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Emeralds, Diamonds and Amethysts
Emeralds, Diamonds, and Amethysts is a secret. A code known only to women who fight for the rights of all women. When a special collection of Emeralds, Diamonds, and Amethysts disappears, Magical White Cat Tatania will direct her human orperatives, romantic Roaring Twenties Detectives Grace Wentworth and Jack Brewster to its location without missing a nap.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2011
72 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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April 25, 2019TheFussyLibrarian
September 28, 2015
SUMMARY: Emeralds, Diamonds, and Amethysts is a secret. A code known only to women who fight for the rights of all women. When a special collection of Emeralds, Diamonds, and Amethysts disappears, Magical White Cat Tatania will direct her human orperatives, romantic Roaring Twenties Detectives Grace Wentworth and Jack Brewster to its location without missing a nap.
REVIEW: The San Diego setting was what I loved most about this book. I went to college in San Diego and vividly remember the Spreckles Mansion and the Hotel Del Coronado. Unfortunately, I felt the book did not live up to this great setting and the 1920's time period. It was very short, there were a few editing errors, and the characters and plot could have both been more fully developed. Tatiana, the cat assistant, was cute but seemed like the author was more interested in what she was getting to eat than her role as detective. The premise for the mystery was a good idea but the solution came very quickly and easily and there were no twists, turns, or red herrings to draw the reader in. Overall, this book needed more work.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "You could tell a lot about people from the way they treat animals. Good and bad."
"Life is never finished. Cats knew it can all change in an instant. One must satisfy one's curiosity while one's here."
"When things get tough in the present, hold on to what was good in the past, and it will propel you to the future.
REVIEW: The San Diego setting was what I loved most about this book. I went to college in San Diego and vividly remember the Spreckles Mansion and the Hotel Del Coronado. Unfortunately, I felt the book did not live up to this great setting and the 1920's time period. It was very short, there were a few editing errors, and the characters and plot could have both been more fully developed. Tatiana, the cat assistant, was cute but seemed like the author was more interested in what she was getting to eat than her role as detective. The premise for the mystery was a good idea but the solution came very quickly and easily and there were no twists, turns, or red herrings to draw the reader in. Overall, this book needed more work.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "You could tell a lot about people from the way they treat animals. Good and bad."
"Life is never finished. Cats knew it can all change in an instant. One must satisfy one's curiosity while one's here."
"When things get tough in the present, hold on to what was good in the past, and it will propel you to the future.
May 26, 2019
•audiobook•
As a cat lover, I’m giving up reading books about cat owners. It doesn’t do justice.
The second book in the series would hold its own as a stand alone. Grace and Jack are more lustful for one another than two dogs in heat. The innuendoes and various places they christian with their lust ... is just implausible in this era and place. Or maybe that’s just my remembrance of history.
She’s more willful than to be expected from someone who recently graduated from a finishing school in Europe; there was no indication of her strong woman’s suffrage leanings, although she had some inclination of the code meaning behind the Emeralds, Diamonds, Amethyst.
Did I mishear about a faulty investment in the railroad industry? One of the five primary investors of the hotel she stays in was a retired railroad executive. In history, grand hotels drove business to the area. So that comment was ludicrous. It wasn’t until the last few decades the railroads have seemed to become in dire straits to becoming extinct.
I like Grace and Jack less. The sub characters don’t add much either. They should have, since her uncle’s mistress and child popped up again, as well as her classmate.
I think this reminds me of those short cheesy reads from Reader’s Digest back in the day. It’s similar to a rough draft that didn’t get a second glance.
The narrator didn’t provide unique voices and it was difficult to know who was speaking.
This is my voluntary review of an audiobook received for free.
As a cat lover, I’m giving up reading books about cat owners. It doesn’t do justice.
The second book in the series would hold its own as a stand alone. Grace and Jack are more lustful for one another than two dogs in heat. The innuendoes and various places they christian with their lust ... is just implausible in this era and place. Or maybe that’s just my remembrance of history.
She’s more willful than to be expected from someone who recently graduated from a finishing school in Europe; there was no indication of her strong woman’s suffrage leanings, although she had some inclination of the code meaning behind the Emeralds, Diamonds, Amethyst.
