Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Friday, October 6, 2023

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

A main reason I love these books is that Meg Langslow is just so darn pragmatic. Is she an amateur detective? Yes, she is. Does she share all of her information with the police chief? Does she actively hide evidence or mess up crime scenes? No she does not. She's smart, she solves crimes, and she does so without being an bumbling idiot. 
Even better, she's competent at any number of things (though she has her failings) and her blacksmithing, which sometimes takes a back seat, is out in full force during this book. There is a reality competition being filmed at Ragnar's estate and Meg is there as a general dogsbody. She has been asked to be in the show but prefers not to. However, when someone attacks her friend and mentor Faulk, Meg reluctantly joins so that he won't lose the investment money he and his husband put into the filming the show which was thought up by another one of Faulk's students. 

I got ARCs of both the ebook and audiobook. The ebook was not as good though I had some personal stuff going on which made it harder to concentrate. The audiobook, and Bernadette Dunn, were amazing as always. 

Meg Langslow #34
Four stars
This book comes out October 10, 2023
ARC kindly provided by MacMillan and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

Auntie Aprils niece, Divina, has come to visit but there is something strange going on. Divina is close lipped about parts of her life and April is not trying to hook her up with Marcus (Mae's younger son) which she tries to do with any woman that's available. That includes Teresa, a young woman from the auntie's church who comes to help clean when their new laundromat is vandalized. Everything escalates when Divina is found dead and then one of the aunties is attacked.
This book has Lila being a little more forward and more off the mark than I remember from other books but still an enjoyable read. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out September 19, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, August 4, 2023

The Christmas Season by Ally Sinclair

I didn't see anywhere that this was the second book in a series. It may not be but it sure reads like one and some of the stories (Emma and Tom, especially), we are jumping in the middle of. It took me some time to settle into the rhythm of this book but I did eventually enjoy reading about the trio of women who were the main focus of this story.
Hope had a really bad breakup years ago. Her cousins and her best friend, Theo, held her together. She's ready to find love but failed in in the last "Season" that Emma, a matchmaker, had created. Now she's enjoying her time with a young man named Callum but is he really the one? This story is the one where we see the most relationship growth. 
Grace is looking for love and readily takes advantage of one of the free tickets Emma has given Hope. While she's very attracted to a young artist named Morgan, it's an older gentleman with Jonathon who she's been going home with. Lots of sex on the page for this relationship. 
Connie is not really looking for love but when her twin sister and cousin are going to participate in The Season, Connie's not going to be left out. She's also interested in Morgan but past experience has taught her that Grace always wins these kinds of competitions. Her story is the one with the most personal growth.

Three stars    
This book comes out August 10, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Hera Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Meg is looking forward to a quiet afternoon in her hammock. Of course, that's not going to happen, she's got too much going on. Some of the new people moving in to Caerphilly have complaints (again) including against Edgar Brockton, the man who has been helping Meg's dad with his bees. Which is interesting because Meg herself has just gotten a new delivery. Her dad has come over to help get the hive set up when her grandmother Cordelia arrives with a journalist in tow. The journalist is following Cordelia around and that's going to include looking for a pre-Civil War graveyard. Too bad they stumble across a dead body.
If you are a regular Andrews reader, you can probably predict most of the beats of this story but that doesn't mean it's unenjoyable. It is a nice addition to the series.
I also got to listen to the audiobook and, as always, Bernadette Dunn only makes the story better. 

Four stars
This book comes out August 1, 2023
ARC of ebook kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
ARC of audiobook kindly provided by NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines

Seven years ago, Lydia Maxwell disappeared. Married to the abusive Tope, she had a good reason. Now Tope claims to have proof that Lydia is dead; he wants her inheritance. Lydia's mother Elisa feels differently. She's just gotten a call on her tipline that Lydia has been spotted. And nearby. She wants Sarah Booth and Tinkie to follow up. 
Of course, questioning people, especially a fraught past, is going to stir up trouble. One person even dies. And there is a lot of backstory and explaining and many, many, many storylines that do come together in the end but are slightly overdramatic in the meantime. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 16, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Friday, October 7, 2022

Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

This reminds me of an early Langslow in the best of ways. Large ensemble of characters we know and love (though Michael and the boys weren't as prominent in this one, that's okay,) all of them gathered for holiday, getting glimpses of Caerphilly as Meg tries to solve a murder, and Mutant Wizards!
A Canadian genetics company has teamed up with Rob's computer folks to try and develop a better website. They are a small company currently headed by the owner's son, Ian. The son has decided that the entire genetics team needs to be in Caerphilly even though it means most of them will be missing Christmas with their families. Even worse, he did NOT plan well and they should up in town with no place to stay. In Caerphilly, known for their Christmas festival. So, once again, Meg and Michael are hosting any number of people in their house. 
At least the house is furnished and warm. And cousin Nora is there to feed everyone so all Meg has to do is keep her temper around Ian, even as she learns more and more and it makes her less and less impressed by the man. Of course, that means he's probably the one who will end up dead. 
Among the suspects are the young women Ian hit on, the woman who is stalking him, and a convicted killer who was released because their genetics company says that his DNA was not the one found at the scene.  

