Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh

Most of Mary Balogh's books read along like a gentle river. Maybe some ripples but mostly a comforting and relaxing ride. This one was just a little slower than the others in this series and I felt bad since I've been waiting for Imogen's story for a long time. 

We've reached the end of the series (except for maybe the Duke's story?) and we finally learn what brought Imogen to Penderris. And why she's secreting herself in the wilds of Cornwall. The same wilds that Percival Haryes, Earl of Hardford decides that he's going to escape to. He's drunk at the time and only half-remembers that he has an estate in Cornwall and somehow it makes sense that, to cure his boredom, he needs to be more bored. 

But then he gets there and finds out that his late cousin's wife is at the estate. And her aunt-in-law as well as a companion. Oh. And a LOT of dogs and cats. None of which he's pleased about. 

So it's a rough meeting for the two of them. But as they get to know each other, they find out that maybe they're not so different after all...

Three stars

This book came out September 1, 2015

Survivors' Club #6

Follows Only a Promise

Followed by Only Beloved

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

10 years ago, Eleanor Dash wrote a bestselling mystery novel. That would be great for many people, but hers came with some drawbacks. First, being an author was her sister's dream; Harper is now Eleanor's assistant. Second, she based her detective on a real man, Connor Smith (used his name and everything), and the story is based on a mystery they solved together. But he's blackmailing her with... something.
In true first-person-narrator mystery fashion, our author may not be telling us the unvarnished truth. Some of it may be lies she's telling us, others may be lies she's telling herself. Either way, she's on a tour celebrating the anniversary with her sister, Connor, his ex-wife (also an author, a biography based on living with Connor), a TikTok influencer who wrote a book stunningly similar to Eleanor's, Connor's ex-partner from their detective agency (who also wrote a book about Connor), Connor's latest fling, and Shek, an author whose book sales are waning. Oh, and there are the paying guests, a BookFace group, including Eleanor's stalker, and a tour guide who doesn't seem to know what she's talking about.
Connor is convinced that someone is trying to kill him, but he's not the one who dies.

Four stars

This book comes out April 30, 2024

The Vacation Mysteries #1

Followed by No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Snoopy: Beagle Scout Adventures by Charles M. Schulz

Charlie Brown is off to camp. His parents think he'll make friends but he's not so sure. It doesn't start off well with people making fun of his name and finding out that his baseball team is winning without him. 

The next year, Linus goes and also meets Roy. He also has his blanket with him but isn't worried about being teased. Of course, he tells everyone about the Great Pumpkin and gets elected camp president. 

We also get to see Snoopy in the Beagle Scouts and as the various kids apply to NOT go to camp. Of course, Charlie Brown is turned down but he somehow doesn't make it to camp. 

A little more scripture than I remember but still a really enjoyable read.

Four stars

This book comes out April 30, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

I was hearing about this book on a number of different podcasts so I thought I'd pick it up. I love a good book on communication and was pleasantly surprised that this one, while still picking up threads that I've read in numerous other books, brought some new things to the conversation.

The thought is not only do we need to listen, but we need to understand. First, we need to understand what kind of conversation are we having? A tool teachers use is actually asking students if they want help, a hug, or to be heard (is this practical, emotional, or social). Knowing what you want the conversation to be is going to help you be more productive in reaching a conclusion. 

We need to know where we ourselves are coming from but also where others are coming from. Duhigg uses gun control to show that we don't always know everything that we think we know.

Lastly, we need know ourselves. Our social identities are the ways that we frame ourselves and our own histories. They help us to relate to others but they can also serve as barriers to true connection. 

There was a little too much going on in this book but I overall enjoyed this one. 

Four stars

This book came out February 20, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench; Brendan O'Hea

Did you know you needed a book of Judi Dench talking about Shakespeare? I didn't. What a fabulous audiobook has been created here. Brendan O'Hea interviews the icon Dench and it results in what seem to be spontaneous discussions about various plays with sprinkles about her life experiences both off and on stage. It is beyond delightful to hear Dench describe her experiences as various characters. As they talk about each play, describing he remembers quotes from all of the various plays. 
The two seem like old friends who are just having conversations, batting quotes and reminiscences back and forth with a delightful epilogue where they discuss their discussions. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Archie and Clementine grew up together but haven't seen each other for about five years. Still, when her father sends him a letter asking for help, Archie is ready to ride to the rescue. He even drags along his two best friends because they're supposed to be on their annual "Earls Trip" (only two of them are earls, one is an heir.) They seem surprisingly okay with detouring their trip to help rescue Clementine who is hell bent on rescuing her sister, Olive. Then all five trundle off to continue on the earls trip. Without chaperones. To a house that has a bunch of bushes in phallic shapes.

I've only read contemporaries by Jenny Holiday and those a generally fairly fun. This book, though historical, still has those contemporary beats. If I had thought or known to expect an overlay of contemporary banter, ideals, and jargon over a historical setting, I think it would have made the book more enjoyable for me.  

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

I didn't think I had read the other books in this series but didn't feel the need to (in going back, I had read book #2 but didn't realize it). Oddly, though there are a few deaths in this book, I would call it a quiet mystery. I'm not sure why but it was just an enjoyable read and mostly reminds me of how Mary Balogh might write a mystery.
Natalka, a younger woman, and Edwin, who is in his eighties, run a detective agency. Natalka does this in addition to running a care agency. They finally get a bigger case when a woman's daughters come in convinced that their mother was killed by her husband.
The woman who died was a writer and their investigations lead them to a writer's retreat which Benedict (Natalka's significant other) and Edwin attend. And that's where the first person dies. Is this death connected to the other writer? That's what they are going to work to find out.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2024

Harbinder Kaur #4

Follows Bleeding Heart Yard

ARC kindly provided by Mariner Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own