Always Remember by Mary Balogh

Ben Ellis and Lady Jennifer Arden both know what it is to be on the outside. He was born a bastard and she has a twisted leg which means she will never walk. Both are stalwarts of their families in different ways and the families have gathered at Ravenswood for the summer. 

The two don't actually come together because they are outsiders but because Ben tries to help Jennifer and Jennifer falls in love with his daughter. At first, Jennifer is resistant to Ben's help but she really would like to walk, at least some form of it. Or find any way she can to get some freedom (he also shows her how to drive a gig.)

It's a quiet story with a LOT of characters from previous stories and it got rather confusing there for awhile even though I have read the previous books in the series. I'm not entirely convince that the two are in love but I do see how their personalities would mesh well together. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 16, 2024

Follows Remember Me

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

Cursed Princess Club Vol. 2 by LambCat

Though her friends and family see the beauty within Gwen, she is still having trouble seeing it herself. It is showing up in the cracks that she sees when she looks in the mirror. But there is a new man in her life, a portrait artist who is bored by the regular beauty he sees in the world. In Gwen, he has found a new muse and a flavor of beauty that sates his jaded palate. 

At the same time, the pastel king has finally allowed his princesses a bit more freedom. They can go on dates with their fiances from the plaid kingdom. But does Frederick still want to be engaged? He isn't sure but he doesn't want to give up. 

The Cursed Princess Club is dealing with a lot. They were sure that Gwen wasn't cursed but, after looking at her family portrait, they aren't so sure as they once were. Oh, and Nell's had a premonition that one of them will die before the new moon passes. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 4, 2023

Follows Vol. 2

ARC kindly provided WEBTOON Unscrolled and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Art of Chit Chat by Luigi Padovesi

I tend toward introversion so I like reading books about how to make conversations. This was... okay, I guess. I'm not sure that this was written by a human and not just some AI prompt. It certainly wasn't edited (which, I did read an ARC but still). Lots of repetition. LOTS of repetition. This 71 page book might have been closer to 60 if it had been vetted and rearranged.

You'll have to work hard to find the good points though they do exist.

Two stars

This book came out November 12, 2023

ARC kindly provided by BooksGoSocial and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills

When she steals a car, Emmaline Darling is just trying to get away from an abusive boyfriend and a man who is coming on too strong. She left the keys on the tire in good faith not realizing someone else might steal the car. So, when Graham Harlan shows up and demands that she marry him in order to even the scales, Emmaline is aghast. It doesn't help that Graham has bought the bookstore where she works. 

Graham is just trying to help his brother. Though he's a famous football star, he doesn't have the money to help his brother open a gym. But he can get a chunk of money when he marries. A near death experience on the football field has made him more aware of his own mortality. A vision he saw while he was dead makes him wonder if Emmaline was pre-ordained.

I liked this book though the story felt a bit forced in places and Graham was not the best. I'm really hoping for a story with Graham's teammate and Emmaline's sister. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out December 5, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Montlake and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Born to Be Badger by Shelly Laurenston

If you are one of the people, like me, who wait with baited breath for anything that Laurenston releases, this book will not disappoint. Full of the same antics, the need to completely turn off your disbelief and just enjoy the ride, and the exclamation points (!), this book pairs up another of Max McKilligan's teammates with one of the Malone brothers. Somewhat rigid Tock (time management is NOT just about being on time) might not initially be thought of with the laid back Shay (he's a tiger shifter who owns dogs) but the two actually work really well together. Tock isn't actually as rigid as she appears, she just prefers to have a schedule. Shay isn't lazy, he just doesn't care about most things. But he appreciates Tock's need to be on time as well as how well her personality meshes with his daughter's. Except for the felonies. But Tock does try really hard to keep that from her. 

There are, of course, also old grudges and new characters that come into this book as well as a lot of killing. A LOT of killing. Especially since Tock's grandmother. But we do finally get to know more about what happened with the Malones' father and you can definitely see the beginning of how Laurenston will be able to wrap up this arc in the last book. 

Honey Badger Chronicles #5

Four and a half stars

This book comes out November 8, 2023

Follows Breaking Badger

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books

Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Audible January 2024

The Pantomime Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith

Clara Vale is asked to look into the sudden disappearance of Sybil Langford. The woman is legendary in pantomime circles and her professionalism is well-known. For her to leave so quickly and in the middle of the season worries her young friend Peggy. Even as Clara is looking into the information, another person dies. 

