Mini Reviews: How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas & A Highland Ghost for Christmas by Jo-Ann Carson

After a snowstorm grounds her flight, Lucy makes a last-ditch effort to get home for Christmas using a rideshare app. She thinks she’ll be taking a road trip with a stranger … but the guy who shows up is someone she knows all too well. He’s the hookup she ghosted a few months ago, and now she’ll be stuck in a car with him for the most awkward road trip of her life.

 

Making matters worse, he’s even more gorgeous than she remembers—too bad things between them are frostier than the North Pole. Will the long ride home allow them to get to know each other in surprising new ways? And more importantly, will the season warm things up and send sparks flying yet again? Whatever happens, one thing is clear: It’s going to take a whole lot of Christmas magic to unlock their guarded hearts.

 Publisher: Audible  | Narrators: Jason Clarke, Andi Arndt | Length: 5 h 24 min. | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 3.5

If you’re looking for a fun, quick, slightly cheesy Christmas rom-com, this is the book for you. Imagine having to share a rideshare with your one-night stand then getting stuck in a Christmassy little town full of zany residents while trying not to fall for the guy you ghosted. While I did enjoy the majority of this one, it had a few minor issues (mainly the cause of the conflict not being strong enough and a few odd things at the end) but nothing that couldn’t be overlooked.

Overall, it wasn’t the best book in the world but it was fun, especially for an end of the year read. Think of this as a PG-13 Hallmark movie, they’re not the best but they make the season bright. 

Jilted by her fiancé, librarian Maddy Jacobson is nursing a broken heart, when her best friend gives her an early Christmas present. Intended to be a fun, psychic reading in a spooky, tea house, the gift turns out to be life changing. Maddy becomes haunted by a mischievous, Highland ghost.

Ruggedly handsome, Cullen Macfie, the Highlander, has been dead for over three centuries, and never in all those years has he been so attracted to a woman, as he is to Maddy. He falls hopelessly in love and decides to woo her.

Can there be a future for a librarian and a naughty, Highland ghost?

Series: Gambling Ghosts #1 | Publisher: | Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance  | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 2.5

A haunted teahouse, a Highlander ghost, and a brokenhearted librarian have a festive holiday season while trying to heal her broken heart.

 

This was a cute concept for a novella and made for a quick, light read. While it was fun, it was a bit over the top and not fully developed. The ending was a little out there, but this concept was a little out there, and, for some reason, there’s a lot of baking going on in such a short amount of time. We’re also treated to a lot of Gaelic quotes straight from Outlander.

 

Winter Wonderland Book Tag

Hello, Lovelies, and welcome back! It’s been cold and snowy in Ohio, which means it’s time for The Winter Wonderland Book Tag. This tag was created by I’m All Booked Up and, unfortunately, I cannot find the blog to tag the original creator. The rules are simple: answer the prompts and tag other bloggers, which I won’t be doing. If you’d like to join in, please feel free to create your own post or leave your answers in the comments as I would love to see your answers.

 

Now, on to the Winter Wonderland Book Tag

 

 

1) Look out the window, it’s snowing! Find a book with snow on the cover.

 

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley 

A group of friends stranded in the Scottish Highlands while a murderer is on the loose makes this the perfect winter thriller.

 

2) The fire is roaring in the fireplace. Pick a cozy read to enjoy by the warmth of the fire.

The Cowboy Cookie Challenge 

by Lori Wilde (Twilight, Texas #16) This was such a cute and cozy holiday romance.

 

3) Winter is time for outdoor sports. Find a book that features a winter sport.

 

Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley 

As soon as I heard about this one, I was intrigued. While it’s on my TBR list, I’ve not started it yet so here’s the blurb…

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a modern single man in possession of a hockey jersey may be exactly what a Regency woman needs to avoid the shackles of marriage...

 

Goalie for the Austin Regals, Tucker Taylor is benched due to health issues. So he decides to visit his sister in England. But an accidental plunge into an icy pond thrusts him back to 1812 where he comes face to face with a captivating blue-eyed woman who regards him as if he’s grown two heads.

 

Lizzy Wooddash dreams of a life surrounded by books, engaging conversation, the presence of literary icons like Jane Austen, and... nary a husband in sight. But in Regency England, only widows like her cousin Georgie enjoy freedom and solitary pursuits, unencumbered by expectations. The only way to quickly become a widow is by marrying a dying man or killing a perfectly healthy one, neither of which Lizzy desires.

 

A visitor from the future might just be the husband of her dreams. Once married, they can figure out how to return Tucker to his proper time, and his absence—aka death—will make Lizzy the widow she always dreamed of becoming. Yet as sparks ignite, they soon realize that matters of the heart rarely adhere to carefully laid plans. Can their love stand the test of time, or will Lizzy get exactly what she wanted...as well as a broken heart?

