The Something About her by Rachel Higginson

Dillon's brother Ezra has decided that he wants her to be the new executive chef at his least successful restaurant. She's not at all sure that she's ready to be in charge but this might be her one shot. Besides, her friend Vera's brother Vann sort of goads her into it. Then he rescues her when her car battery dies. And then when she needs help taking charge in her own kitchen. He's there. 

And I liked that about Vann? What I didn't like as much? Same thing as Book 2 in this series. There's a lot of concentration on the fact that Dillon was sexually assaulted and then it's all taken care of in a few sentences. It was better in this book but still fixed rather fast. Overall, still a good read.

Three stars

This book came out February 26, 2019

Follows The Problem with Him

Ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Problem With Him by Rachel Higginson

A sous chef in a popular kitchen, Kaya Swift is pretty certain that she is one day going to be a head chef. If only Wyatt Shaw, the head chef, weren't such a hardass. And if only he weren't so darn hot.... But he's the head chef and in charge of her. Kaya thinks they have a hate-hate relationship but it might be that Wyatt sees them differently. She loves being a chef and knows that her time at Lilou, one of the best restaurants in the city, is coming to an end. She is ready for the next step in her professional career but there is the possibility of something good with Wyatt.

I didn't love the end; would Wyatt know about Kaya's job for 3 weeks before she does? That's just... ick.

Four stars

This book came out June 26, 2018

Follows The Difference Between Us

Followed by The Something About Her

Ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Biscuit Barrel Murder by Geoffrey Start

I requested this book from NetGalley based on the title. A couple of the reviews that were available compared this to Blotto and Twinks; I have no clue what that is but I'm always up for a new mystery series. And this one is not a bad start to a series (I think?) but there are a LOT of people that are introduced and some odd leaping about from first person to third that threw me off in the beginning. There are also a lot of characters. A LOT of characters.

Sir Wispy Fescue, Strangely Drye, and Wanda Cushway have a detective agency. They are hired to prove by Lord and Lady Alfreton to prove that their daughter, Miss Josephine Leighton, did NOT murder her fiancee, Viscount Thurmaston, with the biscuits that she baked for him weekly. So the team are off on an adventure to interview various suspects (all of whom Sir Wispy seems to latch on to at various points as being the murderer which was sort of interesting). Also included on the adventure are Sir Wispy's and Strangely's wives, Constanza and Libby who seem rather tolerant of their sleuthing although Libby does seem overly worried about Sir Wispy not getting hurt which, of course, he does. 

Not sure if this is a series; it might make some sense if it is since so many people were introduced so quickly. I would be interested in reading more though. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out January 28, 2023

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and The Book Guild

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm by Betty MacDonald

I like the first two books in the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series but after that... eh. The books are usually charming with their magical realism. This book features a lot more magic, a lot less realism.

We start off with the Not Truthfulness Cure. We've got a young gentleman who can't seem to tell the truth and there are a lot of different stories going around town. So he's left with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle for a month. Yes. His parents just drop him off at a woman's farm, out of town (she's moved since the first two books) and this is someone they don't really know. Okay. 

Next up is the Pet-forgotten cure where a little girl can't take care of her many, many pets. 

In the Destructiveness Cure, we meet Jeffy who likes to take things apart. Of course, being at Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's will show him why that's not a good idea. Suddenly in this book, Penelope the parrot, who was a regular parrot before, talks in full sentences.

There is also the Fraidy-Cat Cure. Phoebe is scared of everything but when Mrs Piggle-Wiggle gets trapped and getting over being a fraidy cat has to happen quickly.

Lastly we have the Can't Find It Cure where Morton comes up with a fabulous treasure... which was how the last book ended.

You can probably tell that I was frustrated with this book as being a retread of a lot of earlier stories.

Two stars

This book came out in 1954

Follows Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Followed by Hello Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Brooding Bodyguard by Angela R. Casella

Sinclair Jones is a famous actress who has a few problems. First, she's not sure what she wants to do with her life now that she's no longer playing a teenager on TV. Second, her mother (former momager) trashed her reputation so her reputation in the industry isn't exactly sterling. Oh, and she seems to have picked up a stalker.

For the first, she's been trying a number of new things like painting or creating things with clay. For the second, she's fake dating a man who tapes television shows about man vs. wilderness. For the last, she has a bodyguard.

Rafe used to be a painter. Then he got shot and became a personal fitness instructor (and got ripped.) Now, in between jobs, he has been asked by some of his father's friends to watch over Sinclair. He is expecting a snobby millionaire but finds someone who is much more complex. The more time they spend together, the more he wants to plumb her depths (har.) But her stalker is escalating and no one seems to be able to figure out exactly how to stop them.

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 19, 2023

Follows A Stolen Suit

Followed by A Reluctant Roommate

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

In late 2001, the first adaptation of Harry Potter made its way on to the big screen. The child actors were instantly catapulted into fame. As the young villain of the piece, Tom Felton says that he never got as much press as the actors who played the main three characters, but it did, of course, change his life.

Felton had already been an actor and he walks us through the roles he had and some of the people he met on various sets. He also tells us about working behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films and gives us a lovely glimpse of many of the actors on the films, including those who have since passed away. And they are very short glimpses with very little going too far into depth. 

Read by Felton himself, this book is an interesting look at how the children of Harry Potter grew up on set but also how Felton himself changed both before and after the films. He definitely struggled afterwards but seems to have pulled himself back up by his bootstraps.

Four Stars 

This book came out October 18, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens

When Christian and Letitia were young, they were inseparable, in love. But then Christian went to serve king and country. He returned: Letitia was married. Well, life has happened and Christian is now the Marquess of Dearne and Letitia needs his help. Her husband is dead and her brother is the main suspect. 
So, the book opens with a dead husband and ends with a marriage with lots of "for romance reasons" in between. It was generally an entertaining book but there was a lot of glossing over details, etc.

Three stars

This book came out August 26, 2008

Follows Beyond Seduction

Followed by Mastered by Love

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own