Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Blaire Kellermoon is still trying to find her footing after her divorce. Both of her children are now out of the house and she's moved back into the home she and her husband had kept even though they had moved into a much larger mansion. She used to be a rom-com actress but lately has been working as a producer. There is one book that she particularly wants to get done, The Green Light, but she's having problems. In the meantime, she's trying to get the rights to a book written by Jack Branksome.

Jack wrote the book when he was much younger. Since then, he's been teaching but he's trying to write another book. He's not much impressed by Blaire and denies her request. Too bad everyone assumed he'd do it and the news had already leaked. 

Now he's feeling bad. And shocked that she responds by inviting him to write in her pool house. Even more shocked that he accepts.

The two slowly start to get to know each other an themselves. The book has some weird bits that don't always get explained, but it made me smile a number of times.

Four stars

This book comes out July 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Garfield Belly Laughs by Jim Davis

Garfield is back with his usual jokes about naps and eating. He also has a series of strips about horror monster theater where various classics film tropes get an update. There is a large section devoted to Christmas strips, including holiday apparel (e.g. Jon and Odie dressing as candy canes.)

Four stars

Garfield #68

Follows Garfield Slurps and Burps

Followed by Garfield Easy as Pie

This book came out December 10, 2019

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie, narrator Hugh Fraser

Gordon Cloade did his family no favors. Yes, he showered them with money, but he made them entirely dependent on him. So, when he died in an air raid only weeks after marrying a new wife, all of his money went to her and his family had no idea how to cope. It might have been fine if the pliable Rosaleen had been on her own, but she has a brother who will not let her release any of the funds. 

Most of this story is getting to know the different characters, their problems, and how they approach Rosaleen for help. But then a man, who may or may not be Rosaleen's first husband, is killed, setting off the mystery.

Hercule isn't in the book much and the ending is a kick in the pants. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #27

Follows The Labours of Hercules

Followed by Mrs. McGinty's Dead

This book came out in 1948

Borrowed as an audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Very Nice Funerals by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

Max Reddy doesn't want to stay in Rocky Start. It's a town with two many secrets that he doesn't want to be a part of. And one person he's going to hate to leave. But on the next-to-last day before his self-imposed return to the AT, someone cuts a rope bridge while he's on it. So... now he's sticking around. 

Meanwhile Poppy's life is changing. She had a traumatic incident in the last book and now her life is changing. And she's not sure if she likes where it's going but she knows that it is not going to be what she had originally planned. 

Four stars

Rocky Start #2

Follows Rocky Start

Followed by The Honey Pot Plot

This book came out July 21, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Rocky Start by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

This book is pure fluff and has Crusie's fingerprints all over it. If you know her writing, this book will feel very familiar. 
Rosalee "Rose" Malone has lived in Rocky Start for nineteen years. Ever since her 12-year relationship ended when she got pregnant and he threw her under the bus for fraud. Now her daughter is about to graduate high school and her mentor is dead. But there are weird things happening in Rocky Start including two gentleman. One who attacks her in her store and one who says he saved her (though she thinks she was doing a pretty good job herself, thankyouverymuch.)
Max Reddy and his dog Mags are in town to pick up a new pair of boots while he's out on the Appalachian Trail. This town is out of the way but this is where his old boss sent the package. It's an interesting little town, straddling the line of Tennessee and South Carolina. The people there remind him of the people he used to work with in his old job; lots of secrets to hide.
Rosalee bothered me a little; she sticks her head in the sand about a lot of things. But I still enjoyed the book quite a bit. 

Four stars

Rocky Start #1

Followed by A Very Nice Funeral

This book came out July 21, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Garfield Donut Disturb by Jim Davis

Generally known for his love of lasagna, the truth is that he loves all food. In this book, there are a higher number than usual strips devoted to his love of donuts. We also see his relationship with Arlene as well as with Odie. There are still more jokes about "Beware of Dog." Just a delightful read.

Four stars

Garfield #76

Follows Garfield Fully Caffeinated

Followed by

This book came out August 27, 2024

Garfield Easy as Pie by Jim Davis

This book has a number of strips devoted to relationships. Garfield talking with his girlfriend Arlene (and somehow often bringing food into the equation. Sometimes she is even on the same page. Jon somehow managing to hold on to Liz. Garfield loving Pookie. 

