First Books of February
I've been sick this weekend, so I haven't done much except sleep and read and watch the house slowly fall into disarray. I will worry about cleaning when I feel better. lol Other than being sick this week has been a good one because a car insurance issue has finally been resolved. Back in October one evening when I was driving one of the main thoroughfares in our town I was hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully no one in either car was hurt. Because of my insurance, I had to go through the other driver's insurance. I had the worst experience with them. I would call to get updates and they would swear up and down that they would call me back. Never did. Over the many months I had to keep calling them I think I got ONE call back. Every time I called (and they actually picked up, which was rare) to ask why there was so much delay their response was always that they were always waiting for someone else it was never their fault. This dragged on for months. Finally, FOUR months later I received the money for my car. My husband and I were supposed to go looking at a few used cars this weekend but since I have been sick, he's been looking by himself he knows what we need so I am trusting him with the task. I am just glad for the whole thing to be over with and I don't have to think about it anymore.
This week I read one cozy mystery, one romance, one historical mystery, and one gothic thriller.
The Companion by Katie Alender
The Companion is a well-written gothic thriller. The main character Margot is the only survivor of a car accident that killed the rest of her family. She is having a hard time in foster care so when she is offered the chance to be a companion for a nearly catatonic teen her own age, she decides to take it. Once she arrives at the isolated manor Margot soon discovers not everything is as it seems, and things only go from bad to worse the longer she stays. This was quite the page-turner. The author does a great job of ratcheting up the tension and the emotional manipulation and gaslighting is truly creepy. Overall, a thrilling read.
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead. Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He's way out of Corey's league. Also, he's taken. Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands. They're just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard. ~Goodreads Description
This was recced to me and although I do not read a lot of college romances, I decided to give it a shot. It was a really good book. I liked both Corey and Hartley. They were both dealing with their own problems and trying to make it through college. My favorite parts was how their friendship developed and how they supported each other when they were struggling. The romance was good as well and I liked how the book ended. All in all, a really good book and I wouldn't mind reading more by this author.
The Cry of the Hangman by Susanna Calkins
This was the sixth book in the Lucy Campion series, and I am relieved to say that I enjoyed it more than the last one. These books have been some of my favorite historical mysteries for a while now and since I was disappointed with the last book, I was afraid that I wouldn't want to continue. But thankfully this book was back on par with the first four books. The author does such a great job with all of the historical details. I love the setting of 1667 London and I am absolutely in love with the protagonist, Lucy. She is a great pov character to follow around London as she tries to become a printer's apprentice and solve mysteries. The mystery in this book was very well written and kept your attention throughout the story.
My one quibble with these past two books has been the love triangle. I was fine with it in the first four books because it was well-written and didn't impact the mystery plot too much, but by the fifth book though I was kind of all done. I was happy to see that by the end of the last book it looked like Lucy had FINALLY made her choice. (And although who she picked was no longer my first choice, I was willing to just let it be as long as we could move on.) So, I was kind of dismayed to see in this book once again Lucy seemed unsure about her two suitors. So that did ruin some of my enjoyment of the story but considering where this book ended, I am once again hoping we are done with the love triangle. All in all, it is still a great series, and I am really looking forward to the seventh book which comes out later this year!
Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard
What intrigued me about this book was the first sentence in the description. "Bewitched meets Murder She Wrote" which sounded delightful and super fun. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I was hoping for. See the problem was Bewitched didn't take itself too seriously and was very tongue-in-cheek, this book was not those things. There was a witch and there were murders, but it never reached the magical quality that I was hoping for. Ophelia and her grandmother Abby were okay. The love interest Rick was so annoying, but everyone kept thinking he was charming, and I just didn't get that at all. The mystery was okay but not super thrilling. So overall I would have to say this book was just alright and I am pretty sure I will not be continuing on in the series
Reading Challenges 2023:
Mount TBR: Murder Most Malicious
Cloak & Dagger Challenge: Witch Way to Murder, Cry of the Hangman, and The Companion
50 State Challenge: Witch Way to Murder (Iowa)
Read the Quote 2021: The Companion, Cry of the Hangman, Witch Way to Murder, and The Year We Fell Down
How's your weekend going so far?
This week I read one cozy mystery, one romance, one historical mystery, and one gothic thriller.
The Companion by Katie Alender
The Companion is a well-written gothic thriller. The main character Margot is the only survivor of a car accident that killed the rest of her family. She is having a hard time in foster care so when she is offered the chance to be a companion for a nearly catatonic teen her own age, she decides to take it. Once she arrives at the isolated manor Margot soon discovers not everything is as it seems, and things only go from bad to worse the longer she stays. This was quite the page-turner. The author does a great job of ratcheting up the tension and the emotional manipulation and gaslighting is truly creepy. Overall, a thrilling read.
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead. Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He's way out of Corey's league. Also, he's taken. Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands. They're just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard. ~Goodreads Description
This was recced to me and although I do not read a lot of college romances, I decided to give it a shot. It was a really good book. I liked both Corey and Hartley. They were both dealing with their own problems and trying to make it through college. My favorite parts was how their friendship developed and how they supported each other when they were struggling. The romance was good as well and I liked how the book ended. All in all, a really good book and I wouldn't mind reading more by this author.
The Cry of the Hangman by Susanna Calkins
This was the sixth book in the Lucy Campion series, and I am relieved to say that I enjoyed it more than the last one. These books have been some of my favorite historical mysteries for a while now and since I was disappointed with the last book, I was afraid that I wouldn't want to continue. But thankfully this book was back on par with the first four books. The author does such a great job with all of the historical details. I love the setting of 1667 London and I am absolutely in love with the protagonist, Lucy. She is a great pov character to follow around London as she tries to become a printer's apprentice and solve mysteries. The mystery in this book was very well written and kept your attention throughout the story.
My one quibble with these past two books has been the love triangle. I was fine with it in the first four books because it was well-written and didn't impact the mystery plot too much, but by the fifth book though I was kind of all done. I was happy to see that by the end of the last book it looked like Lucy had FINALLY made her choice. (And although who she picked was no longer my first choice, I was willing to just let it be as long as we could move on.) So, I was kind of dismayed to see in this book once again Lucy seemed unsure about her two suitors. So that did ruin some of my enjoyment of the story but considering where this book ended, I am once again hoping we are done with the love triangle. All in all, it is still a great series, and I am really looking forward to the seventh book which comes out later this year!
Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard
What intrigued me about this book was the first sentence in the description. "Bewitched meets Murder She Wrote" which sounded delightful and super fun. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I was hoping for. See the problem was Bewitched didn't take itself too seriously and was very tongue-in-cheek, this book was not those things. There was a witch and there were murders, but it never reached the magical quality that I was hoping for. Ophelia and her grandmother Abby were okay. The love interest Rick was so annoying, but everyone kept thinking he was charming, and I just didn't get that at all. The mystery was okay but not super thrilling. So overall I would have to say this book was just alright and I am pretty sure I will not be continuing on in the series
Reading Challenges 2023:
Mount TBR: Murder Most Malicious
Cloak & Dagger Challenge: Witch Way to Murder, Cry of the Hangman, and The Companion
50 State Challenge: Witch Way to Murder (Iowa)
Read the Quote 2021: The Companion, Cry of the Hangman, Witch Way to Murder, and The Year We Fell Down
How's your weekend going so far?