Book Review: Dragon Blood by Eileen Wilks

Dragon Blood
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi (Book 14)
Publication: Berkley (January 2, 2018)

Description: The battle against a vengeful goddess reaches a climactic point as Lily Yu must now face the ultimate challenge in a dangerous new realm—without her husband, Rule …

When a mission to rescue five children stolen by an Old One falls apart under the assault of a demon prince, Lily wakes up in a strange reality—and is immediately taken captive by the dragon spawn who rule there. Jumping worlds has fractured her party, and Cynna is her only companion.

Although the clock is ticking, time works differently, and Lily has miraculously gained a week. That means seven days to free herself, find Rule and the others, rescue the children, and make it home alive. All before the dragon spawn holding her hostage trade her to the Old One. It would almost be doable if this weren’t Lóng Jia—also known as Dragonhome: the birthplace of dragons.

My Thoughts: The fourteenth book in the World of the Lupi series begins with the party that went to Dis to rescue five children separated. Lily and Cynna are on a world called Dragonhome and in the custody of the Dragon Spawn who rule there. The spawn have made a deal with Lily's enemy who plan to trade the children for something they really want. 

Meanwhile, Grandmother and Rule along with Gan are on the same world but a long distance away. They are making their way to where Lily and Cynna are to try to rescue them and get there before the children arrive. 

Both groups have adventures and spend a lot of time worried about each other and those they left 

behind in the middle of a battle on Dis. They need to figure out how to rescue their children and find a way to defeat the amoral dragon spawn.

While this is the last in the World of the Lupi series, it doesn't feel like it was planned to be the last. There seem to be a lot of plot threads left dangling.

I bought this one September 2 when I realized I was missing this last book in a series. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 28, 2026)

 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.

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

Other Than Reading...

And the end of September arrives! The baseball regular season ends later today. Luckily, my Atlanta Braves have made it to the post-season which means I will have more baseball to watch before games begin again next March. 

Besides going crazy at Audible and buying eleven new audiobooks, the week was quiet. I bought the whole A Natural History of Dragons series by Marie Brennan after beginning the first and really enjoying the audiobook. I also bought the books that were missing from my collection of the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold since I have been thinking hard about a reread of that series. I once had them all by\ut some were Audible Plus copies that are no longer offered there. 

The main part of the reason that I bought so many is that I'm taking part in the Audible Rewards program. One of the deals was spent $40 and get $10. Only, I didn't activate that offer before I bought the Marie Brennan books which means they didn't count. So, I bought the missing Vorkosigan audiobooks so that I could get my $10 off on the 5th Marie Brennan title. 

I did add three more review copies including one this morning that made its way to my Currently Reading pile and caused a rearrangement of my calendar. My total stack of review books now numbers 37. Five are on my Next Week stack and two are on Currently reading. 

My brother works days Monday through Thursday this week which means I'm in charge of dinner. I put a pork roast, sauerkraut, and potatoes in the crockpot this morning even though this is his day off and he could cook since I have doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. That should give us leftovers for at least one more meal one of those days. And there is always pizza if a better idea doesn't emerge. 

With this week's additions my 2026 TBR stack has ballooned to 26 books. None of the Bujold books are on the calendar yet but all the others are. 

Read Last Week

• Bark Humbug by David Rosenfelt (Review, October 13) -- 34th in the Andy Carpenter contemporary mystery series. My review will be posted on October 8.
• Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjens (Review, October 13) -- Spooky and twisty thriller set in an Austrian castle turned boutique hotel. My review will be posted on October 8.
• The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison (Review, October 20) -- Holiday enemies to lovers romance. My review will be posted on October 13.

• A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since September 24) -- First in a five-book historical fantasy series. Excellent. My review will be posted on October 23.
• The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews (Audiobook, mine since September 3) -- First in a new urban fantasy series. My review will be posted on November 10.
• Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King (Audiobook, mine since November 1, 2025) -- 19th in the Mary Russell historical mystery series. My review will be posted on October 27.

• Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis (Kindle and Audiobook, Mine since September 22) -- Second book in the Queens of Villainy romantasy series. My review will be posted on October 20.
• Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since September 19) -- Final book in the Lake and March historical romance series. My review will be posted on October 16.