Four stars
This book comes out October 11, 2022
Followed by Birder, She Wrote
ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own


Reread December 2022 as audiobook

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth is Bay St. Louis, MS getting ready for the holiday season. While shopping, they come across Janet Malone and Sandra O'Day throwing merchandise at each other in a book store. And this is right after Sarah Booth has told Tinkie that the two are going to be part of the panel of judges for the town library's Christmas tree contest. Even though the two write in different genres (Malone does sexy thrillers and O'Day does nonfictions), they have a well-known feud that is front and center that has been going on since the nineties. 
On the night that Sandra is throwing a big party, she and her assistant, Daryl, go missing. Janet hires Sarah Booth and Tinky to find out what is going on. Is their disappearance linked to the feud with Janet or to the house that Sarah has recently bought? After all, it was built by Al Capone and there is a rumored treasure somewhere on the grounds. 
The overall story was fine but felt a little flat compared to some other books in the series. We get to see all of our favorite friends 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out October 11, 2022
Follows Lady of Bones
Followed by Tell-Tale Bones
ARC kindly provided by St Martin's Press and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own



Sunday, October 2, 2022

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Ronnie, the prodigal son of Lila Macapagal's family is back. No one is quite sure whether his business is legitimate but they are all tentatively hopeful. Ronnie is in business with Pete and Izzy who are in a relationship though Ronnie may have more than business-type feelings for Izzy. They've been backed by Xander and Denise in creating the Shady Palms Winery. Xander and Denise are helped by twins Olivia and Quentin March. This, of course, adds to the already fairly large cast of aunts and business members that Lila is already dealing with. But, if you can make it past Chapter 6, the characters spread out a little and become more easily recognized. Especially since one of them gets killed off soon after and Ronnie becomes a suspect. 
Lots of changes in this book with secrets coming out and people getting tired of the status quo. A really good book and some growth for some of our side characters. Hopefully we get to see more Lila and Jae in the next book. 

Four and a half stars
This book comes out October 4, 2022
Followed by Murder and Mamon
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

There is a saying that you can't go home and Lily Armitage doesn't want to. Endgame House holds bad memories for her; memories she'd rather not revisit. But her aunt Lillian has died and Lily and her cousins are back at Endgame for one last Christmas games revelry. They are to stay at the house, without cell phones, for the entirety of the Christmas season. Every day, one clue will be released leading the cousins to a key. One of the twelve keys they find will unlock the door of a secret room. Whoever has that key on the last day will inherit the house. Of course, they have to survive in order to win. Not all of them will.
This is an intriguing story and there are two games woven into the mystery. There was a lot going on in this story but that left some gaps that I would have liked to have had filled in. 

Three and a half stars
This book come out October 4, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Sunday, March 21, 2021

Blitzen's Fated Mate by R.E. Butler

I had heard about this book on the Smart Bitches Trashy books website. They gave it an F+ for just pure nutsiness and I loved the review. 
Honestly, I don't think Elyse's review can be beat so the TL;DR is that the shifter in the "Blitzen position" falls out of the sky and meets his fated mate who he more or less immediately starts boning.

Two and a half stars
Followed by Dasher's Fated Mate
This book came out February 29th, 2016
Kindle book
Opinions are my own



Saturday, December 26, 2020

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane by Jules Bennett

 If you don't mind your heroines hyper-perky, this is going to be an okay book. Violet Calhoun is an event planner (with some sort of store front?) who is coordinating the fiftieth anniversary of the Tinsel Tour in her tiny town. With a photographer and journalist from Southern Homes. While planning her mother's wedding. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe the gentleman who owns the crown jewel of the tour (a plantation... with nary a discussion of the problems with plantation owning; just Violet being all moony over the big rooms) passes away in the summer. And his super-hot workaholic grandson won't respond to Violet's many, many, many, many attempts to get a hold of him. 
But it's okay. Brady is super annoyed by her until he notices that she's awfully cute. And she just wears him down. Not okay for a hero, not okay for a heroine. Seriously.
There wasn't even any competency-porn because we didn't even get to see Violet decorating for the tour or even planning the wedding (other than a dress shopping trip that gets interrupted.) I finished the book because I was so close to being done and I really liked Violet's friendships.

