Book Review: The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

The Untamed Bride
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Series: The Black Cobra Quartet (Book 1)
Publication: Avon (October 13, 2009)

Description: The first book in a brand-new series, The Black Cobra Quartet, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Stephanie Laurens, The Untamed Bride is the story of a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past and a battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable man who must join forces to fight a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra—and who must also confront the dangers of the heart . . .

My Thoughts: THE UNTAMED BRIDE was an engaging historical romance. It begins in India when five men are tasked with bringing down the infamous Black Cobra who is ruining the reputation of the British in India.

After the death of one of the five which occurred while discovering a key piece of information regarding the identity of the Black Cobra, the other four men make copies of the incriminating document and split up to return to England by four different routes.

Colonel Derek Delborough is the male lead of this episode which is the first in the Black Cobra Quartet. He is an experienced soldier having fought Napoleon before traveling to India. He's made his fortune and decided to sell out his commission. This trip to bring information to England is his last before beginning his future life. 

Delia Duncannon is also returning to England after some years in Jamaica with family. She's 29 and left England about five years earlier after a scandal. She too has made her own fortune and has decided to return to England to expand her business opportunities.

Del and Deliah meet at an inn where she saves his life after an attempted assassination. Del had been drafted to take Deliah back home since their families are neighbors. Del tries to fob her off because he knows that the Black Cobra has sent forces to attack him and get the document he's bringing to someone who can use it. 

The two are attracted which surprises both of them. After her disappointment in love, Deliah isn't looking for a new relationship. And Del hadn't given any thought to a future wife in his projected future. However, they suit each other wonderfully. She's no mealy-mouthed miss. She's a competent adult who is used to managing a household. She has opinions and isn't averse to sharing them. He's formidable and competent too.

I enjoyed the romance. I also enjoyed catching up with characters from earlier series by the author. In fact, I want to reread the earlier series of books which I likely read about twenty years ago. 

I bought this one October 27, 2009. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

 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:

"I can't stress how important it is that we behead this fiend." Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of Hasting and Governor-General of India for the last nine years, stumped back and forth behind his desk. 

Friday 56:

Lips curving, Del chatted to the barman while he waited for the innkeeper to tot up the damage.

This week I am spotlighting The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens. This historical romance has been on my TBR pile since October 27, 2009. Here is the description from Amazon:

The first book in a brand-new series, The Black Cobra Quartet, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Stephanie Laurens, The Untamed Bride is the story of a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past and a battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable man who must join forces to fight a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra—and who must also confront the dangers of the heart . . .

Audiobook Review: Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn

Angel-Seeker
Author: Sharon Shinn
Narrator: Tamara Marston
Series: Samaria (Book 5)
Publication: Audible Studios (July 20, 2010)
Length: 18 hours and 35 minutes

Description: The award-winning author returns to Samaria in this richly romantic tale that begins where Archangel left off. In that time, the women who craved the attention of angels were known as angel-seekers, a term used with awe by some - and scorn by others.

My Thoughts: The fifth book set on Samaria focuses on roles of women. It tells the story of Elizabeth who begins the story working as a cook on her cousin's farm and longing for more. She travels to Cedar Hills which is a new city being constructed near a new angel hold. 

Elizabeth longs to be loved and cared for and begins the story as a sort of vain, superior sort of woman. She goes to Cedar Hills in the hopes of attracting the love of an angel because women who have angels' angelic babies are cared for. But there are many, many young women who have come to Cedar Hills for the same reason and the competition to attract an angel is fierce. 

She does begin a sort of relationship with an angel, but her real career begins when she meets a healer named Mary. Mary takes Elizabeth as an apprentice which gives her a skill of her own. Elizabeth also meets a Edori man who, once freed from slavery, became a worker in building the new Cedar Hills. However, her focus on gaining a home by having and angel baby means that she is overlooking any other sort of possible relationship.

The second woman the book focuses on is Rebekah. She is a Jonsai which means that she is kept in seclusion and under the rule of her father or brother. She meets the angel Obadiah when he is shot down by some sort of weapon and is in danger of dying in the desert. Rebekah has been sent to the oasis to get water for her stepfather's traveling caravan. She nurses the angel even though she knows that her stepfather and the other Jonsai would prefer that he die. 

Obadiah becomes Rebekah's secret. When she returns to her family home in Breven, she sneaks out to continue her relationship with Obadiah who is there to treat with the Jansai for the angels. Obadiah wants to take Rebekah away with him to Cedar Hills, but she is afraid to leave the life she knows. But when she becomes pregnant, her time among the Jansai becomes impossible. Women who transgress - and becoming pregnant out of wedlock with an angel no less is a major transgression - are dealt with harshly. She has already seen her cousin who had an affair with another kind of traveling merchant beaten, stoned, and left in the desert to die. 

When her pregnancy is discovered, the same fate is meted out to her. But her brother has slipped her a waterskin and she was left wrapped in a blanket which gives her a chance for survival. Only being discovered by Elizabeth and her Edori man saves her life and gives her a chance at a new one with Obadiah.

This was an engaging story about two women looking for love and finding it though in very different ways. It is the final book in the Samaria series. 

I bought this one March 12, 2022. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Framed in Death by J. D. Robb

Framed in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 61)
Publication: St. Martin's Press (September 2, 2025)

Description: Death imitates art in the brand-new crime thriller starring homicide cop Eve Dallas from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author J.D. Robb.

Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist's career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work.

Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master, and Dallas plunges into her investigation.

My Thoughts: This 61st book in the In Death series isn't so much a mystery as we learn the villain early on as it is a police procedural. We see all the steps in the investigation to locate and stop the killer. 

I enjoyed reconnecting with so many characters from earlier in the series. Though many of them appeared only briefly. I loved that the house for Mavis, Leonardo, Peabody and McNab is finally completed and rapidly becoming a home. It is always great to catch up with Bella too. 

I enjoyed the way Eve counts on Roarke for quite a few things. In this one, his knowledge of art (and experience as an art thief) is very useful. I always enjoy Eve and Roarke's interactions. Eve and Peabody's partnership is deepening too. Peabody possesses a wide range of knowledge that helped with this case too.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this one. 

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

ARC Review: If It Makes You Happy by Julia Olivia

If It Makes You Happy
Author: Julia Olivia
Publication: Berkley (September 2, 2025)

Description: Grab your favorite fall candle, cuddle into a comfy blanket, and travel back in time to 1997 in this cozy, slow-burn romance set in the autumn glow of small-town Vermont.

Now with exclusive bonus content!

My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.

I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out. Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.

Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.

Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe. Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards. So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.

My Thoughts: IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY was a nice romance. Goal-driven Michelle travels from her fast-paced life in Seattle after her mother's sudden death to take over the bed & breakfast that was her mother's life dream. 

The timing isn't perfect. Even if the time running the inn is only a couple of months, it will mess up her fast track in her advertising career. But the trip will give her a chance to come to terms with her divorce from Allen. 

She isn't really prepared for what she is going to find in a small town in Vermont. Least of all is she prepared to meet Cliff, the divorced guy who lives next door with his two daughters. But Cliff is a friendly sort who had promised Shell's mother that he'd be around to help. His friendly manner and delicious baked goods and wacky sense of humor all appeal to Shell.

But can two very different people find a way to make things work? With her in town only until her younger sister finishes college and takes over the inn and him content to live and work in the small town forever, they have lots of things to work out. 

The story had a great cast of characters including Rocket the dog Michelle gained custody of in the divorce. Cliff's daughters were great characters too. And the assorted friends who want to help add to the interest. Even Cliff's ex-wife had her role to play.

Fans of romances with grown-up characters with busy lives will enjoy this story.

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

Audiobook Review: Thunderbird Falls by C. E. Murphy

Thunderbird Falls
Author: C. E. Murphy
Narrator: Gabra Zackman
Series: The Walker Papers (Book 2)
Publication: Harlequin Books (May 31, 2006)
Length: 9 hours and 50 minutes

Description: For all the bodies she's encountering, you'd think beat cop Joanne Walker works in Homicide. But no, Joanne's a reluctant shaman who last saved mankind three months ago; surely she deserves more of a break! Yet, incredibly, "Armageddon, Take Two" is mere days away.

There's not a minute to waste. But when her spirit guide inexplicably disappears, Joanne needs help from other sources. Especially after she accidentally unleashes Lower World demons on Seattle. Damn. With the mother of all showdowns gathering force, it's the worst possible moment for Joanne to realize she should have learned more about controlling her powers.

My Thoughts: Former police department mechanic and reluctant shaman Joane Walker finds herself in the middle of another plot that will unleash Lower World demons on a Seattle already experiencing a heat wave. 

Joanne is recruited into a coven which plans to bring an ancient savior back to the world. But first they have to bring back all sorts of demons. Joanne hasn't learned much about her shaman magic since she first discovered she had it and doesn't feel ready to take on new challenges.

But when her friend Gary has a heart attack and her spirit guide disappears, Joanne is left on her own to deal with Seattle's magical problems. 

I liked this urban fantasy story which draws a lot from Native American mythology. Joanne is an interesting character and powerful if reluctant hero. 

This is either the second or the third book in The Walker Papers depending on if you believe Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. In any case, it is part of a nine-book series. The story is packed with action and adventure. 

I bought this one October 28, 2021. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Sisters in the Wind
Author: Angeline Boulley
Publication: Henry Holt and Company (September 2, 2025)

Description: From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago; “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state”. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her; Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.

Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend”; a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister; and more siblings; a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.

But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she's hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?

When the past comes for revenge; it’s fight or flight.

Angeline Boulley's award-winning canon of books puts compelling characters and fast-paced action at the center of narratives rich in historical context. Read Firekeeper's Daughter; Warrior Girl Unearthed; and the soon-to-be-released Sisters of the Wind in any order; but like the world itself; there are echoes within each for the other stories.

My Thoughts: Lucy Smith is an escapee from foster care. Her father died of colorectal cancer when she was 13. He had married a woman he hoped would take care of Lucy after his death. But the woman had no interest in anything about Lucy except her inheritance. She neglects her and then voids the adoption when Lucy sets off fireworks in the storage garage where she has kept the loot accumulated with her new inheritance.

Lucy is sent into foster care. After being told to deny her Native American heritage which she is ready to do since her father told her she was Italian not Native American, she is set to Miss Lonnie on an isolated island. There she meets a foster care veteran named Liz and the two form a tight friendship. But a fire causes them to be split up with Lucy going to the Sterlings who are religious fanatics with a criminal and abusive son that they cover for. When she learns that the son is abusing his nine-year-old sister, she tries to tell her social worker who doesn't believe her especially since the Sterlings deny everything.

Lucy's next stop is an isolated farm run by the Hoppy's. She happy in the rural setting and enjoys the farmwork and the companionship of other foster kids. But things get suspicious when she notes that the Hoppys take in a lot of pregnant girls and arrange adoptions for their babies. Then the girls rather mysteriously disappear. When Lucy gets pregnant by one of the other foster kids who conveniently disappears, she has to figure out what to do for herself and her baby. 

She goes on the run where she meets Jamie Jameson who recognizes her by her likeness to her unknown-to-her mother and her likeness to her deceased sister. He calls in his friend Daunis Fontaine who was her sister's best friend. Together they try to get Lucy to meet with her mother and fight off charges of arson when the diner she worked at was bombed. Lucy has secrets and an enemy who isn't willing to let bygones be bygones. 

But trusting Jamie and Daunis might be more than a girl who spent five years in foster care and learned that no one can be trusted can do.

This was an excellent story with lots about foster care and the care and treatment of Native American children. I loved the characters.

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? (August 25, 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 quiet week again. We had some rain and thunderstorms and some unusually cool days for August. I did a lot of reading and listening and some watching of Braves Baseball.

I have the eARC of the next book in the Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series by Julia Spencer-Fleming on my review stack. I decided to read the earlier books in the series again since the first came out in 2002 and the ninth came out in 2020, Luckily, I had snapped up the first six when they were on sale at Chirp January 4, 2024, and the seventh is currently available on Audible Plus. Since besides each book's mystery the series deals with the lives and changing relationship of the two main characters, I was very tempted to binge the whole series back-to-back to back. However, I decided to space them out a bit more in fear of getting too far behind on books appearing earlier on my calendar. 

I have an interesting history with that series. I bought the first six in paperback on March 25, 2009, but they sat on my shelf for quite a few years before I read them. I had the idea that they were historical mysteries based mainly on the titles, and I kept skipping over them. Once I did pick up the first in 2019, I read them all and eagerly purchased the rest of the available titles in print in 2019 and read as I got them. Then the wait began for book ten which will be published this November.

I also, tentatively, set up my posts for October this week too. So, when I was approved for Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose and I discovered that I hadn't yet read the book that came before it in the series, I had to do some calendar adjusting. I moved A Death in Door County onto my November calendar which is good because it means I have one scheduled post already for November. I might move it again if any of my planned October books don't grab me though. 

I don't have any plans or appointments for this week. After having today (Sunday) and Tuesday off, my brother begins and 8-day stretch at work. While all of them don't have him working until 11PM, all do have him working during the dinner hour. We're both looking forward to his vacation which is coming up from September 7 through the 13th. We don't have any plans. He just takes a week when he maxes out his accumulated vacation hours. 

