Cloche and Dagger

Cloche and Dagger

Cloche and Dagger (Hat Shop Mystery #1) By: Jenn McKinlay

Plot:

Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business. But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv—who has some whims of her own—seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her—and nothing else. Is Scarlett’s cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?

Review:

This is the last book by Jenn McKinlay that my library system has and I was a little disappointed by it. It wasn’t bad by any means I just didn’t feel it was her best.

Scarlett comes off at times as a little ditzy. The mystery of her cousins absence seems contrived. Everyone keeps telling her that Viv just disappears sometimes, she even remembers times when she’s done that, but this time is different for some reason. She has no reasoning, she just thinks it is. SPOILERS It’s not, it’s just like every other time Viv has disappeared.

When the murder finally happened the mystery did pick up and I thought the chemistry between Scarlett and Harrison was great. Made me kind of sad that she’s decided to take a year off from me, because I really think she needs the year but I also thought that they made a great couple.

I’m interested to see what happens next but not as invested as I am with the Library Lovers Mysteries.

3/5

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Director:

Marc Webb

Starring:

Andrew Garfield

Emma Stone

Jamie Foxx

Plot:

When atrocities threaten New York, Spider-Man must protect the citizens of New York and his loved ones before New York’s heart befalls into tragedy.

Review:

Ok so hospitals and airports, places like that, have generators that would kick in when the grid goes down. They’re independent of the electrical grid, at least that’s my understanding of it. So I call bullshit on that part of the movie.

I knew what happened to Gwen Stacey, Emma Stone, from the comics, but I was surprised that the movie went that direction. I hope they wait until the end of the next movie to introduce Mary Jane, at the earliest. He needs to mourn and not jump into his next relationship.

I liked this one less than the last. It seemed to channel too much angsty teen and that’s one of my biggest pet peeves.

Jamie Fox’s character was so pathetic you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Sadly he never became an amazing supper villain. In the end he was just following Harry’s orders. I know it could be argued that they were in a partnership but it didn’t feel that way.

I’ll watch the next installment but I’m not going to see it in theaters.

2.5/5

The McCarthys (2014-?)

The McCarthys

The McCarthys (2014-?)

Network:

CBS

Starring:

Jimmy Dunn

Jack McGee

Joey McIntyre

Plot:

Comedy about a sports-crazed Irish-Catholic family that shares a three decker house in Boston and the one member that dares to move out on his own.

Review:

It was funny and had a very loving family that, while insensitive, obviously loved each other. It didn’t seem like anything special but it was funny enough to keep me watching at least a few more episodes.

Constantine (2014-?)

Constantine

Constantine (2014-?)

Network:

NBC

Starring:

Matt Ryan

Charles Halford

Harold Perrineau

Plot:

A man struggling with his faith is haunted by the sins of his past but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness.

Review:

I feel like I should really like this show but the pilot didn’t really grab me. I’m going to watch at least a couple more episodes before I make a final decision, but I’m concerned that it won’t make the cut. I really wanted to like this show and I can’t even pick out exactly why I didn’t like the pilot. Maybe I have Keanu Reeves stuck in my mind? I didn’t hate the casting though. I’m just not sure.

Book, Line and Sinker

book line and sinker

Book, Line and Sinker (Library Lover’s Mystery #3) By: Jenn McKinlay

Plot:

“Avast” in pirate speak means what? or stop! Answering tricky reference questions like this one provides plenty of excitement for library director Lindsey Norris. But when a shocking murder is committed in her cozy coastal town of Briar Creek, Connecticut, the question of who did it must be answered before an innocent man gets the book thrown at him… Lindsey is enjoying her second year in Briar Creek as the library director, meeting with the crafternoon club, and happily dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan. But when a salvage company arrives in town to dig up treasure buried on Pirate Island over three hundred years ago, the locals are torn between protecting the island and welcoming the publicity.    In spite of the squabbling, Charlie Peyton, Lindsey’s downstairs neighbor, takes a job with the salvage company. But when Trudi Hargrave, the local tourism director who hired the company, is found murdered at the excavation site, Charlie becomes the chief suspect. To help him, Lindsey must do some digging of her own before the real killer buries the truth for good….

Review:

Still loving this series. There was a bit more relationship drama in this one, which I liked. The ex fiancé shows up, which is always interesting when that happens. Lindsey was a lot nicer than I would have been, however, I believe that’s probably par for the course. She’s a fairly nice person but she doesn’t let anyone walk all over her, which I love.

Basically if you find yourself in a Jenn McKinlay book and you’re the bitch/asshole more than likely you’re the one that’s going to die. It’s like wish fulfillment. It helps that those people tend to have more people willing to kill them so there are several suspects, but mainly it’s nice to see them get what’s coming to them.

Can you tell I’m a bit blood thirsty?

5/5

 

Side Note: I’m kind of freaking out because my library doesn’t have the next in the series. I’d love to buy it but no money. I have figured out that the library system where I use to live has it, so I’m probably going to put it on hold and then drive half an hour to get it then half an hour back and the I’ll have to take it back. I’m not sure why it’s cheaper to use the gas than buy the book. OMG I think I found a loop hole.