Friday Memes: Deadly Games by Sally Rigby

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:

Dr. Georgina Cavendish sat at an old oak table in her kitchen, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee, mentally preparing for the day ahead. 

Friday 56:

Millie wasn't such fun while she was here. So maybe the likeness was a tenuous one. If she'd been more cooperative, she might still be alive. 

I dug deep into TBR mountain and discovered Deadly Games by Sally Rigby. This is the first in the Cavendish and Walker thrillers. There are thirteen books in the series. I've had this one since November 11, 2022. Here is the description from Amazon:

A killer is playing deadly games with local students… and the only prize is murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker has worked hard to get where she is. A single mother, she joined the police force when she was eighteen and never looked back… until one wrong move put her in jeopardy of losing her job. So when a serial killer starts murdering female students at a nearby university, she knows this is it: her chance to stop a killer and redeem her career… or blow it and say goodbye to the job she loves,

Aided (and sometimes impeded) by Dr Georgina Cavendish, a lecturer who steps out of the isolated world of academia when one of her students is murdered, Walker soon arrests the obvious culprit. Everything seems to have worked out…

… until another girl is murdered while Cavendish and Walker’s prime suspect is still behind bars.

Now, Walker is being removed from the case, replaced by someone a bit more ‘suitable’. But when Cavendish persuades her to continue working the case, the two women join forces to discover the truth and solve the mystery behind the killings… before Walker’s own daughter becomes the next victim of a serial killer’s deadly games.

A perfect mix of mystery, murder, and mayhem that will delight fans of police procedurals and serial killer-noir like One Lost Soul, The Snowdonia Killings, and What Lies Beneath. Deadly Games is the first book in the bestselling Cavendish and Walker crime fiction series by Sally Rigby.

Audiobook Review: Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

Born in Fire
Author: Nora Roberts
Narrator: Fiacre Douglas
Series: Concannon Sisters Trilogy (Book 1)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (June 10, 2008)
Length: 9 hours in 6 minutes

Description: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the first novel in the Irish Born Trilogy—featuring three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland.

Margaret Mary, the eldest Concannon sister, is a glass artist with an independent streak as fierce as her volatile temper. Hand-blowing glass is a difficult and exacting art, and while she may produce the delicate and the fragile, Maggie is a strong and opinionated woman, a Clare woman, with all the turbulence of that fascinating west country.

One man, Dublin gallery owner Rogan Sweeney, has seen the soul in Maggie’s art, and vows to help her build a career. When he comes to Maggie’s studio, her heart is inflamed by their fierce attraction—and her scarred past is slowly healed by love…

My Thoughts: Maggie Concannon is a glass artist. She is the oldest of Thomas Concannon and Maeve Concannon. Her parents have had a bad marriage with Maeve always blaming Maggie who was conceived outside of marriage for ruining her life. She has spent most of it hating Maggie and complaining about everything. Maggie doesn't understand why her parents have stayed together, but their marriage has convinced her to never marry. 

Rogan Sweeney is a Dublin gallery owner who has fallen in love with Maggie's work. He convinces her to let him manage her career and promises to make her rich. Maggie needs the money to fulfill the promise she made to her father when he died. She promised to take care of her sister and her mother. 

She uses the money she earns after her first big show to buy her mother a house and car and to hire a companion for her to get her out of her sister Brianna's bed and breakfast. Brianna still visits her frequently, but Maggie would like to have her out of her life.

Rogan falls in love with Maggie and being a stubborn man isn't going to let Maggie's fears of an unhappy marriage stand in his way. It takes a while for Maggie to be convinced that she can have a happy marriage despite all the garbage her mother has dumped on her all her life. 

I loved the setting. I loved the information about glass art and loved Maggie's talent for it. Rogan reminded me a bit of Roarke from Roberts' In Death series. He's gorgeous and a successful businessman who fights for what he wants. 

I bought this one from Chirp November 12, 2024. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Between Two Strangers by Kate White

Between Two Strangers
Author: Kate White
Publication: Harper Paperbacks (May 16, 2023)

Description: A woman receives a bewildering inheritance that may have something to do with her past in this twisty and addictive psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Entertainment Weekly calls “impossible to outwit.”

Struggling artist Skyler Moore is flabbergasted when she receives a suspicious phone call from a lawyer she’s never met regarding a “private matter.” As soon as she arrives at the law firm’s office, she learns she’s the recipient of a large inheritance, a life-changing sum that will allow her to realize her long-held dream of becoming a mother. But who was her benefactor, Christopher Whaley? The late man’s name means nothing to Skyler, and she has no idea why he would leave her such an enormous bequest.