Did I mishear about a faulty investment in the railroad industry? One of the five primary investors of the hotel she stays in was a retired railroad executive. In history, grand hotels drove business to the area. So that comment was ludicrous. It wasn’t until the last few decades the railroads have seemed to become in dire straits to becoming extinct.
I like Grace and Jack less. The sub characters don’t add much either. They should have, since her uncle’s mistress and child popped up again, as well as her classmate.
I think this reminds me of those short cheesy reads from Reader’s Digest back in the day. It’s similar to a rough draft that didn’t get a second glance.
The narrator didn’t provide unique voices and it was difficult to know who was speaking.
This is my voluntary review of an audiobook received for free.
June 26, 2022
I really wanted to love this book. I enjoy the premise, I love the cat, and the characters are all very enjoyable. However, the version I have was riddled with typos and, in spots, seemed like entire sentences were chopped in the middle and then combined. This is the second book of the series. My enjoyment of the first one overrode my annoyance at the typos; for the second one, it could not.
February 6, 2018
This was a rough one to follow the story line at times. Rather disjointed. I'm not sure if there was an installment prior to this that maybe cleared up some of the issues or not. Definitely needs some editing!
May 14, 2019
I mostly enjoyed this book
This book was pretty good but it didn’t do much for me. Grace and jack have started their first own detective agent and they are searching for stolen jewels. Mostly clean a few innuendos. Rated PG
This book was pretty good but it didn’t do much for me. Grace and jack have started their first own detective agent and they are searching for stolen jewels. Mostly clean a few innuendos. Rated PG
January 20, 2023
Jack and Grace take a case tracking down a suffragette stach of Emralds, Diamonds and Amathysts in thos Roaring Twenties cozy mystery. Of course, they couldn't have done it without the help of Tytania the magical cat.
A fun romp if you're not looking for anything too heavy.
A fun romp if you're not looking for anything too heavy.
September 18, 2019
GWV
A debutante with no fortune and Swiss cracking veteran are solving a robbery with the help of a white Persian cat
A debutante with no fortune and Swiss cracking veteran are solving a robbery with the help of a white Persian cat
May 18, 2012
I felt like the author read a few books by P.G. Wodehouse, slapped the phrase, "Bees Knees" liberally throughout the book, and thought she had done a good job recreating the language of the 1920's. The story was silly, characters flat, with the exception of the cat, who was vivid and interesting. I don't object to well-drawn animal characters, I just expect the human characters in the book to exhibit to some life!
Don't bother reading this one.
Merged review:
I found myself completely annoyed with the author. It seems like she read through all of P.G. Wodehouse's books and then tried to use those types of characters (albeit a bit smarter) in a San Diego setting in the 1920's. Her frequent and boring use of the phrase "Bees knees" was redundant and pointless. She tossed the phrase into her dialogue to try and make it more authentic but it only became irritating.
Overall, the plot was a dud. The characters were flat--with the exception of the cat.
Wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
Don't bother reading this one.
Merged review:
I found myself completely annoyed with the author. It seems like she read through all of P.G. Wodehouse's books and then tried to use those types of characters (albeit a bit smarter) in a San Diego setting in the 1920's. Her frequent and boring use of the phrase "Bees knees" was redundant and pointless. She tossed the phrase into her dialogue to try and make it more authentic but it only became irritating.
Overall, the plot was a dud. The characters were flat--with the exception of the cat.
Wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
April 26, 2016
Once again I feel like parts of the story have been left out. Conclusions seem to be reached without leading you to them with any evidence. I do enjoy the setting of the books and the writer is capturing the feeling of an indulgent society in the roaring twenties. It is pleasant to have a book that doesn't rely on cellphones and the internet to solve mysteries. These are such a quick read and matching the light mood I'm in just now so I'll probably give another one a try.
July 30, 2012
Mary Matthews book Emeralds, Diamonds and Amethysts; is the second in her series set in Coronado Beach, California. Again it is fast paced and gave a little more about the characters. . . It is over before you know it.
April 13, 2012
This is a Very strange book. New characters kept popping up. Confusing read.
July 16, 2012
glad it was free!
Want to read
July 23, 2012Part of box set
August 2, 2012
I have nothing to complain since it's free.
November 7, 2012
Not worth the effort to read it. No substance and a shoddy guess at what the time period was about.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews