Friday, January 3, 2025

Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz

Ever since she woke up from a night she didn't remember, Amelia's talents for seeing people auras has magnified. She can't see them during the day, but at night, she sees a fog of emotions that people have left behind them. This new sight has made it so that she fears going out at night. She's even seeing a therapist for it. But now, her life has gotten stranger since there seems to be a man stalking her. So she calls in some help. 
Gideon Sweetwater is a private investigator. He's wealthy enough to be able to pick his own cases. And he's interested in Amelia's. While he's not exactly sure she's actually seeing what she thinks she sees, he's willing to take a chance. And thank goodness he does, because there actually are some forces after Amelia and not everyone in her life is as they appear. 
You don't HAVE to have read the other books in this series to enjoy it but it would help. 

Four stars
This book comes out January 7th, 2025
The Lost Night Files #3
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from library March 2025

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Flashpoint by Catherine Coulter

Characters from previous books return in this one. The first is Lady Elizabeth Palmer. She was caught in a plot that would have killed any number of people. Since then, she's been trying to live a simple life. But now, someone is trying to kill her. Could it be linked to the man who pulled her into his web last year?
The second character is Autumn. She's twelve and is watching a younger boy for the summer while his father goes on a belated honeymoon with his new, young wife. But while Tash's father is away, Autumn discovers that she and Tash share some abilities. And his are warning him that his father is in danger.
I still read this series even though it's a little off the wall for me.

Three and a half stars
This book came out July 2, 2024
FBI Thriller #27
Follows Reckoning
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

December 2024 Rereads

Owl Be Home for Christmas: A Meg Langslow Mystery

Owl be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews
Four stars
This book came out October 15th, 2019
Meg Langlow #26

Monday, December 30, 2024

The White Priory Murders by Carter Dickson

I had read one or two books by Dickson before and mostly enjoyed them. This one was a little confusing to follow and the plot was a bit melodramatic but I finished it. Two and a half stars rounded up for Goodreads.
This is essentially a locked room mystery. A group of people have gathered. One dies in a remote outbuilding. It can't be anything but murder but there are no footprints in the fresh snow around the building. The victim is an actress who is trying to raise her falling star. Tempestuous and aging, she is trying to reinvigorate her career by coming across the pond to star in a play. There is more than one attempt on her life. And one is finally successful.

Three stars
This book came out in 1934
Sir Henry Merrivale #2
Follows The Plague Court Murders
Followed by The Red Widow Murders
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Sunday, December 29, 2024

A Christmas Holiday by Janice Bennett, Violet Hamilton, Sara Blayne, Karla Hocker, Anthea Malcolm, Tracy Grant , Elizabeth Thornton, W.M. Cordy

To be fair, I read this book close to when it came out so my rating may be colored by nostalgia. 

Holly Brooch by Janice Bennett

Miss Dorothea Steyning had a chance at happiness. When it fell through, she was left with a debt of honor. This Christmas, she has a chance to repay that debt. As long has her two students don't stand in her way. 

Christmas Bride by Sara Blayne
Kathryn is used to being the head of her rather... dramatic... family. She was married five years ago but he soon left for war. Now that he's back, he's confused as to why she didn't tell the world she's married to a duke. But the more he see of her family, the more he understands. And the more he's enchanted by her.

Glastonbury Thorn by Violet Hamilton
Nicholas Farris is home for the holidays. Before he left for war, he had an understanding with a very beautiful young woman. But now that he's back, he's wondering whether her younger sister might not be a better match.

Yule Log by Karla Hocker
A beautiful young widow sets out to celebrate "Christmas the way it used to be," and finds that a treasured friendship can blossom into a warm and lasting love.

Mistletoe Christmas by Anthea Malcolm
Elizabeth Alder had stubbornly broken her engagement a year ago. But on Christmas Eve, she is given antoher chance at romance...if she's brave enough to take it.

Sheer Sorcery by Elizabeth Thornton.
Jess has been dealing with her guardian for years. She's ready to be free of him. Or so she says. But when her eye is caught by a local shop's "Sheer Sorcery," some truths about their relationship might come out.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi

This was an okay book. Definitely branches off of Adachi's first book and her podcast about being a lazy genius. There is an idea of zones which would work fine in theory but that's not always going to be a possibility. That was about my biggest takeaway from the book. Enjoyed the ideas but most were not helpful for my particular situation.

Three stars
This book came out May 3, 2022
Borrowed as hard copy from the library
Opinions are my own

Friday, December 27, 2024

The Apothecary's Poison by C.J. Archer

While Matt and India are generally trying to stay under the radar of the newspapers, they do still read them. And an article about a doctor, claiming that he brought someone back from the dead. Of course, that's going to be of great interest to Matt so they take a chance an interview him. 
It's too bad that, while the man may be a magician, he doesn't appear to be capable of miracles. It's also too bad that the man ends up dead. Because they were there the day before, Matt becomes a suspect. 
A fine story and the ending actually moves the overarching story along.

Three and a half stars
This book came out April 4, 2017
Glass and Steele #3
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own