Friday Memes: Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

The cycle was almost done.

Mere moments now until he found if his mad scheme had borne fruit. 

No, Jen Sin yos'Phelium corrected himself; his scheme was no less mad than the problem to which it was a solution. Together, they represented a complete, balanced equation; perfectly serviceable, if not precisely elegant.

Friday 56:

"We're volunteers, right?"

"I understand."

"Course you do. Now, it's good you're worrying about rates and contracts and like that. I'm warmed to hear your thoughts're tending in that direction. But here's what I'm thinking -- that's above both our pay grades. Right now, the Family's spending for the mutual good. Ghost Station -- beg your pardon, sir -- Tinsori Light's been a hazard to navigation for a lot too many years. Gettin' it regularized and working for this sector -- that's good for everybody."

This week I am spotlighting Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. It is the latest in the Liaden Universe series. I bought the eARC from Baen Books March 22, 2023, and my hardcover and Kindle copies will be arriving soon. Here is the description from Amazon:

A door never closes, but a window opens . . .

With origins in the Old Universe, the malevolent, acquisitive intelligence of Tinsori Light sought to infect others with itself, and send those agents out into the wide new universe to infect even more.

For centuries, two heroes stood between Tinsori Light and the vulnerable universe—Light Keepers Jen Sin yos'Phelium and Lorith of the Sanderat.

Just when it seemed that they—merely human—must fail, Tinsori Light, enfeebled by aged systems, succumbed to the stress of a unique spatial event . . . and died, leaving the station a shell.

Luckily, the light keepers have back-up. A mismatched team of arcane specialists are on-station, working non-stop to preserve the Light, build trustworthy systems, and open the refurbished station for business.

In fact, ships are already incoming, and it becomes a matter of urgency to sort friend from foe. In particular, the Lyre Institute wishes to acquire Tinsori Light, and will do anything, spend anyone, to achieve that goal.

Audiobook Review: Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews

Some Like It Hawk
Author: Donna Andrews
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Series: Meg Langslow (Book 14)
Publication: Dreamscape Media (July 17, 2012)
Length: 8 hours and 51 minutes

Description: Meg Langslow is plying her blacksmith's trade at Caerphilly Days, a festival inspired by the town's sudden notoriety as "The Town That Mortgaged Its Jail". The lender has foreclosed on all Caerphilly's public buildings, and all employees have evacuated - except one. Phineas Throckmorton, town clerk, has been barricaded in the courthouse basement for over a year. But the lender seems increasingly determined to evict him, and may succeed after one of its executives is found shot, apparently from inside the basement.

Meg and her fellow townspeople suspect that someone hopes to end the siege by framing Mr. Throckmorton. Meg soon deduces that the killer isn't just trying to end the siege but to conceal information that would help the town reclaim its buildings.

My Thoughts: Hijinks and a murder ensues when the Caerphilly government buildings are seized by lenders after the former mayor absconded with the town's funds. Only Phineas Throckmorton, town clerk, has remained in the courthouse. He's barricaded himself in the basement with all the town records. 

Unknown to the lenders, the town is secretly supporting Throckmorton and bringing in supplies via a tunnel under the bandstand. When one of the "evil lender's" employees is murdered right outside the barricade, the police with Meg's help need to prove he is innocent before they are forced to remove him from his fortress.

Since the trapdoor to the tunnel makes a horrendous noise, Meg is coordinating local entertainment - the louder the better - on the bandstand so that people can get to Throckmorton. 

This episode takes place around the fourth of July and is filled with patriotic music and fireworks. But it is up to Meg to figure out why the evil lender is so intent on getting Throckmorton out of the basement before the courthouse goes up with a bang.

This was another fun, funny, and fast-paced adventure in the Meg Langslow series. Fans won't want to miss it.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

The Housekeepers
Author: Alex Hay
Publication: Graydon House; Original edition (July 4, 2023)

Description: The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs launch a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class.

Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she’s made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows.

When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs. King’s predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance.

Their plan? On the night of the house’s highly anticipated costume ball—set to be the most illustrious of the year—they will rob it of its every possession, right under the noses of the distinguished guests and their elusive heiress host. But there’s one thing Mrs. King wants even more than money: the truth. And she’ll run any risk to get it…

After all, one should never underestimate the women downstairs.

My Thoughts: THE HOUSEKEEPERS was an entertaining heist story set in London 1904. A group of women from the working class decide to strip the house of recently deceased Wilhelm deVries from top to bottom during a ball held by his daughter.

Each of the women has their own reason to want revenge on deVries and the plot twists and turns as each reason is revealed. The story was filled with twists and turns. It is a rather grim story spending a lot of time in the underworld that supports the glorious upper class with their homes, fashions, and folderols. 

Fans of heist stories and of the time period will enjoy this one. 

