Monday, May 31, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 31, 2021)

 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.

Other Than Reading...

This was a very mixed week. We had near freezing temperatures overnight a couple of days and made the most solar power on any single day so far this year on another day. Needless to say, I didn't get outside for walking at all this week. The temperature didn't get to 50 any day this week. I did finally leave the house to go grocery shopping one day which gave me some steps. It is weird to go places and see so many people without masks!

I spent most of the week finishing my reread/first listen of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. I'm caught up now until the new one on June 22 which I have already read in ARC and have the review scheduled. 

I'm not sure which audiobook I'll choose next. I got a bunch of new ones this week when Audible had a $5 sale but only Hidden Figures is unread. All the rest were already in my collection as print or Kindle books. 

I'm starting to read my July releases from my Review stack but have enough time to fit in rereads or even books from my TBR mountain. I'm hoping to be able to go for walks and listen to audiobooks this week 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.)
  • Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan (Review; May 25) -- Sierra is back home working in a flower shop when her boss disappears and an attendee at a workshop dies of poison. Nice story with engaging characters. My review was posted on May 26.
  • Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook) -- 12th Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes takes place in Morocco where Mary suffers from amnesia and both reunite with Mahmoud and Ali who are on mission from Mycroft.
  • Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook) -- 13th Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes takes place in Japan and England where they solve a problem for the Emperor of Japan and find a blackmailer. 
  • The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook) -- 14th Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes is concerned with Mrs. Hudson's past. 
  • Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook) -- 15th Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes finds them in Venice. Mary is trying to find the aunt of one of her college friends and Sherlock is looking for Fascists on behalf of Mycroft.
  • Murder at Sunrise Lake by Christine Feehan (Review; June 29) -- Feehan's romantic suspense has a paranormal twist when Stella has nightmares about a serial killer. She and her friends need to find and stop him before too many people die. My review will be posted on June 23.
  • Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook) - 16th in Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series takes Mary and Sherlock to the Riviera. Mrs. Hudson also stars. 
  • Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis (Mine) - Romantic suspense heavy on the romance and light on the suspense stars Breanne Mooreland who, after being stood up at the altar, decides to go on her honeymoon alone and ends up stuck in a house with a quirky staff and a man in her shower in the middle of the snowstorm of the century. Then a body is found in the wine cellar... My review will be posted on June 26.
Currently
Next Week
Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:
Audiobooks:
  • Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King (Kindle and Audiobook)
  • Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King (Audiobook since I already owned the Kindle)
  • The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook since I already owned the Kindle)
What was your week like?
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Sunday, May 30, 2021

State of the Stack #108 (May 30, 2021)

 This is my monthly post which details progress made on review books. I want to thank the authors and publishers who have contributed their books. 

Read This Month 
  1. Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan (May 26)
  2. Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner (June 8)
  3. Castle Shade by Laurie R. King (June 9)
  4. The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg (June 10)
  5. Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey (June 17)
  6. The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton (June 22)
  7. Murder at Sunrise Lake by Christine Feehan (June 23)
DNF
  1. A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams (June 8 release)
  2. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton (June 15 release)
Read Previously But Posted This Month 
  1. City of Dark Corners by Jon Talton (May 4)
  2. A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan (May 5)
  3. The Last Scoop by R. G. Belsky (May 6)
  4. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver (May 8)
  5. Legacy by Nora Roberts (May 19)
  6. Death in Daylesford by Kerry Greenwood (May 25)
  7. A Rogue's Company by Allison Montclair (May 27)
New This Month 
  1. Beyond the Headlines by R. G. Belsky (May 4)
  2. Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan (May 25)
  3. Murder at Sunrise Lake by Christine Feehan (June 29)
  4. Death at the Crystal Palace by Jennifer Ashley (July 6)
  5. Murder Most Fowl by Donna Andrews (August 3)
  6. Miss Lattimore's Letter by Suzanne Allain (August 10)
  7. The Family Plot by Megan Collins (August 17)
  8. All Night Long with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews (August 24)
  9. Eyes of the Forest by April Henry (August 24)
  10. Breaking Badger by Shelly Laurenston (August 31)
  11. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer (August 31)
  12. When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting (September 21)
  13. A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman (September 28)
  14. Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh (September 28)
  15. The Return of the Pharaoh by Nicholas Meyer (Nov. 9)
All TBR Review Books