Currently

• To the Hilt by Dick Francis (Audiobook, Mine since September 17)
• The Key to a Killer by Olivia Blacke (Review, October 20)
• Split Screen by Lee Goldberg (Review, October 20)

Next Week

• Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (Review, October 27)
• Murder at Pellhurst Pond by Clara McKenna (Review, October 27)
• Murder in the Upper Crust by Mindy Quigley (Review, October 27)

• The Bone Woman by Paige Shelton (Review, October 27)
• Midnight in the House of Commons by Charles Finch (Review, November 3)
• A Glimmer of Death by Laurell K. Hamilton (Review, November 3)

Reviews Posted

• The Pumpkin Vice Cafe by Ellie Alexander (Review copy)
• The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves (Review copy)
• The Velvet Knife by Maureen Johnson (Review copy)

• Murder on Threadneedle Street by Andrea Penrose (Review copy)
• Cursed City by Kate Golden (Review copy)
• Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick (Audiobook)

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

Review:

• Split Screen by Lee Goldberg (Review, October 20)
• The Last Match by Jessa Maxwell (Review, February 16)
• Elodie and the Dark Lord by Ashley Poston (Review, March 16)

Bought:

• A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Audiobook, $8.51)
• The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan (Audiobook, $13.49)
• In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (Audiobook, $13.49)

• Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (Audiobook, $13.49)
• Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan (Audiobook, $3.81)
• Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook, $13.49)

• The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook, $13.29)
• Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook, $13.49)
• Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook, $13.49)

• Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis (Audiobook, Audible Credit)
• Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier (Audiobook, Audible Plus)

What was your week like?

Audiobook Review: Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick

Slightly Shady
Author: Amanda Quick
Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat
Series: Lavinia Lake & Tobias March Book 1
Publication: Recorded Books (October 24, 2013)
Length: 9 hours and 51 minutes

Description: Amanda Quick, best-selling author of Regency-era romances, has won many awards for her works, including the New York Times best-selling Wicked Widow. Each work transports fans into a richly detailed world of intrigue and desire. There are now over 25 million copies of her books in print.

Besieged by gambling debts, a desperate gentleman purchases a diary as a tool for blackmail. But he does not live to carry out his plans. He is murdered, and the diary is stolen. Now Tobias March, discrete private investigator, has been hired to find the incriminating diary. Tobias is familiar with danger, but when his inquiries lead him to the beautiful entrepreneur Lavinia Lake, his emotions are sidetracked.

The attraction that grows between Tobias and Lavinia is framed in the sparkling dialog and wit that have attracted millions of fans to Amanda Quick's novels. Superbly narrated by Audie Awardª-winner Barbara Rosenblat, Slighty Shady is a delicious tale filled with sophistication and suspense, humor and passion.

My Thoughts: Lavinia Lake and her niece Emaline are trying to survive in Italy after the Lady whose companions they were eloped with an Italian gentleman. They've opened a shop selling antiquities. But when Tobias March burst in searching for a message for a case he's working as a private inquiry agent, he manages to destroy the shop and sends them off to London to get out of the way of the villains. 

They meet again in London where Lavinia has decided to become a private inquiry agent herself and where she has decided to introduce her niece to Society. March is still pursuing the villains that almost killed him in Italy and left him with a limp while Lavinia is working with a woman who has received a blackmail threat. 

It seems their cases have intersected but that doesn't mean all things go smoothly. Both Tobias and Lavinia are headstrong and outspoken and not used to working with others. While they try to unravel the various plots which take them from ballrooms to wax museums, they manage to fall in love. 

I enjoyed the witty dialog, the humor, and the passion. My only complaint is that I thought the narrator's voice made Lavinia too old. The voice seemed to indicate a woman in late middle age while the internal clues made her much younger.

This is the first of a three book series starring Lavinia and Tobias. 

I bought this one August 19. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 21, 2026)

 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.

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 quiet week. Fall weather has arrived with high temperatures ranging from 57 to 70. We also received .8 inches of rain this week which did little to relieve our state of extreme drought. It is currently 55 degrees and cloudy but with no rain in the forecast. Leaves are just starting to turn. I can see one gorgeous red-leafed something out my patio window but most of the leaves I see are still green.

My week of cooking didn't really turn out to really be my week since my brother made a big pot of chili on Sunday which was his day off. I did make an excellent lentil soup and a chicken pot pie with a biscuit topping. We still have leftovers of both. I think he's planning to make Shrimp Lo Mein for dinner today which will leave even more leftovers. I have the making for a homemade pizza which might be lunch today. 

