Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong is an older woman who has lost touch with her son as well as the larger world, though she would argue against that since she keeps up on the lingo and surfs the internet to search for the latest trend. She runs her tea shop (Vera Wang's (not a spelling error on my part) World-Famous Teahouse) and sends her son a wall of text but no one seems to respond except her one regular customer. She does the same thing every day and feels some tiredness but isn't sure how to get off the treadmill. Until she's violently shaken by the discovery of a dead body, that of Marshall Chen, in her shop. 

An inveterate watcher of crime shows, Vera knows just what to do. She pats down the body, draws a chalk outline, then calls the police. While waiting, she tidies the shop and makes the police tea. She doesn't understand why they are so upset with her, nor why they get so annoyed at her asking if they want a drink. She made her best tea, one that will help them think clearly. 

Well. She's going to find out what is going on and puts out an obituary for the body. From that come three people: the man's wife, his twin, a mysterious young man claiming to be a reporter, and a young woman who puts out true crime podcasts (although that also seems suspect as Marshall's death was declared a suicide).

Vera bulldozes into these characters lives and we get to see them come together to solve the mystery of why Marshall died. A bonus? Vera gets to spend a little time with her son as well.

Sometimes it can get a little much with alternating view points but Sutanto handles it wonderfully providing glimpses into a number of characters without losing pacing. I'm really hoping there is another book in the series and that it shows Vera and Gladys (the old woman in the other hospital bed) becoming friends. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out March 14, 2023

Vera Wong #1

Followed by Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

I heard about this book on the December 27, 2022 episode of the Book Riot podcast. It sounded interesting, the title is cheeky, and I liked the cover so I requested it from NetGalley.

Lakshmin has an interesting background having been the doctor for a cult. Now, preferring to teach real self-care, Lakshmin boils it down to embracing internal change and cultivating dialectical thinking (acknowledging that two seemingly opposite truths can occur at the same time.)  And, of course, looking at what self care is, and isn't. Because, while spa days and perfect nails might seem like easy fixes, they often cause even more stress costing women both time and money. And heaven forbid mothers do anything like that. Judgment comes down even harder.

Self-care has so often been seen as a noun but Lakshmin offers the advice that it should be a verb. And, while hedonic well-being (spas, retreats, etc.) is good some of the time, what is really going to make us feel good is eduaimonic well-being (focusing on having our actions be in line with our values and having a life that has purpose.) The latter form of well-being also means being able to make difficult decisions and to be able to say the word "no" when activities don't align with our values. It also means treating ourselves with compassion and learning more about ourselves and being able to tell yourself that you matter. And, taking steps toward real self-care might mean more work. And there might not be a clear finish line. 

I have read a lot of these suggestions before but the ones that I recognized are things that have worked (and are still working) for me. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 14, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgie is stuck. She's used to living her life for other people but she's been cut free from her job as a personal assistant. Luckily, her best friend is pregnant and could use some help. So she moves back home. Her parents are off on one of their RV trips so Georgie is shocked that someone else is in the house.

Levi Fanning, older brother of the boy Georgie crushed on most of her high school career, just needs a place to stay. His dog is a pit bull and isn't accepted everywhere. Also, it's a small town and, remembering Levi's wicked past, he isn't accepted everywhere. Georgie's kindhearted but absentminded father has invited him to stay at the house as well. 

Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable story of Georgie discovering herself again and finding love with Levi. Georgie was a little too much at times (as were her parents) and Levi's last little temper tantrum wasn't really needed but a good story. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 24, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

A great read where the heroine is truly curvy (not some 5'9-and-150-pounds-curvy-my-ass heroine) The hero is still the classic TDH (tall, dark and handsome) but Minerva (Min) doesn't even believe in love. She has her two best friends and her beloved sister, so what more does she need out of life? Well, she's still dating, but the last guy broke up with her, accusing her of being frigid, then turning around and trying to bet Calvin (Cal) Morrisey ten thousand dollars that Cal can't get her into bed within a month. Cal doesn't take the bet, but nobody seems to believe him.

Min overhears the conversation and decides that she'll teach Cal a lesson by going out to dinner with him and then unceremoniously walking out. The two have some major obstacles including both sets of parents (Min's mom is convinced she's fat, Cal's parents think he's dumb) that have given them hideous insecurities. 

It's a romance so of course there is a HEA, but I LOVE the fact that they don't actually have kids. Every other happily ever after has kids somewhere in the picture and that just isn't actually everyone's cup of tea so this is a refreshing change of pace.

Four stars
This book came out January 1, 2004

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited (came with ebook)

Opinions are my own

Murder Above the Silver Waves by Blythe Baker

Lillian Crawford and her brother are crossing the ocean to get away from some big disgrace. It's fairly large but, luckily, there are still some people on board willing to talk to them. But Lillian is doomed to be a name on people's lips once again when, while strolling the deck one night, she witnesses a murder. Being a plucky 1920s female main character, of course Lillian is going to try and solve the murder herself. Of course, she and her brother aren't the only people on board with a secret. And the more she looks, the more she's likely to get herself into trouble.

This was a decent start to a series and I have a feeling it will get better as the characters are developed more. 

Three stars
This book came out December 26, 2021

Followed by Murder Within the Uneasy Crowd

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Mix Up by Candace Harper

Two librarians have a mutual crush but are both hesitant to make a move. When they end up in the same room at a conference, their feelings finally come out.

This felt like a first book but an earnest effort. It took me a little time to get through because some of the language hadn't been quite smoothed out but was a fun little diversion.

Three stars

This book came out February 29, 2020

Ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon

I heard about this book on an episode of Smart Podcast Trashy Books. They made it sound fun and interesting and Kindle Unlimited had it available so I thought, "Why not?" 
This was one of the few times that SPTB and I will have to agree to disagree. I never connected with Esther or could tell what kind of person she was outside of the fact that she really, really, really likes to have sex. And I'm not slut-shaming here, I just would have liked to know more about her or any of the gentlemen that she gets to know throughout the story.  

Two and a half stars

This book came out March 23, 2021

Followed by The Basilisk of Star Manor

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own