 

4) Winter means the start of a new year. What is one book that is on your TBR list this year?

Oh my goodness, I have so many books on my 2024 TBR that I haven’t read but if I had to pick just one I think it would be The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. I’m itching to read this book but, at the same time, I’m wanting to wait until there’s another book from the All Souls Series on the horizon as it’s a series I’m not ready to say goodbye to.

 

5) If you’re not careful, winter weather fun can cause frostbite. Pick one book that was a major disappointment.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch  

Normally I love her historicals, but this one was just an odd book that didn’t find its footing.

 

6) But by going outside, you can find comfort in a warm beverage. What is your go-to comfort book that never fails to cheer you up?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte will forever be my London Fog, my cozy sweater, and warm blanket. I absolutely love everything about the classic.

 

 

7) Winter comes to an end and spring emerges. Name a book that you want to read before springtime?

There’s so many…but I’m eager to read A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene. It’s been sitting on my TBR stand just begging me to pick it up and, as it’s an Irish Folk Fantasy, it seems fitting to read as spring emerges.

Designs on You by Jaci Burton

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

 

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

 

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is...her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.

Series: See below* | Publisher: Berkley Romance |  Release Date: 12/03/2024 | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3.5

A single mother, a slightly younger man, two young children, and an adorable rescue pup? Yes, please!

When newly divorced Natalie finds herself agreeing to decorate her sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s new place, she’s thrilled to have a new project. What she’s not so thrilled about is Eugene and the attraction they share. While she does not want to get into another relationship, there’s no harm in a little fun. There’s no denying that Eugene’s enamored by Natalie and more than ready for a good time but he has to convince her he’s in for more than just a little fun.

I always enjoy Jaci Burton’s books so I knew that I was in for a good time but I was a bit worried as Natalie wasn’t a favorite of mine in the previous book. Thankfully, she’s changed in this one.

Natalie’s been through some things and she’s trying to figured out who she is and what direction she’s taking with her life. She’s starting a new career, healing things with her sister and mother, and trying raise two young children on her own. She’s also determined not to enter into another relationship. Natalie has a lot of fight and determination in her and, while it’s not a bad thing, it seems to interfere with her happiness at times.

Eugene’s easy to like, which surprised me given his job as a video game designer. I’ve known a few game designers who have been very immature so I wasn’t expecting a lot of maturity from Eugene, so I was pleasantly surprised at how adult he was and how eager he was to enter into a relationship with a single parent. He’s just a fun, charming, family-first guy but I don’t feel that we really go to know Eugene down to his core.

There’s no denying there was chemistry from the start and they fit perfectly into each other lives but Natalie was cautious, which I understood. What I struggled with was how much Natalie was in her own head. Every time something great would happen between the two of them, Natalie would start an inner monologue of why they wouldn’t work. She also made too big a deal out of the fact he was younger than her but it was only 5 years, which I don’t feel is a major difference. I also found the conflict lacking, as it could have been settle with a conversation, which is something I’ve noticed in several of her romances.

I’m on the fence about rating this one. I think I’m going to settle on a 3.5. While I liked this one, I don’t feel that it was a romance but rather a women’s lit with a side of romance due to all the issues Natalie was going through. I also feel like too much of book took place in Natalie’s head.

Overall, I do recommend this one. I enjoyed it but it did have its issues.

  

*I want to say that while this is labeled as a ‘stand-alone’ this does follow Housebroke and they are connected. While you don’t have to read one to follow the other, I do recommend that you read them in order just to get a better sense of the characters and their behavior. I can’t seem to find a title for this series, and I’m not sure if there is one, but if you know what it’s called, please let me know. 

Book Un-Haul Round 1

It’s started…the great book un-haul. I’m surrounded by books and, while I wouldn’t mind living in a library, I need to have a bit of a sort out and get my books organized. While I’ll never be a minimalist, especially when it comes to books, this un-haul is a must.

 

What am I getting rid of?

Duplicates. I didn’t realize I have so many duplicates. Occasionally I pick up special editions of books, which I don’t mind, but I have several copies of random mass-markets and trade paperbacks that I will be un-hauling.

Books I have on audio or e-book. I’m not getting rid of every book I have on audio/e-book but I will be un-hauling the books I would rather listen to or won’t read in physical form.

Books I won’t read again/didn’t like. There’s so many books that, while I enjoyed them, I know I won’t read them again and I can’t justify keeping them. The same goes for books that I read and didn’t like.

Books I have no interest in reading. My TBR pile is more like a mountain and it’s completely out of control. One of the new features of the blog will be the series ‘Read It or Un-haul It’ where I’ll pick four books from my TBR totes, read the first few chapters then decide if I’ll read it or un-haul it.

 

What am I doing with the books?

