Audiobook Review: Miss Amelia's List by Mercedes Lackey

Miss Amelia's List
Author: Mercedes Lackey

Narrator: Zura Johnson
Series: Elemental Masters (Book 17)
Publication: DAW (December 24, 2024), Tantor Media (February 18, 2025)

Length: 13 hours and 7 minutes

Description: The seventeenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series follows Amelia Stonehold and Serena Meleva as they navigate property acquisition, marriage proposals, and other ancient horrors in Regency England, but with the help of elemental magic

The year is 1815, and an American, Miss Amelia Stonehold, has arrived in the Devon town of Axminster, accompanied by her "cousin" Serena Meleva. She’s brought with her a list to tick off: find a property, investigate the neighbors, bargain for and purchase the property, staff the property and...possibly...find a husband. But Amelia soon finds herself contending with some decidedly off-list trouble, including the Honorable Captain Harold Roughtower, whose eyes are fixed on her fortune. Little does Amelia know that his plans for her wealth extend far beyond refurbishing his own crumbing estate — they include the hidden Roman temple of Glykon, where something very old, very angry, and very dangerous still lurks.

But Roughtower isn’t prepared to reckon with the fact that neither Amelia nor Serena are pushovers. And he certainly isn’t ready for the revelation that he has an Earth Master and a Fire Mage on his hands — or that one of them is a shapeshifter.

My Thoughts: This seventeenth Elemental Masters fantasy takes place in 1815 and stars Amelia Stoneheld and Serena Meleva. They are young Americans from South Carolina who have come to England with a list. They are eager to connect with other elemental masters, find a property for their brother to extend the family business of textiles and dies, and maybe find spouses. 

Amelia is an Earth Master and a channel while Serena is a fire mage and a shapeshifter whose second form is a leopard. They are welcomed by the same family already hosting Amelia's brother James. The are also elemental mages and eager to introduce the two young women into society. 

The girls are rather between classes. While Amelia's father owns substantial land in South Carolina, he is also in trade. This means that they aren't acceptable to the haut ton but there is a large society of tradesmen and another of elemental mages for the girls to enjoy. There are typical young women who enjoy parties and fashion.

They have arrived in England at a very difficult time. Napoleon has escaped and is causing panic in England while running roughshod over Europe. But, even worse, a huge volcanic exposition in the south seas has caused dangerous weather changes. It is the year without a summer and with a very hard winter in the future. A lot of the story has to do with preparing for the upcoming weather changes by gathering supplies and stockpiling winter clothing. 

The girls have been befriended by Lord Alderscroft who is the head of the hunt in England. His patronage should make fulfilling their goals, and checking things off Amelia's list, easier. He's found them a rental property in Axminster to be their base as they try to check off the rest of things on their list. The only bad thing about the move to Axminster is that they will be in close proximity to fortune hunter the Honorable Captain Harold Roughtower and his friend Mr. Phillip Nightsmith whom Amelia overheard making very rude comments about her.

This was an engaging story, but the pacing was odd. All the danger and action seemed to have been packed into the last chapter. After a story that had almost no action, things ramped up very quickly. I like the worldbuilding in this series. I like the way Regency manners combine with hidden magicians and magical creatures. 

I bought this one on Kindle June 16, 2025, and audio on May 12, 2026. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Summer in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz

Summer in Eclipse Bay
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Gail Shalan
Series: Eclipse Bay (Book 3)
Publication: Tantor Media (September 5, 2023)
Length: 8 hours and 40 minutes

Description: Summer has arrived in Eclipse Bay and things are definitely heating up between the Hartes and the Madisons. It seems that the mysterious new gallery owner, Octavia Brightwell, is thinking about having a scandalous fling with that rogue Nick Harte before she leaves town. As far as Nick is concerned, a short-term affair sounds perfect. But it isn't going to be easy.

One big obstacle is Mitchell Madison. For reasons of his own, Mitchell has taken it upon himself to play guardian to Octavia. He's made it clear that if Nick fools around with her, there will be a price to pay. And then there's Nick's young son, Carson, who has his own agenda where Octavia is concerned. He doesn't want his father messing up his plans.

Summer in Eclipse Bay is going to be eventful this year. Some long-buried secrets from the infamous Harte-Madison feud are about to surface. The past and the present are on a collision course.

My Thoughts: Nick Harte has come back to Eclipse Bay with his almost six-year-old son Carson. Nick is a successful novelist. In fact, a running joke through the story is that no one in Eclipse Bay admits to reading his books. 

