March 2023 rereads

All Opinions are my own

Scoring With the Wrong Twin by Naima Simone

WAGS #1

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 15th, 2018

Followed by Scoring off the Field

Ebook from Kindle

Scoring off the Field by Naima Simone 

WAGS #2

Three and a half stars
Follows Scoring With the Wrong Twin
Followed by Scoring the Player's Baby
This book came out March 12th, 2018
Ebook from Kindle

Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston

Magnus Pack #2

Follows Pack Challenge
Followed by Here Kitty, Kitty
This book came out March 6, 2007

Audiobook from Audible

Here Kitty, Kitty by Shelly Laurenston

Magnus Pack #3
Three stars
Follows Go Fetch! 
This book came out July 3rd, 2007
Audiobook from the library

Playing the Odds by Nora Roberts

The MacGregors #1

Three stars
This book came out March 2, 1985
Followed by Tempting Fate

Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

What the Hex by Jessica Clare

We knew from the first book in this series that Penny was anxious to be a familiar. So anxious that she might be willing to go to some unusual measures, like working with a wizard who is definitely NOT supposed to have a familiar.

Willem isn't sure about Penny. She's definitely a sunshine to his grumpy. But she's beginning to grow on him. Even her quirky pet is becoming more cute and less annoying. 

Good freaking lord. Why is WTF spelled out? And it's used so many times. So. Many. Times. I also wish that the love hadn't been quite so insta, that we had seem more of a relationship develop. And I didn't like the ending. Penny has been wishing for one thing her whole life and now she's being prevented from doing it. 

Three stars

This book came out April 19, 2022

Follows Go Hex Yourself

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Release the Hounds! by Lincoln Peirce

Once again, Nate is in the midst of a number of happenings. His father is handing out healthy treats

(though it helps to have a Chad if you are looking for the good candy. Nate gets injured at a soccer game but is delighted that his team fails without him and decides to take a stab at coaching. He also has to push Gina and her fragrant air freshener out of the student lounge (by taking off his shoes), but even Teddy questions his methods. 

Four and a half stars

Follows Beware of Low-Flying Corn Muffins

This book came out September 27, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown

Former police superintendent Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall is holding a ball. He has chosen his grandson, Christopher, our narrator, as the person to help him plan it. No one understands why. He defines himself as no genius but, at sixteen, to be fair, he is still finding his place in the world. Christopher has been at Cranley Hall for six months (at least on the weekends) but hasn't spoken to his grandfather since he's arrived. So he is also somewhat surprised that his grandfather is starting to come out of the cocoon that has enveloped him since his wife died.

Coming out of his cocoon includes holding a ball. Too bad someone dies. Someone in Christopher's family. Was the murder pointed or is someone trying to get the whole family? Inspector Edgington is about to come out of retirement. 

Four stars
This book came out March 1, 2021

Followed by A Body at a Boarding School

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

My favorite of the Bewcastle series. Wulfric, the Duke, has always been emotionally unavailable. He had to take over as head of the family at twelve-years-old and has had to bottle up his emotions since then. Now his brothers and sisters are all married and he is content. When Wulfric accepts an invitation to what he thinks is an intellectual gathering, he is shocked to find out it is a gathering of young people. He is distracted when Christine Derrick drops a speck of lemonade in his eye. She is a widow who is scorned by her ex-husband's family, not because of her background of being a vicar's daughter, but because they think that she contributed to his death. 

Christine things that Wulf is too rigid, he thinks she is too free-spirited, but they are attracted and can't help but fall in love. Neither is willing to admit it though and series of misunderstandings occur. Finally Bewcastle invites his family as well as hers to a house party to convince her that he might just have a heart after all.

Five stars

This book came out June 1, 2004

Follows Slightly Sinful

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole

At eight, Jo was found wandering the streets with a newborn clutched in her arms. By eleven, she and her brother Thad were mostly on their own. Though there is the kindly librarian who has taken to giving them baskets of food.