The books will go to family, friends, and the Little Free Libraries in my area. If I un-haul a special edition, I’ll probably post it for sell.

 

To make sure the books go where they’re supposed to, I have boxes that I’m filling for friends/family and a tote bag for the Little Free Library books. Once the boxes are filled, I take them out to the car so I can drop them off the next time I’m out. The books for the Little Free Libraries are dropped off every Friday. 

 

 

1. Watching You by Lisa Jewell
2. Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
3. For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
4. Not by Boy by Kelly Simmons (DNF)
5. The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson (DNF)
6. Nobody’s Princess by Erica Ridley (extra copy)
7. Secrets by Fern Michaels (DNF)
8. No Way Out by Fern Michaels (DNF)
9. Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch (extra copy)
10.  Nuts by Alice Clayton
11.  Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
12.  Buns by Alice Clayton
13.  The End of Her by Sheri Lapena
14.  Justified by Jay Crownover
15.  Moondance Beach by Susan Donovan (DNF)
16.  Unbroken Cowboy by Maisey Yates
17.  Sustained by Emma Chase
18.  Overruled by Emma Chase
19.  Appealed by Emma Chase
20.  Sidebarred by Emma Chase
21. Breaching the Contract by Chantal Fernando
22.  Seducing the Defendant by Chantal Fernando
23.  Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
24.  Enchant the Dawn by Amanda Ashley (DNF)
25. Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper  (have audiobook)
26.  Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper (have audiobook)
27.  The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)
28.  The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)
29.  The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Help Wanted: Grumpy Mountain Man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting in the form of communication and nosey brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.

I wanted to pummel my irritating brothers when they posted their own version of a wanted ad to help me with my life.

But I can’t fault the results once the right woman lands on my lap.

Becoming a single father is not a decision I made lightly. In fact, it’s the biggest decision of my entire life.

Which is why when I interview Trista, I know she’s perfect.

She’s wild, she’s opinionated, she wears cowboy boots. Even my pet goat loves her…

She’s the exact type of person I was holding out for.

And to my great horror, I realize on our first night of attempting this baby making dance…when the lights are low, the cheap wine is flowing, and the home insemination supplies are laid out on the kitchen counter…

I want to do a lot more than just make her my surrogate.

I want to make her mine.

Series: Mountain Men Matchmakers #1 | Publisher: Amy Daws | Narrators: Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton (duet) | Length: 10 hours 45 minutes |  Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Purchased | Rating: 1

Have you ever scrolled Audible trying to use up your last few credits before your memberships ends and ended up throwing something random in your cart because it looked okay and you were tired of scrolling? That’s exactly how I ended up with Nine Month Contract and…I have regrets. 

Wanting a baby without the complications of a girlfriend, Wyatt heads to the surrogate center although he’s unable to connect to the right surrogate. When his niece runs into Trista, she seems the perfect person for the job. Trista’s looking for a way to earn a little money and this seems like the perfect job, plus it comes with free housing. Although Wyatt’s niece has ulterior motives, while she knows Trista’s perfect to carry Wyatt child, she’s also perfect for Wyatt, if she can get past his grump demeanor and Trista can overcome her fear of depending on someone.

 I wanted a cute little story and this just ended up being weird and slightly icky.

 There was banter between Trista and Wyatt and some of it was comical but the majority felt forced. I liked Wyatt, to a point. He has some issues that he’s trying to deal with and, honestly, I’m not sure he had it together enough to want to be a father. Trista was just annoying and very immature. I really struggled with Trista’s desire to become a surrogate, and egg donor, given the way she feels abandoned by her own parent and how she has allowed this feeling to control the way she lives her life. And her behavior towards Wyatt was unacceptable.

 The relationship between Trista and Wyatt was just odd. While there’s a ‘sexuationship’, as Trista calls it, there’s no actual development on the page and I struggled to see that they were more than just bed buddies. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between them. This one is spicy but it’s weird to the point of being icky. I just found them constantly calling it ‘pregnancy kink’ to be off-putting.

 The surrogate situation was off and not entirely ethical. While the author does mention that she consulted the surrogate community, I don’t feel that to be true as I feel this book demeans surrogacy.

Just a few bits of weirdness in the book include:

-The fact Wyatt allows his 18 year-old niece to search for his surrogate.

-Odd use of dressing/dip cups and children’s medicine syringes.

-Trista constantly saying she a ‘cow’.

-The constant use of the term ‘pregnancy kink’.

-The icky analogies such as Trista’s icky description of her new mattress,  “I swear it was crafted out of the foreskin of newborn babies it’s so comfortable. Not that foreskin is comfortable. I wouldn’t know, I guess. But I venture to bet it’s soft. Adult penis skin is crazy soft. At least what I remember of it. It’s been a while since I’ve touched a penis.”