Octavia Brightwell is a newcomer to Eclipse Bay. She has opened a successful art gallery. She also has a hidden agenda. She wants to help resolve the feud between the Madisons and the Hartes. Only she's too late. The Hartes and Madison have found their own resolutions in the romances between the grandchildren. Octavia is planning to sell the gallery and move on.

When she meets Nick, she's intrigued but he has a reputation for having only short-term affairs since his wife's death. Nick is also intrigued by her and more than willing to have an affair although he isn't the one who wants a short-term affair. Rather than giving her "the talk," it is Octavia who sets the ground rules. 

The conflict in the story revolves around a newly discovered and very valuable painting discovered in the estate of a local recluse. It is stolen from Octavia's gallery and the locals are spreading the rumor that she is the one who has stolen it. 

At Octavia's request, Nick channels his fictional detective to find the painting and the source of the local rumors. 

This was a nice romance and a nice conclusion to the Eclipse Bay trilogy. 

I bought this one December 3, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Restless Bones by Gillian French

Restless Bones
Author: Gillian French
Series: A Shaw Connolly Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur Books (June 16, 2026)

Description: Fingerprint analyst Shaw Connolly grapples with both a new case and the lingering presence of her sister's killer in Gillian French's second compelling Maine thriller.

When a missing woman’s body is discovered in a submerged car one year after her disappearance, Shaw Connolly is called to process the scene. She finds a single print belonging to a long-dead female ex-con; could it be the key to identifying the murderer? As usual, Shaw won't stop looking until she’s dredged up more than a few hidden crimes.

All the while, Shaw’s past won’t let her go. Just as the Connolly family begins to find some peace after the arrest of Shaw’s sister’s killer, Anders Jansen, Shaw receives a request from her state police contact. Anders, in prison awaiting trial, has claimed responsibility for the murders of two other young women whose cases have grown cold over the past decade. But he refuses to help the police unless Shaw agrees to act as a special consultant in the search.

Despite her misgivings―Anders’s love of malicious mind games is as toxic as ever―Shaw could never prolong another family’s suffering. Her agreement to assist jeopardizes not only the fragile healing of her own family’s wounds, but the rebuilding of her marriage and her relationship with her youngest son, who’s colliding with some hard truths of how cruel people can be. It seems, for Shaw, closure is a long way off . . . but danger may be closer than she thinks.

My Thoughts: The second Shaw Connelly mystery begins with her being called in to fingerprint a car that had been submerged. Along with the body of a long-missing woman, Shaw finds fingerprints for a woman who supposedly died before the car went into the water. 

Since Shaw has finally solved the mystery of her long-missing sister and is now dealing with the grief that goes with finally knowing the truth, she is the best one to help the new victim's parents deal with their loss. 

Shaw is also called in when the body of an elderly woman is discovered at her isolated home. She has been wrapped in her bed coverlet and left out in the yard. The first thing Shaw notices is that a spare room was apparently used and then thoroughly cleaned before the crime scene was discovered. She does find some partial prints, but most belong to that victim. Other prints seem to have been deliberately distorted in an attempt to foil identification. 

While she is busy with her day-to-day jobs, she is also dealing with an eleven-year-old son who is being bullied at school. Also, she is uncertain about her relationship with her husband who moved out because he could no longer take her obsession with finding her missing sister.

Shaw would like to be left in peace to deal with her grief, but the man who killed her sister and is sitting in prison wants to tell her about other women he's killed. Shaw hates the idea of spending any time with him, but she also can't stand the idea of not listening if it could help families know what happened to their missing. 

Shaw is a complex character. She's smart-mouthed and has a quick temper. She's dealing with grief as she best knows how and she's dealing with her relationships within her family also as she best knows how. 

I enjoyed getting to know Shaw. She was an intriguing person. I also liked the Maine setting.

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

ARC Review: Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson

Wildflower
Author: Becky Jenkinson
Publication: Del Rey (June 16, 2026)

Description: A magical florist journeys from the kingdom’s capital to its wild woods to fulfill an unusual request, and stumbles upon friendship, conspiracy, and the buds of new love in this debut cozy fantasy.

“Wildflower is a lovely respite from reality, featuring a charming cast of characters, snappy dialogue, and so much heart. Prepare to be enchanted.”—Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

The book contains hand-drawn floral sketches inside!

Cursed from birth to always tell the truth, magical florist Felicity “Fliss” Farrow chooses her words carefully to avoid trouble. But when she receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower, her search leads her directly into trouble’s path: to Willoh Vane.

Fliss knows the outcast—yet teasingly handsome—sorcerer is rumored to have used dark magic to corrupt the northern forest five years ago. She’s witnessed the resulting feud with Prince Bastion, whom her best friend, Card, is soon to marry. Despite her divided loyalty, Fliss reluctantly accepts Will’s help with gathering rare flowers and finds herself increasingly drawn to him.