Read Last Week

• No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams (Review, September 16) -- A contemporary thriller in which a woman fled her home in Wisconsin, moved to LA, and became a forensic pathologist. She has to come back home when her father disappears. My review will be posted on September 11.
• Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews (Chirp Audiobook, mine since August 13) -- Baseball and murder are stars in this entry into the Meg Langslow humorous mystery series. My review will be posted on September 9.
• The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi (Review, September 16) -- Scalzi returns to the Old Man's War series after a ten-year absence. Great space opera! My review will be posted on September 11.

• A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan (Audiobook, Mine since August 18) -- A contemporary mystery set in Wisconsin starring a cryptozoologist. My review is currently set to be posted on November 8.
• The Adventure of the Demonic Ox by Lois McMaster Bujold (Kindle, Mine since July 11) -- This is the latest in the fantasy novellas starring Penric and Desdemona. 
• Wonderment in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5) -- A novella in the In Death series with ties to Alice in Wonderland.

• Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen (Review, September 23) -- The second Maple Bishop mystery set in Vermont in 1950. My review will be posted on September 16.
• Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Chirp Audiobook, Mine since January 4, 2024) -- Third book in the Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries. My review will be posted on September 23.
• Murder at King's Crossing by Andrea Penrose (Kindle, Mine since January 25) -- 8th book in the Wrexford & Sloane historical mysteries. My review will be posted on September 13.

Currently

• To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Chirp Audiobook, Reread)
• A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard (Review, September 23)

Next Week

• Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner (Review, September 23)
• You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan (Review, September 23)
• A Dark and Deadly Journey by Julia Kelly (Review, September 23)

• Dark Horse by Felix Francis (Review, September 23)
• The Librarians by Sherry Thomas (Review, September 30)
• The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves (Review, September 30)

Reviews Posted

• Claws Out by Cate Conte (Review copy)
• Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (Review Copy)
• A Lonesome Place for Murder by Nolan Chase (Review copy)

• Death at an Irish Village by Ellie Brannigan (Review copy)
• Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander (Review copy)
• A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber (Review copy)

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

Review:

• Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose (Review, September 30)
• Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney (Review, November 25)

• The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz (Review, January 6)
• Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson (Review, February 10)

Bought:

• All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz (Kindle, BookBub, $1.99; Audible Add-On, $7.49)
• A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan (Audible Credit)

What was your week like?

ARC Review: A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber

A Moment's Shadow
Author: Anna Lee Huber
Series: Verity Kent Mysteries (Book 8)
Publication: Kensington (August 26, 2025)

Description: Violence, reprisal, and intrigue abound in post-World War I Ireland as the bloody conflict between the Irish Republican Army and the British authorities continues to escalate. But former Secret Service agent Verity Kent must deal with a more immediate concern—the possession of poisonous gas by a ruthless adversary . . .

August 1920, Dublin, Ireland: A fraught task keeps Verity and her husband Sidney in the country after their initial clandestine mission has been completed: the traitor Lord Ardmore is scheming to employ the deadly phosgene gas he’s stolen for some terrifying purpose, and the couple will need both the Crown forces and the rebels’ help to thwart him.

As they pursue their quarry, they are drawn into a case involving a series of cunning and brazen jewel thefts. Many believe it is the work of the Irish rebels, seeking to fund their revolution, but when Verity and Sidney are also approached by Michael Collins and the IRA to unmask the thief, they suspect he may instead be an opportunist using the political unrest as a cover for his crimes.

As the thief continues to pull ever more risky jobs—including targeting Verity and their friends—the couple receive new intelligence that the gas they seek may be intended for a crowded event, one that the entire world will be attuned to. They must stop Lord Ardmore at all costs—or the consequences will be devastating . . .

My Thoughts: It is August 1920 and Verity and her husband Sidney are still in Dublin hunting down a missing shipment of phosgene. They know Lord Ardmore stole it and they know he must have some sort of nefarious plan. However, they don't know what the plan is or where the gas is now. 

This is a very political novel. Keeping track of the various factions who are working for Ireland's future is a complex task both for Verity and Sidney and this reader. Verity's friend Alex whom they were originally sent to Ireland to locate has switched to the Irish side rather than the British which Verity and Sidney have neglected to inform Verity's British bosses about. 

Verity herself is very conflicted about the whole war going on. She's seeing behaviors that remind her way too much of the way the Germans behaved in occupied Belgium. She also doesn't hold a very high opinion of the official British Intelligence in Ireland.

