Murder in Season by Mary Winters

Murder in Season
by Mary Winters

ISBN-13: 9781448314041
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Severn House
Released: December 3, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Countess and secret advice columnist, Amelia Amesbury has a content life...until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted into the ton's unforgiving Season.

However Madge's Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton's gossip mill - and the police - are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton's troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society's houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.


My Review:
Murder in Season is a mystery set in 1860 in England. Amelia's role as a advice column writer provided the reader with a sense of the historical period and showed Amelia's attitude toward social norms. The main characters were likable. Amelia asked questions to discover who had a motive and was present when the murder or thefts happened. She wanted to solve who was stealing heirloom jewelry at rich people's homes during social gatherings. She felt she had to solve the murder because the detective on the case had a grudge against the Amesbury family and was determined to pin the murder on Madge. There were clues, and Amelia connected the clues to the culprit as quickly as the reader can.

There was no sex. There were a couple uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen

The Seaside Homecoming
by Julie Klassen

ISBN-13: 9780764241017
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: December 3, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. Needing to find a new place to live and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire sees an advertisement from someone looking for a "respectable female partner" in a Sidmouth boarding house. She answers the ad, hoping she has not made another reckless mistake. When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he's hiding. Claire is drawn to him even though she fears he will reject her if he discovers her less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family discovers that Claire is in town. Will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or deepen the divide?


My Review:
The Seaside Homecoming is a Christian romance set in 1820 in Scotland and England. This is the third book in a series, but it can be understood without reading the previous novels. However, it does "spoil" how the previous two romances turned out.

Claire has no patience: if she wants something, she does it immediately. If she wanted to ask her business partner something or give him something, even though it could easily wait until he left his private rooms, she felt fully justified in barging into his private rooms to confront him. He repeatedly asked her not to enter his private rooms, and this was partly to protect her reputation. She also had a bad habit of eavesdropping. Her business partner was very patient with her. After Claire made her choice of whom to marry, they intensely kissed as often as they could, only prevented in doing more before marriage by their chaperones. It just felt like Claire hadn't really learned anything from the mistakes that nearly ruined her life.

The story was mostly about her reconciliation with her sisters and mother and her spying on her business partner because she's worried he's a spy. Unlike the previous novels, there wasn't much interaction with the people staying at the boarding house or those in town. Many historical details were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination, but they did slow the pacing. The characters were likable and acted in realistic ways. Claire's family learned about God's forgiveness and forgiving others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.

Cornered by Lynette Eason; Lynn H. Blackburn; Natalie Walters

Cornered
by Lynette Eason; Lynn H. Blackburn; Natalie Walters

ISBN-13: 9780800746087
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: Nov. 19, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend's car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can't refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she's forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect--especially for Lahela.


My Review:
Cornered has three romantic suspense novellas. Though not needed to understand the stories, it helps if you've read the books by Blackburn and Walters that feature the characters and setting that these novellas are set in. The main characters were all likable and interesting. The romantic couples generally worked well together, and they drew close as they spent time together. The mysteries were interesting, and the suspense was high. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense collection.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum

The Herringbone Harbor Mystery
by Sally Goldenbaum

ISBN-13: 9781496747181
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: November 26, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Yarn Studio’s Seaside Knitters have their hands full creating a single blanket together. Birdie’s teenage granddaughter is also visiting for the season and has started a dog-walking business with her friend, Daisy. Meanwhile, the Lazy Lobster and Soup Café’s local fare is gaining newfound attention with the addition of a well-known chef.

Then Birdie spots a huge blaze from her balcony one evening, frighteningly close to knitter Cass’s lobster business. But the morning brings news that it was a house in Fishermen’s Village, and a popular businessman, and mayoral candidate, is found dead inside. As suspicion rocks usually placid Sea Harbor, knitters Izzy, Birdie, Cass, and Nell must pick apart tangled secrets.


My Review:
The Herringbone Harbor Mystery is a cozy mystery, though the mystery was never fully explained. It's the 18th novel in a series, but you can understand this story without reading the previous books.

So much of the story was the sleuths spotting clues but feeling too overwhelmed by the murder to think things through, so they ate or knitted instead. They also spent a lot of time sorrowfully saying how dealing with various bad events was just so 'heavy' and difficult to handle emotionally.

There were several mysteries to solve, and there were plenty of clues for those who like to solve the puzzle, though some critical clues were withheld from the reader at the very end. Still, I had most of it figured out long before the end. However, while the murderer confessed, the person didn't explain everything and frankly I didn't believe some of what whodunit did say. Worse, the guy who was killed was a wonderful person, but we're clearly supposed to feel sorry for whodunit, too!

I read an Advanced Reader Copy so this may be fixed in the final copy, but the grammar was bad. It was hard to keep track of who "her" referred to, for example, and sometimes the wrong name was used. This made the reading confusing and required stopping to figure out what the author was trying to say.

There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Fans of the characters might still like the book, but I no longer feel like this author writes what I look for in cozy mysteries.

Taken at Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Taken at Christmas
by Jodie Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781335980298
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: November 26, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When ex-deputy Mia Galloway is assaulted while waiting to meet with her daughter's birth mother (who goes missing at that same time), she’s convinced her adopted daughter is also in danger. Mia is rescued just in time by investigator Hayden McGrath, her late husband’s best friend, who vows to protect Mia and Ruthie. And the stakes only get higher when Ruthie’s birth mother is found murdered. Someone desperately wants this child, and they’ll stop at nothing to get her. With time running out, uncovering the truth is Hayden and Mia’s only hope of saving an innocent child.


My Review:
Taken at Christmas is a Christian romantic suspense. Mia has crippling panic attacks after responding to the scene of her own husband's murder. Hayden was Mia's husband's best friend, and Hayden and Mia had also worked together as deputies. They've grown close as they mourn her husband's death and now wonder if it's okay to even think about a relationship. They both supported each other and worked well together. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The main suspense came from someone trying to kill Mia and someone trying to take her young, adopted daughter.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.

