Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb

It's Christmas time in New York, but that doesn't mean that murders are going to stop. In fact, it now seems that Santa's on a tear; getting into people's apartments, killing them, and then leaving a gift linked to the Twelve Days of Christmas and given to "My One True Love." All of the murdered victims were part of a dating service, Personally Yours, which is run by a brother/sister team, twins who seem a little bit closer than Eve would like to see.

A great addition to the Dallas/Roarke line. Peabody and McNab are butting heads. Both get to go undercover as Personally Yours clients. It's really fun to look back on their relationship now that we ar 40+ books later in the series. 

The killer is maybe a little unfairly clued but still an enjoyable story for the holidays.

Four stars

This book came out June 1, 1998

Follows Vengeance in Death

Followed by Conspiracy in Death

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich

This book did not age well (it's chock full of the types of romance tropes that you would see in the late 80s and early 90s) and it is very nonlinear but it was fun enough to at least finish.

Daisy Adams is a graduate student who is working several jobs and volunteering at a couple more. When the traffic reporter at her radio job (a five minute spot every day) breaks a leg, she's right there, ready to take on the role.

Steve Crow has his doubts but no one else wants to do it and this seems like an opportunity to get into Daisy's pants so, why not? Well, in the course of her reporting she manages to foil not one but two crimes and at least one of them is seeking revenge for being foiled so Steven moves Daisy, her 14-year-old brother, her 60-something bodyguard, and a sheepdog named Bob (bought just to have an excuse to see Daisy) into his house (also newly bought). Mayhem ensues, the job is basically forgotten, and we meet a ton of people who have little to nothing to do with the story.

Three stars

This book came out March 1, 1991

Follows Wife for Hire

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Healthy Happy Sexy by Katie Silcox

If you want to read a white woman writing about an ancient practice from another culture, this will be the book for you. This book has some obvious and glaring errors ("eskimos" do not have over a hundred words for snow; women do not sync cycles) and definitely wouldn't be an effective tool for anyone who has even a basic knowledge of Ayurveda already. It does serve as a very surface-level exploration of what the Western world thinks Ayurveda means but doesn't provide anything new to the subject.

Three stars

This book came out January 13, 2015

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Death from a Top Hat by Clayton Rawson

I grabbed this book because it was first in a series and I had read two other books and figured, "Why not?" Well. It took me a LONG time to read this book. I can usually finish a book this long in a week and it took me over 5 months. It just didn't hold my interest. I like the series because Merlini is a detective who comes with the background of being a magician. This book had too MANY performers (also a medium, an escape artist, and a ventriloquist) and it ended up being very confusing with some misconceptions about hypnotism. If you want to read a locked room mystery involving a two different dead magicians, I'd highly recommend reading it in as few sittings as possible. 

Three stars

This book came out in 1938

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Now You See Her by Linda Howard

Sweeney is an artist. She's happy without a man in her life, just her art. But her life is changing. She's painting murder scenes, scenes that she has no possible way of knowing. And all of a sudden, she's not only noticing men, she's attracting them. 

Richard Worth is the husband of her gallery's owner. He's been trying to divorce her for over a year but it's slow going. He doesn't really care. She's after his money, 'cause he's rich. He's also not as refined as she'd've liked. But Sweeney likes him fine and he's the only one who can warm her from the debilitating cold that takes over after she's painted.

This is definitely a nineties romance with the sweet heroine and forceful hero. A little too forceful but still a nostalgic read. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 25th, 1998

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Silver Ghost by Charlotte MacLeod

Max and Sarah are attending... some sort of function. I started this book awhile ago and it really didn't hold my interest. But there's a lot going on at this thing. Morris dancers, big dinners, the theft of some valuable cars and a murder. The solution seemed rather convoluted and depended on a plot device that has since been disproven but we got to see a bit more in the life of the Bittersohns and the eccentricities that surround them. 

Three stars

This book came out December 7th, 1987

Follows The Recycled Citizen

Followed by The Gladstone Bag

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Four In Hand by Stephanie Laurens

Four gorgeous sisters in town for the season, all wards of one dangerous duke, or are they? In actuality, the oldest sister, the one who the duke is the most attracted to, is no longer in his care, and therefore not off-limits. But he doesn't want to let her know so he can stay close. Especially since these girls are rare beauties and he knows exactly what men are after. Even his friend and his brother who are the front runners for two of the girls. Can the girls get their men without giving up their virginity?

This is obviously an earlier romance novel with heroines who are arch but innocent and heroes who are rakes but in love.

Three stars

This book came out in 1993

This was a hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Flare Up by Shannon Stacey

I wish I had read this book closer to the time I had read the others in the series because I had forgotten most of Wren and Grant's back story (some of which was seen in other books) and I couldn't remember most of the rest of the characters which made me feel slightly disconnected. I think it would have been different if I just hadn't read the series at all but knowing that I had read about these people but just couldn't remember their stories frustrated me a little. I also didn't realize that there were two or three chapters at the end of the book from another of Stacey's series and was sort of startled at how quickly the ending wrapped up when I was expecting so many more pages.

