Title: The Cat Who Saw Stars
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Four and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Polly's on vacation, so Qwilleran is going on vacation too... to the ever-popular Mouseville! And he's bringing his cats Koko and Yum Yum along.
But this summer vacation's not going to be peaceful for long. First a backpacker disappears, and then Koko detects the dead body in Qwill's yard! Talk about UFOs starts spreading rapidly, and that's an usual topic around the Pickaxe area anyway! Qwill and his friend Arch Riker scoffs at it.
But Koko's watching the stars, and a new mystery soon pops up. Of course there's more than meets the eye... and that's not the only new thing in Mouseville. There's a new resteraunt (sp?), and a new knitting club... a lot of news...
So who knows what "new"s will show up this time? LOL!
Rockin' Review:
It's great to have a rockin' book again!
The story was well-done. It was highly enjoyable. And it made you keep coming back for even more!
The only glitches? The Backpacker Mystery seemed to only start things off, and was never really explained. And, while it was good at the beginning, it wasn't always come-back material. However, the former element disappeared very quickly.
If you spot this book, get it! It's TOTALLY ROCKIN'!!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
A Sheetcake Named Desire
Title: A Sheetcake Named Desire
Author: Jacklyn Brady
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Rita Lucero is in New Orleans to force her husband to sign the divorce papers, after a long two years trying to get him to do so. But when she goes to his bakery, Zydeco Cakes, not only does she discover areas that are from her dreams, a ruined cake with high stakes attached, and many old friends who stuck with Philippe (the husband), but a murder mystery... Philippe has been murdered!
Rita is a primary suspect, as well as an old friend of hers named Ox... whom she knows didn't commit the murder! Miss Frankie, Rita' mother-in-law, soon has Rita staying around to search for the killer. Another reason is that Rita has been given Zydeco and Philippe's things... because she's still technically his wife!
But there's more trouble at Zydeco than a murder... will Rita figure things out?
Rockin' Review:
Admittedly, the actual writing of the book was four-Guitar material. And there were parts that kept you stuck, but not for long. The enjoyment level was only about three Guitars after the beginning.
And I wasn't really satisfied with the ending. There were no real clues leading up to the whodunit. It was like the author randomly picked someone at the end, stuck them there, and stuck the remaining facts into the back story to make sense. It still feels randomly picked. And there were a few facts that didn't add up.
All in all, there was good writing, but the book only had average enjoyment.
Author: Jacklyn Brady
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Rita Lucero is in New Orleans to force her husband to sign the divorce papers, after a long two years trying to get him to do so. But when she goes to his bakery, Zydeco Cakes, not only does she discover areas that are from her dreams, a ruined cake with high stakes attached, and many old friends who stuck with Philippe (the husband), but a murder mystery... Philippe has been murdered!
Rita is a primary suspect, as well as an old friend of hers named Ox... whom she knows didn't commit the murder! Miss Frankie, Rita' mother-in-law, soon has Rita staying around to search for the killer. Another reason is that Rita has been given Zydeco and Philippe's things... because she's still technically his wife!
But there's more trouble at Zydeco than a murder... will Rita figure things out?
Rockin' Review:
Admittedly, the actual writing of the book was four-Guitar material. And there were parts that kept you stuck, but not for long. The enjoyment level was only about three Guitars after the beginning.
And I wasn't really satisfied with the ending. There were no real clues leading up to the whodunit. It was like the author randomly picked someone at the end, stuck them there, and stuck the remaining facts into the back story to make sense. It still feels randomly picked. And there were a few facts that didn't add up.
All in all, there was good writing, but the book only had average enjoyment.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pretty Poison
Title: Pretty Poison
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
It's an exciting day for widow (of a police detective), professor, and botanist Peggy Lee. First, she accidentally crashes into a vet's Saturn on her bike. Then she discovers a dead body in her gardening shop, the Potting Shed. The body is of Mark Warner, one of the most important people in the city of Charlotte. The police pin the murder on a local homeless man, Mr. Cheever.
But Peggy knows that he's not the suspect, and starts tackling a very tricky mystery... and she's already trying to help figure out a poisoning in a nearby town! To make things harder, there's a lost dog, a Great Dane, who wants to stick with her. The good news is that the Saturn driver, named Steve and who lives near her, is a vet. Peggy's falling for him, despite being widowed for only two years. And Peggy's got an online stalker named Nightflyer who's mysterious...
Peggy's got a lot of work ahead of her... especially when a friend of her gets pinned for this as well!
