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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Rayne East

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

History and mystery
This was an absolute delight to read. Fell instantly in love with Emma and her creative, industrious mind. The author is spot on with the characterisation and world building, I felt instantly transported into the 1800s and into Emma’s life. The book consists of several cases, which kept the story moving along and me turning the pages. I can’t wait to continue this series. I highly recommend this book for teens and up.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Angela Hayes

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

3.5 Stars

 

Notebook Mysteries- Decisions and Possibilities is the second instalment in the Notebook Mysteries series by Kimberly Mullins. I was drawn to this book by the intriguing cover and the fact that it was a mystery with historical detailing. I had never read one of Ms. Mullins books before, but my curiosity was piqued enough for me to snap up a copy to explore.
The story/series follows Emma Evans on her ‘investigations. I really wish that I had read the first book before jumping into this one, as even though this story can be read as a standalone, I think the other book would have provided more character details and pertinent background information that would have enhanced my reading experience of this book.
Whilst I enjoyed the somewhat quirky mystery and Emma’s adventures/investigations- it did take me a while to ‘settle’ into the story and get my mind around the author’s writing style. I do think that that the ‘interruptions’ throughout the story from the ‘narrator’ really disrupted the flow of the story and kept pulling me out of the story. I think that the story would have been much more enjoyable without the ‘narrator’, and the information provided by the narrator could have been added to the story without the ‘disruptions. (see below for example)

“Emma pulled herself into the present and opened her desk drawer to find her current case book. She still kept her observations in the black notebooks she always carried with her. As she tried to pull the drawer open, it got stuck and she had to pull forcibly on the handle. When it finally gave way and allowed her access, she knelt to discover what had kept the drawer from opening. It was another notebook, wedged in the back; she reached in and pulled it out.
She sat back on her knees, looking at it for a long moment, and realized which one it was. It must be a day for memories, she thought, shaking her head. That notebook, the black cover faded with age, was from another day long ago when she was ten years old and involved her “incident”.
[The Narrator said, “The incident was when Emma was attacked at the age of ten by a career criminal named Zeke Jones, and it was not the last time he would go after her. He had a personal vendetta against her; he felt she was always taking something from him that he believed was his.”
Dear-one commented wryly, “To be fair, she did keep uncovering cases where he was also involved. The Stubing store theft, the smuggling operations involving store owners, and then when he had volunteered to “take care” of Emma for the notorious gangster John Harden.”
The Narrator added, “When he did go after her that last time, Emma was ready for him.”
Dear-one asked, “What happened to Zeke?”
The Narrator said, “Well, we will get to that later.”
Dear one said, “You know you say that a lot.”
“I know, but I always plan to go back,” commented the Narrator, as she continued to write.]

Emma opened the notebook and remembered how it had finally returned to her.”

The story did remind me a little of the Enola Holmes television movie, and I do think that with a little tweaking that this book/series would also make a great television series. I will go back to read book one to see what happened there, while I await book #3.

Thank you, Kimberly Mullins!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Anantha Rusum

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries- Decisions and Possibilities is centered around a vivacious heroine Emma, who is much ahead of her age and also in her time. At a tender age of 18, she develops a keen acumen of solving crime mysteries, builds a business of her own at a time when business schools were strictly for men, helps other women who are in dire needs, and also takes care of her own family connections. She seems to be a well-rounded iconic role model who we all women wish to be.

It is a book full of fun and adventures, and Emma , who speaks for all modern-day women is definitely someone to look up to. Love this YA novel.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Sheri Schrader

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins is the second book in this series. This concerns an American teen investigator in mid-19th century Chicago. The character Emma is a former business student who finds herself engulfed in a mystery. I like the character Emma and how she is breaking stereotypes for her time period. She is smart and complex. I like that she is full of life and that the story is complex and full of twists and turns. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and introducing this story to some young readers in my life.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Stephanie Nicole

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins caught my attention right away. The synopsis and the cover both pulled my attention the minute I saw them, but once I started the book I was drawn in even faster. Our main character Emma is open and honest, and while she has matters of the heart to settle she doesn’t let that stop her from solving mysteries. This story offers us so much mystery, twists and turns, and drama that you will find yourself not being able to put it down. The plot of this story was written so perfectly that it is the perfect second installment to this series and I look forward to more.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Decisions and Possibilities is the second book in Kimberly Mullins’ Notebook Mysteries series. It’s a fast-paced historical mystery, set in 1880s Chicago, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats!

