Week in Review #118

How was your week? What did you get? The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

I am so tired of the storms and rain and being COLD! It's spring, did Mother Nature not get the memo!?

So on Youtube there is a big event called Old School April and I am participating in it. I am on team Scoobies! So you will be seeing lots of old school reads this month (I mean you see a lot anyway, but maybe way more than normal...lol) It's a fun event so go check out Kelsi at Slime and Slashers!

You can also watch old school movies, so I went to the library and so far I have watched The Last Starfighter, Lake Placid and Rocky. :) Having so much fun!

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Review of Small Favors

Review of The Secret Detective Agency

Books I have added

• The Seaside Murders - I enjoyed The Secret Detective Agency, so was happy to receive the second book from Netgalley and Bookouture. :)

Books I Read

• The Secret Detective Agency - Finally finished up the eARC that I had been reading for a while. I enjoyed it, just a slow eyeball reader...lol.
• Small Favors - Loving my reread of The Dresden Files. 
• Rebecca - I have conflicted feelings about this book, I was really enjoying it up till the last 30% and it took a turn I wasn't expecting. 
• Throwback - Time Traveling kid and it wasn't bad but not exactly what I thought it was going to be.
• Queste - Well, I am sorry to say that even though I finished this book I think I am DNFing the series I just don't care and the books are getting larger and larger and nothing is happening. 
• Welcome to Smellville - A book about the Garbage Pail Kids and it was a bit to dumb for me.

Currently Reading

• Taking the Fifth - The fourth book in the JP Beaumont series and I am just really liking this series. 
• The Dead Beat - I have liked Psycho by this author so I am curious about this one from him.
• Cinderella After Midnight - This is not the cover I have (was to lazy to take a pic), but love my old harlequins! :)

How did your week go? Hope you had a great week!

Two Bloggers, One Series ~ Small Favors by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #10)

Continuing out read of the Dresden Files. This is a reread for me and I am enjoying reading it again. I think by the time we catch up to the latest one an new one will be coming out first month of next year so that is cool and about time! After you read my review go on over and check out what Barb thought at Booker T's Review.

 Harry Dresden's life finally seems to be calming down -- until a shadow from the past returns. Mab, monarch of the Sidhe Winter Court, calls in an old favor from Harry -- one small favor that will trap him between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and that will strain his skills -- and loyalties -- to their very limits.

Thoughts:

Poor Harry can never catch a break. Marcone has gone missing and Mab calls in a favor, one small favor, from Harry that probably test all his strengths and skills.

Mobster kingpin Marcone has been kidnapped by some supernaturals and Mabs wants him found, but it's not that simple. He ends up having to enlist his friends, Murphy, Molly, Thomas and even the Knights of the Cross. You know things are not going to go well! As with any of these books there is always way more at stake then what is stated at the beginning. Someone want the Archive (which is a person) so they must keep her from harm as well! Just loads of humor and action!

I love that this one involves a lot of my favorite characters. There is a lot going on but this far into the series I feel that they get harder to review, but I loved it as always! 

5 stars

ARC Review of The Secret Detective Agency

 This is a netgalley eARC review, the opinions are my own.

Meet Miss Jane Treen – the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt…

Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone. The reluctant colleagues huddle near the warmth of a crackling fire in Arthur's country home, working to piece together the murderous puzzle at hand.

In the sleepy Devon village, someone is hiding something: but is it the busybody vicar and his sister, the dutiful housekeeper and her secretive son, the stern librarian, or someone else altogether? And who were the people with the woman in the lake on the day she died?

No sooner have Arthur and Jane have drawn up a list of suspects, than a parcel reveals a clue that sends them in hot pursuit of a coded diary stashed in a village church. But as the heavy wooden door slams behind them and a key turns in the lock, one thing is they need to unravel the truth and crack this code before the killer decides their number is up…

But if they can catch the culprit in time, might this unusual pair become the finest crime-solving partnership since Holmes and Watson hung up their hats…?

This is a historical mystery set during WWII about a young lady who is working for the war office under a brigadier and is upset because several of her agents have died and she thinks it has to do with another operation called Operation Exodus. 

When another one is murdered she is sent to the small village where it happened to work with Arthur who has asthma and isn't able to being in the military but is used in other ways as he can solve puzzles and is a bit of a codebreaker. Together along with Arthur's man servant Benson they try and figure out what happened and who has betrayed her team. Some are missing because of bombings while others might be hiding. 

I really enjoyed this  book though there were some things I found annoying. One of them being the main character. She just seemed to think she was a bit better than Arthur and it's probably a bit because he has a sickness that keeps him from doing a lot of things, but in many ways I thought he was smarter than her. She smoked like a chimney and in front of Arthur who has asthma! I thought that was very rude, I didn't care that she smoked this is a book set in the   40s but to do so in front of someone who has problems breathing was annoying. 

The mystery I thought was done really well, although I figured out who done it, I did have to go back and forth on who I thought it was, then one of my suspects got eliminated and I had to reevaluate so I liked that.  

All in all though it was a fun historical mystery and I think the three will be a fun team. 

4 stars

Week in Review #117

How was your week? What did you get? The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

Not much happened this week worthy of talking about. It was pretty quiet which I am fine with. We have possible storms tonight, welcome to spring. It's the only thing about spring I don't like the storms. Hope it doesn't get to nasty I am not ready for that.

Have a great week and happy reading!

Books I have added

Nothing!

Books I Read

• Mr. Zero - This one is from 1939 and it's very easy to read but wasn't exactly huge on mystery and had a character I wanted to reach in and slap she was so ditzy and self absorbed but over all it had some fun parts and was interesting enough that I would try another from this author.
• Case of the Curious Bride - This is the fifth book in the Perry Mason series and I felt it was a bit different than the others I have read but still entertaining. I really like Perry, he is a bit morally grey at times and very sneaky but he is a lawyer...lol. 
• Murder on Wall Street - The 24th book in the Gaslight series and I am so sad that I am getting close to the end of the series as the author passed away last year. I have three books left but then I can always reread if I want. It's probably my favorite historical mystery series.
• Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister - Third and final book in this fun middle grade graphic novel trilogy. Steve's sister really is the villain in this family even though Steve thought he was at first...lol. If you have middle graders who like graphic novels this one is a fun trilogy. 

Currently Reading

• Small Favors - I am running out of month for these books! I am 64% into this one and enjoying it as always. 
• The Secret Detective Agency - I am getting there! I keep butting this one off for other books but now I need to dig in and get it done as I am 67% into the ebook.
• Rebecca - I waited to long to start this 15 hour audiobook as it's not one I can just listen to for long hours. I am enjoying it but I have to give myself breaks as some of the characters are horrid. 

How did your week go? Hope you had a great week!

Week in Review #116

How was your week? What did you get? The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

I didn't post last week because I have been battling the flu. I am pretty much over it but the cough is still kicking my butt. I haven't been sick like this is several years and its not fun...lol. The weather going up and down cold, warm, cold, warm doesn't help much either.

So I did a lot of lounging and watching tv and a bit of reading. Mostly I listened to audiobooks as my eyes just didn't want to read.

I have been watching a lot of Acorn TV, finished up Chelsea Detectives which was pretty good. I think a new season is coming in April so I am glad it's not over.

Books I have added

• Death at the Highland Loch by Lydia Travers - First book in a new series. I have enjoyed this authors other series so I am excited to try this one. 

Books I Read

• You Have Gone Two Far - Third book in the County Kerry series. A gritty Irish mystery. I enjoyed it. 
• The Black Ice - The second Harry Bosch book and Bosch is a bit morally grey but he gets the job done and I enjoyed it. 
• First three J. P. Beaumont books - I am really enjoying J. P. Beaumont a series started in the 1980s.
• Physik - The third book in the Septemis Heap series and it was a lot better than book two!
• The Secret of the Old Mill - The third book in the Hardy Boys series and I really enjoyed it.
• Listening Woman - The third book in the Leaphorn and Chee series (Dark Winds the TV show is based on this series). I am starting to enjoy this series a bit more than I have been. It's a bit dry but getting better. 
• The Silence of the Flans - Cozy mystery reread for a readalong and I didn't like this as much as I did the first time. I think my taste in cozies have changed a bit. 

