Title: The Cat Who Said Cheese
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
The Great Food Explo is around the corner, and there's a mystery woman hanging around Pickaxe. But things truly start jumping when the hotel is bombed. Qwill has a new mystery to solve, and it may be more than one...
Rockin' Review:
Sorry for the lame review. But this was not my favorite Cat Who book. Admittedly, it wasn't terrible, and there were good parts. But a lot of the book didn't grab my attention and keep me in. There were a few, but it wasn't enough. It was nice for a bit to find out the details of what happened here, since I had read the future books, which referenced this one a couple of times.
All in all, this was only an okay book.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Cat Trick
Title: Cat Trick
Author: Sofie Kelly
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Fall is back once more! Mayville Heights is prepping to put on a food tasting and art show in order to convince the big Chicago company Legacy Tours to make a fall tourist package for them. However, the murder of Mike Glazer, the ex-Mayville-Heights resident and Legacy Tours partner, is found dead in one of the tents!
Though it was technically one of the cats that found the body, Kathleen is the one to put in the call. She wants to stand back for once and let her "boyfriend" (too strong a word, but there's not really a word to describe their relationship). But when her friend asks her to solve the mystery, Kathleen ends up saying "yes".
But since Mike Glazer pretty much ticked everybody in town since his return, finding the killer is going to be difficult...
Rockin' Review:
Okay... not as good as the others. While there were parts that didn't let you go, the book could be left pretty easily at times. Plus, there is a story question that wasn't answered. Technically, it wasn't in the last book, but the question wasn't important in that one.
Now, the book wasn't bad, either. It was actually still very good. It was enjoyable. It just wasn't like the other books in the series.
All in all, while this wasn't as good as the other books in the series, it was still a good book!
Author: Sofie Kelly
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Fall is back once more! Mayville Heights is prepping to put on a food tasting and art show in order to convince the big Chicago company Legacy Tours to make a fall tourist package for them. However, the murder of Mike Glazer, the ex-Mayville-Heights resident and Legacy Tours partner, is found dead in one of the tents!
Though it was technically one of the cats that found the body, Kathleen is the one to put in the call. She wants to stand back for once and let her "boyfriend" (too strong a word, but there's not really a word to describe their relationship). But when her friend asks her to solve the mystery, Kathleen ends up saying "yes".
But since Mike Glazer pretty much ticked everybody in town since his return, finding the killer is going to be difficult...
Rockin' Review:
Okay... not as good as the others. While there were parts that didn't let you go, the book could be left pretty easily at times. Plus, there is a story question that wasn't answered. Technically, it wasn't in the last book, but the question wasn't important in that one.
Now, the book wasn't bad, either. It was actually still very good. It was enjoyable. It just wasn't like the other books in the series.
All in all, while this wasn't as good as the other books in the series, it was still a good book!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse
Title: The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse
Author: Leann Sweeney
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Jillian Hart is a quilter who's been widowed for ten months. Her depression has kept her from meeting anyone in her small hometown of Mercy. Her only friends are her three cats, Syrah, Merlot, and Chablis.
Then Jillian comes home after a business trip, and discovers that someone has broken into her house! And whoever did it stole Syrah! Jillian jumps out of her shell, and starts looking for her cat... but when she discovers the thief, he has been stabbed via knife and killed!
Jillian has to find this murderer, before she or someone else innocent gets arrested... especially since the police are undoubtedly on the wrong trail...
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book. It was pretty enjoyable, though it didn't have many moments that just clung onto you. There were a few of those scenes, but they were near the end and scattered a little bit throughout.
Most of the book is like a relaxing read. Many of the characters were well-done, however. And the story was well-written. This includes the mystery angle. Many of the things, questions, and problems were wrapped up nicely.
However, this book could have been done better. Like I said above, there weren't overly too many cling-to-you moments. There were quite a few times where you could leave for a while and not care. This problem, like usual, started to disappear near the end, but even then I could leave it when needed to, and not get back to it for a while. The exception was the last chapters, which made me stay as long as possible until I had the book done.
So, all in all, this book could have been done better... but it was a very good book, and is worth getting when you can find it!
Author: Leann Sweeney
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Jillian Hart is a quilter who's been widowed for ten months. Her depression has kept her from meeting anyone in her small hometown of Mercy. Her only friends are her three cats, Syrah, Merlot, and Chablis.
Then Jillian comes home after a business trip, and discovers that someone has broken into her house! And whoever did it stole Syrah! Jillian jumps out of her shell, and starts looking for her cat... but when she discovers the thief, he has been stabbed via knife and killed!
Jillian has to find this murderer, before she or someone else innocent gets arrested... especially since the police are undoubtedly on the wrong trail...
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book. It was pretty enjoyable, though it didn't have many moments that just clung onto you. There were a few of those scenes, but they were near the end and scattered a little bit throughout.
Most of the book is like a relaxing read. Many of the characters were well-done, however. And the story was well-written. This includes the mystery angle. Many of the things, questions, and problems were wrapped up nicely.