I’m new to this series but definitely want to go back and read book one, Emma, to properly get to know the characters. There’s a wonderful found family of characters at the centre of the book, investigating mysteries and looking out for each other.

A particular stand out feature of this story is that rather than focusing on one main mystery Emma and her friends investigate a bunch of different things that come up as the story progresses. Sometimes one thing leads to another, or something pops up unexpectedly. Always observant, Emma is good at telling when things aren’t right!

This book leaves readers with plenty of homework to do, including several recipes to try the food that the characters are seen eating (I can’t wait to try a few of them!) and some classic adventure books which Emma recommends to a young pick pocket she encounters on a trip to New York. Great ways to engage readers further with the time period!

Mullins paints a great picture of the historical setting, with plenty of detail in all areas! In this book we meet photographer Jake, and learn lots about the cameras and technology available at the time.

This book gets five stars from me! I’d definitely recommend it to teenage fans of historical fiction and mysteries. If you like Enola Holmes, this is a great series for you!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a new author for me which I enjoyed from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. This is a historical young adult story that pulled me in from the beginning. Emma has graduated from business school and now she is focused on investigating some inquiries. What will happen when a new team member is a little shady? Things may not be as they seem in her life. This is where the story takes on a suspense that made me want to see what would happen next. Emma made such a great character. She made the story fun to read. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Kerry Baker

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries – Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins is an interesting and unique YA story that definitely draws you in. This is the second book in the series and although it can be read as a stand-alone – I did – I think personally I would prefer to read it in order. Although I got to know the characters and understood what was happening I felt I had missed a bit of the character development.
I loved the fact that the story is set in the 1800’s. It adds a whole new level to the story and so many obstacles that you don’t get in modern day fiction. For me it is that element that really made the book.
This is a new author to me and I like the way she has gone about the whole story. The first thing I will be doing now is going back to read book one!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Lorrene Huisman

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a fun and engaging book to read! I had so much fun with this one, and I honestly am very much eager to get my magnifying glass out and await more in this series. I always was a die hard fan of Sherlock Holmes, and the story revolved around Chicago, where I actually grew up. I knew right away this was a book I had to get my hands on, and solve the mysteries that it would entail!

For starters, I am going to go read the previous book as I was not aware of its existence till I got to read this one! That said, this one was very easy to follow, and I found the backstory was pretty much filled in for me! Emma was such an amazing character. She was the lead mystery solver yes, but she had so much more than just skill, but a strong intuitive mind as well. I loved that about her. She was different than most girls in her town, not only did she always enforce her wants, but as well as that, she was very good at solving crime. I found through out the book mystery was a like a good baked bread for her, she was just drawn it it, as well as that, a good mystery knew how to lure out! The book was lovely in many ways!

The book gave me clues to solve along with our leader, Emma, and it left me wondering at times of how does this piece together? I will admit, I was outsmarted at times myself. but the book defiantly kept me interested and wanting to know how it would tie to next. I would say this is a book that can be enjoyed by all and for the young as well as the young at heat!

Again, a must read for sure. The setting and the words flowing made this book so whole some and fun to read! Not to mention, a fun love triangle, which you will have to read yourself to endure in completely. I assure you this is a treat you will not want to miss! If you ever loved Scooby-Doo or even Sherlock Holmes as I did, this is a series to put your nose into. There’s a lot of intriguing moments as well as fun times. I really loved it, and I can not wait to read more by this author. Its truly a fun and wonderful read!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Louise Loughran

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This YA book was a brilliant read about a girl named Emma who had gone through business school defying the odds being a lady in 1883, this book kept me turning the page with plenty of twists in the story, I really felt like I was there when I was reading the book the description given by the author was amazing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA and also adults.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and exciting YA novel featuring teen sleuth Emma who solves crimes and mysteries. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone story. Emma Evans is now eighteen and having graduated from business school is now determined to build on her previous investigating success and so sets up her own business. Set in Chicago in 1883, the setting comes alive due to the authors descriptive narrative. The independent and skilled Emma is the heroine of the story and is a wonderful main character who really brings the story together, and is a great role model for young adults. As well as having to solve several perplexing cases Emma also has to get used to working with her new team and has matters of the heart to deal with. It was nice to see Emma receiving professional recognition for her abilities in this novel especially as she is assaulted and threatened in the course of her enquiries. This was an engaging novel with an exciting storyline and plenty of plot action that kept me happily turning the pages. A great read which I recommend to YA and adults alike.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Jasmin Marie