One day, Jo is out righting the wrongs of her neighborhood when she gets shot in the face by the gang members she's been playing pranks on. She wakes up I floating out of the body bag at the Morgue. Jo isn't sure what she has become but she likes it. Her first goal is to get revenge and then to get back to her brother. She goes and takes the gang members that shot her out and discovers that drinking their blood makes her stronger. But when she tries to get her brother, no one recognizes who she is including her brother and she is forced to give him up. The librarian adopts Thad and Jo is able to leave him in that happy home for 10 months until his adoptive father dies.  She's about to take him back (only one parent? That's not any better than living with her) when the librarian's mother moves in and Thad once again has two parents. We next meet Jo when she's spying on Rune as he has sex with three nymphs. Rune the Insatiable has been cursed for millennia with an appetite for sex that cannot be sated. He has black blood and will poison anyone who kisses him.

When he meets Jo, Rune is instantly attracted and confused. Especially since she seems to be able to resist his legendary charm, even stealing his favorite talisman, the one that was given to him by his mother. Then he discovers the Jo was able to withstand his poisonous black blood. Could it be that even a dark fey has a mate?

Still like the world building of the immortals. Definitely going to look for more books by Kresley Cole. Wish there hadn't been quite so much repetition this book but it was overall highly enjoyable.

Four stars
This book came out in December 1, 2015

Follows Dark Skye

Followed by Shadow's Seduction

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries

I like Sabrina Jeffries but some books more than others. I was looking forward to Eliza's story as she was set up as a widow whose marriage maybe wasn't as perfect as it appeared. In this book, she is hired to find a husband for a young woman whose husband was also in the military. The man hiring her is her dead husband's friend, Nathaniel Stanton, Earl of Foxstead. And he's being squirrely. Because he has a secret. Well, lots of secrets. WAY too many secrets for me when it gets just. so. dramatic. Also just. so. dramatic? Nathaniel and Eliza getting together. I wish we had less back and forth and more after the two are together so we could be better assured of an HEA.

Why three stars when I'm being so snarky? Jeffries is a good writer. I made it through the book and connected with the characters enough not to hate either one. And I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Three stars

This book came out March 28, 2023

Follows A Duke for Diana

Followed by Accidentally His

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Jane Wunderly is back in America, anxious to let her father know that she is engaged to be married. Too bad Henry isn't home. Especially startling, he's taken out a large sum of money against the family home and then left the country. Jane and Redvers take off after him as soon as possible, heading to Istanbul. Her aunt Millie and Millie's fiancee travel overseas as well. 

Once in Instanbul, Jane meets several people who know her father, some of them very unexpected and one of whom ends up dead. It will be up to Jane to figure out why her father left, what he's looking for, and who among the people calling themselves his friends can be trusted. 

This seemed a little more serious than I remembered but an enjoyable book overall. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 28, 2023

Follows Danger on the Atlantic

Followed by Secrets of a Scottish Isle

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witch Way Out by Cate Conte

At the end of the last book, Violet Mooney was whisked away by Blake along with the man she's been dating, Todd. They end up in the office of Mac, a private investigator and leprechaun, but Mac is not there. Instead, there is a pile of goo, evidence that Mac has been genied. Todd immediately disappears. Violet is shocked but she tries to keep her involvement quiet since she also discovered the last genie victim and her mother and Blake are worried that she might actually be the one targeted.

That's fine with Fiona, she doesn't want to rush into danger and she's still trying to get a handle on being a witch. Plus, she's gotten an unexpected call to join the local (and very popular) craft fair. This is a fabulous opportunity to highlight her shop and it's a chance to meet one of her heroes, a proponent of ethical crystal mining, Horatio Hale. But there's a saying that you should never meet your idols and that seems to be true for Violet and Horatio. Not only does he seem to be sneaking around on his ex-wife with another vendor (why keep the relationship a secret?), Violet overhears a conversation that makes it seem Horatio might not be as upstanding as he seems. Plus, there's the gentleman hanging around saying that Horatio kicked him out of the fair. 