Looking into his background, Skyler finally realizes they met once at a hotel bar and shared a one-night stand. But they never exchanged numbers, or even last names, and that was over a decade ago. She wonders if the inheritance is meant to be a message of some kind, but can’t imagine what it might be.

Chris’ family is confused and suspicious too, and his widow accuses Skyler of having an affair with her late husband, then threatens revenge. In order to protect herself, Skyler has to understand the reason the money was left to her. But as she digs for the truth, it becomes clear that Chris Whaley might have taken other secrets to the grave, ones that could have terrifying consequences for her . . .

My Thoughts: When artist Skyler Moore gets a phone call from a lawyer telling her that it is urgent for her to see him, she first thinks it is a scam. However, curiosity and the possibility of an inheritance has her making the trip to Scarsdale from her East Village flat. 

It seems that Skyler has been given a trust after the death of Christopher Whaley. The only problem is that Skyler doesn't know Christopher Whaley and has no idea why he would leave her $3.5 million. Christopher's mother and wife don't know why he's pick her either. While the mother seems sanguine about the inheritance, the wife is not.

However, when she hears that Christopher Whaley's nickname was C.J., she remembers him as a man she had a one-night stand with when she was a graduate student in Boston. A lot of the one-night stand has left her memory because it happened at the same time that her younger half-sister disappeared from a party they both attended and was found a couple of days later by Skyler. The trauma around her sister's death put the one-night stand way in the background of her memory. 

When Skyler starts being harassed, i.e. her apartment broken into, her studio almost broken into if not for the intervention of a fellow artist, a feeling that she is being followed when she is out scouting for art materials for her next collage, a note with the stamped word "whore" placed in her tote bag, and the same word stamped on the collages that are supposed to be viewed at her first show, she at first thinks that it is a former boyfriend who didn't take their break-up well. 

The fear Skyler feels when she is harassed comes right out of the pages and managed to scare me too. Skyler already suffers from anxiety which is only getting worse as she gets older. She is just managing to restart her art career after years when she was still dealing with her sister's death and ruin of her relationship with her mother who has always felt Skyler could have done more for her sister. 

The story was fast-paced and intense. I liked that it was told in alternate time periods from the Now when she inherits the money and Twelve Years Ago when she has her one-night stand and when her sister disappears and is found dead. 

I couldn't put this one down. 

I bought this one January 2, 2025, when it was a BookPerks deal for $1.99. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Dead Man's List by Karen Rose

Dead Man's List
Author: Karen Rose
Series: The San Diego Case Files (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (March 4, 2025)

Description: Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick's latest case exposes the dark side of San Diego’s high society in this nerve-shattering tale of romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

On a long-anticipated second date with police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves—right as things are getting steamy—Kit stumbles across the mutilated body of a local San Diego politician. The man was loved by many of his constituents but is hated and reviled by many more. That the suspect list is long surprises no one, but exactly who ends up on it stuns Kit and her team.

As the SDPD reveal the victim’s sinister dealings, Kit and Sam are forced to navigate the closely guarded world of the city’s richest and most powerful citizens to find answers. But time is rapidly running out, with their sources of information dropping like flies as the killer methodically eliminates loose ends—and anyone else who stands in the way.

My Thoughts: The third book in the San Diego Case Files series by Karen Rose begins with Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick and police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves and their long delayed second date. Sam has decided to take Kit hiking in the desert to share with her one of his favorite things to do. Neither is expecting their dogs to lead them to the partially buried body of San Diego politician Brooks Munro.

Munro has been a polarizing figure with many devoted fans and many devoted enemies. He has certainly rubbed the San Diego police the wrong way. Kit and her partner Connor Robinson are assigned the case and soon find themselves looking deeply into the political and the wealthy of San Diego. 

Even Sam has had a run-in with Munro when he was looking for votes to help fund the shelter he works with. Munro tried to solicit a bribe from Sam as a quid pro quo. Sam's experience leads Kit to wonder and investigate whether or not Munro has made bribery and blackmail a regular part of his business practices. 

Meanwhile, the trial date Christopher Drummond is coming up. He is accused of murdering Kit's foster sister Rita's mother and sexually assaulting Rita too. He claims to have information that could lead to the murderer of Munro but wants favors for giving it. Kit isn't willing to give anything to Drummond that might influence the verdict since he is still threatening Rita and Kit will do anything to protect her family.

The story was filled with intrigue as Sam, Kit, and Connor try to figure out which of many possibilities wanted Munro dead and who is murdering others who might have information that would let Kit find him. 

I enjoyed the suspense in this story. I also enjoyed watching Kit open up to some romantic possibilities of her own despite her fears. Sam is a great romantic partner being both patient and open with his own feelings. 

