ARC Review: The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell

The Secret of the Mansion
Author: Julie Campbell
Series: Trixie Belden (Book 1)
Publication: Random House Books for Young Readers (June 24, 2003)

Description: Trixie’s summer is going to be sooo boring with her two older brothers away at camp. But then a millionaire’s daughter moves into the next-door mansion, an old miser hides a fortune in his decrepit house, and a runaway kid starts hiding out in Sleepyside!

My Thoughts: Trixie Belden is back again. Originally written in 1948, this story returns the reader to an earlier time. 

Thirteen-year-old Trixie is looking forward to a boring summer with her two older brothers away at camp. But things turn around quickly when poor little rich girl Honey Wheeler moves into the mansion next door to the Belden's modest home. 

The two girls become fast friends as Trixie teaches Honey how to ride a bike and Honey's stable man teaches Trixie how to ride a horse. The girls have a couple of accidents as each falls from her new form of transportation, but they also enjoy exploring and swimming and boating and hanging out together. 

The two girls also explore the decrepit mansion next door when old Mr. Frayne is taken to the hospital with pneumonia. They discover that fifteen-year-old Jim Frayne has taken refuge in the home after running away from a stepfather who is constantly beating him. Rumor has it that old Mr. Frayne has hidden a fortune in the mansion. The kids explore but don't find money. They do find an old bible with a will inside confirming that Jim is Mr. Frayne's heir but that doesn't solve the problem of the stepfather determined to control Jim and Jim's money. 

I enjoyed this sweet story complete with the original illustrations. I enjoyed the growing friendships among the kids and the age-appropriate mystery. 

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

ARC Review: Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

Look Before You Leap
Author: Virginia Heath
Series: Miss Prentice's Protegees
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin (June 24, 2025)

Description: In this hilarious second installment of a Regency romance series, a single lord is forced to settle down...and when a houseparty brings a happy-go-lucky lady's companion his way, his grumpy heart is unexpectedly warmed.

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a weeklong house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.

After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady’s companion. Raised in an all-male household, she’s developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can’t resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy’s eye―though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?

My Thoughts: This laugh-out-loud historical romance pairs a viscount whose romantic disappointment turned him into a curmudgeon with a governess who can't stop borrowing fast horses for a quick ride in the park. 

Lottie Travers is a farmer's daughter who has been trained as one of Miss Prentice's Protegees. When her current post as a governess is derailed by a clandestine horseback ride and a handsy younger son, she finds herself working for a society dragon.

Guy Harrowby is soon to turn thirty and, after his humiliating romance blunder when he was 21, has buried himself in his estate business in Kent. His mother is determined to see him married off, and with the assistance of her older sister, Lottie's boss, plans a surprise house party to celebrate his birthday. The guest lists with be composed of eligible ladies and their parents. 

Lottie finds herself falling for the grumpy man and his Arabian horses while helping the older ladies plan the party even though she knows that a party is the last thing Guy wants. Guy is falling for her too but is afraid of another heartbreak and suffers from a distinct lack of trust.

This was an entertaining and engaging historical romance. 

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 16, 2025)

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 quiet week except for the influx of review books. Most of them had been previously requested, but a few were via email invitations. This influx ballooned my pile of review books to 59, but I've deflated it (continuing the metaphor) to 57 as of today. The stack is front-end loaded. I have read 7 July releases but have 14 still to read. There are 17 August releases on the stack. There are also 12 September releases, 7 October releases, and 7 November releases. Needless to say, my reading will consist of mostly review copies until I finish the July and August books. 

It didn't help that I was approved for a June release this week too. I had given up hope of being approved for that title. I had to do some calendar rearranging so that the review will appear on or near publication date. The good thing was that I could move a finished review to July which helps complete that calendar. I did set up all the posts on my July calendar over the course of the week too. 

I do plan to keep fitting in the In Death audiobooks as I have a chance. I'm still hoping to get the next for review from NetGalley. That will be book 61 and will be released in September. 62 has been announced for next February too. 

Besides reading, I have been watching Braves baseball. In fact, Braves baseball is the only reason I turn on my television these days. 

Next week will be briefly interrupted by a doctor's visit which is a yearly follow up and shouldn't take very much time. I have a couple of recipes I want to try next week too. 