Grant Cutter was well on his way to the HEA that all of his other friends were experiencing. Then Wren Everett just disappeared, breaking his heart. He is therefore fairly shocked to see her again when he is called to a fire in a not-so-great part of Boston. 

Wren is also surprised to see Grant again. She ran to protect him when she feared that her abusive ex had found her again. But now that Grant is back in her life, she isn't sure she can walk away again.

I liked that Grant didn't immediately try to swoop in and rescue Wren when she lost almost everything in the fire. Instead, he was respectful of what she needed. He was a little less understanding about why she ran in the first place but I was actually more shocked that some of the women in his life were less understanding as well. 

Three stars

This book came out 

Follows Under Control

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

I really enjoyed this book. At it's core, it's really about becoming more intentional - meditating on why we want to be around other people. And it should go deeper than - it's my friend's birthday, I want to celebrate her 365ish days around the sun. I actually read this to see if it would be a useful book for work and it really would be. In terms of creating meetings, fast get togethers, and even massive fundraising banquets, thinking about the WHY is as important as the actually DOING of an event. Some home truths that hit home for me as well were that more is not always merrier and that a host can't just chill - they need to ride the balance between completely hands off and dictating every minute.

Four stars

This book came out May 15th, 2018

Hard copy I passed on

Opinions are my own

The Ravishing of Lol Stein by Marguerite Duras

I had had this book on my shelf for a long time and I can't remember why. Perhaps I'll look back through my lists and see when I added this book to my TBR shelf. It might have worked for me when I was younger but it was very abstract, switching from third person omniscient to first person. Very hard to follow. 

And that could be what makes it interesting; it is not true stream of consciousness but it does unfold rather like a series of memories. The story is told from the eventual lover of Lol Stein and starts with the memories of his former lover, Lol's friend. And I think that is what makes it good "literature", it's a new theme even it makes for harder reading.

Three stars

This book came out in 1964

Hard copy of a book I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

No Stone Unturned by James W. Ziskin

Hot on the heels of the last book, hotshot reporter Eleanor "Ellie" Stone has been asked to come and photograph a crime scene. It is the lovely, beloved daughter of the local judge. She is able to scoop the competition but she is also asked by the judge, personally, to figure out what happened to his daughter.

There are many twists and turns in the case; Jordan might have been a beloved daughter but that didn't mean that she didn't have her own secrets. Then her best friend is murdered as well. Ellie might have the closest shave of her life in trying to figure out what is going on in this story.
These books are getting a little too grim for me so I may stop reading but I think that there are some readers who will appreciate the story.

Three stars

Follows Styx & Stone

Followed by No Stone Unturned

This book came out October 15th, 2013

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Submerged by Daniel Lenihan

I heard about this book on the What Should I Read Next podcast. I worked closely with a Park Service museum at the time and it sounded interesting. And it is... to an extent. The stories do start to sort of run together after a bit but if you are interested in underwater archaeology or even underwater cave exploration, this will be a really interesting book for you. If you don't even like to read about small, enclosed spaces, this would not be the book for you.

Three stars

This book came out March 25th, 2002

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Sometimes a move can be good for the soul. Ignatius "Nate" Burke is hoping that this will be true for him. After being shot, he's leaving most of his worldly means behind and moving from Boston to Alaska. He is weary and beaten down, not up for the no-nonsense attitude of Mayor Hopp much less the overt flirtation of Charlene Hidel, the owner of the local bar and his new landlord. The only thing he barely notices a red parka disappearing down the street as he is looking out the window.  
The red parka turns out to belong to bush pilot Meg Galloway, Charlene's daughter. Her quiet pragmatism is a balm to Nate's soul. He is also starting to get into the rhythm of living in a small town, both the good and the bad parts. Dealing with drunks and small thievery is right about what he wants to deal with right now. A mountain rescue is not something he is expecting. Nor is he expecting that the climbers will have taken refuge in a cave where a body had been hidden for decades.

Four stars

This book came out September 27th, 2005

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

I went back and forth between listening to the book and reading it. I liked the audiobook better but both were very good. The bold at the beginning of each chapter helped let us know which family members the chapter would focus on. 
This book looks at the history of the study of schizophrenia, interweaving that with a deep dive into the Galvin family. 12 children (that poor woman!) where 6 of the boys ended up being diagnosed with schizophrenia. This studies of this family gave a lot of insight into the disease but that doesn't help them much as they struggled to deal with it while they were growing up and even into the current day.
Kolker's writing painted a very clear picture of not only the Galvin family but also the tolls this disease took on them. 

Four stars

This book came out February 1st, 2021

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh

Roderick-Alleyn-regular Nigel Bathgate is bored one rainy night. His boredom and a neon sign lead him to the House of the Sacred Flame. There are guards at the door to the temple which Nigel does eventually sneak manage to sneak into. Unfortunately, one of the parishioners dies. But Nigel has a Detective Inspector of Homicides' number memorized and Roderick Alleyn is brought into the mystery.