One Last Chance by Susan May Warren

One Last Chance
by Susan May Warren

ISBN-13: 9780800745486
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 1, 2024

Source: Read using Amazon's Kindle Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Axel Mulligan was built to be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He swam fast and endured long, a miracle for those in peril--until a tragedy sent him home to Alaska. Now, three years later, he's not going to let the past repeat itself. As an Air One rescue swimmer, he'll do anything to save lives--including sacrifice his own.

He expects to do just that while trying to rescue a group of tourists from the icy waters of the Gulf of Alaska. But if not for the voice on the other end of the ham radio, he might have given up and let hypothermia win. That voice awakened something in his heart, and he sets out to find the woman it belongs to.

Flynn Turnquist is not who Axel thinks she is. A national wildlife researcher, she's deep in the bush, tracking wolf pack patterns. Or is she? In fact, she's a former cop, tracking down a serial killer in the Alaska bush. When Axel finds Flynn and discovers what she's really up to, it stirs up a terrible nightmare he's been dodging for years--the kidnapping and death of his own cousin. Now, it's a race through Alaska to stay alive.


My Review:
One Last Chance is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 2th in the series, but you can understand this story without having read the previous one. Axel feels guilty that he wasn't able to rescue his cousin when they were teens and feels burdened by every failed rescue since then. Flynn's still looking for her twin sister, who may have been a victim of a serial killer, but her body was never found. They worked together to try to solve who the serial killer is, find Flynn's sister, and rescuing people along the way.

The main characters were engaging and came across as real people. I cared about what happened to them. Flynn and Axel supported each other and built each other up. There was plenty of suspense from the physical dangers of search and rescue, the environment, and the attacks of a killer.

Axel had to realize that he's not God and can't save everyone. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.

An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White

An Honorable Deception
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780764240942
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: November 19, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the leader of the Imposters, an elite private investigative firm, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon something much more dangerous.

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects her longtime friends hold more secrets than they're willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they're the esteemed Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. While she is happy for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia's own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing bringing laughter back into her life--her friendship with Yates--lands her squarely on the disagreeable side of her best friend: his sister.

Tormented by a past she doesn't dare voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the dark side of society, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia learn anew that the gentry isn't always noble.


My Review:
An Honorable Deception is a Christian romance with a mystery, set in 1910 in England. This book is the 3rd in the series, but you can understand it without reading the previous books. However, you'll probably enjoy it more if you've read the first in the series as they refer back to events in that story.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically. Lavinia turned down Yates when they were younger because her mother disapproved, but Yates thought that she didn't love him and tried to move on. Alethia caught his attentions, but Lavinia realized how much she wanted his affection now that her mother has died. But she's friends with Alethia, too. Yates and Lavinia worked well together and cared for and supported each other.

The mystery was about finding missing foreign women, specifically Alethia's Indian nanny. Once they found her, they needed to free her and others from cruel gentlemen, ones the police were unlikely to arrest. So how to get them free and make sure the men don't harm others? It was fun watching Lavinia get to direct the investigation and take the stage (literally) in pursuit of justice.

The Indian nanny's Christian faith was what helped her through the evil she experienced. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun story.

Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

Murder in the Ranks
by Kristi Jones

ISBN-13: 9781639109715
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: November 19, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Algiers, North Africa, 1943. After her abusive German husband left her for dead and took their daughter with him behind enemy lines, Dottie Lincoln learned that it’s better to be a trained soldier rather than a victim. As a newly minted squad leader in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, she spends her days filing orders moving men and materials to the front and her nights attending mandatory dances to boost the morale of the men. Despite the grueling nature of her job, she has found a sanctuary amongst the women in the Army. When Ruth, a member of her squad, is murdered, she’s devastated and determined to get to the bottom of the murder.

Dottie’s company is the first group of American women assigned to a combat theater and with Ruth’s death the entire operation is being questioned. Determined to do everything she can to help win the war, bring justice to her friend, and hopefully reunite with her daughter, Dottie must rise to the occasion before the killer strikes again.

But when her past comes back to haunt her, Dottie must prove she’s not a German spy and put a stop to a threat to the entire American war effort.


My Review:
Murder in the Ranks is a mystery set in 1943 in Algiers. Dottie's smart and very determined. She spotted that Ruth's apparent suicide was murder and insisted the MP detective look at the evidence and investigate. He took her along to take notes (and help investigate). They asked good questions and followed up on leads, but they were given a limited time to find the murderer. Then one of her suspects ended up in the hospital, also an apparent suicide attempt.

The main characters were interesting, likable, and reacted realistically to events. Vivid historical details were woven into the story, bringing the place and time alive in my imagination. While this was a clue-based mystery, I caught a critical clue early on and correctly suspected whodunit. I began doubting my choice as I couldn't figure out how whodunit was doing the murders, and this was never explained. There were hints about Ruth's murder, but not for the second attempt.

Also, otherwise smart Dottie brought a letter she knew could be used against her to war and then left it in an unsecure area where anyone could take it. The author tried to explain it, but I still felt it made no sense. The potential threat from this letter's really built up and could ruin all trust with her coworkers at best or get her fired or worse. This threat was simply dropped at the end, with no consequences. I liked the story but felt like the author was sloppy with wrapping it up convincingly.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this as an interesting historical novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Body at the Grand Hotel by Benedict Brown

A Body at the Grand Hotel
by Benedict Brown

ISBN-13: 9781805088189
Kindle: 305 pages
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Released: November 12, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When successful mystery novelist and fledgling private detective, Marius Quin, is invited to speak at the Mystery and Detection Society he jumps at the chance of a luxurious weekend away on the English Riviera. But arriving at Torquay’s Grand Hotel with his sleuthing partner Lady Bella Montague, there is the definite sense that all is not well.

When they wake the next morning to discover the body of a cantankerous local in the hotel pool, things go from bad to worse. But how can the duo catch a killer when every piece of evidence they uncover is contradicted by two more? Faced with a hostile police sergeant, evasive witnesses and a conspiracy to conceal the truth, Bella and Marius must call upon every last resource they possess to uncover the truth.


