The Kiss & The Killer by Melissa Marr

Geneviève Crowe is still beheading the undead and trying to avoid marriage to the faery prince, Eli Stone, to whom she is engaged. Someone has specifically requested her work and it leads her to a posed set of now really-dead draugar. That same someone is trying to take over the role currently held by Geneviève's great-great-etc.-grandmother as the queen of the undead. And she has to deal with that even while her dead genes seem to be taking over. 

There's a lot going on in this book but it moved quickly and left a lot open for the next book. 

Three stars

This book came out April 15, 2021

Follows The Wicked and the Dead

Follows novella Blood Martinis & Mistletoe

Followed by The Hexed and the Hunter

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Lost and Found by Jayne Ann Krentz

Cady Briggs works with antiquities but that isn't the reason her great aunt Vesta left her the majority of shares in her company. The gallery is about to be a part of a big merger and one of Cady's cousins is the CEO of Chatelaine. So, why did Vesta leave those shares to Cady only? In fact, Vesta's death seems very mysterious. But Cady has a secret weapon: Mack Easton. They've worked together to uncover antiques and then verify them before. Mack knows the business and he knows Cady. Plus, he's her Fantasy Man.

Some of Krentz's stories age well. I would not lump this one in with them. Not just the technology but the attitudes of the characters and some of the secondary characters.

Three stars

This book came out November 1, 2001

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey

If you listen to the "Office Ladies" podcast, you will already know many of these stories. But there is enough new content and the stories are edited and polished for a book versus off-the-cuff conversations on the show.

Discussions include story lines, the people they worked with, becoming mothers while on the show, and much more. The great tie is that this is not only a behind-the scenes of The Office, but of their friendship as well. 

I highly enjoyed this book and think that listening to the audiobook was the best way to go.

Four stars

This book came out May 17, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Singles Table by Sara Desai

Zara Patel is concentrating on her work. Being a celebrity lawyer is much more interesting than being matched up by any one of her meddling aunties. And she just wants to have fun at her cousin's wedding and everything leading up to it. Too bad the first gig up is paintball where she meets the infuriating Jay Dayal who is taking it all way too seriously.

Jay has plans in life. He wants to get married to a woman who is classy, likes society, and will decorate his arm without causing embarrassment. Zara shows that she is the exact opposite of... most of those things.

Even though they have a rocky introduction (Zara shoots Jay in the ass with her paintball gun), and it doesn't really get any better, the two finally come to a detente. Zara will help Jay find a wife if he introduces her to some celebrity clients. Of course, spending more time together does produce more fireworks.

I wish the ending hadn't had quite so many road bumps but otherwise enjoyed the book immensely.

Four stars

This book came out November 16, 2021

Follows The Dating Plan

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blood Martinis & Mistletoe by Melissa Marr

In an alternate universe, Geneviève Crow lives in New Orleans and makes it her business to kill the draugrs, the people who rise from the dead. The problem being that she was poisoned in the first book of this series and nearly died. Now she's dealing with some really gross things (like the need to drink blood) that she had hoped would never have to. This, of course, in addition to still being engaged to a literal faery prince.

A fun interstitial with some character growth that probably would have been confusing in the second book had I not read it.

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 18, 2021

Follows The Wicked and the Dead

Followed by The Kiss and the Killer

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Matter of Loyalty by Anselm Audley, Elizabeth Edmonson

Hugo, Georgia, and Freya are back for a last adventure. This book was not quite as good which is explained at the end of the story. 

One of the scientists at the "Atomic" has gone missing. It is assumed that he is the one that was leaking scientific information which makes Sir Bernard very happy as he can close out that mystery with a sigh. At least, he could until the man's body shows up with a single gunshot wound in the neck. And Georgia and Polly are the ones to find him which shakes everyone up. 
Old favorites are included in this story. 
Saul Ingram is once again in hot water - he seems to be the easy target to point at for any number of sins
Uncle Leo-the priest and former spy
Aunt Priscilla- still managing  but lovable
New characters
Jarret - in from the Home Defense, was the best man at Freya's aborted wedding
Dr. Arpad Barandy - defecting Hungarian scientist staying at the castle
This was a good series and I liked how Edmonson was building on each successive story. I'm sad that we won't get to see the final stories. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 19, 2017

Follows A Question of Inheritance

Borrowed as Kindle audiobook

Opinions are my own

Murder in an English Glade by Jessica Ellicott

This is the first book I read instead of listening to it and I miss listening to Barbara Rosenblat. Otherwise, it is a fine story wherein Beryl and Edwina actually leave Beeches and stay at a nearby manor which is not only hosting the Girl Guides but also an artists gallery. It is an interesting "case" with the lady of the house asking them to pretend to "investigate" her sister-in-law. Constance knows her sister-in-law, Ursula, is of good virtue but they have a cousin who is determined to make up stories. Especially since Ursula is so mucjyounger than Hubert, Constance's brother, she is afraid that the rumors will be believed.

However, their time at the manor quickly changes when one of the artists, Louis Langdon Beck, is murdered. He was apparently not a nice man but just how not nice is going to be uncovered.

I liked the character building for both Edwina and Beryl in this book. The solution of the mystery felt a little unfinished, like we could have seen more about the killer's motive but it was an overall good story.

Four stars

This book came out October 26, 2021

Follows Murder Comes to Call

Followed by Murder through the English Post

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own