5*****

Fiction, Historical Romance, Paranormal (Magic)

Blurb: Mary Poppins meets My Fair Lady in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humor, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds herself at sea on a ship commanded by a captivating Irishman. For readers of India Holton, Heather Fawcett, Allison Saft, Katherine Arden, Freya Marske, and Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series. Hermina Davenport can hardly believe the audacious exploit she is about to attempt. To protect an orphaned young viscount, the prim and proper governess feels she has no choice but to break the rules of the Parasol Academy Handbook! When the lad’s guardian, a ruthlessly ambitious explorer, ensorcelled by the evil Fae Queen, spirits him away on a dangerous North Pole expedition, Mina employs an invisibility spell to snatch him from the ship. But a magical misfire whisks Mina and her charge onto a different vessel, that of a ruggedly handsome Irishman—a strapping prizefighter from Dublin’s backstreets—and Mina finds she’s at sea in more ways than one . . .Phineas O’Connell, Lord Kinsale, can no more explain the arrival of this English Rose than he can adapt to his newly-inherited title—though his disgruntled pet pug clearly has “thoughts” about the fair stowaway. But their enchanted encounter sparks an irresistible offer: Phinn enlists the polished Miss Davenport to transform this misfit marquess into a mannered gentleman ready for his seat in Parliament. No magic required, just enticingly intimate lessons in etiquette and elocution to smooth all his rough edges including a stammer. . .But when enemies—both earthly and supernatural, past and present—threaten, a confrontation begins, where Mina’s nondescript umbrella is just one of her powerful weapons . . .

 THOUGHTS: I absolutely loved this book! It was fun and fantastical and full of mischief and romance. It takes place in 1871 London, so is definitely a historical romance. Mina is a governess to Christopher, a very young viscount who is under the guardianship of a baron. When he decides to take the young lad on a journey to the arctic, Mina knows that something is wrong, so she kidnaps the young boy off his guardian’s ship by using her magic. But instead of landing where she hoped, they land on another ship – this one owned by a rather large Irishman turned Lord. 

Through a series of events, Mina becomes a governess to Phinn’s ward and safely adds Christopher to the household, pretending he’s her cousin (or sometimes illegitimate child). In addition to the boys, she also takes on the task of teaching Phinn how to speak (he has a stutter), how to dance, and how to be a lord of the manner. While doing this, the two of them become closer. Much closer.

But there is more than a disgruntled guardian after Christopher as Mina tries hard to keep him safe using all her Fey magic at her disposal. The evil Queen Mab is after the boy and it will take all her training and help from her friends to save the boy and thwart the evil queen. Oh, and meanwhile, falling in love with Phinn.

So much fun. And magic. And romance (which gets very heated at the end). 

Recommended

Thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for providing this ARC.

MURDER ON THE WIDOW’S WALK by Christine Knapp

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Keep Calm and Call the Midwife… Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is still shaking off last year’s shocking events in the quiet New England coastal town of Langford, where she is a modern-day nurse midwife. Her husband Will’s catering company, A Thyme for All Seasons, is back on an even keel, and they are now actively pursuing fertility treatment and adoption in the hopes of becoming parents. Meg, Maeve’s older sister and Langford’s premier real estate agent, introduces her to Montgomery Livingstone, a Manhattan business tycoon commonly known as the Takeover King. Livingstone is anxious to move his base of operations and his home to Langford, but some community members have grave misgivings about whether his presence will be a boon for the town. Misgivings that come to fruition when Monty is pushed off a Widow’s Walk and falls to his death! Suddenly Maeve and Meg are again thrust into a murder investigation as they attempt to help a seemingly innocent young woman accused of the crime. But it turns out there are many secrets to be uncovered, and once again, Maeve, Meg, and their savvy Boston Irish mother must band together to solve the murder. Maeve races against the clock to bring the killer to justice while caring for her patients and pursuing her goal of motherhood.

THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this mystery as much as I did the others in the series, but… there is way too much detailing what everyone is wearing, especially the high-end clothes and shoes. I tended to skip over all those parts in order to get to the good stuff.

