July 2024 Reread

As always, opinions are my own

 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

Four stars

This book comes out April 19, 2016

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick

Madeline Deveridge is known to the ton as the "Wicked Widow." Everyone knows that she killed her husband, even if it was ruled an accident that he died in a house fire. She doesn't go out in Society, generally, but she has come out to force Artemis Hunt to help her find her maid, a girl who was kidnapped from the pleasure gardens that are run by him (of course, a secret from the rest of the world.)
Artemis isn't too happy to be pulled into the caper. He doesn't want anything to ruin his perfectly crafted plans for revenge and Madeline is poised to do just that.

Three stars

This book came out April 4, 2000

Vanza #

Follows I Thee Wed

Followed by Lie By Midnight

Borrowed as audiobook from  Audible

Opinions are my own

Snagged by Carol Higgins Clark

I really enjoyed reading this books when I was younger and picked an audio version up as a whim through Hoopla. These are short stories where many different threads weave together to create a story. In this book, the core story is around Richie who has created a pair of magic pantyhose (does that date the story or what?). They are no bag, no snag and seem like they are going to outperform anything on the market. There are people salivating to get them which is great because Richie wants money to help save his retirement home. 

Somebody would prefer he doesn't sell because there have already been two attempts on his life and the next one might succeed.

It is a dated book but I didn't think it aged TOO badly.

Three stars

This book came out July 16, 1993

Regan Reilly Mysteries #2

Follows Decked

Followed by Iced

Third Shift Society Volume One by Meredith Moriarty

Ellie has a bunch of bills to pay and has just lost her jib when she sees a man with a pumpkin head being attacked by a hell beast. She fights the hell beast with fire hands and helps save Ichabod's life.  He hires her to help him with his paranormal investigations. Suddenly, she's launched into a world of rare books with powers, giant insects, and... Alice in Wonderland?

I really liked this start to a series. The vignettes sometimes start and stop suddenly but there was an overarching story within each set of panels. 

Four stars

This book came out March 5, 2024

Followed by Third Shift Society #2

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis

When Anna Moore finds a coin in a collection of her dad's things, she doesn't expect Owen Harris to show up, accusing her father of having stolen a collection of rare goods including a necklace known as Ruby Red.

Owen's great aunt is his only family member left. She's ninety-five years old and, before she dies, he's like her to know that he recovered the property that was stolen so long ago. 

Together, they will solve the mystery of what happened oh so many years ago. All while Anna is also dealing with her sister Wendy who is pregnant with triplets. 

This is hypothetically part of a series but there isn't really a through line that I can see. This was a fast, fun, and fluffy book. Not much substance but an enjoyable book for a day off.

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 11, 2024

Sunrise Cove #6

Follows The Bright Spot

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Mischief by Amanda Quick

Imogen Waterstone needs help proving that her friend was murdered by her husband. And Imogen a has inherited a favor as part of her uncle's will. So she decides to call in that favor from Matthias Marshall, the Earl of Colchester, known around town as Cold-hearted Colchester. Imogen isn't worried about that sobriquet, she knows Colchester must be an amazing man, after all, he discovered the lost country (city?) of Zamar which has displaced Egypt in terms of its popularity. 

Colchester is bemused by this woman. She is intelligent, energetic, and blithely unconcerned with her reputation. Nothing at all like the other young woman of her age group. In fact, she seems more interested in translating a Zamarian tablet than finding a husband. And she also seems determined to rush into danger. 

Not only having to deal with a possibly murderous husband, the two have to deal with the rumors surrounding each as well as Colchester's half-sister showing up. Oh. And a murderer or two.

I remember this book fondly from my early days of reading romance and it is still a nice book. I think Quick's later books have more relationship development in them which is really nice to see.

Three stars

This book came out June 1, 1996

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my ow

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakias

Imagine you're an evil wizard. You've worked hard your whole life to be evil: set people on fire for fun, set people on fire for thwarting you.... done other things to people that aren't great. But, then you wake up one morning and all of your memories are gone. And maybe you decide... you don't want to be evil. In fact, you're going to stop it right now. But that just seems to confuse everyone around you. And then there's the problem that you seem to be in the middle of a Big Scheme. A Big Scheme that includes kidnapping a princess. Perhaps she's not quite as princess-y as you originally assumed. But then, as you are fumbling your way around, you discover that no one in your castle is quite as they appear.