Overall, this book just isn’t for me. 

A Room Full of Bone by Elly Griffiths

When Ruth Galloway arrives to supervise the opening of a coffin containing the bones of a medieval bishop, she finds the museum’s curator lying dead on the floor. Soon after, the museum’s wealthy owner is also found dead, in his stables.

DCI Harry Nelson is called in to investigate, thrusting him into Ruth’s path once more. When threatening letters come to light, events take an even more sinister turn. But as Ruth’s friends become involved, where will her loyalties lie? As her convictions are tested, Ruth and Nelson must discover how Aboriginal skulls, drug smuggling, and the mystery of the “Dreaming” hold the answers to these deaths, as well as the keys to their own survival.

Series: Ruth Galloway Mysteries #4 | Publisher: William Marrow Paperbacks | Genre: Mystery | Source: Publisher | Rating: 2.5

While I’m always eager to pick up a Ruth Galloway mystery, sadly, this one wasn’t my favorite.

This one wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t even a bad book, but I do feel as though some of the plot was out of place and didn’t fit into this series, which gave the book a disjointed feel. One of my favorite things about this series is the way it combines history, mystery, and archeology and while the mystery was there, the history and archeology fell flat.

What I enjoyed about this book is the personal aspect. There’s a lot going on with Ruth, Nelson, and his wife. I’m not going to get into everything as I don’t want to ruin the book for readers. They’re trying to figure how to navigate things in a professional aspect only rather than the friendship they had before. There’s also someone who has re-entered Ruth’s life and I hope it’s developed throughout the series because they are really good together. I think it would be a healthy relationship for Ruth.

Overall, I struggled a bit with this one. I found it hard to get in to and parts of the plot failed to hold my attention. I picked this one up on June 16, read a few chapters, and had to force myself to pick back up at the end of June.

While I’m struggling to recommend to this one, it is important to read each book in the series in order to understand the dynamics. Read this one to see how Ruth’s personal life is evolving. 

The Sunday Post August 11, 2024

 Hello, Lovelies, and happy Sunday, I hope you’re all doing fantastic.

It’s been a minute since I’ve sat down and wrote up a Sunday Post. Here’s what I’ve been up to while I was away from the blog.

Life

In January, I started 2 continued education courses (on-line) from Oxford University. Originally, I had signed on for one course (Death in Tudor England) then discovered that this was the last time they were offering another course I was interested in (The Mysteries of Mary, Queen of Scots). As someone with a degree in Tudor/Renaissance History, I couldn’t pass up the second course. I didn’t realize just how time consuming taking both courses (as well as working a full-time job) would be so, unfortunately, the blog ended up falling behind. I finished both courses and handed my dissertations in at the end of May.

I decided to take some ‘me time’ during June and July, which included stepping away from the computer, which I needed. I attended a few events (Celtic Fest and a DIY Hat Making Bar at a local shop), a couple birthday parties, and spent time with friends. I also binged some shows (Bridgerton, Discovery of Witches, Coupling, to name a few) and tackled a few projects. 

I’ve also had some health things going on. My allergies have been all over the place. Seasonal allergies have been horrible this year so the allergist swapped my meds and I ended up being extremely allergic to my new allergy meds. My food allergies have also changed and now I’m allergic to foods that were previously safe to eat. It’s been fun the last couple of months.

House

I need to get back to my decluttering and organizing. This week I plan to get started on my walk-in closet. There’s so much that I need to sort through: clothes, shoes, games, bedding, towels, throw blankets and more. I picked up a few storage pieces last week and need to see what else I need to buy. There’s also a few wall shelves I need to hang.

Blog

I’m so excited to get back to the blog. I’ve missed posting and I’ve missed visiting everyone’s blogs. I’m excited to see what everyone’s been up to and what you've been reading.

I’ve spent the last few days writing and scheduling posts. I’ve also been thinking about what I want my blog to look like, content-wise. While I my primary focus will be reviews, I want to add other content as well and I’m trying to sort out what that content should be.

Reading

My reading has changed up a bit this year. While I’m still reviewing ARCs and Reader Copies, I’ve been working my way through my TBR mountain. I started the year with a list of series that I wanted to finish or work on and I’ve added to that throughout the year. I’m happy to say I’m making decent progress.

I’m also happy to report that I’m back in my romance-reading era. It’s been a minute but I think the Bridgerton series rekindled my enjoyment of this genre.  

Books

I’ve started the process of decluttering my books. I’m mainly focused on decluttering the books I have multiple copies of, books I won’t reread/didn’t like, and books that I’m not interested in reading.  

To make sure that the books go where they need to (friends/family/little free library) and not sit around for who knows how long, I separate them into tote bags or boxes and stick them in the car so I can drop them off the next time I’m out. This has really been helping to make sure things don’t pile up around the house.

