December 2023 rereads

 Happy 123123, Americans!

As always, opinions are my own

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell #2

Four stars
This book came out January 10, 2017
Follows A Curious Beginning

Followed by A Treacherous Curse

How the Finch Stole Christmas! by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #22

Three stars

This book came out October 24, 2017

Follows Gone Gull

Followed by Toucan Keep a Secret

Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #23

Four stars

This book came August 7th, 2018

Follows How the Finch Stole Christmas!
Followed by Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

Book from Audible

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #24

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 16th, 2018

Follows Toucan Keep a Secret

Followed by Terns of Endearment

Audiobook from Audible

Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #25

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 6th, 2019

Follows Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

Followed by Owl Be Home for Christmas

Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow #26
This book came out October 15th
Follows Terns of Endearment
Followed by The Falcon Always Rings Twice
Borrowed as ebook from Libby

The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #28

This book came out October 20, 2020

Follows The Falcon Always Wings Twice

Followed by Murder Most Fowl

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Cursed Princess Club Vol. 2 by LambCat

Though her friends and family see the beauty within Gwen, she is still having trouble seeing it herself. It is showing up in the cracks that she sees when she looks in the mirror. But there is a new man in her life, a portrait artist who is bored by the regular beauty he sees in the world. In Gwen, he has found a new muse and a flavor of beauty that sates his jaded palate. 

At the same time, the pastel king has finally allowed his princesses a bit more freedom. They can go on dates with their fiances from the plaid kingdom. But does Frederick still want to be engaged? He isn't sure but he doesn't want to give up. 

The Cursed Princess Club is dealing with a lot. They were sure that Gwen wasn't cursed but, after looking at her family portrait, they aren't so sure as they once were. Oh, and Nell's had a premonition that one of them will die before the new moon passes. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 4, 2023

Follows Vol. 2

ARC kindly provided WEBTOON Unscrolled and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Cocoa Curses by Erin Johnson

This is a cozy mystery that has a conceit (being near Santa's workshop) and it runs with it. Of course, it assumes that there are witches that live near by and Rudie Hollybrook is one of them. She has always felt a little bit like an outsider as her magic has to do with death. And that comes into play when a woman is murdered. One who Rudie didn't particularly like, nor did the woman like her. So having her ghost around isn't exactly a fun time.

However, the way to get rid of the ghost would be to solve the murder. Rudie isn't exactly a detective so there is some bumbling. There is also the inevitable love interest, in this case a journalist.

Three stars

Follows Winter Wishes

Followed by Cherry Charms

Rudie next stars in Solstice Spirits

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Murder on Milverton Square by G.B. Ralph

I can't remember why I picked this book up but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. There wacere some parts where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit thin but I am definitely looking forward to the second book in the series as I really enjoyed Addison's character development. 

Addison Harper's uncle has died and left Addison something in the will. Summoned to Milverton by a rather abrupt lawyer, he at first enjoys the adventure. He's astonished to find out he'as inherited quite a large estate including Milverton Manor which looks like it hasn't been redecorated since the 60s. It's just too darn bad that the best-looking guy in town happens to be Sergeant Jake Murphy who is investigating Addison in the death of the aforementioned lawyer. 

Of course, as mysteries are wont to do, this book has the lawyer as a villainous sort who has made a number of people in town angry so the mystery is slow going in the solving department.

Four stars

This book came out November 8, 2022

Followed by Poison at Penshaw Hall

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand

48 hours of listening. 48. hours. It was a very interesting read and really inclusive of all of Streisand's work which, as most of us know, is extensive. I did finish the whole book before it needed to be returned to the library but it did start to drag a bit. In an effort to include everyone she worked with, Streisand name drops everyone. Ev. Er. Y. One. So many names. A really interesting look at her life from her side and most of the stories, especially those that set her up to look like a high strung diva are shown to have been untrue. Like so many women, she was vilified to make others look good. 

Four stars

This book came out November 7, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Wisteria Wyverns by Angela Pepper

In the last book, Zara's father returned. It was a surprise because he had generally been an absentee father. A the end of the book, someone else from her past had returned. Her mother. The one who was dead. 

This book gives Zara a chance to get to know her mother again. They're going to be spending a lot of time together in the castle in the next town over because, as they are sitting there, a new ghost enters Zara's body. It's someone that we know if you've been reading the series. Dead body means nobody gets to leave for a while so Zara's going to be spending time with her mother.

Throw in a man who looks just like her neighbor and has the ability to disappear, a wyvern named Ribbons who can communicate with Zara telepathically, and the water district team and you've got another screwball mystery. Not very deep but a fast, fun, and fluffy read.

Three stars

This book came out October 31, 2017

Follows Watchful Wisteria

Followed by Wolves of Wisteria

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan

I had a friend recommend this book to me and I thought it sounded like me. Same first name, same nature? Yes, let's do this thing. It was an okay book but reminded me like The Year of Yes and several other books where the author steps out of their comfort for a year and chronicles the journey. Pan didn't end up with a husband like Rhimes (she already had one) but it was still an entertaining read about one introvert's search for how to be more extroverted including improv classes, hosting events (her point about introverts hosting really resonated, you don't have to interact when you are busy being a hostess), and going on a  surprise trip while trying to make friends.

Three stars

This book came out May 28, 2019

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own