Inside of a Dog: January 2026

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Book Review: Midnight Serenade by Dusty Rose

Midnight Serenade
Author: Dusty Rose
Series: Moonhaven World Romance
Publication: Self-Published (October 29, 2024)

Description: She never thought she’d trust anyone enough to fall in love—until she meets a protective vampire who can’t imagine eternity without his mate.

I’m thirty-eight and should be in my prime. Instead, I’m dodging men who fixate on me like heat-seeking missiles and avoiding the outside world like the plague.

There’s something wrong with me. People don’t just notice me—they become obsessed. The kind of obsessed that has me hiding out at police stations until it’s safe to go home. Their blank stares, their eerie devotion… it’s like something in my DNA overrides their rational thoughts. And I’m tired of it.

I want a normal life—Saturday barbecues, toddlers causing chaos, a spouse who adores me. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Desperate for answers, I scour the internet and stumble upon Solace Cruise Line’s flagship, the Kamaria. Rumors swirl about its enigmatic owner, Sebastian Solace, and his so-called "pet," Kazi. Turns out, Kazi is a lion. And Sebastian? He’s a suave, dangerously handsome vampire.

Oh, and the ship? It’s packed with paranormals.

Now, I just have to figure out what I am, avoid the humans and creatures falling under my spell, and—most importantly—not fall for Sebastian.

Yeah… that last one isn’t happening.

Maybe life at sea isn’t such a bad idea after all.

My Thoughts: This cozy romance takes place on the Kamaria, a cruise ship owned by Sebastian Solace. Grace Liora is looking for answers about what she is. What she knows is that she seems unusually attractive to some people. She has found herself housebound to get away from unwanted attention. Luckily, her career as a writer of paranormal romances lets her stay at home. She finally finds the Solace Cruise lines trip and hopes that, since it is rumored to be owned by paranormals, she will be able to find some answers about herself.

Sebastian Solace is a 400+ year old vampire who owns Solace Lines. When he first meets Grace, his is also drawn to her. He soon comes to believe that she is the mate who has been fated to be his. But Grace wants to take things slow. She isn't used to dating and romance.

The two have some lovely adventures on tropical islands and with the ocean wildlife interspersed by times of great danger since it seems Grace has attracted a stalker who wants her dead.

This was a sweet and engaging story.

I bought this one with last year's Amazon gift card on January 11, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, January 23, 2026

Friday Memes: Midnight Serenade by Dusty Rose

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 stood beside my luggage outside my stateroom on the Kamaria, one of Solace Cruise Line's most elegant cruise ships, wondering if I was dreaming.

Friday 56:

Later that evening, I decided to be brave and eat at one of the fancier restaurants on board - Polaris.

This week I am spotlighting Midnight Serenade by Dusty Rose. This one has been on my Kindle since January 11, 2025. I don't read much paranormal romance anymore, but this one caught my eye. Here's the description from Amazon:

She never thought she’d trust anyone enough to fall in love—until she meets a protective vampire who can’t imagine eternity without his mate.

I’m thirty-eight and should be in my prime. Instead, I’m dodging men who fixate on me like heat-seeking missiles and avoiding the outside world like the plague.

There’s something wrong with me. People don’t just notice me—they become obsessed. The kind of obsessed that has me hiding out at police stations until it’s safe to go home. Their blank stares, their eerie devotion… it’s like something in my DNA overrides their rational thoughts. And I’m tired of it.

I want a normal life—Saturday barbecues, toddlers causing chaos, a spouse who adores me. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Desperate for answers, I scour the internet and stumble upon Solace Cruise Line’s flagship, the Kamaria. Rumors swirl about its enigmatic owner, Sebastian Solace, and his so-called "pet," Kazi. Turns out, Kazi is a lion. And Sebastian? He’s a suave, dangerously handsome vampire.

Oh, and the ship? It’s packed with paranormals.

Now, I just have to figure out what I am, avoid the humans and creatures falling under my spell, and—most importantly—not fall for Sebastian.

Yeah… that last one isn’t happening.

Maybe life at sea isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Audiobook Review: Bone to Pick by Kristi Rose

Bone to Pick
Author: Kristi Rose
Narrator: Jennifer Stoneking
Series: A Cold Case Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Vintage Housewife Books (January 7, 2025)
Length: 7 hours and 12 minutes

Description: A missing husband.
A frantic wife.
A long-forgotten killer.