Two stars
This book came out November 30th, 2020
Borrowed from CloudLibrary
Opinions are my own



Friday, November 13, 2020

The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen

I love a friends-to-lovers story. It is my catnip. And this one starts off really, really well. You've got socially awkward pathologist Julie O'Neill who is definitely not in love with her bestie-for-life QB Gavin Frost. Even if their parents try to throw them together. Every. Single. Time. the two are back in Crytsal Springs for Christmas. Well, Gavin has been sent home by his boss (must read the boss's book, The Wedding Deal) because said boss is a believer in taking time off and resting. Even for a football star. Now Julie and Gavin will be thrown together in every conceivable way by their mothers. And it seems like this is the year that they might start noticing each other.
I liked most of this book. A lot. But the meddling. Oh my gosh. I like a meddling family but one with more of a deft touch. They see proof that Julie and Gavin are in a relationship and jump right into marriage. Who wouldn't that freak out? To be fair, having the family, rather than a protagonist, cause the last Big Misunderstanding is pretty unique. And I did like that the make up scene wasn't a spectacle but fit in with the story.

Three stars
Follows The Wedding Deal
This book comes out November 16th
ARC kindly provided by Entangled Publishing LLC and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Sunday, December 22, 2019

Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler

Finding Christmas by Karen SchalerEmmie loves Christmas. She LOVES Christmas. And she is sure that her boyfriend will love Christmas as well-especially when she puts together a seasonal game ending at a quaint B&B in the heart of a town that is all about celebrating. Too bad Grant doesn't get her card; instead, a mystery novelist with writer's block gets the hunt. Having been told by his agent that she's sending him something to get him started, Sam isn't worried about the hunt that takes him to a small town. In fact, he's sort of delighted by it. Even when he finds out that he's on the game as a mistake, Sam stays at the B&B. He gets to know Emmie and the town and decides there might be something long term about both...
A little too sweet for me but an enjoyable story and one worth picking up as a fun winter read.

Three stars
This book came out October 15th
ARC provided by HarperCollins and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Thursday, October 17, 2019

I'll Be Home for Christmas by Karen Clarke

This is the second book I've read where a woman runs away to France in order to get away from a bad romance. In this case, Nina Bailey's fiance was cheating on her so she decides that she's going to completely change her life. She still hasn't found the job she loves so she thinks that travel blogger might work well and she can start by visiting her Aunt Dolly and seeing her favorite cousin while healing her heart. But she's not the only one who is there doing that.

I'll Be Home for ChristmasRyan Sadler had one great book that burst onto the literary scene. Now, his romance life is in tatters and his writer's block is impenetrable. But meeting Nina is starting to heal some of those broken places inside him. Even though she is not at all what he wants at the moment, she seems to be spurring his creative process and rebuilding his trust in love.
There's a Big Misunderstanding that I think is misused here and some of the thoughts get a bit repetitive but most of the book is quite fun and the early banter between Nina and Ryan is perfect.

Three stars
This book came out October 14th
ARC kindly provided by Bookouture and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Rituals to Observe: Stories about Holidays from the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction -- anthology

The title pretty much explains what you're going to be reading in this book, short stories that won the Flannery O'Connor Award. That means that you're going to be reading deep stories with deep themes. And, though the book is out in October, it doesn't mean that the books all center around the same holiday. Instead, it runs the gamut of the year.
Rituals to Observe: Stories about Holidays from the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short FictionI think people that don't mind some stories that make you really think, even if they are a bit depressing, will enjoy this book. For me, this was not a good time to read these stories so I don't think I connected to them well.'

Three and a half stars
This book came out September 1st
ARC kindly provided by University of Georgia Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Monday, September 4, 2017

Eye Candy -- anthology

Eye Candy by TijanGenerally, I quite enjoy anthologies. Especially ones like this one that take a group of new-to-me authors that might help me expand my reading. I'm also a huge fan of a holiday anthology. 
This anthology, not so much a fan of. Why? Because these were all parts of series that I hadn't read, that I felt I needed to have read, and now won't read. This was not the book for me, neither the stories (which weren't exactly romance more spanning horror and erotica, both of which I enjoy but neither of which I was prepared for). I would recommend it to people who have read and enjoyed at least one of these authors before.

