From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

Too Good to Be True (Manors and Mysteries Book 1)

Kristen Ashley

Start date: December 4, 2023

Discussion: Buddy Reads

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 44 topics — 2,060 comments total

Buddy Reads

* October 2025 Buddy Reads
By Diana · 18 posts · 25 views

last updated Oct 19, 2025 02:06PM

* November 2025 Buddy Reads
By Diana · 13 posts · 16 views

last updated Oct 31, 2025 02:56PM

showing 5 of 5 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Dec 09, 2023 Diana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: turning-pages-buddy-read

3.5 stars

12 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2023 Ivy Deluca rated it really liked it

Quickish Review

I have been a longtime fan of KA’s Ghosts and Reincarnation series and I think this fits in well with it. The mystery doesn’t resolve too early and I enjoyed the romance. I read it pretty much in one night. There’s a lot of good moments, the drama and tension is there it’s just not among my fave KA couples, but to be fair that’s a really tall order. All in all, I enjoyed it.

7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2024 Jennifer☠Pher☠ rated it really liked it

Alright. It’s been almost a week since I finished and although I started my review, I never finished it. And some of what I didn’t like about the book makes more sense now that I’ve stepped away from it. I think I was comparing this too much to KA’s Ghosts and Reincarnation books. It had that sort of feel, the house the money the mystery and maybe even a little bit of the ghosts. But this was not part of this series and what I kept forgetting was this was meant to be read as a mystery and I’ve r Alright. It’s been almost a week since I finished and although I started my review, I never finished it. And some of what I didn’t like about the book makes more sense now that I’ve stepped away from it. I think I was comparing this too much to KA’s Ghosts and Reincarnation books. It had that sort of feel, the house the money the mystery and maybe even a little bit of the ghosts. But this was not part of this series and what I kept forgetting was this was meant to be read as a mystery and I’ve read enough of those that I should have understood the tone better.

So, another thing. I totally forgot this was released as a serial. I wonder if that format would have worked better for me with this book? I didn’t want to read it like that when it started being released, I just didn’t think reading in installments would have been my thing but maybe, just maybe, this story would have been better for it. Not being able to read it on my Kindle was a deal breaker though. But I can see how this story maybe would have benefited from the wait, what is going to happen next sort of feel. The book took place over a week so getting each day or however it was broken up might have just made it a better read.

But I don’t know. The start was rocky, and the setup just didn’t make much sense. The first “fright” seemed out of character, and I never really understood why it happened. It was explained, yes, but it all just seemed odd.

It was definitely not the KA I am used to. I mean, there were moments, but the overall feel just felt different. Most especially Daphne. I never got a feel for her. We found things out about her throughout the story instead of being introduced upfront and it made her seem sort of vague or elusive or something. Actually, they were all sort of like that. It was probably done to add to the mystery, but it just made me a little frustrated. It’s hard to care when you don’t know. But, I do think it was all set up like this purposely, as mystery sort of books are, I just couldn’t really get into it. The house, the mystery, the history, all that worked but I never really got a true feel for Daphne, where she came from who she was.

But, again a but, if I think about this like a sort of Clue or Knives Out and focus more on that part of the story, I did enjoy it. I like that KA is trying her hand at different sub genres but honestly, I feel she sort of already has dipped her toes in them but just didn’t label them that was and maybe I’d like her to add more mystery but go back to her roots. I don’t know. These newer books all have an agenda that I don’t always jive with and some of the magic is missing.

She’s still the Queen and I can’t imagine a day I won’t at least give the book a try. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 22, 2024 Shan ~A~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, paranormal, books-i-own, owned-kindle, erotic, romance, crime, millionaire-billionaire, chef-cook-baker, ceo

Daphne Ryan and Ian Alcott

Daphne and her stepmother Lou are summoned to Duncroft House by her sister Portia for a "meet the family" week. The remaining Ryans are to meet the Alcott family, who are English royalty.

Portia is this spoiled little princess who is set up not to be liked, but Daphne and Lou dote on her even though Daphne is quick to put Portia in her place as needed.

Once they arrive, they are not treated to a warm welcome, so things get off to a rocky start. Then Ian arrives and he a ...more

1 like · Like · see review