WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN DECEMBER 2021?

What are you planning to read in December?

📌 - ★
Carol's December Reads
📌Playing Nice - J.P. Delaney - 5★ (Pick A Winner Make A Friend)
📌So, This Is Christmas - Josh Lanyon - 5+★
📌Kings of The Mountain - Morgan Brice - 4★
📌Old Flames - Jack Ketchum - 2.5★
📌The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom - 4★
📌Bad Idea - Max Walker - 4.5★
📌When the Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica - 3★
📌Not That I Could Tell - Jessica Strawser - 3.5★
📌The Last Place You Look - Kristen Lepionka - 4★
📌Magic Hour - Kristin Hannah - 3★
📌Black and Blue - Anna Quindlen -3.5★
📌Sailor Proof - Annabeth Albert - 5★
📌Better Not Pout - Annabeth Albert –(Washington) - 4.5★
📌Hollow House - Greg Chapman -5★
📌Purgatory - Ken Bruen -4★
📌Grave Measures - R.R. Virdi - 5★
📌Crossroads - Riley Hart - 5★
📌Mystery at the Masquerade Josh Lanyon- 5★
📌A Cup of Joe - Annabeth Albert -3.5★
📌Darling Rose Gold - Stephanie Wrobel - 2.5★
📌The Dickens with Love - Josh Lanyon -5★
📌Arctic Sun - Annabeth Albert - 4.5★
📌Arctic Wild - Annabeth Albert - 4★
📌Arctic Heat - Annabeth Albert -4.5★
📌Out of Character - Annabeth Albert - 4.5★
📌The Burnings - Julian Lees - 4★
📌The Resting Place - Camille Sten - 3.5★
📌Inside Out - Andrew Grey - 4★
📌Out Behind The Barn - Chad Lutzke - 3★
📌Purrfect Murder - Nic Saint - 4★
📌Trust With A Chaser - Annabeth Albert -4★
📌Creature - Hunter Shea - 3.5★
📌Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris - 3★
📌The Ruin - Dervla McTiernam 3★
📌Bunnicula - Deborah Howe- 5★
📌Tender With A Twist - Annabeth Albert - 4.5 ★
📌Georgina - Blair Howard - 5★
📌Still Midnight - Denise Mira 4★
📌Small Spaces - Katherine Arden - 4★
📌New Leaf - Andrew Grey- 5★
📌The Celery Stalks at Midnight - James Howe- 5★
📌The Howliday Inn - James Howe - 5★

Old Flames - Jack Ketchum
2.5 ★

The book actually consists of two novellas. Be warned that they are both nasty, dark, wretched, and twisted. There is a disclaimer attached to the description that reads “This novel contains graphic content and is recommended for regular readers of horror novels.” Of course, that’s like telling a 16-year-old kid that the R rated movie they have managed to get themselves into unnoticed ...is “for adults only”. Bet a lot of copies of this were sold to folks just wanting to see what “graphic content” the “regular horror genre readers” were reading that they weren’t. The first novella... "Old Flames" is very much in the style of "Fatal Attraction" but without the typical Hollywood ending and the ‘bunny scene” ... although there was something almost as bad to replace it. Dora finds her old high school boyfriend, Jim. She finds out that he's married with two children but she's not about to let that stop her. The second one..."Right to Life"… believe it or not, is the better of the two. Sara is taken outside of an abortion clinic and held captive by a couple intent on taking her baby. I read a lot of books that could be considered “strange "and “unusual ", but this was almost too much for me. The subject matter is extremely dark and believe me ... it's not for everyone. I understand from other people that this is typical fare for Jack Ketchum books. I had another of his books on my reading list for December but I think I’ll by-pass it. I believe the rest of December will be much better.

When The Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica - (Illinois)
3★
Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known. Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined. Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?