Read Last Week

• Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern (Review, July 1) -- Second Katie True cozy mystery. My review will be posted on June 25.
• The Daughter of Time by Josphine Tey (Mine since May 24) -- First in the Inspector Alan Grant mystery. My review will be posted on June 24.
• Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt (Review, July 1) -- 31st Andy Carpenter mystery takes him back to his beginnings as a defense attorney. My review will be posted on June 26.

• Faithless in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- 52nd in the In Death series
• Death and the Librarian by Victoria Gilbert (Review, July 8) -- Ninth Blue Ridge Library cozy mystery. My review will be posted on July 1.
• Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine) -- First in the Noelle Marshall thriller series which is a spin-off of the Mercy Kilpatrick series. My review will be posted on June 28.

• A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber (Review, June 24) -- Thirteenth Lady Darby mystery. Another excellent entry. My review will be posted on June 24.
• Forgotten in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- 53rd in the In Death series
• The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos (Review, July 8) -- The third Porter Beck mystery. Fast-paced and engaging. My review will be posted on July 1.

DNF

• Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Review, July 1) -- I read about a third. I didn't care for the writing style or the multiple viewpoints or the non-linear storytelling.

Currently

• The Myth Maker by Alie Dumas Heidt (Review, July 8)
• Abandoned in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- 54th in the In Death series

Next Week

• The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths (Review, July 8)
• Rage by Linda Castillo (Review, July 8)
• A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh (Mine since January 21)

• Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts (Review, July 15)
• The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (Kindle & Audiobook; Mine since March 17)
• Fateless by Julie Kagawa (Review, July 15)

Reviews Posted

• Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly (Audiobook)
• Captivated by Nora Roberts (Audiobook)
• The Journal of a Thousand Years by C. J. Archer (Mine)

• The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott (Review copy)
• Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis (Mine)
• A Not-So Shocking Murder by Lily Sterling (Mine)

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

Review:

• A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber (Review, June 24)
• Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell (Review, July 29)
• A Silence in Belgrave Square by Jennifer Ashley (August 12)

• A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber (Review, August 26)
• A Dark and Deadly Journey by Julia Kelly (Review, September 23)
• The Devil in Oxford by Jess Armstrong (Review, November 4)

• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop (Review, November 11)
• Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker (Review, November 11)

Bought:

• A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn (BookBub, $1.99)
• Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot (Kindle and Audible Add-On)

What was your week like?

Book Review: Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

Full Speed to a Crash Landing
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Chaotic Orbits (Book 1)
Publication: DAW (August 6, 2024)

Description: A high octane sexy space heist from New York Times-bestselling author Beth Revis, the first in a novella trilogy

Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased co to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…

A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

My Thoughts: The first novella in the Chaotic Orbits trilogy stars Ada Lamarr. Ada is seconds from death in her holed spaceship before the crew of the government ship also hovering over the wreck of a spaceship on a planet with heavy tectonic activity finally rescues her. 

She finds the crew to be both suspicious and secretive. Their mission to recover something from the wreck conflicts with Ada's mission to salvage metals from the wreck. Or does it? She is hired by the crew to assist with a rescue of a box containing the reason the government ship is there. 

The story is filled with twists and turns with lots and lots of secrets. Ada isn't at all who she portrays herself to be. There is politics underlying the whole story. The politics concerns jockeying among the planets discovered and populated by people from Earth. And Earth is in danger of being abandoned by those new planetary settlements. It's too polluted and too dangerous to be more than a tourist destination for tourists taken to selected and sanitized places on Earth. 

Ada may or may not be working to benefit Earth. Or she may just be out to make money for herself and for her employers. This was a fun story that left me with lots of questions. 

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

Friday Memes: Murder at Moot Point by Marly Millhiser

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

Beginning:

So.

I'm not in an ideal situation right now.

Friday 56:

Surprisingly, it's Magnusson who tentatively raises his hand, as if unsure that's what he should do. "Oh, really?" I say, turning my attention to him. "Which part?"

"Iceland."

