Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

A great read where the heroine is truly curvy (not some 5'9-and-150-pounds-curvy-my-ass heroine) The hero is still the classic TDH (tall, dark and handsome) but Minerva (Min) doesn't even believe in love. She has her two best friends and her beloved sister, so what more does she need out of life? Well, she's still dating, but the last guy broke up with her, accusing her of being frigid, then turning around and trying to bet Calvin (Cal) Morrisey ten thousand dollars that Cal can't get her into bed within a month. Cal doesn't take the bet, but nobody seems to believe him.

Min overhears the conversation and decides that she'll teach Cal a lesson by going out to dinner with him and then unceremoniously walking out. The two have some major obstacles including both sets of parents (Min's mom is convinced she's fat, Cal's parents think he's dumb) that have given them hideous insecurities. 

It's a romance so of course there is a HEA, but I LOVE the fact that they don't actually have kids. Every other happily ever after has kids somewhere in the picture and that just isn't actually everyone's cup of tea so this is a refreshing change of pace.

Four stars
This book came out January 1, 2004

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited (came with ebook)

Opinions are my own

Murder Above the Silver Waves by Blythe Baker

Lillian Crawford and her brother are crossing the ocean to get away from some big disgrace. It's fairly large but, luckily, there are still some people on board willing to talk to them. But Lillian is doomed to be a name on people's lips once again when, while strolling the deck one night, she witnesses a murder. Being a plucky 1920s female main character, of course Lillian is going to try and solve the murder herself. Of course, she and her brother aren't the only people on board with a secret. And the more she looks, the more she's likely to get herself into trouble.

This was a decent start to a series and I have a feeling it will get better as the characters are developed more. 

Three stars
This book came out December 26, 2021

Followed by Murder Within the Uneasy Crowd

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Mix Up by Candace Harper

Two librarians have a mutual crush but are both hesitant to make a move. When they end up in the same room at a conference, their feelings finally come out.

This felt like a first book but an earnest effort. It took me a little time to get through because some of the language hadn't been quite smoothed out but was a fun little diversion.

Three stars

This book came out February 29, 2020

Ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon

I heard about this book on an episode of Smart Podcast Trashy Books. They made it sound fun and interesting and Kindle Unlimited had it available so I thought, "Why not?" 
This was one of the few times that SPTB and I will have to agree to disagree. I never connected with Esther or could tell what kind of person she was outside of the fact that she really, really, really likes to have sex. And I'm not slut-shaming here, I just would have liked to know more about her or any of the gentlemen that she gets to know throughout the story.  

Two and a half stars

This book came out March 23, 2021

Followed by The Basilisk of Star Manor

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis

Alice, Knox, and Lauren have a shared past. Lauren was involved with Alice's brother (Knox's best friend) but he died. Now the three have been brought together because Lauren's great aunt died and left them a B&B. Well, it's going to be a B&B. And they'll only inherit if they all stick around. But there's an even stickier past that starts to come to light as they all work together. 

There are so many layers to this story that none of them get truly developed. We know that Alice fears going back in the barn, Lauren is on the verge of losing her job, and Knox... well, we don't get to know Knox all that well. But the book is still a lovely read and, if you don't want to go to deep into emotions and are looking for a closed door romance, this will be the book for you.

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 17, 2023

Follows The Friendship Pact

Followed by The Sweetheart List

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Murder in Long Island by Colette Clark

Apparently the Kindle Unlimited algorithm has decided that I like 1920s mysteries with a plucky heroine. And this is about my favorite so far. Penelope was disinherited by her father for unknown reasons three years ago. She lives with her father's cousin Cordelia and makes money by gambling. Her edge? Her eidetic memory. But shock of all shocks, her father has called her for dinner. Her mother's dear friend Agnes is dead. Supposedly she did herself in but Penelope isn't so sure. Especially since the same people who were there at her aunt's car accident are the same ones who are there this weekend. 

The mystery is maybe a little thin and I really wish we had gotten to know Agnes but I am looking forward to getting to know the other characters. 

Four stars

This book came out February 11, 2022

Followed by The Missing White Lady

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn

Still smarting from the revelations of the last book, Stoker has run away to Germany. Or somewhere thereabouts. Veronica decided to let him lick his wounds but has been pulled to find him by Stoker's brother Tiberius who has told her, "I need him."

That astonishing pronouncement is brought on because Tiberius has received a threatening note that references one of Tiberius's from the group that called themselves The Seven Sinners. In the year after they graduated from school, one of the young men died after discovering a massive dinosaur fossil. Two more members died in the intervening years but now two more have passed away in quick succession. Tiberius is worried and would like Stoker and Veronica to attend his house party to see if they can get to the bottom of what is going on. 

Of course, there is the usual amount of mayhem and people trying to kill our intrepid heroes. It all makes for a very enjoyable book. 

Veronica Speedwell #8

Four stars

This book comes out March 7, 2023

Follows An Impossible Impostor

Followed by A Grave Robbery

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Libby March 2024