Four stars

Garfield #69

Follows Garfield Belly Laughs

Followed by Garfield Goes Hog Wild

This book came out July 14, 2020

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

This book starts with a literal bang when Nancy and her friend, Helen Goulding, are trying to outrun a storm but, when their boat hits a log, they have to swim for it. They are saved by Laura Pembleton who mentions that she might need Nancy's help. She has new guardians and is wary of them

The couple is certainly a piece of work. The wife is rude and demanding, even before she meets Laura. The husband nearly drives Nancy and Helen off the road. Things get stranger from there. 

This book is somewhat disjointed with parts and characters popping up without rhyme or reason but it was still an interesting read. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew #3

Follows The Hidden Staircase

Followed by The Mystery at Lilac Inn

This book came out in 1930

ARC kindly provided by Dover Publications and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by K.J. Whittle

Seven people gather for a dinner. Seven people show up. Seven people are given envelopes, but only five open them. In each envelope is a number preceded by the words "You will die aged..." But this can't be a predictor of the future, right? For the first person, no one is really sure. But then the second person dies. Now a pattern has started and everyone is nervous. Will anyone make it out alive?

I liked the premise of this book and appreciated the tie to one of Christie's but it felt overly simplified and a little bit preachy at the end. 

Three stars

This book came out September 9, 2025

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Garfield Caution: Wide Load Jim Davis

Variety of topics. Several strips on Garfield having a kiddie pool including chemical upkeep (pool mouse) and sharing with various other characters. There are also extended stories as Jon dates Liz and ordering pizza.

Four stars

Garfield #56

Follows Garfield Sings for His Supper

Followed by Garfield
Souped Up

This book came out May 3, 2013

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio, narrator Mark Sanderlin

Mikey Hartford IV has been called to the carpet. He knows his lifestyle isn't great but, knowing he's a nepo-baby, he had decided to throw himself into the role. Until now. Now, his father, upset over Mikey's latest over-the-top purchase, has taken the advice of Mikey's step-grandmother (four years older than Mikey himself) and decreed that Mike must "do good" until his 30th birthday or the funds from his trust won't be released as planned. 

His step-grandmother has another suggestion, Mikey can go with his twelve-year-own aunt, Annabelle, to camp. He'll be working with children and can even help her come out of her shell. And she does. With Mikey assigned to the Special Activities Group (he'll only work with a small number of campers), Annabelle is able to interact with him as well as meeting new people. The group is immediately intrigued by the true crime of a counselor who disappeared over a decade earlier. It was said that she died (though not everyone believes that.) 

Four stars

This book came out April 28, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Garfield Older & Wider by Jim Davis

Jon and Liz are dating! And that's despite Jon's accordian playing which takes up several strips. 

But then there's Garfield, teasing dogs, avoiding eating mice, taunting dogs, and kicking Odie. But it's also his 24th birthday and that takes up a lot of the book space because this cat, definitely does NOT like getting older.

Four stars

Garfield #41

Follows Garfield Survival of the Fattest

Followed by Garfield Pigs Out

This book came out January 1, 2005

Borrows as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Garfield Cooks Up Trouble by Jim Davis

Lots of Garfield comics. Storylines include the usual including Garfield eating, Jon not dressing well, and lazy days. There are also a few storylines about the darkness. And a week's worth of strips about Garfield eating fish. It's always so funny to me that he'll eat fish and birds but refuses to chase mice. We also get the strips leading up to Christmas and Garfield trying to pretend he's been a good boy the whole year. 

My favorites are the ones where the last panel takes a twist. 

Four stars

Garfield #63

Follows Garfield Listens to His Gut

Followed by Garfield Feeds His Face

This book came out June 13, 2017

Opinions are my own

The Cornish Honeymoon Murder by Fiona Leitch

Fiona and her husband Nate are newly marrired and ready for their honeymoon. Suddenly, they are taking it... along with her mother, daughter, and dog. At least it's a free trip to an almost carbon-neutral resort in one of the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall Why free? Because multi-millionaire owner, Isaac Barnes,believes someone is sabotaging the opening and he wants the help of the woman who solved a murder for him a few years ago. 