I added two new review copies to my stack this week and read three leaving my TBR review stack at 38. I also couldn't resist a number of book deals this week and added 10 books to my 2026 TBR pile. I've already read one and am currently reading a second. All the rest of the new additions are on my 2026 calendar. I currently have 23 TBR books on my 2026 stack with this week's additions. 

This week everything I read was reviewed and scheduled on my blog. However, I've been skipping around a bit with audiobooks, so the reviews are not the next ones on my calendar. I have a bunch of review copies on my calendar but have been fitting in the audiobooks for a change of pace. After my current audiobook, I have only one more on my October calendar to go along with the 15 Kindle books (mostly review copies) that I still need to read for my October calendar. Of those 15, only one has the possibility of reading it as an audiobook which I haven't yet purchased. I might find myself getting further ahead and further out of balance by listening to some audiobooks on my November calendar. 

Read Last Week

• The Lady Jewel Diviner by Rosalie Oaks (Kindle, Mine since July 20) -- Historical Fantasy. It was nice. My review will be posted on October 3.
• The Case of the Christie Curse by Kelly Oliver (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since June 14) -- Third in a historical mystery series. My review will be posted on October 13.
• Jay to the World by Donna Andrews (Review, October 13) -- Andrews' annual humorous Christmas mystery. My review will be posted on October 6.

• Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook, Mine since December 3, 2025) -- Contemporary romantic suspense. My review will be posted on October 20.
• Written in Starlight by Sloane Brooks (Review, October 13) -- Romantasy, sort of. Interesting premise. My review will be posted on October 6.
• Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since August 13 & September 16) -- Second book in the Marsh & Lake historical mystery trilogy. My review will be posted on October 9.

• Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz (Chirp Audiobook, Mine since March 7, 2025) -- Contemporary romantic suspense with a paranormal element. My review will be posted on October 15.
• Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano & Hannah Morrissey (Review, October 13) -- Funny mystery that contains ALL the romance tropes. My review will be posted on October 7.

Currently

• Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since August 13 & September 19)
• Bark Humbug by David Rosenfelt (Review, October 13)

Next Week

• Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (Review, October 13)
• The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison (Review, October 20)
• The Key to a Killer by Olivia Blacke (Review, October 20)

• Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis (Kindle, Mine since July 24)
• Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (Review, October 27)
• Murder at Pellhurst Pond by Clara McKenna (Review, October 27)

Reviews Posted

• The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves (Kindle & Audiobook)
• Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts (Kindle & Audiobook)
• Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich (Kindle & Audiobook)

• Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (Kindle & Audiobook)
• Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander (Review copy)
• Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennan (Kindle & Audiobook) 

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

Review:

• Save a Horse by Jen Doyle (Review, January 12)
• Big Cult Energy by Jack Friday (Review, June 1)

Bought:

New Audiobooks:

• To the Hilt by Dick Francis (Kindle & Audiobook, $7.30 for both)
• Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff (Kindle & Audiobook, $22.68 for both)

• Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick (Audible Credit)
• Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick (Audible Credit)

New Kindle:

• The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (Kindle, $2.99)
• At Close Range by Laura Griffin (Kindle, $1.99)
• The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritson (Kindle, $3.99)

• Spark by Sarah Beth Durst (Kindle, $.99)
• The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Kindle, $2.99)
• Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier (Kindle, Prime Reading)

What was your week like?

Audiobook Review: Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennan

Turning Darkness into Light
Author: Marie Brennan

Narrator: Barrie Kreinik & Raphael Corkhill
Publication: Tor (August 20, 2019); Macmillan Audio (August 20, 2019)

Length: 11 hours and 35 minutes

Description: A scholar of dragons uncovers a dangerous conspiracy in this epistolary historical fantasy from the author of the Lady Trent series.

Turning Darkness into Light is perfect for those readers who appreciate a light touch, thoughtful characters, and antagonists who almost but not quite topple into one-dimensional props in a melodrama." —Locusmag.com

As the renowned granddaughter of Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent, of the riveting and daring Draconic adventure memoirs) Audrey Camherst has always known she, too, would want to make her scholarly mark upon a chosen field of study.

