The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'll be honest. I had a hard time getting through the beginning of this book. It was written with a bit more formality than I expected. It just didn't grab me right from the start, so it felt like a chore to read. However, that view quickly changed once I got into the meat of the story. The action of the second half is fast paced and exciting. By the end of the book, I really liked Mrs. Pollifax and would gladly read more of her adventures. She showed that she is smart and resourceful, and I didn't feel that I needed to suspend as much disbelief as I thought I would when I read the description. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'm glad I stuck it out until the end.

Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans

Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Overall, I really liked it. I like that they were investigating an unsolved crime because it feels somewhat unrealistic for a small town setting to host so many murders throughout a series. It's especially difficult to suspend my disbelief that one character would find herself connected to every murder, in such a setting. Additionally, the main characters leave town to follow up on some leads and I really liked that. I guess I just need to see some changes of scenery, even in a book series. Miranda and Mayrene were pushed to the side quite a bit in this book, which was surprising to me. They were really only mentioned in passing. The author really focused on Wanda Nell and Jack's relationship, as well as the unsolved crime, of course. I was put off by a few small plot points, but not enough to stop reading the series. In fact, I am really looking forward to reading the next installment soon. :)