The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

For those of us who have seen Britney's Instagram, we can tell that this book has been heavily (HEAVILY) edited. Or the ghostwriter was really good at pulling together a coherent narrative from fractured stories. But it is an interesting glimpse into the life of a woman who, the world is slowly discovering, was done wrong by almost everyone around her. While she may not be completely on her feet, that is probably not completely her fault and what happened to her is given context by what was going on in her own mind versus the narrative being built by people who only wanted to make money off of her. We get stories from Star Search, the Mickey Mouse Club years, her marriages, some of her dating life, and her time being pregnant. Getting to see behind the curtain makes her so much more relatable.

Four stars

This book came out October 24, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

It's a shame that the biggest stretch of my imagination that there was more than one librarian in the school that Alexis worked in because that shouldn't be the world we live in. Also, that a Democrat could get close to winning in Texas. But the man that Alexis tries to have a one night stand with turns out to be a man in politics. 

Logan knows that he needs to have a squeaky clean image to be able to have a chance to beat the incumbent. Having a picture taken of him and Alexis leaving a hotel is not part of the plan. But when fake dating gets put on the table, he is shocked that she says yes.

This was an okay book but more politics than I expected and so much that could have been solved with some communication.

Three stars

This book came out May 7, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality by Kate Khavari

Ugh. This book introduced one of my least favorite tropes: the love triangle. Saffron Everleigh didn't really make any promises to Alexander Ashton before he headed out to the Amazon, so should she really feel guilty for kissing Dr. Michael Lee in the course of an investigation? The man who supports her in her investigation of the deaths of three women, all of whom were sent bouquets of flowers that had messages. And often caused itching and more.

This time, Detective Inspector Green actually asks for her help. And Saffron wants to help. She may be in over her head though. Going undercover in the ton, it may be that her true identity will be exposed and the way of life she has chosen for herself will be threatened.

Three stars

This book came out June 6, 2023

Saffron Everleigh Mysteries #2

Follows A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons

Followed by A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner

If you had the chance, would you make a wish to relive a part of your life? Sadie Thatcher jumps at the opportunity a fortune teller gives her at a New Year's party. The only problem? Right before she jumps back a year, she kisses her brother's best friend and opens up a new potential pathway.

When she wakes up a year ago, Sadie decides that she's not going to speak up. Speaking up is what caused her to lose her fiance and her job. But not speaking up is causing a whole host of other issues. And, like most time travel books, she discovers that her path to happiness was right in front of her nose all along.

Three stars
This book came out December 5, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge

I didn't realize this book was part of a series when I picked it up based on the cover. The story was intriguing, a woman puts her DNA into an ancestry site looking for her lost family. Suddenly, she is linked as one person away from a murderer. It is her father, her son, or her brother that is killing woman and then burning their bodies. Aisling Cooley has been a single mom and is generally proud of her two boys. But what does the evidence mean when her father has been gone for decades and she has no siblings?

This book was a little too twist and turny for me but might have been more enjoyable had I read more in the series (though I didn't feel I needed to have done so.)

Three stars

This book came out April 13, 2023

Follows Little Sister

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Yvonne Goes to York by Marion Chesney

The last book in this series isn't as crazy as some of the other books but it does finally wrap up the overarching love story of the former housekeeper, Miss Hannah Pym and Sir George. We also get to see what happened to Hannah's former employer who ran off with a footman. 

True to form for these stories, Hannah is boarding a stagecoach. This time, she is heading to York. Also on the coach are a lovely young Frenchwoman (Yvonne), a nobleman who says he is doing it because he is out of funds (the Marquis of Ware), and a Frenchman who is after Yvonne in order to get to her father.

A satisfying end to the series and Sir George not only finds out that Hannah has been telling the truth about her adventures, he gets to join in.

Three stars

This book came out in 1992

Follows Deborah Goes to Dover

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

If you had the chance to go back to major life moments and make different choices, would you do it? Lolly Blanchard is about to make that exact choice. Her life changed irrevocably when her mother died. All of her own dreams were put on hold. But now her life is changing again and she's wondering whether she made the right decisions. Her aunt has the answer. Three lemon drops that, taken before she goes to bed, will let her live her life in an alternate version of her life. Lolly is skeptical... until the first night has her waking up overseas, in charge of the restaurant that she had always hoped for.

A little sappy in points but a cute read and a life lesson in how you really can shape your own decisions.

Four stars

This book came out August 2, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinion are my own