This is another one of those books where the journey is really fun, but then the author proves that writing endings is really challenging. You can have a great idea for an atmospheric mystery, but you also need to have a great idea for how you are going to close things out, which Sarah Pearse didn't seem to have. The book follows Detective Elin Warner, who isn't really a detective anymore after a case went wrong and she decided to take some extended leave. Elin and her boyfriend, Will, have arrived at a hotel in the Swiss Alps to celebrate her brother's engagement. The hotel just happens to also be a really creepy former sanatorium, because the designer thought that would be a super cool place to build a fancy hotel. To continue with wonderful decision making skills, Elin also decides that this would be a fitting trip to accuse her brother of possibly killing their younger sibling during a childhood vacation. Because, hey, nothing says "happy engagement!" like "did you kill our brother, though? You can totally tell me if you did." There are just a few problems with this plan - first, Elin doesn't really talk to her brother anymore, so finding time to accuse him of this is a challenge. Second, his fiancée just went missing, and it may or may not be in poor taste to accuse him of anything given those circumstances. Third, there is an avalanche approaching the hotel, so they really all need to leave. And, of course, fourth, some people are starting to get murdered. After staying behind and getting trapped from the avalanche, Elin has to really deal with all her personal issues at once because she is the only cop-like person on the mountain who can investigate anything. No one can come help until the weather clears, which probably won't be for a while. There were a few issues I had with the book, two of which I found to be major issues. The first is that this was a fun crime novel, but ultimately it seems like no one could ever be punished for the murders that happened here. Elin isn't a detective in this area, as she points out again and again, and she tends to disobey the orders she is given (or just hides what she is doing because if she doesn't ask permission, she isn't doing anything wrong?) so it seems like everything she has gathered would be utterly useless. She also has a weird tendency to tell everyone around her everything she has discovered. Like, maybe they don't all need to know every piece of evidence you have gathered? You know someone around here is killing people, maybe stop telling everyone everything and you'd have better luck. The second is that the ending was just really dumb. The culprit didn't really make any sense, and it seemed like a massive overreaction for that person to be the one responsible for everything. I think it's worth it for the fun atmosphere of being trapped in the mountains with a killer, as long as you keep your expectations in line for the ending.

Book 5 in the Rock Harbor Series. I just love these characters that I want to keep going and see what happens in their lives. In this book Bree finds a crying baby in the woods with her search and rescue dog Samson. Bree struggles to figure out if she wants another baby in her life with her husband. While caring for this baby and searching for the mother. Why would someone leave the baby out in the cold. Another mystery for the people of Rock Harbor.

This was a fun, fast-paced read. I enjoyed the theme and time period of piracy in the Caribbean. Charles Hunter gathers a crew of interesting personalities with the goal of securing treasure from a Spanish galleon that is docked in a nearby harbor. He comes up with a challenging way of attacking the harbor and taking control of the galleon. If you enjoy fast paced, action, and humor, then pick up this book!

A very amusing and entertaining story with unusual characters held captive in an apartment during a real estate viewing. During the course of the novel, each person's story is revealed, friendships are formed, questions are answered and all come together for a common humanity.

This book is set in the mid 1800’s and takes place both in England and Australia as well as on a repurposed slave ship used to transport convicts from England to Australia. It is a work of historical fiction, and I have to say that I had no knowledge that this was common practice- to transport convicts to Australia. Definitely opened my eyes. It is a tragic story with high drama (won’t spoil with plot elements). Interesting read.

Jack and Annie saw wagons going to CA. They met a teacher that was 16 or 17 years old living in a dug out with a storm protector on it that she built. My favorite part of the book so far is that Jack is better at reading than everyone in his class. Can't wait to read more tomorrow.

This was a very funny book that was fun to read. As the pages are short and it was a graphic novel I wish it was a little more in depth but overall it is a good book.

It was an interesting read and I discovered some new facts. In a nutshell it explains how Earth was formed and how everything lined up just right at the precise times and distances to create life as we know it. It delves into the subjects of chemistry, biology, and physics throughout, while naming notable scientists, physicists, etc. Overall, it took me quite some time to get through the book because it did not hold my interest, page after page.

How is this not a movie or television show yet? This book was such a fast read. I would highly recommend for anyone interested in fantasy. A mix between Hunger Games and The Handmaid's Tale, but in a young adult fashion. I wish I could re-read this book for the first time!

This book was fairly repetitive. There are three storylines that it follows, so you can see everyone's perspective. It definitely kept me guessing until the end. The book did a good job with character development. I would recommend it if you are looking for a different type of thriller book.