My November Reads

All ratings are on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

KINGDOM KEEPERS V: SHELL GAME by Ridley Pearson - 3

A Disney cruise proves dangerous for the Kingdom Keepers as the Overtakers are there as well trying to stop them permanently.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the series has stalled out.  Not much forward movement happens, and the book doesn't even bothering resolving much of the plot, instead just setting things up for the next book.

SKATING AROUND THE LAW by Joelle Charbonneau - 4

Rebecca Robbins has returned to her small home town just long enough to sell her mother's roller rink.  But when the town handy man is found murdered in the women's bathroom, she realizes she needs to get his murder solved quickly since no one is interested in it.  A typical cozy series debut, but I really enjoyed the characters and found the story fun.

THE MYSTERY OF THE CASTAWAY CHILDREN by Kathryn Kenney - 5

When the Belden family find a baby in their doghouse, it sets Trixie off on another mystery.  Who is the baby?  And why would someone leave him in the doghouse?  This is a great entry in the second half of the series since it gives all the main characters a part to play and develops one of the secondary characters.

POPPED OFF by Jeffrey Allen - 4

Stay-at-home dad Deuce Winters gets roped into tracking down the president of the local youth soccer league who has disappeared along with all the funds from the league.  Can he find him before the rest of the soccer season is canceled?  The humor in this book is great and the mystery shots off in some wild, fun directions.  I really enjoyed it.

HOW TO DINE ON KILLER WINE by Penny Warner - 4

Presley Parker's latest party is a wine tasting in the beautiful Napa Valley.  But murder follows her when a despised environmental crusader is found murdered after the party.  Convinced the cops have the wrong killer, she starts investigating.  I find these books fun.  The plot was a bit uneven, but overall an enjoyable read.

ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE SCRIVENER'S BONES by Brandon Sanderson - 5

Alcatraz and some new friends and relatives are off to the Library of Alexandria to hopefully track down his grandfather and maybe even his long lost father.  But will they be able to do it while escaping the assassin on their tail and the keepers of the library who want their souls.  A second absolutely delightful adventure for kids that keeps you laughing and turning pages to find out what will happen next.