Sunday, December 21, 2025

A Holiday of Love by Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Arnette Lamb, Jill Barnett

This book is over 30 (!) years old at this point and the stories definitely feel a little dated. I still have some nostalgia for this book, but I'm not sure I would read all of these today if

Change of Heart by Jude Devereaux
Two very smart children, Eli and Chelsea, decide to set up Eli's mother with his mentor so that he can go to college. This ties into the Taggert/Montgomery series. Very nineties with Randy and Frank falling in love. 

Miracles by Judith McNaught
Nicholas "Nikki" DuVille was in previous books in the Judith McNaught series. In this short story, he is forced into marriage with Julianna Skeffington. The two have an unhappy marriage until the Christmas. Nikki wants to convince his family that he is happy. But he doesn't really believe it until letters Julianna wrote to her grandmother are relieved. 

Daniel and the Angel by Jill Barnett
An angel falls from heaven right into the lap of a very rich man. She softens his heart and returns to heaven, but is that what she wants anymore?

Hark! The Herald by Annette Lamb
A female herald? Who even thought of such a thing? But there is one man who will do everything to claim her as his own. But she'll have to save him first. 

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot by Alexis Hall

Though they've been broken up for quite awhile, Audrey Lane still hears the voice her ex-girlfriend berating her for most of her decisions. But she goes on the baking show in Britain anyway. And comes right up against Jennifer Hallett, the producer. It starts when Audrey asks for help for the contestant who is over ninety. She, quite rightly, would prefer that Doris not have to walk up a giant hill to get back to the hotel after a full day of baking. Jennifer just wants her show to work; she's (at least on the outside) more concerned 
I don't remember this from the other books in the series but this book includes some time hopping and a switch to a first person point of view by someone who isn't the main character. And, while that story is kind of lovely and helps Audrey grow, I wish we had seen more of the two characters growing together. 

Three and a half stars
Winner Bakes All #3
This book came out December 9, 2025
ARC kindly provided as ebook by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, December 18, 2025

The Christmas Candle Murders by Benedict Brown

It's Christmas and Christopher and his grandfather are off to Christopher's childhood home. So is, unfortunately, Christopher's paternal grandmother's family. They could bring down the mood anywhere. So, to escape the house, Lord Edgington declares that a recent death in the village must have been murder. But it really could have been just an age-related death. Yes, the old woman was miserable and called in any number of complaints against her new neighbor (and others). However, nothing at all points to murder. Until there's another death. And another. What is happening in this small town?

Four stars
This book came out November 24, 2024
Followed by Murder in an Italian Castle (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad)
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

A Christmas Delight by Lois Stewart, Tracy Grant, Elizabeth Morgan, Sara Blayne, Dawn Aldridge Poore, Anthea Malcolm, Jo Beverley

I've had this book for a long time and I've gone from loving these stories to having a certain nostalgia for them. They are rather twee and, because of the brevity, not really well-developed in plot or character. They are also very much romances of the nineties. Good for a visit back in time and for people who like a closed-door romance.  

Twelfth Night by Jo Beverly
Lady Alice Conyngham jilted a man six years ago. This year, her brother has just informed her that the same man, as well as the reason for the jilting, will be under their roof. 

The Lords of Misrule by Sara Blayne
Maggie's cousin is delighted that an eligible bacheor and his twin brother are going to be at their family Christmas. Maggie really couldn't care less until she sprains her ankle and gets to spend some more time with... one of the twins. But which one? And can she save his brother from her cousin's clutches

The Christmas Knight by Anthea Malcolm
Owen and Amanda are in a conundrum with two men claiming to be the rightful owner of a centuries old book. But which one is the true owner? And what is Owen doing spending so much time with Lady Pamela?

Eugenia's Miracle by Elizabeth Morgan
Eugenia Foxworth is popular despinte the fact that she's told people over and over that she is not going to marry anyone. The man she loved died in the war. Unless he didn't. Can she convince him that she loves him only?

The Yuletide Wish by Dawn Aldridge Poore
Anthea's engagement was broken off four years go and she is still somewhat salty about it. However, it seems like her former fiance might be looking to get back together... and have some reasons of his own for breaking off the engagement. Can they meet in the middle?

A Holiday Betrothal by Lois Stewart
Charlotte wasn't sure about her fiance but her father is dying and wants to make sure that she will be taken care of. Now that her father is dead, she is visiting her fiance's home... along with his dead wife's family. Discomfort cranked to level 11. Will she be able to connect with him or are they doomed to be strangers forever?

Three stars
This book came out in 1991
Hard copy of mine
Opinions are my own

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Death at Silent Pool by Benedict Brown

Christopher has reached the ripe old age of twenty but is still solving mysteries with his grandfather. It has been some time since the last book and, rather than traveling the continent like Lord Edgington had been promising, Christopher has been working to solve small mysteries in London. 
The book starts off with the solution to the disappearance of some jewels but then jumps back in time to the disappearance of Patinece Hindmarsh, wife of Abraham and mother of five children, none of whom seem to actually like each other. Abraham does not want help from either the police or Lord Edgington until three weeks later when his own life is threatened. And he is, indeed the next person to die; not the last. 
The Hindmarsh family has no lack of suspects including some side characters. The end is very twisty and turn-y but I was willing to suspend my disbelief in the enjoyment of the story. 

Four stars
Lord Edgington Investigates #14
This book came out April 21, 2024
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Sister Wife by Christine Brown Woolley

I listened to this book right after I finished Becoming Sister Wives. It was really lovely to hear it in Christine's own voice. And, though some of the stories were re-hashed from the first book, they were also sometimes expanded. The story of meeting Meri and Kody, of "dating" Kody, and of meeting the other wives. This also goes beyond the marriage and gives some of the highs and lows in Christine's life. 
It's especially nice to be able to hear her tone of voice and to hear the sunny cheerfulness she (and Kody) say she had before she married him.

Four stars
This book came out September 2, 2025
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage Kody Brown with Robyn Brown, Meri Brown, Christine Brown

If you go in not expecting much, this is a perfectly fine book. 
It starts with Kody talking about their first live appearance after the show aired. Of course, this book is 13 (!) years old at this point so it hasn't aged well, many of the stories talking about what a tight family they are.  We do get to see how Kody met all of his wives and some explanation in to how they each fit together but it is all rather superficial.  (with five rotating narrators, there's not much you can fit into a book). 
I did read this right before I read Christine's book and I think pairing the two elevated both. A couple of her stories are repeated but not many. It made for a nice book end to the beginning and what may or not be the end of a popular television series.

Four stars
This book came out May 1, 2012
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own