July
August
September
October 
November


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Saturday, May 29, 2021

Book and Audio Review: Orchid by Jayne Castle

Orchid
Author: Jayne Castle
Narrator: Tana Eby
Series: St. Helens (Book 3)
Publication: Pocket Books (September 7, 2010); Tantor Audio (Jan. 17, 2019)
Length: 340 p.; 8 hours and 56 minutes

Description: The wildly popular alter ego of bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz creates “delectably entertaining paranormal romantic suspense” (Booklist) in the “unique, synergistic world of St. Helen’s” (Library Journal ), the not-so-distant space colony where hearts and minds are gloriously in sync!

A top psychic for exclusive Psynergy Inc., Orchid Adams has her hands full with a baffling murder—which doesn’t exactly allow time for husband hunting. Is it even possible there’s a man on St. Helen’s who measures up to her dreams of wedded bliss? Take her new client, Rafe Stonebraker: primitive and elemental, an unlicensed P.I. with some serious secrets, Rafe is hardly marriage material. So why does his powerful presence have Orchid imagining the most outrageous affair? Rafe is embroiled in solving a strange theft while thwarting a hostile takeover of Stonebraker Shipping; he needs a wife—and fast—to salvage his credibility. Orchid Adams doesn’t fit the profile he had in mind, but she fits in his arms. Will their electrifying connection end up getting them burned?

My Thoughts: The final book of the St. Helens trilogy stars Orchid Adams and Rafe Stonebraker. Orchid is the author of some very popular psychic vampire romances and a part time employee of Psynergy Inc. because she is a very powerful and rare ice prism. Rafe is a hunter talent who tests way off the charts and who is planning to take over the family shipping business. However, Rafe needs a wife before he can do that.

Rafe has hired Mr. Batt who successfully found matches for his friends Lucas Trent and Nick Chastain. Even with his unique and somewhat primitive power, he has hopes that Hobart Batt can find a proper wife for him. Unfortunately, Rafe s under a time crunch and can't wait. So Rafe begins looking for his own full spectrum prism by hiring a selection of them from many agencies.

Once he hires Orchid, he knows he has found the right woman for him. He has lured her by encouraging her to help him with his after-hours private investigations. But a search for an alien artifact stolen from a research lab soon becomes more difficult and more dangerous than he had intended. It also links to some bad experiences Orchid had when she was part of a research project at a noted lab. 

Besides their case, Rafe and Orchid are also dealing with family issues. Rafe's cousin is his rival for the job of CEO of Stonebraker Shipping and he seems willing to do anything to get the job. Meanwhile, someone is after Orchid and the others who were with her during the research project but she isn't sure why.

This was a fun paranormal romance set in an intriguing world. I listened to this one and enjoyed the way Tanya Eby read the story. 

Favorite Quote:
He had set out to hunt himself a wife and he had found the one he wanted. He could not believe that they were not a good match. Affinity Associates had fouled up the registration. It was the only possible answer.
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.
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Friday, May 28, 2021

Friday Memes: Orchid by Jayne Castle

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now 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:
"Time is running out, Mr. Batt." Rafe Stonebraker rose slowly from the massive, old-fashioned Later Expansion period chair. He was well aware of the effect his deliberate movement had on the man seated across from him.

Batt did not exactly flinch but the dapper little man definitely tensed. "Running out?"
Friday 56:
Orchid rolled her eyes. "Of course not. I haven't had an agency date since I got matched with Preston Luce last year. And I'm sure that was not a real date. I'm almost positive that Preston rigged it."
This week I am spotlighting Orchid by Jayne Castle. This is a futuristic romantic suspense title set on the world of St. Helens. It is the third in a trilogy set on St. Helens. I recently added this to my audiobook TBR pile. 