This was an engaging story which is the third book in a series. I recommend reading all of them. 

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

Audiobook Review: The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander

The Body in the Bookstore
Author: Ellie Alexander
Narrator: Ellen Quay
Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Dreamscape Media (June 19, 2024)
Length: 7 hours and 18 minutes

Description: Behind the shelves of The Secret Bookcase, where the sun slants through the windows onto rows of classic crime novels, a body lies…

Bookseller Annie Murray is thrilled when the mystery-themed book festival she sets up to revive the dwindling fortunes of her workplace and sanctuary seems poised for success. But events take a shocking turn when a body is discovered hidden behind the shelves, and it’s revealed that the victim is Annie's old college acquaintance.

Determined to ensure the festival’s success and save the small town of Redwood Grove from a killer, Annie begins piecing together clues with the help of her friends. But as the list of suspects grows longer—a local boutique owner, an envious old classmate, a bitter ex-boyfriend—Annie is drawn deeper into the case.

With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

Full of lovable, quirky characters and small-town charm, The Body in the Bookstore serves up an irresistible blend of intrigue for fans of cozy crime including Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton.

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Secret Bookcase Cozy Mystery series. Annie Murray works for the bookstore. She was educated in Criminal Justice but the murder of her best friend on their college graduation day changed her course. The murder is unsolved leaving Annie to continually pore over the cold case files in the hopes of finding her friend's killer. 

Meanwhile, ten years have passed, and she has occupied herself working in a mystery bookstore in a small California town. With the bookstore on the edge of going out of business, Annie comes up with the idea of hosting a Murder Mystery weekend. She recruits the rest of the town businesses in the event which includes a treasure hunt to solve a fictional mystery based on town history. 

Most of the town is excited. Only Liam Donovan, who owns the Stag Head, is opposed. This doesn't surprise Annie since she and Liam have been at odds for years. Her friend Pri is convinced that they are really attracted to each other but Annie isn't buying that theory. 

The weekend gets off to a good start but things rapidly go downhill. It seems a variety of Annie's college classmates are attending the event for reasons of their own. When the one Annie remembers as most obnoxious is found murdered inside the secret room in Annie's bookstore, Annie finds herself trying to solve the crime. 

This was an entertaining mystery with lots of clues and red herrings. Ellen Quay did a good job narrating the story. 

I bought this one at Chirp December 31, 2024. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

The Girl from Greenwich Street
Author: Lauren Willig
Publication: William Morrow (March 4, 2025)

Description: Based on the true story of a famous trial, this novel is Law and Order: 1800, as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr investigate the shocking murder of a young woman who everyone—and no one—seemed to know.

At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows.

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma.

But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale.

My Thoughts: This historical fiction story pairs up Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr on the same side in a sensational murder trial in 1800 New York City. Elma Sands leaves her home one evening saying that she is going to be married and is found a few days later in the Manhattan Well. 

The main suspect is young Levi Weeks who lived at the boarding house where Elma lived with her cousin and her family. Public opinion is immediate and firmly of the opinion that Levi murdered Elma. 

Burr is hired by Levi's wealthy and influential older brother to defend Levi. Hamilton pushes his way onto the defense team because he and Burr are political rivals, and Hamilton doesn't want Burr to get the positive publicity when an election is in the offing. Burr is interested in getting Weeks off which is what his brother has demanded. Hamilton would like to find the guilty party in order to restore Weeks reputation. 

They are opposed by a younger and less successful prosecutor named Cadwallader Colden who has a history of failing to convict a number of previous cases. 

All of these characters are viewpoint characters as is Catherine Ring who is Elma's cousin and the proprietor of the boarding house where they live. This is a twisty story that stays as close to the truth as Willig can manage. Elma's murder hasn't been solved to this day. The many characters, all with their own agendas and biases, get a chance to tell their stories. 

I didn't form particularly good opinions of either Burr or Hamilton, but seeing what things were like for those patriots after the American Revolution was something of a revelation. I might be the only English-speaking person who has never seen the musical Hamilton or heard the recordings which means that I went into the story knowing almost nothing about Hamilton. I had some vague recollection of a Burr-Hamilton duel but had to visit Wikipedia for the details. 

I particularly liked the notes at the end letting me know what happened to the main characters of the book and how Willig researched the case to try to tell the story that was closest to the truth of what happened. 

Fans of Willig's work, mysteries, and early American History will enjoy this one. 