The woman who died was incredibly wealthy and fairly young (in her thirties). She recently changed her will to leave her money to the House of the Sacred Flame. But is that a good enough motive? Or could their be others.

I actually made it through this book faster than some in this series. It was tightly written and engaging. You can start to see some of the drug mania of the time that Marsh will start to infuse her books with.

Three stars

Follows The Nursing Home Murder

Followed by Vintage Murder

This book came out in 1936

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

His Wicked Charm by Candace Camp

Constantine "Con" Moreland is a little sad. His twin is getting married. Of course, he is happy for Alex but he wants the same kind of bond. All he has is a slightly antagonistic relationship with his twin's new wife's best friend, Lilah Holcutt. 

Lilah is also sad. She has been raised by an aunt who is sort of old-fashioned and she really has enjoyed the connection to the Morelands she had through her friend Sabrina. But with Sabrina on her honeymoon, she has no reason to see the family. Racking her brain, she remembers that she promised to drop off a book for one of the sisters-in-law, Olivia. While there, sister Anna has a vision that the rest of the family have been kidnapped. This sets off a series of events that lead Con and Lilah heading to her ancestral home where strange doings are happening.

A little bit better than the previous book but not much (both were good). I definitely connected more with Lilah who was smart and sharp and, generally, knew her own mind. Con was a little irreverent but generally about himself and his teasing Lilah never crossed into mean or creepy.

Three stars

Follows His Sinful Touch

Followed by His Improper Lady

This book came out March 27th, 2018 

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

His Sinful Touch by Candace Camp

Alexander "Alex" Moreland is wondering whether his life is too staid (especially when compared to his investigator brother's) when a strange-looking gentleman arrives on the doorstep of his brother's offices. Except it's not a gentleman, she's a lady. But she can't tell him anything because she's completely lost her memory. She has a few things in her pockets which help because one has the name "Sabrina" (apparently her name) and Alex is actually psychometric, he can tell the history of inanimate object just by his touch.

Alex can tell that she is a lady and he immediately takes her home to his parents. Their family is known as the "Mad Morelands" and one more person who is not quite normal isn't going to make a difference.  He also feels drawn to this woman, not unlike the "twin feeling" that he has with his brother.

Sabrina is bewildered that this man is so willing to take her in. Even without her memory she's pretty sure this is not what she's used to. But Alex's family is warm and welcoming and their open-arms are a reason that I'm enjoying the series so much. I didn't love the insta-bond between Sabrina and Alex but it was still an okay story.

Three stars

Follows An Unexpected Pleasure

Followed by His Wicked Charm

This book came out January 20th, 2018

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Styx & Stone by James W. Ziskin

Ellie Stone is a "girl reporter". Not in her own mind but that how she's thought of in the 1960s. However, now the story is about her, or at least, her father. He's been attacked in his own home so she goes back to her childhood home to figure out what is going on. It seems that her father's attack might be related to another death of one of his colleagues.
I didn't love the solution to the mystery because it was a little bit out there but I did like the character development of Ellie and the writing. Very Golden Age of Mystery with lots of references to classics and classical music. A bit noir with some darkness and the protagonist sleeping around.

Three stars

Followed by No Stone Unturned

This book came out October 15th, 2013

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Sydney Ragsdale is grateful that she has her grandparents old house to retreat to after her divorce. It is cold and drafty but full of good memories. She has a job that will start in a few weeks and she hopes that her daughter, Ray Anne, will be happy there. Sydney is especially excited to have a part-time job at the local bookstore run by Bea. 
Kevin "Mac" MacAlea loves Hopewell. It's the reason he moved back here to be a teacher at the high school as well as a baseball coach. He's raising his son on his own after the boy's mother just walked out. So far, he's not feeling like he's missing anything. But he does see Sydney and figures he can always help a new neighbor learn to love his town too. 
There was a Big Incident at the end which seemed a little overwrought to me but otherwise was a good book. I also wished we had gotten to see a little bit more of Sydney and Mac's relationship since the book ended more or less at the beginning of a relationship.

Three stars

This book came out October 10th, 2017

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Recycled Citizen by Charlotte MacLeod

Sarah is about eight months pregnant but she and Max are still out and about even visiting the Senior Center her cousins Dolph and Mary run. It is somewhat a charity but really allows homeless seniors a place to stay that is warm and dry. They can volunteer to earn things like stockings (most of them preferring not to get money) or they can bring in recycling that the center can then turn in for money. In a previous book, Dolph had inherited a house stuffed-full of ... well, stuff. In this book, our favorite characters decide to auction off all of that stuff in order to raise money for the center and the warehouse they are turning into housing. Unfortunately, one of the seniors has been found dead by an apparent mugging and it sends them all down a rabbit hole.
The storyline was engaging and character development lovely. The mystery itself was... well, just an odd solution but in line with the rest of the books in the series.

Three stars

This book came out in 1988

Follows The Plain Old Man

Followed by The Silver Ghost 

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own