At the same time, she is hired to help figure out why a local department store is losing so much merchandise. The man who hires for the department store is a familiar name, Jack Danskin. He is eventually brought into the mystery a little bit more and he may become a bigger part of the series as we go on. 

I like this book better than the first ones as we are getting to know the characters more and the mystery came together a bit more smoothly. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 28, 2023

Follows The Picture House Murders

ARC kindly provided by Embla Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty

Mrs. Brown is leaving Eternity for a few days and leaving Mallory in charge. This shouldn't be a big deal but there is a delegation of humans, including the new ambassador who are arriving soon. 

The station has been unsettled and Mrs. Brown is hoping to fix that, but things get worse before they get better including the fact that Mallory knows several of the people who have arrived on this ship and, where there are coincidences for Mallory, there is usually murder.

Her best friend from high school, Amy, and Amy's twin brother Parker are among the group. However, it takes Mallory quite some time to remember Parker at all. Their older brother Reggie and his husband Max are there as well as is Oscar Daye, a basketball coach at North Carolina (where the rest of them are from as well) who also runs a gossip blog. Oh, and of course, Jessica, the new ambassador who seems to know quite a bit about Xan and Mallory.

The story does get  a bit convoluted but so was the first. It's still highly enjoyable and, especially if you loved the first book, you should read this one.

Four stars

This book comes out November 7, 2023

Follows Station Eternity

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

I didn't realize this book was going to be a prequel when I requested it from NetGalley. Usually, prequels are not as good as the first book. And that was still true for this book but it was darn close.

Viv has been injured in battle and is stuck in a sea town until she heals. At first, she is bored out of her mind but she finds a bookshop where the rattkin owner forces a book on her. And, to her surprise, Viv enjoys the book (which we also see on page.) And the next one.

But the reason Viv is stuck in Murk is going to come back to haunt her. A man in gray appears and brings two things of great value with him which will lead great evil to the town. Viv knows she isn't going to stay, but she values the people she's met and wants to help them live. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 7, 2023

Follows Legends & Lattes

ARC kindly provided by Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley

One Sweet Holiday by Lucy Day

When I requested this book, I didn't realize it was the third book in a series. It is very much a standalone book though and I didn't feel like I was missing anything by having not read the first two books. I will say that, though this book may have been set at a holiday, I didn't really get that feel so the title is a bit misleading.
Gwen Griffin needs a date to a wedding. Her sister is getting married and Gwen wants everything to be perfect. That includes no one questioning why she's still single.
When Gwen's sister rents out the house next door to one of the groom's friends, Gwen isn't bothered. It's often used as a rental. But she's not expecting the tenant, Logan, to be so gosh-darn handsome. Nor is she expecting to meet him while she's half dressed.
The two spend some time together and are delighted to find that they have much in common and that they may be falling in love.
Closed door romance with a bit of a rushed ending but I overall enjoyed it. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 6, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Blue Crow Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown

Marius Quin is a bestselling author. He is now working on "Glimpse of a Blood Moon." Well, he's trying to work on it. The first chapter has been written but he's now struggling with a massive case of writer's block. His publisher won't advance him any more money (he has to be guaranteed of a product, after all) but has invited Marius to a Boxing Day party. 

Outside the office, Marius slips and falls. It is then that his childhood sweetheart, Lady Isabella "Bella" Montague shows up. He falls again - instantly back into love. It's been ten years since they've seen each other. In that time, Marius's father has gone missing, the war happened, and he has slipped into some financial distress. 

With some surprise, he accepts an invitation from her to a party at Everham Hall, where a friend of hers, Cecil Sinclair, a famous actor, is throwing a party on New Year's Eve. He goes and takes his basset hound, Percy, with him. 

Marius realizes almost instantly that this party will be as awkward as all heck. It seems that this Cecil is a diva of the first order becoming childish and petulant when drunk.  His paramour, Poppy, is someone that no one likes.  There is a film director, Anton, and his wife, an actress called Alma. There is also Bella's beau, Gilbert, whom Marius instantly dislikes. Cecil's father, Ross, and Edith, who Marius pegs as Ross's innamorata. 

Marius pulls Bella aside to ask why she invited him to this house. He had hoped to reignite their romance; she says that she wanted to help reignite his imagination. She is more successful than he is at the end. 

Of course, there is a murder and, since the police can't get there, Marius is elected to solve teh crime. As a mystery writer, he is (according to the other characters), the most likely to be able to solve the crime.

