Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls #3) by Josie Belle

About This Book:

Goodreads Summary

✥Series: 3

✥Release Date: October 1, 2013

✥Format: Mass Market Paperback 

✥Setting: St. Stanley, VA

✥Page Count: 272
✥Genre(s): cozy mystery, fiction, adult, romance (clean)
✥Date(s) Read: (Finished) 5/29/19
✥Rating:   Book:  3/5

                

My Thoughts:

Finish a Series Readathon

As usual, it took me a while to get through this book because I had to sit and read it which has been difficult over the last year or so. When my stress levels are up, it's hard for me to sit down and focus on a book. As the years go by at the complex I love at, the harder it is to concentrate on even the simplest of things. So, things are suffering. Including my reading. Audio books have come in handy for me because I can multitask while listening but unfortunately, not every book has an audio book...this being one of them. And sometimes, I just can't get my hands on one. 

But, that's not what this is about..not really. 

This is a series under a pseudonym. Josie Belle is Jenn McKinlay, one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Well, there is a particularly series I love by her, "Cupcake Bakery Mystery" Series. And although I am not loving this as much as C.B.M., I still really like it. 

It's got my kind of thing going on in it: bargain shopping! Now, I am no where near as good as these ladies but I admire that they can find great deals and I sometimes wish I had their dedication!😂  I am on though that loves to get the most for my money. Whenever I can find good coupons, codes, etc, I use them! When I don't, I still comparison shop. When store brands work, that's what I get .

oops, I got off on a tangent again. 

I love the characters. With the exception of one but we're not supposed to like that one. I love the friendship between all of the ladies; how much they love and go to bat for each other. How honest they are with each other when need be and try to do it without hurting each other's feelings, if it happens, it's never intended. 

The love interest and banter between Maggie and Sam, I love. No, that's not much of a spoiler, if you've read copies before, many of them have romance in them. 

As per usual with cozy mystery books, it tends to be the Scooby Doo type of thing when it comes to finding out who the bad guy/girl is (except without the pulling off of the masks lol) I still love them! This one, although I enjoyed it, just wasn't keeping my attention like the other two did but at the same time, so many cozies just aren't the CBM series! Just something about that series for me I love! 💜 

But if course, I recommend the series because it is cute and it just might be someone else's favorite! 😊

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone: 
✥Release Date: May 4, 2010
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: United States
✥Page Count: 344
✥Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Travel/Road Trip
✥Date(s) Read: 5/16-5/23/19
✥Rating:   Book: 3/5     Audio: 4/5   Narrator(s): Suzy Jackson

My Thoughts:

Audio:
I enjoyed her narration. She is someone I'd listen to again if it is the right book for her voice. 

Book:

Okay. I will start off by saying that I started this book October 2018 and lost interest. I got the audio book this month and decided to finish it. I still wasn't all that interested and would get bored with it. Almost stopped a couple times even with the audio. 

With all that said, I did enjoy quite a bit of the book.

I liked Amy & Roger and most of the side characters. Liked the pictures in the book, showing many of the stops, song list, etc. There was one character I wish would I could have shook a little. I mean, there were things I understood why they played out the way they did because I would have reacted the same way but the other side of that, things could have been handled much better, even through all the things that were going on. I am beating around the bush with this because I don't want to give away the story. 

This is the second book I have read/listened to by Morgan Matson and both times, I would get bored and have issues with a character or two (which I guess is normal for many books and may be done on purpose). It seems like someone is always just disappearing though, no explanation at all. If that's a trend in all her books, it might get a bit boring and I already struggle through her books. It's not so much that her books are bad, I just think her writing style isn't totally my thing. I am like that with Sarah Dessen as well. I have to have an audio book to listen to her books but will still get a bit bored and most of her books don't get much higher than a 3/5 (but heck, I find myself needing audio books for a lot lately, I guess because it makes things easier & I am doing more reading outside my typical comfort zone, although, that is beginning to change)

Am I still willing to continue to give Matson's other books a try? Yes. 

In hopes I find at least one that I love. But I won't go out of my way to pay full price for her books. I will wait for a good price on all of them. I understand my opinion may be a bit unpopular and that's fine. There are different writing styles for everyone because we are all different (Writers & Readers alike). Just like Kasie West is my auto-buy author and there are some who may not be crazy about her books. That's fine too.  

It's all about personal taste. 

I do tend to like many of her characters so far though. So, I will just take it book by book of course. There are  about 2-3 books I know for sure I want to try: The Unexpected Everything, Save the Date & Second Chance Summer (iffy about this one). 

I have one more travel book (Open Road Summer) that I am going to try to get through in June, hopefully that will work out better for me. 

For those who are like me and behind on a lot of books for one reason or another & have not read this book yet, just know that this is just my thoughts. I might not have loved it, but that doesn't mean you won't. Even if you feel it's not going to be your thing, at least try it and if it doesn't work out, well, at least you can say you tried right?