Book Haul            

I went a little wild with my book buying the last few months. In my defense, Ollies had great deals, the Book Outlet had an amazing fiction sale, then they sent me a 10$ off coupon in my order that I had to use, and several of my pre-orders came in.

Ollies Haul  

t’s In His Kiss (Bridgerton #7) by Julia Quinn

The Other Miss Bridgerton (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

Because of Miss Bridgerton (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford

The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books (nonfiction) by Edward Wilson-Lee

Book Outlet (order 1)

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

Book Outlet (order 2)

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

Preorders

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

Heaven Breaker by Sara Wolf 

The Duke and I & The Viscount Who Loved Me (Special Edition) by Julia Quinn

Apprentice to the Villain (Special Edition) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.

 

Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.

 

As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.

 Publisher: Griffin | Genre: Historical  | Source:  Publisher | Rating: 2.5

I’ve been back in my romance-reading groove lately and was craving something historical so I immediately reached for this Suzanne Enoch book, as I absolutely love her historical romances. While I had an okay time, it wasn’t what I was expecting.

To keep her childhood home, Emmeline must marry and she knows the perfect husband: Will Pershing, her best friend whom she’s agreed to help with his political career if he’ll help her with her housing dilemma. There’s only one little problem, they must produce an heir to keep Winnover. Emmeline has the perfect solution; she’s created two perfect children with her pen rather than the traditional way. Things have been going swimmingly until Emmeline’s grandfather, the Duke of Welshire, invites Emmeline and her perfect family to his birthday celebrations. To keep their home they have no choice but to ‘borrow’ two children from the orphanage and hope to rein in their unruly charges before they must appear before the Duke.

This was not what I was expecting when I picked this book up.

While Emmeline and Will have been married 8 years, there’s nothing between them other than a business arrangement. I couldn’t get past their friendship to find the chemistry with them as a couple. The romance and relationship between them was definitely on the backburner and when the author tried to introduce some sort of relationship, it just felt awkward.

I found the antics of George and Rose to be cute and charming. They were two little wild things set loose on a grand house and they get into some interesting situations.

What I didn’t like was the way Will and Emmeline handled the children. They were using them with the sole purpose of keeping their house and career. While I could see Will developing an attachment to the children and showing them affection as the plot progressed, Emmeline was cold, almost cruel at times as she tried to mold them into ‘proper’ children.  The fact that they were viewing this as ‘giving the children a holiday’ from the orphanage and ‘using them as part of a new scheme to train orphans for suitable jobs in the future’ was just cringe-worthy.

It would have made more sense if they just would have adopted the kids and actually showed them affection from the start of the book rather than just planning to borrow the children for a few weeks.

Then there’s whole middle of the book when the children’s older brother shows up and causes chaos that just felt out of place.

I have a few questions. In her letters to family, Emmeline stated that the children were too sickly to be out, which explained why their neighbors hadn’t seen them but what about her family? Given her station, the granddaughter of a duke, and the fact he had a career in politics, they would have had public christenings for both children, even if they were sickly. Did no one in her family question this, especially since it was obligatory that she have heirs in order to keep the house?

Overall, I’m a little conflicted about this book. Yes, it made for a comedic read at times. Was it a romance? Not at all. Was it historical? Yes. Was it believable? Nope. Did I enjoy it? Not really sure. Honestly, this could have been an okay novella, possibly even a short story thrown in the back of a book or in an anthology but it just didn’t work as a full-length novel. 

The End of Her by Shari Lapena

In upstate New York, Stephanie and Patrick are adjusting to life with their colicky twin babies. The girls are a handful, but Stephanie doesn't mind being a stay-at-home mom, taking care of them while Patrick does the nine to five to pay the bills.

 

When a woman from Patrick's past drops in on them unexpectedly, raising questions about his late first wife, Stephanie supports her husband wholeheartedly. She knows the car accident all those many years ago was just that--an accident. But Erica is persistent, and now she's threatening to go to the police.

 

Patrick is afraid his job--and his reputation--will be at risk if he doesn't put an end to Erica's questioning immediately. And when the police start digging, Stephanie's trust in her husband begins to falter and Patrick is primed to lose everything he loves. As their marriage crumbles, Stephanie feels herself coming unglued, and soon she isn't sure what--or who--to believe. Now the most important thing is to protect her girls, but at what cost?

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books | Genre: Mystery/Thriller  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 2

This was my pull from the TBR jar for May and it wasn’t a favorite of mine, which was a bit of a disappointment as I’ve heard great things about Shari Lapena’s writing.