My Review:
A Body at the Grand Hotel is a mystery set in the 1920s in England. This book is the 4th in a series, but you can understand this story without having read the previous books. The official detective's main role seemed to be to tell everyone to cooperate with Marius and to arrest whodunit when revealed. Bella's main role seemed to be to help Marius with the suspect questioning as they got much more information together than when Marius tried to question people by himself. They questioned people and poked around for clues, so it's a clue-based mystery and whodunit is guessable. However, the clues could have been made to fit several people, so motive and even the assistant was easier to identify before the end than the possibly changeable whodunit.

The main characters were likable enough and interesting. The author clearly put a lot of time into researching the historical details (and the last 10% of the book explained more about these details). There were no sex scenes. There were only a couple uses of bad language. Overall, the mystery was fairly interesting, but the characters didn't engage me enough for me to read the rest of the series.

Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley

Deadly Revenge
by Patricia Bradley

ISBN-13: 9780800741648
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: November 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when former city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with time, and someone bearing a grudge is clearly set on revenge. With the former mayor of Pearl Springs now running for the US Senate, they need backup to ensure his protection.

Agent Maxwell Anderson and Jenna used to work together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.

As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled when another suspect comes into play, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?


My Review:
Deadly Revenge is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 3rd book in the series but works as a standalone. Jenna discovered that her ex-boyfriend is a dirty cop involved in drug trafficking, but she's unable to prove it. He discredited her, so she moved to work as a deputy in Pearl Springs. Unfortunately, the gang-leader she was able to take down and her ex are now active in this community and work to make people question her judgment here as well.

State police officer Maxwell's tasked with protecting the former mayor during a political rally. The threating letter he received may be connected with the series of murders that Jenna's investigating. Maxwell admired her after working with her in the past, but he questioned if her mind was playing tricks on her due to PTSD. Despite this doubt, they worked well together in solving the cases.

The murder mystery was a clue-based puzzle whodunit while the suspense mainly came from the pair playing mind games with Jenna with the intent to eventually kill her. The main characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker

I Think I Was Murdered
by Colleen Coble
and Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9780840712578
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: November 12, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about and married to an adoring husband. Then her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. One day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The reply: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has.


My Review:
I Think I Was Murdered is a romance with a mystery. I was intrigued by the idea of a woman addicted to an AI version of her husband, and I liked how that was explored. The main characters were generally likable and acted in realistic ways. However, I didn't quite understand why she was so completely trusting and open with someone I thought she ought to question the motives of a little more. Seb, who had a crush on Katrina when they were young, now goes out of his way to help her out even though he has a lot to deal with at the moment. She finally appreciates his fine qualities and willingness to help and protect her, which helps her realize how dependent she's been on the AI.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder

Never Forgotten
by Hannah Linder

ISBN-13: 9781636098371
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: November 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Georgina Whitmore's not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms. She's sure she's in love with the indifferent Simon Fancourt...even after he leaves England without a word, breaking their engagement. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice. Simon works to uncover the men responsible for releasing the murderer that killed his wife. That person threatens his children and tries to kill him in an effort to get him to stop.

Simon's mother urges him to fulfill his father’s will, which states he must marry Georgina to inherit everything. Though she longs to accept, she won't marry man who doesn't love her. As tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger, for the first time, open his heart to her?


My Review:
Never Forgotten is set in 1813, mostly in England. I got 63% of the way through this story before I just couldn't care how it ended and quit due to lack of interest. I just couldn't relate to the main characters, who seemed determined to be contrary. Georgina is rich, beautiful, and sweet. She had many suitors but only fell "in love" with Simon, the only man who was indifferent to her. She still believes herself in love with him twelve years after he abandoned her (his betrothed) for another country and another wife.

Simon's father doesn't come across as cruel or unreasonable, but Simon will do anything (even stupid things) to spite his father...even after his father's dead. Simon also handled everything with violence, killing his wife's murderers and then beggaring himself to return to England to have revenge on the person who set those known murderers free instead of hanging them. His method of searching for answers left dead innocents in his wake.

Since Georgina was one of the few still supporting him, he used her, even put her in danger to protect his children. It's only at the point that I quit that he began to think he had misjudged Georgina and took some interest in her life and worries. The thing is, Simon has a horrible temper and dealt with practically everything personally and with violence. If Georgina and Simon get married, I just don't believe Georgina will get the devoted love that she's longing for. Someday, Simon will hit her or maybe even abandon her again because he doesn't appreciate his current life and thinks something else will be fulfilling. I don't want them to end up together, so I won't finish the story. Georgina deserves much better.

There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Murder of a Suffragette by Marty Wingate

Murder of a Suffragette
by Marty Wingate

ISBN-13: 9781835252116
Paperback: 332 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Released: October 28, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Fellbridge Hall, England: Mabel Canning is thrilled to be organising a suffragette conference. But when all the women are settled in the sprawling country mansion, she barely has time for a sip of gin before chaos ensues. Leading suffragette Annie Harkin has been found murdered in her bed.

Young police officers Ned and Ted arrive in time to trip over the banners. Mabel and her pals to take control. When it comes to solving mysteries, there’s nobody equal to the London Ladies’ Murder Club! But soon it’s clear many a suffragette is hiding a secret under her sash. Eccentric veteran of the cause Dorothea Goose is acting rather flighty. Or would Annie’s rival go this far to replace her as leader? Mabel is sure the answers lie in the past.


My Review:
Murder of a Suffragette is a mystery set in 1922 England. It's the 4th book in the series. You can understand the story without reading the previous books (and I haven't), but it's like all the character development happened already and the author didn't bother in this story. It's like paper dolls delivered the needed lines. The dog had the most personality of the bunch, and she was also the true detective. The dog found bodies, missing people, clues, and even saved Mabel in the nick of time.

While there were clues, this wasn't a puzzle mystery which the reader could have fun solving. Mabel did basic interviews, and she and the dog's owner brought the clues to the detective (who couldn't be on the spot for long so left the leg work to her). However, she solved whodunit by walking into danger and managing to get whodunit to confess before trying to kill her. There was a little bit of suffragette history mentioned, but much more about the food they were eating or what the hats looked like.