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? (February 24, 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 a mostly quiet week highlighted by the return of baseball and my beloved Atlanta Braves. I listed to yesterday's game on the radio and am going to watch today's on MLB.TV soon. I'm also watching this season of The Voice. Otherwise, the TV is off and I'm either reading or listening to my audiobook. 

The only bit of excitement was that my brother has tentatively bought a new car. Since his winter car is a 2003 Subaru Outback, this isn't much of a surprise. It is mechanically sound and gives him great visibility, but the body is rotting. My surprise came because he didn't dither. He is a noted shopper who looks everywhere and then really thinks about things before he commits. He looked for a new washing machine for a couple of months before he bought one. The new stove didn't take as long because our old stove wasn't working, and I was involved in the shopping. 

I think the final straw that made him shop harder was that the CD player quit working. He likes to drive around and listen to music for entertainment and relaxation. Being forced to listen to only the radio made his need for a new car more urgent. He found a 2018 Subaru Outback at our local Subaru dealer that was so new on the lot that the dealership hadn't done its inspections yet. Once they get the car ready, he'll give it a test drive. If he likes it, he'll buy it. If he doesn't, he'll get his deposit back. The final decision should happen later this week. It will be his third Outback if he ends up buying it. I'm only on my second Subaru with my Crosstrek.

This week will be punctuated with a trip to the clinic for bloodwork. This is something I do every three months. This blood draw will, I hope, include blood for the tests my Primary Care doctor wants before my annal wellness visit late in March. 

I should finish listening to Onyx Storm this week. I also have the remaining March review books on my stack and hope to read most of them. I'm behind on my Goodreads goal for the year by about three books. I need to spend more time reading than getting lost in Facebook Reels. 

Read Last Week

• White King by Juan Gomez-Jurado (Review; March 11) -- The third book in the Antonia Scott thriller series was filled with action and intriguing puzzles. My review will be posted on March 6.
• Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker (Review; March 18) -- This romance is about a young woman who agrees to step in for her lookalike - a leader of a small European country - who is threatened with assassination. Her handler happens to be her first love. My review will be posted on March 8.
• Seeing Further edited by Bill Bryson (Mine since January 27, 2025) -- A collection of essays about the contributions of the Royal Society, physics, cosmology and other sciences. Fascinating and very much over my head. Let me know how much I don't know about science. 

• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Audiobook; Mine since February 13, 2025) -- This second book in the Empyrean series coincides with Violet's second year at the flyer academy. It is packed with action, romance, danger and revolution. My review will be posted on March 20.
• The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Review; March 18) -- This is the second adventure for the Martini Club - a group of retired spies - who hoped for a quiet retirement in Maine. It starts with a young summer girl disappearing which leads to a crime many years old. My review will be posted on March 11.
• The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Review; March 18) -- This is the fourth case for Tempest Raj and her friends which has the elements of a locked room murder and other mysteries. My review will be posted on March 11.

Currently

• Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Review; March 18)
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Audiobook)
• Do I Know You? by Sadie Dingfelder (Mine since November 18, 2024; Nonfiction Slow and Steady Book)

Next Week

• A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (Review; March 18)
• Twice as Dead by Harry Turtledove (Review; March 18)
• The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths (Mine since January 2, 2025)

• The Big Fix by Holly James (Review; March 25)
• The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett (Review; March 26)
• Wordhunter by Stella Sands (Mine since January 6, 2025)

Reviews Posted

• One in Vermillion by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Audiobook)
• Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep (Audiobook)
• A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough (Review copy)

• I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower (Review copy)
• The Pirate by Jayne Ann Krentz (Chirp Audiobook)
• Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen (Kindle; Mine)

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

Review:

• Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney (Review; May 27)

Bought:

• Murder at Moot Point by Marlys Millhiser (Early Bird; $1.99)
• A Measure of Menace by Jennifer Ashley (Kindle, $2.99)
• The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (BookBub; $3.99)

What was your week like?

Audiobook Review: The Pirate by Jayne Ann Krentz

The Pirate
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Wendy Tremont King
Series: Ladies and Legends (Book 1)
Publication: Tantor Audio (October 30, 2018)
Length: 6 hours and 42 minutes

Description: Historical romance novelist Kate Inskip needs a break. Divorced, overworked, and completely stressed out, her writing buddies decide to surprise her with exactly what she needs - a vacation on a remote island that boasts a rich history and a crumbling castle built by an 18th-century pirate.

It's the kind of story Kate can't possibly pass up, and it will allow her to turn her thoughts from the reality of today to the romance of the past. But things don't go according to plan. A long flight, lost luggage, and a missed connection leave Kate wishing she'd stayed home. A knife-wielding mugger is the last straw.