The book is a slow burn with not a lot of action happening for most of the book. The majority of the story is about Jessie's grief following her mother's death, her insomnia, and trying to find out who she really is. Throughout the story we hear the viewpoints from Eden...Jessie's mother...and Jessie, herself. The "twist" at the end felt disappointing. As I was reading, I kept thinking that there was something that would tie everything together and that I must be missing that unifying "thing". At the end it was a letdown for me. I do have to say that I have loved everything that I have read by this author. This one just wasn’t as good as I remembered her others being. The book had enough redeeming qualities so as not to be, in any way, a waste of time.

Kings of The Mountain - Morgan Brice - (North Carolina)
4★
Fast cars. Outlaw country boys. Snarky werewolves, vengeful ghosts, and menacing monster. Dawson King’s family has been hunting things that go bump in the night in Transylvania County, North Carolina, since before the Revolutionary War. Dawson was never happier than when he was racing his souped-up Mustang along winding mountain roads and hunting monsters with his best friend, Grady. Then Grady fell in love with him, which should have been perfect since Dawson had already fallen hard for Grady...but Grady was only seventeen, and Dawson feared that sooner or later, Grady would realize his feelings were just a first crush, and then he’d be gone, leaving Dawson devastated. They both needed space to figure things out, so Dawson joined the army, while Grady stayed on the mountain. Four years later, Dawson is coming home. He’s sure that Grady is his forever love, and they’ve both agreed to begin this new aspect of their relationship as soon as Dawson gets back. When Grady’s father is killed in a werewolf hunt gone wrong. Grady is devastated, and he’s throwing mixed signals about moving forward. Dawson knows he needs to hold off on this new thing between them until Grady has time to grieve...but monsters never sleep, and one hunt after another throws Dawson and Grady into constant danger, while tension and unresolved feelings ripple between them. . Making it even harder...Dawson’s got a secret. He’s dreamed of death omens...which point to something stalking Grady. Can Dawson figure out who’s trying to kill Grady...save his life...and win back his heart? Plenty of mutual pining, hurt/comfort, spooky chills, sexy thrills, and a very happy ending

I love Morgan Brice’s books and her characters. I’ve read her “Witchbane” and “Badlands” series at least 5 times since I discovered her work, and I will more than likely read her “Treasure Trail” series as many times or more. The concept of this series is excellent, as usual...but some of the things that I found a little annoying here was the use of some of the frequent flashbacks to the past between Dawson and Grady. They became distracting and I began to find them even boring at times since the information was given again later, and sometimes more than once. The characters of Dawson and Grady are sexy as all get out...as we would expect...but the distress that Dawson put Grady through saying that he's trying not to push him too fast was a little hard to understand. Grady had spent 4 long, miserable years waiting for Dawson, who knew what their feelings were for one another but made the choice to join the army and go on what amounted to a suicide mission anyway. I felt that Dawson’s “waiting” was more for himself than it was for Grady. I found myself thinking as I read, that the entire story could have used a little more pulling together. I have never encountered this before in any of Morgan Brice’s books, and I have never given anything that I have read that she has written less than 5 stars. I’m going to continue this series...but I hope that the things that bothered me about this, the first book in this series, is just a “first time fluke”. I really, really, really enjoy this author and will certainly move along to the next book in the series.

Sailor Proof - Annabeth Albert - (Washington)
Shore Leave series Book #1
5★

It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won't be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome. Enter one ill-advised plan… Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he's excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It's what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So, when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all. Except it is a problem. A very big problem. When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they're caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he'd be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man.

I have read SO MANY series and standalones by this wonderful author and loved every last one of them...so I was...to say the least... excited to see a new book and a new series by Annabeth Albert. SAILOR PROOF sets the tone for another great character driven military romance series. The two main characters are really cute and sweet together. Though they start out as a fake relationship it quickly moves into a secret fling. They work through family and distance with lots of love and a new chance at happiness for both of them... but when Derrick is called away it will be a new test of their growing relationship. I really liked how the author allowed Derrick and Arthur to find their “happily ever after”. I can't wait for more books in this series. My two friends that supply me with these books are now letting me read them FIRST. Good guys...think I’ll keep them.