There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, the story wasn't bad, but it didn't interest me in reading any more of the series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Courting the Country Preacher by Angela K Couch; Carolyn Miller; Naomi Musch; Kari Trumbo

Courting the Country Preacher
by Angela K Couch;
Carolyn Miller;
Naomi Musch;
Kari Trumbo

ISBN-13: 9781636099767
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: November 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Being a preacher in the countryside is not for the faint of heart nor faith. Four inexperienced preachers face a myriad of challenges including those who figure a man of the cloth needs a wife. Can they meet the expectations of “helpful” congregants and be true to their hearts?

The Mountie’s Rival by Angela K. Couch
Canada, 1907 — Tired of living in his twin’s shadow, Jonathan Burton is frustrated to find himself serving as a still wet-behind-the-ears preacher in the same community as his Mountie brother. How is he to find a wife when all the eligible women of the community seem enamored by his dashing brother in scarlet uniform?

Convincing the Circuit Preacher by Carolyn Miller
Australia, 1863 — As soon as Dorothea Maclean saw the country preacher, she knew Mr. Hammill was the man of her dreams. Now she just needs to convince her wealthy parents—and Mr. Hammill.

The Angel and the Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch
Minnesota, 1910 — A preacher with a checkered past sets off to win souls in the lumber camps like the “sky pilots” before him. But can he earn the respect of hard-living men—and still respect himself—after a local trader’s daughter joins the congregation?

Mail Order Minister by Kari Trumbo
South Dakota, 1889 — Olive’s parents mail-ordered a preacher and prayed their daughter would want him as a husband. The rest of the town—and Olive—have other ideas.


My Review:
Courting the Country Preacher is a collection of 4 Christian romance novels set at different times and in different countries. They're general sweet romances, where both preacher and future wife like and admire each other from the start, but something stands in their way that needs to be resolved before they can get together. One gal is the daughter of the town's main drunk and criminal and tries to counter being tarred with the same brush by being a quietly caring, hardworking Christian woman. Another gal is one of the few single women in the area and has several admirers, so the preacher has to figure out how to win the respect of the lumberjacks while handling her unwanted suitor's attempts to run him off.

The main characters were complex and likable, though some of the characters in Trumbo's story didn't quite come across as realistic. The romantic pair supported and built each other up. Three of the historical settings were based on real places or situations, giving a nice feel for the place and time. Each story had a Christian message about dealing with others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this romance collection.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A St Ives Christmas Mystery by Deborah Fowler

A St Ives Christmas Mystery
by Deborah Fowler

ISBN-13: 9780749031930
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Released: October 24, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When tragedy brings Merrin McKenzie back to St Ives, she knows adjusting might take time, even with the comfort of Christmas back in her hometown. Stepping back from her career as a solicitor, she agrees to clean holiday rentals for her friends who own cottages nearby. She anticipates dirty laundry and sandy floors, but she didn’t sign up for a dead body, neatly tucked up in one of the guest beds.

The police are baffled by the young man’s identity and the strangeness of his death. For Merrin, however, coincidences are beginning to stack up. Even though Inspector Louis Peppiatt is sceptical of her theories, something sinister is hiding beneath the festive surface of this charming seaside town. As the case unfolds, a dark side to the Cornish coast emerges.


My Review:
A St Ives Christmas Mystery is a cozy mystery set in England. The main characters were likable and interesting. Merrin was a solicitor and married a policeman, so she understood legal issues as well as thought things out (rather than making random guesses). She often came across clues that she passed on to the detective on the case, Louis. They worked well together, but Louis often felt like Merrin was making connections that weren't there...so she sometimes felt like she needed to get further proof. Louis and the police did most of the investigating, and we also follow that investigation.

This was a clue-based mystery that can be puzzled out, though generally Louis and Merrin came to the correct conclusions as fast as the reader could. There was no sex. There was some bad language (with about a third of that being British bad language). Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker

The Gentleman's Confession
by Anneka R. Walker

ISBN-13: 9781639933020
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Released: October 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Brookeside, England, 1822. Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.


My Review:
The Gentleman's Confession is a romance set in 1822 in England. Some aspects of the story were so absurd that it didn't feel realistic. I know it's supposed to be humorous, but one scene had several women cornering Miles in public, and one of those women repeatedly ran her hands through his hair while demanding a lock of his hair. His stepfather or some of his congregation surely would have taken them all to task for behaving so badly, but everyone just excused it as Miles is so perfect that the women couldn't help themselves. Hmm.

When Miles was young, he saved Jemma's cousin from dying. The cousin understandably was half in love with him afterward. Jemma started the rumor that Miles was going to marry her cousin, and now she and his friends all believe this even though Miles has refused to marry her. The cousin has even resigned herself that he isn't going to marry her. I just kept thinking "Gee, what friends--they don't really know him and care more about pressuring him to marry the cousin than about his happiness."

For the first half of the story, I also kept thinking that none of this would happen if he'd just get a backbone. He'd tell people "no" but was "too kind" to firmly convince people that he really meant it. But he did finally realize this and started to change, which redeemed him in my estimation. As Jemma was the cause of her own misery and refused to even consider changing her stance until her cousin took things in hand, I had a little more trouble feeling pity for her.

However, all of the characters were generally likable. Historical details served more as a backdrop than as necessary to the story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

Murder in Highbury
by Vanessa Kelly

ISBN-13: 9781496745972
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Released: Oct. 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse gracefully balances the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health. But then Emma and Harriet Martin discover a hideous shock at the local church: the corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, on the altar steps, an expensive necklace stripped from her neck.

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, and suspicions suddenly fall on Miss Bates. Armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections, Emma decides to investigate to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.


My Review:
Murder in Highbury is a mystery set in 1815 in England. The author took the characters from Jane Austen's "Emma" and changed them a bit. For example, Emma's very outspoken in criticizing men in authority to their faces rather than using the more subtle set-down of a well-bred lady. She poked through someone's desk looking for clues while asking Harriet to stand lookout. Austen's Emma was oblivious to subtle relational interplays happening around her and jumped to conclusions, but in this mystery, Emma noticed when things were subtly off. Also, Miss Bates didn't just ramble on but was a fainting, hysterical lady-in-distress when people asked her questions about the day of the murder. Mrs. Bates might be hard of hearing and slept a lot but she's very engaged with what's going on. While foundational aspects of the original characters were still present, they all felt modified to suit the story the author wanted to tell.

