THE EARL’S WRANGLER by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M/M (gay)

3***

Blurb: When Randall Whealton, Earl of Plymouth, loses a bet to his friend the Duke of Northumberland, he pays the spend a month with him and Alan at Alan’s family ranch in Wyoming. It’s the last thing he wants to do, but pride and honor won’t let him back down. Cattle wrangler Sawyer Kincaid works with livestock and horses at the Justice ranch. The job suits him—animals he understands, but people are a whole different ball game. And the stuffy Englishman Alan and George bring with them is among the worst of the snooty, stuck-up… and hot as hell. A combination Sawyer is determined to ignore. Sawyer works hard, and he’s good at his job, but Randall always thinks he knows better. Sawyer would love to kick his ass back across the pond… until an outing at the local watering hole when with hands from another ranch decide to show Randall who’s boss. Ranch hands stand up for each other, and Sawyer finds himself defending Randall and later nursing his injuries. That buried attraction flares to life—but it could just as easily burn out once Randall’s time in Wyoming is up.

THOUGHTS: This is the third in the Cowboy Nobility Series and fits in very well with the other two. There must be something about the ranch in Wyoming that draws the British nobility in – or maybe it’s just the hunky men there. When Randall, an Earl in England, loses a bet and is forced to spend a couple of weeks on the ranch in Wyoming, he’s in for a lot more than he bargained for. Sawyer, a wrangler on the ranch in charge of the barn and horses, isn’t impressed by the snooty Brit and has him mucking out stalls and doing other dirty work. But as the week goes on, something happens between the two young men as they commiserate over terrible fathers they had and enjoy working the horses. When Sawyer’s father gets in deep with mobsters and threatens Sawyer, Randall hauls him over the pond to his estates where they find out that working a ranch or an estate aren’t really that different from each other. As Sawyer helps Randall become more at ease with working the estate, the two men form a deep connection.

While I loved Sawyer and Randall, there were a few questions I still had about them when the story ended. I will note that the blurb doesn’t do the story justice, so take it with a grain of salt. The sex scenes are hot and fit well with the story and the HEA ending was sweet and satisfying. So if you like your cowboys hot and your British royalty hotter, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Recommended.

MISS BUTTERPIG MURDER by Leslie Langtree

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Merry Wrath Series

5*****

Blurb: There she is! Miss Butterpig of Who’s There… Everyone in ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader Merry Wrath’s home of Who’s There, Iowa is thrilled when The Miss Butterpig Pageant for middle school girls comes to town! Okay, so the most thrilled people are the pageant moms, but there are girls in Merry’s troop who can’t wait to compete as well. In fact, girls Merry has never met before come out of the woodwork—like a poetry-writing goth, a Russian bodybuilder, and a baton-wielding kid whose ponytail may be a bit too tight. There she is, your middle school, um, ideal… Merry and her friends, Kelly, Hilly, Kevin, and the Hamlets, are tapped to be judges, and everyone is getting excited for the big event. What could go wrong…other than one of the pageant moms being found dead in the alley behind the theater, moments after trying to influence the judges on her daughter’s behalf? She’s the smartest of the smart, she’s walking on air… Between dealing with Russian gangsters, most of her troop competing as budding beauty queens, a Wagnerian operatic goose, and several overzealous pageant moms, Merry has to solve this murder quickly, so the show can go on and Miss Butterpig can be crowned! She’s Miss Butterpig, Who’s There!

THOUGHTS: I don’t know if the author has as much fun writing these stories as I do reading them, but she should. They are so inane, so silly, and unbelievable. In most cozy mysteries, we usually have a sweet little hometown (or community building), with credible characters, and a believable plot. Not in Who’s There, Iowa. This town is populated by the silliest of people. A 13-year-old mayor (and her young teen aides), a deputy who eats his way through a grocery store’s worth of food every day, the deputy’s four hamster deputies (who have uniforms and everything), a young teen who is so… adept at hacking phones, is connected with various mobs, and has more skills than most spies, a CIA assassin, and the main character, Merry, who is an ex-CIA spy, married to the town police chief, and leads a group of eight girlscouts who I would be very wary of.

In this story, there is a pageant for middle school girls (and a goose!) and Merry, the always-hungry deputy, the assassin, and Merry’s best friend Kelly are the judges. Things are definitely crazy from the get-go and get even more so when one of the pageant mother’s ends up dead in the alley. There are a lot of suspects as the mom was definitely not liked, and it’s up to Merry and her gang to figure out who the perp is.

Don’t look for seriousness in these stories. As stated above, they are unbelievable, but fun. If you need some silly laughter in your reading, pick up this or any one of the Merry Wrath murder mysteries. And be prepared to laugh – or groan.