I quite enjoyed this book and hope that it will be a series. 

Four stars

This book came out May 28, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from library

Opinions are my own

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher by Katie Siegel

Formerly a child detective, twenty-five year-old Charlotte Illes is now trying to figure out what she wants to do as an adult. In addition to some detective jobs for a local (very attractive, but of course Charlotte doesn't view her that way...), her friend Lucy has gotten her a job as a substitute teacher. But was does Charlotte know about children? Although, we do get to see flashbacks of Charlotte working on cases in middle school.

Surprisingly, there are just as many mysteries in the school as there were when Charlotte was a kid (so it's a good thing at least one of her detective kits is still hidden around the school.) Of course, these mysteries are somewhat updated, involving bobbleheads and social media. And blackmail- at least that one is recognizable. In this case, threatening letters have been sent to one of the teachers as well as her aunt who is the president of the school board.

I did feel like the ending came a little bit out of nowhere but it was still a fun book and the children weren't just plot moppets, they had actual personalities. I hope we get to see some more of Nia (a budding child detective herself), in future books. 

Four stars

This book came out July 23, 2024

Charlotte Illes #2

Follow2 by Charlotte Illes is not a Detective

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan

There were a LOT of names in the beginning of this story and I felt dumped into a situation. I think the author was trying to avoid info-dumping but it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of the story. 

Bailey Briggs normally love Halloween but this year is particularly challenging. She's taken over the family bookstore and is hosting what she hopes will be the first of an annual literary festival. Also, there's a camera crew in town taping for a ghost hunting type show. Both have people who grew up in town and there seems to be something going on between them. One will end up dead. 

There's a lot going on in this book including Bailey finding out more about her family. A good start to what I assume will be a series. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out July 23, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns

I am generally quite enjoying this series. In this one, former influencer/socialite-turned-baker/bakeshop-owner, Madison, is forced to confront her own past when her former friend shows up in towner. Brandy Denton became "former" when she slept with Maddy's ex-fiancée, Elliot. Now that Maddy seems to be gaining a social media following and a new life, Brandy has shown up in New Bison, seemingly wanting to ruin Maddy's life again. 

I say I am "generally" enjoying this series because Maddy is (at least to my memory) suddenly very emotional. She's breaking down, running out of rooms, and generally being more helpless than I remember. I'm hoping that got edited in the print copy but really annoyed me in this book. Hopefully, that changes in the series going forward as I have enjoyed these books so far. 

Three stars

This book comes out 

Baker Street #3

Follows Murder is a Piece of Cake

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Viscount in Love by Eloisa James

Miss Victoria "Torie" Sutton isn't jealous of her sister. She really isn't. Yes, Leonora is engaged to Viscount Kelbourne, Dominic, and the man is handsome but he going to be her brother (in-law). His niece and nephew? Adorable. Awkward, not "normal," and absolutely adorable. So when her sister runs away with another peer, Torie is heartbroken that her tie to the twins has been severed. That doesn't mean that she will immediately become betrothed to the viscount herself, just to be his nanny. 

Dom thinks its the perfect solution though. He's not really trading one sister for another because Torie really is her own person and, if he's truthful, much more attractive than her sister. He doesn't even mind that she can't read or write.

The two do eventually marry (this is a romance, after all) and we get to watch them fall in love with each other even as they build their family.

I liked that both Torie and Dom were built out people with flaws that were both immediate and found later. I wish we had seen a bit more of the children. They weren't quite plot moppets but their personalities weren't developed much beyond that. 

Accidental Brides #1

Four stars

This book comes out July 25, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick

Emma Greyson is not at a good time in her life. She sold her grandmother's cottage and invested the money in a ship that has not come in. Until it does, she's working as a lady's companion. But at the current house party, she is feeling rather pressured. One of the gentleman is chasing her and now he's ended up dead.

Edison Stokes is at the same house party. He's looking for a book that was stolen from a very powerful dead man. Once he sets eyes on Emma, he knows she can help. So he gives her an alibi for when the man was murdered. The two travel back to London together with Edison hiring Emma to help him m get ahold of the book. As they work together, their attraction grows stronger.

