Lady Intrigue by Sabrina Darby

Gah. I remember reading the plot for this book and thinking, "This is not a book I'd like to read" (even though I've quite enjoyed two of Darby's other books) but I must have accidentally hit the "Request" button because it turned up in my NetGalley queue. And I think it was her writing that made me not... hate this book. It took me awhile to get into the book and I never quite connected to Jane and never really got the connection between these two. There's insta-love and then there's insta-love and this just didn't quite make me buy them as a long-lasting couple. There is also the issue a lot of early series book face with trying to introduce at least one of the people who will feature in later books -OR- an overabundance of secondary characters.

2,100 Asanas by Daniel Lacerda

I really liked the beginning of this book, the overview of the history of yoga was very readable and held my interest. I think even beginners would be able to follow it. The pictures were great and having variations on the poses was fabulous. I wish there had been more "regular" folks pictured and not so many yogis. Also would have liked more explanation of how to get into poses but overall a very good book.
Four stars

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.

The Sport of Baronets by Theresa Romain

Hannah Chandler and Bart, Sir Bartlett, Crosby are part of a generations long family feud. So when they both claim a colt that is then stolen, they have to work together to get back a potentially family-saving colt.
For a novella, I really enjoyed getting to know as much of the characters that we got to see. Can't wait for the rest of the series.

Four stars

Followed by A Gentleman's Game

The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman

The start of this book really didn't draw me in. I felt like it was a bit havey-cavey what with all the action that we're just dropped into the middle of. which can be an interesting way to start a book but didn't work here. And then there's a couple of info dumps that aren't as well done as previous Bowman books.
It seems that Daphne Swift, our heroine, married Rafe Cavendish because she can speak Russian and her brother wanted her to help. 
I'm not sure if I just had a harder time suspending disbelief or if this book truly was as silly as I was finding it. I won't quit reading this author but this book wasn't quite as good as the previous in this series.

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore by Rose Pressey

This is definitely not a series to be read quickly one after the other. What is kooky and fun well-spread apart just becomes predictable and repetitive. I really hope our characters move along in the next book because I didn't see much growth from Cookie in this one. It may not have been as annoying if I hadn't read all three within a few months of each other.

But our intrepid ghost-seeing Cookie is back. This time the ghost is a former private investigator who is tied to a hat. And the victim is a not-so-nice fashion designer who ends up dead in an alley with no shortage of suspects.
Three stars

Followed by Haunted Is Always in Fashion

What Happens Under the Mistletoe -- Anthology

<i>The Heiress and the Hothead</i>by Sabrina Jeffries
Whoa. I mean, whoa. Never has danger boner been so egregious. And yet, still -- this was a solid three and a half star story. Alexandra Keane, Jeremy's sister and a mill owner, is shocked when an unknown man kisses her at her brother's Christmas house party. Even more so when she discovers that he is Lord Stephen Corry (younger brother of sequel bait Warren and, I can only assume, Warren's ward, Clarissa) who is a reformer who writes exposes on various... English mills. So she's immediately suspicious about his motives. But they find out that they might have more in common than they think and that might include love.
>>
>> <i>Twelve Kisses to Midnight</i> by Karen Hawkins
>> Marcus is not happy to see his former fiancée standing at the Christmas house party he's attending. Kenna left him a month before their wedding then married a man nineteen years her senior. It's been ten years but he's having a hard time remembering that.
>> And, of course, they've both changed. Luckily, an unexpected snowstorm gives them time to explore those changes.
>> I definitely liked this, warts and all. 4 stars.
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>> <i>By Any Other Name</i> by Candace Camp
>> Rylla is worried about her brother. He's been missing for weeks and she just wants him home for Christmas. So she does what any good romance heroine would do and dresses like a man and heads to a gambling establishment to find him. Luckily, when she is robbed on the way out, she is rescued by Mr. Gregory Rose who not only promises to help her brother, he falls in love.
>> Cute. A bit whirlwind but enough for 3 1/2 stars.
>>
>> <i>Sweetest Regret</i> by Meredith Duran
>> Two years ago, Lucas Godwin started to court Georgie but then abruptly left Munich. She has never forgotten that. But now a diplomatic mission to find a lost letter gives them a second chance at love.
>> A little trite maybe, but a cute story. 4 stars.
>>