Recommended.

MURDER BY MOONLIGHT by K.I. Montgomery

Cozy Mystery, Cats, Amusement Park

4****

Blurb: When murder strikes at their amusement park, Cat and the Felines of Fairytale Forest must solve a roller coaster of a case! At Fairytale Forest, a theme park in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the custodial staff and a clowder of feral cats keep things neat and tidy. Until something very messy happens—one of the custodial managers is found strangled to death. Catherine Lyon is a night-shift custodian who finds herself topping the list of suspects. Sure, no one liked the victim—but someone really hated her enough to murder her in cold blood on the park’s main street? Cat certainly didn’t do it—and she wants to prove it by finding the real killer. She’s shocked when Zoe, a member of the cat colony charged with eliminating vermin in the park, leads her to the dead body and the first clue. Can Cat, Zoe and the rest of the felines clean up the mess and solve the murder of the manipulative, mean-spirited manager?

THOUGHTS: This was a cute, different cozy mystery. Cute in that there are “sentient” cats involved. Different in that the lead cat, Zoe, communicates telepathically with the sleuth—the night custodian—and helps her solve the murder. Oh, and the sleuth, Catherine Lyon, goes by the nickname “Cat”. Plus, she’s an older woman who has been working at the theme park for 20+ years on the night shift. Cat and her nighttime partner are doing their usual cleaning when Zoe comes to her and gets them to follow her to the body. Normally, the park cats don’t have anything to do with the humans, but when Zoe does, Cat pays attention. As Cat’s one of the main suspects, it’s up to her, her evening partner, and the cats to prove that she had nothing to do with the murder.

The story is told from the POV of both Cat and Zoe. It’s fun reading Zoe’s POV – about how they keep down the vermin population and their rivalry with another clowder of cats in another section of the park. An enjoyable story with a different slant on things.

Recommended.

Fiction, Science Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Adventure

4****

Blurb: Once the star student of her training class, Captain Liz Laika is now an outcast, a casualty of family scandal. Now stuck in the worst post in the Fleet, she should keep her head down. But when a Cerulean passenger is found decapitated, and Liz is framed for the murder, she has no choice but to fight for her life. No easy feat when she’s facing kidnapping, ship-eating whales, horse-sized spiders and corrupt fleet officers with personal vendettas. And in the middle of the intergalactic murder drama, her ex-fiancé reappears. Captain Liz needs to clear her name–and fast.

THOUGHTS: Take one part cozy murder mystery, one part fun space opera, one part political intrigue, stir it all together with fun characters and interesting world building and you have this story. Captain Liz Laika spend a lot of time trying to stay alive – even in the first chapter with an unfortunate spill – and trying to hold her ship together – and dodging kidnappers and an ex who thinks she’s not worth his time. 
The characters are great – I loved Liz running around in her pink/unicorn jammies and fluffy slippers – even Eugene, the boxy AI is cute. There is a lot of conflict between Liz and a whole lot of others, but she is loyal to her crew, and they to her. The story is fun to read and has a good ending that still leaves enough strings dangling that lets you know Liz and her people will face more adventures. And I’m looking forward to them!
Recommended.

REVIEW: WINTER’S KISS by Darlene Fredette

Fiction, Contemporary Romance

4****

Blurb: Danielle Lerato adores the ocean breezes of Victoria, the comfort of her curated routine, and a life that requires minimal interaction with snow boots. But when her company relocates to Redford Falls, with a population of unpredictable charm, she agrees to train her replacement with one get in, get out, and never look back. Andrew Bailey, a local restaurant owner with a fierce protective streak, doesn’t believe in second chances. Yet, Danielle’s fiery spirit, stubborn streak, and snow-fueled scowls shift his expectations and crack open the door to a future he never dared to imagine. As chilly glares thaw into cozy glances and sarcastic banter flirts over shared cups of hot cocoa, Danielle suspects the town’s snowy landscape is warming more than her toes. Add in the legendary matchmaker, Thumper, stirring Redford Falls into a romantic frenzy, and maybe this snowy wonderland isn’t a detour. Maybe it’s destiny.