Here is the description from Amazon:
The wildly popular alter ego of bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz creates “delectably entertaining paranormal romantic suspense” (Booklist) in the “unique, synergistic world of St. Helen’s” (Library Journal ), the not-so-distant space colony where hearts and minds are gloriously in sync!

A top psychic for exclusive Psynergy Inc., Orchid Adams has her hands full with a baffling murder—which doesn’t exactly allow time for husband hunting. Is it even possible there’s a man on St. Helen’s who measures up to her dreams of wedded bliss? Take her new client, Rafe Stonebraker: primitive and elemental, an unlicensed P.I. with some serious secrets, Rafe is hardly marriage material. So why does his powerful presence have Orchid imagining the most outrageous affair? Rafe is embroiled in solving a strange theft while thwarting a hostile takeover of Stonebraker Shipping; he needs a wife—and fast—to salvage his credibility. Orchid Adams doesn’t fit the profile he had in mind, but she fits in his arms. Will their electrifying connection end up getting them burned?
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Thursday, May 27, 2021

ARC Review: A Rogue's Company by Allison Montclair

A Rogue's Company
Author: Allison Montclair
Series: Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books (June 8, 2021)

Description: In Allison Monclair's A Rogue's Company, business becomes personal for the Right Sort Marriage Bureau when a new client, a brutal murder, two kidnappings, and the recently returned from Africa Lord Bainbridge threatens everything that one of the principals holds dear.

In London, 1946, the Right Sort Marriage Bureau is getting on its feet and expanding. Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge are making a go of it. That is until Lord Bainbridge―the widowed Gwen's father-in-law and legal guardian―returns from a business trip to Africa and threatens to undo everything important to her, even sending her six-year-old son away to a boarding school.

But there's more going on than that. A new client shows up at the agency, one whom Sparks and Bainbridge begin to suspect really has a secret agenda, somehow involving the Bainbridge family. A murder and a subsequent kidnapping sends Sparks to seek help from a dangerous quarter―and now their very survival is at stake.

My Thoughts: Gwen Bainbridge and her partner Iris Sparks are pleased with their marriage agency. They have managed to add on both a second office and a secretary. They are a bit surprised when Simon Daile comes in because they have never considered having Black African clients. Beyond that surprise is the certainty in Gwen's mind that the Mr. Daile was lying to her about something.

While dealing with finding potential partners for him, Gwen is dealing with problems at home. Her father-in-law Lord Harold Bainbridge has returned from Africa is is determined to send Gwen's six-year-old son to the same harsh boarding school where his son was educated. Since Gwen had a breakdown when her beloved husband died in the War, Lord and Lady Bainbridge were given custody of young Ronnie and also guardianship of Gwen. 

Lord Bainbridge is a petty tyrant who brings nothing but tension to his household. Lady Bainbridge drinks to deal with her disappointment in him. And Gwen is determined to regain her independence and regain custody of her son. Unfortunately, her psychiatrist isn't ready to sign off on her competence. After all, both she and Iris have discussed their previous murder investigations with him which makes him question both women's sense.

Things come to a head when Lord Bainbridge and Gwen are kidnapped by some villains. Iris is called in by Lady Bainbridge and Iris quickly recruits her friend Sally and her beau underworld boss Archie Spelling to find and rescue Gwen and, incidentally, Lord Bainbridge.

This story had lots of twists and turns. It also had intriguing characters. Both Iris and Gwen were wounded by the War and their parts in it and both are gradually rebuilding their lives. I enjoyed following the twists and turns of the story but admit that both Gwen and Iris are much better detectives than I am. 

Favorite Quote:
"If you're a widow, my condolences. If you're divorced, my congratulations. My point is that this is a course for women defending themselves primarily from assaults by men, and I will be using the word 'testicles' more than once during your training. I assume from your marital status that you are familiar with the word and know where they are located."