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great story! Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities is my first book by Kimberly Mullins — I had no idea this was a series! Once I realized it was a sequel, I decided to just continue reading and fill in the gaps along the way! I quickly caught onto Emma’s backstory as well as her friends and associates. Emma is a teen sleuth who solves crimes, juggles romance, and fights for women’s rights! As a history nerd and woman, I absolutely LOVED that this was written from a female perspective; as well as being placed in a time when women did not have rights or even a true say in their lives. This is a great YA novel for anyone interested in mystery, crime, and young love.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Kayla Bullock

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Decisions and Possibilities is the second book in the Notebook Mysteries series by Kimberly Mullins. I have not read the first book in the series, and which I had before reading this one.
Emma Evans is 18 years old, a recent graduate, and an entrepreneur. She is also struggling to figure out her love life-torn between 2 men.

Decisions and Possibilities was a good story. The characters were well developed and the story was interesting and kept my attention. However, I felt that the story jumped around way too much in time, and it was hard to keep things straight a lot of the time. I think reading the first book in the series would have made a huge difference in knowing the characters, their roles, and their history. I loved Emma’s character and am always rooting for a strong, independent woman lead who stands strong in her beliefs. Good story-read the series in order! 4/5 stars

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Naomi McDonald

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Decisions and Possibilities is the second book in the Notebook Mysteries series. While I could pick up on what was going on fairly quickly, reading book one probably gives you a better foundation on the characters.
YA is not my usual read, but the cover of this made it look interesting so I thought I would give it a shot. The overall story was good. However, the writing style with the narrator interruptions was very distracting and kept throwing me out of the reading flow. It would have been much more enjoyable without that.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Kerry Carr

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series. These can be read on their own however I think if I had read the first one it would have made the character and their back story easier to understand. This didn’t take anything away from the book and I still really enjoyed it.
Our heroine Emma is now 18 years old and has grown into a strong independent woman. She is very determined and will stop at nothing to solve her case. Even when her safety is in danger Emma still pushes on until her case is closed.

Now Emma is older she also has to deal with matters of the heart and romance which all adds up to make the story interesting and makes the read wanting to read more.
I am looking forward to reading more about Emma and her family and friends and also the next adventure and Mysteries she will solve.

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Notebook Mysteries- Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins review by Jules Herbert

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries- Decisions and Possibilities brings us the Vibrant Emma. She is just 18 years old but in my opinion a young lady so far ahead of her time. Her passion for seeing women succeed becomes obvious very early in the book and one of the first characteristics that helped to draw me in to the story and the life of Emma.

She truly is an amazing young woman solving crimes, developing a business (I loved her determination to attend business school at a time when they were only for men) , helping protect abused women and helping them start over all while maintaining her family connections.

I’ve started this series second book in which is something I will have to fix as soon as I can. It is a wonderfully written, engaging YA series not to be missed.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~
Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
Genre – YA, Cozy Mystery
Cover Designer – Miblart

Chicago, 1883:18-year-old Emma Evans graduates from business school and, building on her investigating success, becomes embroiled in several perplexing inquiries. New specialists skilled in photography and disguises join her team and Emma gains professional recognition for her abilities as well as struggling to define her feelings for the two men in her life.
But when things are not as they seem either in her new business life or in her challenging Pinkerton case. Emma faces new challenges: Will she be able to keep their business intact and help her family friend survive?.
You will love a series critics call “ brilliant cozy mystery” and “delightful romp” “endearing style” Don’t miss book 2 of this engaging series!

~ AMAZON ~

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Kimberly Mullins is the author of a series of books called “Notebook Mysteries”. Her stories are base on historical events occurring in 1871-1881 Chicago. She holds a BS in biology and a Masters in business. Her favorite classes were in history. She lives in Texas with her husband and son. When she is not writing she works as a Process Safety Engineer at a large chemical company. You can connect with her on her website at kimberlymullinsauthor.com, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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