This is two weeks worth of books as I was sick, I listened to a lot of books. :) 

Currently Reading

• Mr. Zero - Trying Patricia Wentworth for the first time and enjoying it. This story is from the 1930s but I am finding the writing style very easy to read. Maybe I am starting to get use to the older books. :) I am on page 84 of 216. 
• The Case of the Curious Bride - Perry Mason book five, also from the 1930s and I really like Perry Mason though he is very different in the books than TV show, the old show, not talking about that new thing they created. Almost finished! On page 141 of 182. 
• Small Favor - Continuing my reread of Dresden Files and enjoying it a lot. :) 18% into the audiobook.
• The Secret Detective Agency - I am enjoying this one though I haven't read much on it lately. I am 41% into the ebook. 

How did your week go? Hope you had a great week!

Feed Your TBR! #7

It's time to FEED YOUR TBR and I have a couple books you might find interesting!! I am curious about these books though I may not be anticipating them. These picks are almost out so not a lot of waiting involved.  (Feed Your TBR is my version of Waiting on Wednesday now hosted by Wishful Endings)

Middle Grade

Skin of bark, soul of a hero. An astonishing fantasy adventure from the bestselling author of The World of Podkin One-Ear series.

Albion city is governed by a puppet queen, secretly controlled by Lord Cromwell, and strange magic is afoot as six Guilds all compete to rule it. Although the Leaf Guild is the weakest, no one has reckoned with newcomer Jed Greenleaf's extraordinary ability to transform into a half-tree, covered over with bark. He just needs to learn how to harness that power.

Could he be the hero that the Guild needs to win at the Punchbowl tournament? It just might be that this year Jed can turn over a new leaf in the history books, and bring glory to the decaying Guild and peace to Albion.

I haven't tried this author but some of my friends have enjoyed the Podkin One-Ear series and this sounds fun. Comes out September 9th from Faber and Faber Children. 

Adult

A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss’s office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England’s answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she’s heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke…

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they’re out of their depth…

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

I am currently reading book one in this series and enjoying it so I am excited to see another coming out so soon! :) This comes out April 30th from Bookouture.

Week in Review #115

How was your week? What did you get? The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

Hope everyone had a great week, my week was busy and so I hope this coming week will be back to being boring...lol. Dad fell on Monday and I was worried her hurt is foot again but both were swollen. He had a foot doc appointment the next day anyway so that was good and the doc said it was just swollen because the fall sent blood rushing to his feet and that compression socks would help. He is still really sore but doing better. We got rid of an old car that was taking up space and I am glad to have it out of the yard now. We traded it for tires for our new used car we just got last week. It wasn't working so the guy could use it for parts.

The weather is up and down and I think this coming week we have a lot of days in the 70s and I am so happy!! :) I am so over winter.

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Review of White Night

Review of Murder at the Loch

Books I have added

• No Rest For The Wicked - I blame this on Barb as I seen it on her blog and the cover grabbed me and it sounded interesting so immediately went to Netgalley and requested. :) It's about a Halloween obsessed town and it's a mystery/thriller it's all I needed to know. 

Books I Read

• Murder at the Loch - Second book in the Ally McKinley series and this is a cozy mystery for those who like more cozy than mystery. I just thought it was okay because I like more mystery. I like the characters and setting.
• The Secret of the Old Clock - The first Nancy Drew and I don't remember ever reading these as a kid so decided to try one for March Mystery Madness. :) It wasn't bad. I will read more. 

Currently Reading

• Berlin Game - This one is off to a slow start and a bit boring. I am hoping once the main character gets involved it will pick up. I am on page 43 of 344.
• The Black Ice - Harry Bosch #2 and it's going pretty good. I have the print book but also listening to the audiobook via youtube. On page 124 of 427.
• The Hovering Darkness - I haven't had much chance to read on this one so only on page 14 of 192.
• The Secret Detective Agency - eARC of a first in series and it's a historical mystery. So far it's not bad but only 9% into it.
• Physik - Third book in the Septimus Heap series and I am almost finished. This one is going way better than book two so I am happy. I am 81% into the audiobook.
• You Have Gone Too Far - Third book in the County Kerry series. This is a gritty detective mystery. This author also writes cozy mysteries but this one is not cozy. I am enjoying it. I am currently 37% into the audiobook.

How did your week go? Hope you had a great week!