Too late to help, but just in time to enjoy the show, Jared Hawthorne catches a harried woman in the act of kicking the local thief into submission. As far as Jared is concerned, Kate is the most interesting tourist to arrive on Amethyst Island in a very long time. Kate, however, has already concluded that a month-long vacation on the island is about 30 days too long. Still, Jared Hawthorne is starting to look very familiar....

My Thoughts: When a stressed-out author of historical romances is sent by her friends to a South Pacific Island complete with a crumbling castle, Kate Inskip is expecting a quiet vacation. It doesn't start well when she is accosted by a knife-wielding robber after a long flight, lost luggage, and missed connections. Kate takes her frustrations out on the thief and fights him off with techniques she learned in a two-week self-defense course. 

Jared Hawthorne, the resort owner, arrives in time to see Kate overcoming the thief and doesn't wait to share the story with his resort employees. He's impressed with her skills and with her moxie. He is also intrigued by Kate. This is a new thing since he hasn't looked at a woman since the death of his wife some five years earlier. 

Kate is less than impressed with Jared at first. He reminds of her of someone and she's too over-stressed, tired, and hungry to notice his good looks at first. 

Romance grows slowly but the fact that they live thousands of miles apart could be a dealbreaker. Then there is the possibility that Jared is too much like his pirate ancestor. Something hinky is going on in the ruins of that castle and Jared isn't telling Kate what. 

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I liked that Kate was a strong, independent woman. I liked Jared too. He's made a good life for himself and his young son. I liked the island setting and the interesting characters who lived there. 

I bought this one from Chirp for $.99 on July 24, 2023. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Pirate by Jayne Ann Krentz

 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:

"No, absolutely not. You cannot make me get on that plane. I won't go." Katherine Inskip braced herself in her chair and glared at the two women across the table.

Friday 56:

"Mine is Kate Inskip." She was searching for something else polite to say and wishing the music would start again, when a miniature pirate tugged on her arm. She looked down to see Jared's son, David, in an elaborate costume complete with eye patch and plastic cutlass.

This week I am spotlighting The Pirate by Jayne Ann Krentz. I recently got a copy of this from Chirp. I read the original when it was first released in 1990 and thought it was time for a reread. Here's the description from Amazon:

Historical romance novelist Kate Inskip needs a break. Divorced, overworked, and completely stressed out, her writing buddies decide to surprise her with exactly what she needs - a vacation on a remote island that boasts a rich history and a crumbling castle built by an 18th-century pirate.

It's the kind of story Kate can't possibly pass up, and it will allow her to turn her thoughts from the reality of today to the romance of the past. But things don't go according to plan. A long flight, lost luggage, and a missed connection leave Kate wishing she'd stayed home. A knife-wielding mugger is the last straw.

Too late to help, but just in time to enjoy the show, Jared Hawthorne catches a harried woman in the act of kicking the local thief into submission. As far as Jared is concerned, Kate is the most interesting tourist to arrive on Amethyst Island in a very long time. Kate, however, has already concluded that a month-long vacation on the island is about 30 days too long. Still, Jared Hawthorne is starting to look very familiar....

Audiobook Review: Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep

Only Cold Depths
Author: Jennifer Estep
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang & James Fouhey
Series: Galactic Bonds (Book 4)
Publication: Audible Studios (December 20, 2024)
Length: 15 hours and 4 minutes

Description: New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soulmates story and “Pew! Pew! Pew!” battle scenes. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Dune, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

A woman who can’t control her power ...

Everyone knows the name Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat working in a Regal-owned corporation, but thanks to my truebond with Kyrion Caldaren, I’m now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy.

Kyrion and I have spent the last few weeks avoiding bounty hunters, along with the Arrows, the elite Imperium warriors tasked with capturing us. Now we’ve journeyed to a distant planet that’s supposed to be a refuge for truebonded couples, but when new enemies appear, we’re once again in grave danger.

As a seer, inventor, and engineer, I’m skilled at figuring out how things work, but I can’t quite understand my growing magic and newfound psionic abilities. The clock is ticking, and if I don’t figure out how to tap into my power, I’ll doom myself to a gruesome fate, along with Kyrion.

A man who can’t let go of his fear ...

As Kyrion Caldaren, I’m used to being respected and feared, especially given my telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. What I’m not used to is being on the run, but as a rogue Arrow, I’ll do anything to protect Vesper.

Just when I think we’ve finally reached a safe haven, trouble finds us again, reigniting all my fears about losing Vesper.

When the cold depths of our enemies’ plan are finally revealed, the truth is more terrifying than anything I could imagine. Soon Vesper and I are fighting for our lives again, but even with our growing truebond power, this is one battle we might not survive.