If you've read a cozy before, you'll probably realize who is going to end up dead. It's up to Violet to finally step into her power and take control of the whole situation.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out March 28, 2023

Follows Witch Trial

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole

Lanthe and Thronos were children when they met and were convinced that they would be in love forever. And they were, until Thronos betrayed Lanthe's parents. Since then, his family has been torturing hers. And he just won't let her be. Even to the point of following her onto an island of torture. When they are (somewhat) freed, he immediately captures her. 

But their time together means that past lies and misunderstandings might finally come to light. It took a little bit longer than I really would have enjoyed but this is overall a nice addition to the series. 

Four stars

This book came out 

Follows MacRieve

Followed by Sweet Ruin

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Styx and Stones by Carola Dunn

Daisy’s brother-in-law has a problem and he is asking for Daisy’s help. He misstepped 6 years ago and now is receiving poison pen letters. Could Daisy come and help him figure out what is going on? She could bring Belinda and escape to the country and enjoy some time away from the town’s stifling heat. Daisy isn’t sure what she can do but she wants to help John so she goes.
While there, she finds out that John isn’t the only one receiving letters. She’s just about to solve the issue when she stumbles over a dead body. At first, she thinks it’s the local vicar but it turns out to have been his visiting scholarly brother. What is going on?
Alec and Daisy actually have a pretty significant fight but it is smoothed over when they actually talk to each other which was nice to see in a book.

Four stars

This book came out January 1, 1999

Follows Dead in the Water

Followed by Rattle His Bones

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

MacRieve by Kresley Cole

Chloe Todd is out there living her dream- playing soccer and getting to try out for the Olympic team. Yeah, she might be a little off lately, not eating or sleeping as much and finally getting interested in sex. And she's really thrown off by somehow being able to overhear her father's phone conversation even though she's in the middle of a packed stadium. Her life gets even worse when she's attacked by a big scary guy and then walks out of her house and falls into an abyss.

Uilleam MacRieve knows that his actions got his parents killed. He's carried that guilt with him for centuries. His life got even worse when he was captured by the Order and tortured for weeks. When he finds out the daughter of the man in charge is on the auction block, he is raring to go. But what does he smell when he gets there? Is that his mate? Why yes, yes it is. So he grabs her and runs away. You'd think it might be all sparkles and flowers as the two are wildly attracted to each other but there is at least one more surprise waiting for them.

I really enjoyed this book. Even though there is a lot of discussion about McRieve's being stuck in the past which makes sense because it's not like there was therapy back when he was a kid.

Four stars

This book came out May 9, 2013

Follows Shadow's Claim

Followed by Dark Skye

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Your Body, Your Yoga: Learn Alignment Cues That Are Skillful, Safe, and Best Suited To You by Bernie Clark

The hook for me in this book was that the authors promised new ways of cueing in yoga. We did not get much of that. Instead, this book is more of an anatomy book with a lot of information about how things pivot, flex, and extend in our body. A lot of repetition in that every body is not the same so traditional poses will not always work or even be beneficial; there are many reasons for "What stops me?". 

Three stars

This book came out April 12, 2016

Ebook borrowed from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Dead in the Water by Carola Dunn

The Henley Royal Regatta is on! And Daisy is visiting her aunt and uncle so that she can write about it. Also staying at their house is one of the regatta teams made up of a mixture of young men and slightly older men who are just back from the war. There are some class issues betwixt the men as well. But Daisy just wants her story. Too bad one of the young men on the team gets murdered. Is it because of his personality or is his family trying to hide something?

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 1, 1998

Follows Damsel in Distress

Followed by Styx and Stones

Borrowed as Audible Plus book

Opinions are my own

Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Bettina is just living her life when she's captured by four Vrekeners and tortured until she loses her Sorcerii powers. It's that mistake that leads to her agreeing to be the prize in a supernatural contest. She will be the winner's bride. And she knows just who should win, her childhood friend. Too bad Trehan Daciano has just discovered that Bettina is his fated mate and he's not going to let anyone else win.
I couldn't connect with this book and I'm not sure why. Maybe it was too much of the just Bettina story in the beginning and it took a while for the two of them to meet. I get this book's place in the series but may skip it on re-reads.