I guessed whodunit early on and was astounded that no one but Emma (at the very end) even considered a most obvious suspect (who had motive, access to the murder scene, and the ability to do the murder). While it's clear that the author did some research into the time period, the social relationships often felt too modern. The coroner and constable both wanted to investigate and arrest people at will, sometimes assuming Mr. Knightly role as magistrate behind his back even though they knew this would offend him. This just didn't seem realistic as the social hierarchy was still pretty rigid at that time. However, it did drag out the mystery because Mr. Knightly was busy trying to minimalize the damage done by two bumbling men bucking his authority rather than everyone working together in their assigned roles. I guess it was the excuse for why Emma had to investigate instead.

All that said, it was an enjoyable enough take on Emma as a sleuth. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Murder Takes the Stage by Colleen Cambridge

Murder Takes the Stage
by Colleen Cambridge

ISBN-13: 9781496742599
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Released: Oct. 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Housekeeper Phyllida Bright is quite in her element at Mallowan Hall, the charming English manor that she keeps in tip-top shape. By contrast, the bustling metropolis of London, where her famed employer Agatha Christie has temporarily relocated, leaves Phyllida a bit out of her depth. Not only must she grapple with a limited staff, but Phyllida also has to rein in a temperamental French cook who has the looks of Hercule Poirot, but none of the charm.

When a man named Archibald Allston is found dead in an armchair onstage at the Adelphia Theater, seemingly of natural causes. But the very next day, the unlucky actor playing Benvolio at the Belmont Theater is found with his head bashed in. And when a third victim turns up, this time with double-C initials, the fatal pattern is impossible to ignore. With panic erupting among theater folk—a superstitious bunch at the best of times—Phyllida steps up to help with the investigation. The murderer’s M.O. may be easy to read, but can Phyllida uncover the killer’s identity before the final curtain falls on another victim?


My Review:
Murder Takes the Stage is a mystery set in 1930 in England. This is the 4th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one. The household is in London because Agatha's trying to get one of her stories made into a play. A director and friend of Agatha asks Phyllida to investigate murder and creates a cover story that she's a newspaper reporter. People were quite happy to talk with her, and she maneuvered the conversation to topics she was interested in. She was quick to spot clues and logically consider possibilities.

This was probably the best mystery in the series. I initially thought it was a certain person for reasons Phyllida gave at the end, but one of the final, critical clues made whodunit guessable to both reader and Phyllida, though Phyllida hid the name until her Big Reveal. Phyllida becoming more likable as the series progresses. Historical details were woven into the story, bringing the time and place alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing.

There was occasional use of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

One Last Stand by Susan May Warren

One Last Stand
by Susan May Warren

ISBN-13: 9780800745509
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a member of the Air One Rescue team, pilot London Brooks has built a new life--one far away from her clandestine past as an operative tasked to take down a branch of Russian terrorists. She has no desire to reenter that world. But the past won't stay past. Someone has sent assasination after her, she has no choice but to plunge back into the treacherous world she left behind. Even if she must surrender everything--and everyone--she loves in her new life.

Shep Watson will never forget the day he saved London Brooks from the avalanche that nearly killed her. He knows there is more to her story, but he'll let her keep her secrets. Just when it seems she's finally ready to let him into her heart, her dead, mutilated body is found in a lake. When he learns she's still alive but in danger, he can't bear to lose her again. Which means, somehow, he'll have to enter her world, keep up with her, and figure out a way to bring her home.


My Review:
One Last Stand is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th in the series. It does help to have read at least some of the previous books as some of the London/Shep action has occurred already and the characters from the previous books are highly involved in this story. However, the author provided enough background that you can understand what's going on without reading the previous books.

The main characters were engaging and came across as real people. I cared about what happened to them. Shep and London realized that they only had a superficial knowledge about each other and got to know each other better as they worked together. They had to decide what they really wanted out of life while they tried to free London from the dangers brought on by her past. There was plenty of suspense from the physical dangers of doing spy stuff as well as the search and rescue. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander

Hunted for the Holidays
by Deena Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781335980236
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Shae Evans spots a familiar face at a Christmas pageant, she knows her witness-protection cover has been blown. Six years ago, her testimony put a crime boss away for life, and now his is looking for her. Fleeing with her daughter, Shae accepts protection from former FBI agent Mason Payne—her child’s father. Now they’re only seconds ahead of the ruthless crime family who want Shae silenced forever. With threats everywhere, will they live to see the New Year?


My Review:
Hunted for the Holidays is a Christian romantic suspense. Shae risked her life to get evidence against a crime boss and get him sent to prison. Now he's dying, and he'll decide who will inherit his organization based on who can find and kill Shae. Mason has been working undercover but gets wind of the danger, so he races to protect Shae. During the lead-up to the trial, they spent a year getting to know each other and falling in love. Shae still trusts him, but they're not sure who keeps leaking their location.

The main characters were likable, courageous, and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Shae and Mason worked well together, trusted each other, and were willing to die to protect their five-year-old daughter. The high suspense came from the bad weather, wild animals, and several people trying to capture or kill Shae. Both Shae and Mason were Christians, and they prayed to God for help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

A Merry Little Murder Plot
by Jenn McKinlay

ISBN-13: 9780593639368
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. When an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, library director Lindsey Norris begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.


My Review:
A Merry Little Murder Plot is a cozy mystery. It's the 15th in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and interesting. Lindsey and her helpers asked good questions and noticed clues. This clue-based mystery could be guessed before the end. I guessed "whodunit" correctly, though I wasn't completely certain until the end since there were several possibilities that weren't explored until later on. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

All We Thought We Knew
by Michelle Shocklee

ISBN-13: 9781496484178
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: Oct. 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold secrets that Mattie should know.

1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works as a secretary to the man running the hospital, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows...as do her feelings for him.


My Review:
All We Thought We Knew is a Christian romance set in 1969 and in 1942 in Tennessee. Vivid historical details were woven into the story giving it a distinct sense of the time and place. Mattie was exasperating at first because she was so self-centered and voiced her opinions even when she knew it'd hurt others. She understood the reasons given by her twin and by her mother for the decisions they made, but she wanted her way instead. A returned, wounded veteran helped her to move beyond her pain to actually care about others. She also has to work through her anger at God for letting her twin die during the war and her mother die a year later.

