Finlay Donovan is Killing It & Sequel

Finlay Donovan is Killing It  by Elle Cosimano    Cozy Mystery

(from Amazon)  When Finlay’s overheard discussing the plot of her new novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet...and she soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart. 

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead also by Elle Cosimano     Cozy Mystery

(from Amazon)  With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it.... 

(My Review)

These books are about a newly single mom, Finlay, and writer, who is struggling with parenting and writer’s block.  She is overheard discussing her book with her publisher in a Panera, and a woman mistakes her for a hitwoman, and propositions her to kill someone.  These two books are a wild ride, and so much fun.  I highly recommend them. 

The Maid

 

The Maid by Nita Prose   Cozy Mystery

(from Amazon)  Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.  Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.  But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

(My Review)

After her grandmother dies, Molly is alone in the world.  She takes her job as a maid in a hotel very seriously, and due to obsessive nature she is very detail-oriented.  However, her lack of social skills gets her caught up in some mysteries that take place in the hotel, and she finds herself being implicated.  This is such a sweet, cozy mystery.  I enjoyed every minute!

Spin the Dawn

 

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim  (Book 1 of 2:  The Blood of Stars)   YA Fantasy

(from Amazon)  Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia makes the ultimate sacrifice and poses as a boy to take his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors in a cutthroat competition for the job.  Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.  And nothing could have prepared her for the unthinkable final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the sun, the moon, and the stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.  Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this fantasy novel is not to be missed.

(My Review)

Maia's family receives a summons from the royal family, looking for the best tailor in the land.  In a tale reminiscent of Mulan, she leaves her family for the palace, and gets caught up in intrigue as she competes.  I thought this was a beautiful story about tradition, family, and sacrifice, with a little romance thrown in.   I am looking forward to the sequel (Unravel the Dusk).    

Gallant

 

Gallant by V.E. Schwab            Children's/YA Fantasy

(from Amazon)  A darkly magical and thrilling tale of a young woman caught between the world and its shadows, who must embrace her legacy to stop the approaching darkness. The Secret Garden meets Crimson Peak, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black and Susan Cooper.  Fourteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father, and a voice. Her mother vanished all at once, and her father by degrees, and her voice was a thing she never had to start with. She grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Now, nearing the end of her time there, Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she's never met, her father's older brother, summoning her to his estate, a place called Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that the letter she received was several years old. Her uncle is dead. The estate is empty, save for the servants. Olivia is permitted to remain, but must follow two rules: don't go out after dusk, and always stay on the right side of a wall that runs along the estate’s western edge. Beyond it is another realm, ancient and magical, which calls to Olivia through her blood…

(My Review)

When Olivia receives a mysterious letter from her long-lost uncle, telling her of her family home, Gallant, she quickly leaves behind the school for girls she has called home most of her life. The family home is not quite what she expects. This  hauntingly beautiful story reminds me of the writing of Neil Gaiman, with hints of Jane Eyre and The Secret Garden.

Station Eleven

 

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel  Dystopian Fiction

(from Amazon)  Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.  Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

(My Review)

This book is a hauntingly, beautiful story about what could happen...  I'm gonna be honest - I watched the HBO series of this before reading - and I'm not upset about it.  There are some things that are drastically different, and some parts follow exactly as they are in the book.  I can understand why they made the changes in the tv series, so they could flesh things out.  But to me, some of the choices in the series just made it drag out and get too weird.  But, perhaps that is what life would be like in an apocalypse.  I honestly recommend both.  The book gave me background information the book did not, but there were the things the series added that affected me emotionally.  This book will stay with me.  

Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors

 

Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors (Book 1 of 5: Nyssa Glass)  by H.L. Burke  Children's Steampunk Fiction

(from Amazon) Nyssa Glass is a reformed cat burglar turned electrician's apprentice, settled into a life repairing videophones and radio-sets. However, when her past comes calling, she finds herself framed for murder and forced into one last job. No one has entered Professor Dalhart's secluded mansion in almost a decade, at least not that returned to tell the tale. If Nyssa wants to ensure her freedom, she'll brave the booby-trapped halls and mechanized maids. Nyssa has skills, but this house has more than its share of secrets. As she steps into the cobwebbed halls lined with dusty mirrors, she has to wonder. Is the House of Mirrors really abandoned?

(My Review)

What a pleasant surprise! I found this little book very quirky and charming. It was a combination of steam punk and Frankenstein, thrown into an escape room (spooky mansion). It was a fun read, and I'd definitely recommend it.

That Weekend

 

That Weekend by Kara Thomas           YA Thriller/Suspense

(from Amazon)  Three best friends, a lake house, a secret trip - what could go wrong?  It was supposed to be the perfect prom weekend getaway. But it's clear something terrible happened when Claire wakes up alone and bloodied on a hiking trail with no memory of the past 48 hours.  Now everyone wants answers - most of all, Claire. She remembers Friday night, but, after that...nothing. And now Kat and Jesse - her best friends - are missing.   What happened on the mountain? And where are Kat and Jesse? Claire knows the answers are buried somewhere in her memory. But as she's learning, everyone has secrets - even her best friends. And she's pretty sure she's not going to like what she remembers.

(My Review)

Hmmm....this book goes at a slow pace, and seems to a mix of tropes of many books I've read in the past year.   Not bad, but very familiar.  It was like a rich-kid drama/mystery.  It was enjoyable, but I've read better.