However, this book could have been done better. Like I said above, there weren't overly too many cling-to-you moments. There were quite a few times where you could leave for a while and not care. This problem, like usual, started to disappear near the end, but even then I could leave it when needed to, and not get back to it for a while. The exception was the last chapters, which made me stay as long as possible until I had the book done.
So, all in all, this book could have been done better... but it was a very good book, and is worth getting when you can find it!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Cat Who Went Up the Creek
Title: The Cat Who Went Up the Creek
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
While Polly goes on vacation, Qwill & Co. go to stay at the Nutcracker Inn, run by his friends Lori and Nick Bamba, near Black Creek... the actual creek this time, not the town. But soon a dead body is found, and a new mystery arises.
Can Qwill figure out Koko's signals and actions, and the mystery?
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book overall. It stuck more to the mystery element, thankfully. However, the enjoyment level never truly reached 5-Guitar level. It started out as a 4-Guitar, and it became a 3-Guitar near the end. However, it never totally stunk, however!
And it could have been written better. Some of the mystery-solving didn't make sense, and the explanation scene makes you feel like something didn't add up, though you can't quite put your finger on it. And the mystery of Walter didn't make much sense, and I didn't feel like it was resolved well. The whole mystery/sub-story of Polly's vacation didn't quite add up! I felt unsatisfied on both mysteries.
The rest of the book was pretty good, however. What Qwill did around the mysteries was good, and the actual sluething (sp?) was good, it was just the ending that didn't feel quite so right... and there were things that could have been done better. This book is good for a relaxing read, especially near the end, but it's more of a time-waster than anything else.
All in all, this was a-little-above average book, and was never truly bad, it just needs a good deal of tweaking, and better solutions to mysteries and the rest of the Polly's Vacation parts of the book and story.
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
While Polly goes on vacation, Qwill & Co. go to stay at the Nutcracker Inn, run by his friends Lori and Nick Bamba, near Black Creek... the actual creek this time, not the town. But soon a dead body is found, and a new mystery arises.
Can Qwill figure out Koko's signals and actions, and the mystery?
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book overall. It stuck more to the mystery element, thankfully. However, the enjoyment level never truly reached 5-Guitar level. It started out as a 4-Guitar, and it became a 3-Guitar near the end. However, it never totally stunk, however!
And it could have been written better. Some of the mystery-solving didn't make sense, and the explanation scene makes you feel like something didn't add up, though you can't quite put your finger on it. And the mystery of Walter didn't make much sense, and I didn't feel like it was resolved well. The whole mystery/sub-story of Polly's vacation didn't quite add up! I felt unsatisfied on both mysteries.
The rest of the book was pretty good, however. What Qwill did around the mysteries was good, and the actual sluething (sp?) was good, it was just the ending that didn't feel quite so right... and there were things that could have been done better. This book is good for a relaxing read, especially near the end, but it's more of a time-waster than anything else.
All in all, this was a-little-above average book, and was never truly bad, it just needs a good deal of tweaking, and better solutions to mysteries and the rest of the Polly's Vacation parts of the book and story.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Cat Who Smelled a Rat
Title: The Cat Who Smelled a Rat
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
The Big One is coming late to Mouse County, and everyone is suffering from a drought. Also, the threat of fire is high in the air, also threatening to burn up the famous ten shaft-houses of Mouse County. But Eddington Smith, the old bookkeeper and friend of Qwill's, dies, and wheels start to turn. The bookstore is burnt down, a volunteer firefighter is shot, and arson is running high... and, like usual, Koko is doing his weird stuff.
Qwill's gotta figure out another mystery...
Rockin' Review:
Despite the summary above, the mystery did not take up a lot of the story. At the very least, it wasn't a very important part. And, at the end, I feel like the mystery wasn't wrapped up well. While some things were explained, not everything was. I wasn't sure how things added up to indicate this person or that. Some of it was Koko's behavior, of course, but not even that was completely explained. It was confusing at the end. It was more like the author was chopping off disagreeable characters. Not totally a bad move... some of those characters were unlikable, and definitely not faves of mine.
What's interesting is that one was introduced in the last book (which she has done before, but the last one to get this treatment got a few extra books first, though not too long). In that respect, it was a nice set-up that started in the last book. That was a good and interesting move, and well-done over more than one book. However, I'm not totally sure that was what was going on. It's interesting, though!
The book was good and well-done, however. It was more about Qwill's daily life and life in Mouse County, especially during the drought and waiting for the arrival of the snowstorm called "the Big One". It made for a more relaxing read. It didn't have too many parts that grabbed you and kept you in (though there were a few, primarily near the end), but it was still an enjoyable and good book.
So, all in all, it was a good and enjoyable book that's best for a relaxing read.
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
The Big One is coming late to Mouse County, and everyone is suffering from a drought. Also, the threat of fire is high in the air, also threatening to burn up the famous ten shaft-houses of Mouse County. But Eddington Smith, the old bookkeeper and friend of Qwill's, dies, and wheels start to turn. The bookstore is burnt down, a volunteer firefighter is shot, and arson is running high... and, like usual, Koko is doing his weird stuff.
