Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey

Cecelia knows there's something wrong at Danby. Paintings and other knock knacks have gone missing but no one is kicking up a fuss. Plus, it's just expensive to be in the upper classes of England these days. Her parents are trying to get her married off (lovingly, but there is still pressure) and they've invited am American heiress to a house party in the hopes that she will fall in love with Cecelia's brother, Patrick.
There is a brief moment of horror when the ship the heiress is on sinks but she does show up with her maid, Jane, in tow. The party begins but almost comes to an abrupt halt when one of the guests, a famous explorer, dies at dinner. The heiress is convinced the poison he drank was meant for her. There are more obvious reasons to kill the explorer but when there's another attack, it seems like she may be right.
Jane and Cecelia hit it off, bonding over the cat, Jack, that Jane rescued from the ship. And it is their work that helps them solve the case, but not before they are in some danger.
Some world building since this is the first  book in the series and the ending was a little overdramatic but overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 26th
ARC kindly provided by  Berkley Publishing Groupand NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Memories and Murder by Lynn Cahoon

There's been another murder in South Cove, California. Just the day before, Jill saw the man treating his girlfriend, Paula, who works at the Senior Project, in a way that is all too familiar. So it's not particularly surprising that she's considered a suspect.
It's interesting that this case overlaps with another since Jill's Aunt Jackie has been getting calls from Uncle Theo, a man who supposedly died years ago. Is he still alive or is it someone trying to scam Jackie out of money?
This book was a little more complicated than most Tourist Trap Mysteries - not only is there a murder and a scam, there is a little C story about the mayor and his run for re-election; I have to wonder if Cahoon is setting herself up for the next book.

Three and a half stars
This book came out November 12th
Follows Killer Party
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Win Big Kelly Jamieson

Everly Wynn loves her job working for the philanthropic arm of her family's hockey team. She's dealing with a lot - worries about her father's health, the fact that he seems to have stolen from her two oldest brothers resulting in a lawsuit that is making the family choose sides, and still trying to be perfect after making a terrible mistake at sixteen.
Wyatt Bell knows that life can be surprising and difficult. That's why he tends to take life as it comes. Up to and including when he is caught in a photograph that, while he's not worried about it, does make the hockey brass to call him in to the office and for Everly to step in and say that she would be willing to be in a relationship with him. Or at least appear to be for PR reasons. Except that... it could be that feelings might just get involved.
This was the first book I've read in the series but I didn't feel like I was missing much. It was a little bit slow to get started and I thought that the blurb highlighted Everly's mistake more than it was mentioned in the book. Then it was wrapped up pretty quickly..

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 19th
ARC kindly provided by Loveswept and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

My Unedited Writing Year Hope Lyda

What a fun book! If you are thinking about writing a book, this would be a great place to get started. Lyda includes prompts that are both mundane and inventive - from testing your pens to writing about which book you would choose if you only had one you could read for the next year to using a riddle as a story starter.
There are some light religious touches but they are deftly handled and overall this is an enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend this book though I would lean toward getting it in its physical form.

Four stars
This book comes out December 30th
ARC kindly provided by Harvest House Publishers and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne

Claire appreciates her two newest friends, even if she found them last year because her husband died and his mistresses also skipped his funeral. That day, they made a pact to help each other spot another man who was like Brayden Hayes.
A year later, Claire is tired of her life. It's just so... vanilla (though, as one of her friends points out, vanilla is a pretty good flavor.) She decides that refreshing the interior of her brownhouse is the way to go. And we know from the last book in the series that Scott Turner, contractor extraordinaire, is looking for a new project, one that's a little more intimate than creating a huge building for vast amounts of money. Too bad it's probably some bored New York housewife with more money than sense. And he believes that at first... but then he gets to know Claire. And he agrees to be her wingman. Except the odd feeling of jealousy suddenly pops up.
A little deeper than the most fast, fun, and fluffy novels but still an easy and breezy read.

Three and a half stars
This book came out September 17th, 2019
Followed by Marriage on Madison Avenue
Book from library
Opinions are my own

Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne

Naomi wasn't especially attached to Brayden Hayes, her lover of three months, but she didn't want to learn that he had a wife. Especially not from his obituary. But at least something good has come from his useless life, she made two new friends in the form of his widow and his mistress. The three make a pact to help each other recognize if any of them are getting into a relationship with another man like Brayden.
Naomi is also juggling dealing with an applicatino her mother put in for an apartment two weeks before she died. It's in the apartment building on the Upper East side that Naomi and her mom lived in for less than a year while her mom was a live-in house keeper. Her mother was also shtupping the man of the house. Something Naomi discovered with the man's son, Oliver, one day they came home early. And Oliver denied when his mother accused Naomi's of coming on to her husband. Naomi and her mother were out of the home the next day and her mother never recovered. Neither did Naomi. So why is she thinking of moving into the place? Just because she's now the owner of a billion dollar company and wants to prove how far she's come? Or maybe confront the man who helped her mother get to that place? Or at least his disturbingly hot now grown-up and much better human being son?
I liked that Naomi was willing to forgive. It was a process and it showed that she was a grown up. I didn't love the denouement - it could have played out a little less insta-judge-y on Oliver's part but he got over it quickly.

Four stars
This book came out May 28th, 2019
Borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

Back to September by Melissa Brayden

Bookstore owner Hannah Shephard greets her books every morning. It is tearing her up inside that her store has been so slow lately. But she'll do anything to try and ensure that it stays open, even trying to get Parker Bristow, famous romance author, on her book tour. And when that actually happens, Hannah is not only elated, she's shocked to discover how very much she's attracted to Parker. And they spend some magical time together before Parker ghosts Hannah. But then they figure it out and become friends while each is dating someone else. But the attraction is still there. And that isn't the last roadblock the two will have to work through. Which was my biggest problem with this book. I get that this happens in real life, all the sturm and drang but it was Just. So. Much for this book. I liked Brayden's writing overall though and would definitely try another one of her books.

Three books
This book comes out November 12th
ARC kindly provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley
Opinions are my own