Fame, Fate, & the First Kiss by Kasie West (Semi Spoiler'ish)

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Trilogy/Stand-Alone: 2 (Companion to: Love, Life & the List)
✥Release Date: February 5, 2019
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: Southern California
✥Page Count: 384
✥Genre(s): Young Adult/Contemporary/Fiction/Romance 
✥Date(s) Read: 5/14-5/15/19
✥Rating:   Book: 3.5/5     Audio: 4/5    Narrator(s): Caitlin Kelly (Audible)

My Thoughts: 

☼Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019:
   Book Published in 2019
☼Finish a Series Readathon: 
    Companion to: Love, Life & the List (My thoughts linked)
☼ChickLitathon:
    Read a book set in Los Angeles or Hollywood

Audio:
Liked her. British accent made the characters seem kind of fake but other than that, she was good. (Listen to the audio book, you'll get what I mean about the British accent)

Book:
Okay, let me start off by saying that, the book is set in Southern California, it didn't say LA or Hollywood directly that I remember hearing but when I did a double check for SoCal, it did have both there so, I counted it. And yes, I had to do a search for it because, well, I don't live there. Never have. So, I had to check. 

Now, that said, let me get on with my short thoughts on the books and characters. 

The main character, I liked a lot as well as most of the others. Lacey's dad though, I was not feeling. As a parent, I get wanting to know where you're children are because you worry but I think I got frustrated with him on that part because he seemed to no be supportive of her because he would do things that seemed to sabotage what she wanted to do because he didn't approve of a choice she made. Even though there was nothing wrong with her choice. I get the worry but maybe talk about the worry while still supporting her. 

Some characters I questioned their authenticity when it came to their friendships but I guess you were supposed to. The arrogance of some, ugh...I wanted to smack them! But I loved how everyone handled them that were close to them and almost forcing them to do right as much as possible. But, I can say, when they showed a good side, I was able to like them. 

Overall, I liked the book even though it wasn't a favorite. I look forward to others coming out this year and next. I do have one more on my shelf (Listen to your Heart) I am hoping to get to soon (next month probably because scribd is at it again and has audio books "unavailable" this month. This time, 99% of them are unavailable so I was able to only listen to 2 of them this month. Next month, I plan on trying to download a lot of them before they can make them unavailable to see if that works for me to have more of them. Thankfully, I had this one on audible already).

If you love Kasie West, this one shouldn't disappoint. There may even be some who love it a lot more than I did. So, I do recommend this book. It is still really sweet and mushy in that Kasie West style she is known for.

The Sleeping Beauty Killer (Under Suspicion #4) by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series: #4
✥Release Date: November 15, 2016
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: New York, Connecticut
✥Page Count: 301
✥Genre(s): Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
✥Date(s) Read:  5/12-5/13/19
✥Rating:   Book: 4.5/5   Audio: 4.5/5   Narrator(s): Jan Maxwell

My Thoughts:

☼Finish a Series Readathon

Audio:
I do like her a lot. This is at least the 2nd book she has narrated that I listened to. She doesn't read books 4 or 5 but I hope the other narrators are just as good as she is. 

Book:
I enjoyed this one as well. They are always a steady pace and build to the "whodunit". I looked forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. 

I had my ideas of "whodunit". It went back and forth quite a bit, as it should with a good book. But there was that one that just kept niggling at me. Was I right? Well, I can't quite say because those who may not have read it yet and decide to, I might give it away. I know, that seems like a small thing. For me to say yes or no wouldn't give anything away would it? Well, depends on how easily a person may figure it out in this book. 

These books always keep me guessing until really close to the reveal, if not right up until the reveal. I think this series is the first M.H.Clark books but beyond this, I have never read anything Alafair Burke, I will have to change that but it won't be until I get more of my books read and off my TBR shelves (that I already own). Now, if I see one at a great price that interests me, I may pick it up but I won't actively seek one out until I do get some of these books off of my shelves. A little too well wrapped up in some areas but still really good no matter what. 

I do own the final two books in this series (final ones so far). I am hoping to get them read over the next few months among a lot more. Especially while I have scribd, when they don't have 99% of the books marked as unavailable that is. Sigh. 

Now, on to my next adventure, romance or whatever I am in the mood for and settle on!

☼Happy Reading☼
        Bridget

#GoldenGirlsReadathon (6/1/19-6/30/19)

This is something I am really looking forward to. I love The Golden Girls! I have since I was a teenager. I don't quite remember exactly when I started watching this in my young life but I just know my mom couldn't stand I loved it so much because she didn't like Blanche. lol...Although I understood why she didn't like her, it wasn't until the last 5 or 6 years or so that I thought about my mom not liking her and why that I really, really got it. And really understood! I still like Blanche though. My favorites have always been Sophia, Dorothy & Rose..In that order. But sometimes, that order can change depending on the episode and my mood but mostly, that's it.