Ava is Mattie's dying mother, but we also get her backstory. I enjoyed seeing how the relationship between Ava and Gunther played out, but they spent very little time together 'on screen' so we're just supposed to accept how much Mattie loved Gunther. (I can see why he loved her as she shows him kindness when he's feeling pretty low.) I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. The critical decision made by Gunther didn't really make sense in terms of why Mattie's father felt so strongly about keeping it a secret even 20+ years later. Gunther had a strong faith in God throughout the story, even talking with a Jewish friend about Jesus.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Night Woods by Paula Munier

The Night Woods
by Paula Munier

ISBN-13: 9781250887917
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Record snow and sleet and rain are pummeling Vermont and a wild boar has escaped from an exclusive hunting club nearby—but that won’t stop a very pregnant and very bored Mercy Carr from hiking her beloved woods with her loyal dog Elvis. She’s supposed to be decorating the nursery and helping her mother plan the baby shower, but she’d much rather be playing Scrabble with Homer Grant, a word-loving, shotgun-toting hermit living deep in the forest. But when she and Elvis drop by Homer’s cabin for their weekly game, they arrive to find an unknown dead man—and no sign of Homer.

As they search the woods, Mercy discovers a patch of devastation that could only be left behind by wild boar. She’s relieved when Elvis tracks Homer, injured but alive. But Homer’s troubles are far from over, as he’s still the number one suspect and he remembers nothing of the attack. When another corpse with a link to Homer is found, Mercy is determined to help her friend, an effort complicated by the unexpected arrival of her young cousin Tandie, sent by Mercy’s mother to keep an eye on her until the baby is born.

As the floods worsen, Troy and Susie Bear are called out with all the other first responders, and Mercy finds herself alone at Grackle Tree Farm with a concussed Homer, Tandie, and Elvis. As waters rise and the wild boar rampages, Mercy realizes that the murderer is out there ready to strike again, this time much closer to home.


My Review:
The Night Woods is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the 6th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Mercy (and her talented service dog) tracked down clues, asked good questions, and pieced together what was going on. The suspense was create by Mercy getting into dangerous situations while near the end of her pregnancy. I felt like more focus was put on Mercy's upcoming childbirth than actually solving the mysteries. She spent time collecting information about seemingly unconnected events (a missing man who was a part of exclusive hunting club for rich business people, a Greek classics professor found dead in the cabin of a man suffering from PTSD, etc.). Then, after a little thought at the end, Mercy suddenly figured out who did what and how people were connected.

There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon

Over the Edge
by Irene Hannon

ISBN-13: 9780800741891
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but someone is also pushing her to question her sanity.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.


My Review:
Over the Edge is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Though the second book in the series, it works as a standalone. The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Suspense was created by someone messing with Lindsey to discredit her as the sole witness of the suspected murderer (though she didn't see very much of use). Jack and Lindsey initially kept each other at a distance emotionally. Jack's birth mother had mental problems, so he didn't want to get involved with someone who might have similar problems. Lindsey felt Jack hadn't accepted her friend for who she was but pushed her to do something he liked that turned out to be dangerous. Since her parents also pushed her toward careers she didn't care for, she was worried Jack might not be willing to accept her for who she was. However, they came to care for each other as they spent time together and got to know each other.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Gathering Mist by Margaret Mizushima

Gathering Mist
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9781639108947
Hardcover
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Deputy Mattie Wray, formerly Mattie Cobb, is summoned to Washington’s Olympic peninsula for an urgent search and rescue mission to find a celebrity’s missing child. With only a week left before her wedding, Mattie is hesitant to leave Timber Creek, but her K-9 partner Robo’s tracking skills are needed. Dense forest, chilling rain, and unfriendly locals hamper their efforts, and soon Mattie suspects something more sinister than a lost child is at play. When one of the SAR dogs becomes ill, her fiancé Cole Walker suspects poison. Fearing for Mattie’s and Robo’s safety, Cole joins the search and rescue team as veterinary support. Secrets that have lain hidden within the rugged terrain come to light and when it is uncovered that the missing child was kidnapped, the search becomes a full-blown crime scene investigation, forcing Mattie, Robo, and Cole into a desperate search to find the missing child before it's too late.


My Review:
Gathering Mist is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 9th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and complex, and they acted realistically to events. Mattie and Robo (her talented K9) and Cole (the veterinarian who loves her) worked with Robo's original trainer and his dogs and an unknown-to-them sheriff during a search and rescue in Washington’s Olympic peninsula. Mattie soon uncovered evidence pointing toward kidnapping, so she helped find evidence and interview suspects while also searching for the missing child. This was a clue-based mystery. It also had a lot of suspense due to the danger to the child the longer he was gone, the hard terrain to search through, and the fact that the bad person didn't want their crimes uncovered.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few of uses of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting and exciting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

Hope Like Wildflowers
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9781636099514
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: October 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
1910s Appalachia. Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?


My Review:
Hope Like Wildflowers is a romance set in 1917 in the Appalachia area. Kizzie was seduced by the son of the household where she worked as a maid. She honestly believed he'd marry her soon, but it slowly became clear to her that he intended her to be his mistress. She may have a nice house and scraps of attention from him, but she's scorned by many of the townsfolk and some get violent in an attempt to run her off. She struggled with how to deal with her situation, especially having a baby to support. With the help of a friendly family, she realized that God still cared about her. She chose Him and to change her ways, starting anew somewhere safe.

The Kizze that Noah meets is full of banter and is lighthearted. She quickly finds a job and a purpose, and she helps Noah understand what's going on with his overbearing brother and the mill. The main characters were likable, complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Noah and Kizzie supported each other and built each other up. But I didn't like that Noah and his mother just paid the price for Noah's brother's actions rather than forcing him to take responsibility.