Two stars
This book comes out September 5

Friday, September 23, 2016

Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter

There were times when the writing was rough and the story didn't quite hold together in all the places, but this was overall a book that gave me some warm feels.
The book opens with an elderly woman revealing to her neighbor that her cancer is going to cause her death, probably before the new year. Then, she tells him that she has three granddaughters, about whom he's never known. And she wants them to come for Christmas. In order to get them there, he's to tell them that they will inherit her estate. And it's a pretty big chunk of change.
Hope is ecstatic. She's been trying to get her sisters together for the holidays for years. Her older sister Faith took off pregnant at seventeen and left them to the dubious care of their mother. The youngest sister, Joy, is flighty and also isn't talking to Hope at the moment. Hope is just trying to ride out the holidays so she can break up with her boyfriend when neighbor Michael appears on her doorstep. Well, not exactly her doorstep, at the shelter where she works. After having just taken in a bloodhound.
The three of them are off (since Hope's boyfriend decides to break up with her, Merry Christmas! (she's actually very relieved)) to find Joy. She's panhandling with her boyfriend but Hope and Michael are able to follow her and her boyfriend to the boyfriend's mother's apartment where Joy is at first reluctant to come up to visit their grandmother, but then learns of the money and decides to come along. And the portrayal of Joy was problematic. She was painted as being perceived as money-grubbing by her sisters, but we were supposed to be seeing her in this different light because of a side she wasn't showing them. And frankly, the money-grubbing was way more apparent than the other.
And Faith, the oldest, shows up with her two children, even though she was supposed to spend one last holiday playing Happy Families with her husband. It seems he caught her cheating and their marriage is about to be kaput. Faith was also a character that was difficult to like, since she is so concerned with staying thin and fit and not at all concerned about her children, barely even noticing that her son is on the verge of committing suicide.
There are some major themes in this book like suicide, mental illness, and racism (Joy's boyfriend is black) but many of them are dealt with rather perfunctorily -- here's a problem, it's bad, now we've fixed it. The swiftness of it bothered me but somehow the book overall charmed me.

This book comes out September 27
Three and a half stars

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

By Firelight by Janice Maynard

By Firelight
Grant Monroe is enjoying being by himself in his mountain cabin when, during a heavy snow storm, there's a sudden thunk at the door. And then Madison Tierney stumbles in. She was hiking the Appalachian Trail, got ditched by her two friends, then got lost, and only barely made it to Grant's cabin. Now the two are trapped together in a cabin.
This story has my least favorite trope of "we don't need condoms I'm on birth control" and was also just a bit too insta-lurv-twee for my tastes.

Two and a half stars

Hot Arctic Nights
Hallie lost her mother in January and he job the Monday after Thanksgiving. She's not really in a holiday frame of mind so she agrees to fly up to Alaska and fill in for her friend's parents for two weeks at their B&B. She doesn't expect to find semi-permanent guest, Daniel.
When they meet, Hallie is about to fall over exhausted from travel and Daniel is dressed as Santa. She takes him to the school and learns that he works for the navy as civilian law enforcement.
Hallie then discovers that she has a family of fifteen that she's going to be expected to host, including cooking for them. Of course, as this is a holiday story, she is immediately enveloped into their warm bosom. Or something.   Daniel helps her as often as he can and, as the two grow closer, Hallie starts to reclaim some of her holiday spirit. And she also starts to realize that maybe, as people kept telling her in the beginning of the book, Alaska is a place that she can fall in love with. Especially if she has a special someone to share it with.
Good use of condoms in this story.
Three stars

This book comes out October 11

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Silent Nights edited by Martin Edwards

Containing some well-known favorites (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Blue Carbuncle," Dorothy L. Sayers "The Pearl Necklace," etc." as well as other short mystery stories set around Christmas. Some are more Christmas-sy than others but it is a nice cozy collection that will help get you in the holiday spirit.

Monday, September 28, 2015

The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Hay

I heard about this story on the Classic Mysteries podcast and was delighted to see it was available on NetGalley. Like many of the books from this time period, it took me awhile to wade through the story, even though the premise hits a lot of my catnips.
The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel HayOld English country house (check), set at Christmas (check), money-hoarding patriarch (check), family that's resentful (check). What's not to love? And I just can't put my finger on why it took me so long to finish this book. Part of it was the varying POVs. It got a bit confusing in the beginning. Especially with so many characters.
All of Sir Osmond's children have some reason to resent him. Whether it's his daughters who are threatened with marrying "suitable" men or being cut off or his sons who can't break free from his reins. Then there's the pretty new secretary and the fact that Sir Osmond is threatening to change his will. What was it that drove someone to dress up like Santa Klaus, hand out some gifts to the children, and then shoot Sir Osmond?
An intriguing mystery, especially if you like 1930s English cozies, but, again, can be plodding in points.