When Lord Gleinheigh recruits Audrey to decipher a series of ancient tablets holding the secrets of the ancient Draconean civilization, she has no idea that her research will plunge her into an intricate conspiracy, one meant to incite rebellion and invoke war. Alongside dearest childhood friend and fellow archeologist Kudshayn, Audrey must find proof of the conspiracy before it's too late.

My Thoughts: This story, told through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles, tells the story of Audrey Camherst who is a philologist and the granddaughter of the famous Lady Trent. She has been hired to translate some recently discovered tablets left by the early Draconian civilization. She has also been sworn to secrecy and, unknown to her, has had her correspondence read and the contents shared by the ward of her employer. 

She is being encouraged to translate as quickly as possible so that the translations can be published before a convocation which will deal with whether or not the descendants of those Draconian's should have citizenship rights. The politics are complex with some agitating for destroying the Draconians or at least keeping them to their enclave. 

Audrey is definitely not in sympathy with the most extreme viewpoints. She is good friends with dragon-scholar Kudshayn. She convinces Lord Gleinheigh to let Kudshayn work with her, Together the two work to translate the tablets which are a creation story and the race's great work. Kudshayn suffers something like a crisis of faith as the translation goes on because the tablets introduce other gods than those his people worship and seem to provide an alternate history of the Draconian people. 

Meanwhile, Audrey is trying to make a name for herself and live up to her illustrious family. She has already been burned by a scholar who romanced her in order to steal and publish her ideas before she could. He is also involved in the questions Audrey has about the provenance of the tablets she and Kudshayn are translating. Audrey and Kudshayn find themselves involved in conspiracies centering around the place the Draconians will have in society.

This was an interesting and engaging story. I liked the format. I also liked the worldbuilding and can see how my experience would have been richer if I was familiar the Lady Trent series. Even without that knowledge, I really liked this story.

I bought this one for $1.99 on May 16 and added the audiobook on August 16. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts

Midnight Bayou
Author: Nora Roberts
Narrator: James Daniels & Sarah Burr
Publication: Brilliance Audio (June 10, 2008)
Length: 9 hours and 14 minutes

Description: Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn't understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he saw Manet Hall, he'd been enchanted - and obsessed - with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream.

Determined to restore Manet Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief - sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan's belief in the ghostly presence grows.

Only the companionship of the alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall - a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that's been buried for a hundred years.

My Thoughts: Declan Fitzgerald leaves his home in Boston, job in a law firm, and fiancée to purchase a rundown mansion outside of New Orleans and begins his new career as a carpenter and builder. The task is daunting not only because of the scope of the renovation but also because of the ghosts who haunt the house. 

Angelina Simone is a local bar owner whose grandmother is Declan's neighbor. She also has a family connection to Manet Hall. Angelina is also afraid of falling in love and trusting her heart to anyone. However, Declan takes one look at her and decides that she is the woman he is going to marry and build a family with. 

Together the two need to deal with the ghosts and Angelina's prejudice against love. Declan finds himself taken over by the ghosts which results in memory loss and sleepwalking which frighten him. 

The ghost's stories are told in flashbacks when a poor, Cajun young woman marries into a wealthy family whose matriarch really despises her. She is raped and murdered by her brother-in-law leaving her infant daughter and a husband who grieves her disappearance to the point of suicide. 

This was an excellent story about honoring the past without repeating it. The characters were intriguing and well-developed. The romance was nicely done. 

I bought this one June 29 for $5.31. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
Author: Heather Fawcett

Narrator: Genevieve Cocke
Publication: Del Rey (February 17, 2026): Random House Audio (February 17, 2026)

Length: 11 hours and 25 minutes

Description: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

“Absolutely magnificent! Full of cats and magic, this is the kind of book you want to instantly reread. I loved every character, every cat, and every moment with all my heart!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats.

Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse.

Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world . . . and may now be trying to steal her heart.

Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. . . .

My Thoughts: Widowed Agnes Aubert runs a cat rescue organization in Montreal. She has a problem. Since a magical attack that made her building uninhabitable, she has been looking for a new rental within her budget for a new shelter. She's excited when she finds a new place at a too-good-to-be-true rent but snaps up the deal. 

However, she starts to notice strange visitors to the shop and soon becomes suspicious about her absent landlord. She really hates magicians for what they have done and especially hates Havelock Renard because he is called the Witch King and might have cast the spell that almost annihilated everything. 