THOUGHTS: This was a cute romantic story. It takes place in the small town of Redford Falls, introduced to us in “One Sweet Christmas”. The town has gone from a dying place to one that is vibrant and full of tourists and residents. The characters are fun, but the names… that caused more than a few chuckles (Jackson Frost married Candice Cane in the first book). In this one, Danielle is someone who likes her designer clothes, mani/pedis, and lattes. She lives in the city on the west coast and loves it there. But her boss moved his company to the east to Redford Falls, a town with cold weather and snow. She refuses to move, but does go there to help him set things up and train her replacement. Unfortunately, she doesn’t count on a blizzard stranding her on the road, unprepared for this weather. When a snow plow driver rescues her, she recognizes the man she’d met on a previous trip—one she’d deemed as a redneck back-woods nothing. But as the days go by, she’s not so sure. Andrew recognizes the blonde from their first meeting, when he’d accidentally dumped a plate of lasagna on her white suit (to be honest, she’s the one who ran into him). The two of them light sparks—at first from frustration, then from feelings that grow deeper.

This story reminds you about romantic feelings and small towns and local legends (thanks to a rabbit that appears when two people need romantic intervention).

Have fun with this one!

Recommended.

This is an unusual review in that the first book “Murder for Shore” is being written by the main character of the second book “The Write Way to Die”, so I’m keeping the two reviews together for that reason.

REVIEW: MURDER-FOR-SURE by Beth Prentice and Aubrey Jackson

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Short Novella (90 pages)

5*****

Blurb: Daphne Wright thought the biggest challenge at her newly inherited beach house in Saltwater Bay would be battling the sand in her coffee. But when a human skull washes up with the morning tide, she’s suddenly pulled into a deadly mystery lurking beneath the waves. As secrets bubble to the surface, and the small town’s past proves as treacherous as the shifting sands, Daphne must navigate a tide of lies before the killer strikes again.

THOUGHTS: This was an interesting premise to a story in that it’s written by the main character of another book! I love that the character says who her favorite authors are, including the publisher of this book. LOL The story is actually a good one full of mystery, secrets, and a touch of romance. I also loved that the hero of the story comes across as neurodivergent (autism?) in the beginning but his love for Daphne brings out the hero in him. And there’s a decent ending to both the mystery and a HEA for the romance.

For a quick, cute cozy, pick this one up.

Recommended.

REVIEW: THE WRITE WAY TO DIE by Beth Prentice

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

5*****

Blurb: A writing retreat. A famous author. A deadly fall. Aspiring novelist Aubrey Jackson never expected her big break to be wrapped in crime scene tape. Invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat hosted by the legendary author Willow Fox, Aubrey was excited to sharpen her plot twists and finally finish her first book. But when Willow is found dead—pushed from a third story window—the peaceful getaway turns into a real-life investigation. With a retreat full of suspects, and the police pointing the finger at one of her best friends, Aubrey’s instincts kick in. After all, she’s read enough murder mysteries to know this wasn’t an accident! So with her writer buddies, Ellie and Spencer, by her side, she sets out to find a killer! Only problem? The sharp detective with gorgeous eyes and enough muscles to be on a magazine cover, who has a frustrating determination to arrest the wrong person. Can Aubrey uncover the truth before the killer writes her off for good? Or will her first big break end in a plot twist she never saw coming?

THOUGHTS: This includes a story within a story. The main character, Aubrey, is a new writer attending a private writing retreat being hosted by Willow Fox, a famous author. Aubrey is excited to be there, but there are a lot of underlying tensions that she picks up on. The book opens up with Aubrey working on the first chapter of her book, “Murder for Shore”, a cozy mystery. But after the first workshop, a real murder mystery occurs as Willow ends up dead. Aubrey’s friend, Jenny, is the prime suspect and she feels that it is up to her and her other two friends to prove to the handsome detective Tate that Jenny is innocent. But there are a lot of suspects and everyone seems to have a secret—and a motive. When Aubrey and her friends go snooping, they discover that even the building has secrets. As the mystery unfolds, so does Aubrey’s writing so you get to read Aubrey’s story as she’s writing it. (But it’s not finished before the book is, so you need to read the entire one in “Murder for Shore”.

Recommended.

Review: THE LAWYER’S QUANDARY by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M/M

4****

Blurb: Two people walk into his office and change everything.
Greg Lampeter hung out a shingle after years at a large law firm and is beginning to have some success. When a new client walks through his door, he’s intrigued by the case and the cause it represents and agrees to take it on principal. What he doesn’t expect is the man with him to capture his attention so completely. Assistant swimming coach Mark Baker only came to the appointment as moral support for his friend, Steven. He doesn’t expect the lawyer to be so understanding and supportive, and he certainly doesn’t expect the spark of attraction that pulls at him almost from the moment they shake hands. Both men are determined to remain professional for Steven’s sake, for the help he needs in dealing with the college and a serious issue with one of the assistant Lacrosse coaches. As facts come to light, it’s clear that Greg is going to have to walk a close line to ensure that Steven gets the justice he deserves, and to protect Mark and their budding relationship from becoming collateral damage.

