Garfield Beefs Up by Jim Davis

Lots of familiar themes in this book  - though some of them went on a little long. Jon can't find a date. Garfield taunts dogs and is friends with mice. Somehow, though, he tends ot eat mice. We also have long stretches of Garfield watching tv as well as making various snowmen. We even get a few strips of Garfield doing his stand up comedy on the (back?) fence. 

Four stars

Garfield #37

Follows Garfield Hogs the Spotlight

Followed by Garfield Gets Cookin'

This book came out October 1, 2000

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber

Kiera is excited to attend an auction and perhaps bid on a favorite artist. The room is becoming more and more crowded, Kiera is just considering moving when the floor gives way. Both she and Gage are alive as are the majority of the people in the room but there are a number of injuries and one death. Strangely, it is a man Kiera saw break up a fight earlier in the day. 

Of course, Gage and Kiera are going to look into what happened. Their explorations will bring in Bonnie Brock once again as well as several new people, one of whom is very impressed by Kiera and her work. This doesn't help much as Kiera is already nervous about having her first show. 

Four stars

Lady Darby #13

Follows A Deceptive Composition

Followed by A Bitter Cut

This book came out June 24, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from library

Opinions are my own

Redshirts by John Scalzi

I think knowing the conceit of this book, since it was recommended to me by at least two people, took me a little bit out of the story itself.

Andy Dahl is about to join the spaceship Intrepid. He's going to added on with four other people, two he knows. But there's something strange on board the ship. The crew tend to scatter whenever the officers come around. And four is a large number of people to replace at one time. As Andy and his crewmates begin to explore, they begin to realize that not all of them will survive to a happy ending.

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 5, 2012

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Age Happens by Jim Davis

Most of the book is dedicated to various birthday strips. Mostly Garfield's but some of Jon's. There are also sections with quizzes, fan art, and even an interview with the cat himself. The best, in my opinion, were Jim Davis's favorite strips with explanations of why. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out June 19, 2018

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb

The book opens with two people entering a hotel room. They have a direct line of sight to a nearby park, the place where their target is ice skating. By the end of the prologue, three people are dead, the target and two more.
It's up to Eve and her team to work on discovering who the LDSK (long distance serial killer) is/are and what the thread is among the people they've murdered.
It was really interesting to me that Eve seems to pick up almost immediately on the fact that this isn't just random killings, that someone seems to be targeted. I was also a little bummed that we didn't get much character movement in this novel. It was pretty much the same team without much except Bella's birthday going on behind the scenes. Not like the last book where we got a nice glimpse of the Miras, especially Dennis.

Four stars

In Death #43

Follows Brotherhood in Death

Followed by Echoes in Death

This book came out September 6, 2016

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Replaceable You by Mary Roach

I usually read Roach's books in hard copy but the audiobook was available sooner. I'm not sure if that contributed to my not enjoying this book as much as usual. Like in most of her books, Roach does a deep dive into a particular topic, this time in the ways that we enhance and recreate our own bodies. Some are practical ways like new hearts or intubation but there are also skin grafts, hair transplants, and plastic surgery that she explores. A lot of it was matter-of-fact but I was surprised to hear that one person told Roach that being intubated was a relief as it allowed her to breathe for the first time in awhile. 

Three stars

This book came out September 16, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

Harry has been asked to help a director who seems to be under a curse. At the same time, he's still dealing with the threat from the vampires. Although not all vampires since Thomas, a recurring character in this series, is the one to ask for his help. 

Harry will, of course, have a number of battles, will end up bruised and bloodied. But he will also come out of this book with some unexpected family. However, he will live to fight another day. 

Three stars

Dresden Files #6

Follows Death Masks

Followed by Dead Beat

This book came out August 3, 2004

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (And Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt

This books is VERY like the Assistant to the Villain series although Arabella doesn't end up with Kazimir by choice. Instead, she is kidnapped because of her bloodline. The Dark Lord needs someone with magical blood to help unlock an ancient artifact. However, it seems like the artifact needs more than just marriage to have the powers the Dark Lord needs. Kazimir doesn't want to trick Arabella but the attraction they feel toward each other isn't necessarily a bad thing so a lot of Happy Fun Times ensue. It's just a darn shame that every time they have sex, they destroy a little more of the castle. 

Three and a half stars

Guides to Villainy and Love #1

Followed by The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)

This book came out May 24, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr.

I can't remember which podcast I heard about this on and, by the time I got it, had forgotten the story. It took me awhile to get into the book. The prelude kicks off the story with a rare instance of the narrator speaking directly to you, the reader. I had to flip through and make sure the rest of the book did not continue in that vein because that is one of my least favorite conceits for a story. However, I kept going and was drawn into the world of Babs Dionne and her daughters Lori and Sis. The book mainly focuses on Lori and Babs thought we get a rich tapestry of secondary characters as well. 

This is a lovely glimpse of so many towns in the rural United States. Once vibrant but depending on one main industry which, when it collapses, takes the town down with it. When that happens, drugs often move in. Babs has become the leader of the town in many ways. Is she a good person? Objectively not. Is she doing the best she can to save the people she loves? Yes. 

Four stars

This book came out March 25, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own 

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend

Margaret Finch is described in the book as tall and big-boned. Several times. There are also a number of references to her nickname, Big Bird. So, a bit of an oddity. And her personality only helps to set her apart. Her life is ruled by routines with the same outfits on the same day of every week, getting to work on time, etc. She also has a rigid sense of rules and will follow them, even to the point of her own detriment. 

Her entire world is shattered when she finds her boss dead. When thinking back over the scene, she becomes convinced that he was murdered. But, having no friends and few people who even like her, no one wants to listen to what she has to say. 