Favorite Quote:

Because it was mad, this job. Of course it was. The best games always were. They were like the illuminations at the pantomime, laid with magnesium wires and quicklime blocks, fizzing and exploding before your very eyes. They drew in even the steadiest of fold, even Winnie.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt

Flop Dead Gorgeous
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 27)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 4, 2023)

Description: Lights, camera, action in bestselling author David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous, as Andy Carpenter goes bicoastal to prove an old friend’s innocence.

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols―Andy’s high school girlfriend―the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.

Andy doesn’t hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there’s a plot twist the next morning that none of them see coming: Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.

While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.

My Thoughts: In this 27th book in the Andy Carpenter series, Andy is determined to prove that his high school girlfriend turned movie star Jenny Nichols did not stab her co-star in the back and leave his body lying on her kitchen floor. 

The murder victim is Ryan Griffin who made his fortune as a hedge fund manager before deciding he wanted to act and produce movies. Personally, he was a charismatic and charming cheater. His relationship with Jenny was short-lived on her part but he was reluctant to let her go. After making a scene at a welcome party hosted by Andy, his next appearance is as a corpse lying dead in her kitchen.

Andy, who would love to be a retired lawyer, takes on her case but the evidence and the odds are against him, his client, and his team. The evidence clearly points to Jenny as the murderer. But Andy is undaunted and calls his team to action. Sam will look into the cyberworld while Marcus Clark looks into the criminal world. 

Andy comes up with an alternate suspect in a Russian gangster who is somehow connected to the case but has difficulty connecting him to Griffin's murder. However, his investigation does give the FBI enough to take down a Russian cybercriminal. That's good but isn't going to free Jenny or prove her innocent. 

Up until nearly the end of the book, it looks like this is one case that Andy won't be able to win using his legal intelligence and snarky manner. 

I really enjoy Andy's snarky voice and his love of dogs. The dog in this story is a pampered toy poodle named Mamie that Jennie adopted from Andy's foundation. I also enjoy the way Andy and his colleagues investigate crimes. 

Favorite Quote:

Going to a murder scene is like going to Madison Square Garden the morning after a typical Knicks game.

You know something really depressing and ugly happened there the night before, but at the moment it's quiet and sterile. Instead of beer cups and popcorn kernals on the ground, there is blood spatter and chalk outlines. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart

This Rough Magic
Author: Mary Stewart
Narrator: Helen Johns
Publication: Hodder & Stoughton (July 26, 2018)
Length: 11 hours and 50 minutes

Description: The pioneer of romantic suspense, Mary Stewart leads her listeners on a thrilling journey to a Mediterranean island paradise in this tale of mystery, murder and intrigue, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym.

Lucy Waring, a young, out-of-work actress from London, leaps at the chance to visit her sister for a summer on the island paradise of Corfu, and what's more, a famous but reclusive actor is stayin in a villa nearby. But Lucy's hopes for rest and romance are shattered when a body washes up on the beach and she finds herself swept up in a chilling chain of events.

I shuddered, and drank my coffee, leaning back in my chair to gaze out across pine tops furry with gold towards the sparkling sea, and surrendering myself to the dreamlike feeling that marks the start of a holiday....

My Thoughts: This was another entertaining romantic suspense title by a pioneer in the genre. Actress Lucy Waring comes from London to spend time with her older sister on the island of Corfu. This idyllic setting should be a wonderful spot to spend a summer while planning what to do next in her career.

She is surprised and very pleased to find that one of her neighbors is Sir Julian Gale whose disappearance from the London stage caused all sorts of rumors. He has always been someone Lucy has looked up to. She does get a chance to meet him when she unknowing visits his rose garden and finds him as charming as she had imagined he would be. However, his son Max who is there in Greece with him is not as charming. Lucy and Max take an almost instant dislike to one another.

The final neighbor is Godfrey Manning who is a nature photographer working on a book. 

Lucy's plans for a quiet vacation in a beautiful setting are ruined when the son of her sister's housekeeper is lost at sea while working on Mannings boat and another fisherman's body washes up on the shore. 

Lucy finds herself in the middle of a smuggling operation with a smuggler who isn't hesitant to kill anyone who gets in his way. She isn't sure if she should if it is Max or Godfrey who is the villain of the piece. 

I loved the wonderful setting of the story. Stewart's descriptions made me wish that I could visit Corfu as it was 50 or so years ago. I thought that there was a nice amount of suspense in the story and a sweet slow-burn romance too. Helen Johns did a nice job with the narration. She made each character unique and used her voice to build the suspense. 

I bought this one from Chirp. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin

The Dane of My Existence
Author: Jessica Martin
Series: A Bard's Rest Romance (Book 2)
Publication: Berkley (July 4, 2023)

Description: When the history and character of her Shakespeare-obsessed hometown is threatened, a powerhouse lawyer goes toe to toe with a commercial developer in a hilarious rom-com from the author of For the Love of the Bard.

