On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young

 Lyla Moody has put together her life after some obsessive behavior (which is oft-referenced, never fully explored). Part of the joy in her life includes a book club called the Jane Does which reads mystery stories. But they recently also seem to have discussed some nearby Jane Doe cases and that becomes a major clue into what happened to one of their members. 

It is, in fact, Lyla who is one of the last people to Carol, a judge's wife before she disappears, only to have her body appear at Lyla's house in such a way that it is very apparent she couldn't have gotten herself there. Lyla works for her uncle's detective agency but she is just an admin. At least, she was before now. Now, she wants to know what happened to her friend. 

Lyla does start by being smarter than the average fictional amateur detective and giving her information to the police, even the slightly sinister Officer Taylor. He sure doesn't seem to like Lyla. But he does like her best friend which may come in to play later in the series.

I liked the idea for the series and will read the next book for sure but this book was a bit disordered and I sure hope that the publisher had a good line editor because there were a LOT of spelling errors/word choices (I didn't count it against the book.) The story was a little bit all over the place too. There was some world building but there were a lot of lines added to the story that weren't completely woven in.

Three stars

This book came out October 6th

ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Library and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber

 A lot of good men were injured in the First World War in any number of ways. Verity Kent has her own issues that she is dealing with from being part of a spy network but she feels like she has it better than a lot of other people, including her own cousin. Reggie was blinded in the war and now his mother treats him like an invalid. Yes, he is a lord but that doesn’t mean that he was left any money.
And the estate is (according to his mother) falling down around the family’s ears. So Verity’s parents send her out to see what, exactly, is going on. 

Several mysteries overlap including the history of the estate, a modern day murder, and a matter that dates back to Verity’s time in the war. Another story, well-woven and well-written. I don’t think regular Verity Kent readers will be disappointed.

Three and a half stars

Follows Penny for Your Secrets

Followed by Murder Most Fair

This book came out October 6th

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Omniscients Script by Dugomier, art by Renata Castellani

 On an otherwise normal day, five teens are suddenly hit with tinnitus followed by omniscience. Well, up to a point. They hold all of the knowledge that people can read but don't know information that doesn't appear on the web (or, ostensibly, in books.) All are teens in the United States and four of them are quickly taken in by the Department of Health but there are other entities, including a very shady-seeming FBI, who would also like to have them under their thumbs.

A very nice beginning to what seems like it will be a fun series. The characters, even in such a short book, are starting to be sketched out and readers will probably empathize with at least one of them. There is a nice diversity including (gasp) one teen who isn't quite a US citizen (though his omniscience does cause the States to claim him quickly.)

Four stars
This book came out August 26th
ARC kindly provided by Europe Comics and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reaping Havoc by Kel Carpenter

Salem no knows that she’s a isn’t a Grim Reaper. Instead, she is something more.But, because she can’t keep her mouth shut, it doesn’t stay a secret for long. And that’s important because Graves’s brother James has been caught but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t given up all of his secrets. And his next move might just turn all of the Grims against Salem but against Graves as well.
I really liked the world building and character building of the first book and this felt more like book part 2 rather than a whole new book. 

Three stars

This book came out

Follows Reaper’s Blood

Borrowed as an audiobook from RB Digital

Opinions are my own

An Irresistible Alliance by Stephanie Laurens

 Michael Cynster is startled and relieved at the beginning of this book to realize that, with the engagement of his older brother, he is no longer going to be as big a catch on the Marriage Mart. He can relax. But a hedonistic lifestyle hold no appeal; he's done that for awhile. Instead, he focuses on helping his brother with uncovering a plot involving some gun powder. Gun powder that is being moved by carts but none of them understand how shipping works. But Cleome Hendon does.
Cleo thought that working as her family's business as the manager would be exciting. And it was... for awhile. No, she's got it all figured out. So when Michael comes to her with a built-in adventure, she invites herself along. 
An okay story. Some light contortions to get a lot of people from previous books involved.

Three stars

Follows The Lady By His Side

Followed by The Greatest Challenge of Them All

This book came out March 11th, 2017

Opinions are my own

The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish by Kristen Painter

Bridget Merrow felt a connection to Sam Kincaid in the second book in this series (about six months ago.) But, other than some almost-kisses. He hasn't mad a move since. Now it's Christmas, it's snowing, and she needs a truck to deliver some champagne to a customer. And Sam is available to help. When the two get locked into a freezer, everything changes.

Short, sweet. Obviously not deep. Definitely need to have read the rest of the series to enjoy.

Three stars
Follows The Witch's Halloween Hero
Followed by The Vampire's Fake Fiancée

This novella came out February 23rd, 2016

Opinions are my own

One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

Gayle Mitchell did everything she could to make sure that her girls grew up stronger than she did. Unfortunately, that means that she alienated them when she found out her younger daughter was going to be a teacher, a “soft” profession; not at all what Gayle had steered her towards.
Samantha is shocked to hear her mother’s assistant on the phone. Even more to hear that her mother is in the hospital. She tells Ella that she doesn’t need to come but Ella does anyone. And they are both shocked when Gayle says that she wants to spend a family Christmas. Little does she know what that will entail.
Luckily, Samantha needs to check out a lodge in Scotland that she might start including in her holiday excursions business. So off the family goes. There’re hurt feelings,tears, and self-discovery. This is definitely not a a Morgan romance novel because there is no HEA or even an HFN but it was a nice family story.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out October 6th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own