Three stars

This book came out April 6, 1999

Vanza #2

Follows With This Ring

Followed by Wicked Widow

Borrowed as audiobook from  Audible

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha by Dorothy Gilman

In the last book, Mrs. Pollifax met and helped a young man named Sheng Ti. Now, he holds the answer to why one of the CIA's best operatives seems to be giving them bad information. So she decides to go back to China. On the plane, she meets a psychic, Mr. Hitchens who will play a larger role in this story. When they get to their hotel, she also sees Robin, an agent for Interpol with whom she has worked before. 

The three of them (with some ancillary characters) uncover a plot that is bigger than any of them. And it leads to one of the darkest endings that we've seen in a Mrs. Pollifax book. There is nothing explicit on page but there is a lot alluded to when Mrs. P is captured. 

Gilman definitely leans into the psychic angle in her latest books. This one has it most blatantly with touches in some of her previous books in the series. I wasn't expecting how dark this got as these books are generally a bit of fluff with darker aspects being hinted at or thought of but rarely seen.

Three stars

This book came out in 1985

Mrs. Pollifax #7

Follows Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station

Followed by Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own''

The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score

Who gets hired to be a bodyguard for their ex-husband? Riley Thorn sure just did. Her boyfriend, Nick, isn't enthusiastic about it but his partner in the detective agency jumps on the offer of twenty thousand dollars. 

It's not as if they're already juggling a lot. Just a group of elderly people, at least one of whom is senile, moving into their house. And the house isn't exactly a welcoming place, what with everything being so old. And then there's their dog, Burt. 

But Griffin Gentry has offered to pay. It's just too bad there So Many people that want to kill the man. He's refused to pay any number of bills, he put a giant statue of himself naked in his back yard, and then there's all of the women he's slept with, mostly while in a relationship with someone else. 

A fun, fast and fluffy ride as per usual. I don't think you have to have read the other books in the series but it sure would help. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 16, 2024

Followed Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past

ARC kindly provided by SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Design of Us by Sajni Patel

Bhanu and Sunny are known at work for having a somewhat tempestuous relationship. There are even bets placed on who will explode in meetings first. Well, not explode, they're professional after all. 

But now they're on vacation at the same time. And at the same resort. Which is what allows Bhanu to overhear Sunny's ex-girlfriend being an absolute jerk to him. Bhanu doesn't like other Sunny but this woman is absolutely being ridiculous. So she steps in and defends Sunny? But what gives her that right? Well, she's his new girlfriend, of course. Oy vey. Suddenly, the two are having to appear to actually enjoy each other's company. 

Like most romances, this does mean that they are in close confines and that they are going to fall in love. But the journey on this one is fun. I did like that Bhanu had social anxiety but it felt like more of a plot point than an actual aspect of her character. Other than that, I liked both Bhanu and Sunny as characters and enjoyed the book. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 16, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

An Assassination on the Agenda by T. E. Kinsey

Harry Featherstonehaugh has once again pulled his sister, Lady Hardcastle, and her lady's maid, Florence, into the affairs of the British Government. A gentleman has been killed and he needs them to step in and figure out why. But that is just the beginning of a mystery that will have them racing around London, trying to stop an assassination. As they try to prevent this from happening, they will have to deal with bureaucrats as well as men who don't believe they should be doing this job. 

An okay addition to the series but I can't pinpoint why this one didn't flow as well. I think it felt like there were some storylines just talked on to bulk up the book. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 21, 2024

Follows A Fire at the Exhibition

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

Opinions are my own

The Cornish Campsite Murder by Fiona Leitch

Jodi and Nate are having a bit of a busman's holiday. They're off to a music festival  but they'll be slinging pies in a food truck for a friend who is missing the festival in order to go to his daughter's wedding. Also at the festival are most of a band that Jodi recognizes. Somewhat belatedly as she had actually catered for two of them recently. And this was a band she LOVED in her twenties. 

It turns out they are performing, but not the whole band. The lead singer won't be performing with them. But when Jodi is sneaking a pee in the VIP tent, she overhears the lead singer having an argument with some of the current band members. When he turns up dead later, she is left wondering who could have committed the crime.