This was a short book with a lot of beats that repeat, but was overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery

Steven Pike has just left jail. He only has enough money to get to Tithe Hall. Well, to the railway station. He barely makes it to the hall. There's only one problem; no one is expecting him. But the butler quickly pivots and adds him to the crew. They'll need the help. Something big is happening and SOMEONE needs to watch seventy-nine-year-old Miss Decima. She's scared off most of her previous ladies maids. Like The Nanny, he's there so he's pulled into the madness. The viscount is having everyone seal up their rooms so that the catastrophes that Halley's Comet is going to cause (as reported by papers of the time) will be mitigated. But when everyone wakes up the next morning, someone is dead. As the newcomer, one who just got out of jail, Steven is going to have to launcch his own investigation to clear his name.

Four stars

Stockingham & Pike #1

This book came out October 30, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

I read a few of the books in this series soon after the TV show came out but couldn't remember why I had stopped. I think that there is not quite the same sense of fun in the books. There are some funny parts, just a different humor. For this book, there were also a lot of, "I'm not going to make it" moments. A. Lot. 

But this is the book that introduces the readers to Harry Dresden, a wizard in contemporary Chicago. Technology and magic don't work well together so he's not exactly up to date with the latest trends but he muddles along as best he can. He's also trying to make a living. So when two dead bodies turn up with their hearts ripped out, Harry is on the case. 

Three stars

The Dresden Files #1 

Followed by Fool Moon

This book came out April 1, 2000

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Hexes Go Well with Tequila by LeAnna Ehrsam

This book felt like a cozy fiction book with a random sex scene thrown in for... reasons?

Ursula Cambridge's relationship is failing. When a mysterious invitation appears, she decides to take up the offer to live in The Lost Souls House. Pretty quickly, she makes friends. One night, they get drunk on margaritas and decide to "hex" the people that have wronged them. Except that the hexes turn out to be real. 

There are also a number of sub-plots with a grumpy bachelor and his wayward niece, a friend of a friend who is running for mayor, and the man who is running against her on "family values" who is, not surprisingly, someone who doesn't hold those same values to himself. 

Three stars

The Lost Souls #1

Followed by Curses Dance with Bourbon

This book came out September 24, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

Growing up as the ward of an evil lord, it's not like Violet could any way to be other than just evil. However, when Guy Shadowfade is killed, the hero gives Violet a chance to change her life. And she's trying. She's opening up a flower shop in the nearby town, starting to make friends. Then, the blight starts. Plants and crops are dying. Even worse, one of the other wizard's from Guy's parcel has returned to town, and he is hell-bent on... well, something nefarious. 

A cute story that moved along pretty quickly while still developing the characters. 

Four stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Dancy Flynn is a movie star, mostly known for being married to an even more famous movie star. At least, she was, until he dumped her for a younger model. It's just too bad that she drinks too much one night in a very public place. In the same public place her husband's new wife has just debuted her very pregnant belly. It is...  a debacle.

So Dancy make her way to a cabin. Her ex-boyfriend's cabin. Her HIGH SCHOOL ex-boyfriend's cabin. I mean, it's a very nice place to stay on the lake. It just doesn't help that her ex is Chicago Star's quarterback Clint Garrett. 

This one had a little too much drama for me and the ending was a little fast but it follows the Phillips formula and regular readers will enjoy.

Three and a half stars
Chicago Stars #12

Follows Simply the Best

This book comes out February 10, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

Twenty years ago, Clio's mom, Alexandra, wrote a moderately successful story about their house being possessed by a demon. She wasn't the best mother and, now that she's dead, Clio is the only one of the three daughters who wants to go to the funeral. She is also the only one who is willing to go back to the house. While there, she finds a copy of the book she had promised to never read. However, there are annotations written directly to her that we get to read along with the book that Alex wrote. It certainly points to the fact that the demon might be real. And Clio is starting to see evidence of that as well.

Three stars

This book came out September 9, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery

Julie Parker is looking forward to a chill Christmas. Her grown children are doing their own thing so she's just going to spend the day with her boyfriend. Her twelve-years-younger than her boyfriend. The one her children don't... technically... know about. Then, plans change. And change again. And change again. Julie, her children, her boyfriend, and their partners all have to be flexible. 

Mainly told from Julie's third person point of view, this is a holiday story like most, there's a lot going on so nothing is really developed.

Three stars

This book came out October 1, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Home by Martha Wells

The last book left Dr. Mensah in a bit of a pickle. She probably needs therapy, but she can NOT tell anyone what happened. Meanwhile, she's getting cheeky emails from SecUnit requesting more and more outlandish equipment. 

Short, definitely need to have read the previous books to get the most out of this story.

Three stars

The Murderbot Diaries, #4.5
This short story came out May 5, 2020

Follows Exit Strategy

Followed by Network Effect

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Lottie Jones is long past retirement. Not just work, but her early crime spree. So why is someone stirring up the past? It's too bad that the trend of docuseries has come to roost on her doorstep in the form of Plum Dixon. So she has to die. But cleaning up is harder than it was in her youth. And people keep following up on Plum.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 12, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup

This was an interesting premise and I think Bearup did a fine job at having a story within a story but having so many characters started to weigh down the actual progress of any of them DOING anything.

Caroline Lindley just wants to finish her book. If only her characters would do what they are supposed to. But her characters don't really understand their motivations and they tell her so. Especially Lady Rosamund Hawkhurst. 

As the widow of a prominent nobleman killed in war, Rosamund us used to holding her family together. A new threat has come to the kingdom and she is required to go back to her home country to try and broker peace. She's to travel with one knight who most definitely is not going to be a love interest. No matter what Caroline tries.

Three stars

This book came out February 5, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own