Just to make things more complicated, there is also a jewel thief removing valuable jewelry from the British upper classes in Ireland. They are tasked with locating the thief which gives them a reason to stay in Ireland after Verity's boss C demands that they come back to England. 

Despite the overabundance of politics, this was an entertaining story. I sympathized with Verity as her loyalties are tested. My only complaint about the story was the cliffhanger ending which will leave readers distressed until the next story in 2026.

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

Friday Memes: A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber

 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:

"Got no use for phosgene." The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Least not until the British use it first. 

Friday 56:

"Who says I'm here at Ardmore's bidding?"

I turned to look at him fully, arching my eyebrows in open skepticism.

This week I am spotlighting A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber. This is a review copy. It is the eighth book in her Verity Kent series. Here is the description from Amazon:

Violence, reprisal, and intrigue abound in post-World War I Ireland as the bloody conflict between the Irish Republican Army and the British authorities continues to escalate. But former Secret Service agent Verity Kent must deal with a more immediate concern—the possession of poisonous gas by a ruthless adversary . . .

August 1920, Dublin, Ireland: A fraught task keeps Verity and her husband Sidney in the country after their initial clandestine mission has been completed: the traitor Lord Ardmore is scheming to employ the deadly phosgene gas he’s stolen for some terrifying purpose, and the couple will need both the Crown forces and the rebels’ help to thwart him.

As they pursue their quarry, they are drawn into a case involving a series of cunning and brazen jewel thefts. Many believe it is the work of the Irish rebels, seeking to fund their revolution, but when Verity and Sidney are also approached by Michael Collins and the IRA to unmask the thief, they suspect he may instead be an opportunist using the political unrest as a cover for his crimes.

As the thief continues to pull ever more risky jobs—including targeting Verity and their friends—the couple receive new intelligence that the gas they seek may be intended for a crowded event, one that the entire world will be attuned to. They must stop Lord Ardmore at all costs—or the consequences will be devastating . . .

ARC Review: Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander

Laying Down the Latte
Author: Ellie Alexander
Series: Bakeshop Mysteries
Publication: Minotaur (August 26, 2025)

Description: Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, Oregon!

Baker Jules Capshaw, along with her husband, Carlos, and Torte’s resident barista, Andy, are packing their bags and preparing for the ultimate coffee excursion in Costa Rica. A fortuitous invitation from one of Carlos’s former colleagues, Valentina, has them venturing to the coffee capital of the world for a tasting tour and an immersive weekend at her family's organic coffee farm.

They soak in the tropical breezes, the vibrant colors, the sounds of morning birdsong, and the sweeping views of the historic coffee farm. Valentina is the ultimate host, offering them traditional meals and thrilled to have their input as she’s preparing to open a coffee counter and bakery on the farm.

The getaway is just what Jules needed. A chance to relax and unwind, curl up with a book and iced latte by the pool, and tinker in Valentina’s kitchen, dreaming up new recipes to bring home. Except her tranquil weekend quickly turns into a nightmare when one of Valentina’s employees is found dead in the pulping machine. Now, Jules will have to put her vacation on hold to try and uncover the murderer before one of Torte's beloved workers becomes the next body thrown into the mix.

My Thoughts: Jules Capshaw, her husband Carlos, and barista Andy travel to Costa Rica to spend a long weekend with friend Valentina. They bring Andy because Valentina owns and lives on a coffee plantation. They expect a quiet weekend of reconnecting with old friends and learning more about coffee production but find themselves involved in solving a murder when Valentina's cousin and co-owner of the plantation is killed while operating some machinery. 

There are all kinds of things going on. Miguel had decided to sell his half of the plantation to a huge corporation which displeased and angered everyone else on the plantation from his cousin to his workers to the man who buys most of the coffee for his coffee shops. When the farm manager is arrested, Jules, Carlos and Andy get involved in finding the real killer since none of them believe the manager is guilty.

Lots of information about coffee growing and production and lots of recipes fill this culinary cozy. It is also rife with possible suspects who, in Jules's mind are more probable, than the young farm manager. Engaging story with interesting characters and a great setting. 

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

ARC Review: A Lonesome Place for Murder by Nolan Chase

A Lonesome Place for Murder
Author: Nolan Chase
Series: Ethan Brand Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane (August 26, 2025)

Description: In this dark mystery, perfect for fans of C. J. Box, one wrong step leads Ethan Brand to the most dangerous case of his career...and the most personal.

