Review: The House in the Orchard

The House in the Orchard by Elizabeth Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

This was a very weird book that I honestly couldn't figure out the story for. Set in 2 different time periods, with the earlier time period mostly being put together based on a childhood diary from the home's previous owner. I read the whole thing and then got to the end and just felt like scratching my head in confusion. It was well written and interesting, I just couldn't figure out the point.

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Review: Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride: A Novel

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride: A Novel by Lorenzo Carcaterra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I have to say, I absolutely LOVED Nonna Maria. Who wouldn't love a little old Italian grandma who solves mysteries and knows how to get everything done in her little island??

This was a great little mystery story with both a "stranger" to uncover and a murder in the midst. There were twists and turns that I definitely did not expect. I hope to be able to read more books featuring Nonna Maria!

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Review: Long Story Short

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

While I had a little bit of a hard time relating to the main character, due to the differences in personality, I was completely engrossed in her story. She was expected to come completely out of her comfort zone and attend a theater camp (totally also not my cup of tea). She is expected to make friends at this camp (also a difficult task for me sometimes). She needs to prove to her parents that she can handle going away to a college on the other side of the world at a young age and she won't just bury herself in books and school. A social life is also necessary to be a well rounded person.

I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed figuring out how she would complete each task on the list of "normal teenager" actions that her parents gave her.

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Review: A Tempest at Sea

A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I enjoyed the intrigue of this book and I was honestly surprised by the twists at the end. Not only was the murder mystery solved, but there was an extra little twist at the end.

I liked getting to see how the identity of Charlotte and Mrs Watson would be kept secret while also still digging for the truth. Having more people they had to keep their identity from, including Charlotte's own family members, was an extra wrinkle in the disguise game.

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Review: All That Is Hidden

All That Is Hidden by Rhys Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

This was a great fluff mystery. You don't have to read the whole series to understand the 19th book, but it could be helpful for context. I was able to guess a lot of the twists before they were revealed, but that didn't lessen the enjoyment.

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Review: A Girl Called Samson

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

This is the (seriously fiction) story of Deborah Samson, a real woman who dressed as a boy and fought in the Revolutionary War.

The story was nice and interesting. It was well written. I was engrossed in "what happens next". I, however, was NOT a fan of the fact that the entire second half of the book was complete fiction. The author has her marrying the wrong person and how the love and marriage came about was completely fictionalized too. If you're going to write a book based on a real person, stick to the story as best you can or just make it about a completely fictionalized person. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, it most definitely was not the story of Deborah Samson.

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