My Thoughts: This fourth book in the Galactic Bonds space opera series has Vesper and Kyrion trying to find refuge from all those chasing them. They have traveled to a distant planet where truebonded couples are supposed to be able to take refuge. 

However, that doesn't protect them from bounty hunters and other enemies who either want to return them to the ruler who wants to drain their psychic powers or the enemies who want to compel Vesper to repair their super-weapon and make it more effective. 

Vesper is also dealing with her recently discovered family including a brother who is now the head of the Arrows and a long-time rival of Kurion's. Then there is Vesper's mother who abandoned her as a young child because she didn't think she was useful but who has now found a potential use for her. 

Vesper and Kyrion are also still trying to come to terms with their truebond. Neither knows what to expect from it or how to use it and both are wary of it. 

This was an entertaining science fiction romance with lots of space opera details from inventions to weapons to fighting techniques. 

I bought this one December 10, 2024. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen

Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman
Author: Tessa Arlen
Series: Lady Montfort Mystery Series (Book 1)
Publication: Minotaur Books (January 6, 2015)

Description: Lady Montfort has been planning her annual summer costume ball for months, and with scrupulous care. Pulling together the food, flowers and a thousand other details for one of the most significant social occasions of the year is her happily accepted responsibility. But when her husband’s degenerate nephew is found murdered, it’s more than the ball that is ruined. In fact, Lady Montfort fears that the official police enquiry, driven by petty snobbery and class prejudice, is pointing towards her son as a potential suspect.

Taking matters into her own hands, the rather over-imaginative countess enlists the help of her pragmatic housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, to investigate the case, track down the women that vanished the night of the murder, and clear her son’s name. As the two women search for a runaway housemaid and a headstrong young woman, they unearth the hidden lives of Lady Montfort’s close friends, servants and family and discover the identity of a murderer hiding in plain sight.

In this enchanting debut sure to appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, Tessa Arlen draws readers into a world exclusively enjoyed by the rich, privileged classes and suffered by the men and women who serve them. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman is an elegant mystery filled with intriguing characters and fascinating descriptions of Edwardian life—a superb treat for those who love British novels.

My Thoughts: This historical mystery concerns the death of young man at a weekend house party. The hostess, Lady Montfort, enlists her housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, to help her solve the crime. 

Teddy Mallory was not a nice young man. Many people at the party, including Lady Montfort's son, had reasons to want him dead. The more Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson look into things, the more they learn about all the dishonorable and illegal things Teddy was into.

At the same time someone is murdering Teddy, two young women also disappear from the house party. One is the daughter of a wealthy man, and the other is a housemaid. An unsuccessful search doesn't discover either of the young women which only adds to the mystery. 

The story set after the sinking of the Titanic and before the start of World War I was a detailed picture of a time that has gone. The rigid separation of classes was already breaking down, but it was Mrs. Jackson who was most disturbed by this. The traditional roles of the aristocracy develop cracks as the heir is more interested in the new flying machines than he is in managing the family estates. 

I enjoyed this slow-paced mystery and the glimpse into Edwardian life.

I bought this one January 25, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower

I Died for Beauty
Author: Amanda Flower
Series: An Emily Dickinson Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (February 25, 2025)

Description: When a blaze takes both a neighbor’s home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England’s history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.

These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.

My Thoughts: During a very cold January 1857 in Amherst, Emily Dickinson and her loyal maid Willa Noble investigate the deaths of two Irish immigrants who left an 8-year-old daughter behind when they died in a fire. 

Their investigations take them into the drawing rooms of Amherst's high society. Many of the women had employed the dead woman as a seamstress and the dead man worked at the college as a janitor. He also assisted one of the professors with his botanical experiments. 

Tensions rise as the temperatures plummet. Suffragist Lucy Stone is stranded in town and staying with the president of Amherst College's wife who has a childhood friend. She has strong opinions about the roles and rights of women and offers lectures. 

Meanwhile, two competing organizations are working to provide for the mainly Irish Poor who are running out of food and fuel.

Willa is the narrator, and, in this episode, we learn about a tough decision she has to make about her future. Does she love her policeman boyfriend enough to marry him? And can they make a home and family with the young orphan?

This was another engaging historical mystery. I like Emily's portrayal as a woman who doesn't concern herself with social rules and who often goes off into her own mind when a poem comes to her. I like that Willa collects the bits of poems that Emily discards.

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

Audiobook Review: One in Vermillion by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer

One in Vermillion
Author: Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
Narrator: Cris Dukehart & Eric G. Dove
Series: Liz Danger (Book 3)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (February 6, 2024)
Length: 9 hours and 49 minutes

Description: One in Vermillion: That red in the ledger isn’t just the ink.