Portia Barnes is the youngest managing partner in her law firm’s history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams—leading the firm’s new Boston office. But first she’s taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something’s rotten in the midst of the town’s annual Shakespeare festival.

Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard’s, and while Portia isn’t necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she’s not about to let him bulldoze the town’s beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia’s dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she’s never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben’s openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis.

With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision—Ben or Bard’s?—unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.

My Thoughts: THE DANE OF MY EXISTENCE was an engaging and humorous contemporary romance. It is the second set in Shakespeare-obsessed Bard's Rest. While the town and Portia's family are obsessed with William Shakespeare, Portia is not. Portia Barnes is a lawyer for a high-pressure law firm in New York. She has just received a promotion to be a managing director at the newly established Boston branch of her firm. But first she is required to take a sabbatical...

Since Portia's mother is dealing with breast cancer, Portia decides to spend her sabbatical in Bard's Rest helping with the annual festival. First assigned to looking over the contracts for the festival and then recruited to play a part in the dinner theater, Portia is getting involved.

Then Benjamin Dane, a property developer from Boston, comes to town looking for opportunities. The two meet and sparks fly. But when a deal over one particular piece of property - Will's Island - comes up, it threatens to destroy their budding relationship. Ben wants to develop the island where the main stage of the festival has been for years, and Portia is working with the town and the town's merchants to find some way to stop him. 

Portia also has a chance during her enforced sabbatical to take a look at her life and career and decide if she made the correct choice. Things she learns about her mentor at the law firm shake what had been her certainty. That and her new relationship with Ben strongly encourage her to make what one character in the story describes as a "pivot." 

This was an entertaining story with characters a reader wants to root for. I really enjoyed it. 

Favorite Quote:

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, I reasoned. A summer of pro-bono. For a bunch of half-crazy, Shakespeare-worshipping cultists.

Despite a childhood steeped in Shakespeare, I didn't get the hype. He was prolific, sure, assuming one believed he's written everything attributed to him, but c'mon, he wrote the equivalent of romantic comedies and melodramas with plot twists that would make a teenager roll their eyes. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 26, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was another nice summer week. We had some warm temperatures which made me grateful for our central air conditioning. We also had some rain which was badly needed. More rain is expected over the next few days which will be good for the ground but bad for the production of solar energy. This is the time of the year when we want to build up a surplus of solar energy to offset the electric bills of the winter when the panels are covered with snow.

I had a good reading week with a lot of variety. I listened to two audiobooks. Both were from Audible Plus. The first was the third in a series that I recently discovered. The other was a classic romantic suspense title that I read many, many years ago and enjoyed again.

It was also a great week for padding my Review Book stack. I replied to an email from Minotaur books which resulted in approval for a bunch of new titles and approval for titles I had previously requested. I also took a look at the Auto approval tab at NetGalley and added a few more books to my stack from other publishers. At the end of the week, I had 15 new Review books for my stack. 

With no appointments on the calendar for next week, I hope to do a lot of reading. I am slowly rebuilding the cushion that evaporated when I did my J. D. Robb In Death reread. I once had a month's cushion. Now I have a bare two weeks which doesn't feel like enough to me. However, I do six reviews a week. It takes a lot to build a cushion at that posting pace.

This week I plan to concentrate on books from my review stack that will be released in July. I would really like to continue reading the Ruth Galloway series, but I keep telling myself that it is good to space them out too. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Review; July 4) -- Set mainly on Tinsori Light, this episode reunites quite a few characters from earlier books and points to a new direction for the series. My review will be posted on June 30.
• The Miser's Dream by John Gaspard (Audible Plus) -- Magician Eli Marks deals with a locked room mystery in this third book in a series. My review will be posted on July 4.
• Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly (Mine) -- This historical mystery is set in Hollywood during the days of silent films and the excesses of the 1920s. My review will be posted on July 4.

• A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert (Review; July 11) -- First in a new contemporary cozy mystery series starring a retired librarian and a young millionaire. My review will be posted on July 5.
• An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo (Review; July 11) -- Sheriff Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of young Amish man among the preparations for her own wedding. Another excellent addition to the series. My review will be posted on July 6.
• A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (Mine) -- The 5th Ruth Galloway has her in Nelson's childhood haunts investigating a discovery that could be that of King Arthur. My review will be posted on July 8.

• The Jackal's Head by Elizabeth Peters (Audible Plus) -- This classic romantic suspense by Peters was an excellent story. I read it years ago and enjoyed it just as much this time. My review will be posted on July 6.
• The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths (Mine) -- This 6th in the Ruth Galloway series was another excellent addition to the series. My review will be posted on July 15.

