharon Kay Penman’s and Bernard Cornwell’s books. I won’t admit this to my friend, but he was spot on with his recommendation. 🙂 “Outlaw” is the story of Robin…
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Book review: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second in my newest mystery series discovery, the Maisie Dobbs series. This time, Maisie is looking for a woman who has disappeared on behalf of the woman’s father. She discovers that the daughter’s disappearance is somehow linked to the…
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Book review: Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoy the Stephanie Plum mystery series. The books are perfect beach reads (regardless of whether you are actually at the beach or not). I enjoyed “Notorious Nineteen” immensely, and it’s one of the stronger entrants in the series of late. The plot…
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book review: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the first in a mystery series that takes place after World War I in Britain. I really loved this book. Maisie Dobbs is an intrepid young woman who, through intelligence and hard work and determination, moves from the lower class into the…