A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns

I am generally quite enjoying this series. In this one, former influencer/socialite-turned-baker/bakeshop-owner, Madison, is forced to confront her own past when her former friend shows up in towner. Brandy Denton became "former" when she slept with Maddy's ex-fiancée, Elliot. Now that Maddy seems to be gaining a social media following and a new life, Brandy has shown up in New Bison, seemingly wanting to ruin Maddy's life again. 

I say I am "generally" enjoying this series because Maddy is (at least to my memory) suddenly very emotional. She's breaking down, running out of rooms, and generally being more helpless than I remember. I'm hoping that got edited in the print copy but really annoyed me in this book. Hopefully, that changes in the series going forward as I have enjoyed these books so far. 

Three stars

This book comes out 

Baker Street #3

Follows Murder is a Piece of Cake

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Viscount in Love by Eloisa James

Miss Victoria "Torie" Sutton isn't jealous of her sister. She really isn't. Yes, Leonora is engaged to Viscount Kelbourne, Dominic, and the man is handsome but he going to be her brother (in-law). His niece and nephew? Adorable. Awkward, not "normal," and absolutely adorable. So when her sister runs away with another peer, Torie is heartbroken that her tie to the twins has been severed. That doesn't mean that she will immediately become betrothed to the viscount herself, just to be his nanny. 

Dom thinks its the perfect solution though. He's not really trading one sister for another because Torie really is her own person and, if he's truthful, much more attractive than her sister. He doesn't even mind that she can't read or write.

The two do eventually marry (this is a romance, after all) and we get to watch them fall in love with each other even as they build their family.

I liked that both Torie and Dom were built out people with flaws that were both immediate and found later. I wish we had seen a bit more of the children. They weren't quite plot moppets but their personalities weren't developed much beyond that. 

Accidental Brides #1

Four stars

This book comes out July 25, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick

Emma Greyson is not at a good time in her life. She sold her grandmother's cottage and invested the money in a ship that has not come in. Until it does, she's working as a lady's companion. But at the current house party, she is feeling rather pressured. One of the gentleman is chasing her and now he's ended up dead.

Edison Stokes is at the same house party. He's looking for a book that was stolen from a very powerful dead man. Once he sets eyes on Emma, he knows she can help. So he gives her an alibi for when the man was murdered. The two travel back to London together with Edison hiring Emma to help him m get ahold of the book. As they work together, their attraction grows stronger.

Three stars

This book came out April 6, 1999

Vanza #2

Follows With This Ring

Followed by Wicked Widow

Borrowed as audiobook from  Audible

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha by Dorothy Gilman

In the last book, Mrs. Pollifax met and helped a young man named Sheng Ti. Now, he holds the answer to why one of the CIA's best operatives seems to be giving them bad information. So she decides to go back to China. On the plane, she meets a psychic, Mr. Hitchens who will play a larger role in this story. When they get to their hotel, she also sees Robin, an agent for Interpol with whom she has worked before. 

The three of them (with some ancillary characters) uncover a plot that is bigger than any of them. And it leads to one of the darkest endings that we've seen in a Mrs. Pollifax book. There is nothing explicit on page but there is a lot alluded to when Mrs. P is captured. 

Gilman definitely leans into the psychic angle in her latest books. This one has it most blatantly with touches in some of her previous books in the series. I wasn't expecting how dark this got as these books are generally a bit of fluff with darker aspects being hinted at or thought of but rarely seen.

Three stars

This book came out in 1985

Mrs. Pollifax #7

Follows Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station

Followed by Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own''

The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score

Who gets hired to be a bodyguard for their ex-husband? Riley Thorn sure just did. Her boyfriend, Nick, isn't enthusiastic about it but his partner in the detective agency jumps on the offer of twenty thousand dollars. 

It's not as if they're already juggling a lot. Just a group of elderly people, at least one of whom is senile, moving into their house. And the house isn't exactly a welcoming place, what with everything being so old. And then there's their dog, Burt. 

But Griffin Gentry has offered to pay. It's just too bad there So Many people that want to kill the man. He's refused to pay any number of bills, he put a giant statue of himself naked in his back yard, and then there's all of the women he's slept with, mostly while in a relationship with someone else. 

A fun, fast and fluffy ride as per usual. I don't think you have to have read the other books in the series but it sure would help. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 16, 2024

Followed Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past

ARC kindly provided by SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Design of Us by Sajni Patel

Bhanu and Sunny are known at work for having a somewhat tempestuous relationship. There are even bets placed on who will explode in meetings first. Well, not explode, they're professional after all. 

But now they're on vacation at the same time. And at the same resort. Which is what allows Bhanu to overhear Sunny's ex-girlfriend being an absolute jerk to him. Bhanu doesn't like other Sunny but this woman is absolutely being ridiculous. So she steps in and defends Sunny? But what gives her that right? Well, she's his new girlfriend, of course. Oy vey. Suddenly, the two are having to appear to actually enjoy each other's company. 

Like most romances, this does mean that they are in close confines and that they are going to fall in love. But the journey on this one is fun. I did like that Bhanu had social anxiety but it felt like more of a plot point than an actual aspect of her character. Other than that, I liked both Bhanu and Sunny as characters and enjoyed the book. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 16, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

An Assassination on the Agenda by T. E. Kinsey

Harry Featherstonehaugh has once again pulled his sister, Lady Hardcastle, and her lady's maid, Florence, into the affairs of the British Government. A gentleman has been killed and he needs them to step in and figure out why. But that is just the beginning of a mystery that will have them racing around London, trying to stop an assassination. As they try to prevent this from happening, they will have to deal with bureaucrats as well as men who don't believe they should be doing this job. 

An okay addition to the series but I can't pinpoint why this one didn't flow as well. I think it felt like there were some storylines just talked on to bulk up the book. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 21, 2024

Follows A Fire at the Exhibition

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

Opinions are my own