When US Marshal Mallory Bodine’s brother-in-law disappears, she learns her sister’s life isn’t as idyllic as it appears. Natalie and Doug’s marriage is on the rocks but so is Doug’s job. Rumors of infidelity and corporate espionage muddy the investigation.

As Mallory digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing pattern of missing men, cold cases that are suddenly very personal. Has a killer resurfaced?

Mallory is running out of options and time. Every hour Doug is missing means the trail grows colder. The marshal's office wants her back to work. And a hurricane is bearing down on them that will destroy any evidence.

It’s do or die. Literally.

My Thoughts: The second mystery starring US Marshall Mallory Bodine begins when her brother-in-law goes missing. She drops everything in Seattle and heads back home to Central Florida to support her sister and search for her missing brother-in-law.

Unfortunately for Mallory, her boss in Seattle keeps calling demanding that she come back to work to continue to look for a fugitive the office is tracking, and a hurricane is bearing down on Central Florida. Racing both the weather and her boss's demands, Mallory tries to track down her missing brother-in-law.

Her brother-in-law Doug had been having problems. He was passed over for a promotion at work and was worried about the family finances. Some rumors say that he just took off leaving his wife and three kids. No one in his family believes that he would do that.

As Mallory searches, she learns that he is not the first to disappear in this way. Her searches lead to a few other men who seemingly just left everything behind and were never seen again.

I enjoyed this fast-paced story. I liked the flashbacks to some of the other missing men. I liked Mallory's decision at the end of this story.

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

ARC Review: Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh

Such a Perfect Family
Author: Nalini Singh
Publication: Berkley (January 27, 2026)

Description: A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, most respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh. . . .

A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.

For forty-three days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws’ house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he'd left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he'd professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s truly innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, Tavish begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could’ve imagined. . . .

My Thoughts: SUCH A PERFECT FAMILY was an engaging and twisty psychological thriller. Told by Tavish Advani, it is the story of love in all its variations. Tavish is the son of a noted Hollywood actress and a famed Hollywood lawyer. He is the second son and is unwanted. He was raised by a woman who not only didn't love him but didn't like him either. He was often protected by his father but only when his father felt it wouldn't go against his mother whom he loved.

Falling in love with a young woman named Diya. Their whirlwind romance led to a Vegas wedding and then a move to her family home in New Zealand. There he encounters a lifestyle that is different than his own and parents who want to maintain face as Indian parents. He and Diya pretend not to be married so that they can be married again in a blow-out Indian wedding.

Before that event can happen, there is a fire at Diya's parent's home that kills them and probably kills her older brother Bobby. The only survivors are Diya and her sister-in-law Shumi. both were gravely injured are in intensive care at the hospital.

Tavish wants to find out about a cryptic comment Diya speaks as he is rescuing her. His investigation leads to finding out an awful lot about what is behind the image of a perfect family and how it shaped his wife. He needs to find out fast, because the local police aren't convinced that he didn't set the fire and attempt to murder his wife.

Tavish had a troubled past in Los Angeles. He was a suspect in the deaths of three other older women that he was involved with. There are notes from a police officer in LA who is certain that Tavish killed the women and is working to prove it to the point of obsession.

I enjoyed this thriller and had trouble putting it down even to sleep.

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

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

ARC Review: Tell-Tale Treats by Jennifer J. Chow

Tell-Tale Treats
Author: Jennifer J. Chow
Series: Magical Fortune Cookies (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books (January 27, 2026)

Description: Is Felicity to blame when a hotel guest drowns after eating her enchanted cookies? Felicity Jin returns in the third installment of the Magical Fortune Cookie series.

A group of high school alumnae reunite years later and reserve rooms at Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As part of their pampering package, Felicity delivers a scrumptious assortment of enchanted pastries, including her new almond cookies.

But the queen bee of the group is soon found dead in her bathroom, drowned in the tub, and she recently sampled the delicious baked goods. Could Felicity’s almond cookies have set off a fatal nut allergy? The enchanted pastries are supposed to bring joy, not sorrow―and certainly not death.

Boyfriend, Kelvin Love, is eager to assist, although odd things have been happening to his senses ever since he baked with Felicity. Will his extra sensitivity help or hinder the investigation? Plus, special bunny Whiskers lends a magical paw to the detecting since Felicity can’t and won’t relax until she restores both order and magic to her world.

