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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've been a fan of this series since the first book, but I think book #3 is my favorite so far. Stella is a wonderful character. I like that she is settling into Nantucket with her store and her family. She has a good mind for puzzling out mysteries, but sometimes can be a bit hasty in her sleuthing and it can get her into trouble. I see some changes coming for Stella in future installments and I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes the characters.
I enjoyed the mystery in this installment. It weaves together a historical mystery with a modern-day murder, with Stella at the heart of it. The author does a good job of providing a small but varied pool of suspects and crafts the clues in such a way that it can lead the reader to conclude that any of them could be the killer. The author wraps the mystery up in a very satisfying way and ends the story in a way that opens up future possibilities for Stella. I can't wait to see what comes next.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced copy provided to me by the author, through her publisher on Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed the mystery in this installment. It weaves together a historical mystery with a modern-day murder, with Stella at the heart of it. The author does a good job of providing a small but varied pool of suspects and crafts the clues in such a way that it can lead the reader to conclude that any of them could be the killer. The author wraps the mystery up in a very satisfying way and ends the story in a way that opens up future possibilities for Stella. I can't wait to see what comes next.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced copy provided to me by the author, through her publisher on Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I'm disappointed that I didn't like this more. It has good Halloween details, it includes a historical mystery, it has many women supporting one another -- all of that I enjoy. but I found the main character's sleuthing over the top and not fun to read about. Stella has a huge sense of entitlement - if she's told to wait with other suspects, she decides she doesn't have to do that. she accuses multiple people of committing murder, detailing to them how/why they could have done it - and somehow all of these people continue to interact with her. she breaks into a crime scene (...the bottom of a well) in a really dramatic and reckless way, which I think is meant to read as humor, but I found it annoying rather than endearing. if you are that desperate to investigate, you should consider joining the police or becoming a PI, no? and then the book has a sequence where Stella drinks shots in exchange for information. she drinks maybe 5 or 6 shots of whiskey AFTER having some wine with friends, and then runs around questioning people and finding clues, becoming immediately sober again because she has some coffee -- that's like blackout BAC! no way is she up on her feet having meaningful conversations! again, maybe it was supposed to be funny or cute, but it was just so unrealistic, and such an unnecessary detail, that I found it irksome rather than endearing.
4.5 stars
I really enjoy the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series from Christin Brecher. I love the setting. I love the plots. I love the protagonist Stella, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend Peter (although, true confession: I’m still pulling for her childhood best friend Andy. Sorry, Peter. It’s nothing personal). And this latest release, 15 Minutes of Flame, is my favorite so far because of the historical mystery woven into the modern day murder to solve.
The mood of the story, of the plot & murder mysteries, gives off a delicious Halloween vibe – just eerie enough to go perfectly with a cozy quilt, a mug of hot apple cider, and your favorite fall snack … without going over the top on the believability or spook factors. My kind of mystery, for sure! I was hooked from the moment Stella uncovers the centuries-old Quaker murder victim skeleton & stayed fully engaged until the very end. And the Nantucket setting couldn’t be more perfect for this story.
Bottom Line: 15 Minutes of Flame is a fabulous third installment to a wonderful cozy mystery series and leaves readers intrigued to see how the ending plays out for Stella in future books. The mystery within a mystery adds further layers to the plot, fits the fall mood perfectly, and really made it my fave of the series so far. There’s a lot to love about this book, and a lot to keep you invested in the outcome. A lovely way to usher in the fall season!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
I really enjoy the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series from Christin Brecher. I love the setting. I love the plots. I love the protagonist Stella, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend Peter (although, true confession: I’m still pulling for her childhood best friend Andy. Sorry, Peter. It’s nothing personal). And this latest release, 15 Minutes of Flame, is my favorite so far because of the historical mystery woven into the modern day murder to solve.
The mood of the story, of the plot & murder mysteries, gives off a delicious Halloween vibe – just eerie enough to go perfectly with a cozy quilt, a mug of hot apple cider, and your favorite fall snack … without going over the top on the believability or spook factors. My kind of mystery, for sure! I was hooked from the moment Stella uncovers the centuries-old Quaker murder victim skeleton & stayed fully engaged until the very end. And the Nantucket setting couldn’t be more perfect for this story.
