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holly_keimig's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series so much! Meg has to help with the rose show in this installment while dodging some scary swans and a strange rich woman with an obsessive color scheme. Can't wait for the next one!
amyreading2024's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
The rose show was fascinating to learn about! Please repeat this event.
Dad and Mother's roses! The hybridizing details and jokes and names. And the tag being the evidence. They both featured prominently in this book, so I enjoyed it a lot.
The elegant parties and Mother's manners. Mother's dress was described beautifully, and I learn from her hosting and enjoy when Meg tries to act like her and use delicate and vague speech.
There were well-timed jokes. Rob's comment: "can't forget a nose like that" or something delivered after the character's involvement which make the world feel so permanent and real and carries new information.
The antagonist character fighting nature with black and white. She was a relatable cautionary tale.
The swan trophy causing aggression in the real swan was the best use of the swans: they did seem overused. One or two less times would have kept them a fun surprise.
The goats were also involved in causing chaos a few too many times methinks.
Learned about Belted Galloway cows and myotonic fainting goats in this one! So fun to look up pictures of them online after hearing them described in the book.
I was worried when Meg was carrying Mother's best rose to be judged and she set it down and we didn't hear about her picking it up again and making sure it got to its destination.
Meg talking through her unexpected emotions and physical state and wondering about being pregnant and trying to talk to Michael was a pretty good gag. Glad Michael figured it out.
I really enjoyed this one.
The rose show was fascinating to learn about! Please repeat this event.
Dad and Mother's roses! The hybridizing details and jokes and names. And the tag being the evidence. They both featured prominently in this book, so I enjoyed it a lot.
The elegant parties and Mother's manners. Mother's dress was described beautifully, and I learn from her hosting and enjoy when Meg tries to act like her and use delicate and vague speech.
There were well-timed jokes. Rob's comment: "can't forget a nose like that" or something delivered after the character's involvement which make the world feel so permanent and real and carries new information.
The antagonist character fighting nature with black and white. She was a relatable cautionary tale.
The swan trophy causing aggression in the real swan was the best use of the swans: they did seem overused. One or two less times would have kept them a fun surprise.
The goats were also involved in causing chaos a few too many times methinks.
Learned about Belted Galloway cows and myotonic fainting goats in this one! So fun to look up pictures of them online after hearing them described in the book.
I was worried when Meg was carrying Mother's best rose to be judged and she set it down and we didn't hear about her picking it up again and making sure it got to its destination.
Meg talking through her unexpected emotions and physical state and wondering about being pregnant and trying to talk to Michael was a pretty good gag. Glad Michael figured it out.
I really enjoyed this one.
cheesygiraffe's review against another edition
4.0
Meg is smart and she's organized. She also gets suckered into helping out with her family all the time. But then again you can't say no to her mother. This time she's in charge of a rose show. There's a missing dog and a murder. Can Meg figure it out all before the show ends? This series never fails to make me laugh and think.
gswain's review against another edition
4.0
This was a funny quick read. The author did a very good job of mixing humor with mystery. Even though this was one within a series, I did not feel like I was missing any information. The characters were interesting and likable. This book reminded me of the Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie series that I have read in the past. I look forward to reading another book in this series.
engelkat's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sathrock's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
The Langslows may be completely crazy, but they're at least fun to hang out with once in a while, and Meg is great main character.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
Funny as always. Meg is in charge of the local rose show when someone is murdered. Hijinks ensue.
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
This quirky cozy mystery series is one of my favorites because the author takes us on a crazy small-town adventure in every book. In SWAN FOR THE MONEY, Meg Langslow’s parents have gotten way into their rose growing hobby. Unfortunately, something has eaten or stolen some of their prize roses. Anyone who follows the series should immediately suspect the many animals on the Langslow farms, but that’s another story. Additionally, with the local Garden Club sponsoring its first rose show and the eccentric wealthy woman who is holding the event on her estate now receiving death threats, things are getting a little too War of the Roses. Not only did this have vicious swans that sat atop people’s cars and prevented them from leaving the premises, but also a nice number of goats. There is a dognapping. Someone turns up dead. And someone else is nearly murdered. Can Meg solve the case and discover what happened to her father’s roses? Donna Andrews always writes a good mystery and I appreciate the research that must go into making each book so detailed. The rose competition was fun to read about.