Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Sam is a simple bear. She lives in her quiet town, runs her hardware store, and kills people to muffle the voices in her head. Of course, she doesn't kill anyone in town. That would be way too obvious. So why does a body show up during the local parade? And why does she think it may only be the first.

Suddenly, Sam is under the gun herself in a bid to find out who is a serial killer before her own misdeeds are uncovered.

This was an interesting story and I was bemused to see Sam encounter bears in the wild as opposed to herself. There was an interesting difference between the somewhat cheerful drawings with mainly pastel colors and the grim storyline.

Four stars

This book came out October 18, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Oh Susan Elizabeth Phillips, you do make me smile. In this book, Dean Robillard, quarterback for the Chicago Stars, picks up a woman on the side of the road dressed in a beaver suit. Blue Bailey hsd been dumped by her boyfriend and had her accounts cleaned out by her humanitarian mother, her car died and the woman who was supposed to pick her up from her recent roadside advertising gig never showed up. Instead, she gets picked up by a gorgeous man whose perfect body is splashed over billboards all around town. The two are not immediately attracted but definitely intrigued. Dean needs relief from boredom and Blue needs a ride to Nashville. She agrees to ride with him to his farm where he's resting up for the next football season. What neither of them knows is that Dean's estranged mother has been masquerading as a housekeeper in order to fix the house up for him. When his half-sister and estranged father also show up, a family special it is not. 

Love the book. Made me laugh. Witty banter and real family problems kept me interested. Will definitely read again (and again, and again...)

I wrote this in 2010 and have, indeed, read it again and again. Don't love it as much as I did in the beginning but still enjoyable.

Four stars

Chicago Stars #7

Follows Match Me if You Can

Followed by First Star I See Tonight

This book came out February 6, 2007

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Says Us! Scripts and Quips from Says You! Vol. 2: The Words Spread by Richard Sher

Such a fun way to consume one of my favorite radio shows. It's even better to listen to them but this wasn't bad. Twenty games of six rounds each, consisting of games like defining words, guessing the best definition, and terrible (-y good?) puns. 

Best consumed slowly. 

Five stars

This book came out in October 2012

Hard copy I kept

Opinions are my own

May 2026 Monthly Reread

Connections in Death by J.D. Robb

Three and a half stars

In Death #48

Follows Leverage in Death

Followed by Vendetta in Death

This book came out February 5, 2019

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb

Three stars

In Death #49

Follows Connections in Death

Followed by Golden in Death

This book came out September 3, 2019

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Golden in Death by J. D. Robb

Three stars

In Death #50

Follows Vendetta in Death
Followed by Shadows in Death
This book came out February 4, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Shadows in Death by J. D. Robb

In Death #51

Follows Golden in Death

Followed by Faithless in Death

This book comes out September 8, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Faithless in Death by J.D.Robb

In Death #52

Follows Shadows in Death

Followed by Abandoned in Death

This book came out February 2, 2021

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #53

Four stars

Follows Faithless in Death

Followed by Abandoned in Death

This book came out September 7, 2021

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #54

Follows Forgotten in Death

Followed by Desperation in Death
This book came out February 8, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #55

Follows Abandoned in Death

Followed by Encore in Death

This book came out September 6, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Encore in Death by J.D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #56

Follows Desperation in Death

Followed by Payback in Death

This book came out February 7, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Payback in Death by J. D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #57

Follows Encore in Death

Followed by Random in Death

This book comes out September 5, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Random in Death by J. D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #58

Follows Payback in Death

Followed by Passions in Death

This book came out January 23, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Passions in Death by J. D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #59

Follows Random in Death

Followed by Bonded in Death

This book came out September 3, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Bonded in Death by J. D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #60

Follows Passions in Death

Followed by Framed in Death

This book came out February 4, 2025

Framed in Death by J. D. Robb

Four stars

In Death #61

Follows Bonded in Death

Followed by Stolen in Death
This book came out September 2, 2025

Garfield at Large by Jim Davis

The Garfield origin stories. He looked a little different in the beginning, but his love of lasagna has been around since then. So has his fear of baths. And his laziness.

We also get to see when Odie is introduced. While their relationship eventually mellows, it was more than a bit contentious at first.

Four stars

Garfield #1

Followed by Garfield Gains Weight 

This book came out in 1980

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano

Sydney Forrester has never known her mother. But little did she know that a search for the woman would lead her to a new life. While more or less happy in London, Sydney is given the chance to change her life at Blakely House when she learns that she's the sole inheritor of the place. She assumes it's a small cottage but instead, it is a large house on a small island and it is feared by the neighbors.
She arrives with her cat, Micah, in the middle of a storm. She is saved (?) by a one-armed Frenchman but finally makes it into the house where she is immediately charmed by all of the movement, then immediatley after scared by the servants. It's then that she finds out that she is not actually the sole inheritor but one of four. Now it's up to her to figure out not only the machinations in the house, but in person.
The ending to the main story was a little overwrought but an overall okay story.