Hoping to surprise his sons, Ethan Brand, the chief of police of a small town in northern Washington state, is contemplating buying a horse. But when the horse literally stumbles upon an abandoned smuggling tunnel, Ethan and his lead investigator Brenda Lee Page discover a dead body connected to a decade-old mystery.

Ten years ago, Tyler Rash, a troubled friend of Ethan’s, vanished without a trace. The body in the tunnel has Tyler’s ID and personal effects.

As Ethan and Brenda Lee investigate Tyler’s disappearance, they follow a trail that leads them to a cross-border smuggling operation connected to the town’s notorious family of smugglers. And when a bomb is sent to Ethan’s own house, the case takes a deadly and personal turn. A killer is stalking Ethan Brand–a killer he’ll have to face if he wants to see his family again.

My Thoughts: The second Ethan Brand mystery has Ethan taking a look at his past. When he is looking at a horse to buy for his sons, the horse stumbles into a tunnel built on an isolated ranch. Exploring the tunnel leads to a body with a wallet giving the name of Tyler Rash.

Tyler had been taken in by Ethan's family when he was a boy. Ethan's dad Jack really bonded with Tyler since they were both outdoorsmen and survivalists. Finding what looks to be his body, Ethan is faced with his relationship with his father who disappeared into the wilderness when Ethan was a teenager.

But, when Chief Deputy Brenda Lee discovers that the body is not Tyler's, the mystery deepens. It makes Ethan wonder if Tyler is still alive out there somewhere. A visiting DEA Agent is also wondering if Tyler is still out there since the tunnel mirrors other smuggler's tunnels that she has investigated. 

Ethan is also involved in the local race for mayor since he has had a bad relationship with the current mayor since firing his corrupt nephew and admires the woman who is running against him. Stolen campaign signs and harassment of the candidate opposing the mayor takes up some of his time too.

When a letter bomb is delivered to Ethan's house, he knows he's getting close to something but isn't sure exactly what. 

This was an intriguing mystery. I really like Ethan Brand's character. He's a Vet who came home from Afghanistan with a prosthetic and oxy addiction but managed to straighten up to become the Sheriff. He's dealing with the fact that his wife left him and took his sons to Boston. He's had some relationships including one with a married woman who decided to go back to her husband. And he has a sort of relationship with Sissy McCandless who is running the biggest crime family in the area. 

I liked the story and look forward to more in the series. 

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

ARC Review: Death at an Irish Village by Ellie Brannigan

Death at an Irish Village
Author: Ellie Brannigan
Series: An Irish Castle Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Crooked Lane (August 26, 2025)

Description: Entrepreneur Rayne McGrath’s wedding venue is open for business until a dead and unburied body is found at the cemetery in the third Irish Castle mystery.

With six months left to fulfill the provisions of Uncle Nevin’s will and save the fixer-upper castle she and her cousin inherited, Rayne McGrath and Ciara Smith’s bridal venue venture is finally bringing in money. To unite the reluctant villagers, some who’d vehemently protested their efforts to modernize the village, they agree with Father Patrick’s idea to create a group of volunteers to clean the old cemetery behind the beloved church. When a body is found by one of the historic tombstones, the cousins must work overtime to solve the newest case.

The plot thickens and an unsolved crime from the past is unearthed when it’s discovered that the body was on top of a fake grave that has connections to Rayne’s ancestors. With two weddings scheduled at the castle and her mother on the way, Rayne fears she won’t be able to balance it all, yet she rolls up her sleeves and dives into old family journals in hopes of puzzling out not one but two mysteries.

Perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor and Sheila Connolly, this whimsical cozy will charm mystery readers everywhere.

My Thoughts: The third Irish Castle mystery has Rayne McGrath and Ciara Smith searching for ways to fulfill the terms of Rayne's uncle's will. They have a year to make the village and castle solvent. Things would go smoother if murders didn't keep happening. 

This time, with a wedding to take place at the castle, Rayne and Ciara discover a body leaning against a tombstone during a clean-up of the graveyard. As Rayne and Ciara look into Aiden Dennehy's death, they soon learn that he had a number of people who might prefer him to be dead. The garda are convinced that the bartender who punched him the previous night because Aiden was messing around with his sister is at the top of the list. 

Rayne and Ciara don't believe that Beetle the publican killed Aiden but don't have a stronger possibility. They are busy getting ready for the weekend wedding which will provide funds for the winter which is only one thing on their massive to-do list. High on the list are finding a lawyer to help answer some of their pressing questions, dealing with the property management firm to discover just what they own, and finding a way to draw younger people to the town to bolster the population and the economy.