She is surprised to learn that her landlord is Havelock and that he is not at all like he has been portrayed. He's absent minded and messy which is a sin to Agnes's Type A personality. He is also in a battle with his sister who wants a book she's sure Havelock has which will let her actually annihilate the world. 

Behind finding homes for street cats and reorganizing Havelock's shop, the two fall in love. But they will have to find a way to defeat not only Havelock's sister but the police who want to root out all magic and magicians in Montreal. 

This story is perfect for the cat lover since there are many cats with many personalities in the story. It is also a great story for fans of romantacy since it has a sweet romance the grows as the danger threatens all that Agnes and Havelock love.

I bought this one June 23 for $2.99 and added the audiobook August 13. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich

Dirty Thirty
Author: Janet Evanovich

Narrator: Lorelei King
Series: Stephanie Plum (Book 30)
Publication: Atria Books (October 31, 2023)

Length: 8 hours and 15 minutes

Description: Janet Evanovich, the “most popular mystery writer alive” (The New York Times), is in top form as she sends Stephanie Plum on the trail of a stolen stash of dirty diamonds in this instant #1 New York Times bestseller.

Stephanie Plum, Trenton’s hardest working, most underappreciated bounty hunter, is offered an assignment that seems simple enough. Local jeweler Martin Rabner wants her to locate his former security guard, Andy Manley (a.k.a. Nutsy), who he is convinced stole a fortune in diamonds from his safe. Stephanie is also looking for another troubled man, Duncan Dugan, a fugitive from justice arrested for robbing the same jewelry store on the same day.

With her boyfriend Morelli away in Miami on police business, Stephanie is taking care of Bob, Morelli’s giant orange dog who will devour anything, from Stephanie’s stray donuts to the upholstery in her car. Morelli’s absence also means the inscrutable, irresistible security expert Ranger is front and center in Stephanie’s life when things inevitably go sideways. And he seems determined to stay there.

To complicate matters, her best friend is convinced she is being stalked by a mythological demon hell-bent on relieving her of her wardrobe. An overnight stakeout with Stephanie’s mother and Grandma Mazur reveals three generations of women with nerves of steel and driving skills worthy of NASCAR champions.

As the body count rises and witnesses start to disappear, it won’t be easy for Stephanie to keep herself clean when everyone else is playing dirty. It’s a good thing Stephanie isn’t afraid of getting a little dirty, too in this “uproarious, crazy, laugh-a-minute caper” (Booklist, starred review).

My Thoughts: Stephanie Plum's 30th adventure has her babysitting her boyfriend Morelli's large orange dog while he is away in Miami on police business. Bob will eat anything including Stephanie's couch if she doesn't keep him with her all the time. So Bob comes along as Stephanie attempts to locate bond jumpers who were both involved in a robbery of a jewelry store.

She encounters the first when he attempts to commit suicide by jumping from a four-story building. Save from death by a convenient awning, she thinks he is secure in the hospital until she can bring him in to renew his bail. But he disappears one day despite a broken leg and broken ribs. 

The second fugitive is known to Stephanie. She went to school with Andy Manley (a.k.a. Nutsy) and knows he'll do anything for a dare. She's hired by the jewelry store owner to find him because the owner is sure that he walked away with a tray of diamonds at the time of the robbery. 

Meanwhile, Lula is sure that she is being stalked by Grendel, a mythical monster from a video game. She sees him in her apartment and notices that some of her extensive and eclectic wardrobe has gone missing. 

As the two find and lose their targets numerous times, Stephanie does capture others who have missed their court dates but her two main skips continue to elude her. With Morelli out of town, she is depending on Ranger to help her with her skips. And when her apartment is firebombed shortly after Lula's apartment is firebombed, she finds herself moving in with Ranger despite her commitment to Morelli. 

Stephanie is torn between the two men in her life. She loves them both. She might be ready for marriage, maybe, but she isn't sure either of her men are. Until, that is, that both of them propose to her. Now, what's a girl to do?

I bought this one for $2.99 on July 20, 2026, and added the audiobook August 11. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: The Raging Storm by Ann Cleaves

The Raging Storm
Author: Ann Cleaves

Narrator: Jack Holden
Series: Detective Matthew Venn (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio(September 5, 2023)

Length: 9 hours and 47 minutes

Description Ann Cleeves—New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—returns with The Raging Storm, the extraordinary third installment in the Matthew Venn series.