Qwill's gotta figure out another mystery...
Rockin' Review:
Despite the summary above, the mystery did not take up a lot of the story. At the very least, it wasn't a very important part. And, at the end, I feel like the mystery wasn't wrapped up well. While some things were explained, not everything was. I wasn't sure how things added up to indicate this person or that. Some of it was Koko's behavior, of course, but not even that was completely explained. It was confusing at the end. It was more like the author was chopping off disagreeable characters. Not totally a bad move... some of those characters were unlikable, and definitely not faves of mine.
What's interesting is that one was introduced in the last book (which she has done before, but the last one to get this treatment got a few extra books first, though not too long). In that respect, it was a nice set-up that started in the last book. That was a good and interesting move, and well-done over more than one book. However, I'm not totally sure that was what was going on. It's interesting, though!
The book was good and well-done, however. It was more about Qwill's daily life and life in Mouse County, especially during the drought and waiting for the arrival of the snowstorm called "the Big One". It made for a more relaxing read. It didn't have too many parts that grabbed you and kept you in (though there were a few, primarily near the end), but it was still an enjoyable and good book.
So, all in all, it was a good and enjoyable book that's best for a relaxing read.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Dead Witch Walking
Title: Dead Witch Walking
Author: Kim Harrison
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Rachel Morgan lives in what's called "The Hollows" in the Cincinnati. She's a witch, and in charge of bringing in runaway paranormal creatures that break the rules. But her job at the I.S. has gotten real bad and boring lately, so she decides to quit. Her friend and ex-partner, the living vampire Ivy, decides to quit with her and join her in making a new company, despite being one of the I.S.'s best "runners" and having a good job. But Rachel's ex-boss is steamed that she took Ivy with her, and puts a death threat on her until she can pay off her contract. This causes major trouble.
But that won't be the only trouble Rachel, Ivy, and the pixie Jenks (along with his family) will face along the way...
Rockin' Review:
An amazingly-done book! The world was extremely well-done and well thought-out. Meanwhile, the actual book was very good. It was highly well-done, and it set up for the rest of the series very well.
There was one scene that was scary and freaky. That lost the book some major points. And it doesn't stick to you as much near the end (the beginning had parts which had you stuck in the book). But it was mostly enjoyable and good overall.
All in all, this was a very good book.
Author: Kim Harrison
Rating: Four Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Rachel Morgan lives in what's called "The Hollows" in the Cincinnati. She's a witch, and in charge of bringing in runaway paranormal creatures that break the rules. But her job at the I.S. has gotten real bad and boring lately, so she decides to quit. Her friend and ex-partner, the living vampire Ivy, decides to quit with her and join her in making a new company, despite being one of the I.S.'s best "runners" and having a good job. But Rachel's ex-boss is steamed that she took Ivy with her, and puts a death threat on her until she can pay off her contract. This causes major trouble.
But that won't be the only trouble Rachel, Ivy, and the pixie Jenks (along with his family) will face along the way...
Rockin' Review:
An amazingly-done book! The world was extremely well-done and well thought-out. Meanwhile, the actual book was very good. It was highly well-done, and it set up for the rest of the series very well.
There was one scene that was scary and freaky. That lost the book some major points. And it doesn't stick to you as much near the end (the beginning had parts which had you stuck in the book). But it was mostly enjoyable and good overall.
All in all, this was a very good book.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Hobbit
Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Rating: Four and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit living in the Shire. He never goes on adventures... at least, until the wizard Gandalf shows up!!! Soon, Bilbo is on an adventure with the wizard and thirteen dwarves to recover a hoard of dwarf-treasure from an evil dragon named Smaug. But many things will happen along the way...
Will the quest be successful?
Rockin' Review:
I can see why this book is being turned into a bunch of movies! It was very well-done, and very well-written. It was pretty enjoyable. There was only a few glitches, and they were pretty minor ones.
Now, the book is admittedly long, and takes dedication. There are parts which don't hold you in, but there are parts and chapters which keep stuck in the book! But it's a long book, so hold on!
Definitely get this classic... and make sure you stick with it! It's definitely worth it!
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Rating: Four and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit living in the Shire. He never goes on adventures... at least, until the wizard Gandalf shows up!!! Soon, Bilbo is on an adventure with the wizard and thirteen dwarves to recover a hoard of dwarf-treasure from an evil dragon named Smaug. But many things will happen along the way...
Will the quest be successful?
Rockin' Review:
I can see why this book is being turned into a bunch of movies! It was very well-done, and very well-written. It was pretty enjoyable. There was only a few glitches, and they were pretty minor ones.
Now, the book is admittedly long, and takes dedication. There are parts which don't hold you in, but there are parts and chapters which keep stuck in the book! But it's a long book, so hold on!
Definitely get this classic... and make sure you stick with it! It's definitely worth it!
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