Currently

• The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters (Audible Plus) - reread of a classic romantic suspense title.
• The Bitter Past by Paul Borgos (Review; July 18) -- First book in a new mystery series

Next Week

All Review books...

• I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne (Review; July 18)
• Not by Blood by Chris Narozny (Review; July 18)
• A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke (Review; July 25)

• I Did It for You by Amy Engel (Review; July 25)
• The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair (Review; July 25)
• Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh (Review; July 18)

Reviews Posted

• Dead Man's Wake by Paul Doiron
• Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chen
• Charlotte Isles Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

• Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
• Unbroken by Rachel Caine
• The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• I Did It for You by Amy Engel (July 25)
• My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (August 29)
• The Golden Gate by Amy Chua (September 19)

• 'Twas the Bite before Christmas by David Rosenfelt (October 10)
• Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews (October 10)
• The Engagement Party by Finley Turner (November 7)

• Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi (November 14)
• Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp (November 14)
• Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert (November 14)

• The Curse of Penryth Hall by Tess Armstrong (December 5)
• Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter (December 5)
• Lost Hours by Paige Shelton (December 5)

• Broadcast Blues by R. G. Belsky (January 2, 2024)
• Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly (January 9, 2024)
• The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany (January 9, 

Bought:

• Midlife Wolf Bite by Carissa Andrews (Kindle Daily Deal)
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Kindle)
• Into the Woods by Kim Harrison (BookBub; $1.99)
  

What was your week like?

Book Review: The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

The Queen's Price
Author: Anne Bishop
Series: Black Jewels (Book 12)
Publication: Ace (March 7, 2023)

Description: Enter the dark and sensual realms of the Black Jewels in this sweeping story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga of three young women who must navigate life within the powerful SaDiablo family—and come to terms with Witch, the Queen who is still the heart and will of that family.

The Queen’s price is to stand against what you know is wrong. To stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to yourself. Especially to yourself.

Zoey, a young Queen-in-training at SaDiablo Hall, is wounded...and vulnerable to taunts and criticism. When an opportunity arises to befriend a stranger seeking sanctuary at the Hall, she puts herself and others in danger by ignoring Daemonar Yaslana’s warning to back off.

Meanwhile, the witch Jillian’s family prepares for her Virgin Night, the rite of passage that assures a woman will retain her power and her Jewels. The trouble is Jillian secretly went through the ceremony already. Now she has to explain the omission of that detail to her powerful and lethal family. And the High Lord of Hell’s daughter, Saetien, travels to Scelt to find out about Jaenelle Angelline’s sister—and perhaps to discover truths about herself.

With some guidance from Witch, these three young women will learn when to yield because it is right—and when to take a stand, even if they must pay the Queen’s price.

My Thoughts: THE QUEEN'S PRICE continues on from THE QUEEN'S WEAPONS this time focusing on the young women. The story mainly focuses on Zoey, a young Queen-in-Training, who was wounded in the first book and is trying to come to terms with the trauma and learn to be a good queen. 

Saetien's story continues as she tries to redeem herself from the costly mistakes in the first book and learn what her role and future will look like. She travels to Scelt because of a prophecy of a damaged Black Widow to learn about Witch who was once Jaenelle Angeline. She has always felt that she was in competition with Witch and had no hope of ever winning the competition. Now she gets a chance to learn about Jaenelle from one of the demon dead who knew her.

Jillian is also a star of this story. She's preparing for her Virgin Night which is a big deal in the culture and an even bigger deal when one's foster father is Lucivar Yaslana, Demon Prince and Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih, and one's foster uncle is Daemon Sadi, Warlord Prince of Dhemlan and High Lord of Hell. Her problem is that she already went through her Virgin Night and didn't tell them and now doesn't know how to do so. 

The story also features a couple of new characters. Grizande is a Tigre witch who was tortured and found her way to SaDiablo Hall because of the prophecy of another Black Widow. Brenda is an outspoken Witch who becomes a teacher at SaDiablo Hall and helps train the young Queens-in-Training and the others who will someday be parts of their courts.

The worldbuilding in this story is excellent. It is a rich and complex society that is describled. Still the focus of each person's story is their quest to find out what their role should be in their world. Each is a kind of coming-of-age story.

It was wonderful to revisit the world of the Black Jewels.

Favorite Quote:

"You stand for the land and the people you rule," Witch said quietly. "You stand against what you know is wrong, no matter who gives the command. You stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to you. Especially to you. There is no such thing as a small wrong, Zoela. Not when you're a Queen. That's how the taint begins."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

Daemonar Yaslana spread his dark membranous wings to their full span before letting them settle into a relaxed position - or as relaxed as he could manage, all things considered. Then he blew out a breath and raised a hand to knock on his uncle's study door.