THOUGHTS: At only 105 pages, this is a quick read, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good read! Mr. Grey does not disappoint with his romances. The characters are realistic, the settings well-done, and the heat and connection between the two men is electric.

In this story, Greg is a lawyer who takes on a case for an athlete about an abusive coach. The topic is one that’s been getting a lot of interest in the last few years. In addition to the case, Greg is also intrigued by the man who is helping the college athlete – Mark. The two form a fast friendship that deepens as the story develops. By the end, we know there’s going to be a HEA for these two men (and a winning case for Greg). A satisfying ending all around.

Recommended.

A LIFE CAME CALLING by Ann Howard Creel

Fiction, Historical Romance, 1940s

4****

Blurb: It’s 1945, and Janey Nichol’s new engagement should be a dream, but memories of Cole haunt her. The sailor she pledged to marry, lost at sea, left only letters and unanswered questions. To find peace, Janey travels to his Gatlinburg home. There, she discovers his secrets, and a chance encounter with his cousin Luke ignites unexpected passion. Trapped by circumstance, Janey finds herself drawn to Luke, even as doubts arise. Can she trust him, or is history repeating itself? Torn between a safe future in the city with her Philadelphia fiancé and a love fraught with uncertainty in a totally different environment, Janey must make an impossible choice. Which life will she choose, and which heart will she break?

THOUGHTS: This is a sweet story that takes place during World War II in the US. It’s a story of love and loss and finding yourself. Janey is a young woman who gets a good job as a secretary and moves up in the corporate world. She makes good money for that time and is able to save enough to purchase her own house. Note, this was during a time when women could not get a mortgage without a man’s signature, but she managed. She is a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. And that causes a few problems for her.

She gets engaged to Todd, a man with money who wants to marry quickly and “take care of her”. He offers safety and security in Philadelphia, but is boring. And she doesn’t want to be “taken care of.” Plus, she was once engaged to Cole, a man who died in the war. She never got to go to his funeral and needs closure, but her current man doesn’t understand this. Janey heads to Gatlinburg to say her final goodbye to Cole and decide if marriage to the new man is what she really wants. While there, she meets Cole’s cousin Luke and her life changes again as she falls for him. Janey has to figure out what she really wants from her life – one man in the city who will “control” her, or true love in the country with someone she just met.

The writing is beautifully flowing and we get to know Janey really well through her travels and trials and a HEA ending that satisfies. The setting of the war years is well-done and gives you a glance into what life was like back then in both the city and the country settings. We see the sorrow that happened to families who lost someone, and the elation of V-E Day and when Japan surrendered. This is a good look into those years.

Recommended.

Review: CROOKS & NANNIES by Misty Simon

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

5*****

Blurb: A surprise visit from Roxy’s sister stirs up all kinds of chaos when a jilted lover is found dead at the Charmed Inn… The middle of summer is the busiest time of year for Roxy Gleason. So when the inn springs a few leaks, more than her usual handyman can handle, Roxy hires a father and son team to make quick and hopefully inconspicuous work of getting things back on track. It’s all going well until one of them is found dead in the basement among the wine racks.
Enter Roxy’s wanderlust sister that she hasn’t seen in months. She shows up unexpectedly as a nanny to a family vacationing at the inn. Roxy is thrilled to see her but when she’s tagged as the main suspect for the murder the hunt is on for the real culprit. Roxy will have one chance to get it right while she tests out the limits of her gift. It’s do or die but she’s not sure which is going to come out on top…

THOUGHTS: Misty Simon never fails to entertain with her witty cozy mysteries. They not only have the mystery, but quirky characters that make you laugh. Yes, there are dark moments – like the murders – but there are also lots of lighter times that let you know these characters could be real people. In this one, Roxy is gearing up for the Fourth of July with a full inn that includes her wayward sister (surprise) and a 200 year-old ghost (Earl) who uses a hidden pay phone to contact her. When an electrician who is looking into issues the inn is having is killed in the wine cellar, Roxy is determined to find out who the killer is before her sister gets blamed for it. She is still learning bibliomancy from her aunt and uncle, trying to run the inn, solve the murder, and keep a precocious 12-year-old from finding out all her secrets. Yes, I suspected who the perp was early on, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. I especially loved Earl and his ploys. And the “food fight” at the family dinner, enhanced by a spell from Roxy’s aunt, was a fun moment. Also, even though the mystery was solved, there were enough strings left dangling that you knew there will be more books to follow. I can’t wait to read more about Roxy, her magic powers with books, and the Charmed Inn.

Recommended.

Goodreads