My Thoughts: The third book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series has Felicity providing her magical treats to a group of women gathering for a reunion at a local bed and breakfast. She also agrees to give them a tour of her small town and discovers that the four seem to have little in common and have lots of tension showing in their relationships.

When the leader of the group is found drowned in her bath, Felicity fears that she had an allergic reaction to one of the treats she provided. At first, she is under suspicion from the local police detective but tests show that the cause of death was not an allergic reaction to Felicity's cookies.

Nonetheless, Felicity and her boyfriend Kelvin are determined to find out who murdered Ashley. The tensions among the group give her a lot of suspects to investigate. One more is added when the husband of one of the women also appears.

This was a nice cozy mystery with touches of magic. Besides Felicity's ability to make fortune cookies that do see the recipient's future, Kelvin is discovering a magic talent of his own. He is a florist who sometimes smells flowers not in his arrangements when he presents them to their recipients. The language of flowers gives him and Felicity clues in their investigation.

Fans of the series will enjoy this new case.

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

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Audiobook Review: Bone of Contention by Kristi Rose

Bone of Contention
Author: Kristi Rose
Narrator: Jennifer Stoneking
Series: A Cold Case Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Vintage Housewife Books (November 8, 2023)
Length: 4 hours and 3 minutes

Description: From the USA Today best-selling author comes an action-packed, roller-coaster ride, new cold case mystery series that will have your pulse racing. For fans of Kendra Elliott and Debra Webb.

US Marshall Mallory Bodine’s short visit back to her central Florida hometown quickly turns into work when a skeleton is unearthed in her mom’s backyard. Mallory is caught up in the middle of a cold-case murder investigation as she searches for answers.

Four local hoodlums are a convenient fit as the killers—for the lazy, complacent sheriff, that is—but the local detective and Mallory want the truth. Was it an act of vandalism that got out of hand? Or something more sinister?

Digging through 14 years of lies won’t be easy. Murder never is.

Meet Mallory Bodine, fugitive hunter. No case has been cold for too long, and for Mallory, the dead are not forgotten.

My Thoughts: US Marshall Mallory Bodine comes home to spend a week's time off after a case goes a little awry. She doesn't get the quiet rest she was looking for because a body was found in her mother's backyard.

The body was quickly discovered to be that of Tabby Cartwright, a young English teacher from the local high school, who had been missing since 2002. Mallory didn't know her but her younger sister Natalie had her as a math teacher and looked upon her as a mentor.

Tabby had been having some trouble with people vandalizing her classroom since she was dating Kamil Burkhari, the son of Pakistani immigrants. In these days right after Nine Eleven, she was called a terrorist because of the man she was dating.

Mallory agrees to help local detective and childhood friend Deputy Bo Pickett look into the crime because the local sheriff Dev Shook is too lazy and too used to looking for easy answers to do the work. He's spending time on his reelection campaign rather than doing his job.

When they notify Tabby's parents, they find that her father has kept an extensive file about the case including reports from a private investigator he hired. He gives Mallory and Bo a copy which includes a detailed timeline.

Since the sheriff pulls Bo off the case, Mallory is on her own to reinterview those who might have had something to do with Tabby's death.

This was an engaging story. I enjoyed getting to know Mallory, her sister and her mother, and Bo. I liked the way the case was presented, and I liked the flashbacks from Tabby's point of view.

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

ARC Review: A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen

A Field Guide to Murder
Author: Michelle L. Cullen
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (January 27, 2026)

Description: A cranky widower and his spirited caregiver team up to solve his neighbor’s murder in this charming and original mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.

Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars, nose-deep in his neighbors’ affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back into the world.

Fate intervenes when Harry’s mysterious neighbor, Sue, phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue’s house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma insists on going along for the ride. Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry’s quaint condominium community—putting them both in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.

My Thoughts: Harry Lancaster is recently widowed and broke his hip. He fears that his days as an adventuring anthropologist are behind him. Emma is his carer as he recovers. She is a former critical care nurse who burned out on that career and isn't sure what comes next. She is engaged to a childhood friend and is having second thoughts. However, she is also being pushed into the marriage by her mother who is sure Blake is the perfect man for her.

When Harry receives a distress call from a nearby neighbor in the close condominium community where he lives, he and Emma rush to Sue's aid. However, they arrive too late. Harry and Emma suspect that Sue's death was not an accident, but the police have written it off.

