Shadows of Swanford Abbey

 

****

PG

{BSt} {UM}

Could Probably Recommend With Explanation

It was fun to read a mystery from Julie Klassen!

I think she did a great job including many different characters and motives so that I was not confident in pegging the murderer until the end when Klassen wanted her reader to know "who dunnit".

There definitely is a {BackStory} of infidelity and immorality with two different, unrelated characters.  That same theme bleeds into other parts of the book as there are suspicions of things going on between other people.  This was my biggest complaint; my only other one being a few {Uncomfortable Moments}.

I think I would feel comfortable recommending this book with an explanation of the backstories since the immorality is not portrayed as acceptable, and indeed, appropriately vilifies it.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart

 

****

PG

{UM}

Easily Recommend

Yay!  A victorian murder mystery that is clean!

I've waited a long time for this :)

Although the aftermath of murder is described I did not find it too graphic.  Just enough detail to make it intriguing but not gory.

There were only maybe one or two {Uncomfortable Moments}...my memory is poor concerning these but they were nothing dramatic.

I found this to be a different kind of mystery because you are pretty sure from early on who the murderer is but it doesn't make it any less interesting to continue reading.

The story lends itself to have two more books featuring the main character's cousins although there is nothing indicating follow up novels that I have found.

Let us hope they are in the works :)

I could easily recommend this book!

A Tale of Two Hearts

 

***

PG

{L?} {BSt} {UM/TMP?}

Could Probably Recommend

I did not enjoy this one as much as the first in the series (probably because there was not mystery) but it was still a cute story.

I have a {Language} rating just because there is frequent use of casual ways of thanking Diety...so really, not language...it probably doesn't bother anyone else but it always snags my attention :)

There is some {Backstory} that is somewhat significant but not talked about in abundance.

Also, there were one or two {Uncomfortable Moments or moments of Too Much Passion}.  Very slight and may not even need this rating but again, enough that I made mental note.

Over all, I enjoyed reading the book, liked the characters and the plot and could most likely recommend this novel.

A Wish for Father Christmas

 ***1/2

PG

{UM} 

Could Recommend

I thought this was a cute one!

A bit of a different plot than the usual.

There were only a couple of {Uncomfortable Moments}...and just the tiniest bit of {Too Much Passion}.

I didn't even mention it in my rating because I just felt like it was a tad too descriptive in her feelings...not really qualifying for the {TMP} label.  So maybe I can just clump those in with the {UM} :)

Could probably recommend this book.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor

 

****

PG

Easily Recommend

This was a pleasant surprise for me!

I don't often read the back of a book before I begin and so I was not expecting a mystery :)

A Christmas mystery was just what I needed!

I loved the plot and characters.

What a fun read!

I could easily recommend this book and now I want to go find the second installment in this series!

The Candy Cane Caper

 

***1/2

PG

{UM}

Easily Recommend

It was fun to read about Sadie and her sleuthing skills again :)

This book was fun...not a murder mystery...just a mild thievery mystery.

There were just a couple of {Uncomfortable Moments} but not bad enough to make it not recommendable.

Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough

 ****

G

Easily Recommend

This was a sweet compilation of cute Christmas stories.

I don't recall anything that bothered me in any of the stories.

Happy to recommend to someone looking for some lighthearted Christmas cheer :)