The Pantomime Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith

Clara Vale is asked to look into the sudden disappearance of Sybil Langford. The woman is legendary in pantomime circles and her professionalism is well-known. For her to leave so quickly and in the middle of the season worries her young friend Peggy. Even as Clara is looking into the information, another person dies. 

At the same time, she is hired to help figure out why a local department store is losing so much merchandise. The man who hires for the department store is a familiar name, Jack Danskin. He is eventually brought into the mystery a little bit more and he may become a bigger part of the series as we go on. 

I like this book better than the first ones as we are getting to know the characters more and the mystery came together a bit more smoothly. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 28, 2023

Follows The Picture House Murders

ARC kindly provided by Embla Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Thanksgiving by Sam Sifton

This is a delightful book which, written by the one man turkey helpline for the New York Times, simplifies Thanksgiving for everyone. Whether you've hosted Thanksgiving in the past or this will be your first year, this book is going to help you be ready for the big day. Combining recipes with some of the author's own nostalgia with instructions from before the big day to the end of it, this book is no-nonsense and filled with some rules to break (you can put your for on top of your napkin) and others to definitely follow (NO appetizers.)

Highly enjoyable and definitely worth a read, probably even a re-read.

Five stars

This book came out January 1, 2012

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Watchful Wisteria by Angela Pepper

Zara's newest ghost is one who was persistent. She made it into Zara's body even though she had a blocking gel and was trying to hold her breath. The ghost, Tansy, was Zinnia's plant provider and Vincent's estranged sister. When Zinnia and Zara go to check out the house, there are also ghosts of 

More of the book actually centers around a red fox that Zara rescues in the woods and what it showing up does to upend Zara's life.

Three stars

This book came out July 11, 2017

Follows Wisteria Wonders

Followed by Wisteria Wyverns

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Inheritance by Nora Roberts

Is it trite to walk in on your fiance having sex with someone else right before the wedding? Yes, but that doesn't mean it's not happening to Sonya. It's just too bad that he takes the breakup badly and that she works with him. So she quits her job and branches out on her own.

Sonya's able to get even a little more space when she finds out that she's inherited a large house from the uncle she never knew she had. It's in Maine and she has to live in it at least 40 weeks for the next three years. Though trepidatious, Sonya's ready to take the leap. It doesn't even take three weeks for her to decide she's going to go for it. It takes a little longer for her to convince her best friend Cleo that she should move there too. 

Roberts is a master and this book just shows it once again. You think you've read books similar to this one -- old ghost angry about life and taking it out on the living; two friends moving to a new place and finding handsome men; playful and adorable dogs. But this book has enough of a twist and some nuances in the characters that make it worth reading to see what happens next. 

Four stars

Lost Bride Trilogy #1

Followed by The Mirror

This book comes out November 21, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from the library April 2024

Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux

When Miss Edi (short for Edilean) leaves Jocelyn Minton a house, she's shocked. She has never even heard of the town of Edilean and she thought Miss Edi shared everything. Joce grew up with a handyman father who's a little... earthier (not all handymen are unenlightened, not sure why this is supposed to be such a big "social class" difference.) Her mother was genteel so when her mother dies and Joce is left with her father and then her biker stepmom and two bitchy stepsisters, her time with Miss Edi comes as a great relief. The greater shock is that Miss Edi, known (at least to Jocelyn) to be a great prognosticator of relationships (though the example in the book seems to be "I knew they wouldn't last," which, arguably, anyone could say) has told her that the perfect man for her, Ramsay, is in Edilean.

Luke is a grumpy Gus who seems to be hiding a lot. A LOT. But he likes Joce. Is it because she's meant for his cousin Ramsay or just because of her? Who can tell?.

Really two and a half stars but I keep re-reading (PURE fluff) so I rounded up.

Three stars

This book came out March 31, 2009

Followed by Days of Gold

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder by Laurien Berenson

I assume that both Peg and Rose have appeared in Berenson's other series as there are references to both of them having helped solve other mysteries. But in this book, the two are working together, maybe for the first time in decades. Rose wasn't sure about Peg when she married Rose's brother and she made a scene that ensured the two wouldn't have a good relationship. Years later, her brother is dead and Rose is feeling penitent so she invites Peg to a bridge club. We get to meet all of the the other members along with Peg and Rose. It is one of their bridge club that gets murdered in this book. While the police (including a detective that Peg knows and trusts) are investigating, Peg is still going to poke her nose in. That leads to some danger for them both and Peg may not be able to stick around to take care of her prized poodles.

Four stars

This book came out August 20, 2022

Followed by Peg and Rose Stir up Trouble

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

This is the story of two people who most definitely are not looking for love, especially not with each other. Maggie thinks that Aiden is her son's age while he thinks she's his mother's. It's a bit of a coincidence that they think that but not an unthinkable stretch. As the two spend more time together on an online role-playing game, they become friends. When Aiden hurts his ankle, they meet in person and realize they are about the same age. Love isn't instant, but as the two get to know each other, as they listen and grow (loved this!), they figure out they might want more from each other than merely friendship.

Four stars

This book came out July 1, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle

Opinions are my own