This readathon was created by a Booktuber, Rachaelisbooked (Her channel linked). Her video announcement will be linked in this blog (at the bottom) because she can explain it better than I can here.

Now, onto the purpose of the blog & that is to share what the prompts are. I don't have books for it quite yet. I will wait until closer to it to start & for scribd to put the audio books back up (eye roll at scribd).  She also has a Google Doc (linked) that you can look at to get the prompts (again, watch the video for more details).

The General Prompts:
1. Read a book set in Florida
2. Read a book with a dessert in the title or on the cover
3. Read a Book published between 1985-1992
4. Read a book with Gold on the cover or in the title
5. Read a book that involves female friendship

Now, it goes a little beyond the general prompts. You also pick a #GGTeam. You choose from one of the 4 women. And you do the prompts under their #GGTeam. I chose #GGTeamSophia as she is my top favorite.

#GGTeamSophia's Prompts:
6. Read a book set in Italy
7. Read the oldest book on your shelf
8. Read a book with a title starting with an "S"
9. Read a book with an author starting with an "E"
10. Read a book that is short (under 200 pages)

Some of these prompts I probably won't get to because I don't own any that fit and I don't want to buy anymore books right now because I am working through the ones I own. We can double up on them so I will try to do that as well. I will have to do some work to get some of my books to fit into these prompts but seeing that this is pretty much the only one I am doing (except for the Spring Challenge I'm doing but that ends June 21 and I'm sure I can work some in with both).

Prompts #1, 3 and 6  will probably be my hardest. Not sure about prompt #5 because I'm not sure how many of my books fit the friendship part but maybe I can squeeze a romance in there that also has great friendships. We will see.

She also explains that if we happen to finish all of our chosen #GGTeam and the general and want to do other's we can. But, to keep this from being longer than it already is, I will just let you watch the video.

I hope a lot of people jump onto this readathon because it looks fun and something I'd like to be done at least once yearly. So, I hope to see you there. If you're going to do it, you can always leave a comment or contact me on Instagram, which should also be linked in my blog (above). In order to comment on there, I think you have to follow me or I have to follow you. Now, I am not asking folks to follow me if they don't want to, that is up to you of course. But I will be posting about this and anyone who goes over there and going to participate, you can also "like" it. I will also be doing the hashtag and will be looking there for other posts as it gets closer to time and after it starts.


Thanks to everyone who has read this far....

Have Fun & Happy Reading!
Bridget

P.S. Never seen or heard of Golden Girls? Well, if you have Hulu, episodes are on there, if not, then I will put some kind of video below for you to watch. Even if it isn't more than some funny scenes of the ladies. I couldn't find a full episode that wasn't sped up. You can slow any down that is on YouTube (0.75). But I found a clip that will be under Rachael's Video.

                                                        RachaelisBooked's Video 

  

                                                 Clips of some of the funniest moments:
                                           

The Whole Town's Talking (Elmwood Springs #4) by Fannie Flagg (slight spoilers)

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series: #4
✥Release Date: November 1, 2016
✥Format: Paperback (large print)
✥Setting: Elmwood Springs, Missouri
✥Page Count: 535
✥Genre(s): Fiction
✥Date(s) Read:  5/6-5/12
✥Rating:   Book:  3/5    Audio:   3.5/5      Narrator(s): Kimberly Farr

√Finish that series readathon
√ChickLitAThon:
-Read a book with a historical setting

My Thoughts:
Before you read further, there are slight spoilers so read on at your own risk. 

Audio: 
She was good. I loved the accents of other narrators a bit more though (Fannie Flagg being one of them)

Book:
I really did enjoy majority of the characters. Old and new alike. Naturally, there were some I wasn't fond of but heck, you weren't supposed to like them much. My favorite will always be Aunt Elner and Neighbor Dorothy (who wasn't mentioned). 

I liked that she took it through the history of how the town for started, the people, families, etc. Enjoyed knowing a bit more about the older generations growing up. 

There was a lot of them passing away throughout the book and a bit sad at points but as  it goes through time, you know it's going to happen sooner or later.  Of course, it's hard to know  your favorite characters are gone but you soon fall in love with other characters as time goes on. 

It took me a couple chapters or so to get used to the new characters and book but once I did, it flowed more smoothly for me.

This book is more of a prequel to the other stories and can be a bit repetitive if you've already read the other books (which I suggest because it can be a bit  spoilerish if you don't). 

Now, the ending for me was a bit much  but in its own way, it was still kind of cute and explained some things that happened. 

This was very much worth the read, well, listen. Good little round off of this fun and cute series.