Invitation Only Murder by Leslie Meier

Lucy Stone, reporter, has been invited to a private island. It is owned by a billionaire who is trying to take it completely off the grid. Even more than that, Scott Newman is trying to make it as eco-friendly as possible. He, along with his second wife (a former singer), his daughters from his first marriage and his sons from the second are practically going back to the early 1900s. At the launch party when Scott invites all of the people who worked on the island to check it out, he announces that one of his daughters is now going to be a partner in his firm. At the same party, Scott invites Lucy out for a few more days so she can really see what they're doing.
All seems well, even idyllic with a scattering of other people working on the island. But then, there's a death. And some of the small number of people disappear (which should be difficult on a small island.)
I am not sure that I've read a Lucy Stone mystery before. And I don't think it was good to jump in here. I'm sure that Lucy has more redeeming qualities in other books but I mostly saw her being super judgmental in this book. And, based on the cover and the description, I was expecting a strict cozy and I'm not sure this book fits entirely in that category. It was an interesting read but I'll probably stick with Ellery Adams or Lynn Cahoon.

Three stars
This book comes out November 26th
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Texas Wild by Brenda Jackson

In previous Westmoreland series books, we've learned that their great-grandfather was sort of a horndog and they're thinking there might be more cousins out in the world. To that end, Megan Westmoreland has hired private investigator (and the man whose two sisters have married two of the cousins), Rico Claiborne. Rico knows they have an explosive chemistry and he doesn't want it to go anywhere so he forbids her from following him to Texas where he's going to chase down a woman who was rumored to have been involved with the great-grandfather. The two hook up and Megan, who is a virgin, somewhat mind-bogglingly most of the women in this series are, immediately captures Rico's heart. An okay addition to the series and regular readers will enjoy.

Not My Type by Anna Zarlenga

This book opens, as many romance novels do, at a wedding. Teo is railing against the fact that his friend and former wingman, the one who racked up as many notches as Teo himself on their proverbial bedposts, is getting married. Teo doesn't understand it to begin with and, even worse, he keeps getting berated by the bride's sister, Sara. He immediately dismisses her as not his kind of woman and therefore not worth worrying over. They exchange insults and he goes on his merry way. Except that his merry way is suddenly roadblocked. The previously spoiled son of an Italian media mogul, Teo is now expected to... work. And he has to start by getting a degree. Too bad the class he's signed up for is the one Sara teaches. The two continue to knock heads until he offers a trade. She helps him pass her class and he will help her nab the professor she has her matrimonial eyes set on.
The premise of this book is fantastic and enemies to lovers is one of my catnips. I honestly can't tell if this book is really this choppy or if it is a problem with the translation (I tend toward the latter.) It seems like this was translated word for word rather than trying to capture the nuance of the story,. without trying to create any flow, and without any regard to social norms. Teo several times calls Sara ugly. Just straight up which is pretty shocking in a romance, even in a book that is women's fiction. His character starts as a spoiled brat and doesn't really grow that much.

Three stars
This book comes out November 21st
ARC kindly provided by Aria and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Unspoken by Kelly Rimmer

Isabel and Paul were married for four years before it all fell apart. Paul still isn't sure what happened but he does know he has just a few more days in their vacation home before it becomes hers so he's spending the weekend there. Too bad Isabel had the same idea. And she's really not happy that Paul is there as well. Too bad their time together is reminding her of why they got together. And showing her that Paul has been working on himself. But that doesn't mean that Isabel is ready to fall back into marriage - a lot of the same problems are there, including his devotion to work.
I liked that we got to see after the HEA. Not every book stops at the wedding and getting to see two people who actually worked on their relationship was lovely. A little dragging in parts but overall a nice read.

Four stars
Followed by Undone
This book comes out November 26th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey

Cecelia knows there's something wrong at Danby. Paintings and other knock knacks have gone missing but no one is kicking up a fuss. Plus, it's just expensive to be in the upper classes of England these days. Her parents are trying to get her married off (lovingly, but there is still pressure) and they've invited am American heiress to a house party in the hopes that she will fall in love with Cecelia's brother, Patrick.
There is a brief moment of horror when the ship the heiress is on sinks but she does show up with her maid, Jane, in tow. The party begins but almost comes to an abrupt halt when one of the guests, a famous explorer, dies at dinner. The heiress is convinced the poison he drank was meant for her. There are more obvious reasons to kill the explorer but when there's another attack, it seems like she may be right.
Jane and Cecelia hit it off, bonding over the cat, Jack, that Jane rescued from the ship. And it is their work that helps them solve the case, but not before they are in some danger.
Some world building since this is the first  book in the series and the ending was a little overdramatic but overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 26th
ARC kindly provided by  Berkley Publishing Groupand NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Memories and Murder by Lynn Cahoon

There's been another murder in South Cove, California. Just the day before, Jill saw the man treating his girlfriend, Paula, who works at the Senior Project, in a way that is all too familiar. So it's not particularly surprising that she's considered a suspect.
It's interesting that this case overlaps with another since Jill's Aunt Jackie has been getting calls from Uncle Theo, a man who supposedly died years ago. Is he still alive or is it someone trying to scam Jackie out of money?
This book was a little more complicated than most Tourist Trap Mysteries - not only is there a murder and a scam, there is a little C story about the mayor and his run for re-election; I have to wonder if Cahoon is setting herself up for the next book.

Three and a half stars
This book came out November 12th
Follows Killer Party
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Win Big Kelly Jamieson

Everly Wynn loves her job working for the philanthropic arm of her family's hockey team. She's dealing with a lot - worries about her father's health, the fact that he seems to have stolen from her two oldest brothers resulting in a lawsuit that is making the family choose sides, and still trying to be perfect after making a terrible mistake at sixteen.
Wyatt Bell knows that life can be surprising and difficult. That's why he tends to take life as it comes. Up to and including when he is caught in a photograph that, while he's not worried about it, does make the hockey brass to call him in to the office and for Everly to step in and say that she would be willing to be in a relationship with him. Or at least appear to be for PR reasons. Except that... it could be that feelings might just get involved.
This was the first book I've read in the series but I didn't feel like I was missing much. It was a little bit slow to get started and I thought that the blurb highlighted Everly's mistake more than it was mentioned in the book. Then it was wrapped up pretty quickly..

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 19th
ARC kindly provided by Loveswept and NetGalley
Opinions are my own