Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood

Willowjean Parker (not the name she was born with) meets Mrs. Pentecost on a fraughte evening when they both almost die. Willow grew up in a small town then moved around frequently with a circus so she hadn't heard of Mrs. Pentecost, the famous detective. But after that night, Mrs. P sought her out and hired her. Three years later, Willow is still working with Mrs. P. They are approached by the Collins twins and their "uncle." Their father committed suicide then, during a party with a seance, their mother is bludgeoned to death. They want to know what is going on. 
Willow and Mrs. P are on the hunt for a murderer and getting pulled into the world of a medium who, past the time when most were moving into the world of tarot readers, is still working with the richest people (including Mrs. Collins.)
The set up very much reminds me of Wolfe and Goodwin with Parker being the legs, though she is not just the muscle, she is very much being trained to take over the agency some day.   

Three and a half stars
Pentecost and Parker #1
This book came out October 27, 2020
Followed by Murder Under Her Skin
Opinions are my own

Monday, March 2, 2026

I Haven't Been Entirely Honest by Miranda Hart

I knew of Miranda Hart from her show, "Miranda," and didn't look to closely at what this book was before requesting it from the library. I didn't realize how much of this would be talking about her illness. I was newly dealing with my own brush with a scary illness and had to take a break from the book for awhile.
She talks a lot about what worked for her in coming to terms with the life she has versus the life she thought she was supposed to lead. Instead, she had to become very introspective, to go into a metaphorical cave to find the treasures of her life. 
As Hart reads the biography, it becomes apparent that many of the most delightful parts of her fictional character are a part of her own true life. Speckled with poetry and suggested dance breaks, this was an interesting story that I may have enjoyed more if I were in a different place in my own life. 

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 10, 2024
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Sunday, March 1, 2026

A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker are itching for a new adventure. When Mornaday comes to them with the story of a man who read a note and then jumped out of a window. This story leads them to cemeteries, vampires, a cult, and a crossover.
This is a lovely addition to the series. Not much character development but lots of atmosphere and an interesting story. 

Four stars
This book comes out March 3, 2026
Veronica Speedwell #10
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, February 28, 2026

February 2026 Monthly Rereads



The Worst Wedding by Pippa Grant
Three stars
This book came out April 13, 2023
Three BFFs and a Wedding #1
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited




Four Stars
Three BFFs and a Wedding #2
This book came out October 5, 2023
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited



Three and a half stars
Three BFFs and a Wedding #2
This book came out January 18, 2024
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited






The Problem with Him by Rachel Higginson
Four stars
Opposites Attract #4
This book came out June 26, 2018
Ebook from Kindle Unlimited



The Something About Her by Rachel Higginson
Three stars
Opposites Attract #4
This book came out February 26, 2019
Ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews
Four stars
This book came out July 19th, 2011
Meg Langslow #13
Followed by Some like It Hawk
Audiobook from Audible




Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews
Three stars
This book came out June 17th, 2012
Meg Langslow #14
Audiobook from Audible




Three and a half stars
This book came out July 16, 2013
Meg Langslow #15
Followed by Duck the Halls
Audiobook from Audible



Three stars
This book came out October 22nd, 2013
Meg Langslow #16
Audiobook from Audible





Four stars
This book came out July 8th, 2014
Meg Langslow #17
Audiobook from Audible

Friday, February 27, 2026

The Primrose Murder Society by Stacy Hackney

Lily's life hasn't exactly been easy lately. Her daughter, Bea, is acting up (understandably) after Lily's husband embezzled millions of dollars and then left them in the lurch. They lost their home (feds took it) and Bea has been kicked out of her private school. Lily has had to take her mother's boyfriend's offer of cleaning out his mother's apartment. At least they have someplace to live, even though Lily still needs a job. 
The Primrose apartments are the most posh in town, but, while Lily is slightly intimidated by the wealth, Bea is mostly obsessed with a murder that happened there almost twenty years ago. A resident dies and leaves behind a will that will give two million dollars to whoever can give information leading to the arrest of the person who killed his granddaughter. Bea, an inveterate Murder She Wrote watcher is all in. Lily is much more hesitant but is willing to go along because this is the only thing bringing Bea joy right now. 
The mystery comes together pretty nicely although the final solution was a bit out there. The two main characters are fairly fleshed out but there is room for growth which will be fun to watch if the series continues. 

Four stars
This book comes out March 3, 2026
ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Photographic Memory by Bill Griffith

I live near Yellowstone and knew quite a bit about William Henry Jackson as one of the people whose work helped influence it becoming the first national park. This book was an interesting historical fiction of WHJ's life, done by his great-grandson who is also an artist, a cartoonist. This graphic novel explores the highs and lows of the original WHJ, of how he became a photographer and how he had an absolutely amazing life, traveling the world, but still struggled with mundanities like actually being paid for his work. 
Some of it was a little bit of a slog for me but I can see why it was included on the list of NPR Best Books.

Three stars
This book came out October 21, 2025
Borrowed as hard copy from the library
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

A satisfying end to a series about four women who work as bridal consultants.
Parker Brown is the organizer of the group. She books the weddings and plans the details. She is happy that her friends have found love but a little jealous as well. That doesn't mean she's going to jump into a relationship with Malcolm Kavanagh, just because he's part of the group. But that doesn't mean that she isn't attracted to him. He's not a part of the elegant world in which Parker grew up but he's a good man and fits in well with the group. Mal was a stuntman in Hollywood until an accident almost killed him. He took the money from the settlement and bought a mechanics shop which is how he met the rest of the gang. 
The two are seemingly opposites but they have enough in common to make a happily ever after.
Was a little leery about this one since the second book pissed me off so much but it ended up being okay.

Four stars
Bride Quartet #4
This book came out November 2, 2010
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own