Purrfect Murder - Nic Saint (Alabama)
Mysteries of Max #1
4.5★
There’s something special about Max. He may look like your regular ginger flabby tabby, but unlike most tabbies, he can actually communicate with his human, reporter for the Hampton Cove Gazette Odelia Poole. Max takes a keen interest in the goings-on in their small town, by snooping around with his best friends Dooley, a not-too-bright ragamuffin, and Harriet, a gorgeous white Persian. Their regular visits to the police station, the barbershop and the doctor’s office provide them with those precious and exclusive scoops that have made Odelia the number one reporter in town. But when suddenly the body of a bestselling writer is discovered buried in the last Long Island outhouse, and a new policeman arrives in town to solve the murder, it looks like things are about to change in Hampton Cove. Detective Chase Kingsley doesn’t take kindly to nosy reporters like Odelia snooping around his crime scene or interviewing his suspects. And to make matters worse, he’s got a cat of his own in Brutus, a buff, black bully, who, just like his owner, likes to lay down the law. Soon Brutus isn’t just restricting access to the police station, but he’s putting the moves on Harriet, breaking up the band. Now it’s all Odelia, Max and Dooley can do to try and solve the murder, in spite of Detective Kingsley’s and Brutus’s protestations, and show the overbearing cop and his bullyragging feline how things are done in Hampton Cove. Will Odelia find the killer before Detective Kingsley does? And will Max prevent Brutus from moving in on his territory and taking over the town?

I won this from my library in a raffle give-away. It wasn't my favorite genre (cozy mystery) ...but look at that little orange, furry face and tell me how I couldn't have not taken Max home! I read it in one night. It's a fun little mystery. Talking animals are always entertaining. My cat talked to me and let me know exactly what she thought of the human race all the time...so I can imagine how these felines must have been lots of help to the reporter and the cop that were butting heads trying to solve the murder. The author also improved my grasp of the English language with some words I had never heard of. He must have either had a thesaurus or was an English major. I had no idea what “preprandial” meant ... so but I looked it up. It means "done or taken before dinner or lunch". Why he couldn't just say that I don't know. Overall...it's just non-stop fun from start to finish.

Out of Character - Annabeth Albert
True Colors series Book #2
4.5★
Jasper Quigley is tired of being everyone's favorite sidekick. He wants to become the hero of his own life, but that's not going to happen if he agrees to help out his former best friend turned king of the jocks, Milo Lionetti. High school was miserable enough, thanks, and Jasper has no interest in dredging up painful memories of his old secret crush. But Milo's got nowhere else to go. His life is spiraling out of control and he's looking to turn things back around. Step one? Replace the rare Odyssey cards he lost in an idiotic bet. Step two? Tell his ex-best-friend exactly how he feels―how he's always felt. Jasper may be reluctant to reopen old wounds, but he never could resist Milo. There's a catch, though: if Milo wants his help, he's going to have to pitch in to make the upcoming children's hospital charity ball the best ever. But as the two do cosplay for the kids and hunt for rare cards, nostalgia for their lost friendship may turn into something even more lasting.

This is a continuation of the gaming theme with new characters with appearances by the characters from the first book, Conventionally Yours. At probably his lowest point, Milo is in trouble...so in spite of his misgivings about what he is about to do...he reaches out to Jasper...the boy he used to know and considered his best friend. I actually enjoyed this one a bit more than the first book although it felt similar perhaps because the gaming scene was continued. I have read almost everything that Annabeth Albert has written and really enjoyed them all...always feeling that the characters were friends come to visit. The characters in this series are a bit different than the characters in most M/M romances. They are younger and mostly less experienced. The covers on the books are misleading on first glance. They portray the main characters looking more like young boys rather than young men in their early to mid-twenties. That could be a turn off to some readers before they even pick the book up. The stories thus far, have been a very easy venture into a view into the gay world and features couples of all ages. Those that are uneasy with the more "in-your-face" ventures will probably be very comfortable meeting and getting to know Jasper and Milo.