Friday 56:

"To be lovers?" Which meant Jillian had ignored the permission-before-action rule up to the part that could get Stefan killed if Lucivar found out after the fact. But the girl had reached her majority, so that rule shouldn't apply any more,

Except they were talking about Lucivar. And Daemon.

This week I am spotlighting The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop. This is the 12th book in her Black Jewels series. The genre is Dark Fantasy. Here is the description from Amazon:

Enter the dark and sensual realms of the Black Jewels in this sweeping story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga of three young women who must navigate life within the powerful SaDiablo family—and come to terms with Witch, the Queen who is still the heart and will of that family.

The Queen’s price is to stand against what you know is wrong. To stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to yourself. Especially to yourself.

Zoey, a young Queen-in-training at SaDiablo Hall, is wounded...and vulnerable to taunts and criticism. When an opportunity arises to befriend a stranger seeking sanctuary at the Hall, she puts herself and others in danger by ignoring Daemonar Yaslana’s warning to back off.

Meanwhile, the witch Jillian’s family prepares for her Virgin Night, the rite of passage that assures a woman will retain her power and her Jewels. The trouble is Jillian secretly went through the ceremony already. Now she has to explain the omission of that detail to her powerful and lethal family.   And the High Lord of Hell’s daughter, Saetien, travels to Scelt to find out about Jaenelle Angelline’s sister—and perhaps to discover truths about herself.

With some guidance from Witch, these three young women will learn when to yield because it is right—and when to take a stand, even if they must pay the Queen’s price.

Book Review: Unbroken by Rachel Caine

Unbroken
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Outcast Season (Book 4)
Publication: Ace; Original edition (February 7, 2012)

Description: For millennia, Cassiel was a powerful Djinn—until she was exiled to live among mortals. Now the threat of an apocalypse looms, and Cassiel is in danger of losing everything she has come to hold dear…

As the world begins to fall apart around her, Cassiel finds herself fighting those she once called her own: the Djinn. With Weather Warden Luis Rocha and the rescued child Ibby by her side, Cassiel struggles to find a way to protect those who are in her charge and come to terms with the leadership role she never asked for.

Cassiel is opposed by Pearl—a powerful Djinn bent on raising an army of kidnapped Warden children to bring about nothing less than the end of the world. It will take everything Cassiel has to stop the Djinn from starting a war that will wipe all of humanity from the face of the earth. She knows that this might not be a battle she can survive, but protecting those she loves is worth any cost…

My Thoughts: The finale of the Outcast Season series has Cassiel, Luis, and his niece Ibby fighting to preserve human life. Mother Earth has awakened, and she is angry. The Wardens are fighting losing battles on all sides. The Djinn have been coopted by the Mother and are fighting against humans.

And Pearl is getting ready to do her last betrayal and become the new Mother. Cassiel is determined to find a way to stop her that doesn't mean the end of the human race but her odds of success seem miniscule. 

This episode was filled with battles and fighting, unexpected allies and unexpected enemies too. Cassiel has to find a way to preserve what she loves and values and the cost will be high.

This was an epic conclusion to the quartet of books. The worldbuilding was very well done. I liked the connection to the Weather Warden series too.

Favorite Quote:

We were not so given to the inevitable, we Djinn. We liked to be the inevitable, not its victims. Humans had a kind of courage I'd never truly understood: the courage to face their own doom.

I bought this one March 19, 2013. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen

Fatal Fudge Swirl
Author: Meri Allen
Series: Ice Cream Shop Mysteries (Book 3)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 27, 2023)

Description: A movie production brings drama―and murder―to a close-knit New England village, forcing Riley Rhodes to scoop out the suspects.

Former CIA librarian and amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes is loving her fresh start as the manager of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. The leaves are turning, tourists are leaf-peeping, and Penniman, Connecticut is putting finishing touches on the weekend long Halloween Happening. But the village is also buzzing. Former child star Cooper Collins is overseeing the production of a romantic comedy that’s filming on the town green and his domineering socialite mother, Diantha, is planning her lavish Halloween themed wedding at her Inn on the Green. Her fiancé has run the Inn's kitchen for years, ably aided by his recent ex-wife, chef Mary Ann Dumas. An old friend of Riley’s, Mary Ann turns to her when the bride requests a spooky ice cream wedding cake.

But the weekend takes a frightful turn when Diantha is found dead and suspicion falls on Mary Ann. The cast of potential suspects is long―each wedding guest had a chilling motive to kill the vicious heiress. Can Riley unmask the murderer before another guest ends up on ice?

My Thoughts: Riley Rhodes has given up her career as a librarian for the CIA and is back in her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, managing the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It is nearly Halloween and nearly closing time for the seasonal shop. But one more big event - the wedding of the owner of the Inn on the Green - is scheduled before the shutdown. Riley has been tasked with making an ice cream cake with the bride and groom's favorite flavors.