"I am and I do," said Mrs. Bainbridge. "I fear, however, for my friend, Miss Sparks. She is but a maid and innocent in the ways of men. She might faint."

The snort this elicited from Sparks was profoundly gratifying, as was the smirk on Macaulay's face.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
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Wednesday, May 26, 2021

ARC Review: Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan

Death in Bloom
Author: Jess Dylan
Series: A Flower House Mystery
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 25, 2021)

Description: The first in a sweet and colorful cozy mystery series from Jess Dylan, Death in Bloom introduces flower shop owner Sierra Ravenswood.

At the Flower House, every rose has its thorn . . .

Sierra Ravenswood is the new part-time employee of the Flower House, a flower shop in Aerieville, Tennessee. It's true she didn't expect to be back in her hometown at twenty-eight-years-old, but after her dream of making it as a singer in Nashville crashed and burned, she's just grateful to have found a soft place to land.

Because, after all, Sierra firmly believes in being optimistic and positive about life, so she's sure she won't have to work at the Flower House forever. But things take a decidedly negative turn when a customer drops dead in the middle of her new bouquet-arranging workshop at the store. When it's discovered he was poisoned by a snack at the event, everyone at the workshop, including Sierra, is on the suspect list. To make matters worse, her boss has gone AWOL and left the store to her for the cost of one dollar, leaving Sierra in charge of both his store and his high-energy Corgi puppy, Gus.

The town is on edge, and Sierra knows that murder is something that an upbeat attitude and a bouquet of sweet-smelling roses can't fix. She's determined to figure out whodunit, before anyone else in town meets an untimely reason for needing funeral flowers.

My Thoughts: Sierra Ravenswood is back at home in Aerieville, Tennessee after her music career in Nashville suffered some set-backs. She's working part-time at the Flower House and planning her future using lots of positive affirmations.

Things go terribly wrong when her boss Felix takes off on a geocaching trip leaving her in charge just before the first flower arranging class. She certainly didn't expect that one of the attendees, garden shop owner Abe Ranker, would drop dead during their snack break. He is an abrasive person commonly known as Dishonest Abe, and many of the other attendees had motives for wanting him dead.

Flo and Richard run the bakery café next door to the Flower Shop and have had run-ins with him. So has Valerie who runs the local dance studio. Sierra's friend Richard who's the local handyman while also working at the bank has had issues with him too. So has Letty Maron who is a shy, local elementary school teacher. The only one who lacks a connection to Abe is Deena who was also a classmate of Sierra's and who has just returned to town. 

Between Abe's death and Felix's disappearance leaving his puppy Gus behind, Sierra is finding it hard to conjure serenity despite her affirmations. Add in Calvin Foxheart who arrives the next day saying that Felix had agreed to rent him the apartment above the Flower Shop, and who is a sort of suspicious character in his own right. She also has to deal with her family who want her to dump the Flower Shop and come back to work at Dumbbells which is their fitness center, and who love her but don't understand her.

Sierra, Deena, and sometimes Calvin begin trying to discover who killed Abe. They uncover lots of secrets and resentments along the way. Sierra also discovers her future with friends and a canine companion. 

This was a fun story. I liked positive-thinking, but sort of naïve, Sierra. Gus was a great canine character. Her new friends - once she cleared them of suspicion - were interesting people.

Favorite Quote:
Gus had been asleep earlier when I'd slipped outside to meet Deena in the driveway. He was awake when we returned and about as worked up as a worried parent: happy I was home yet not above letting me know about the angst he'd been through. There were newspaper shreds all over the living room floor.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021

ARC Review: Death in Daylesford by Kerry Greenwood

Death in Daylesford
Author: Kerry Greenwood
Series: Phryne Fisher Mystery (Book 21)
Publication: Poisoned Pen Press (June 1, 2021)

Description: Taking the waters has never been more delicious―or dangerous...

