Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh

Previous stories in this series had three siblings being proven illegitimate and their cousin coming into the title. Alexander Westcott never wanted to be the Earl of Riverdale. He likes his cousins and he liked his life. But now he's inherited not only the title but land, a crumbling house, and a mountain of debt.
Wren Heyden knows about the debt and she is offering up a solution; marry her and get her inheritance. Alexander is taken aback, especially when he discovers why she's been a recluse for most of her life. They decide that it won't work... until Wren comes to London.
Regular Balogh readers will recognize themes that she's played with before -- long-lost family, a slow build to love, etc. There is a nice balance between bringing back previous characters in the series and setting up for the next book. Regular readers will enjoy this book.

Four stars
This book comes out November 7
ARC provided by NetGalley
Follows Someone to Hold

Christmas at the Graff by Kaylie Newell

Jemma Banks isn't going to be in Marietta for long. She's just here to help the father who abandoned her as a child. To say she has mixed emotions is an understatement. And meeting her father's friend/pysical therapist, EJ Corpa doesn't help her sort those feelings at all.
The man is handsome as heck and really seems to see Jemma's father as, well, a father-figure.  And while he says repeatedly that he's not interested in long-term relationships, he seems to have a heart as big as the mountains they climb to find the perfect Christmas tree.
This was mostly an okay book except that EJ was sort of a creepy person. He was controlling, never even tried to see Jemma's side of the story, and kept having thoughts about how to kidnap Jemma. I soldiered through to the end of the book but it was a near thing.

This book came out November 1
Two stars
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Ring In the Year with Murder by Auralee Wallace

Erica and Freddie are back in another madcap adventure. The story starts with a hangover and then resets at New Year's Eve. Our first person narrator, Erica, and her BFF Freddie are working with Rhonda Cooke to get Otter Lake Security off the ground. They're having trouble though since Rhonda's PI license hasn't come through yet. Erica is trying to be upbeat declaring her theme of the year to be The Year of The Adult., even it means spending New Year's Eve with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. And Rhonda's cousin who she keeps threatening to set up with Erica's flame/crush/could-have-been, Matthew. Something happens during the night but Erica's memory is rather... spotty.
This is a back and forth between "present" and the night before. I've never really connected with this series. My biggest problem is the fact that Erica doesn't seem to be growing as an investigator or as a person. Freddie either. Four books in and you'd think that there would be some change. People who have enjoyed the other books in this series may enjoy this one as well those with frustrations... this book doesn't change any of those.

This book comes out October 31
Three stars
Followed by Down the Aisle with Murder
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

The Fourth Ruby by James R. Hannibal

Since their last adventure a year ago, Jack and Gwen haven't been speaking too much. Jack has been working with another (more advanced) Quartermaster while also keeping another secret... he might be losing his power. It's no wonder Gwen hasn't been talking to him lately.
The book opens with Jack being in the middle of the Hunt (an annual game) and betraying the fact that he can spark. Keeping that secret causes him to get kicked out of the Hunt. Life doesn't get any better after he gets set up for the theft of the Royal Crown jewels. And just like that, Jack, Gwen and even his sister Sophie are off on a trip that will take them to exotic locales.
This book started off both slow and confusing. If you haven't read the first book, I would definitely suggest starting there. It did get better though and I am looking forward to the third book in the series.

Three stars
This book comes out October 1
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Thread the Halls by Lea Wait

The Mainely Needlepoint group is ready to celebrate Christmas but an unexpected guest shows up and brings even more people with her. Patrick's mother, the famous film star Skye, is going to spend Christmas in Maine. It seems that the actors on her latest film aren't getting along and there is some hope that a group vacation will do them some good. Too bad one of the actors gets killed the night they arrive. Especially disappointing after all of the hard work Angie and her friends put in trying to make the house festive.
I haven't read the other books in the series but felt fine jumping in at number 6. I liked the character development and most of the story but the end of the book was just... disappointing. The entire wrap up took something like, 10 pages? An okay dip into this series but one I won't continue.

Two an a half stars
This book comes out October 31
This book was provided as an ARC by NetGalley

Auction Action by Andrew Grey

For a 35 page novella, this was a surprisingly good story. It's two men who meet at an auction. One man wins a painting that the other wants. Then they meet again at a gay bar and enter into a... relationship? Maybe? It's an incredibly short story and I don't go for erotica but for the length, etc. ... not a bad way to spend 15 minutes.

Three and a half stars
This novella comes out November 2
Kindly provided as an ARC from NetGalley

MAD Librarian by Michael Guillebeau

In a tragic mirror of real life Serenity Hammer is a librarian who has to fight for every penny to keep her library open. But the Powers That Be won't oil just any squeaky wheel, just the ones that oil them back. So Serenity decides that she's going to take matters into her own hands, whether it's legal or not.
As a former librarian, this book really hit home. The story is a good one. The execution... (sigh). The writing is rather stilted; it makes the reading less than smooth. Characters are just a little too broad and stereotypical. This was obviously a labor of love and I like that some proceeds from the sale go to a library but I probably wouldn't generally recommend this book.

Two and a half stars
This book comes out December 1
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley