Death and the Brewmaster’s Widow by Loretta Ross

Death and Wren are back in a slightly soap opera-y (one of the characters even acknowledges that it's a bit far-fetched) book that is no less delightful for the high drama.
Death has gone to St. Louis to pack up his brother's house. At the end of the last book, we learned that Randy had died in a fire. Wren eventually joins him and the two, with Randy's friends, start to discover that this so-called "accident" may be anything but.
The solution to the mystery is easy to guess but doesn't detract from the joy of reading this story. The book doesn't come out until February 8, 2016 which is distressing because I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

A Gentleman's Game by Theresa Romain

Nathaniel Chandler, prodigal son (as he self-styles himself), has reluctantly returned to Chandler Hall where he discovers that his father's horses are mysteriously falling ill and his father's (female!) secretary has become even more alluring since he's been gone.
Rosalind Agate knows there is more to Nate than meets the eye. She herself is covering up many secrets while trying to uncover others.
When the two are sent on a mission to make sure that a neighbor's horse makes it safely to his next race, the interest between them sparks into passion.
A nice, steady book. Regular Romain readers will quite enjoy as will regular historical romance readers.
Three and a half stars
Comes out February 2, 2016

Follows The Sport of Baronets

A Fighting Chance by Shannon Stacey

I'm not really an MMA fan but I did like this book. Even if I'm confused why a novella that ends at Christmas is coming out in February.
Seven years ago, Brendan Quinn loved Adeline Kendrick. But when her father pointed out the disparity in their positions (her family was white collar, his father owned a roofing company), he decided that the best thing would be for them to break up. But he didn't ever exactly explain it to Adeline. So when she goes to a casino resort for a bachelorette weekend with her two best friends and sees giant posters  of Brendan's face, she's not well pleased. Especially when Brendan himself walks off the elevator and sees her. And then they talk and reconnect. Well, not reconnect so much as fall back into bed. But over the whole weekend, they do take time to sit down and talk about their futures as well as what went wrong in the past (one person making decisions without really talking to the other...)
As usual, it's hard to really make you care about the characters in such a short story but this one does better than average.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out Feb. 1

Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso by Kali Nicole Gross

In 1887, a man out for a walk in his neighborhood noticed some unusual packages. When he opened them up, he discovered a torso; no head, no limbs.  It stymied the Philadelphia police force. They couldn't tell even what race the torso was. And race factors into and is woven throughout this entire story. I wish there more about the wider world. The story just dives right in  with little build up or an explanation of what is going on in the wider world.
I got this as an ARC from NetGalley on a whim. I enjoy micro-histories and thought this might provide a nice look at race relations nearing the turn of the century. It was a disappointment to me that there wasn't more of a discussion there, it was mainly "whites were intimidated by the new freedoms black people enjoyed" which is true, but awfully brief. But that may not be an issue for readers who are more interested in the macabre story of a woman who killed in a manner that (according to popular culture at least) isn't usually a female purview.
Three stars
This book comes out Jan. 28, 2016

The Spring at Moss Hill by Carla Neggers

Russ Colton is in Knight's Bridge because Daphne Stewart has an uneasy feeling about the master workshop she's going to be doing there. We met Daphne in previous books (she lived in Knight's Bridge for two years, but as the last surviving family member of the sawmill owners, she has ties to the town. She also had 40 years as a fabulous costume designer in Hollywood, even won Oscars) but Russ is brand new to KB, no ties. He's been assigned to an apartment across from reclusive children's book illustrator, Kylie Shaw.
And why is Kylie reclusive? It's never really explained. Oh, there are throw away sentences about the fact that she just doesn't want people to know, but never WHY. There was no trauma in her past, no wanting to stay out of the limelight. She just didn't feel like it. And then freaked out that the new PI in town was going to discover her identity. It felt like a tempest in a teacup.
Reading through the book, it felt like there were several story lines that ran parallel to each other, but that never really overlapped. As if there were a warp but no weave, if that makes sense. There was no reason for them all to be in the same book.
Overall, it was okay, but not one of the better Knight's Bridge books.
Three stars
Book comes out January 26, 2016

Presumed Puzzled by Parnell Hall

Huh. I thought I had been keeping up on the Puzzle Lady books but my library is lagging seriously behind. When I got this ARC, I was surprised to see how much time had passed. But that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
Becky , the local lawyer is having trouble finding a client so she asks Cora for help. When Cora finally finds a client, it doesn't go well. Paula Martindale is found over her husband's dead body with a knife in her hand. And she doesn't want to let Becky do her job. The problem with this case is that the more they clear Paula's name, the more it seems that Cora may be the killer.
A serviceable Puzzle Lady mystery. It certainly follows the formula of previous books in the series. Would you have to have read all the other books in the series? No. In fact, it probably helps to have a fresh eye.

Three stars
Comes out January 19, 2016

My Reckless Valentine by Olivia Dade

Oh man. I really wanted to like this book as much as the first in the series. And I rarely say this, but I think it's because this book would have benefited by being a novella. There was just too much repetition and shenanigans. This is really more of a two and a half star book but I liked the relationship that Angie and Grant had (at least the romance part of it.) They knew what they wanted and just went for it. It's too bad the Big Misunderstanding kept cropping up between them. And except for that one aspect of Angie, I really did like her as a person.
Angie and Grant have one passionate night together before they discover that Grant is Angie's new boss. Their differing styles work well in the bedroom but not as well in the library. Will Angie be able to keep her job but keep her man too?
Come out Jan. 19, 2016