The Meandering Reader

Thursday, October 5, 2023

A Buccaneer at Heart by Stephanie Laurens

Aileen Hopkins is looking for her brother Will. He disappeared into the jungle and no one seems to be worried about finding him. She is pushing the issue but is unaware of the danger she is putting herself in.

Captain Robert Frobisher sees that danger. He knows that people have been disappearing from the local town but is trying to be more circumspect in figuring out what is going on. Together, they get to the next step in trying to uncover a massive plot that won't be solved until two more of the Frobisher brothers get involved.

Like other books in this series, it could have been shorter but both Aileen and Robert are well developed.

Three stars

This book came out April 26, 2016

Follows The Lady's Command

Followed by The Daredevil Snared

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy; Sierra Simone

I did not read the first book in this series and didn't feel like I had missed much except how steamy this book was going to be. I go back and forth between enjoying so much sex on the page and this was a little bit more than I could enjoy at this point in my life but this was still a really interesting story.

Winnie Baker was a shining star of the Hope Channel. She married young, kept Hollywood thin, was a beloved TV character but her marriage still failed. Her husband has convince her that it was all her fault (of course.) Now, having gained a little wait and a very little courage, Winnie is ready to star in a slightly naughty movie for the Hope Channel's steamier side.

Kallum Lieberman was part of a boy band growing up. He was the only one who didn't get a solo deal with the group split up and has settled into a life running a number of pizza parlors and having sex with any number of bridesmaids. He is all in on starring in this movie. Too bad Winnie seems so hesitant. When she asks for help with some homework so that she can convincingly have an orgasm on screen, Kallum is all in.

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Christmas Notch #2

Follows A Merry Little Meet Cute

Followed by Jingle Bell Mingle

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp

I didn't read the first book in this series but didn't feel like I missed much other than the fact that I was vaguely surprised that there was magic in this book.

Another mystery riff on the Great British Bake off, this time Daisy is a baker but she has a side business killing bad men by infusing her pies with magic. She finds her customers on the dark web. It seems like she has a significant other (couldn't tell if he knew about her side business) and a partner who does know.

The story proceeds along as the show does, with the different bakes. It's just too bad that it turns out that Daisy's latest target is one of her judges. It's also too bad that one of the contestants ends up dead. And there's another body that shows up before the end of the story.

I liked this book well enough though the ending was a little bit more complicated than I thought it needed to be.

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 7, 2023

Follows Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies

Followed by The Last to Pie

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

A Burglary In Belgravia by Lynda Wilcox

Lady Eleanor Bakewell is out for a fun night at the theater but she is the only one who hears a loud noise. When she goes to see what is going on, she discovers a dead body, Sir David Bristol. Sir David is a socialist who ran one of the leading papers in London. He is also the benefactor of the play and a man known for his many, many, many relationships. His current relationship is with the star of the play that Lady Eleanor came to see with her friend.

There is some character growth in this book though not a lot. The mystery was a little convoluted with Eleanor being hired by a lady to find her pearl necklace and the murder being mixed in with some jewel robberies.

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 2, 2019

Follows a Poisoning in Piccadilly

Followed by A Traitor at Tower Bridge

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Monday, October 2, 2023

Wisteria Witches by Angela Pepper

Zara Riddle isn't sure why she decided to apply for the librarian position in Wisteria but her good feelings about the move are cemented when she gets an amazing deal on a house for herself and her daughter. Zara was a teen mom and has worked hard to be able to afford this move. She's just having some odd things happen to her like, she suddenly knows how to cook and she's thinking odd things about the man next door.

Well, not the one that's about her age, Chet. He has magnetic green eyes and seems like a good father. No, her thoughts are about his dad, Grampy Don. It's almost as if her thoughts aren't her own.

This book could have used a little more editing. It was sometimes hard to tell when Zara was in charge and when the ghost was. Also, Chet wasn't fleshed out very well and it seemed like he was being set up for big things later in the series.

Three stars

This book comes out February 2, 2017

Followed by Wicked Wisteria

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own