Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Ever since her sister Sky died, Sage has been avoiding going home. But now, her job has been made redundant and she has nowhere else to go. Besides, the (literal) ghost of her past is encouraging her to go and mend the fences with their other sister.

It seems that Sage can't keep her mouth shut. She blurts out things that other people would keep quiet and that has caused rifts for her in the past. But she's determined to try and patch up those relationships. She's also interested in maybe getting something going with her boss, Nate, at the plant shop where she immediately gets rehired, having been nicknamed the Plant Whisperer when she worked there in high school. But that is her gift, being able to speak to the plants, know what they are and what they need. Her relationship with Nate may not run smooth as another man from her past, Tennessee Reyes, turns up as well. 

This was fast, fun, and fluffy. Sage may not have been the deepest character and there are some definite plot holes but I really enjoyed this story and am hopeful that we will see some sequels.

Four stars

This book came out September 12, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

I only vaguely remember Fizzy as being a side character in a previous book but, dang, is she hilarious. Thirty-seven years old and a romance writer who has known who she is for most of her life, she is in the middle of a bit of writer's block and some decisions about whether where she is in life is where she wants to be. When she's contacted by a producer who thinks she would be great as a "Bachelorette" type main character on a new show he's developing, her first thought is she doesn't want to do it. But when she overhears a conversation (and only gets the tail end), she decides that she will do the show but only under her terms. To start? She's going to parameters around the men she's going to date (the words cinnamon roll may or may not be included.)

Connor's life is changing whether he wants it to or not. He was happy producing documentaries for a small network but now they want a reality show. He happens to see a news story about the DNADuos and thinks that maybe he could do a dating-type show where the audience chooses the match but they see if they can figure out who among the contestants would have been picked by the algorithm.

The two actually saw each other across a crowded bar and were intrigued. But now they are contractually forbidden from fraternizing with each other. However, the more time they spend together, the more they want to stay together.

I really liked Fizzy. Connor was pretty good too but Fizzy is the kind of person who lives their lives authentically and is just a fun person to know. Maybe a touch too much drama for me but overall an enjoyable read.

Four stars

This book came out May 16, 2023

Follows Soulmate Equation

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from library November 2024

Beatrice Goes to Brighton by Marion Chesney

Lady Beatrice is a widow- a happy widow at that. But now her father has promised her in marriage to another brutish man so she decides to travel by coach to Brighton. Hopefully, but the time she comes back, those hopes will have been dashed. She intends to be cold to the other coach passengers but, of course, one of them is Miss Hannah Pym. The others include a dumpy man, a woman with a child, a soldier, and a small woman with big eyes.

At the first stop, a few things happen. Lady Beatrice is taken by a brutish man into another carriage. She says it is of her own free will but Miss Pym is not convinced. Benjamin, her footman who was thought not to have hearing or speech is found to have both. She is left behind but is helped by Lord Alistair.

Miss Pym is at it again though, trying to convince Lord Alistair that Lady Beatrice is not quite the harridan she appears while convincing Lady Beatrice that Lord Alistair is going to be her best choice if she doesn't want to marry the brute. 

A little disappointing because this one isn't nearly as crazy as the last one but still a nice addition to the series. 

I liked that we got more in the way of Miss Pym and her budding relationship with Sir George.

Three stars

This book came out in 1991

Follows Penelope goes to Portsmouth

Followed by Deborah goes to Dover

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

October 2023 Rereads

As always, all opinions are my own

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 1, 1969

Follows Third Girl

Followed by Elephants Can Remember

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown

Marius Quin is a bestselling author. He is now working on "Glimpse of a Blood Moon." Well, he's trying to work on it. The first chapter has been written but he's now struggling with a massive case of writer's block. His publisher won't advance him any more money (he has to be guaranteed of a product, after all) but has invited Marius to a Boxing Day party. 

Outside the office, Marius slips and falls. It is then that his childhood sweetheart, Lady Isabella "Bella" Montague shows up. He falls again - instantly back into love. It's been ten years since they've seen each other. In that time, Marius's father has gone missing, the war happened, and he has slipped into some financial distress. 

With some surprise, he accepts an invitation from her to a party at Everham Hall, where a friend of hers, Cecil Sinclair, a famous actor, is throwing a party on New Year's Eve. He goes and takes his basset hound, Percy, with him. 

Marius realizes almost instantly that this party will be as awkward as all heck. It seems that this Cecil is a diva of the first order becoming childish and petulant when drunk.  His paramour, Poppy, is someone that no one likes.  There is a film director, Anton, and his wife, an actress called Alma. There is also Bella's beau, Gilbert, whom Marius instantly dislikes. Cecil's father, Ross, and Edith, who Marius pegs as Ross's innamorata. 

Marius pulls Bella aside to ask why she invited him to this house. He had hoped to reignite their romance; she says that she wanted to help reignite his imagination. She is more successful than he is at the end. 

Of course, there is a murder and, since the police can't get there, Marius is elected to solve teh crime. As a mystery writer, he is (according to the other characters), the most likely to be able to solve the crime.

I haven't made it to that book yet but it appears that Marius has crossed paths with Lord Edgington, another of Brown's mystery series. If you like that series, I believe that this one will be enjoyable as well. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 3, 2023

Followed by The Hurtwood Village Murders

ARC kindly provided by Storm Publishing

Opinions are my own

How to Murder a Millionaire by Zara Keane

Maggie has opened her private eye business and even has her first case. She's been asked to find a sheep that went missing... twenty years ago. Paddy Driscoll 

is still upset that she's gone and Jimmy Wright is his main suspect. When Maggie goes to ask Jimmy about it, she finds a dead body. 

Interestingly, Jimmy's wealthy family is visiting from America. While his aunt Helen claims she hasn't seen him in decades, Maggie knows differently. Helen's son, Huff, is the same age as Jimmy and is a blowhard, yelling at all of his three children, his staff, even Maggie. Guess who is the next to get murdered?

The two cases do overlap in interesting ways.

Three stars

This book came out June 11, 2017

Follows The Postman Always Dies Twice

Followed by The 39 Cupcakes

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Bounty by Janet Evanovich, Steve Hamilton

Kate and Nick are helping the Vatican against a thief coming to steal a priceless ring. The thief makes it past all of their safeguards but then takes something else. While chasing him down, the two discover something startling - the thief is Nick's father.

Tracking him down will take them on a whirlwhind race across the globe to find the other pieces of the map which will lead to $30 billion dollars of gold stolen by the Nazis. The problem? The grandson of one of the men who put the map together is after the information as well. 

We get a few new characters who may end up being recurring in Nick's father and his friends. They remind me very much of Jake (Kate's father) and his friends with their knowledge of life and weaponry. A nice addition.

Four stars

This book came out March 23, 2021

Follows The Big Kahuna

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby and hard copy from library

Opinions are my own