Welcome, dear readers, to June's book club chat...
First off, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cozy mysteries are a favorite of mine, and each time I read one, they become even more so. This one was one that I really, really loved. And, I thought it was the second of two books, but I recently learned that it's actually the second of THREE, so now I have two more to read in this series. (I don't mind reading certain series out of order, and cozy mysteries are often easily read in any order. So I can look forward to two more stories in this trilogy!)
As with any book I read, the setting and characters are the two biggest factors for me when it comes to the story. If I don't like the characters and the setting isn't coming alive for me, chances are I'm not going to enjoy the book...and even more so, that I'll DNF the book entirely. I've done this a number of times. However, this book, for me at least, delivered those two on a silver platter.
Fiona, our main girl, and her sister, Isla, are two characters that I loved meeting. They did have their differences in personality and approach to life, but more than that, they loved one another and always had each other's back. Although, I did find Isla especially a bit immature, and some of the bickering and whatnot were a bit annoying. It was especially fun reading how they worked together in the flower shop that Fiona owned, as well as their antics with Fiona's cat, Ivanhoe. I also enjoyed the characters of Chief Inspector Neil Craig as well as the pub owner, Raj, and Presha, who owned a cafe, and Hamish, the garden keeper.
Scotland, particularly the little village of Aberdeenshire, was truly brought to life within this story. I felt as though I was right there feeling the whipping winds of the stormy nights, and completely delighting in the cooler summer temperatures...for us Tennessee folks, at least. From the descriptions of the ancient ruins and the village church to the rainy weather and overall vibe depicted in the story, I was transported to Scotland. This was my first cozy mystery by Amanda Flower, but I felt like she truly created a world within this book. (I love that!)
As for the mystery, I had my suspicions throughout the book, all of which turned out to be completely wrong. Ha! I did eventually suspect the actual killer as they were a bit strange to me...but the final reveal was a bit of a surprise. I felt this was a rather "gentle mystery", if I may call it that. Even for a cozy mystery, it was a lot lighter on the suspense and crime solving aspect than other cozies I've read. But I actually liked that about this one...it was just what I needed.
Finally, if you know me, you know I love a magical, enchanting element to stories. And I've read several cozy mysteries that feature that...and they always end up being some of my most favorites. This one had that to a degree, but it did make me want to know more about the garden, Uncle Ian and his reappearing as a fox, and the stone in the garden, too. I'm hoping that the other two books in this trilogy explore that deeper.
I very much enjoyed this book, and it was just what I was looking for in a story...and a mystery. I'd love to know what you thought of this one if you read along with me. So, as always, please share a comment.
And, one side note...multiple times throughout this book, Presha would bring Fiona a chai from her cafe. It sounded so delicious! And then last week, I was watching some YouTube and in one video, chai was mentioned several times...so needless to say, chai was on my mind. I've never had any sort of chai before, but it sounded like something I would enjoy.
Thanks to the internet, I found a rather simple recipe for a chai latte, and lo and behold, I discovered a new love...chai lattes. I am in love! The warmth and coziness of this dink just sings to me. It's like me in a mug...{{smiles}} My mom and sister loved it too, and we all agree that come autumn and winter, this is going to be a staple drink in our home. Oh my goodness! How did I not ever try one of these before now?!?!
If you've like to give this recipe a try, you can find it here. I highly recommend it!
I also found a recipe for a basic chai (not a latte) and I'm hoping to give it a try soon...but right now, I'm obsessed with the latte version. ♥
I've decided to pause the book club for the time being...maybe permanently. I've been through a reading slump nearly all spring long and am just now finding my happy place in reading again. I'm also trying to simplify my commitments and remove any unnecessary pressure I feel, as well as simply read what I want to read when I want to read it...without being concerned about picking a book that I know is a good choice each month for my blog. Along with that, I've been really enjoying creating bookish YouTube videos recently, and I would rather do that than the book club...just trying to simplify here and not do "all the things". I hope you understand. I'll still be sharing lots of reading and bookish posts here, just no longer pertaining to the book club.
{{ Thank you to anyone who has participated in my book club during the past year, and especially for the kindred spirits who have shared their thoughts on the stories we've read together. I'm really grateful for your comments, messages, and bookish thoughts. }}
So, until my next post...
may your day be a beauty!
♥