Thursday, September 24, 2026

Well Versed by Jen DeLuca

Six years ago Nina's heart was broken. That tainted her love of the Ren Faire and even made her change her major. Now, she's jobless and had to move back home where they desperately need ladies in waiting. Too bad the man who broke her heart is still there. And, through a series of unfortunate events, he is now spending more and more time with her family. By extension then, her. And she may not be as upset as she originally thought about that.
I didn't enjoy this book as well as the first one. I'm not sure if I'm just in a different place but the heroine seemed more caught up in her own issues that circled and  

Three stars
Well Met #5
This book came out September 22, 2026
Follows Well Traveled
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group
Opinions are my own

A Death, A Duke And Miss Mifford & A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford by Claudia Stone

A Death, A Duke And Miss Mifford

Miss Mary Mifford is now twenty-two and has decided that she is a spinster, on the shelf, and ready to help her three (!) sisters find an acceptable marriage. To the end of being "good" spinster, she is wearing mobcaps, frowning at things that aren't "correct", and doing good works. On the way to one of those good works she sees someone trying to break into Mr. Parsims house. She doesn't particularly like Mr. Parsims but he doesn't deserve to be robbed. So she throws a rock at the man. 
Henry, Duke of Northcott, doesn't expect to be attacked while trying to get in touch with his parson. Of course, he doesn't come to Plumpton often so maybe Miss Mary Mifford can be forgiven for not recognizing him. Besides, she's really vvery lovely. 
At a party held in the Duke's honor, Mr. Parsims goes out of his way to make himself detestable. Not a surprise since he's had at least two other fights that the readers have seen in this story. But Mary is the only person to wish he would be murdered. Only hours before he actually is. Now, both Miss Mifford and the duke have reasons to want to clear her name.
This book started off with a cute conceit. However, I'm not sure if this was just not edited but there were a lot of word choices that were just wrong. I searched to make sure it wasn't some difference between British and American English but it was not.

Two stars
Regency Murder & Marriage #1
Followed by A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford
This came out December 7, 2020

 A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford

Jane Mifford is the second of four girls. She had never thought to marry  but is realizing she can’t stay at home with her interfering mother. That would be just too much to ask. And her sister seems happily married to the Duke so it might be worth trying. Little does she expect a man to fall literally at her feet. 
Ivo Bonneville (check spelling) was lost but he thinks he might have just been found. The delightful Miss Mittford is the only thing keeping him happy at the moment. His odious cousin has summoned him to watch the man marry (in his eighty-second year) to a young girl. It seems that Ivo might only be heir to viscountcy for a little while longer. But he knew that might happen, that’s why he made his own fortune. He’s not particularly concerned about the old man dying. But when he does, and it’s murder, Ivo feels tompelled to not only find a wife to secure the bloodline (as good a reason as any to chase Miss Mittford), but to clear his own name as well (not that anyone’s said that the old man died, but everyone assumes it was Ivo.)
This whole series is fast and fluffy. Is it the best series out there? No. Is it like Pringles that you're going to consume them anyway? Indeed. 


Three stars
Regency Murder & Marriage #2
Follows A Death, A Duke And Miss Mifford
This came out December 7, 2020

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

There seems to be a trend of flipping heroes and villains. This book follows that as Anna describes her job. She's just a data analyst. That's it. On a job-for-hire no less. Not even a full-time position. So why is she suddenly on TV standing behind a villain? And why is she feeling like she's been hit by a ton of bricks?

She's just another bystander, hurt in the crossfire of a hero/villain feud. Now she's got no friends, no insurance, and no job. And the hero who hurt her certainly isn't stepping up to help. Her one friend does eventually come back but Anna is fundamentally changed. She's ready to step up and see what she can do. Because in today's world? Data rules all.


Four stars
Hench #1
Followed by Villain
This book came out September 22, 2020
Hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie, narrator: Hugh Fraser

Hercule Poirot has never considered that Miss Lemon might have a life outside of his office. As far as he knew, she was more or less an automaton. But, it turns out that she has a sister. And that sister needs help. She runs a boarding house for students and a number of items have gone missing. The only thing of any worth, a diamond ring, showed up days later in someone's soup but the overall atmosphere is chilling and she would like some help. 
Before the mystery is over, there is death. More than one. Will Hercule be able to solve the mystery? Of course, he is the great detective.
This is definitely a book of its time with some broad stereotypes and sweeping proclamations being tied to psychiatry, but the mystery is interesting and the end has a nice twist (even if it comes out of nowhere.)

Four stars
Hercule Poirot #30
Followed by Dead Man's Folly
This book came out in 1955
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

The Sign of The Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Danica Reese

What a strange story. Bess and George have an extended family member who owns an inn. None of the family have seen him in awhile so they, along with Nancy, stop in to see how he is doing. Ages ago, he invented a twisted candle that, as it burns, the wax melts toward the bottom so it wastes less wax.
It turns out that it is his one hundredth birthday, but he has been relegated to the inn's tower by the people running his inn. Their foster daughter is the only person to visit him. Except that today, Nancy brazens her way in along with some food. Later, the foster daughter is able to call and ask Nancy to return with her father the next day. The old man makes his will, then dies the next day.

While Nancy is trying to solve the mystery of his hidden treasures, she is also trying to understand the fact that, because one of Bess and George's relative's said she was working against them, her best friends are no longer speaking to her.

Three stars
Nancy Drew #9
This book came out in 1933
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

I’m not sure why I keep reading this series (actually, in this case, I borrowed the book from a friend about three years ago and felt obligated to read it at this point). At this point it is mostly about Hannah’s love life rather than the mysteries. In this one, she starts by telling her church’s congregaton that she’s not married and the reason why. Everyone rallies behind her, one man threatening to kill her erstwhile husband. But then her husband starts pressing her for the money he gave her as a wedding gift and Hannah is trying to give it back but the bank’s red tape is working against her. Then Nolan turns up dead and the reason for his killing is not really fairly clued. 

Two and a half stars
Hannah Swensen #24
Followed by Coconut Layer Cake Murder
This book came out February 26, 2019
Hard copy I didn't keep
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jessie Birschbach

Ira Dixon, Nancy's mail carrier, is about to retire. It's his age that has her offering him a ride during a violent storm and then setting him up with a hot beverage. It is her kindness that kicks off the mystery when the last of his mail is stolen from their front porch, including a note for Nancy and a package for her father. This puts his job, and his retirement, at risk.
Ira remembers just enough about the letter that Nancy can back track and find out that it came from a law firm in England. It wasn't actually meant for her. Nancy Drew has inherited a large sum of money and, so far, our Nancy is the only one they've found. But, coincidentally, Nancy Smith Drew is helping with a play at Ned's university. Do the two mysteries link up? Yes, but it's a very thin thread. 

Three stars
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #8
This book came out in 1933
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own