Mistletoe Christmas -- Anthology

A Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James
Every year the most sought after invitation is to the Duke of Greystoke's Christmas Revelry. The invitation list is carefully curated and the amusements vast. But what no one knows is that his daughter, Cressida, is the one in charge. Now the Duke is dying and he wants his legacy to continue. As a means to the ends, he makes his heir (his nephew) promise to keep the revelry going for the next ten years. Val, the heir, has no interest. Neither, frankly, does Cressida. So Val suggests to his friend Elias that he should marry Cressie so she'd be close enough to help but he wouldn't have to take care of her. Elias figures it's about time to marry so why not? But then he takes a closer look at the women who everyone has ignored and discovers that she might be more precious than he originally knew.

Even as a short story, this could have lopped a few chapters off (they got redundant) and been a little bit better but James is a master and this story once again proves it.

Four stars

Wishing Under the Mistletoe by Christi Caldwell

Lady Isabelle Wilkshire has been engaged for three years but her fiance no longer looks at her the way he used to. Instead, Cyrus Hill is too busy working, trying to prove his worth because she is a duke's granddaughter and he is the son of a stablemaster. She breaks their engagement. While she loves him, she's no longer sure he really loves her. At least she can take some solace in being mentored by a playwright.  

Ten years later, she is at the Christmas Revelry, debuting a new play and Cyrus has been assigned as her partner. Old romantic feelings well up but so do old resentments. Will they be able to make it?

I do like short stories where protagonists knew each other because it makes it more likely that they are falling in love in 100 pages or less. This story could have used just a little more exposition on how the two were going to work now but was overall enjoyable.

Three and a half stars

Compromise Under the Mistletoe by Janna MacGregor

Caroline Whitmore loves her husband. And he probably cares for her but not to the extent that he loves the estate where he grew up and now cares for. But in order to get her inheritance, she needs to prove to her uncle, the Duke of Greystoke, that she and her husband are still in love. Based on other stories in this book, I'm not sure why he would do this other than to be an old fart but... it's a reason for a good fake romance. 

Caroline has it all planned out and even has a list of rules written out for Stephen. But he has different plans. This might be his last chance to win her heart.

Four stars

Mischief and Mistletoe by Erica Ridley

Louisa Harcourt's mother wants to marry her off to someone with a title. She just wants a quiet life to write. But Ewan Reid, a poet, intrigues her.

Ewan thinks Louisa is amazingly beautiful but he has a secret he's hiding. One that he doesn't want to pull her into. No matter how much she comes to him with her own secrets or how much she'll be hurt by the secrets he is hiding.

Three stars

Four stars

This book comes out September 28th, 2021

Ebook from NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Unicorn Playlist by Dana Simpson

When the book starts out, Phoebe is sad because she saw some of the recent news on her dad's computer. And, well, the world can be a scary place. Luckily, we all have Marigold Heavenly Nostrils who can distract us even for a little while with her charming narcissism and love of Phoebe.

We learn about when the mail used to have more than just credit card offers, we learn what Marigold wishes for, we learn about Phoebe and Marigold's favorite music, some of Marigold's family tree (Infernus, the Unicorn of Death (also known as "Ferny")). There is also an interesting twist between Dakota and the goblins that I did not see coming. Luckily, she still wants to be friends with Phoebe. Lots of little jokes in between with my favorite being Phoebe's father getting a call that says "Scam Likely" and Marigold thinks it's a unicorn with the same name. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 28, 2021

Follows Unicorn Famous

Followed by Unicorn Selfies

ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis

Florrie Fox is happy managing Color Me Read. There have been some disconcerting incidents (read here: murder) in the store but that doesn't make her any more prepared to see that the latest package delivered to the store is a skull (apparently named Harry). It's sent to her boss, Professor John Maxwell, who is sort of like a modern day Indiana Jones, by oane of his compatriots, Ellis, who tends to take a lot of risks.  

Harry is just the beginning of a number of mysterious circumstances. A local psychic is doing a reading but she comes in overexcited because she's seen a foot hanging out of a rug. But when Florrie goes to look, the rug (and the foot) are gone. Later, she has a vision of a murder being at her reading and a man tries to walk out with Harry. That man later ends up dead, wrapped in a rug. 