I haven't made it to that book yet but it appears that Marius has crossed paths with Lord Edgington, another of Brown's mystery series. If you like that series, I believe that this one will be enjoyable as well. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 3, 2023

Followed by The Hurtwood Village Murders

ARC kindly provided by Storm Publishing

Opinions are my own

Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna

Stella is eager to be Lady Lyndhurst but not everyone is willing to turn over the reins to a brash American. There is some dissension in the ranks and not all of the servants are happy about the changes that Stella is trying to make. Meanwhile, she is just trying to incorporate a bit of her own memories of Christmas. 

The holiday starts off with some food being stolen from the kitchen, escalates to the firing of a maid, and then really goes off the rails when a dead body is discovered. 

This mystery didn't feel as tight as others in this series. It was an okay story but not as well constructed as some of the previous books. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 24, 2023

Follows Murder at the Majestic Hotel

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

The last of a group of friends to find her forever after, Iris Kelly is actually very sure that she doesn't want a forever after. That doesn't mean she doesn't feel a bit lonely. So she goes out to enjoy herself with a one night stand. But... it doesn't go well. 

Stefania (IRL "Stevie") is beyond embarrassed that she ruins an evening with the gorgeous Iris Kelly. She's not sure how this is ever going to work. At least she has her ex-girlfriend's gender-bending "Much Ado About Nothing" to look forward to. But who is the Benedick to her Beatrice? Somehow it's Iris. 

Suddenly the two are agreeing to a fake relationship. Stevie because it means her ex is going to get off her back; for Iris... well, her friends mostly know about it but her family might finally look at her like she's accomplished something. 

A highly enjoyable book and an amazing addition to this series. 

Four stars
This book comes out October 24, 2023

Follows Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail 

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Christmas to Remember by Beverly Jenkins

We're getting a new character in Henry Adams, Kansas. Chef Thornton Webb is moving out of San Francisco to launch the Three Sister restaurant. We also get updates from our favorite characters. Gary Clark and Eleanor "Nori" Price are celebrating their marriage and Mal and Bernadine are the next ones up. Mal's friends aren't convinced this is the right move for him but he is.

This is a nice little book that moves the stories of many of our favorite characters along just a little bit. If you have been reading the series, you will enjoy it. If you haven't been reading the series, I recommend you start from the beginning. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 24, 2023

Follows On the Corner of Hope and Main

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

I listened to the first book in this series and wondered whether it was easier to follow all of the communications in print. With this book, I discovered, no, no it is not. Still entertaining, this novella follows the same format of emails being written back and forth among the various members of the Fairway Players with conversations on WhatsApp between people who are later putting together a solution to some mystery that we will find out about later in the story.

We have moved a couple of years after the first book and the players are now under new leadership as well as having new people in the group some of whom live in the Granger which seems to have been converted into apartments. Of course, not all of the drama is on stage with passions simmering behind the scenes as well and people writing one thing to a member but about-facing with another member. At the end of all of this will be blackmail, drugs, and a body.

Three and a half stars

This novella comes out October 24, 2023

Follows The Appeal

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor

Gracie grew up in a household where hockey was all. She's a good enough cellist that she's in a symphony and teaches students but her brother's hockey playing meant that her parents were always missing her big days because they were at her brother's practice or games.

Her neighbor Felix? He's a minor league hockey player. Handsome as all get out, a good cook, knows his classical music but Gracie isn't interested. Until her pipes break and she needs a place to stay. As her landlord (did he not tell her that yet?), Felix wants to make sure she has a place to stay. And that time together might mean that Felix finally has a chance to get to know his gorgeous neighbor and she might have a chance to look beyond his sport. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 12, 2023

ARC kindly provided by JPC Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Sunshine, Sangria, and Scandal by Wendy Day

This is the third book in the Sally and Pearl mystery series but I didn't feel like I was missing much. We get glimpses into the first two books as the two go on a true crime podcast before they decide they need to escape winter and find someplace sunny to be. A cruise seems like the perfect option. 

At dinner, Sally and Pearl are seated with a group of real estate agents who are all on the trip because they excel at their jobs. We get sketches of all of them but one of the standouts is Eddie. We learn more about the man as he works his way into winning the "Sexiest Man on Board" contest and seemingly playing the field though one of the other agents, Amber, seems might interested in him. He wins an amazing amount of money in the shipboard casino which is given to him in cash. Of course, he will be the one to end up dead. But why? Pearl and Sally decide to dig into the mystery. 

These two are an interesting pair with Sally's anxiety about any number of things from ordering food to having nothing to do. Pearl tends to be more of a bulldozer who clips her Gs (annoying to read, by the way) and tries to avoid the advances of Malcolm, another of the realtors. 

It was an interesting story but may not be a series I continue. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 9, 2023

Follows Christmas, Cabernet, and Chaos

ARC kindly provided by Open Sky Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Live for a Living by Paula Caligiuri, PhD and Andy Palmer

I liked the title and cover of this book and in some career flux so thought I'd take this book on. There are definitely some good points made by the authors but there is a lot of belief that everything you need is inside yourself. The entire first chapter is about learning your own limiting thoughts while the second looks at finding your skills. I think this focus is a bit myopic as you also have to be aware of the trends around you as well. You may be the very best and most passionate burger flipper out there but if you live in a town of vegans, it's not going to help.

There is more advice related to building a career portfolio, keeping yourself healthy, and identifying your values. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking but there are a number of resources and I've read enough of them to know that they were gathered well and the book is written well. This book could probably work well for anyone looking for a career move but will probably benefit those early in their careers the most. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S. K. Golden

I got to read this as both an audiobook and an ebook and enjoyed both. The voice of Evelyn is brought together perfectly by Amara Jasper who brings to life the well-meaning but pampered princes who is only just starting to figure out how the other half lives.

When the book opens, Evelyn is hosting a fancy dress fundraiser for the mayor at the Pinnacle she is talking to Judge Baker and his heavily pregnant wife Elena as well as Doctor Smith. After checking on some details for the party, Mac, her assistant and beau, convinces her to go with him to Yonkers now that everything seems to be running smoothly. They're in the Pinncale's garage (which Evelyn has never been in before) when she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Curious, she opens the door and discovers the judge with a needle in his arm, apparently dead of a heroin overdoes. Detective Hodges is on the case but with a new partner,  Detective McJimsey. The latter is not impressed by Evelyn. 

The mystery ends up being a little bit convoluted but I was especially impressed by the end of this story and look forward to reading the next in the series with bated breath. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Follows The Socialite's Guide to Murder

ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Hooked On Hollywood by Mia Summers

Ryan Jones has a bad reputation in Hollywood after he went off on a director and it was captured on someone's phone. Of course, it spread like wildfire. Now he's gone back to his hometown to lick his wounds. It's not like he really enjoys the limelight anyway. Plus, he's going to help raise money for his local theater run by his first acting coach. He doesn't expect to be put up for auction, nor to be won by Olivia Bloom with whom he had his first dance (one he still apparently talks about.)

Olivia isn't expecting to win the dinner. She used to have the mother of all crushes on Ryan but that love died when she saw the infamous video. She also didn't expect to spend the dinner handcuffed to Ryan. She definitely didn't expect for the key to be lost and the replacement won't be back for almost a week. Suddenly, she's spending 24/7 with the man she now despises, taking turns covering ears while the other person uses the restroom, and trying to get dressed with one hand not available.

This was an okay story but I got a little tired of the back and forth. For supposedly mature people these two sure argued like children. Also, Olivia never just asked Ryan what had happened with the video. I also wasn't sure how the two of them were going to have an HEA as their relationship didn't seem to have a lot of the depth you'd need for longevity. 

Three stars

This book came out September 26, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Sterling & Stone and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

A main reason I love these books is that Meg Langslow is just so darn pragmatic. Is she an amateur detective? Yes, she is. Does she share all of her information with the police chief? Does she actively hide evidence or mess up crime scenes? No she does not. She's smart, she solves crimes, and she does so without being an bumbling idiot. 

Even better, she's competent at any number of things (though she has her failings) and her blacksmithing, which sometimes takes a back seat, is out in full force during this book. There is a reality competition being filmed at Ragnar's estate and Meg is there as a general dogsbody. She has been asked to be in the show but prefers not to. However, when someone attacks her friend and mentor Faulk, Meg reluctantly joins so that he won't lose the investment money he and his husband put into the filming the show which was thought up by another one of Faulk's students. 

I got ARCs of both the ebook and audiobook. The ebook was not as good though I had some personal stuff going on which made it harder to concentrate. The audiobook, and Bernadette Dunn, were amazing as always. 

Meg Langslow #34

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Follows Birder, She Write

Followed by Between a Flock and a Hard Place

ARC kindly provided by MacMillan and NetGalley

Opinions are my own