Things are also busy because a movie is being shot at the Inn and other locations including her father's used book store. And her roommate's spoiled Persian cat has a role in the film too. 

All the happy, busy activity comes to a screeching halt when the bride is found dead the night before the wedding. Despite numerous health problems, Riley isn't willing to write the death off to natural causes. Too many people were upset and angry with the woman. The prime suspect is Riley's friend Mary Ann who happens to be the groom's ex-wife. 

Despite the police chief's orders to stay out of the investigation, Riley feels the need to clear her friend's name and find the real murderer. She has lots of suspects to choose from including the manager of the Inn who has had a long-standing crush on the victim and the housekeeper who might have lost her house and her job had the victim lived. Then there are her two sons and a stepson who might have had reason to get rid of the victim before she could change her will in the new husband's favor. 

This was a fun cozy with a great setting and interesting characters. I liked the sound of the different flavors of ice cream Riley and a teenage assistant create. There is even a couple of recipes for hot fudge sauces at the end of the book. 

Favorite Quote:

Humming a song about paradise and parking lots, I bypassed the staff stairs and ran down the main staircase to the lobby. When my foot touched the bottom step, I caught sight of the row of old-fashioned keys on the wall behind the reception desk. One hanging from the hook on the far left had a white ribbon, not a blue like all the others. Why? I wondered.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Charlotte Isles Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

Charlotte Isles Is Not a Detective
Author: Katie Siegel
Series: Not a Detective Mysteries
Publication: Kensington (June 27, 2023)

Description: For anyone seeking to satisfy their Harriet the Spy, Encyclopedia Brown, or Nancy Drew nostalgia, this charming, entertaining debut based on the popular @katiefliesaway TikTok series stars a twentysomething former kid detective who’s coaxed out of retirement for one last case.

The downside of being a famous child detective is that sooner or later, you have to grow up . . .

As a kid, Charlotte Illes’ uncanny sleuthing abilities made her a minor celebrity. But in high school, she hung up her detective’s hat and stashed away the signature blue landline in her “office”—aka garage—convinced that finding her adult purpose would be as easy as tracking down missing pudding cups or locating stolen diamonds.

Now twenty-five, Charlotte has a nagging fear that she hit her peak in middle school. She’s living with her mom, scrolling through job listings, and her love life consists mostly of first dates. When it comes to knowing what to do next, Charlotte hasn’t got a clue.

And then, her old blue phone rings . . .

Reluctantly, Charlotte is pulled back into the mystery-solving world she knew—just one more time. But that world is a whole lot more complicated for an adult. As a kid, she was able to crack the case and still get her homework done on time. Now she’s dealing with dead bodies, missing persons, and villains who actually see her as a viable threat. And the detective skills she was once so eager to never use again are the only things that can stop a killer ready to make sure her next retirement is permanent . . .

My Thoughts: Charlotte Illes is in a bit of a funk. She has recently lost her job in a call center and is at loose ends. She is distancing herself from her two best friends Gabe and Lucy and wondering why she can't get her life together. Both of her friends seem to be flourishing.

When she was a child, she had a reputation for being able to solve all sorts of mysteries but gave it up when she got older. She was sort of famous at the time for her exploits. She wants to put her mystery-solving past behind her but doesn't know what she is supposed to do next. 

When the brother she has ghosted calls and asks for her help because his girlfriend Olivia has been receiving some creepy notes, she reluctantly decides to help him. Her friend Lucy who used to be her mystery-solving sidekick decides to help her out and reconnect with her. 

It doesn't take Charlotte long to figure out that the mystery was a scam engineered by her brother and her friend to get her out of her bedroom and back into life. However, the fake mystery becomes a real one when Olivia's co-conspirator who had been playing the part of the villain really does disappear and both Charlotte and Olivia are attacked by muggers.

Enlisting the third of the best friend trio Gabe who wants to be a social influencer, the trio start looking into the company where Olivia works and discover that all is not well. There are rivalries and arguments and secrets being kept. 

This was an engaging story. I had some issues with Charlotte and wondered why she wanted to stop doing what had brought her so much pleasure as a child. She was an excellent problem solver and detective. It seemed like that would be an excellent career opportunity as an adult. She needed her friends' encouragement and support to see that she wasn't the failure she thought she was. 

This is also a modern story which throws in the current trend of sexual options. Charlotte is bisexual and her friend Gabe is trans. This is largely irrelevant to the plot of the story except that it begins with Charlotte at a speed dating event where she is meeting other women and rejecting them for being too fascinated with her childhood reputation. 

People who loved childhood detectives and wondered what their lives would be like when they hit adulthood will enjoy this story. 