A trunk found in the attic filled with photo albums from the 1920s raises more questions than it answers and doesn't help identify the Thomas McGrath supposedly buried in the main cemetery instead of the McGrath plot. 

Adding even more complications is Freda Bevan who wants to annex the village Rayne and Ciara are trying to save and an elderly and wealthy lady from Dublin who is demanding the Rayne and Ciara look into the death of her 90-year-old brother who lived in the village. 

Throw if a few romantic relationships and Rayne's sociopathic ex who has escaped from prison and may or may not be hiding out in Mexico and you have a plot filled to overflowing. 

The story is filled with a large cast of characters between people working at the castle and the people living in the town. It was hard to keep track of them all. Also, the story could likely have been 20% shorter if the constant repetition of plot points was eliminated. It was like the author wrote each chapter months apart and felt that the reader needed the reminders. 

Fans following the series will want to read this one despite its flaws and clear lack of resolution of the plot concerning whether or not Rayne and Ciara will be able to save the town and the castle. Various other plots introduced in this episode are solved or partly solved. 

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

ARC Review: Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library
Author: Amanda Chapman
Series: Mrs. Christie (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley (August 26, 2025)

Description: Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

My Thoughts: Agatha Christie takes a field trip from the afterlife to help book conservator Tory Van Dyne solve a couple of murders. 

Tory works at the Mystery Guild Library in New York City. The library was started by her grandmother who left the top two floors to Tory as her apartment and the basement as the workshop where she repairs old books. Tory suffered a trauma that has made her reclusive, but she is gradually coming to terms with the trauma.

One of the features of the library is a room set up as a duplicate of Christie's library in England. When her cousin Nic comes to her in distress after her agent was pushed in front of a subway train, Tory agrees to help her cousin, and she is aided by the appearance of a woman who introduces herself as Agatha Christie and who appears in the room set up as her library. 

But Tory isn't alone in her investigations. The librarian who is a good friend of hers and who doesn't believe in ghosts is drawn in. So is an eleven-year-old neighbor who is lonely after the death of her mother. And so is police detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz.

And it is a good thing they have teamed up because the agent is only the first death. 

I really enjoyed the frequent quotes from Agatha Christie's works which make up a big part of the Christie character's vocabulary as well as beginning each chapter. I loved Tory's point of view. She has a really quirky sense of humor and a wonderful turn of phrase. 

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

ARC Review: Claws Out by Cate Conte

Claws Out
Author: Cate Conte
Series: A Cat Cafe Mystery (Book 9)
Publication: St. Martins Paperback (August 26, 2025)

Description: The ninth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.

After a long, snowy winter on Daybreak Island, Maddie and her cat cafe crew are finally ready to embrace the spring, though life is anything but calm. With Val and Ethan's wedding taking center stage, Maddie finds herself juggling wedding plans alongside a new and unexpected venture―a generous donation has made her the co-owner of a traveling cat cafe truck. To kick off the new chapter, she seizes the chance to take the truck on its inaugural trip to a cat literary festival in Provincetown, accompanied by her family and some of the shelter crew.

The festival is organized by the renowned cat-romance author Jasmine Prescott, who also runs a beloved cat rescue foundation on Cape Cod. But when Jasmine's longtime friend and fellow author Vivi St. Clair arrives with a boatload full of drama―everything from a dangerous ex-husband to an unwanted Netflix crew―tensions run high. At first, it seems like just another dose of celebrity chaos―until Vivi is found murdered. As new evidence ties Maddie and her cat cafe into the investigation, Maddie must dig deeper into the tangled web of secrets, rivalries, and feline-friendly drama to uncover the truth. The question is: what’s the connection between the cat cafe and Vivi’s untimely death?

My Thoughts: This cozy mystery is the ninth book in the Cat Cafe series. Maddie and her Cat Cafe crew were gifted with a mobile cat cafe and take it on its first outing to a literary festival in nearby Provincetown. 

Noted cat-romance author Jasmine Prescott is the host of the fund raiser for the cat shelters she sponsors. And special guest Vivi St. Clair is also making an appearance. Not being a reader of that genre herself, Maddie depends on her young sister Sam to know who's who and to do all the fan-girling. 

Also along on the trip are Maddie's sister Val and her fiancé Ethan who are bickering and showing stress with their wedding coming up soon. 

