Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

Vampires. This series has vampires. Not my favorite Roberts series but still by her so they're pretty good. In this trilogy, a circle of six, the one who is dead, the witch, the sorcerer, the shapeshifter, the scholar and the warrior, must form in order to stop the evil Lilian from turning the world into vampires. Of course, since this is a Nora Roberts book, the six start pairing up. This book highlights the love of modern day witch, Glenna, and twelfth-century sorcerer, Hoyt. We learn the beginning of the circle when Hoyt watches his twin brother Cian be "turned" by Lilith. He is then instructed by the goddess Morrigan to go to modern day New York to begin gathering the circle. Hoyt finds his brother immediately. Cian has used the past 900 years to build an empire including a nightclub where Glenna is drawn to Hoyt. Once Glenna and Hoyt convince Cian that he is a necessary part of the group, they, along with Cian's friend King, fly to Ireland where they are joined by two more people, these from the thought-to-be-mythical land of Geall. The six must learn to fight, even through heartache, in order to even begin to learn how they might be able to take down Lilith.

This book didn't get too dated because much of the action is in another realm. With being the first book and having a LOT of world building to do, Hoyt and Glenna's romance takes a bit of a back seat but this is overall a nice enough story to start a series.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 29th, 2006

Followed by Dance of the Gods

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Plus One Pact by Portia MacIntosh

I live in a small town and have definitely hit the page on dating apps where they say, "Sorry, no men left." Cara is in the same place but she has also just discovered that her cousin, bride in The Wedding of the Century, has retaliated against Cara by inviting her ex to the wedding. Cara is now officially desperate. Luckily, her last match has actually answered her. Unluckily, he doesn't show up. Instead, Cara is sitting at a restaurant alone when a man approaches her. He is downright beautiful. And fit. But he seems to feel bad for her so she agrees to meet him at the local It place. From there, the two exchange commiserations. He, it seems, has a series of family events to attend and has been told he can't just bring his flavor-of-the-month. Bringing someone like Cara, an erudite woman with a real job (escape room designer) would get him off the family's black books.

Things do not go smoothly. In this book, both of the main characters are the klutzy but oh-so-sweet ones. And, yes, that is a little annoying and repetitive but I really liked that Millsy liked Cara even before her makeover and that Cara was actually upfront with Millsy about something that she did later in the book. A quick listen on a Sunday afternoon that I enjoyed quite a bit. 

Four stars

This book came out May 21st, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

The Wintringham Mystery by Anthony Berkeley

Stephen Munro has recently come down in the world. After the war, he came back to a small inheritance from his uncle. While it was enough for him to be a gentleman of leisure for some time, it has now run out. He has only enough money to pay off his manservant and get himself to a new position as a footman to Lady Susan Carey. She hasn't had one lately but would thinks that she would like to have one for her upcoming weekend party. It's just hard luck that Stephen is recognized by not one but two of Lady Susan's guests. Even harder luck that one, Pauline, of them is the fiancee of a prominent business man when earlier she was a particular friend of Stephens. 

There are many other people who are joining Lady Susan for the weekend and the sheer number of characters was more than a little confusing but one one disappears after a seance and another is killed, it does get a little easier to follow. 

I would call this a typical mystery of the time with a solution that was a little convoluted. A nice read on an autumnal afternoon.

Three and a half stars

This book came out 1921 (as Lady Cicely Disappears)

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

This is a two-for-one romance which means that both relationships are a bit short-changed. In this book are two sister. Reggie Somerville got engaged last year on Friday, party on Saturday, dumped on Sunday. We read about it a lot. But she's back in Wishing Tree to help her parents plan their vow renewal (not enough time spent on this either.) Also back in town? Her high school boyfriend, Toby, who is now the father of an eight-year old. 

Said son is in Reggie's sister's class. Dena, at the ripe old age of 32 has given up on love and has gotten impregnated. She is also the owner of a B&B where Micah Ruiz, a famous musician is staying. He is in town to visit an old bandmate who now owns a Christmas tree farm. Micah is healing from the loss of his wife and unborn child just over a year ago. 

There is so much going on with everyone and their stories that, while this is a fine story, it's not one of Mallery's best since all of the story lines are crammed into one book.

Three stars

This book came out September 28th, 2021

Follows novella Say You'll Stay

Followed by Home Sweet Christmas

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

A Secret Never Told by Shelley Noble

It's June of 1908 and Philomena Amesbery, Countess of Dunbridge, is enjoying the diversions of Coney Island. Well, she should be. But there's a distressing lack of murders or dangerous situations. She hasn't had anything like that since the previous year. But a phone call from the fabulously wealthy Godfrey Bennington recalls her to New York. At last! Adventure!

Except that Godfrey asks her to be his hostess at a party. Is there anything to be on the lookout for? Godfrey says no but he could literally ask any number of women to be his hostess and he has particularly asked her. At least Phil's return to the city reunites her with her butler Preswick and maid Lily. 

On the way to the dinner, two women who were not originally invited, join the group. Dr. Georgina Nash and Rose. While Georgina seems oddly belligerent toward other guests (a smattering of scientists and psychoanalysts with some of whom Georgina has an obvious history), delicate and beautiful Rose seems to not know what is going on.

It is a mystery that once again pulls in Detective Sergeant Atkins into Phil's sphere. And it is interesting to note that one of the doctors has a fill-in secretary who is none other than Phil's Mr. X. Just what exactly is going on?

Four stars 

This book comes out November 23rd, 2021

Follows A Resolution at Midnight

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Jane Ellsworth knows that she's plain, with an overlong nose and a gorgeous sister, and she is, indeed, a spinster but she still has quiet hopes about their neighbor who seems to be impressed by her talents with glamour, the magic that Kowal has introduced into this Austen-era England parallel universe. Unfortunately, it seems like the neighbor might be more interested in her sister. And, being a good Austen-era heroine, Jane is ready to step aside if she needs to, for the sake of her sister. 

But the big news in the neighborhood is that the glamural artist, David Vincent is in town. And Jane is delighted to have the chance to learn more about his craft, but manages to offend him almost immediately. 

I wish we had seen a little bit more of the love story but this book was a fantastic look about how world-building can be done right.

Four stars

This book came out August 3rd, 2010

Followed by Glamour in Glass

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Reread September 2022 as audiobook from Libby

Some Die Eloquent by Catherine Aird

When a rich old lady dies in a mystery, there is often a rush to figure out how she was murdered and by whom. In the case of Miss Beatrice Wansdyke, it comes as surprise that the woman was actually rich. I mean, she was a chemistry teacher in a girls' school, where did the money come from? She had managed her diabetes for years but her autopsy shows that she is distinctly lacking insulin. Plus there's the weird thing that her dog has disappeared as well. 

Inspector Sloan is sort of distracted as his wife is about to give birth and we get a lot of details related to that miraculous happening. But that also takes up a lot of the book leaving less room for Aird to show on page how the mystery actually gets solved. 

An interesting story but maybe a little too short.

Three stars

This book came out in 1979

Follows Parting Breath

Followed by Passing Strange

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own