Platform Decay Book Review

 

Platform Decay

By: Martha Wells

The Murderbot Diaries #8

Publish Date: May 5, 2026

Publisher: Tor Publishing Group/Tor Books

Sci Fi and Fantasy

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I would like to thank both Tor Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

It is always hard to review a book, but it is even harder to review the eighth book in a series without giving anything away. I liked this book and I gave it 3 stars. 

In this book the murderbot is on a rescue mission. He is to help a human mom rescue her family and take them to a safe place. Things don't go as planned and this is the adventure they end up on. The murderbot does have help from a couple of other humans. 

I like how the author gives the murderbot human feelings and he keeps checking into them. I like how the humans are there for him and actually help him along the way.

In all it was a nice addition to the series.

Stakeouts and Strollers Book Review

 

Stakeouts and Strollers

A Mystery

By: Rob Phillips

Publish Date: March 17, 2026

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thrillers

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Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book, and I gave it 4 stars. This is debut book and I am looking forward to reading more books from him.

This book is about a new private investigator, and he happens to be a new dad as well. He works for former police officer and use to be a crime reporter for a newspaper. In his first case he is following a married woman who is having an affair, and he has to get proof. What actually happens is more than he bargains for. While getting the proof he needs, he ends up seeing an assault on the gentleman who the woman is having the affair with. He has also met up with a young girl who happens to have witness the same thing. Why she was in the same area as him he doesn't know at this point.

As the story goes on he has befriended the young girl and has found out why she was there and who she is looking for, which happens to be her father. They both find themselves in a deep problem and everything happens to be connected in some way. Can they figure out what is truly going on or will they die in the process.

This book keeps you turning the pages. Even though this book isn't supposed to be a start of a series it does leave off with a possible next book.

Cats, Carats and Killers Book Review

 

Cats, Carats and Killers

By: TC LoTempio

Book 4 of Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries

Publish Date: March 19, 2024

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Mystery and Thrillers

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I would like to thank both NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long to do so. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This book was a fast read at only 184 pages. 

In this book they are doing a fund raiser for the local animal shelter. Shells mom was able to get the help from a friend who appraises antiques. The customer donates money to the shelter and then can get their item appraised. Someone has dropped off a jewelry box to get appraised since she just picked it up an estate sale. This jewelry box causes some hype because it seems like everyone wants it and is willing to pay top dollar for it. The owner wont sale until it is appraised.

Go back ten years to a jewelry heist in the small town. The jewels have never been recovered. Does this jewelry box have something to do with it since now everyone seems to have an interest in it. You will have to read the book to find out.

I really enjoy these cozy mysteries because you get involved with everyone in the story. They become to you as you read each book. I love the friendships in this book and even the mother daughter relationship. 

Hafsa's Way Book Review

 

Hafsa's Way

By: Aisha Saeed

Publish Date: March 10, 2026

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books

Children's Fiction/Middle Grade

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I would like to thank both Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

Not only is the cover beautiful but so is the story. I gave this book 5 stars. Near the end of the story, I was in tears. This book is about a young girl who wants to become a doctor in a culture that thinks girls/woman are second class. This young lady fights for everything she has accomplished. This time she has help from her brother-in-law and older sister. 

Hafsa wants to become a doctor when she gets older and she has learned about a summer program that will be a great advantage. She had to apply which she did secretly and was surprised to find out that she was accepted into the program. The only problem is she hasn't even mentioned this to her parents. 

When she finally tells her dad his answer is no and takes the letter and nothing is said about it anymore. then she realizes he hasn't even told her mother, and she goes looking for the letter to show her mom and her mom supports her father. A few days later her sister and brother-in-law come for a short visit and Hafsa brings it up and has support from them. The brother-in-law even will pay for the program, and she can stay with them. This her parents cannot refuse because it would be impolite to her sister and her husband.

On her first day of the program Hafsa realizes that the medical program isn't until next year and she is going to a program about climate issues. She ends up still staying and learning a lot. The teacher feels a little sorry for her and gives her a laptop that has the recording from the year before medical program that Hafsa can listen to. 

Hafsa learns more about her sister's new life and is concern that she has given up on her dream to help the mother-in-law with a Galla event that will bring money into the hospital that her husband works at. Hafsa has a lot to learn and understand and gets into a fight with her sister and then realizes that it isn't always what you see.

