The Art of Chit Chat by Luigi Padovesi

I tend toward introversion so I like reading books about how to make conversations. This was... okay, I guess. I'm not sure that this was written by a human and not just some AI prompt. It certainly wasn't edited (which, I did read an ARC but still). Lots of repetition. LOTS of repetition. This 71 page book might have been closer to 60 if it had been vetted and rearranged.

You'll have to work hard to find the good points though they do exist.

Two stars

This book came out November 12, 2023

ARC kindly provided by BooksGoSocial and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Deborah Goes to Dover by Marion Chesney

Miss Pym was somewhat disappointed by love in the last book. But she is going to continue her travels. And this particular trip is going to lead her to a fight. One that her footman, Benjamin, is taking part in. But it is this fight that introduces her to Lady Deborah Western. Deborah has grown up with her twin brother and she is more comfortable in pants than in a dress. But her time acting as a man may be coming to an end as she is now nineteen and other people, including their neighbor the Earl of Ashton, are starting to take notice of her as a woman. 

An old enemy pops up in this book but is summarily taken care of. 

An okay addition to the series but I (and I think Chesney) are ready for that last book in the series.

Three stars

This book came out September 1, 1992

Follows Beatrice goes to Brighton

Followed by Yvonne goes to York

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

Brynn Warren was raised by her two aunts (and hypothetically an uncle though he doesn't factor into a lot of this story.) Her family has been living in their town, Evenfall, for over 400 years. In all of that time, the Warrens have been very quietly helping the town using their magic. But Brynn has a secret. Ever since her husband died, her magic hasn't been quite the same. She just doesn't know how to talk to her aunts about it. 

Right now, she's just hoping they can make it through the current guest at their B&B. Constance is a menace with a bell. Brynn's aunt Izzy seems to be doing okay but her aunt Nora is another story. In fact, Nora is discussing ways that she could kill Constance when she is discovered dead. And it ends up that Nora is now going to be a main suspect even though Constance's family has some deep levels of hatred for the woman.

This first book in the series is just as much about Brynn coming back to her heritage as it is about solving Constance's death but it was a fun listen and easy to get through.

Four stars

This book came out October 19, 2021

Followed by When the Crow's Away

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Too Sexy For Marriage by Cathie Linz

I had all three of these books when they first came out and they traveled with me for quite a while as I moved around during undrgrad and grad school. I remembered them being fast, fun, and fluffy. I did NOT remember the fairy godmothers. If I read this book today, I'm not sure I'd enjoy it as much but there is a lot of nostalgia and I have to admit to skimming the parts with the godmothers. 

Yep, in the late nineties, Linz wrote three books about triplets that also had three fairy godmothers who are supposed to assign them virtues. Except that these three godmothers are new and accidentally give Jason too much common sense and sex appeal. Now grown up, Jason has been declared one of Chicago's sexiest bachelors. 

Heather is a radio host of a program called "Love on the Rocks." One of her more misogynistic cohosts tells her she knows nothing of love and couldn't even hook Jason enough to make him do things that would be out of the norm like inline skating or kissing her at the top of a ferris wheel. Suddenly, money is exchanging hands among Heather's coworkers and she is feeling dragged along.

Will the fairy godmothers be able to help pull these two soulmates together or will they tear themselves apart?

Three stars

This book came out February 1, 1998

Followed by Too Stubborn to Marry

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

November 2023 Monthly Reread

As always, opinions are my own

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell #1

This book came out September 1, 2015

Followed by A Perilous Undertaking

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Lana Rubicon has gotten used to running her own life as a tight ship. As a powerful real estate agent in LA, she knows that she is at the top of her game. So she's left wondering why she can't quite pick herself up off the floor. When she finds out the answer is brain tumors, she does the unthinkable... she calls her daughter Beth for help.

Almost six months later, Lana is still living with Beth and Beth's daughter Jacqueline (Jack.) This is not the kind of life that she likes to have. She feels weak, she has nothing to do, and no one seems to respect her. So when fifteen-year-old Jack finds a dead body on a kayak tour that she's guiding, Lana springs into action to ensure that the detectives don't look at her granddaughter as a suspect. Plus, it reminds her of the times that she and Beth used to tuck in and watch Columbo on their mother-daughter murder nights.

It took me a bit to get into this book as the beginning didn't quite go in line with what I thought the description had said but I got pulled in and zoomed right through.

Four stars

This book came out September 5, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills

When she steals a car, Emmaline Darling is just trying to get away from an abusive boyfriend and a man who is coming on too strong. She left the keys on the tire in good faith not realizing someone else might steal the car. So, when Graham Harlan shows up and demands that she marry him in order to even the scales, Emmaline is aghast. It doesn't help that Graham has bought the bookstore where she works. 

Graham is just trying to help his brother. Though he's a famous football star, he doesn't have the money to help his brother open a gym. But he can get a chunk of money when he marries. A near death experience on the football field has made him more aware of his own mortality. A vision he saw while he was dead makes him wonder if Emmaline was pre-ordained.

I liked this book though the story felt a bit forced in places and Graham was not the best. I'm really hoping for a story with Graham's teammate and Emmaline's sister. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out December 5, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Montlake and NetGalley

Opinions are my own