Friday, July 3, 2026

Rocky Start by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

This book is pure fluff and has Crusie's fingerprints all over it. If you know her writing, this book will feel very familiar. 
Rosalee "Rose" Malone has lived in Rocky Start for nineteen years. Ever since her 12-year relationship ended when she got pregnant and he threw her under the bus for fraud. Now her daughter is about to graduate high school and her mentor is dead. But there are weird things happening in Rocky Start including two gentleman. One who attacks her in her store and one who says he saved her (though she thinks she was doing a pretty good job herself, thankyouverymuch.)
Max Reddy and his dog Mags are in town to pick up a new pair of boots while he's out on the Appalachian Trail. This town is out of the way but this is where his old boss sent the package. It's an interesting little town, straddling the line of Tennessee and South Carolina. The people there remind him of the people he used to work with in his old job; lots of secrets to hide.
Rosalee bothered me a little; she sticks her head in the sand about a lot of things. But I still enjoyed the book quite a bit. 

Four stars
Rocky Start #1
Followed by A Very Nice Funeral
This book came out July 21, 2024
Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Garfield Donut Disturb by Jim Davis

Generally known for his love of lasagna, the truth is that he loves all food. In this book, there are a higher number than usual strips devoted to his love of donuts. We also see his relationship with Arlene as well as with Odie. There are still more jokes about "Beware of Dog." Just a delightful read.

Four stars
Garfield #76
Follows Garfield Fully Caffeinated
Followed by
This book came out August 27, 2024



Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Garfield Easy as Pie by Jim Davis

This book has a number of strips devoted to relationships. Garfield talking with his girlfriend Arlene (and somehow often bringing food into the equation. Sometimes she is even on the same page. Jon somehow managing to hold on to Liz. Garfield loving Pookie. 

Four stars
Garfield #69
Follows Garfield Belly Laughs
Followed by Garfield Goes H
og Wild
This book came out July 14, 2020

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

June 2026 Monthly Rereads

Opinions are my own



Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb
Four stars
In Death #61
Followed by Fury in Death
This book comes out September 2, 2025
Borrowed as hard copy from library






The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz
Four stars
This book comes out January 6, 2026
Loosely connected to the Fogg Lake books

Monday, June 29, 2026

Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle

The book opens with Alice Radstone returning to the Hotel of Dreams. Except this time, she's there on purpose. It's been ten months since she escaped a ward for the criminally insane after being dubbed "The Mad Bride." Everyone thought she had killed her husband, but she has no memory of that night. Nor has she any memory of that husband.
Owen March is feeling guilty. He helped a very wealthy man track down Alice, but he's beginning to thingk that the story he was told is a lie. He's going to make sure that Alice can return to her regular life a free woman. And to do that, he'll have to keep her safe by marrying her.
Is this book a little bonkers? Oh yeah. Did I still enjoy the ride? Mostly. It stretched my disbelief suspension to the max but I overall had fun.

Three and a half stars
Ghost Hunters #18
This book comes out June 30, 2026
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sunday, June 28, 2026

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

This book starts with a literal bang when Nancy and her friend, Helen Goulding, are trying to outrun a storm but, when their boat hits a log, they have to swim for it. They are saved by Laura Pembleton who mentions that she might need Nancy's help. She has new guardians and is wary of them
The couple is certainly a piece of work. The wife is rude and demanding, even before she meets Laura. The husband nearly drives Nancy and Helen off the road. Things get stranger from there. 
This book is somewhat disjointed with parts and characters popping up without rhyme or reason but it was still an interesting read. 

Three stars
Nancy Drew #3
Followed by The Mystery at Lilac Inn
This book came out in 1930
ARC kindly provided by Dover Publications and Netgalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by K.J. Whittle

Seven people gather for a dinner. Seven people show up. Seven people are given envelopes, but only five open them. In each envelope is a number preceded by the words "You will die aged..." But this can't be a predictor of the future, right? For the first person, no one is really sure. But then the second person dies. Now a pattern has started and everyone is nervous. Will anyone make it out alive?
I liked the premise of this book and appreciated the tie to one of Christie's but it felt overly simplified and a little bit preachy at the end. 

Three stars
This book came out September 9, 2025
Borrowed as hard copy from the library
Opinions are my own