Peg and Rose Deck the Halls by Laurien Berenson

stars

This book comes out September 29, 2026

Senior Sleuths #4

Follows Peg and Rose Play the Ponies

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Danica Reese

An injured carrier pigeon lands in Nancy's yard. Inside the capsule is a mysterious message. She is determined to figure out what the message means. It will lead her to a mysterious manor where a doctor seems to be taking advantage of elderly women, including one who risks quite a bit to get a bracelet smuggled out with Nancy's family doctor.

A lot of coincidences and a fairly improbable escape when Nancy is thrown in a pit at the end of the book but worth re-reading when I'm doing the whole series. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew #10

Follows The Sign of the Twisted Candles

Followed by The Clue of the Broken Locket

This book came out in 1933

The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch

stars

The Nosey Parker Mysteries #10

Follows The Cornish Honeymoon Murder

This book comes out September 24, 2026

ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

Izzy and her wacky family are back. She’s been arrested 4 times in the last three months because of her next-door neighbor, a man she refers to as, “The Subject”. He is suspicious because of his name, the locked door in his house, and, of course, his interest in her. Izzy is also busy because her whole family is acting suspiciously. Her mother keeps sneaking out, her dad is coming home having been to yoga, her brother isn’t going into work and instead staying at home all day, and her sister Rae, well, she’s always suspicious. 

Most of the characters from the first book make a reappearance, including two of Izzy’s ex-boyfriends. It is a zany book and very much of its time which may make it seem dated to some readers. I did have to plow through some of the zaniness at points but it was overall a good read and is not discouraging me from completing the series. 

Three and a half stars

Spellman Series #2

Follows The Spellman Files

Followed by Revenge of the Spellmans

This book came out March 11, 2008

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Well Versed by Jen DeLuca

Six years ago Nina's heart was broken. That tainted her love of the Ren Faire and even made her change her major. Now, she's jobless and had to move back home where they desperately need ladies in waiting. Too bad the man who broke her heart is still there. And, through a series of unfortunate events, he is now spending more and more time with her family. 

stars

Well Met #5

This book came out September 22, 2026

Follows Well Traveled

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

A Death, A Duke And Miss Mifford & A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford by Claudia Stone

Miss Mary Mifford is now twenty-two and has decided that she is a spinster, on the shelf, and ready to help her three (!) sisters find an acceptable marriage. To the end of being "good" spinster, she is wearing mobcaps, frowning at things that aren't "correct", and doing good works. On the way to one of those good works she sees someone trying to break into Mr. Parsims house. She doesn't particularly like Mr. Parsims but he doesn't deserve to be robbed. So she throws a rock at the man. 

Henry, Duke of Northcott, doesn't expect to be attacked while trying to get in touch with his parson. Of course, he doesn't come to Plumpton often so maybe Miss Mary Mifford can be forgiven for not recognizing him. Besides, she's really vvery lovely. 

At a party held in the Duke's honor, Mr. Parsims goes out of his way to make himself detestable. Not a surprise since he's had at least two other fights that the readers have seen in this story. But Mary is the only person to wish he would be murdered. Only hours before he actually is. Now, both Miss Mifford and the duke have reasons to want to clear her name.

This book started off with a cute conceit. However, I'm not sure if this was just not edited but there were a lot of word choices that were just wrong. I searched to make sure it wasn't some difference between British and American English but it was not.

Two stars

Regency Murder & Marriage #1

Followed by A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford

This came out December 7, 2020

Jane Mifford is the second of four girls. She had never thought to marry  but is realizing she can’t stay at home with her interfering mother. That would be just too much to ask. And her sister seems happily married to the Duke so it might be worth trying. Little does she expect a man to fall literally at her feet. 

Ivo Bonneville (check spelling) was lost but he thinks he might have just been found. The delightful Miss Mittford is the only thing keeping him happy at the moment. His odious cousin has summoned him to watch the man marry (in his eighty-second year) to a young girl. It seems that Ivo might only be heir to viscountcy for a little while longer. But he knew that might happen, that’s why he made his own fortune. He’s not particularly concerned about the old man dying. But when he does, and it’s murder, Ivo feels tompelled to not only find a wife to secure the bloodline (as good a reason as any to chase Miss Mittford), but to clear his own name as well (not that anyone’s said that the old man died, but everyone assumes it was Ivo.)

This whole series is fast and fluffy. Is it the best series out there? No. Is it like Pringles that you're going to consume them anyway? Indeed. 

Three stars

Regency Murder & Marriage #2

Follows A Death, A Duke And Miss Mifford

Followed by A Murder, a Marquess, and Miss Mifford

This came out December 7, 2020

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

There seems to be a trend of flipping heroes and villains. This book follows that as Anna describes her job. She's just a data analyst. That's it. On a job-for-hire no less. Not even a full-time position. So why is she suddenly on TV standing behind a villain? And why is she feeling like she's been hit by a ton of bricks?
She's just another bystander, hurt in the crossfire of a hero/villain feud. Now she's got no friends, no insurance, and no job. And the hero who hurt her certainly isn't stepping up to help. Her one friend does eventually come back but Anna is fundamentally changed. She's ready to step up and see what she can do. Because in today's world? Data rules all.

Four stars

Hench #1

Followed by Villain

This book came out September 22, 2020

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own