Liz Danger is stuck in her hometown of Burney, Ohio, because her insane employer has rented a house there for the summer, which means she has three more months of trying to get a copy edit done, babysitting a seven-year-old, and figuring out what to do with three hundred and ninety-two teddy bears. And then there’s her mother. Even the good news that she’s living with a hot cop is tempered by the knowledge that sooner or later, she’s going to have to figure out her future, and she's still not sure what she wants that to be.

Vince Cooper is stuck in a town that keeps asking him when he’s going to make an honest woman of Liz Danger and in a job that’s just sunk into anarchy because of local and state politics that are kneecapping the police department, not to mention a biker gang and Liz’s ex-boyfriend who still hasn’t figured out that the ex part is permanent. Good thing he has Liz to come home to . . . until he doesn’t.

As Liz and Vince try to navigate their increasingly complicated relationship, they’re finding out startling new things about themselves and the town they’re trying to protect, and that means dealing with greedy politicians, arson, broken hearts (not theirs), vandalism, questionable real estate, murder, and a lot of soggy bears.

My Thoughts: This is the finale of the Liz Danger trilogy. It has romance, politics, family secrets and family interference. It also has a really cute seven-year-old and lots and lots of stuffed bears. 

The arsonist trying to burn down Burney is in prison, but the criminals aren't all caught. The motorcycle gang is still causing problems and Liz's ex is right in the middle of it all. Cash can't accept that Liz has moved on. He's sure that his charm will win her back no matter what he does to alienate her. 

With the senator's interference, George is no longer chief of police and the incompetent toady put in the department by the spouse-abusing mayor is the new chief. Vince is almost to the point of resigning and would if he didn't care so much for Burney. 

His relationship with Liz is also a point of contention between them. They are in love but are both used to being independent. When Liz buys an old house in the country, she is making a decision. She loves Vince but doesn't want to marry him or live with him. 

There are still secrets to be revealed about Liz's family that will make changes in her life. And Anemone looks like she's in Burney to stay which should make making the final copy edits on her biography possible. She also wants Liz to ghostwrite more books which will be handy now that they are both planning to stay in Burney.

This was an excellent story which comes to a very satisfying conclusion after a lot of perilous bumps in the road. I enjoyed what each narrator brought to the story. 

I bought this one October, 26, 2024. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough

A Slash of Emerald
Author: Patrice McDonough
Series: A Dr. Julia Lewis Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Kensington (February 25, 2025)

Description: A trailblazing female medical examiner in 1867 London and a skeptical Scotland Yard detective investigate a string of art world murders in this dark, atmospheric, historically rich mystery for readers of Andrea Penrose and Deanna Raybourn.

London, 1867: Among the genteel young ladies of London society, painting is a perfectly acceptable pastime—but a woman who dares to pursue art as a profession is another prospect, indeed. Dr. Julia Lewis, familiar with the disrespect afforded women in untraditional careers, is hardly surprised when Scotland Yard shows little interest in complaints made by her friend, Mary Allingham, about a break-in at her art studio. Mary is just one of many “lady painters” being targeted by vandals.

Painters’ sitters are vanishing, too—women viewed by some as dispensable outcasts. Inspector Richard Tennant, however, takes the attacks seriously, suspecting they’re linked to the poison-pen letters received by additional members of the Allingham family. For Julia, the issue is complicated by Tennant’s previous relationship with Mary’s sister-in-law, Louisa, and by her own surprising reaction to that entanglement.

But when someone close to them commits suicide and a young woman turns up dead, the case can no longer be so easily ignored by ‘respectable’ society. Layer after layer, Julia and Tennant scrape away the facts of the case like paint from a canvas. What emerges is a somber picture of vice, depravity, and deception stretching from London’s East End to the Far East—with a killer at its center, determined to get away with one last, grisly murder . . .

My Thoughts: We are dropped right into London is 1867 when Dr. Julia Grey is called to a police station to examine a woman who has been arrested for prostitution by her friend Inspector Tennant. Just passing by an Army base is enough for any woman to be arrested. In this case, the young hatter has been on a legitimate errand and is let go. The blatant sexism of the time is something that winds its way throughout the plot of this story. 

Not only did Julia get onto the registry of doctors through a loophole but she has to face all sorts of prejudice from most men who can't believe that a woman can be a doctor. When she is instrumental in rescuing a man from ice breaking while skating, he doesn't let her examine him leaving his sister Mary concerned about his welfare.

Mary Allingham is facing prejudice of her own as she is trying to make her name as a female artist. Richard Tennant is concerned about these female artists because there have been blackmail letters and other threatening letters sent to many female artists and many artists' models have been disappearing. 