In this story, an uber-rich shyster is murdered and Maeve and Meg (and their mom) look into it, much to their cop brother Patrick’s dismay. They’re trying to save their friend, but end up in more trouble than they could hope for. In addition, Maeve is working with her midwife patients as well as trying to either have a baby or adopt one herself. Emotions are all over the place for various characters as they dig through clues to the murder and work through personal issues.

Recommended, especially if you like reading about haute couture fashion, close families… and murder.

TO PROTECT by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Gay Romance

4****

Blurb: Atlas De Vaus loves his job as a Carlisle K-9 officer. When his canine partner Evie senses a problem during a semitrailer traffic stop, a search of the truck reveals illegal immigrants being transported to New York. Local shelters can house the women while the case is processed, but they can’t accommodate the lone man. Unwilling to leave a vulnerable person alone at the mercy of the system, Atlas takes him in until a place can be found for him. When Bazel Dadiani’s family and village discovered his secret, his only option was to leave his home country of Georgia. He’s used every cent he had to reach America, but he’s determined to get where he’s going, no matter how scared he is. He appreciates Atlas offering him a place to stay, but he’s forgotten how to trust anyone, much less a figure of authority like Atlas. Slowly, Atlas and Evie—mostly Evie—begin to win him over, leaving Bazel even more confused by his developing feelings for Atlas. They circle each other, each reluctant to make the first move. Just when they might be on the same track and close to catching the traffickers, government red tape threatens to separate them forever.

THOUGHTS: THOUGHTS: This is a story that points out a dark side of society – human trafficking. The act of conning or kidnapping people and then selling them into basic slavery. It’s a difficult situation that the author handles with a deft pen. In this one, Carlisle cop Atlas and his dog Evie discover a group of refugees in the back of a truck – one man and six women. And only the man, Bezal, speaks any English. The women get taken to as special shelter where they will be safe, and someone speaks their language. But there is no place for Bezal, so Atlas takes him home. And thus begins their adventure.

Bezal cannot return home as he would be killed for being gay, so social services goes to work to get him asylum. Meanwhile, Bezal tries to make himself useful by redoing Atlas’s neglected yard and does an amazing job. The two men become closer even though Atlas tries not to. But some of the people who had taken Bezal cause problems and it’s up to Atlas and the justice system to make sure they don’t.

This was a good romance with a lot of conflict and a HEA that satisfies. I loved Bezal and his challenges with language, understanding life in the US, and learning about how things work here. And the way Evie and Atlas work together show that the author did his homework.

Recommended.

MAJOR ADVANACEMENT by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Gay Romance

3***

Blurb: Second-grade teacher Dade Saracina has had all of the military life he could possibly want. He grew up with an ambitious father who moved them all over the world, and now he just wants to put down roots. So the last thing he wants or expects is a handsome, kind, and attention-drawing army major to come to his rescue. Major Clifton Rogers loves a challenge, and he’s been curious about the quiet man who lives near him. Seeing trouble, he jumps into action, and damn near sinks into Dade’s eyes when they meet his. The attraction between them seems undeniable, but Dade keeps him at arm’s length, and once Cliff meets his father, the general, he understands why. As much as Dade resists, Cliff gets past his defenses and works his way into his life and heart. But Dade’s father has definite ideas about what his son should be doing, and he isn’t the kind of person who likes to lose or takes no for an answer. Cliff and Dade are going to need to be certain of what they want in order to stave off the general’s assault on their potential happy ending.

THOUGHTS: Dade’s father is a retired general, who tries to run his son’s life and Dade wants nothing to do with him or the military. Dade meets Cliff, who saves his life when the apartment below Dade’s is on fire. Yes, sparks fly, but unfortunately, Cliff is a West Point graduate and gay. As much as Dade doesn’t want to become involved with him, he can’t deny the pull between them. Unfortunately, Dade’s father does everything he can to come between them, including trying to get Cliff transferred and trying to move Dade to another school. The romance between Cliff and Dade is nicely done. But the best part of the story is the way Dade and his mother stand up to his father and force  him to look at the way he’s been treating the family.

Though not one of Mr. Grey’s better stories, it is a good one. Recommended.