As Maddie deals with tension between Val and Ethan, she also finds herself involved in a murder investigation when Vivi is found stabbed to death on the pier. Vivi had all sorts of drama surrounding her including a mobster ex-husband, a stalker, and an intrusive Netflix film crew. 

But Maddie isn't alone in her quest for answers, she has her grandfather who's a police chief turned private investigator and Harry who is also a retired police officer. Only Harry goes missing which adds even more stress to the investigation. 

This was another fun episode in this long-running series. Most of the series regulars appear with roles of varying importance in this episode. Fans of the series will enjoy this latest edition. 

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? (August 18, 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...

I had a pretty quiet week. The weather kept threatening storms and rain but all we got was distant thunder and a little bit of rain. Today is sunny but cool with a current temperature of 61F and a brisk breeze. 

I spend the week revisiting the Jethri audiobooks in the Liaden Universe. Steve Miller was working on the fourth in that series when he died and had apparently written himself into a corner. This is a prequel to the main line of Liaden Universe books, and his plot was apparently taking him somewhere that didn't fit into the already written timeline. Sharon Lee was working on a different Liaden Universe book and set Steve's book aside. She may or may not ever get to completing Jethri's arc. 

I also listened to I Dare which is another book in the Liaden Universe. I chose it because Sharon Lee was proofreading the book in advance of an anniversary edition which she talked about on Facebook. The sample quotes she threw out made me want to read the book again. 

I also read three September releases from my review stack and DNFd a fourth. I found The Princess and the P.I. confusing and didn't feel like trying to sort out the characters and what was happening to them with so many other September releases on the stack. I still have ten more to read, hopefully, before the end of August.

I put Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews in the spot DNFing The Princess and the P.I. left in my calendar. I'm gradually catching up on the books I've missed in that long-running series. Since Die Like an Eagle was a Chirp audiobook deal this week, the timing couldn't have been better.  

My Atlanta Braves are in a bit of a hot streak having won 8 of 10 games which is good. That fact that it is too little and too late for any chance of making the playoffs isn't stopping my enjoyment of their mini winning streak though. 

This is another week when my brother is working the shifts that keep us from enjoying dinner together which means I need to do my own dinner planning and cooking until his days off Thursday and Friday. He's one of the few employees who is willing to work until 11PM and actually shows up for his shifts which means they are pleased to schedule him for 2:30 or 3:30 until 11PM. Never mind that it messes up our dinner plans. 

I have nothing on my schedule for the week except reading, listening and watching Braves baseball. 

Read Last Week

• All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Review, September 9) -- Excellent thriller about a debut author on a book tour who has attracted a stalker and blackmailer determined to expose deeply buried secrets. My review will be posted on September 3.
• A Murderous Business by Cathy Pegau (Review, September 16) -- A historical mystery set in 1912 in which a female business owner hired a female private investigator to discover what secrets might destroy the business. My review will be posted on September 9.
• Beyond Her Reach by Melinda Leigh (Review, September 16) -- Tenth in the Bree Taggert contemporary thriller series has Bree investigating a brutal murder in a home invasion. My review will be posted on September 10.

• Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook reread)
• Trade Secret by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook reread)
• Fair Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook reread)

• Flash Point by Tracey Devlyn (Mine since July 24) -- Romantic suspense. Starts a new subseries in the Steel Ridge series. My review will be posted on September 4.
• I Dare by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook) -- A reread of a pivotal story in the Liaden Universe series. I chose it because a new edition is coming out and Sharon was talking about the proofreading on Facebook. 

DNF

• The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne (Review, September 16)

Currently

• Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews (Mine since August 13)
• No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams (Review, September 16)

Next Week

• The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi (Review, September 16)
• A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan (Mine since July 23)
• Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen (Review, September 23)

• A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard (Review, September 23)
• Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner (Review, September 23)
• You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan (Review, September 23)

Reviews Posted

• Hades by Candice Fox (Audiobook)
• The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (Audiobook)
• The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by J. D. Nichols (Review copy)

• The Story that Wouldn't Die by Christina Estes (Review copy)
• Murder by the Book by Amie Schaumberg (Review copy)
• The Last Hamilton by Jenn Bregman (Audiobook)

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

Review:

• The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (Review, January 6)
• Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (Review, February 10)

• Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan (Review, February 10)
• You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews (Review, March 17)

Bought:

• Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews (Chirp Audiobook, $2.99)
• The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews (Kindle)
• The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (Kindle)

• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Kindle)
• The Boy by Tami Hoag (BookBub, $1.99)
• One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Audible Plus)

What was your week like?