After the calamity that was 2020 I didn't want to give myself serious reading goals but I did want to do something to help my book stacks get a little more under control. I've tried getting rid of the ones I want to read but unfortunately I want to read all the books I own. So I decided to focus on series. There are so many I have that I abandoned halfway through or came in halfway and never read the first few. I made a list of ten series and the next book I had to read in them and will be rolling in new books and series as I go along and catch up. Here are two reviews from that list that I've read recently.
Blurb: When Angie goes with her antique dealer friend Sarah to an estate auction she decides the needlepoint coat of arms will be a great souvenir. She does not expect to discover the records of a child left at a foundling hospital in 1757. Nor does she expect that discovery to set of a wave of fear that might even be fatal.
My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for any mystery that involves genealogy research and while Angie isn't the one doing the active research it still made me pretty happy. I really enjoyed this one. I feel like Angie is becoming a bit more comfortable in her own skin and is starting to really forge relationships with those around her. I also enjoyed the auction and have learned that I should avoid estate auctions because between my competitiveness and love of antiques it would be very very dangerous. This isn't the most action oriented investigation as for a chunk of the book Angie is confined to one place. It didn't stop this book from being a compelling read that kept me entertained. My main issue with this book is that the reason behind the mystery is a little weak. It helps that the characters in the book have issues with that as well. I also would have liked the backstory of the coat of arms fleshed out a bit more. My Rating: Liked It!
Blurb: Maura Donovan is just coming to terms with owning a pub and a home in Ireland when she discovers her pub was at the center of the Irish music scene in the 90s. When an impromptu musical gathering ends in a death she must figure out just what happened in order to save the place where she is starting to feel like she belongs.
My Thoughts: There is a lot I really like about this series. I love the setting. I love the side characters - especially Old Billy and Rose. I love the pub atmosphere and I do enjoy Connolly's writing style. However, I also have some major issues with this one. For starters Maura may be the most apathetic person I've ever come across. I get not being interested in music but to have never really explored a building that you own and that you work at almost every day? As well she has made no effort to understand the culture that she now lives in the middle of. Her main reasoning for not making changes is fear vs any kind of plan and she has no interest in understanding how her family connects to the people around her. My primary issue with this book though is that the mystery is never really explained. I got to the end and was like "Wait, did they solve the murder?" which isn't that great of a sign. The answer is kind of. I'm going to read the next book in the series because I already own it but I'm a bit on the fence on completing this series. My Rating: Just Okay
You are doing so well! I think personal challenges work better than blog hosted challenges. At least they do for me. 📚📚📚
ReplyDeleteThis is a good thing for you and helps you meet your goals. I have my own versions with Thrifty Thursday and trying to read at least 3 books I own each month.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I love that you are doing this with your series books. I want to do this too and I'm hoping to get to a point where I can. These are both series I want to read.
ReplyDeleteLove the Mainely Needlepoint series!!:)
ReplyDeleteOk, now you're making me want to check out the Needlepoint series! I need to whittle my TBR list not ADD to it, lol.
ReplyDeleteI’m with you on clearing up the book stacks! Currently working on mine but I do still get the occasional library book. So far I only have 3 Netgalley books left in my shelf.
ReplyDeleteThat’s too bad about the Irish series. I’d love the setting & let me tell you, I’d make an effort to blend in. I loved visiting Ireland & at times wish I lived there.
I think you came up with a great strategy for winding down your book stacks.
ReplyDeleteOkay as I have read the first two in each of these series I find your reviews really interesting. I am not sure if I will continue with either of them, but like catching up through you!
ReplyDeleteI'm on the last book of the Kanin Chronicles series. It moves and things happen but there are a few gaps throughout the books I have issue with.
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