Harry and Emma begin their own investigation of the people in the condo community and discover that quite a few of them are keeping secrets. They also learn that Sue was also aware of the secrets and blackmailing some of the residents.

As Harry and Emma investigate, they not only learn about the community but learn a lot about themselves and what they want for their futures.

This was an engaging story filled with interesting characters. I enjoyed it.

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

Monday, January 19, 2026

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (January 19, 2026)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was a nice winter week. We hit a high temperature of 38F on the 12th and 37 on the 13th. We also got 7 inches on new snow over the course of the week. However, our warm days are ending. High temperatures next week are going to be staying below zero. Naturally, this is the week when I need to get out for my annual eye exam.

The eye exam is the only thing on my schedule for the week. I am looking forward to staying in and reading and listening. My brother's schedule for the week means no new recipes until possibly the weekend. Last week's recipes both went over well. The No Peek Beef reminded me of stew without the vegetables. The Italian Sausage soup was so good that my brother demanded I write down the recipe so that he has the option of making it again. I found that recipe on Facebook. The website where it resides makes me jump through too many hoops before being able to print. I just went to the site and followed the recipe there.

Since there was an Amazon Double Points day this week, I broke my book buying ban to get a couple of books I had on my "Books I'm Waiting For" collection at Amazon. I added them to my reading calendar for March. I don't have any books from 2026 yet that are adding to the "I have no idea when I'll read them" TBR. I also added nine more review copies which have release dates spanning from March to August.

With my first DNF Review book of the year, I slotted in a thriller from my 2025 TBR stack which leaves "only" 221 books to read someday.

Read Last Week

Innocent in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- In Death Book 24
Creation in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- In Death Book 25
Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan (Review, February 10) -- Contemporary romance set in Northern Michigan. My review will be posted on February 3.

Strangers in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- In Death Book 26
Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer (Review, February 10) -- Young Enola Holmes finds her next case when she rescues a young woman who has been buried alive. My review will be posted on February 3.
Salvation in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- In Death Book 27

Promises in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread) -- In Death Book 28
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (Review, February 10) -- Newest in the Orphan X thriller series. My review will be posted on February 4.
From a High Tower by Mercedes Lackey (Audiobook, Mine since September 28, 2021) -- Tenth book in the Elemental Masters series. Riff on Rapunzel set in Victorian Times. My review will be posted on February 6.

DNF

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson (Review, February 10) -- First DNF of 2026. I abandoned this one at 21%. The writing style and subject matter weren't catching my attention.

Currently

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner (Kindle, Mine since July 8, 2025) -- Calendar spot replacement for DNF review copy
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera (Review, February 10)
Agent of Change by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Author read along) -- No progress this week since the author was ill and is finishing the draft of her newest book.

Next Week

Half City by Kate Golden (Review, February 17)
The Reckless Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Audiobook, Mine since December 267, 2025)
First Sign of Danger by Kelley Armstrong (Review, February 17)

Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove (Review, February 17)
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook, Mine since October 14, 2025)
Jolene by Mercedes Lackey (Kindle, Mine since November 18, 2025)

Reviews Posted

Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews (Audiobook, Mine)
The River Knows by Amanda Quick (Audiobook, Mine)
Enchanted by Nora Roberts (Audiobook, Mine)

Outfoxed by David Rosenfelt (Mine)
The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Audiobook, Mine)
Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill (Audiobook, Mine)

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

Review:

Missing by E. A. Jackson (Review, March 17)
The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C. L. Miller (Review, March 17)
The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly (Review, March 31)

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin (Review, April 28)
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray (Review, June 23)
Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (Review, June 23)

Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (Review, July 7)
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan (Review, August 11)
For Services Rendered by Will Thomas (Review, August 18)

Bought:

No One Knew by Kendra Elliot (Kindle and Audiobook Add-On, Gift Cards and $5.18)
Fire Must Burn by Allison Montclair (Kindle, Kindle Rewards, Gift Card)
Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer (Kindle & Audiobook, Gift Card and $5.33)

What was your week like?

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Audiobook Review: Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill

Ember Eternal
Author: Chloe Neill

Narrator: Imani Jade powers
Series: Souls Burn Brightest (Book 1)
Publication: Ace (November 25, 2025); Penguin Audio (November 25, 2025)

Length: 15 hours 7 minutes

Description: A new romantasy, following a thief whose dramatic encounter with an assassin and a crown bodyguard (who has dangerous secrets to keep) launches her into a world of swirling palace intrigue, from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill.

Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free.

While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability, and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage.

My Thoughts: Fox is a thief in the city of Stronghold. She's an indentured servant to a woman who sells her services to make money. When she is in the market one day looking for marks who can afford to lose a coin, she spots and spoils an assassination attempt on the new ruling prince. She uses her magical ability to see the Aetheric.

Fox soon finds herself allied with the guard whom she helped save the prince despite her disdain for the royal rulers. She discovers that someone is using the aetheric to try to overthrow the ruling family.

Fox was an interesting character. She is a thief with morals and a woman who longs for freedom to make her own choices. She also has a rare magical ability to see the aetheric. She's had the ability since the childhood she doesn't remember, but the ability mostly brings her pain.

This is a romance as Fox falls for the bodyguard she helped thwart the assassination attempt. But he is a man keeping secrets which affect her choices and may constrict her future freedom.

This was an engaging story with intriguing characters. I liked the setting and the worldbuilding.

I bought this one on publication day. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, January 16, 2026

Friday Memes: Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill

Happy Friday!

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:

We were servants by fate, sisters by choice, and thieves by skill and practice. And we were looking for coins to steal.

Friday 56:

"It's beautiful. Who owns this land?"

"According to the Emperor Eternal, he does. He demands half of everything the stronghold makes."

This week I am spotlighting Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill. It is the first in a new romantacy series. Here is the description from Amazon:

A new romantasy, following a thief whose dramatic encounter with an assassin and a crown bodyguard (who has dangerous secrets to keep) launches her into a world of swirling palace intrigue, from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill.

Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free.

While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability, and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Audiobook Review: Enchanted by Nora Roberts

Enchanted
Author: Nora Roberts
Narrator: Alexander Cendese
Series: The Donovan Legacy (Book 4)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (March 15, 2014)
Length: 6 hours and 16 minutes

Description: Lovely, guileless Rowan Murray was drawn to darkly enigmatic Liam Donovan with a force she'd never imagined could exist. But before Liam could give Rowan his love, he first had to trust her with the incredible truth about himself…and his family.

My Thoughts: Rowan Murray comes to rural Oregon to spend time in a friend's cabin and evaluate her life's choices. She's a schoolteacher because her parents steered her that way. She is engaged to a friend her parents approve of. But she's a dreamer with some artistic talent but with a low sense of self-esteem.

Liam Donovan is her nearest neighbor. He's a witch with a talent for shapeshifting with a wolf being his preferred form.

The two are immediately attracted. Liam is concerned about falling for a woman who doesn't have faerie blood since he's in line to rule his people. He's willing to commit everything to her except his heart.

Rowan has some hidden strength of character that develops the long she's away from her San Francisco home. Having just pieces of Liam isn't enough for her which provides the tension in this love story.

I bought this one at Chirp May 12, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens

The Brazen Bride
Author: Stephanie Laurens

Narrator: Simon Prebble
Series: The Black Cobra Quartet (Book 3)
Publication: Avon (June 17, 2010); HarperAudio (June 29, 2010)

Length: 13 hours and 36 minutes

Description: Four officers of the Crown, aided by Bastion Club member and Cynster alike, fight to bring down a dangerous enemy - and to win the loves of their lives ...

Logan Monteith's mission got off to a shaky start. Wounded in battle, he jumped from his ship rather than risk losing evidence that would bring down a traitor. But as he recuperates in a tiny village, his luck takes a roundabout turn as his fascination with his rescuer, the beautiful Linnet Trevission, grows.

Linnet's strength and wisdom have made her a respected leader at home. That's why she knows she'll be invaluable to Logan - if only he'll let her in. Linnet has no doubt that Logan is the man for her. Her only battle now is in convincing him that the connection they feel is real and everlasting and that her offer of help can save him - before it's too late.

My Thoughts: Logan Montieth is one of four officers of the Crown tasked with the mission of bringing a document from India to England. The document identifies the Black Cobra who has been causing major problems in India. Naturally, the agents of the Black Cobra don't want the message to reach its intended target. The four men split up and take different paths back to England.