Three and a half stars

This book came out Aprill 15, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb

The book opens with two people entering a hotel room. They have a direct line of sight to a nearby park, the place where their target is ice skating. By the end of the prologue, three people are dead, the target and two more.
It's up to Eve and her team to work on discovering who the LDSK (long distance serial killer) is/are and what the thread is among the people they've murdered.
It was really interesting to me that Eve seems to pick up almost immediately on the fact that this isn't just random killings, that someone seems to be targeted. I was also a little bummed that we didn't get much character movement in this novel. It was pretty much the same team without much except Bella's birthday going on behind the scenes. Not like the last book where we got a nice glimpse of the Miras, especially Dennis.

Four stars

In Death #43

Follows Brotherhood in Death

Followed by Echoes in Death

This book came out September 6, 2016

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Replaceable You by Mary Roach

I usually read Roach's books in hard copy but the audiobook was available sooner. I'm not sure if that contributed to my not enjoying this book as much as usual. Like in most of her books, Roach does a deep dive into a particular topic, this time in the ways that we enhance and recreate our own bodies. Some are practical ways like new hearts or intubation but there are also skin grafts, hair transplants, and plastic surgery that she explores. A lot of it was matter-of-fact but I was surprised to hear that one person told Roach that being intubated was a relief as it allowed her to breathe for the first time in awhile. 

Three stars

This book came out September 16, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

Harry has been asked to help a director who seems to be under a curse. At the same time, he's still dealing with the threat from the vampires. Although not all vampires since Thomas, a recurring character in this series, is the one to ask for his help. 

Harry will, of course, have a number of battles, will end up bruised and bloodied. But he will also come out of this book with some unexpected family. However, he will live to fight another day. 

Three stars

Dresden Files #6

Follows Death Masks

Followed by Dead Beat

This book came out August 3, 2004

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie are on the hunt for a missing farmer. Oscar had to foreclose on his family's farm and is now concerned that the young man, Danny, is missing. 

Three stars

Sarah Booth Delaney #30

This book comes out May 26, 2026

Follows Doggone Bones

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt

This books is VERY like the Assistant to the Villain series although Arabella doesn't end up with Kazimir by choice. Instead, she is kidnapped because of her bloodline. The Dark Lord needs someone with magical blood to help unlock an ancient artifact. However, it seems like the artifact needs more than just marriage to have the powers the Dark Lord needs. Kazimir doesn't want to trick Arabella but the attraction they feel toward each other isn't necessarily a bad thing so a lot of Happy Fun Times ensue. It's just a darn shame that every time they have sex, they destroy a little more of the castle. 

Three and a half stars

Guides to Villainy and Love #1

Followed by The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)

This book came out May 24, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Ending Writes Itsel by Evelyn Clarke

I read a book so similar to this recently, I really had to think about whether I was re-reading a book. Sometimes ideas are just in the atmosphere. 

Six writers are invited to the island of a reclusive best selling author who is finalizing the last book in his series. He also often holds exclusive But when they get there, they are told that the author has died with 90% of his novel completed. These six authors are going to complete the novel with the best ending getting not only a million dollars but the promise of a publishing house throwing its full weight behind their publicity tour. of course, things are going to go off the rails.

I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't just read the other story. This also had a weird insertion of a plotline that only showed up a bit in the beginning and at the very end. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 27 2026

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Hollow by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Dr. John Christow has a varied romantic background. Now, at a weekend at his friends' Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell's house, known as The Hollow, he has his wife (Gerda), his girlfriend (Henrietta, an artist), and an ex, Veronica (moviestar). It's supposed to be a relaxing weekend away, but the romantic entanglements are going to create stress. It doesn't help that the nephew of the Angkatells, Edmund, is loafing around making eyes at Henrietta.

But tensions rise and John is dead. Henrietta is standing over him with a gun. It seems to be an open and shut case but Hercule Poirot is on site and working with Inspector Colquhoun to discover what really happened.

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #25

Follows Five Little Pigs

Followed by The Labours of Hercules

This  book came out in 1946

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers

They say you can't go home and Cassandra Fairfax is about to discover exactly how true that sentiment is. She's received a letter from her mentor, Chiron. She arrives in his living quarters above a bookstore to find him dead. She is the sole inheritor and left in a state of confusion. The split between Cassandra and Chiron was not amicable and they did not have a chance to  come back together. Now, she's back in a world she's been living on the fringes of for a number of years. 