Fierce winds, dark secrets, deadly intentions.

When Jem Rosco—sailor, adventurer, and legend—blows into town in the middle of an autumn gale, the residents of Greystone, Devon, are delighted to have a celebrity in their midst. But just as abruptly as he arrived, Rosco disappears again, and soon his lifeless body is discovered in a dinghy, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.

This is an uncomfortable case for Detective Inspector Matthew Venn. Greystone is a place he visited as a child, a community he parted ways with. Superstition and rumor mix with fact as another body is found, and Venn finds his judgment clouded.

As the winds howl, and Venn and his team investigate, he realizes that no one, including himself, is safe from Scully Cove’s storm of dark secrets.

My Thoughts: This story begins when Jem Rosco comes to town. He's a sailor, adventurer, and local legend but not universally loved. When his body is found in the sea Matthew Venn and his team come to this small town to investigate the crime. Greystone is a small insular town that Matthew had visited as a child. It is largely inhabited by members of the cult he left as a teen. 

Venn and his team need to deal with local secrets and superstitions to solve this case which puts him and his sergeant in the direct line of fire from the villains. There are numerous suspects who all have some connection to Jem and who might have wished him dead. 

This was another atmospheric mystery filled with intriguing characters. 

I bought this one May 28. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 14, 2026)

 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.

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, quiet week. My dentist appointment for my new crown went without any excitement. My dentist and I both wanted a boring appointment since the last was so exciting. I did dream all week about swallowing the crown AGAIN but it was a completely trouble-free experience this time. 

Since I was out and about, I stopped at my pharmacy and got both my flu shot and a Covid booster. As usual, my only reactions to the shots were slight soreness at the injection sites. The Covid site is still sensitive to the touch but not really a bother. 

I gave myself a week off to finish my In Death reread and to listen to the audiobook of the latest which I had reviewed earlier. Now, I'm back to reading what is on my calendar. I have five review books on the pile for this week. Well, six if you count the one I have listed as currently reading but which I haven't actually started yet. 

I see that most of my book reviews posted this week have blue covers which I hadn't notice previously since I read on my black & white Kindle. I also see that it will be Christmas time this week as I have four books centered around Christmas on my stack. 

I'm also watching baseball as the season is winding to a close. My Braves would need a disaster to miss the playoffs this season. I hope they do well there this year. 

There has been no change in my review stack. I still have 39 books on the pile. I did lower my 2026 TBR pile to 16 this week. 

This week I'm the designated cook since my brother works all day shifts. I have some plans but not very firm ones beyond a pot of lentil soup for Monday. I've been looking at the remainder of a bag of red lentils in my pantry for a while. So, when I saw a ham hock in the "sell now" bin of meat at the grocery store, a plan was born. I have been saving a lot of recipes from my Facebook feed which will give me some options too. 

Read Last Week

• Passions in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)
• Bonded in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)

• Framed in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)
• Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)
• Fury in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)

• Dragon Blood by Eileen Wilks (Kindle, mine since September 2) -- Urban fantasy. Fourteenth in a series. My review will be posted on September 30.
• The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (Kindle & Audiobook, mine since August 30) -- An excellent love story for books and libraries. My review will be posted on October 1.

DNF

• Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong (Review, October 6) -- I read 20%. I like the author but really don't like horror.
  

Currently

• The Lady Jewel Diviner by Rosalie Oaks (Kindle, mine since July 20)
• Jay to the World by Donna Andrews (Review, October 13)

Next Week

• Written in Starlight by Sloane Brooks (Review, October13)
• Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano & Hannah Morrissey (Review, October 13)
• Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (Review, October 13)

• Bark Humbug by David Rosenfelt (Review, October 13)
• Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick (Kindle, mine since August 13)
• The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison (Review, October 20)

Reviews Posted

• Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara (Audiobook)
• The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (Audiobook)
• Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander by Christian Hurst (Audiobook)

• A Field Guide to Death & Deceit by Michelle L. Cullen (Review copy)
• A Deadly Entanglement by Cathy Pegau (Review copy)
• I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas (Review copy)

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

Review:

Bought:

• Fury in Death by J. D. Robb (Kindle and Audiobook)

What was your week like?