Rockin' Review:
Now, a good deal of the book was 4-Guitar material. But then, near the end, it gets boring! It takes too long, and it's way too stretched out. It's only near the very end does it start getting enjoyable again. Like, last two chapters, or chapter and a half. But it was so boring for a good long bit! It was just too long, and too stretched out.
I would not suggest this book. It's good for a lot of it, but not worth that boring and long-stretched area.
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
It's an exciting day for widow (of a police detective), professor, and botanist Peggy Lee. First, she accidentally crashes into a vet's Saturn on her bike. Then she discovers a dead body in her gardening shop, the Potting Shed. The body is of Mark Warner, one of the most important people in the city of Charlotte. The police pin the murder on a local homeless man, Mr. Cheever.
But Peggy knows that he's not the suspect, and starts tackling a very tricky mystery... and she's already trying to help figure out a poisoning in a nearby town! To make things harder, there's a lost dog, a Great Dane, who wants to stick with her. The good news is that the Saturn driver, named Steve and who lives near her, is a vet. Peggy's falling for him, despite being widowed for only two years. And Peggy's got an online stalker named Nightflyer who's mysterious...
Peggy's got a lot of work ahead of her... especially when a friend of her gets pinned for this as well!
Rockin' Review:
Now, a good deal of the book was 4-Guitar material. But then, near the end, it gets boring! It takes too long, and it's way too stretched out. It's only near the very end does it start getting enjoyable again. Like, last two chapters, or chapter and a half. But it was so boring for a good long bit! It was just too long, and too stretched out.
I would not suggest this book. It's good for a lot of it, but not worth that boring and long-stretched area.
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Cat Who Sang for the Birds
Title: The Cat Who Sang for the Birds
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Spring decided to spring early to Mouse County, but so did a new mystery... a weird case of vandalism that soon becomes a case of death. Qwill suspects foul play. He's also got a new closed gazebo, where he takes the cats to view a bird-garden. And Koko sings with and for the birds! But even with this new hobby, Koko will be trying to help solve this mystery, which is larger than one might think...
Will they be able to crack the case this time?
Rockin' Review:
Hmm... this was pretty much just an okay book. It was better than average, but not by much. You could stay in the book for long times, but Life didn't have much trouble getting you away from the book. The only exception is the end of the book, when you're reading just to get it over with. It was the last book in the cozy-reading challenge, however, so that helped with that streak.
The story needs tweaking. It was only an above-average book. It was a more relaxing read.
This was only a slightly-above-average book overall.
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Spring decided to spring early to Mouse County, but so did a new mystery... a weird case of vandalism that soon becomes a case of death. Qwill suspects foul play. He's also got a new closed gazebo, where he takes the cats to view a bird-garden. And Koko sings with and for the birds! But even with this new hobby, Koko will be trying to help solve this mystery, which is larger than one might think...
Will they be able to crack the case this time?
Rockin' Review:
Hmm... this was pretty much just an okay book. It was better than average, but not by much. You could stay in the book for long times, but Life didn't have much trouble getting you away from the book. The only exception is the end of the book, when you're reading just to get it over with. It was the last book in the cozy-reading challenge, however, so that helped with that streak.
The story needs tweaking. It was only an above-average book. It was a more relaxing read.
This was only a slightly-above-average book overall.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Cat Who Tailed A Thief
Title: The Cat Who Tailed A Thief
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Four and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Pickaxe has been hit by a string of small-time robberies. And this is around the time that the new banker William Carmichael and his wife Danielle moved in. But then the robberies become a little bigger when 2,000 dollars are stolen! A local boy is framed. The only good news seems to be a big project headed by Danielle's cousin, Cater Lee James.
But things are weird and questionable. And when that happens, Qwill, living in the Indian Village for the winter, gets to work. Koko is jumping in as well, but once again being hard to decipher...
Can Qwill and Koko tail the thief, and stop him or her once and for all?
Rockin' Review:
A very good book! Now, I can't say that it was five-Guitar material... the beginning didn't catch onto you. But the rest of the book sure did! It clung onto you, and it was very hard to leave. Life had to rip you away, and usually when there was a chapter break! There were times that leaving was possible, but you were soon re-attracted to it like metal to a magnet. It was very well-written, and highly enjoyable.
This was a rockin' book! If you find it, get it!!!
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Four and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Pickaxe has been hit by a string of small-time robberies. And this is around the time that the new banker William Carmichael and his wife Danielle moved in. But then the robberies become a little bigger when 2,000 dollars are stolen! A local boy is framed. The only good news seems to be a big project headed by Danielle's cousin, Cater Lee James.
But things are weird and questionable. And when that happens, Qwill, living in the Indian Village for the winter, gets to work. Koko is jumping in as well, but once again being hard to decipher...