While Stephanie and Patrick adjust to life as parents to colicky twins, their lives are rocked when a person from Patrick’s pasts shows up and demands payment for her silence. Although there’s seemingly no proof that Patrick killed his last wife and unborn child that doesn’t stop Erica threatening to go to the police. Although Stephanie wants to support her husband, the fact he’s never mentioned he was previously married, let alone the fact his wife died, has her questioning if she even knows her husband. As Erica blows through their lives—and the lives of others—, leaving a path of destruction, Patrick realizes he’s in jeopardy of losing everything and Stephanie must figure out how to protect her twins.

While this was a quick read (two sittings) it wasn’t the best book that I’ve read and, honestly, felt like a waste of time.

I had so many questions.

-In the age of Google/Social Media, how did Stephanie not know about Patrick’s past marriage or the death of his wife? Didn’t she look him up before she married him?

-They spent so much time complaining about the sleep deprivation but never once thought of hiring the nanny even though they had the money to do so.

-Erica is blackmailing an alarming amount of people, why didn’t anyone go to cops? Yes, they had secrets but Erica definitely wasn’t on the straight and narrow so I’m fairly sure the cops could have sorted out what was going on.  

-Do they not carry out any type of forensic testing? At all?

It was a little hard to get past all the above and throw in the fact the entire middle of the book was just Stephanie complaining and going back and forth about did he or didn’t he murder his wife. Honestly, the guy was pretty shady, how did she not pick up on that? Then there was the trial, which was basically a waste of time, which perfectly sums up this book.

Let’s not forget the outrageous ending, which sealed the fate of this one for me.

Overall, I’m really hard-pressed to recommend this one, and feel like a 2.5 is a bit too high of a rating (I’ll probably rate it down to a 2) but it was a quick read and while it’s not my cup of tea, I do feel that certain readers will enjoy this one. 

A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart

Nadine Walsh’s summer garden party is in full swing. The neighbors all have cocktails, the catered food is exquisite—everything’s going according to plan.

 

But Nadine—devoted wife, loving mother, and doting daughter—finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement while her guests clink glasses upstairs. What happened? How did it come to this?

 

Rewind to that morning, when Nadine is in her kitchen, making last-minute preparations before she welcomes more than a hundred guests to her home to celebrate her mother’s birthday. But her husband is of little help to her, her two grown children are consumed with their own concerns, and her mother—only her mother knows that today isn’t just a birthday party. It marks another anniversary as well.

 

Still, Nadine will focus just on tonight. Everyone deserves a celebration after the year they’ve had. A chance for fun. A chance to forget. But it’s hard to forget when Nadine’s head is swirling with secrets, haunting memories, and concerns about what might happen when her guests unite.

  Publisher: Simon and Schuster |  Genre: Domestic Suspense/Thriller | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 3.5 (rated down to 3)

I’m not typically a fan of Amy Stuart’s writing style (I DNF’d her Still series) but I ended up picking this one up as part of a buy one get one half off sale as it was the only other book on the table that I hadn’t read. Knowing this was a title I probably wouldn’t pick up willingly, I popped the title in my TBR jar and it ended up being my pick for April. I have to say, I’m glad I gave this one a go.

The book starts with Nadine standing over a dead body in her basement while her mother’s 60^th birthday garden party is going on. We don’t know if she’s the killer, if the person was murdered, or who the person is. The book then rewinds Nadine’s day and shows the events leading up to the ordeal in the basement. As we’re shown the events of the day, we’re also treated to flashbacks of her aunt, who died tragically when she was teenager and Nadine was a child. Along the way, secrets are both concealed and revealed.

There’s a lot going on in the book and there’s a lot of characters—and secrets—to keep track of, which I didn’t mind as I feel it gave the book a bit of depth.

The story is told stream of conscience style through Nadine’s POV and that woman has a lot on her plate. Not only is she keeping her own secrets, she’s keeping the secrets of others as well as planning a grand birthday party for her mother. She also has all eyes on her, as her mother is a famous author. While I’m not a fan of Nadine (she had an affair with a neighbor who happens to be one of her husband’s best friends and while she claims it’s over she’s upset by the fact he’s now married with a child) I do feel sorry for her as she has a lot of emotional weight she has to carry.

Obviously there’s a mystery—the dead person in basement—but there’s also a few other mysteries intertwined. Nadine’s trying to remember/discover what happened to her aunt on the same night 30 years ago. There’s also a bit of a mystery surrounding the hospitalization of River (Nadine’s daughters friend). Even though the book takes place in one day, I felt that great attention was paid to each and every detail as the puzzle pieces came together.  

I’m generally a fan of these types of books where the death is in the beginning then the previous events unfold as the book progresses but this one was a bit different as it takes place in one day and told through one person’s POV. Think Mrs. Dalloway but with murder. While this one was a bit slow in places (did we really need to know every little detail of her day right down to which cheeses she ordered for the party?), I found it to be a quick read (two sittings, would have been one if I hadn’t had to leave for an event).