Three stars

This book came out November 27, 2012

Follows Lothaire
Followed by MacRieve

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Matchmaking a Roommate by Angela R. Casella, Denise Grover Swank

Ivy is licking her wounds in  her hometown. She doesn't particularly want to be there but between her dad's health and her own situation, she's stuck there for a bit. As an independently published romance writer, she's part of the new breed of writers. Not like her father's tenant, Lou. He's an agent for Ivy's sister's fiance (if that is easy to follow). 

Older than Ivy, Lou is in a different place in his life. He's trying to regroup after finding one of his writers in bed with his fiance. He's bemused by Ivy. And, of course, attracted.

The two start by trying to create a profile for each other for dating but quickly realize they'd rather be dating each other. But Lou belongs in New York and Ivy seems like she's ready to settle in North Carolina. Can they make it work?

Lots of big words like immolate and erudite in this book that I don't remember in other books of the series. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 9, 2023

Follows Matchmaking a Grump

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

It is a testament to Susan Elizabeth Phillips writing that there is some major WTFery and I still somewhat enjoyed the book.

Molly Somerville is the younger sister of Phoebe from It Had to be You. In that book, we saw her as a gawky teenager. She doesn't feel like she's changed much other than becoming a fairly successful children's author. And she has a crush on Kevin Tucker that results in the aforementioned WTFery.

Molly is a complicated character; she does a bad thing but she does realize (belatedly) that she was very, very wrong. She's a screw-up who has been masquerading as someone who's perfect. But she's not and Kevin takes great delight in pointing that out. Not that he's perfect. He knows he's getting close to the end of his football career and his childhood was... interesting. Most of his summers were spent at a summer camp run by his minister father and attended by gray hairs. When he and Molly need to get away for awhile, the camp seems like the perfect place to go.

But it's not the place he remembers. It's full of family, fun, and now... Molly.

Three stars

This book came out February 6, 2001

Follows Dream a Little Dream

Followed by Match Me if You Can

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

How Data Happened by Chris Wiggins, Matthew L. Jones

I liked the title of this book and thought this might be an interesting read; I work with databases every day so my life is data.  There is interesting material in the book but it can be dense so sometimes takes a little time to get through. It covers a wide range of topics from Guiness to Bletchley Park to AI. 

The authors do note that data can be manipulated and I wonder sometimes what the authors have done with their work but overall an interesting read.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out March 21, 2023

ARC kindly provided by W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit P.G. Wodehouse, Jonathan Cecil

Bertie has been invited (commanded?) to Brinkley Court. He is not excited to go because some of the other guests include Percy, who had recently applied to Bertie for a thousand pounds to put on a play, Florence, formerly engaged to Bertie, and her current fiance, "Stilton" Cheesewright who definitely has it in for Bertie. Stilton is convinced that Bertie would like to once again be engaged to Florence (though nothing is further from the truth; on the other hand, Bertie does sort of end up engaged to her again.)

As usual, there are a series of misunderstandings and shenanigans that follow the Jeeves and Wooster formula but still somehow feels fresh.

Four stars

This book came out in October 15, 1954

Follows Ring for Jeeves

Followed by How Right You Are Jeeves

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Prime

Opinions are my own

The Benson Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine

I quite enjoy the classic radio mysteries featuring Philo Vance and thought this book might be fun. It was really interesting and definitely a product of its time, especially since Vance solves this case using a type of psychology which, lo these many years later, is suspect at best. 

The writing was certainly interesting and, since I was listening to the story I can't be sure, but it seemed like the room the murder occurred in got as much if not more descriptive lines than Philo Vance himself. 

The general conceit of the story is that the author got to tag along on these cases and, many years later, is finally publishing their exploits a la Dr. Watson. This time, though, the author takes great pains to tell us that Philo Vance is a pen name.

For the first story in the series, there is a gentleman, Mr. Benson, who has been murdered in his home. As with many mysteries, there are many people who might have wanted him dead. The police are stymied and Vance is dropping oblique clues. And they really are oblique; I might be able to catch them in future books but didn't get it until close to the end.