There were some realism issues that kept me from getting fully immersed in the story. I find it doubtful that the brother could have gotten away with the things he did as there are safeguards against it. Also, the story started with Kizzie being chased by coyotes, which can kill small livestock but I've never heard of them being a danger to humans. Later, the snow storm was so bad that four inches of snow fell very quickly. The carriage horses struggled through the snow on icy roads. Then suddenly a horse galloped by with no problems. Also, it's unlikely the carriage could overturn on it's side in a ditch and the horses be left standing unaffected by the twisting and pull on their harness. And there were inconsistencies in places, like a wagon suddenly was a carriage, and the author didn't seem to quite know what the 'cotton mill' really did: sometimes the machines were knitting machines and others they were weaving machines. I read an Advanced Reader Copy, so some of this might be cleaned up in the final copy.

Kizzie learned to trust God with her future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, touching story of hope and second chances.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Two Spinsters and a Corpse by Eve Tarrington

Two Spinsters and a Corpse
by Eve Tarrington

ISBN-13: 9798227676665
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Tenacious Teacup Press
Released: September 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Miss Judith St Clair's father accepts a lucrative new position as the rector of a parish in Derbyshire just before Christmas, she is dismayed that she and all her siblings must move to this cold and inhospitable country while still in mourning for their mother. What’s worse, her father’s patrons are the rich and imposing Haddingtons, a family recently settled at Wycliff Castle.

Miss Louisa-Margaretta Haddington is in love with a Jewish man. Her parents, who will not consent to the match, have removed her from harm by buying an enormous estate in Derbyshire. Louisa-Margaretta is determined to avoid everyone, but when she and the rector’s daughter both take refuge in the library during a ball, they are unwitting witnesses to a murder.

Though each young woman despises the other, they know they will need each other’s help if they are to find the killer. When one of them has a brush with death disguised as a hunting accident, they realise that they must be quick, or they shall risk running out of time.


My Review:
Two Spinsters and a Corpse is a mystery set in the Regency period in Britain. This isn't a puzzle mystery. The heroines didn't work together, just investigated on their own and then told the other why their guess was wrong. They initially simply chose the person they least liked from the possible suspects. In the last quarter of the book, they did find clues but the author refused to give the reader even a hint of what they were until the big reveal. Neither heroine was skilled at thinking on their feet or logically thinking things through.

The heroines weren't likable as both were very self-centered and determined to dislike everyone. They had to justify meeting together and so called each other 'friend' enough that both eventually decided that the other was maybe tolerable. Neither was really a spinster, either. Louisa-Margaretta intended to elope with a Jewish man that her parents refused to allow her to marry, but she hadn't had an opportunity to run away yet. Judith showed no marked interest in any of the potential suitors at the Christmas house party, yet at the end, we're told she's interested in one of the men.

The historical details were generally okay, though some things made little sense (though I can't explain without spoilers). There was no sex or modern bad language. As I prefer mysteries where I can guess whodunit and which have likable heroines, this series clearly isn't a good match for me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Death by Misadventure by Tasha Alexander

Death by Misadventure
by Tasha Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781250872364
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: September 24, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the winter of 1906, Lady Emily and husband Colin are invited to the opulent home of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel in the Bavarian alps. Outside is a mountainous winter wonderland with a view of Mad King Ludwig's fairy tale castle. Inside, the villa hosts a magnificent but eclectic art collection--as well as an equally eclectic collection of fellow guests, among them a musician, an art dealer, a coquette from the demi-monde, and Kaspar, the Baroness' boorish son-in-law, whom, it begins to appear, someone wants dead.

Almost forty years earlier, Niels, a young German lord, sings to himself in the forest surrounding those same alps, capturing the attention of a not-yet-mad King Ludwig. Niels and the king become fast friends, their relationship deepening into something more as their time together stretches on.

Decades later, Emily continues to investigate Kaspar's increasingly lethal "mishaps" when tragedy strikes, ensnaring the guests in a web of fear and suspicion. It's up to Emily to sift through old secrets and motivations, some stretching far into the past, to unmask the killer.


My Review:
Death by Misadventure is a mystery set in 1906 in the Bavarian alps. There's also a secondary story going on in 1868 that details a romance between the king and the husband of one of the characters in the 1906 timeline.

Emily and Colin asked good questions, followed up on clues, and considered possible scenarios until she figured out what was going on. Frankly, I guessed whodunit before the murder even happened then decided it was too obvious. By the end, I felt like this whodunit wasn't really convincing. Mostly, the murder need so much planning and preparation yet whodunit couldn't have known the opportunity would present itself until it did. I don't know. The mystery just didn't seem realistic or satisfying, and I didn't find the 1868 story interesting. It could have been completely cut without affecting the mystery.

There were no sex scenes, though sex was implied. There were only a few uses of bad language. This book is the 18th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this story didn't spoil the mysteries or major events of the previous books.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Texas Revenge Target by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Texas Revenge Target
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

ISBN-13: 9781335980168
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: September 24, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
After Texas Ranger Brianna Macguire catches up with the fugitive she’s hunting, she finds herself ensnared in the crosshairs of a revenge-driven cartel — and evading a sniper attack. Cameron Wolfe, a man in hiding and with a bounty on his head, offers Bree shelter…only for Cameron’s secrets and Bree’s attackers to catch up with them both. On the run in the Texas desert, danger stalks them at every turn. Can they outwit their relentless enemies before they both lose their lives?


My Review:
Texas Revenge Target is a Christian romantic suspense. Cameron respected Bree's training and abilities. He was willing to risk himself to protect her, even if it meant giving up the safety he'd gained by taking on a new name and life. Cameron and Bree worked well together, and they came to admire and care for each other as they got to know each other. The suspense was high because they were constantly attacked and faced challenges from the terrain and weather. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Furever After by Sofie Kelly

Furever After
by Sofie Kelly

ISBN-13: 9780593548738
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: September 3, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kathleen is busy running the library and planning her upcoming wedding to detective Marcus Gordon, when she suddenly stumbles across a body in the library. She is surprised to learn that the deceased was in the middle of an unlikely heist—it seems like he was trying to steal one of the paintings that had been in a box in the library’s workroom. Kathleen never knew any of the library’s artwork was valuable and can’t imagine what the dead man wanted with it.

But then an art history expert called in by the police identifies the almost-purloined painting as a piece that might have been part of a previous high profile art theft. Owen’s and Hercules’s whiskers are already twitching, and events soon make Kathleen realize that whoever killed the wannabe art thief has more than murder on their mind.