I rated this one a 3.5 but I would have to round down to a 3 for the simple fact I wanted more from the ending. There’s a few strings of the plot that seemed out of place and while they didn’t pull me out of the story, they did bog the plot down in places.

Overall, if you’re looking for a domestic suspense/thriller I do recommend this one. It’s not one of the best that I’ve read but it was still a decent read.

The House at Sea’s End (Ruth Galloway Mystery #3) by Elly Griffiths

Just back from maternity leave, Ruth is finding it hard to juggle motherhood and work. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson—the married father of her daughter, Kate—does not help. The bones turn out to be about seventy years old, which leads Nelson and Ruth to the war years, a desperate time on this stretch of coastland. Home Guard veteran Archie Whitcliffe reveals the existence of a secret that the old soldiers have vowed to protect with their lives. But then Archie is killed and a German journalist arrives, asking questions about Operation Lucifer, a plan to stop a German invasion, and a possible British war crime. What was Operation Lucifer? And who is prepared to kill to keep its secret?

 Series: Ruth Galloway Mystery #3 | Publisher: Mariner | Genre: Mystery | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3

This is the third installment in the Ruth Galloway Mysteries and, while it was a good read, it wasn’t one of my favorites in the series.

When bones are discovered in the side of a cliff on a Norfolk beach, Ruth is the first person that’s called in to excavate and examine the bones. While she’s struggling to balance work and motherhood, things are made complicated by how close she’ll be to DCI Nelson (the father of her daughter) as they work this case together. When it’s discovered that the bones date to WWII, they find themselves trying to unravel the secrets of the past from local lore. When a German journalist arrives in Norfolk asking questions about Operation Lucifer and a member of the Home Guard is found dead, they find themselves with more questions than answers.

The House at Sea’s End was a quick read, I had read over half the book before I realized it, but it didn’t captivate me.

Like the previous books, this one dives straight into the mystery as the bones are discovered within the first few pages. The mystery is layered and it takes a while to unravel as they sort between local lore, old newspaper clippings, and past recollections. There’s a lot of research that’s needed as there’s few locals who are still alive that had an affiliation with the Home Guard. They also need to sort out the death of Archie Whitcliffe, which is tricky as his grandson is Nelson’s boss.

While the mysteries were intriguing, they didn’t capture my attention as the previous books had and I think that’s to do with the fact this book deals with a more modern mystery. The previous books dealt with ancient discoveries mixed with modern mysteries and I think that’s more my cup of tea. I also wasn’t a fan of the addition of Tatjana (Ruth’s friend from her time spent working in Bosnia). While I do understand the way this storyline was used, I just felt it bogged down the plot rather than enhance the story.

What I did enjoy in this book were the characters. There’s a lot going in the personal lives of the characters and I’ve been enjoying watching the devolvement’s they’re making. Ruth’s learning the ropes of motherhood and she’s getting out of her comfort zone and making friends with some of the women in the police force. Nelson is bonding with Kate, which was nice to see. We’re also learning more about Shona, Judy, and Cathbad. There’s a lot of connections being made and that allows for so many layers to come into play within the plot.

The one thing that I’m not a fan of in this series is the amount of affairs that goes on in each book. While I don’t condone cheating, I could see how the events that occurred in the first book led to Ruth and Nelson sleeping together and the connection that they made. What I don’t understand is the random affairs that happen in every book. At this point, it’s starting to feel like a poorly done plot device used to make something seem more interesting or fill in a spot. While I’m not a fan of cheating in books, I can overlook it in this series.

Overall, I had a feeling going into this book that this one wasn’t going to be my favorite and I ended up being right. I found the conclusion to the mystery to be a little lacking and a bit farfetched. While I did have some problems with this one, I still found that I enjoyed the character development and think that it was a worthy addition to the series. 

The Janus Stone (Ruth Galloway Mystery #2) by Elly Griffiths

When a child’s remains are found at a demolition site—a former children’s home in Norwich—forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called in to examine the bones. She quickly notes that the skull is missing. Is this a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand?

 

Ruth and DCI Nelson seek out the priest who served as the home’s operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children had gone missing there, about forty years earlier. They were never found. Is this one of them, finally unearthed? Or another child altogether? Ruth is drawn into the case, but soon it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.

 Series: Ruth Galloway Mysteries #2 | Publisher: Mariner | Genre: Mystery  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 3.5

Roman artifacts, headless skeletons, and mysterious disappearances take center stage in the second installment in the Ruth Galloway Mysteries.  

