Miss Flibbertigibbet and the Barbarian by Stephanie Laurens

Nicholas Cynster is looking for a horse, a specific horse, one with the sobriquet Barbarian. It has been spotted at Ainsby Grange so he heads over. His introduction to the Sommervilles is helping the younger set take down their flour balloon bombs. A little odd but it smooths his introduction to Lady Adrianna. And that is good because she is going to be the one he is dealing with in the sale of the horse as her father is... not well and her mother is spending all of her time with him. 

Addie doesn't understand the feelings she's having around this man but, when the horse disappears, she's going to have more time to figure it out as the two will be working together to figure out where the horse has gone. 

I appreciated the fact that the obvious ending (at least if you're a regular Laurens reader) was actually subverted in a way I don't remember her ever doing anymore. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 16, 2023

Follows The Time for Love

Followed by Miss Prim and the Duke of Wylde

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Happiness Plan by Susan Mallery

Daphne, Heather, and Tori are friends but are in different places in their lives, dealing with different difficulties. Daphne wants to have a baby but her husband is reluctant and is throwing in her face her friends hip with a guy from work. But it's not an affair like he said. Heather broke up with her last boyfriend because she could never love him, but then why is she so jealous of his new relationship? To make her emotional state even harder, she's reconnecting with her father who left when she was a child. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 20, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my

Spy x Family, Vol. 9 by Tatsuya Endo

Anya and her "parents are still on board the princess Lorelai. Yor is battling a group of villains while Loid is trying to disarm the bombs on board. Anya is trying to help, all without letting her family know she is psychic. 

We get a story with Bond saving a number of people though Loid doesnt know what is going on.

The last story introduces Mistress Schlag. She lives to give the children a tonitrus. She expels students the fastest of any other teachers. It does give Anya a chance to put Damian in her debt when he forgets a handkerchief.

Another great addition to the series.

Four stars

This book came out April 4, 2022

Follows Vol. 8

Followed by Vol. 10

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter whose just been snubbed by her latest author. Like, the lifestyle influencer didn't even know her name. She has had a crush on her friend Wyatt for years and that is not going anywhere. So, she throws caution to the wind and has a one-night stand. Too bad he ends up being her next ghostwriting subject.

Finn Walsh was on a hit TV show over a decade ago. Now he's stuck in a loop of cons (conferences) which he doesn't mind doing but he really would like to get back to acting. When Chandler references something about their night not being mind blowing, he's astonished. He honestly thought he was good in bed. (Dude, he tries to open a condom package with his teeth, major no-no). While he could be all fragile about this discovery, he instead decides to ask for help. 

I did enjoy the journey these two had together. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 4, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Bob's Burgers, Volume 1 by Mike Olsen, Rachel Hastings, Justin Hook, Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake

There are a number of short stories that could have appeared in the show including Tina stories one where Tina is a horse who is called up to join the Equestranauts. Another has her brokering peace in space between the humans and the robots through dance. She also lives in the old west as Trick Shot Tina and in fictiom through "Franken-Butt." The last of Tina's stories has her as the last human in a zombie apocalypse but they arent after ehat you might think.

Louise has her "Unsolved Mysteries and Curious Curiosities" and gets caught up in a conspiracy around school picture day. She also tracks down the person defacing school library books. Adventure (and a shantytown) bloom when she gets a freezer box. She has fun spending the day invisible after mixing chemicals at school. Finally ahe thinks there is something wrong with her beloved Boo Boo when his face is obscired on several magazine covers.

Gene gets fused to his burger suit. He is also in a "Genemadeus" musical as well as "Guys and Frogs" and "Chupacabra-cadabra". He also helps save the nerds in "Robot College."

Three stars

This book came out March 31, 2015

Followed by Bob's Burgers, Volume 2

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Volume I by Matthew Mercer, Matthew Colville, Olivia Samson, Chris Northrop

Two adventuring crews meet up and try to solve the mystery of why people are dying near a salt water swamp. As they explore, they are set upon by another group, have to face several magical beings, and are killed dead. The beginning of the book and several pages during the story show us that people will die on this adventure but it is still wrenching to see it. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 15, 2019

Followed by Volume II

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Emily Goes to Exeter by M.C. Beaton

Miss Hannah Pym inherits a vast sum of weslth from her employer. She decides to travel England with the money and starts by purchasing a ticket to Exeter. It is the coach that used to go past her employer's house and she would dream of riding it. And her first travel is quite the adventure with a highwayman, a runaway bride, and a widow who is about to married to a man who may not be as he appears. The runaway bride's groom is also there and Miss Pym's new goal is to bring the two together because, well, they are so well-suited (at least by station). 

This book was originally written in 1990 but, even thirty years later, holds a lot of charm. 

Four stars
This book came out November 1, 1990

Followed by Belinda Goes to Bath

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own