Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert

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Cozy Mystery Book Review of A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert
A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert was published on July 11, 2023. This engaging mystery novel introduces sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, who starts a new job with Cameron “Cam” Clewe after being forced to retire from her long-time librarian career. On her very first day, Jane discovers a dead body, and Cam turns to her for help to clear his name, setting the stage for a suspenseful and twisty mystery.

I want to give a huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1). I was immediately drawn to the intriguing cover and synopsis and was thrilled to receive a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Initially, I struggled to get into the story, so I set it aside and returned to it later. Changing my mindset made all the difference, and I ended up really enjoying the plot. Jane Hunter is a strong and relatable main character, while Cameron Clewe took a little longer to grow on me, but I warmed up to him as the story progressed.

The novel features a wide array of suspects, keeping me guessing about the killer’s identity until the very end. When the truth was finally revealed, it felt completely unexpected, which added to the suspense. There were also a couple of underlying mysteries involving certain characters’ identities that weren’t resolved. While this was a bit frustrating, it seems likely that these storylines may continue in a sequel, which I’m looking forward to.

Overall, I enjoyed A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert, and I gave it four out of five stars. If you enjoy mystery novels with unexpected twists, engaging characters, and a hint of suspense, this book is definitely worth checking out.

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