Monthly rereads April 2025

As always, opinions are my own.

The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer

Four stars

The Glass Library #1

This book came out September 6, 2022

Followed by The Medici Manuscript

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Amelia Peabody #1

Followed by The Curse of the Pharoahs

This book came out in 1975

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone

The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters

Four stars
This book came out in 1982

Audiobook from Hoopla

 

The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters

Three stars

Jacqueline Kirby #2

This book came out January 1st, 1974
Follows The Seventh Sinner
Followed by Die for Love

Audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Die for Love by Elizabeth Peters

Four stars

Jacqueline Kirby #3

This book came out January 1, 1974
Follows The Murders of Richard III
Followed by Naked Once More
Audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Naked Once More by Elizabeth Peters

Five stars
Jacqueline Kirby #4
Follows Die for Love
This book came out August 1st, 1989
Borrowed from Audible Premium Plus

Three and a half stars

The Ravenels #2

This book came out May 31, 2016

Follows Cold-Hearted Rake

Followed by Devil in Spring

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

The Ravenels #3

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 21, 2017

Follows Devil in Disguise

Followed by Hello Stranger

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Four and a half stars

The Ravenels #6
This book comes out February 18th, 2020

Follows Devil's Daughter

Followed by Devil in Disguise

Lady Obaldestone's Christmas Goose by Stephanie Laurens

Three stars

Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles #1
This book came out October 19th, 2017

Lady Obaldestone's Christmas Chronicles #1
Followed by Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols
Borrowed as an audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Lady Obaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols by Stephanie Laurens

Three stars

Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles #2

This book came out October 18th, 2018

Follows Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Goose

Followed by Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings

Borrowed as an audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Lady Obaldestone's Plum Puddings by Stephanie Laurens

Three stars

Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles #3

This book came out October 17th, 2019

Follows Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols

Followed by Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Intrigue

Borrowed as an audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Lady Obaldestone's Christmas Intrigue by Stephanie Laurens

Three stars

This book came out in October 15th, 2020

Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles #4
Follows Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings 

Followed by The Meaning of Love

Borrowed as an audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Hardly a Gentleman by Eloisa James

Clara has just been embarrassed in front of all society. It's just too bad that the man who embarrassed her is married. And the prince. It seems like her reputation will never recover. Her mother shows no surprise. Clara has been just a little odd since she was a child. She always liked books and, let's not even bring up her large bosoms. So, Clara's being shipped off to Scotland. Not forever. Although it could be. Just until her mother can show her face around ballrooms again. She never thought that she'd decide to hop in a carriage and pretend to be a housekeeper. Named Mrs. Potts no less.

Caelen just wants to live his life. His wife died and he just keeps moving on, ignoring the dust and grime gathering in his castle. That includes fishing naked. And that's how Clara sees him first. While it's not exactly love at first sight, Caelen does start proposing to Clara pretty quickly. He's sick of everyone thinking that he's a grieving widower so he's willing to get married. Not to the first woman who shows up but to the first one who doesn't seem to be there to try and become his wife. In fact, Clara refuses all the way up until the time that someone recognizes her and they're forced to wed. This, of course, not only lets them slake their lust for each other, but gives them time to fall in love. 

This book was darn enjoyable and reminded me why James is a master in the craft of romance. 

Four stars

Accidental Brides #2

This book came out April 29, 2025

Follows Viscount in Love

ARC kindly provided by Avon and  Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Bearer of Bad News by Elisabeth Dini

Lucy Rey doesn't fool herself. She knows that she's not a great hairdresser. Just like she wasn't a great any-number-of-other-jobs-she's-tried. She's trying to stick it out though because she's just changed towns to follow her fiance. That would be the same fiance who Lucy has recognized in someone else's social media photos. And they don't just look like platonic friends. 

After consulting with her best friend, Lucy decides to take on a job she saw in a pop up ad. She's not exactly sure what a "bearer of bad news" will do but it can't be worse than sitting and contemplating her own life choices. The job will take her straight into danger (including an influencer that seems to have it out for her) but it also shakes the very foundation of Lucy's own personal history.

I liked the character building in this book and the writing overall. I'm not a huge fan of stories where past and present are interwoven and it was especially jarring in this book as there were at least 3 timelines and they didn't always align well. I also wasn't sure about the department of returning lost things and wish it had been explored more. This story wasn't for me but I think I might enjoy others by this author. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 29, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch

Josie and Nate are getting married! Though it's not exactly their dream venue, they have put down money on a castle. And, as it's absolutely gorgeous, it will do just fine. The whole scope of the place is amazing. At least until the general manager, knowing that at least one of them is with the police, pulls them into his office. It seems that there have been a series of petty thefts and he's wondering if they can help. As it is their wedding weekend, they decline. And the hoopla starts... but it's off to a shaky start when Nate's childhood friends and his cop friends don't immediately gel. It gets even worse when there's a murder in the castle, one of the topless bartenders that was at Nate's stag do. 

This was a fun romp and in line with the rest of the series. I don't think you have to have read the rest of the series to enjoy the book but it sure does help.

Four stars

This book comes out April 29, 2025

The Nosey Parker Mysteries #8

Follows The Cornish Campsite Murder

Followed by The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder

ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Spy Master's Scheme Glass and Steele by C.J. Archer

Magic is becoming well known and the attacks surrounding it are ramping up. Everyone wants a little piece of India. Matt's family are using her for prestige. The local magicians want her to use her magic to extend their spells. The government wants her help in quelling the riots. India just wants to live her life peacefully and enjoy married life. But saying no to all of those people is not making them go away. Who does go away? The wool merchant who helped her build her flying carpet. In fact, he disappears and his wife is worried. So is India. Especially when she learns who the government has chosen as the magician's liaison in her place. 

Three stars

This book came out September 7, 2021

Glass and Steele #12

Follows The Toymaker's Curse
Followed by The Goldsmith's Conspiracy

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters

The first of the Kirby mysteries. Jacqueline Kirby, librarian extraordinaire, is in Rome. She bumps into a young man and woman and is soon introduced to their circle of friends. Then, one of that circle is killed and Jacqueline is off on her first murder...

Three stars

Jacqueline Kirby #1

This book came out ini 1972
Followed by The Murders of Richard III

Audiobook from Audible Premium Plus
Opinions are my own

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Phoebe, Lady Clare (daughter of Sebastian and Evie from Devil in Winter), married her best friend, even though she knew he was dying. But she had loved Henry from childhood. And, because she loved Henry, she hated the boy who made his life at boarding school hell. Even now, two years after Henry died. And that is especially true now that she's confronted with the boy, er, man himself now that her brother is marrying his cousin. 

West Ravenel sort of remembers his school days. He knew that his parents made him a miserable creature who took out his pain on others. When he grew up, he became an indolent rake. At least, he was until his brother unexpectedly inherits a financially insolvent earldom along with a widow (now his brother's wife) and three female cousins. West, much against all expectations, stepped up and became an exceptional estate manager. 

Just coming out of the haze of grief, Phoebe realizes that what her father and brother have been telling her is true, she needs to start paying attention to estates, especially the one that is going to her son. And, now gathered for her brother's wedding, she has the perfect chance to ask West about the new changes in farming. If only she can get past Henry's past hurt...

An okay book but not as good as some in the Kleypas canon. Especially since I reread Devil in Winter right before this one.

Three stars

The Ravenels #5

This book came out February 19, 2019

Follows Hello Stranger

Followed by Chasing Cassandra

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own