This week I am spotlighting Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis. This is a recent purchase and the first in a trilogy of novellas. Here is the description from Amazon:

A high octane sexy space heist from New York Times-bestselling author Beth Revis, the first in a novella trilogy

Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…

A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

Audiobook Review: Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly

Paw Enforcement
Author: Diane Kelly
Narrator: Coleen Marlo
Series: K9 (Book 1)
Publication: Tantor Audio (September 15, 2014)
Length: 10 hours and 12 minutes

Description: Officer Luz is lucky she still has a job after tasering a male colleague where it counts the most. Sure, he had it coming - which is why the police chief is giving Megan a second chance. The catch? Her new partner can't carry a gun, can't drive a cruiser, and can't recite the Miranda Rights. Because her new partner is a big furry police dog. So that's what the chief meant when he called Megan's partner a real bitch...With Brigit out on the beat, Megan is writing up enough tickets to wallpaper the whole station. But when a bomb goes off at the mall's food court, it's up to Megan and Brigit to start digging - and sniffing - for clues. With the help of dead-sexy bomb-squad expert Seth Rutledge and his own canine partner named Blast, Megan finds herself in a desperate race to collar a killer. Will justice be served - or will she end up in the doghouse?

My Thoughts: Megan Luz is a rookie police officer with an anger management issue. Her childhood stuttering problem is a factor. When her anger gets the best of her in the face of her partner's misogyny and crude remarks, she stuns him in the testicles with her taser. Since her police chief is aware of her partner's behavior, he assigns Megan a new partner. From now on, she'll be partnered with Brigit, a big furry police dog. 

Megan and Brigit have some growing pains as partners. After caring for younger brothers and sisters, Megan isn't eager to have another creature to care for. Nor does Brigit fit well into Megan's Smart car. Nor does Brigit have any desire to listen to Megan when they aren't on the job. (We know this because some chapters in the book are told from Brigit's point of view.)

One day Megan and Brigit are having lunch at the Mall when Brigit alerts to a trash barrel and Megan discovers a bomb. They manage to get the area evacuated and help called for before the device explodes showering the area with metal debris and food scraps. Megan ends up with a screw in her backside and tuna salad in her hair making her a YouTube sensation and providing the name of the Tuna Bomber for the villain.

Megan also meets Seth Rutledge and his canine partner Blast who is on the bomb squad when he comes to investigate the bombing. The two become friends, sort of, and work together to try to find the bomber before he can strike again. Their relationship has all sorts of ups and downs which may resolve in later books in this series. This is just the first of a ten-book series. 

The book was narrated by Coleen Marlo who did a good job showing Megan's character. 

I bought this one from Chirp February 11, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: A Not So Shocking Murder by Lily Stirling

A Not So Shocking Murder
Author: Lily Stirling
Series: Holt Jacobs Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Stirling Options (October 15, 2023)

Description: First, no coffee. Then a dead guy. This is one killer vacation.

I thought being forced into a Mother’s Day trip with my entire family on the Oregon Coast was bad. Then came the dead bodies.

Turns out Mom’s cozy vacation spot kept its high murder count a secret.

So I’m stuck in a death trap.

Either I can play detective for a few days or follow Mom’s perfect schedule. Detective it is. But is my vacation long enough to solve a couple years’ worth of crimes?

Five days. Six murders.

No pressure.

Holt Jacobs isn’t for everyone. He’s a sarcastic introvert who can never get quite enough coffee. Becoming a sarcastic sleuth was unexpected, but as an engineer, Holt is used to solving puzzles.

My Thoughts: A NOT-SO SHOCKING MURDER is the first in the Holt Jacobs mystery series. Holt is a nearly 30-year-old engineer who has been dragged by his mother to join in on a Mother's Day celebration with his whole family at a small town on the Oregon coast. Holt loves his family, but forced together time is not high on his list of favorite activities.

Holt arrives at the first event - a dinner at a seahorse themed restaurant - jet lagged, dehydrated and sleep deprived after a series of travel mishaps. He doesn't expect to see a new town resident die of poisoning right in front of his eyes. Nor does he expect to pass out and come to looking into the beautiful eyes of paramedic Brittany. 

Curious about the reason for the man's death and eager to get out of his very organized mother's planned events, Holt decides to look into things. He soon discovers that the most recent murder is one of a series of murders that the local Chamber of Commerce isn't publicizing. Those murders include Brittany's fiancé with her brother accused of the crime. 

Between trying to get enough sleep and enough coffee and dodging his mother's plans, Holt is kept busy trying to solve the series of murders. 

I liked Holt who is a sarcastic introvert with a coffee addiction. 

I got this free title via BookBub April 27, 2025. You can buy your copy here.