Logan is on a ship in the English Channel when he is attacked by the fanatics of the Black Cobra. There is a storm and he is injured, but he finds his way to Guernsey where he is rescued by Linnet Trevission who is the lord of the manor. Logan has lost his memory as a result of a blow to the head.

He and Linnet fall in love. Linnet doesn't have any hopes for a long-term relationship. She's fixed on Guernsey and knows that Logan will leave once he recovers his memory. Logan, however, feels like he's finally found a home and has no intention of abandoning it even after his memory returns.

The two wind up in England on the run from the cultists and meeting up with various members of the Cynsters and Bastion club members as they make their way to the persons who need Logan's message. Linnet's interactions with the women associated with the Cynsters and Bastion club members show her the way that she can make her relationship with Logan work.

This one was a very spicy story. Logan and Linnet's relationship begins as an intensely physical one. I enjoyed that part of the story but liked adventure part of the story more.

I bought this one August 6, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Book Review: Outfoxed by David Rosenfelt

Outfoxed
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 14)
Publication: Minotaur Books (July 19, 2016)

Description: Defense lawyer Andy Carpenter spends as much time as he can working on his true passion, the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization he runs. Lately, Andy has been especially involved in a county prison program where inmates help train dogs the Tara Foundation has rescued to make them more adoptable, benefiting both the dogs and the prisoners. One of the prisoners Andy has been working with is Brian Atkins, who has 18 months left on a 5-year term for fraud. Brian has been helping to train Boomer, an adorable fox terrier the Tara Foundation rescued from a neglectful owner. Brian and Boomer are clearly a terrific match. In fact, Andy hopes that Brian will adopt Boomer himself, once his sentence is up. But one day, Andy arrives at the prison to discover that Brian has used Boomer to make an ingenious escape, and man and dog are both in the wind. The next day, the man on whose testimony Brian was convicted is found murdered. Brian is caught and arrested for the crime, though he forcefully protests his innocence. Suddenly, Andy finds himself with a new client in Brian and a new dog in Boomer. And as he starts to dig deeper into the murder and the events leading up to it, Andy realizes he might be putting them all in far more danger than anyone had realized.

My Thoughts: The fourteenth book in the Andy Carpenter series has reluctant lawyer Andy handling the murder case of one the convicts who takes part in his dog training program at a local prison. Brian Atkins has only 18 months left in his term for fraud. He escapes from prison bringing Boomer with him and then is seen fleeing the home of his former partner who lies murdered inside along with the body of Brian's ex-wife.

Brian feels guilty for not being able to save his ex-wife and is going to plead guilty even though he didn't commit the murders. Andy convinces him to plead innocent even though it will mean coming out of his self-imposed retirement.

Andy's investigation into Brian's partner and ex-wife and the tech company they founded leads to crimes by local mobster Dominic Petrone. Everyone in law enforcement would like to get something on Petrone and put him away. Andy finds the way. The only problem is that nothing he finds will help in his current trial or help to prove Brian didn't kill his partner and ex-wife.

I enjoyed this story. Andy has a wonderful, snarky way of telling his own story. I like the variety of side characters including Andy's accountant who'd love to be a PI, his pessimistic partner Huck, and ever inscrutable Marcus. I also enjoy Andy's relationships with his wife Laurie and newly adopted son Ricky.

I bought this one September 29, 2023. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Audiobook Review: The River Knows by Amanda Quick

The Rivers Know
Author: Amanda Quick
Narrator: Ashford MacNab
Publication: Tantor Audio (February 21, 2023)
Length: 10 hours and 18 minutes

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick comes a delightful romp filled with breathtaking suspense, dazzling wit, and steamy Victorian passion . . .

The first kiss occurred in a dimly lit hallway on the upper floor of Elwin Hastings's grand house. Louisa Bryce never saw it coming. Of course, handsome, wealthy Anthony Stalbridge couldn't possibly have had romantic intentions. The kiss was merely meant to distract the armed guard about to catch the two unlikely sleuths. After all, the only thing these two interlopers have in common is a passionate interest in uncovering the dastardly secrets of Mr. Hastings—a prominent member of society whom they suspect of murder.

Brought together by their desire for the truth, Anthony and Louisa finally discover the incriminating evidence they're looking for. But bringing Hastings to justice will be more perilous than they anticipate, especially since their thrilling attraction to danger—and, it turns out, to each other—might very well get in the way . . .

