Rating: 
Summary: Worth Waiting For!
Review: After waiting awhile for the newest in the Den of Antiquity series, I was NOT disappointed!Once again, Abby (not AbbEy) gets dropped SMACK in the middle of an explosive situation! Myers is fantastic when it comes to dreaming up so many ways to throw you off the scent! ps: Yoder is here too! Fantastic Book
Rating: 
Summary: Fun
Review: Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this book. Tamar Myers has a wonderful sense of humor and a writing style that kept me interested in the mystery that was unfolding. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a lighthearted whimsical farce. But my enjoyment was eroded by the heroine's and her mother's wailing. I counted twenty instances where this word was used perhaps with the intent of providing a sound effect that was inappropriate or as a more colorful way of complaining. In either case, it didn't work; it distracted me from the story and made me want to scream "Shut up!" I blame the editor for this. An author who has been through several rewrites is bound to overlook word usage, especially when it seems correct to her. That wouldn't have been so bad but there is one glaring instance where the painting she had left in an oven at home suddenly appears under her arm. I had to go back and read where she left it in the oven again just to make sure I didn't miss something. But no she left it there. The painting under her arm was probably a remnant of a rewrite. The editor should have caught that. It weakened the story tremendously. And how many times do you have to hear that the heroine slept through the turning off of her alarm clock to explain why she slept late? I still liked the book. There is one interchange between the heroine and an author about humor writing which I found quite clever. Three stars could have easily jumped to five if not for the editing goofs.
Rating:
Summary: Fun
Review: Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this book. Tamar Myers has a wonderful sense of humor and a writing style that kept me interested in the mystery that was unfolding. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a lighthearted whimsical farce. But my enjoyment was eroded by the heroine's and her mother's wailing. I counted twenty instances where this word was used perhaps with the intent of providing a sound effect that was inappropriate or as a more colorful way of complaining. In either case, it didn't work; it distracted me from the story and made me want to scream "Shut up!" I blame the editor for this. An author who has been through several rewrites is bound to overlook word usage, especially when it seems correct to her. That wouldn't have been so bad but there is one glaring instance where the painting she had left in an oven at home suddenly appears under her arm. I had to go back and read where she left it in the oven again just to make sure I didn't miss something. But no she left it there. The painting under her arm was probably a remnant of a rewrite. The editor should have caught that. It weakened the story tremendously. And how many times do you have to hear that the heroine slept through the turning off of her alarm clock to explain why she slept late? I still liked the book. There is one interchange between the heroine and an author about humor writing which I found quite clever. Three stars could have easily jumped to five if not for the editing goofs.
Rating: 
Summary: I never know what to grade these stories.
Review: I always have a problem with giving Tamar Myers' stories a rating. The idea behind the books is usually a good one, and there is some humour, but they are truly lacking in some key areas. Ms. Myers really needs an editor for her books. She contradicts herself throughout the books. Also, she requires some help in basic writing skills. She overuses a lot of words consistently (ie: wailing). Also, her main characters are quite rude, and there comes a time when that is no longer that funny. I always thought Abigail was less abrasive than Magdalena, but in this book I couldn't tell the difference. In this book, Abigail stumbles upon what might be a priceless work of art hidden behind a hideous copy that she purchased at a church bazaar. It turns out that some truly nasty people knew what was hidden behind the terrible front picture and are after Abby and her family in order to get the priceless work back. The other characters in the book are still likeable, Abby's mother, CJ and some of the characters we see only in this book are fairly well drawn, but it's hard to enjoy all this with the glaring errors.
Rating:
Summary: I never know what to grade these stories.
Review: I always have a problem with giving Tamar Myers' stories a rating. The idea behind the books is usually a good one, and there is some humour, but they are truly lacking in some key areas. Ms. Myers really needs an editor for her books. She contradicts herself throughout the books. Also, she requires some help in basic writing skills. She overuses a lot of words consistently (ie: wailing). Also, her main characters are quite rude, and there comes a time when that is no longer that funny. I always thought Abigail was less abrasive than Magdalena, but in this book I couldn't tell the difference. In this book, Abigail stumbles upon what might be a priceless work of art hidden behind a hideous copy that she purchased at a church bazaar. It turns out that some truly nasty people knew what was hidden behind the terrible front picture and are after Abby and her family in order to get the priceless work back. The other characters in the book are still likeable, Abby's mother, CJ and some of the characters we see only in this book are fairly well drawn, but it's hard to enjoy all this with the glaring errors.
Rating:
Summary: Another satisfying read
Review: I am a big fan of Tamar Myers. I eagerly snap up all of her books, both the Den of Antiquity series and the Penn Dutch mysteries. As usual, this book is superb. The characters are richly drawn and the story is a twister. A must read. It won't let you down.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I bought Tamar Myers' book because it was recommended to me first by Amazon.com because of my purchase history and then by the reader reviews. I was so disappointed that I didn't even finish the book. The characters I encountered were shallow and not very compelling. I found the writing to be silly and immature and the plot completely unbelievable. A woman finds a priceless painting and hides it in her oven? Give me a break. My advice; save your money for something worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Estate of Mind
Review: I really love the ending with Adele Trapp. But I find it pretty hard to believe that Dmitri would come out when called. Because the more worried you are the less chance of him coming out. I know it doesn't say that she was worried but if you were about to be killed I think you'd be worried.
Rating:
Summary: Estate of Mind
Review: This book, like the others in the Den of Antiquity Series, is a quick, light read. Yet, it seems that something is missing in this one. The plot sort of meanders and it plays for laughs instead of being a coherant whole. Abby and her mother go to an auction at her mother's church. Since the proceeds are to go towards a van for the youth of the church, Abby decides to participate. She buys a painting which she knows is a cheap imitation, but she likes the frame that it is in. She pulls the picture out of the frame in order to sell it to her ex-boyfriend and in doing so, she discovers a VanGogh masterpiece underneath it. There are a few shady characters who show up wherever Abby is, but no clear-cut suspects. Also, there are not the usual red herrings and twists and turns of the plot which Myers usually delivers. Her mother becomes almost a caricature in this novel and the humorous CJ is just a minor player. Also, she has used about as much mileage out of the character of Hooter as the law allows.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to the others in the series
Review: This book, like the others in the Den of Antiquity Series, is a quick, light read. Yet, it seems that something is missing in this one. The plot sort of meanders and it plays for laughs instead of being a coherant whole. Abby and her mother go to an auction at her mother's church. Since the proceeds are to go towards a van for the youth of the church, Abby decides to participate. She buys a painting which she knows is a cheap imitation, but she likes the frame that it is in. She pulls the picture out of the frame in order to sell it to her ex-boyfriend and in doing so, she discovers a VanGogh masterpiece underneath it. There are a few shady characters who show up wherever Abby is, but no clear-cut suspects. Also, there are not the usual red herrings and twists and turns of the plot which Myers usually delivers. Her mother becomes almost a caricature in this novel and the humorous CJ is just a minor player. Also, she has used about as much mileage out of the character of Hooter as the law allows.
| 