Can Qwill and Koko tail the thief, and stop him or her once and for all?
Rockin' Review:
A very good book! Now, I can't say that it was five-Guitar material... the beginning didn't catch onto you. But the rest of the book sure did! It clung onto you, and it was very hard to leave. Life had to rip you away, and usually when there was a chapter break! There were times that leaving was possible, but you were soon re-attracted to it like metal to a magnet. It was very well-written, and highly enjoyable.
This was a rockin' book! If you find it, get it!!!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Way of the Clans
Title: Way of the Clans
Author: Robert Thurston
Rating: Four Spaceships
Sizzilin' Summary:
It's the 31st Century, and humanity has reached beyond the stars. We go to beyond the Inner Sphere, to where Clans rule, and genetic engineering has made the warriors, and even tougher training makes perfect warriors, supposedly.
Aidan is a young man who is about to enter his warrior training with his genetic siblings (a sibko). But the way to being a MechWarrior is hard, and who knows what will happen among the way?
And I mean both good and bad...
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book. My first Battletech book is the first of the Legend of the Jade Phoenix series. I can see where it can spread off to a series.
It was pretty well-written, and there were parts that kept you in. Life had to rip you away from these moments. But I will say that there were parts were Life didn't have to rip you away either. It was pretty good overall. The reason for lost points, however, is that there were some uncomfortable moments. That just lost points for me.
Overall, this was a pretty good book.
Note:
Some of the unmentioned uncomfortable moments is that the sex level is slightly above cozy mysteries that have gotten the warning. Nothing serious, luckily, and no in-depth descriptions or play-by-plays of the act (again, luckily...). But it is slightly above what I've warned about. I know that some people can't handle high levels on this subject, especially some young adults and kids, so this is fair warning to you.
Author: Robert Thurston
Rating: Four Spaceships
Sizzilin' Summary:
It's the 31st Century, and humanity has reached beyond the stars. We go to beyond the Inner Sphere, to where Clans rule, and genetic engineering has made the warriors, and even tougher training makes perfect warriors, supposedly.
Aidan is a young man who is about to enter his warrior training with his genetic siblings (a sibko). But the way to being a MechWarrior is hard, and who knows what will happen among the way?
And I mean both good and bad...
Rockin' Review:
This was a pretty good book. My first Battletech book is the first of the Legend of the Jade Phoenix series. I can see where it can spread off to a series.
It was pretty well-written, and there were parts that kept you in. Life had to rip you away from these moments. But I will say that there were parts were Life didn't have to rip you away either. It was pretty good overall. The reason for lost points, however, is that there were some uncomfortable moments. That just lost points for me.
Overall, this was a pretty good book.
Note:
Some of the unmentioned uncomfortable moments is that the sex level is slightly above cozy mysteries that have gotten the warning. Nothing serious, luckily, and no in-depth descriptions or play-by-plays of the act (again, luckily...). But it is slightly above what I've warned about. I know that some people can't handle high levels on this subject, especially some young adults and kids, so this is fair warning to you.
Friday, August 31, 2012
The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
Title: The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Qwill and Co. ride a rebuilt old steam engine, fixed up by a rich man from Sawdust City. But then that same man disappears with millions of dollars belong to customers. But Qwill's thinks that things are off the wrong "track"... considering that the timing was way too close to the train's return run! And Koko is acting strange... so is Polly, who's over-worrying over her new house is causing her friends, especially Qwilleran, to feel uncomfortable and worried...
With the help of Koko and his "spy" Celia Robinson, who's moved up to Pickaxe, can Qwill figure out this new mystery?
Rockin' Summary:
This was a pretty good book. At first, it starts as an average book. It's four-Guitar material by the end, however. The story was pretty well-written, and the enjoyment level doesn't drop lower than average.
All in all, this is a good book, it just starts average and gets better near the end.
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: Three and a Half Guitars
Sizzilin' Summary:
Qwill and Co. ride a rebuilt old steam engine, fixed up by a rich man from Sawdust City. But then that same man disappears with millions of dollars belong to customers. But Qwill's thinks that things are off the wrong "track"... considering that the timing was way too close to the train's return run! And Koko is acting strange... so is Polly, who's over-worrying over her new house is causing her friends, especially Qwilleran, to feel uncomfortable and worried...
With the help of Koko and his "spy" Celia Robinson, who's moved up to Pickaxe, can Qwill figure out this new mystery?
Rockin' Summary:
This was a pretty good book. At first, it starts as an average book. It's four-Guitar material by the end, however. The story was pretty well-written, and the enjoyment level doesn't drop lower than average.
All in all, this is a good book, it just starts average and gets better near the end.
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