Mastermind for Murder by Leslie Langtree

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Humor

4****

Blurb: When one of the girls in ex-CIA spy turned Girl Scout leader, Merry Wrath Ferguson’s, scout troop insists that there’s a sleeper cell in Who’s There, Iowa, Merry laughs it off. After all, she was an actual spy! What would a middle school kid know about things like that? Of course, the fact that it’s Betty, the most dangerous thirteen year old on the planet, does give Merry a little pause. But seriously, in a town of about five thousand people, a group of foreign terrorists would stand out…right? Or so she thinks, until the CIA quietly asks Merry and her former handler Riley to look into it. It doesn’t help that inept-beyond-all-belief FBI agents Summer and Winter (yes, their real names) are also looking into it, or that Merry’s buddy, CIA assassin Hilly, plays hooky from an assignment to help out—by sending the hapless Abed (CIA flunkie and Girl Scout cookie junkie) to float the flounder in her place. Still, Merry thinks this is nothing more than a wild goose chase until a mysterious, elderly woman is murdered. Now, Merry has second thoughts and finds herself in a race to unravel the woman’s past and find the sleeper cell, before she becomes the next target.

THOUGHTS: There are a lot of books in this series and the fun never ends. When you read these, you definitely have to suspend belief. You have to believe that four hamsters can be cops and firemen. Or that a fourteen-year-old can be the innovative mayor of town, and her friend can have connections with multiple shadow groups and know way too much for a young teenager about bombs, poisons, and more. The stories are darkly funny with assassins, CIA agents, murders, and all in a strange little town in Iowa.

In this one, Merry Wrath, an ex-CIA operative and leader of the girl scout group that includes the two above as well as several other teen girls. Unlike the other books, the scouts aren’t as prevalent in this book as in the others. This one centers mostly around Betty, our dangerous security girl as she and Merry and others try to find a sleeper cell. What they find is so much more. From inept sleeper spies to the cop hamsters now working with the fire department–there so much to follow. If you’re liked the other books in the series, you’ll like this one too.

Recommended.

SLAY YOUR WAY by Sandi Glandt

Nonfiction, Self-help, Motivation

4****

Blurb: You didn’t come this far to play small. Somewhere along the way, you learned how to be capable, reliable, and composed—but not how to fully claim your power. You learned how to succeed, but not how to lead on your own terms. You learned how to perform, but not how to decide. Slay Your Way is for the woman who is done waiting for permission. Written by Sandi Glandt, this bold, no-nonsense guide to personal authority, leadership, and self-mastery challenges women to stop following scripts that were never designed for them—and start building success from clarity, confidence, and conviction. This is not motivation. This is ownership. Through direct insight, strategic mindset shifts, and real-world leadership principles, Slay Your Way teaches you how to take control of your decisions, your direction, and your identity—without apology and without burnout.

THOUGHTS: This was an interesting book. It’s a good source to read if you want learn how to become a better version of yourself. How to set boundaries, gain stronger leadership skills, find success on your own terms. It is a good book for anyone looking to improve themselves and take control of her life.

Recommended.

Queenie Baby: Pass the Eggnog

Fiction, Holiday

5*****

Blurb: The only thing temp-by-day, rock-star-by night Diana Hudson hates more than karaoke is Christmas. So how did she end up spending a “Good Ol’ Fashioned Family Christmas” in a spooky old house in the Pocono Mountains? Try two parts familial obligation, one part sisterly arm-twisting, and a tiny flame of Christmas spirit still burning in her humbug heart. When The Grands start communing with ghosts, and a long lost boyfriend appears on the doorstep, Diana realizes it’s going to be one heck of a holiday. With a Christmas play to produce, a mystery to solve, and three miracles on the way, Diana keeps her spirits up with a steady flow of Christmas cheer–of the eggnog variety. So settle down in front of the fire, grab a cup of cheer, and join Diana and her family on the wackiest Christmas vacation ever.

THOUGHTS: What a fun story to start off the new year with. Yes, it’s a Christmas story, but it’s still the holidays and this is a great addition to the holiday stories. Plus, it’s relatively short (100 pages). In this one, Queenie is forced to join the rest of her family in the Poconos at the old family home to have an old time family Christmas. With her divorced parents and their spouses, her sister, husband, and their kids, her grands, and more. Including a few ghosts who enjoy leaving messages on her mirror and flicking the lights. And just because it’s Christmas, there are more than a few miracles that happen as well.
Join the whole family – living and dead – in this fun holiday story. Recommended.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19078184-pass-the-eggnog

Here’s to a wonderful new year ahead for us all. May you find happiness, solace, fun, love, and more. And enjoy a good book!