Tennant is looking into the death of a young artists' model whose body was thrown from a speeding carriage. And shortly after, he also has the case of a famous artists' model who has had her throat cut. Margot Miller was frequently the subject of both male and female artists.

Tennant's investigation leads him into the world of pornography and trafficking which is partially wrapped into the art world. Mary's brother who is a wealthy printer and publisher is a suspect in both the trafficking and pornography until he is found dead in an apparent suicide. 

Julia and Richard are both involved in the investigation and have different sources of information. I liked the way the mystery unfolded. I also liked the way Julia and Richard's slow-burn romance is progressing. The story had great historical details. 

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? (February 17, 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 a pretty good week. Our new stove arrived on Tuesday, so I baked bread, hamburger buns and English muffins this week. I should make banana bread today since the bananas are in a "use them or throw them" stage. Bill is making a chicken enchilada casserole for our dinner today using leftover rotisserie chicken.

Last week I started Onyx Storm, got a few pages in, and asked myself "who are these people?" which means I need to reread the whole series for this one to make sense to me. Since I have the Kindle copies but not the audiobooks, I checked Amazon and added on all the audiobooks. I have many, many hours of listening ahead of me. Fourth Wing is 21 hours and 22 minutes; Iron Flame is 28 hours and 16 minutes; and Onyx Storm is 23 hours and 52 minutes. I decided that since I was spending so much time with these, I would review them again on my blog which meant shifting my calendar around to make room for them. I've finished Fourth Wing but not yet started Iron Flame.

Otherwise, I have lots of review books in my reading plans. I have at least six that are being released on March 18 that are on next week's reading calendar. Luckily, I don't have plans for next week. Baseball hasn't quite started yet. I am watching this season's The Voice. So far, that is only one evening a week and I can play computer games while I watch. 

I'm staying in a lot. It snowed twice this week and brought us about 6 new fluffy inches. Currently it is cold (2F as I'm writing this) and will be unseasonably cold for the next 5 or 6 days. Bill and I will be doing a grocery run later today. He likes to take me with him when he shops at Cub since I have the Cub Rewards card that activates a lot of the deals. For some reason, he refuses to get a card of his own. 

Read Last Week

• The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli (Review; March 11) -- A death at a house party/fund raiser attended by Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham put their observation skills to the test as they help Scotland Yard solve the crime. My review will be posted on March 4.
• Shadow Beasts by Nellie H. Steele (Audiobook; mine since January 19, 2025) -- First in an urban fantasy trilogy that was okay. The whole tone seemed YA and tongue-in-cheek to me. My review will be posted on March 4.
• Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn (Review; March 11) -- Four retired female assassins are back on the job when they learn they are targeted by a person who wants revenge for things they did years earlier. Great characters. My review will be posted on March 5.

• Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; Audiobook) -- A reread of this In Death book that they are talking about on Facebook. 
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Mine; Audiobook) -- Reread of the first book in the Empyrean trilogy. My review will be posted on March 18.

Currently

• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Audiobook)
• White King by Juan Gomez-Jurado (Review; March 11)

Slow and Steady

• Seeing Further edited by Bill Bryson (Mine) -- I'm at 69%

Next Week

• Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker (Review; March 18)
• The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Review; March 18)
• The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Review; March 18)

• Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Review; March 18)
• A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (Review; March 18)
• Twice as Dead by Harry Turtledove (Review; March 18)

Reviews Posted

• Legacy of Lies by Robert Daily (Mine; Audiobook)
• Rest in Pink by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Mine; Audiobook)
• Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong (Review copy)

• Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson (Review copy)
• The Dead Letter Delivery by C. J. Archer (Mine)
• My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh (Mine)

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

Review:

• Them Bones by David Housewright (Review; June 24)
• Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Review; July 1)
• The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan (Review; August 12)

Bought:

• Bone of Contention by Kristi Rose (Chirp Audiobook, $.99)
• Bone to Pick by Kristi Rose (Chirp Audiobook, $4.99)

• Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly (Chirp Audiobook, $1.99)
• Paw and Order by Diane Kelly (Chirp Audiobook, $1.99)
• Laying Down the Paw by Diane Kelly (Chirp Audiobook, $1.99)

• Against the Paw by Diane Kelly (Chirp Audiobook, $1.99)
• Above the Paw by Diane Kelly (Chirp Audiobook, $1.99)
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (Kindle, BookPerks, $1.99)

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Audible Add-On, $7.49)
• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Audible Add-On, $5.99)
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Audible Add-on, $7.49)

What was your week like?