Favorite Quote:

The beginning part of a mystery had always been her least favorite. It was like if, instead of being able to pour all the puzzle pieces out of a box and get to work, you had to go around and retrieve pieces from a bunch of different people. It got tiring, especially when people were giving you pieces you already had. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chen

Misfortune Cookie
Author: Vivien Chen
Series: A Noodle Shop Mystery (Book 9)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 27, 2023)

Description: They say fortune favors the bold, and Lana Lee is determined to prove that true.

Lana, now officially manager of her family’s restaurant, the Ho-Lee Noodle House, is headed to sunny Irvine, California to attend a restaurant convention with her sister, Anna May, along for the ride. The girls’ very Americanized Aunt Grace has asked them to stay in her posh rental, and as the trip begins, it seems to be just what they both needed. Even the restaurant convention proves to be worthwhile and entertaining, especially when Lana witnesses a dramatic cat fight between a fortune cookie vendor and a journalist.

Lana and Anna May can’t imagine things getting any better until they learn their aunt has yet another surprise in store for them―a swanky cocktail party hosted for the freelancers of Southern California. But on the night of the party, things go south when a close journalist friend of Grace’s mysteriously plunges from the roof top of the hotel. Even more suspicious is the fact that Aunt Grace’s friend is the same journalist Lana saw getting into a screaming match with the fortune cookie vendor at the convention.

The police rule the death a gruesome accident, but Aunt Grace refuses to accept that explanation and begs Lana for her help uncovering the truth. Lana, Anna May, Aunt Grace attempt to keep up appearances as they search for answers, but unwanted attention from suspicious colleagues and convention attendees starts to surface, causing Lana to wonder if they’ll find the killer in time…or if they’ll be the next ones pushed over the edge.

My Thoughts: This is the ninth Noodle Shop Mystery and the first one I have read. This story finds Lana Lee and her sister Anna May visiting Irvine, California, for a restaurant convention. Their Aunt Grace lives in LA and invites the girls to stay in one of her rental condos and let her show them around. 

The first day at the convention, Lana witnesses an argument between a reviewer and fortune cookie vender. Lana is curious but goes on with her day. During the evening at a cocktail party, things go wrong when someone falls from the roof. Lana is surprised to learn that the woman who fell was a good friend of Aunt Grace and also the woman she had seen arguing earlier in the day.

Lana puts her detecting skills to her aunt's disposal as they try to find out who murdered Nora Blackwell. They uncover a lot of secrets leading Aunt Grace to feel that she never knew her friend at all. 

I enjoyed getting to know Lana and also enjoyed the hints at her earlier cases. She was smart, determined, and stubborn. I liked her relationship with her "perfect" older sister Anna May. I liked that she didn't know what she wanted to be until she was a bit older and liked how she discovered that detecting was a skill she had to use. 

Moving Lana and Anna May to a new environment meant that she was without her usual support network which includes her police officer boyfriend - the one she promised to stay out of dangerous situations. It also slimmed down the cast of characters which was a blessing for someone coming new to the series. 

I enjoyed this story. The mystery was well-developed, and I enjoyed the cast of characters.

Favorite Quote:

My eyes narrowed. Another thing that pushed my buttons besides being told what not to do was when people challenged my abilities. Or -- while we're at it -- told me things were out of my league. Nothing was out of my league. Anna May seemed to be the queen of pushing my buttons. ... She should know by now that proving people wrong was my specialty. Maybe that was why I excelled at solving these cases. At times, stubbornness could be a beneficial quality.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Dead Man's Wake by Paul Doiron

Dead Man's Wake
Author: Paul Doiron
Series: Mike Bowditch Mysteries (Book 14)
Publication: Minotaur Books (June 27, 2023)

Description: Game Warden Mike Bowditch's engagement party is interrupted by the discovery of a gruesome double murder in this new thriller from Edgar Award-winning author Paul Doiron.

On the evening of their engagement party, Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch and Stacey Stevens witness what seems to be a hit-and-run speedboat crash on a darkened lake. When they arrive at the scene, their spotlight reveals a gruesome sight: a severed arm floating just beneath the surface. As day breaks, the warden dive team recovers not one but two naked corpses: a dismembered man and the married woman with whom he was having an affair. Mike begins to suspect the swimmers' deaths were not a senseless accident but a coldly calculated murder.

Meanwhile, the hunt is on for the mysterious boater. Suspects abound on the lake, nicknamed "Golden Pond,” including the violent biker husband of the murdered woman who may have taken vengeance on his wife and her paramour; a strange woman who claims to have witnessed the crash, but then changes her story; a very aggressive realtor and his wife who were determined to catch trespassers; and the lake’s earnest young constable whose eagerness to help may hide darker motives.