If you've read this particular series, you will enjoy this book. If you haven't read this series before, I don't think it's particularly needed. 

Four stars

This book came out June 28, 2024

The Nosey Parker Mysteries #7

Follows a Cornish Seaside Murder

ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

With This Ring by Amanda Quick

Beatrice Poole's uncle, who was supposed to provide a dowry for her cousin but he died in a brothel right after supposedly purchasing a pair of mythic rings. She appeals for help from Leo Drake, who knows a few things about myths since his family has always been known as the "Mad Earls of Monkton." Together they look through the slums and brothels of London whilst falling in love. Not my favorite Amanda Quick but one of the better ones.

Three stars

This book came out in 1998

Vanza #1

Followed by I Thee Wed

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman

Mrs. Pollifax is on the road again. This time she's joining a tour group in China. Someone on that tour is a CIA agent and she is to help that agent find a labor camp. In that labor camp is someone who is going to be able to help them with more information. All Mrs. Pollifax needs to do is find a barber who can help her get to the camp. Of course, that is not all she does.
She is going to be going by herself since new husband Cyrus is in Africa but she is ready to go. In addition to her studies into various religions, she also did a report on China in grade school so she knows quite a bit about the country.
We get a bit more into psychic abilities in this book. It makes sense based on Gilman's other series and the fact that the CIA really was looking into psychic abilities around this time. Maybe a little more jaundice view from more recent times (depending on what you believe).

Three stars

This book came out in 1983

Follows Mrs. Pollifax on Safari

Followed by Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge by K. Eason

The fairies are messing with Rory's life again. It's been two years since the last book closed and Rory Thorne is happy being a space pirate with Thorsdottir, Zhang, and Jaed. She hasn't seen either Gritt nor Rupert nor Ivor. But that's who the fairy has appeared to. Specifically to Ivor. Specifically fairy #3. They are warning of impending war and telling them 

that the Multiverse will fall if they don't take action soon. 

Before Rupert and Gritt can catch up with Rory and team, they encounter a ship that is dead, something that is nearly impossible. And in that ship is something that could kill a world and keep it dead.

I would not read this book without having read the first in the series. But this is a fun series and worth reading both books. Eason has a way of handwaving and saying things like: and there was a big battle but we don't need to talk about that as though this is a historical story that took place long, long ago. 

Four stars

This book came out October 27, 2020

Follows How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Evie Sage lost her mother and brother in a tragic accident so now the only ones left are she, her younger sister, and their ailing father. When she loses her job, it could be catastrophic for their family. But she does find employment again quickly. Too bad it's with The Villain. But as she works with him more and more, she starts to wonder, really, what makes him so villainous? 

There are also a cast of other characters working there and, while Evie establishes herself as orderly and imperious, she makes friends as well as enemies at work. 

It took me awhile to get into this book but the characters grew on me, the plot was fun, and now I can't wait for the next book.

Four stars
This book came out August 29, 2023

Assistant to the Villain #1

Followed by Apprentice to the Villain

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo , Chi-Young Kim (Translator)

The NPR Best Books of 2022 made this book sound so intriguing. It took me a long time to get into the story and I quit it several times but, it was short, so I powered through.

The idea of the story is certainly an interesting one. We never learn the old woman's name but the story opens with her on the subway. Then we follow her through her days and her memories. As more and more of her story unfolds, her character develops. It is a rich story and her character is really well-developed which is finally what kept me reading. 

An interesting premise and way of writing but ultimately, not my favorite.

Three stars
This book came out July 19, 2013

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Ali Morris has three kids, a dead mother, and has just gone through a divorce. She is depressed but still talking to her mother. And her mother (at least in Ali's mind) is still responding. Ali is finally starting to come out of the haze (and wear "real clothes" which is so dumb to me, sweats are real clothes and who likes wearing hard pants) when her dog pees on a man's foot. And, oh, what a man. She meets Ethan who turns out to be not only handsome, but smart and caring as well. There are definitely some issues between them and the third act interruption in their HEA was expected. I would have given this three stars but the scene with her neighbor and the coming to terms of grief over her mother's death were beautifully written.

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 4, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own