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 4, 1926

Followed by The Canary Murder Case

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

After Effects by Catherine Aird

Mrs. Gallagher's son is upset she's dead. But it's not the fact that her physician was young, female, not-English, or wearing jeans that spurs the police to investigate. It's the anonymous phone call saying she's dead as a result of a study that's happening. 

That alone is worrying. So is the fact that her primary physician, Paul Meggy (sp?), the man in charge of the drug trial, is missing. And another one of his patients is dead. 

This book is not fairly clued and might be a bit more meandering if you are trying to read it but was fun as a quick little audio book. 

Four stars

This book came out in March 22, 1996

Follows A Going Concern

Followed by Injury Time

Borrrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong is an older woman who has lost touch with her son as well as the larger world, though she would argue against that since she keeps up on the lingo and surfs the internet to search for the latest trend. She runs her tea shop (Vera Wang's (not a spelling error on my part) World-Famous Teahouse) and sends her son a wall of text but no one seems to respond except her one regular customer. She does the same thing every day and feels some tiredness but isn't sure how to get off the treadmill. Until she's violently shaken by the discovery of a dead body, that of Marshall Chen, in her shop. 

An inveterate watcher of crime shows, Vera knows just what to do. She pats down the body, draws a chalk outline, then calls the police. While waiting, she tidies the shop and makes the police tea. She doesn't understand why they are so upset with her, nor why they get so annoyed at her asking if they want a drink. She made her best tea, one that will help them think clearly. 

Well. She's going to find out what is going on and puts out an obituary for the body. From that come three people: the man's wife, his twin, a mysterious young man claiming to be a reporter, and a young woman who puts out true crime podcasts (although that also seems suspect as Marshall's death was declared a suicide).

Vera bulldozes into these characters lives and we get to see them come together to solve the mystery of why Marshall died. A bonus? Vera gets to spend a little time with her son as well.

Sometimes it can get a little much with alternating view points but Sutanto handles it wonderfully providing glimpses into a number of characters without losing pacing. I'm really hoping there is another book in the series and that it shows Vera and Gladys (the old woman in the other hospital bed) becoming friends. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out March 14, 2023

Vera Wong #1

Followed by Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

I heard about this book on the December 27, 2022 episode of the Book Riot podcast. It sounded interesting, the title is cheeky, and I liked the cover so I requested it from NetGalley.

Lakshmin has an interesting background having been the doctor for a cult. Now, preferring to teach real self-care, Lakshmin boils it down to embracing internal change and cultivating dialectical thinking (acknowledging that two seemingly opposite truths can occur at the same time.)  And, of course, looking at what self care is, and isn't. Because, while spa days and perfect nails might seem like easy fixes, they often cause even more stress costing women both time and money. And heaven forbid mothers do anything like that. Judgment comes down even harder.

Self-care has so often been seen as a noun but Lakshmin offers the advice that it should be a verb. And, while hedonic well-being (spas, retreats, etc.) is good some of the time, what is really going to make us feel good is eduaimonic well-being (focusing on having our actions be in line with our values and having a life that has purpose.) The latter form of well-being also means being able to make difficult decisions and to be able to say the word "no" when activities don't align with our values. It also means treating ourselves with compassion and learning more about ourselves and being able to tell yourself that you matter. And, taking steps toward real self-care might mean more work. And there might not be a clear finish line. 

I have read a lot of these suggestions before but the ones that I recognized are things that have worked (and are still working) for me. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 14, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgie is stuck. She's used to living her life for other people but she's been cut free from her job as a personal assistant. Luckily, her best friend is pregnant and could use some help. So she moves back home. Her parents are off on one of their RV trips so Georgie is shocked that someone else is in the house.

Levi Fanning, older brother of the boy Georgie crushed on most of her high school career, just needs a place to stay. His dog is a pit bull and isn't accepted everywhere. Also, it's a small town and, remembering Levi's wicked past, he isn't accepted everywhere. Georgie's kindhearted but absentminded father has invited him to stay at the house as well. 

Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable story of Georgie discovering herself again and finding love with Levi. Georgie was a little too much at times (as were her parents) and Levi's last little temper tantrum wasn't really needed but a good story. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 24, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

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