Beyond Seduction by Stephanie Laurens

In previous books in the series, Gervase keeps being called home. Finally, we, the readers, find out what it's all about.
His sisters, having seen what happened when one of their neighbors got married, are terrified. They do not want to be shipped off to some boarding school. Instead, they wreak havoc around Gervase's estate in order to keep an eye on him and who he is dating. In a moment of pique, Gervase promises to marry the next woman he sees (who fulfills a list of criteria, including him liking her (he's not stupid)) .
This is a romance novel so a woman shows up pretty darn quick. He doesn't exactly believe that she'd fit his requirements having known Madeline Gascoigne in the past but now he's at least looking at her with new eyes.
Madeline needs Gervase's help. She's not looking for a husband; she's her brother's guardian and she has to keep that estate together. But there is an electricity between them that she wants to explore.
There are the same basic beats as the rest of the books in the series: Man wants to get married, woman doesn't, they get married, but with its own little twists.

Three and a half stars

This book came out in 2007

Follows To Distraction

Followed by The Edge of Desire

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Murder Through the English Post by Jessica Ellicott

The book starts out with Edwina in her new position, that of magistrate for Walmsley Parma. In true Edwina fashion, she is nervous about being in charge but it is the last case of the day that causes her some angst. Michael and Norman had gotten into a fight and the local constable got punched in the face. 

The argument began because an unsigned letter accused Norman of spreading rumors bout Michael's service and whether or not he was really injured on the front line. An understandable reason to get upset. Not a good reason to clock Constable Gibbs. Edwina is able to clear up the misunderstanding but she is worried. She becomes even more worried when it becomes clear that there is a spate of poison pen letters being spread throughout the town. Even Beryl gets one (though, being Beryl, she is highly amused rather than any other emotion.)

When one of the recipients takes drastic measures, Constable Gibbs asks the ladies to look into who is sending the letters. Eventually the mystery will be solved, but not before there is a death. 

The ending was a little convoluted and there were a couple of phrases that were repeated a little too often but overall a nice addition to the series.

Beryl and Edwina Mystery #6

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 26, 2022

Follows Murder in an English Glade

Followed by Murder at a London Finishing School

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Seaside Hotel by Sonia Parin

Oh. My. Lanta. This book was SOOOOOO slow. I'd estimate that half the book is just Evie coming up with wild theories about the death of a maid in a seaside hotel. And we're never really given a reason she's so involved other than the fact that the police never interviewed her (seemed like this was tongue-in-cheek) and that she didn't like that the police weren't giving this maid respect. We never really do find out why the police didn't look into the death but luckily Evie has an old friend (Inspector O'Neill) who is
willing to come down and take a look. Also involved? Evie's maid, chauffeur, and "good friend," Tom. 

Two and a half stars

This book came out July 28, 2019

Follows Murder in the Cards

Followed by Murder in the Third Act

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

To Distraction by Stephanie Laurens

Deverell, Viscount Paignton, would like to find a wife. He seeks counsel from his aunt Audrey. Born several years after her brothers, she is closer to him in age and knows him well. Her recommendation is one of her many goddaughters. The woman's name? Phoebe Malleson. She is a little older than some of the current crop of unwed ladies and the reasons she is unmarried, according to Audrey, are what makes her perfect for Deverell. 

For her part, Phoebe has decided that she would rather not wed. Deverell's interest is therefore not welcome, especially since she's heard that he was involved in the government somehow and some of her pursuits are not quite... legal. 

Deverell is determined to make Phoebe trust him. He is anxious to start his future, one that includes the woman he was instantly entranced with.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 29, 2006

Follows A Fine Passion

Followed by Beyond Seduction

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Intentional Leadership by Rose M. Patten

Patten believes that some leaders are natural, they just know what to do. But, leaders can also be made. they can learn to plan for the long-term. Using real-life experiences by leaders from across industries, Patten goes through the Big 8 capabilities that people need to be successful leaders in today's world because, today, it is harder than ever to be a leader. The world is changing quickly and we can't rely on the tried and true methods of yesterday working the way they used to. 

Patten doesn't just dive into the 8 capabilities. Instead, we learn about the problems facing leaders today. We see the myths about leadership that still exist as well as the new problems that are facing leaders as the working world evolves.

The 8 capabilities are further divided into three sets which really resonate with the current workplace: Mindset (personal adaptability, strategic agility, self-renewal); Personal Values (certainty of character, empathy); Connecting (contextual communication, spirited collaboration, developing other leaders.) Patten goes through each of the 8 capabilities in the later chapters and explains more about what they are and why they're needed. 

Overall, a lovely book though there are a lot of mentions of subsections and other leadership ideas which can be a little confusing at times. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 7, 2023

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and University of Toronto Press

Opinions are my own

The Difference Between Us by Rachel Higginson

Molly Maverick is happy for her BFF, Vera. Vera's in love and getting married.  It's just too bad that Vera's fiance comes along with HIS BFF, Ezra Baptiste. Model-gorgeous, Ezra is a multi-bazillionaire who seems to have a fascination with Molly. Apparently, nobody else in his life tells him "no" and the fact that she did means that she is unique. So he basically strongarms her into helping him, even after a pretty decisive turn down from Molly by doing an end run and hiring the firm she works for as a designer and specifically requesting her. And Molly already has enough to deal with given the fact that her boss's son doesn't seem to have gotten the memo on the things that constitute sexual harassment. And there is a LOT of this book that is devoted to the description of that harassment. Which would have been fine had it not all been resolved in a couple of sentences. So much build-up for so little in return. Higginson's writing saved this from being a DNF for me and she handled Molly's reactions and why she acted the way she did pretty well but I wanted more on-page justice.

Two and a half stars

This book came out 

Follows The Opposite of You

Followed by The Problem with Him

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

A Fine Passion by Stephanie Laurens

Jack Warnefleet is trying to escape the matchmaking mamas of London by escaping to his country manor. There, he finds that in his absence as a spy for the Crown, Clarice Altwood, a marquess' daughter who escaped London after she refused to play by society's rules, has been acting in his place. After getting over their initial opinions of each other, they realize that they are actually very attracted to each other. But they still have to work with each other to try and overcome a recurring character from the Bastion Series who is trying to paint Clarice's cousin as a traitor.

One of the better Stephanie Laurens (possibly my favorite in this series) before she really starts getting into character's "true selves."

Four stars

This book came out in 2005

Follows A Lady of His Own

Followed by To Distraction

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own