When the skeleton of a child is found on a demolition site, DCI Nelson is called in to investigate and Ruth Galloway has been called into examine the bones. Upon research, it’s soon discovered the site housed a former children’s home founded and operated by Father Hennessey, who had two of his young residents go missing. As Ruth tires to determine the age of the bones and excavate the site, she becomes the target of someone with a vast knowledge of the Roman Empire. With herself and her unborn child in danger—and a possible romance on the rise—Nelson needs to figure out how to protect Ruth as well as forge some sort of roll in her life and that of their child.

I picked this one up as part of my personal finish-the-series challenge. It’s been on my shelf for what seems like ages and I’ve been eager to get back into this series. I started this one then had to go back and re-read the first book as I couldn’t recall the details and felt like I needed a refresher before moving forward. Once I finished my re-read, I was able to jump straight into this one and found myself enjoying the mystery.

The mystery—or mysteries, rather—were intriguing. There’s three, there’s the headless skeleton found under the door jam, which could possibly be an ancient sacrifice to Janus. Then there’s the mystery of the two missing children (a brother and sister). We also have a Roman Empire fanatic targeting Ruth.

It was very easy to get swept up into the investigation as well as the archaeological dig that was unearthing both evidence and historical finds. What I found a little irksome was the ease in which I could sort out the mysteries. I don’t want to say too much as I’m afraid that I’ll give it away but I would have liked a bit more ambiguity.

The characters in the series are fantastic. Ruth is trying to come to terms with her pregnancy as well as the fact Nelson, the father of her child, is married. She’s determined to do this on her own and she’s not about to ask for help. While Nelson’s married, and seemingly not wanting to rock the boat in regards to his marriage, there’s something between him and Ruth and he’s wanting to support Ruth and his child he’s just not sure how to go about do so.

Max, an archaeologist on the dig, is a new addition to team and seems to have taken a shine to Ruth. While there’s something a bit mysterious about him, there’s an attraction that they both share and I was a bit sad this wasn’t developed further as they were so good together and had so much in common.

Overall, I enjoyed this one even though the mysteries were a bit obvious. I enjoyed the history that was combined with the mystery. There’s also the craziness that comes in the form a hippie/druid Cathbath that adds an interesting layer to the story. I’m eager to see where the characters end up as the series progresses.

Hero Next Door by Lara Swann

Ex-marine. Ex-wife. Ex-hausted.

 

I left my brothers in the marines to start a family. I left my ex-wife when that family drove her to drink and drugs. Now all I have left is my son - and he's all I care about.

 

I can't afford to make another mistake. And the girl who moved in next door? Mistake written all over her. She's got the sweetest smile, the hottest damn curves, and behind it all...a haunted look. I can't take my damn eyes off her.

 

My powerful body and coarse attitude make her nervous - and as she tries to start a new life away from her abusive ex, she has her own reasons to stay away. But we can't help it. We're f--king drawn to each other. And when she tells me how much she wants a baby...I make every mistake in the book. Because I want a family again.

 

I want her. My son. And a baby. And when her past comes calling...I'll fight to hell and back to keep it.

Publisher: Tantor Audio | Narrators: John Lane, Veronica Worthington | Length: 8h 18 m | Genre: Contemporary Romance |  Source: Audible Plus  | Rating: 3

I was scrolling the Audible Plus catalogue looking for a light, contemporary romance to listen to while I was doing a spot of decluttering and came across Lara Swan. She’s been on my authors to check out list for a minute so I decided to give Hero Next Door a go.

Here’s what’s going on. When Mack and his adorable son help Naomi move a hutch into her new house, she can’t help but to be a little smitten. While they’re both hesitant to start something due to their own personal baggage and responsibilities, there’s no denying the attraction and chemistry between Naomi and Mack and soon they find themselves acting on their feelings. They feel that this could be the start of something real, if their past relationships don’t get in the way.

This was quick, cute, and a little spicy. It was the perfect book that I could listen to and enjoy while focusing on a different task.

Mack and Naomi were great. She’s running from an abusive ex so she’s a bit cautious and hesitant. Mack ended his military career at the insistence of his wife so they could start a family and she ended up walking away from their family when their son was born. They’re both a little damaged and not sure if they want to risk a relationship. I really enjoyed watching as they took the time to build their trust in each other and build a foundation for their relationship. They also allowed each other to heal and that took character growth on both of their parts.

I’m such a sucker for a single daddy romance and found the relationship between Mack and Tyler to be adorable but I don’t feel as though the book as whole lived up to its full potential. It was rushed in spots and I feel as though the internal dialogue gobble up the majority of the story. While I don’t feel as though it was lacking, I still would have liked a bit more communication between the characters.

As this was my first introduction to Lara Swann’s writing, I think it went well. I liked her writing style and enjoyed the British terminology that was sprinkled throughout. I do think I’ll check out more from this author.

Both narrators were new-to-me and I enjoyed their narration of the story.

Overall, this was a nice romance and a perfect break from the meatier stories I’ve been reading.