Bottom Line: 15 Minutes of Flame is a fabulous third installment to a wonderful cozy mystery series and leaves readers intrigued to see how the ending plays out for Stella in future books. The mystery within a mystery adds further layers to the plot, fits the fall mood perfectly, and really made it my fave of the series so far. There’s a lot to love about this book, and a lot to keep you invested in the outcome. A lovely way to usher in the fall season!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
*3.5 Honestly, I enjoyed this one. It had a historical, paranormal type of plot and I loved it. However, I still haven’t connected with the characters and there is something about these books that I am just not enjoying. I think my run with this series has come to an end. Quick fun reads, but not enough of enjoyment to continue.
Set in Nantucket, a body is found behind the walls of the old candlemaker's shop. Why was this Quaker woman left there? Is there any connection of her murder to the old tales around town about bodies in wells and stolen monies? Who really wants to figure it all out and why?
Stella Wright is taking a break from her Nantucket candle shop to help with a girl scout Halloween fundraiser. The event is being held at a friend’s old house, which is rumored to be haunted. The fun jokes about ghosts and goblins abruptly stop when Stella discovers a skeleton from a decades old murder in an outbuilding. When the investigation into the old bone leads to a new murder, Stella is determined to find out the truth in both cases.
This is the third book in a series, but the first I have read. The first chapter smoothly introduces most of the important characters in the book, but I was surprised at the lack of depth in the characters as the story continued. I liked Stella’s friendship with Emily and the way they used the way they would treat each other to help determine events between Nantucket women from many years ago would have acted, which helped in solving the cold case. That part was so well done, I wish there had been more scenes like that one. Maybe if I had read the prior books I would feel differently, but overall I really didn’t care for Stella. I liked her independence, but she was so pushy. I couldn’t believe it when she made herself at home in someone else's house while he was in the other room watching TV. Later I was shocked when she climbed down into a well, which was an active crime scene, in the dark, by herself to look for clues. At that point, I knew she wasn’t someone I could relate to.
In addition to the cold case and the current murder investigation, Stella tries to find time to spend with her boyfriend, Peter. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any chemistry between them and because I’m new to the series, I kept thinking she was dating Andy because they seemed to have much more of a connection. The author may have been hinting about further developments there for future books, but I’m not sure. Even when the murder investigation didn’t keep my interest, I enjoyed the setting and reading details about current life in Nantucket as well as in the past. I also liked learning about candles and wish there had been more focus on Stella's candle shop. I really enjoyed the section about candle clocks and read more about them after finishing the book. Hopefully Stella's behavior in this installment is an exception. If so and if more depth was added to the characters, I think the setting and the candle-making aspect of the series would make it one I would follow.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is the third book in a series, but the first I have read. The first chapter smoothly introduces most of the important characters in the book, but I was surprised at the lack of depth in the characters as the story continued. I liked Stella’s friendship with Emily and the way they used the way they would treat each other to help determine events between Nantucket women from many years ago would have acted, which helped in solving the cold case. That part was so well done, I wish there had been more scenes like that one. Maybe if I had read the prior books I would feel differently, but overall I really didn’t care for Stella. I liked her independence, but she was so pushy. I couldn’t believe it when she made herself at home in someone else's house while he was in the other room watching TV. Later I was shocked when she climbed down into a well, which was an active crime scene, in the dark, by herself to look for clues. At that point, I knew she wasn’t someone I could relate to.
In addition to the cold case and the current murder investigation, Stella tries to find time to spend with her boyfriend, Peter. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any chemistry between them and because I’m new to the series, I kept thinking she was dating Andy because they seemed to have much more of a connection. The author may have been hinting about further developments there for future books, but I’m not sure. Even when the murder investigation didn’t keep my interest, I enjoyed the setting and reading details about current life in Nantucket as well as in the past. I also liked learning about candles and wish there had been more focus on Stella's candle shop. I really enjoyed the section about candle clocks and read more about them after finishing the book. Hopefully Stella's behavior in this installment is an exception. If so and if more depth was added to the characters, I think the setting and the candle-making aspect of the series would make it one I would follow.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
This is the first book I've picked up in this series and I absolutely loved it! The story was super cute and I enjoyed Stella as a main character. I look forward to reading more in this series.