As the royal wedding approaches, Fliss fears the flowers she’s delivered are intended for a sinister purpose. But when her warnings are ignored, can she and Will save the kingdom from disaster, and ultimately discover what Fliss has sought for so long—the truth.

My Thoughts: Felicity Farrow has been cursed from birth to always tell the truth. This has made it difficult to make friends, and it makes her a tool for the increasingly paranoid queen. Fliss's one and only friend Card is soon to marry Prince Bastion who is the heir to the throne. She is to be his Maid of Honor. 

Fliss is a floral mage who is well-versed in the lore of flowers. She has a way of using flowers to sooth, comfort, or discomfit as she feels the need. She has lately been commissioned to locate some unusual flowers for an anonymous buyer. 

In order to find the unusual flowers, she needs the help of sorcerer Willoh Vane who is in the middle of a feud with Prince Bastion. Will has taken the blame for a magical spell gone really wrong in order to protect the prince. The spell has blighted much of the north of the kingdom and caused the people there to rebel.

As Will and Fliss search for the flowers, they fall in love and Fliss begins to wonder at the purpose for the flowers. They also uncover a number of secrets from the past. Some of the secrets include their own mothers.

This was a cozy fantasy. It was also a sweet romance. LGBTQ+ themes may limit this one for younger readers. 

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

ARC Review: Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd

Murder at the Spirit Lounge
Author: Jess Kidd
Series: Nora Breen Investigates (Book 2)
Publication: Atria Books (June 16, 2026)

Description: In the second installment of the Nora Breen Investigates series—“perfect for cozy mystery lovers” (Book Riot)—beloved former nun Nora Breen returns, this time to track down a ghostly killer before it’s too late.

When Dolores Chimes, a famous medium, arrives in Gore-on-Sea, even surly Detective Inspector Rideout is lured in by her promises of messages for the afterlife.

But after a reading goes disastrously wrong, Dolores loses her life—and the six sitters at the séance with her fall victim to supernatural deaths themselves in the days following the nightmare of a reading.

Determined to unveil the truth, Nora finds herself chasing a ghostly serial killer she believes to be responsible, before the sixth victim—Detective Rideout himself—perishes along with the others.

My Thoughts: Nora Breen, former Carmelite nun, is back again solving crimes in Gore-on-Sea in the years shortly after World War II. 

A famous medium arrives in Gore-on-Sea and hosts a seance with a select group of patrons. A gangster, an upcoming young actress, a retired army officer, a Lady and her downtrodden daughter, and Detective Inspector Rideout all arrive by invitation to hear messages from the dead. 

Nora is called in when the medium dies suspiciously during the seance. After all, she spent many years as a nurse at her monastery. When other attendees at the seance also begin dying in unexpected ways, Nora and Rideout have to find the killer before Rideout becomes the last victim. 

I enjoyed this historical mystery. I like that Nora is trying to find a place for herself in the world after leaving the Carmelites. In this one, she begins working for the local newspaper which fits her personality excellently. I enjoyed all the post-WWII details.

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

ARC Review: The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis

The Last Time We Saw Her
Author: Jaclyn Goldis
Publication: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (June 16, 2026)

Description: Ten years ago, a teenage summer camper disappeared while searching for a rumored treasure on a remote island. Now, the long-buried truth of what happened to her and the long-lost gold threatens the lives of her friends in this thriller from the critically acclaimed author of The Chateau.

Ten years ago, a group of American teenage summer campers went to a lush and isolated Azores island for a hiking and heritage trip. But when a clue to a local legend of buried treasure emerged, the summer devolved into a frenzied hunt and culminated in the disappearance—and rumored murder—of “it girl” camper, Sydney. She was never seen again and the treasure never found.

Now, a decade later, Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory: Sydney’s sister and fellow camper, Olivia; a group of childhood camp friends; and their beloved counselors. They’ve all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney.

The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes and submerging in thermal hot springs. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island. And when the documentary filming reveals explosive truths and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.

Which means that a murderer has surfaced...again.

My Thoughts: This mystery takes place on the Azores. Ten years after Sydney disappeared, her fellow campers and their counselors gather the remember her and, maybe, finally learn what happened to her. 

Olivia was Sydney's sister. She was accused, at the time, of killing her sister but there wasn't enough evidence to try her. She's spent the past ten years becoming a bestselling author who writes mysteries loosely based on that summer trip. She also suffers from anxiety and sometimes has blackouts which means she doesn't know what she knows about Sydney's death. 