There are a LOT of people and red herrings in this book. If you can read this in one sitting, it might be easier to keep track but I had problems with putting the book down and picking it up again, even having read the other stories in this series. I am very grateful that Florrie is sticking with one guy and not getting involved in the love triangles that are so overdone in most cozy series. Also appreciated? The fact that they have differing opinions on a subject and each is able to see the other's side. Maybe not understand it, but at least appreciate it. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 28, 2021

Follows The Coloring Crook

Followed by A Colorful Scheme

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie

Though she is aging, Miss Marple doesn't feel like she really doesn't think she needs a keeper. But her nephew was worried about her after a recent illness. It means that Miss Marple now has Miss Knight to contend with. Miss Knight is the kind of nurse that thinks her clients are all senile, brimming over with enthusiasm and kindness, she doesn't actually listen to what Miss Marple has to say. Which is why Miss Marple tricks her into going shopping and then going out herself. Unfortunately, Miss Marple falls. Heather Badcock rushes to her rescue. Heather Badcock is similar to Miss Knight, kindness itself but the sort that runs over you like a train. That's why it's such a surprise that she ends up dead.

It's at a local party. Marina Gregg, the famous actress, and her husband have bought Gossington Manor. Colonel Bantry died and Dolly sold the house. It has changed hands a couple of times since then but she still comes back to St. Mary Mead to visit and she is also invited to the party as a former owner of the house. When Heather Badcock dies, it is immediately assumed that the poison was actually meant for Marina since she had given Heather her drink. But who would want her dead?

There is, as in many of Christie's early books, racism in this book. There is also a LOT of mention of Marina Gregg's baby who was born.

Three stars

This book came out in 1962

Follows 4:50 from Paddington

Followed by A Caribbean Mystery

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Poirot is on vacation when a newlywed, bright and golden Linnet Doyle nee Ridgeway, is murdered. Traveling in Egypt, he has also encountered the woman who perhaps has the most reason to kill Linnet, Jacqueline de Beaufort. Before Linnet got married, her husband, Simon, was engaged to Jackie. In fact, Jackie introduced the two of them. So, yes, she has a reason to hate Linnet. 

But there are other people on the boat who might have reasons to be upset with Linnet, including a trustee who has mismanaged her money, a jewel thief after her $50,000 pearl necklace, and a smuggler who doesn't want Linnet to reveal his game.

A fantastic story with Christie at the height of her game.

Four Stars

This book came out November 1st, 1937

Hercule Poirot #18

Follows Dumb Witness

Followed by Appointment with Death

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Reread August 2024

Snoopy: First Beagle in Space by Charles M. Schulz

This is mostly a collection of various strips where Snoopy goes to space. He variously visits the moon, space, and Mars. But the whole book is not just Snoopy (which I thought was a shame, the title sort of implies differently.) We also get an extended story about Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts getting lost in the woods, the children at school, playing sports, and other Peanuts activities. 

Four stars

This book came out March 17th, 2020

Ebook borrowed from Kindle and from NetGalley

Opinions are my own

That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey

Part of the Malory series, this book tucks in nicely with the rest of the books. It is... dare I say it... much more like the first books in this series (which I adored) than some of the later ones (which were "meh").  Most of the story is fabulous! But not the use of exclamation points! There are a lot of them! It reads more like teen fan-fic sometimes than a Johanna Lindsey, well-respected, seasoned author! Especially the end!

Julia Miller's family is not haute ton. They're not even ton, just fabulously wealthy. However, Julia has been accepted by the ton because she has been engaged since she was a child to the son of an earl. She is therefore not only going to be ton one day, she is no threat to any of their eligible daughters. One teeny problem though, she hates her fiancé. Plus, he took off nine years ago and she is ready to get out of her contract. Unfortunately, the reason he took off is his thoroughly despicable father who has steadily refused to break the betrothal. Julia has also had family problems since her father and mother were in a horrible carriage accident which killed her mother and left her father mentally incapacitated, though with moments of clarity. Julia is starting to put together a case to declare Richard (her intended) dead... when the infuriating man shows up in England. It seems he's been hanging out in the Caribbean, working as a pirate or a "treasure hunter." Unfortunately, their childhood animosity hasn't faded though their attraction has definitely grown. There are a LOT of incredible situations (Richard's father has him sent to a penal colony when he still refuses to marry Julia) but, if you've read Lindsey, this is not out of the ordinary.

Four stars

This book came out June 15th, 2010

Follows No Choice but Seduction

Followed by Stormy Persuasion

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own