At first, it seems like a lark. There are a lot of famous people to ogle. The resort is right plush. Unfortunately, the pranks start escalating. And a death is discovered, just as a storm comes bearing down on the island. Nate and Fiona are on a timeline to find out who killed this thoroughly objectionable character before the storm clears up. 

Three and a half stars

The Nosey Parker Mysteries #9

Follows The Cornish Christmas Pantomime

This book comes out June 26, 2026

ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Garfield Blots Out the Sun by Jim Davis

Another amazing collection of our favorite comic book cat. I don't know how Davis keeps coming up with so many different strips that cover the same topics. This book has many of the old favorites including, eating, being lazy, and gags around a beware of dog sign. This book also has some strips about yarn.

Four stars

Garfield #43

Follows Garfield Pigs Out

Followed by Garfield Goes Bananas

This book came out January 1, 2007

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove

Willow Stone used to spend summers with her godmother Sue on Little North Island. But when she was fifteen, the summers stopped. Now she's grown, and an organist and curious about Sue. But what she finds is not what she expects and it sends her back to the island. 

Now, she's trying to figure out a weird small town that has... dynamics. Plus, there are ghosts. Which I wasn't expecting.

Three stars

This book came out February 17, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

Arden is just starting out as an author at the beginning of the book. She's at a book signing and shrugs it off when one of her fans asks her to grab a meal or coffee with her. But then she sees him again. And again. And someone breaks into her house. Then again, when she's home. But he's wealthy so he gets off with a time of five years. 

In that time, Arden begins to heal, writes more books, and decides to move to Oregon, following her family. She also meets the people of her town, including Joe Riley who owns the hardware store as well as his grandson, Gideon. Gideon is a double-threat as a romance hero, being not only a woodworker but a former cop. 

Of course, the two begin to fall in love. But the danger still lurks.

If you like Roberts, you will enjoy this book. It definitely follows her formula but it's a good formula and enjoyable. 

Four stars

This book came out May 26, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

Nancy is trying to relax and read a book but is having trouble concentrating. Luckily, she's interrupted by a knock on the door. Not so luckily, it's Nathan Gombet who is trying to get something from Carson Drew. Her father isn't home but, when he comes back, confirms that Gombet is someone that Nancy should avoid.

Luckily, she has a mystery to distract herself. There are a pair of elderly sisters who are concerned that their house is haunted. Nancy decides to stay at their house so she can experience what they are hearing. And it is certainly puzzling, but she is able to figure out what is happening in the end, leaving the sisters with a happy ending.

This book hasn't aged as well as the first one. I think it was just some of the language that made me realize how old these books are but I'm going to keep working my way through the series. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew #2

Follows The Secret of the Old Clock

Followed by The Bungalow Mystery

This book came out in 1930, rereleased June 16, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Dover Publications and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, narrator Ari Graynor

Isabel "Izzy" Spellman grew up with parents who are private investigators. She also grew up with an older brother who was perfect. So she decided to become a nosy screw up. That more or less changed when she messed up enough to bother even her brother when she turns 23. Now she's 28 and her sister has been missing for three days. There is a little bit of hopping in time but most of the story is told in chronological order describing her parents, her former cop uncle, and her fourteen-year-old sister who wants nothing more than to be a private investigator. 

This book has actually aged better than I thought.

Four stars

#1 Spellman Series
This book came out January 1, 2007

Followed by Curse of the Spellmans

Audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby

Ginny Cole has been surprised by a lot of things lately. Her husband's death, how much more expensive everything is without him, the fact that she was hired so quickly as a part time librarian in her new home in the village of Little Shaw, the murder of her new, thoroughly dislikeable boss Louisa. 

Because Ginny is the first person in, she is the one to discover the body. And that also gets her pulled in to working with three other widows in Little Shaw to protect Alice, one of the women's daughters. 

I enjoyed this cozy because Ginny did seem well-rounded and actually worked with police and didn't take unnecessary chances. I wish we had gotten to see more of some of the other characters be as built-out as Ginny but there were a number of characters and this was (I'm assuming) a first book in a series. The number of characters also filled in some of the space for the plot so there wasn't a lot of space for this to be a fairly-clued story. 

Three and a half stars

The Widows' Detective Club #1

This book came out March 3, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own