My Review:
Furever After is a cozy mystery. This is the 16th book in the series. There was more filler than normal, and the wedding-related ending was tied up with such a fantasy, happily-ever-after bow that it felt like the end of the series. It probably is simply because there's no realistic way to keep the cat's magical abilities secret anymore as unreliable children will be around the cats so much now.

It's a clue-based mystery, and Kathleen figured out both who originally stole the paintings and who killed the art thief. She didn't follow the obvious question--how did valuable paintings end up in her library--but tried to figure out how the thief was connected to the original theft. She researched online with the help of her cats. The explanation for why the thief died in the library made no sense, though: if badly wounded, a person doesn't think, "Gee, this is the perfect time to break into a building and steal a painting."

I had a problem with the ending suspense sequence, too. Riley's supposed to be smart, but she just kept putting everyone in danger. She knows someone's being held by the killer, but she called in Kathleen. Not the cops. Kathleen asked her to call the cops as they needed help, but Riley refused because she wanted to help Kathleen. And she's not a help while repeatedly putting everyone else in danger. Riley also should have known that it wasn't urgent to immediately retrieve her lost phone, but she rushed back into deadly danger. Unbelievably, she somehow found her phone (and she didn't know where she dropped it) in the pitch dark in water so deep she had to swim. I hope they remove this mad dash by Riley before the final version of the story as it wasn't necessary and was so unrealistic.

There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story to fans of the series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Death of a Flying Nightingale by Laura Jensen Walker

Death of a Flying Nightingale
by Laura Jensen Walker

ISBN-13: 9781685125592
paperback: 284 pages
Released: Sept. 10, 2024


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Three very different young women serve as air ambulance nurses bravely flying into WWII combat zones risking their lives to evacuate the wounded. Irish Maeve joined the RAF after her fiancé was killed; streetwise Etta fled London’s slums in search of a better life, and farm girl Betty enlisted to prevent the wounded from dying like her brother. Newspapers have given these women a romantic nickname: “The Flying Nightingales.” Not that there’s anything romantic about what they do. The horrific injuries they encounter on a daily basis take their toll.

When one of the Nightingales is found dead, they wonder: Was it an accident? Suicide? After another nursing orderly dies mysteriously, they think: Someone’s killing Nightingales. The friends grapple with their loss all while keeping a stiff upper lip and continuing to care for casualties as they’re being strafed by the Luftwaffe.


My Review:
Death of a Flying Nightingale is a romance set in 1944-1945 in England. There was no mystery, just people dying. A pregnant nursing orderly from a nearby base was murdered, but the main characters quickly forgot about her. Another nursing orderly was found dead, apparently suicide. But was it? They soon stopped questioning it but hid that it might have been a suicide to make it easier on her parents. Then another nursing orderly's found clearly murdered. They left the investigation to the military police. Later, someone spontaneously confessed. So, not a mystery.

Most of the story was about the growing romances between Maeve and a doctor, Etta and a nurse, and Betty with one of her patients. Betty's romance was mostly through letters, but many of the women in the story were having sexual relationships outside of marriage. It didn't seem very realistic that so few were shocked by or disapproved of the barely-hidden sexual encounters going on, including Etta ending up in a lesbian relationship and a reoccurring male character in a homosexual relationship.

There were scenes describing the types of situations that a nursing orderly dealt with. While interesting, I never felt immersed in the story nor was I left feeling like these people might have really existed. Which is a little ironic since some of these scenes were based off of a real person's experiences as a 'Flying Nightingale.' There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Token of Love by Carrie Turansky

A Token of Love
by Carrie Turansky

ISBN-13: 9780764241062
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: September 3, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister's plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice's disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum's history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum's reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.


My Review:
A Token of Love is a romance with two connected stories, one set in 1885 London and the other in present day. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The romantic pairs worked well together. Historical details were woven into the story. My only complaint is that the men in the 1885 story were all disrespectful toward women, even the hero. Lillian's a wealthy widow who had been handling her own affairs for years. Matthew's a stranger from a poor background. He thought about how he's so far beneath her that no relationship could occur. But then he started acting like her husband or relative, ordering her staff around and guiding her actions.

For example, in one scene early on, Lillian and Matthew were in a closed carriage together, he suggested they have the coachman leave them alone, and she agreed. He told the coachman to leave, and he did. Wait, Lillian's the one who paid him. The coachman ought to make sure she's okay and wanted to be left alone with a man. Yet he never questioned the orders of a stranger. In another scene, Lillian walked down a street while dressed plainly but respectably when two constables arrest her as a prostitute. They'd be able to tell by her dress, education, and the fact she's not a known prostitute that she's a respectable lady. Instead, they refuse to listen to her....until Matthew vouches for her.

Lillian didn't mind Matthew taking over, and they shared a passion to help poor women and children, so they made a good pair. It's just that I doubt most men were that disrespectful toward respectable women. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical-focused story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin

Waiting for Christmas
by Lynn Austin

ISBN-13: 9781496476289
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in society events for Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely means: a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to help Jack, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds.


My Review:
Waiting for Christmas is a Christian novella set in 1901. It's a continuation of the events from the story "All My Secrets." Howard wants to be the provider for his wife and insists that she keep the money she inherited in reserve in case of emergency. Adelaide wants to live life as a normal housewife, but she doesn't know how to cook or clean. Howard doesn't want her doing that anyway, so they hire a cook and someone to clean the house. Adelaide intends to live within her budget, but expenses pile up as she tries to help an 8-year-old boy find his younger sister after they're separated when their mother died. And how can they let his father know where to find Jake when his ship returns on Christmas?

Historical details about tenements and orphanages were woven into the story. The main characters were likable, complex, and acted realistically. Adelaide and Howard had to work through certain expectations they had for their marriage. Adelaide methodically tried to track down Jack's sister, and Howard helped when he didn't need to be working. In my experience, an 8-year-old would have remembered a great deal more about his father's job and ship than Jake did, but, hey. And after one miracle, I would have thought Adelaide and Howard would have been more positive about another happening, but instead they tried to solve certain problems before they even occurred. Still, it was a nice story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, well-written Christmas novella.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.