Hafsa also is understanding what the climate can do the area you live in and the effects it has the animals around you. She finds herself drawn to an elephant in a ran down zoo. This elephant has a great effect on her, and she finds herself wanting to help it. 

Can she figure things out for herself and this elephant? 

This book has a wonderful family element to it and the support of a teacher, and one friend can be a start.

The Baby Dragon Bookshop Book Review

 

The Baby Dragon Bookshop

By: A.T. Qureshi

Book 3 of Baby Dragon Series

Publish Date: February 3, 2026

Publisher: Harper 360/Avon

General Fiction (Adult)/ Romance/Sci-Fi and Fantasy

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I would like to thank both Harper 360/Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I enjoyed this book and gave it 3 stars. It dragged for me in the middle and I just wanted it to get to the end and the results of the contest.

In this book two different coffee bean roaster companies are vying for an investment from a well-known person. Since they don't want to work together the investor has given them 6 weeks to work up a proposal and she will pick the best one. The two companies' owner do know each other, and they aren't friendly towards each other due to a past history.

The owner of the dragon roaster company is Emmy, and the owner of the other roaster company is Luke. They are forced to work in the same office at the bookshop where the new coffee shop will be to work on their proposals. Unknown to each other they both have feelings for each other, but Emmy is adamant about keeping her feelings hidden and to do what needs to be done to get this investment for her to expand her company. Luke on the other hand wants to have a relationship but he also needs this investment to keep his business running. 

As the weeks go on they are learning things about themselves and each other. Luke is caring and helpful and Emmy is a control freak and learning maybe she has to relax and enjoy life more. This is hard because she is the oldest in the family and even her mom thinks she needs to be there for everyone when mom can't be.

What happens between Luke and Emmy? Who gets the investment? You will have to read the book to find out.

What I like about the book is the friendship that is being developed between the two. 

A Smoking Bun Book Review

 

A Smoking Bun

A Bakeshop Mystery

By: Ellie Alexander

Publish Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperback

Mystery and Thrillers

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I would like to thank both St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. It is book 18 in the series. I have read several of the books in this series and you don't have to read them in order but if you want to follow along with the lives of the main character then you should start with book one. Otherwise, the author does a good job with letting you know what has happened.

In this book it is wintertime and Carlos' son has been staying with them for the year. It is just before the new year, and Carlos' ex and her new family have come for a visit. Everyone is getting along which is great and they are having a great time. During one of the events, the downhill dummy race, something happens. Someone is killed and the police need to figure out who did it and why. The person who was killed wasn't well liked and that causes to have too many suspects. The main one is a friend and of course Jules needs to look into things. Things are found out about the lodge which can cause it close which isn't good for the small town. Can Jules figure out who the killer is before they come after her.

What I also like about these kinds of books is the support of the family and friends.

In Farm's Way Book Review

 

In Farm's Way

By: Amanda Flower

Publish Date: February 21, 2023

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Mystery and Thrillers

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I would like to thank both Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long to do so. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This is the third book in the series Farm to Table. It is also the first book I have read in the series. I would recommend that you start with book one, so you get everything that has happened to this point. Luckily the author does a good job with letting you what has happened, so you aren't totally lost.

In this book Shiloh, who is the main character, is on her way to a beer tasting contest and she slides off the road. It is wintertime and the roads are slick. An old friend who is a firefighter comes up behind her and pulls her out. This old friend is from high school, and he was friends with Shiloh's fiancé, who was killed in a car accident years ago. The only reason why she is going to the tasting contest is to support her friend's husband who has entered the contest. Unfortunately, her friend's husband doesn't win. All seems well until the next day. In the morning Shiloh takes her father to an ice fishing contest out on the lake. She leaves him with her friend and his daughter and heads back to help out with one of the booths. On her way her dog Huck finds a body. This body happens to be the owner of the place where the beer tasting contest took place. After a quick investigation it is realized that the person was murdered and the suspect is her friend's husband.  So of course, Shiloh is going to help her friend. Things are found out about the owner and his family, and it isn't all good. Can Shiloh prove her friend's husband innocence's? Or will she end up dead herself. You will have to read the book to find out.

What I like about this book is the friendships between all the characters and the love she has for father.