Wrapped in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

Liam Montgomery's world is spinning. He just found out a Big Secret after a family wedding and it's making him distance himself from his family which is normally close. But he's finding some comfort in his relationship with Arden, a woman who was in the same hospital room that he was in after an accident.
Arden has lupus and she is dealing with having an "invisible" disease. She often has to call off planned engagements because of her flare-ups and it has caused a lot of distress among her friends, most of whom have deserted her because of her "flakiness."
I wish this book had been a little longer. Liam's secret wasn't well developed; it was more show than tell. And while Liam and Arden dealt with one of her flare-ups, I wish we had seen more. I just couldn't get the sense that he was going to be committed enough to stick.

Three stars
This book comes out September 10th
ARC kindly provided by Author Collective 20 and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Remembering the Dead by Elizabeth J. Duncan

When the local squire has a chance to display the Black Chair, a piece of Welsh history awarded posthumously to poet Hedd Wyn in 1917, Penny Brannigan is called in to help arrange a dinner for the local dignitaries. There hasn't been a dinner at the manor for some time and everyone is excited to either attend or help the event go off well.
Unfortunately, not only is the chair gone by the end of the evening, there's a dead body discovered as well. And when it's discovered to be the relative of one of Penny's employees, the grief quickly hits home. Characters both old and new feature in the solving of this mystery which ends up being a bigger planned heist than first thought.
I don't think you will need to have read previous books in the series but it probably helps. I didn't think the mystery quite came together in the end but it was nice to visit some of our favorite characters and to see at least one former baddie get his comeuppance.

Three stars
Follows The Marmalade Murders
This book comes out September 10th
ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sharon, Lois and Bram's Skinnamarink by Sharon Hampson; Lois Lilienstein; Bram Morrison

I think there are a lot of people in my age group that will remember Sharon, Lois, and Bram from their television show. Now, their iconic song is in a children's book. The illustrations were perfect for the kind of fun and inclusive show. There was a sense of humor. There were also a couple of verses I didn't know. But I have had that song in my head all day now...

Four Stars
This book comes out September 3rd
ARC kindly provided by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A Dangerous Engagement by Ashley Weaver

Amory and Milo have crossed the Atlantic to attend her friend’s wedding. Tabitha Alden was a schoolmate of Amory’s but she returned to New York after her mother’s death. Her father lost a lot of money in the stock market crash but he seems to have recouped his investments, at least if the car that picks up Amory and Milo is anything to go by.
They get to Mr. Alden’s house and meet the rest of the wedding party: Tabitha’s fiancé Tom who seems to have no past beyond four or five years ago; Jemma Petrie, a friend of Tabitha’s and the only other bridesmaid; Rudy Elliot, a friend of Tom’s who is in marketing, most recently for a salad dresssing, his father was one of the men who committed suicide after the crash; and Grant Palmer, a confident man who is rumored to be in with the mob. In a quiet moment, Tabitha confesses to Amory that she believes that Grant is trying to lure her father into the mob business. When Amory overhears the two men talking, it seems they know each other better than they pretend.
Amory also witnesses Tom fighting with Grant; it seems Tom doesn’t want his past to come up again. But that could be for any reason, really. Perhaps he thinks his Midwestern past won’t fly with the high social group that is the circle Tabitha moves in.
And with Grant being the most unpleasant person in this book, it isn't hard to believe that he’s the one who ends up dead, shot several times outside the Alden house. Milo and Amory are dragged into the underworld.
Another great book in the series.

Four stars
Follows An Act of Villainy
Followed by A Deception at Thornecrest
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Anytime Yoga by Ulrika Dezé

This is a "fine" book but I did not connect with it and am not sure children would either. The monkey could be fun but isn't well utilized. Most of this book feels like an 1800s grammar book teaching the itsy-bitsy chidwen how to do their yo-ga. Less conversational than teachy.

Three stars
ARC kindly provided by Shambhala Publications, Inc.and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Big Nate: Hug It Out! by Lincoln Peirce

Once again, Lincoln Peirce gives us a great collection of Big Nate comics. I love reading these books as a bit of a palate cleanser. Clean and fun, Nate never fails to make me smile with his hijinks. And getting to see his grandparents again was a delight. Grandpa and Nate resonate on the same level and it is just so fun to see. We also get to see Teddy and Francis roll their eyes at Nate and Gina is back as his younger arch-nemesis. Older nemesis, Mrs. Godfrey is back as well.

Four stars

This book comes out September 3rd

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice -- Anthology

Sweet Magic by Donna Kauffman
Bellaluna's bakery is run by Abriana "Bree" Bellaluna O'Neill and her grandmother, Sofia. Their family has owned the shop for generations and every year at Halloween, Sofia makes special cookies that can help people find true love. Bree is ready to be the one making the cookies but she just can't get the recipe right but you have to be in love. Sofia thinks that Caleb, who is in town to run his uncle's restaurant business, might be the one. But Bree isn't sure... Caleb is a short timer. Can he really be her true love?

A typical Kauffman book. Regular readers will be satisfied.

Love Spells Disaster by Allyson Charles
Cassandra Hie wants to get married but she wants to find the "right" kind of guy. Someone like her boss, Steve.  But then Chip, a local handyman, eats the cookies meant for Steve. Suddenly, blue collar's not looking so bad... plus, he loves Halloween as much as she does.

There was so much time spent on Cassandra changing her mind that not as much was spent on their relationship building.

Sweet on you by Kate Angell
Lara's rent has just gone up and she's in danger of losing her job. Plus her boyfriend recently dumped her. But, Mayor Jack needs help. So he creates a job for Lara, who he is attracted to. And she rocks it.

An okay story but I don't love boss/employee romances, especially if someone has created a job for someone else.