Alone among his fellow officers, Mike starts to sense the involvement of a trained marksman, smarter and more dangerous than any enemy he has ever faced before. As Mike and Stacey get closer to identifying the killer, their own lives are suddenly on the line as they confront a lethal killer who plans to silence them forever. The finale is a tour de force of drama and suspense.

My Thoughts: This is the fourteenth Mike Bowditch mystery, but the first that I have read. Mike and his fiancé Stacey are celebrating their engagement with her parents and his stepfather and wife when they hear a crash out on the lake. Since his future father-in-law is a retired warden and he currently works as a Warden Investigator for the State of Maine, they borrow his stepfather's pleasure barge to go out onto the lake and see what happened.

They were dismayed to find a severed arm. Calling in reinforcements including a cadaver dog who can scent bodies under water, they discover not one but two bodies. The man is the husband of the owner of the small island near where the accident happened, and the woman is the wife of the leader of a local motorcycle gang. Autopsies show that both were murdered and Mike is on the case along with the local police. 

Mike's task is to find the boat that hit the man and then left the scene of the crime. Between on over-eager lake constable and a witness who keeps changing her story, Mike has a lot to investigate. 

This story was entertaining. I enjoyed getting to meet Mike. I liked the setting of the story which is the lake the movie On Golden Pond was based on. I liked the information about law enforcement in Maine. 

Favorite Quote:

"There's always another emergency coming around the bend. People will continue to commit crimes or get lost in the woods. More boats will crash or overturn in rapids. And we'll need to shift our resources to deal with the new crisis. Sometimes I think working in law enforcement is like sailing a leaky boat. You can bail and bail, but there will always be more water coming in."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 19, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was another quiet week around my house. Duluth was busy because about 18,000 runners from all over the world arrived to take part in Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. I had no trouble staying away from the activity and traffic since most of it happens along the lakeshore and I live up over the hill in Duluth. We did provide nice weather for the runners. It was cool and clear and the smoke from Canadian fires which was thick on Wednesday was not a problem on Saturday for the Marathon. 

My doctor's appointment went well. We are pretty much in a watch-and-see mode since my cough is about 99% better than it was for over a year. I did have a more complete breathing test to act as a baseline so that my doctor will have something to go on if the cough returns. Currently, my calendar is free of doctor's appointments until the middle of July when my hearing will be tested. 

I've been making nice progress with my review books. I should finish my last July 4 release later today which will complete all the reviews on my June calendar. I have two for July 11 release and three for July 18 release. I'm planning to squeeze in two books from my TBR mountain next week. I haven't picked my next audiobook yet but will choose something to begin on Monday. Right now, I think it will be The Miser's Dream by John Gaspard which was a recent Audible Plus selection and the third in the Eli Marks mystery series.

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meria Allen (Review; June 27) -- Third in a series where a former librarian for the CIA turns into the manager of an ice cream shop and solves mysteries. My review will be posted on June 22.
• Unbroken by Rachel Caine (Mine since 2012) -- This is the conclusion of the Outcast Season quartet and is filled with battles and moral dilemmas. Entertaining urban fantasy. My review will be posted on June 22.

• Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews (Audiobook from Chirp) -- This 14th book in the Meg Langslow cozy mystery series was another fun romp. My review will be posted on June 29.
• The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop (Kindle; Mine) -- This latest in the Black Jewels series was essentially a coming-of-age story for a number of the characters. I enjoy the worldbuilding in this series. My review will be posted on June 24.
• Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt (Review; July 4) -- This 27th in the Andy Carpenter series was another fun mystery. I really like Andy's snark. My review will be posted on June 28.

• The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin (Review; July 4) -- The was a cute contemporary romance. My review will be posted on June 27.
• The Housekeepers by Alex Hay (Review; July 4) -- Historical heist story filled with twists and turns. I found the story to be a little to grim for me to completely enjoy. My review will be posted on June 29.

Currently

• Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Review; July 4)

Next Week

• Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly (Mine)
• A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert (Review; July 11)
• An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo (Review; July 11)

• A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (Mine)
• The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos (Review; July 18)
• I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne (Review; July 18)

Reviews Posted

• Midnight Exposure by Melinda Leigh
• Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart
• A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber

• Bigfoot and the Librarian by Linda Winstead Jones
• Play for Me by Libby Hubscher
• Marked by Moonlight by Sharie Kohler

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Inheritance by Nora Roberts (November 21)
• The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor (November 28)

Bought:

• The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot (Kindle; I added the audiobook for $1.99)
• The Silence by Kendra Elliot (Kindle; I added the audiobook for $1.99)

• In the Pines by Kendra Elliot (Kindle; I added the audiobook for $1.99)
• The First Death by Kendra Elliot (Kindle)

• Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews (Kindle)
• Working Stiff by Annelise Ryan (BookBub, $.99)
• Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly (Kindle)

What was your week like?