My Thoughts: This late Victorian romantic suspense title follows Mrs. Louisa Bryce and Mr. Anthony Stalbridge. They meet in the upper hallway of Elwin Hasting's home when they are both intent on searching his bedroom. Louisa wants information about the whorehouse he owns. Anthony is looking for proof that Hastings murdered his fiancée. A close encounter with a guard leads to a heated kiss.

Louisa is under the impression that Anthony is a high-class jewel thief and wants to hire him to help her break into Hastings's safe. Anthony in not a jewel thief but has the advantage of his father having invented the safe where Hastings's secrets are held.

Anthony stashes Louisa in his carriage and returns to the house to open the safe where he discovers his fiancée's necklace and some papers. The papers are evidence that Hastings was, among other things, a blackmailer and fraudster.

The pair teams up to find the information each needs and find themselves in danger from Hastings's henchmen. They fall in love while trying to solve their mysteries. But Louisa fears that Anthony could ever love her since she is holding a terrible secret of her own.

This was an entertaining mystery with interesting characters and a great setting.

I bought this one at Chirp October 3, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

Toucan Keep a Secret
Author: Donna Andrews
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Series: Meg Langslow Mysteries (Book 23)
Publication: Dreamscape Media (August 7, 2018)
Length: 9 hours and 11 minutes

Description: Meg Langslow is at Trinity Episcopal locking up after an event and checking on the toucan that Rev. Robyn Smith is fostering in her office. After hearing a hammering in the crypt, Meg finds an elderly parishioner lying dead on the floor. Several niches have been chiseled open, several urns knocked out, and amid the spilled ashes is a gold ring with a huge red stone.

The curmudgeonly victim had become disgruntled with the church and ranted all over town about taking back his wife's ashes. Did someone who had it in for him follow him? Or was the motive grave robbery? Or did he see someone breaking in and investigate? Why was the ruby left behind?

While Chief Burke investigates the murder, Robyn recruits Meg to contact the families of the people whose ashes were disturbed. During this task, Meg discovers clues that indicate that a thief broke into the church to steal the toucan the night of the murder, so Meg decides to set a trap for the would-be toucan thief...who might also be the killer.

My Thoughts: While the Reverend Robyn Smith is on maternity leave and on bedrest, Meg Langslow is one of the ones who are keeping their parish running. Meg is closing and locking things up one evening when she sees a light in the crypt. Investigating shows her a number of the niches used for cremated remains have been broken into and a curmudgeonly parishioner is lying dead on the floor. A gold ring with a large ruby is also on the floor among the cremains.

As Meg acts as Robyn's delegate to visit the family members of the people in the disturbed niches, she finds that many of them had some connection to a jewel robbery many years earlier. Between interviewing family to find out their wishes for their loved ones remains, Meg is deep into solving the mystery of the old jewel robbery.

Adding to the intrigue (and bringing in the usual bird subplot) is the toucan who has been living in Robyn's office while its owner is deployed. The killer seems to be afraid that the toucan saw something and might be able to repeat it. Apparently, the killer is among the many who don't know that toucans can't talk.

This was another fun episode in a long-running series. I enjoy the characters. I like Meg's practical common sense which contrasts nicely with her father's flights of fancy and sudden enthusiasms. I also like watching Meg and Michael's twins grow up through these stories. They are still preteens in this one.

I bought this one at an Audible sale December 5, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Monday, January 12, 2026

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (January 12, 2026)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

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 quiet winter week for me. I didn't leave the house and had lots of time for listening and reading. The weather has been warmer than usual for us resulting in a lot of foggy days. Ice fog is kind of pretty as long as you don't have to drive anywhere.

After reading the ARC of Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb, I switched from listening to the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series to the In Death series again. This coming week should see me reading a lot of February review copies interspersed with listening to more of the In Death series.

I also plan on trying two new recipes that I found while looking at Facebook. One is an Italian pasta soup, and the other is No Peek Beef Tips. Both sounded good for the depths of winter eating. I find myself saving a lot of recipes while looking at my Facebook feed. Mostly they are bread recipes though, and I haven't tried many of them yet.

I have sort of put myself on a book buying ban since the start of 2026. I have only purchased two books so far and one of them is already on my February reading calendar and the other is on the March calendar. Both of the new books are actually rereads of books from my Keeper stacks but in a new format. One is an audiobook, and the other is a Kindle copy.