Thought of as a child prodigy, Cassandra has not (legitimately) been in a bookshop for a long time. She is shocked that the river beneath it, the one that helps keep the bookshop running, is so low. The start is to bond with the bookshop and bring it back to life. The second is to find a bookseller. Third? Find out why so many people are so interested in the bookshop.

It took me awhile to get into this world and I'm not sure that it was fully put together. An interesting premise maybe not fully realized. If there were another book, it might build the world out better.

Three stars

This book came out November 28, 2025

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore

As an executive assistant, Fletcher Spence thought she knew her boss. She thought she'd work her way into his magazine as a photographer. But when she's not invited to his ultra-exclusive island getaway, it's the last straw. She's already got an eviction notice and had to divest herself of the boyfriend she's had since she was sixteen. But this is the limit. She decides she's going to show up anyway. And Dyer Cartwright lets her. He lets her join all of the coworkers that look down on her and his son who isn't even working for the business at the moment anyway. 

They arrive at the fabulous island and get settled in. But then comes the twist, Dyer dies. And his will reveals that the last person standing will inherit the entire media empire. Chaos erupts. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out May 19, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

You Wanna Be on Top? by Sarah Hartshorne

I didn't pay attention to the subtitle when I reserved this book. I didn't realize this was a memoir and thought this was a history of ANTM. It took me a bit to pivot into enjoying this book, but I was quickly on board. 
Sarah starts her story when she's in college, her friend(s) encouraging her to try out for the show. She walks us through her tryouts with a glimpse into how her own life was edited to make her more interesting for the audience. 

Four stars

This book came out July 8, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

  Opinions are my own

You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate

I've been on a run of celebrity biographies lately and have to say that I enjoyed this one. Applegate talks about most of the things that I think fans would want to know about. There are a number of names redacted and she has memories that she just can't bring to the fore for various reasons but we get to know about this amazing person who has been acting since she was a child. She talks about her childhood, the famous people she's met at various stages of her life, the shows and movies that she was a part of, and how she is dealing with her MS diagnosis. 

Four stars

This book came out March 3, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr.

I can't remember which podcast I heard about this on and, by the time I got it, had forgotten the story. It took me awhile to get into the book. The prelude kicks off the story with a rare instance of the narrator speaking directly to you, the reader. I had to flip through and make sure the rest of the book did not continue in that vein because that is one of my least favorite conceits for a story. However, I kept going and was drawn into the world of Babs Dionne and her daughters Lori and Sis. The book mainly focuses on Lori and Babs thought we get a rich tapestry of secondary characters as well. 

This is a lovely glimpse of so many towns in the rural United States. Once vibrant but depending on one main industry which, when it collapses, takes the town down with it. When that happens, drugs often move in. Babs has become the leader of the town in many ways. Is she a good person? Objectively not. Is she doing the best she can to save the people she loves? Yes. 

Four stars

This book came out March 25, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own 

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend

Margaret Finch is described in the book as tall and big-boned. Several times. There are also a number of references to her nickname, Big Bird. So, a bit of an oddity. And her personality only helps to set her apart. Her life is ruled by routines with the same outfits on the same day of every week, getting to work on time, etc. She also has a rigid sense of rules and will follow them, even to the point of her own detriment. 

Her entire world is shattered when she finds her boss dead. When thinking back over the scene, she becomes convinced that he was murdered. But, having no friends and few people who even like her, no one wants to listen to what she has to say. 

This was a short book with a lot of beats that repeat, but was overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Every girl dreams of marrying well, especially in the early 1800s. Not every girl would want to marry a man who is seventy years old, older than her father. But not every girl has a sister who also needs to marry and, while both are pretty enough and have a good lineage, their family cannot provide them with a dowry. And Genevieve would like to at least give her sister a chance at love. So she marries Lord Burnsby. And seven months later, she is visiting his hunting lodge in the Highlands. She will meet his heir and the heir's wife. She does not expect Lord Godric, boyhood friend of the heir, nor Lord Burnsby's seemingly mad illegitimate sister, and his daughter. Genevieve certainly doesn't expect to meet Sophonisba, Lord Burnsby's mistress of thirty years. And she certainly doesn't expect to find her own voice and start speaking up. Nor to find love while she's still married.

A Gothic novel in the best sense. I couldn't get past our heroine falling in love while still married but I enjoyed the ghosts, the drama, and, of course, the compulsory madwoman in the attic (although Mima is allowed to roam freely in this book.)

Four stars

This book comes out May 12, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own