Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

This reminds me of an early Langslow in the best of ways. Large ensemble of characters we know and love (though Michael and the boys weren't as prominent in this one, that's okay,) all of them gathered for holiday, getting glimpses of Caerphilly as Meg tries to solve a murder, and Mutant Wizards!

A Canadian genetics company has teamed up with Rob's computer folks to try and develop a better website. They are a small company currently headed by the owner's son, Ian. The son has decided that the entire genetics team needs to be in Caerphilly even though it means most of them will be missing Christmas with their families. Even worse, he did NOT plan well and they should up in town with no place to stay. In Caerphilly, known for their Christmas festival. So, once again, Meg and Michael are hosting any number of people in their house. 

At least the house is furnished and warm. And cousin Nora is there to feed everyone so all Meg has to do is keep her temper around Ian, even as she learns more and more and it makes her less and less impressed by the man. Of course, that means he's probably the one who will end up dead. 

Among the suspects are the young women Ian hit on, the woman who is stalking him, and a convicted killer who was released because their genetics company says that his DNA was not the one found at the scene.  

Four stars

This book comes out October 11, 2022

Follows Round Up the Usual Peacocks

Followed by Birder, She Wrote

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Reread December 2022 as audiobook

Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth is Bay St. Louis, MS getting ready for the holiday season. While shopping, they come across Janet Malone and Sandra O'Day throwing merchandise at each other in a book store. And this is right after Sarah Booth has told Tinkie that the two are going to be part of the panel of judges for the town library's Christmas tree contest. Even though the two write in different genres (Malone does sexy thrillers and O'Day does nonfictions), they have a well-known feud that is front and center that has been going on since the nineties. 

On the night that Sandra is throwing a big party, she and her assistant, Daryl, go missing. Janet hires Sarah Booth and Tinky to find out what is going on. Is their disappearance linked to the feud with Janet or to the house that Sarah has recently bought? After all, it was built by Al Capone and there is a rumored treasure somewhere on the grounds. 

The overall story was fine but felt a little flat compared to some other books in the series. We get to see all of our favorite friends 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 11, 2022

Follows Lady of Bones

Followed by Tell-Tale Bones

ARC kindly provided by St Martin's Press and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Book of Phobias and Manias by Kate Summerscale

I got this book because the cover was neat and the title was even more interesting. I wish that I had read a little bit more because this really was an alphabetical list of many phobias and manias with blurbs about each. It seemed well-researched though the footnotes weren't included in the audio version and there seemed to be a LOT of references to Freud (toward the end I was really wondering if there were no other people worth referencing.) 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 27, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Stolen Suit by Angela R. Casella

In grad school, Grace Parker and Enoch Laskin were first and second in their class. They had a fairly contentious relationship that turned into a short-lived relationship that lasted until exactly when Grace discovered that Enoch had encouraged her not to work for her father but then accepted that same position. Not that Grace wanted the position (she wanted to be a romance writer) but she still felt betrayed. Now she works for Vera Valentine, the well-known writer, though she's more of a lackey than anything else. But Vera has promised to read her manuscript.

However, after years apart, Enoch is suddenly in town. In fact, he's Vera's new muse which means that he's going to be around pretty much... always. And he makes it very clear that he is still interested in Grace. But Grace isn't over her hurt and she's got the Fairy Godmother Agency on her side. And that's what's going to make things really interesting....

Four stars

This book came out September 29, 2022

Follows A Borrowed Boyfriend

Followed by The Brooding Bodyguard

Ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Bree Camden and Nathan Donelson thought they would conquer their respective worlds. Nate achieved his dreams but Bree's were shattered by a car accident. Now he's an NFL quarterback and she's teaching ballet to an underserved populations (which she loves but it's not exactly the prima ballerina goal she thought she would achieve.) They're still best friends and have each other's backs in all situations. Nate even dumps an influencer who is rude to Bree. That influencer turns around and implies heavily that Nate has problems getting it up. One drunken night later and Bree has defended Nate to the point where people are now 'shipping them. And Nate's publicist sees this as an opportunity. 

This was a fun story that took the friends-to-lovers trope and tweaked it just enough to make it fun to read. Weirdly, I wish we had gotten a few more side characters because this book was so narrowly focused on Bree and Nate but overall a fun read.

Four stars

This book came out September 29, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Ronnie, the prodigal son of Lila Macapagal's family is back. No one is quite sure whether his business is legitimate but they are all tentatively hopeful. Ronnie is in business with Pete and Izzy who are in a relationship though Ronnie may have more than business-type feelings for Izzy. They've been backed by Xander and Denise in creating the Shady Palms Winery. Xander and Denise are helped by twins Olivia and Quentin March. This, of course, adds to the already fairly large cast of aunts and business members that Lila is already dealing with. But, if you can make it past Chapter 6, the characters spread out a little and become more easily recognized. Especially since one of them gets killed off soon after and Ronnie becomes a suspect. 

Lots of changes in this book with secrets coming out and people getting tired of the status quo. A really good book and some growth for some of our side characters. Hopefully we get to see more Lila and Jae in the next book. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out October 4, 2022

Follows Homicide and Halo-Halo

Followed by Murder and Mamon

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Narwhalicorn and Jelly by Ben Clanton

Narwhals have been called the unicorn of the sea but, according to one of our favorite main characters, unicorns are the narwhals of the land. When Jelly wonders what they look like, Narwhal wishes upon a star to become a unicorn and then to go visit with all of the other "*corns." However, while Narwhal is having fun, Jelly just wants to go to bed. So, a little lesson is a little shoehorned in about considering the feelings of others but this was, as always, a fun and joyful book.

Five stars
This book comes out October 4, 2022
Follows Narwhal's School of Awesomeness

Followed by A Super Scary Narwhalloween

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley
Opinions are my own