When a mysterious invitation for a spa holiday arrives for Miss Phryne Fisher from an unknown retired Captain Herbert Spencer, Phryne's curiosity is piqued. Spencer runs a retreat in Victoria's rural spa country for shell-shocked veterans of World War I. It's a cause after Phryne's own heart, but what can Spencer want from her?

Phryne and her faithful servant Dot set out for Daylesford, viewing their rural sojourn as a short holiday. While Dot gets to know the remarkable women who run the hotel where they are lodging, Phryne enjoys an enticing meal―and dessert―with the attractive Captain Spencer. But their relaxation is short-lived as they are thrown into treacherous Highland gatherings, a mysterious case of disappearing women, and a string of murders committed under their very noses. Meanwhile, back at home, Phryne's three wards are busy solving a mystery of their own when a schoolmate is found floating facedown near the docks―and pregnant at the time of her death.

With her usual pluck and deft thinking, Phryne methodically investigates the strange goings-on in this anything-but-tranquil spa town.

My Thoughts: In this 21st adventure, the Honorable Phryne Fisher finds herself traveling to Australia's spa district with her loyal maid Dot on a mysterious invitation from a Captain Herbert Spencer who is running a retreat for shell-shocked young men. Of course, mystery finds her.

Women are disappearing and young men who are potential beaus of a local beauty are dying in a number of different ways. Both Phryne and Dot soon find themselves involved in the different cases. Phryne is her usual self: confident and unconventional. And Dot is her usual self too: loyal and conforming.

There are a wide variety of interesting characters in this one including the local beauty Annie Tremain and her loyal sister Jessie, and Colleen O'Rourke who's another popular young lady. Phryne's hostesses at their lodging have secrets of their own too. In fact, the town is filled with secrets that Phryne manages to unravel during her short stay.

Meanwhile at home, Phryne's wards have a mystery of their own to solve when one of the girls' schoolmates is found floating in the bay. They band together along with Hugh Collins, who needs to work around a particularly stupid boss, to solve that mystery too.

The story was filled with local scenery, high fashion, and dodgy characters. I like Phryne's approach to life and enjoyed this story. I had previously only read the first two books in the series and am now eager to catch up on her earlier adventures.

Favorite Quote:
Phryne had never seen the attraction of leaning on someone else's shoulder--after all, she had two of her own--and she found it trying in others. 
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.
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Monday, May 24, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 24, 2021)

 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.

Other Than Reading...

This was another nice week. I did get out and walk a few times though the last couple of days have been threatening (but not delivering) rain. I am continuing to listen to the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series and am to book 12 (of 17). 

My reading plans were interrupted this week by the arrival of two review books that caused some calendar rearranging. I got a book on Friday that is being published on Tuesday which I am currently reading and enjoying. Another fit into my June calendar and is getting to the top of my stack really soon. I have books read and reviews scheduled through June 22.

I filled out my July calendar and set up the posts in basic draft form. I had some room to add in some of my newer arrivals that I am looking forward to reading and/or listening to. I've added so many books this year that I currently have 133 on this year's TBR pile. 

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.)
  • Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King (Kindle and Audiobook) -- This reread is in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series.
  • Beyond the Headlines by R. G. Belsky (May 4) -- This contemporary thriller starring Clare Carlson is the 4th in the series. My review will be posted on June 12.
  • Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey (June 22) -- This was billed as Rom-Com but was much stronger on the romance than the comedy. It was entertaining and a quick read. My review will be posted on June 17.
  • The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King (Kindle and Audiobook) -- This reread is in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series.
  • The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King (Kindle and Audiobook) -- This reread is in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series.
  • The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton (June 29) -- The fast-paced thriller stars cadaver dog trainer Mace Reid, his dog Vira, and Officer Kippy Gimm who find themselves battling corrupt police and the Chicago Mob. My review will be posted on June 22.
  • Pirate King by Laurie R. King (Kindle and Audiobook) -- This is the eleventh in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series and was laugh-out-loud funny in places. It was a reread.
DNF
Currently
Next Week
Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:
Bought:
What was your week like?
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