Lexa was Sydney's best friend. Over the past ten years, she's married Olivia's rich former boyfriend and built a life for herself. 

Eli is the rich boyfriend. He's an easy-going type and what his wife refers to as a Happy Baby.

Reuben was another scholarship kid at the camp. He is a failed businessman keeping up appearances.

Jules was one of the counselors. Now, she's trying to secure her financial future by making a documentary about the events of the past ten years and her efforts to find out what happened.

Aiden was the other counselor on the trip. He's a marine biologist now who is studying sharks,

Cass was Reuben's little sister who tagged along with the older teens when she could. Now, she is a medaled Olympic gymnast training for the next Olympics.

Ten years earlier, the camping trip turned into a treasure hunt when one of the campers found a clue that had them all running all over the island and dreaming of being rich. The treasure was never found but that doesn't mean that some of them are still looking.

This is a story of tangled relationships and secrets. It is told from multiple viewpoints and includes sections of the documentary. This was a twisty story. I enjoyed the setting and the information about a Jewish presence on the Azores. 

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 8, 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 a nice summer week. It has been too warm for the furnace but not warm enough for the air conditioner. It has been nice to have the windows open for the fresh air. We're making and banking a lot of solar power. 

I'm looking forward to a friend coming to visit for a couple of days starting this afternoon. Unfortunately, it looks like she'll be bringing the rain with her which might limit any outdoor activities. 

I was looking at Facebook yesterday and this post from Jayne Ann Krentz surprised me.

I don't think I've ever had an excerpt from any of my reviews picked up and publicized by the author or publisher before. 

I added one review book to my stack this week which continues a series that I've been reading. It is also my first December review copy. I also bought five audiobooks. Looking ahead at my July calendar shows me a lot of review book reading like five next week, three the week after that, five the week after that, and ending July with four more. Since I enjoy audiobooks, I decided to buy the audiobooks for the books that I had already slotted into the calendar to join the Kindle copies I already have. Four of them cost less than I pay for an Audible credit, so I bought them. I did use an Audible credit for the fifth.

With company coming, I don't know how much progress I'll make on reading books on my calendar this week. Luckily, I am at least three weeks ahead and can visit without feeling guilty. She left last visit in the middle of the first book in Anne Bishop's The Others series. I think she'll want to keep listening to those which I don't mind at all since I usually listen to them a couple of times a year anyway.

Read Last Week

• Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread) -- Here's my review from June 4, 2024.
• Diviner's Bow by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread) -- Here's my review from March 29, 2025.
• Death by Irish Whiskey by Catie Murphy (Audiobook, Mine since April 8) -- This is the fifth Dublin Driver mystery. My review will be posted on June 30.

• Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (Review, July 7) -- The latest Andy Carpenter mystery. My review will be posted on June 30.
• Murder on the Clock by Lucy Connelly (Audiobook, Mine since April 8) -- Fourth Mercy McCarthy cozy mystery. My review will be posted on July 2.
• Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook, Mine since April 26) -- First in the Lost Night Files trilogy. My review will be posted on July 14.

• The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (Review, July 7) -- Cozy romantasy with interesting characters and world building. My review will be posted on July 1.
• Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (Review, July 7) -- Contemporary Thriller told from multiple viewpoints about revenge and an old mystery set around a beauty pageant in Texas. My review will be posted on July 2.
• See How They Hide by Allison Brennan (Audiobook, Mine since June 4) -- A Quinn & Costa thriller. My review will be posted on July 3.

Currently

• Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (Review, July 14)
• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop (Audiobook reread)

Next Week

• Unpredictable Magic by Faith Hunter (Review, July 14)
• The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon (Review, July 14)
• The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley (Review, July 14)

• Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead (Review, July 14)
• The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews (Audiobook, Mine since June 5)
• Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Review, July 21)

Reviews Posted

• Apprentice in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, Mine)
• Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine)
• Scream for Me by Karen Rose (Audiobook, Mine)

• Beach Thriller by Jamie Day (Review copy)
• A Botanist's Guide to Tradition and Treachery by Kate Khavari (Review copy)
• Blood on the Sand by Kacey Ezell (Mine)

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

Review:

• Murder Unabridged by P. J. Nelson (Review, December 1)

Bought:

• The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews (Audiobook Add-On, $9.92)
• The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews (Audiobook, Audible Credit)
• See How They Hide by Allison Brennan (Audiobook Add-On, $7.99)

• Dog Eat Dog by David Rosenfelt (Audiobook Add-On, $11.50)
• Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt (Audiobook Add-On, $11.50)

What was your week like?