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I really enjoyed this book, mostly because, yes, it was definitely a walk down memory lane for me. The stories are very short – no more than two or three pages and with large print that makes them physically easy to read. They encompass the years between the 1950s to the 1980s. Also, each story includes prompts to encourage the reader to reflect on our own experiences or for group conversations.

I highly recommend this book for seniors, senior community libraries, or personal care attendants to purchase and not only enjoy, but put to use writing down our own memories and experiences.

This was so much fun. It’s a really quick read not just because it fun, but it’s only 89 pages too. In this one, Jamie lives in a little efficiency apartment above landlord Curt. Curt’s niece Maisie shows up one night full of teenage angst and mood. She argues with Curt so Jamie takes her upstairs and they connect over junk food and old TV. The next day, the mystery starts with the disappearance of Jamie and Curt’s neighbor, Jack. As Jamie and Maisie look into his missing, things get weird as reindeer show up and they find out that Jack is a toy maker… and yes, you know where this is going. It all turns out well, especially for Curt and Jamie.

This is the latest in the “Charmed Inn Mysteries” series and if you haven’t read them, you should be! Though each book is a stand-alone, you really need to read the first two in order to get the full understanding of what’s going on. Roxy runs a small family B&B In a small town on the Susquehanna River. There are several family members who help her run the place, but the brunt of the work falls to Roxy. Oh, and there’s a resident ghost in the basement who you can contact through a payphone hidden behind a secret panel behind the welcome desk. Roxy’s family all have “powers”. Roxy’s is getting cryptic answers from books. When she asks a question, if a book throws out sparkles, she picks it ups and words pop out into the air to answer her–unfortunately, the message isn’t always easy to figure out. She also has a boyfriend, Dean, whose brother and his two kids live in the guest cottage behind the inn. And a cook who can be quite grumpy at times. Misty Simon never fails to entertain with her wry wit and saucy sarcasm to go along with a darned good mystery. A lot of cozy mysteries come across on the serious side, but not Ms Simon. You will giggle if not outright laugh at the shenanigans in her books. If you want to smile while being entertained with a puzzle, pick up any one of her mysteries.

This book takes up where the first one left off. Though you don’t need to have read the first one, I strongly suggest that you do – you won’t be disappointed and it will add a lot to this one. When you first start reading this one, you may think it’s an old-fashioned historical western. It is a “western” in that it takes place on a ranch in Wyoming, but it takes place in today’s world. Speaking of worlds, the author does an amazing job putting us there on the ranch and in the surrounding area. There are storms (a lot of storms!!) to deal with, the bitter cold, the dry heat (and fire danger), wild animals, and more. And do yourself a favor and pick up the first one “Chance’s Return” to get the whole experience of Chance, Casey, and the people at North Star Ranch.

 I love this book. So much so that I’m going to buy the paperback to replace my ebook because of the story. I so enjoyed every chapter/part of this book. The characters, the world building, the plot – I loved it all. It really struck home for me – maybe because I’m both an avid reader, a writer, and a librarian. It resonated with me on multiple levels. This is such an imaginative book full of fun, twists, and gentle mystery. It is a love story – not just between Rainy and Duke, but between writer and reader. Between you and the book. And as Rainy is fond of saying: “All stories are love stories if you love stories.” Thank you.

“Pencils Down.”

I absolutely love Kelly Fletcher’s books. And this one is no exception. From the first meet between Beverly and Ridge in the elementary school library, even the Fates knew these two belonged together. Okay, so it was just a little hokey when she spilled her coffee on his shirt and the stain ended up in the shape of a heart But it was also kismet. Beverly and Ridge have issues – especially Ridge. Not just because of his job, but secrets in his past. But they face their troubles with courage and aplomb, including small-town Beverly being thrown into the spotlights that come with dating a handsome star. But, as in all of the author’s romances, there’s a happily ever after ending that satisfies.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance that makes you smile and go “awww”, pick this one up, and the other books by this author. You won’t be sorry.