Playing Nice - J.P.Delaney
5★
Pete Riley answers the door one morning and lets in a parent's worst nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, a stranger who breaks the devastating news that Pete's son, Theo, isn't actually his son - he is the Lamberts', switched at birth by an understaffed hospital while their real son was sent home with Miles and his wife, Lucy. For Pete, his partner Maddie, and the little boy they've been raising for the past two years, life will never be the same again. The two families, reeling from the shock, take comfort in shared good intentions, eagerly entwining their very different lives in the hope of becoming one unconventional modern family. But a plan to sue the hospital triggers an official investigation that unearths some disturbing questions about the night their children were switched. How much can they trust the other parents - or even each other? What secrets are hidden behind the Lamberts' glossy front door? Stretched to the breaking point, Pete and Maddie discover they will each stop at nothing to keep their family safe. They are done playing nice.

The “swapped baby” cliche story is not so cliche this time. Pete is a stay-at-home dad after his job as a freelance reporter disappears. Miles and Lucy Lambert are the wealthy parents of little David, not precocious, in fact barely aware of his surroundings. When Miles insists that the children were switched at birth at the NHS hospital, Pete can’t believe it, until they visit the Lamberts and meet David The couples form an alliance against the hospital that gave them the wrong children. Unfortunately... all is not as it seems, and it may not be the hospital that is the evil entity here. It started at a slow pace but quickly picked up. I found the book to be a thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller. Fans of thrillers will enjoy this book but be prepared for some really unexpected twists.

The Kitchen House - Kathleeen Grissom - (Virginia)
4★
Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family. In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves. Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.

This is the first book that I have read where one of the slaves, (indentured servants), was not a descendent of Africa, and I found this component gave the story an entirely different outlook. It’s told in alternating voices of “House Slave”, and then “Belle”. Lavina’s voice is heard in odd numbered chapters. Lavina is brought to the plantation after the death of her parents on a ship coming from Ireland...by the Ship's Captain who owns a tobacco plantation. There is mystery and mayhem at every turn and many surprises. Naive to the politics of color in 19th century Virginia, Lavinia is raised in a black family as she is taught to be part of the house staff on Tall Oaks plantation. As she grows up, the hard lessons of racial discrimination are taught and learned -- never easily. Author, Kathleen Grissom, does an outstanding job of writing Lavinia's conflict without moralizing, though it's also abundantly clear through the tale she tells is what we all know...slavery and discrimination are never, under any circumstances, acceptable.

December Reading Plan

Mystery

🎋 19th Christmas - James Patterson - 3.5 Stars - 12/17/21 - set in San Francisco, California
🎋 Bad Things Happen - Harry Dolan - 4 Stars - 12/29/21 -set in Michigan
🎋 Christmas Crazy - Kathi Daley - 3 Stars - 12/16/21 - set in Nevada
🎋 Clue for the Puzzle Lady - Parnell Hall - 3 Stars - 12/28/21 - set in Connecticut
🎋 Exit Strategy -Kelley Armstrong - 3.5 Stars - 12/12/21 - set in Canada
🎋 Finding Claire Fletcher -Lisa Regan - 4 Stars - 12/3/21 - set in Carolina
🎋 Holiday in Death - J. K. Robb - 4.5 Stars - 12/15/21 - set in New York
🎋 His Right Hand - Mette Ivie Harrison - 3.5 Stars - 12/7/21 - set in Utah
🎋 Hunting Wives - May Cobb - 3.5 Stars - 12/1/21 - set in Texas
🎋 In Her Tracks - Robert Dugoni - 4 Stars - 12/9/21 - set in Washington state
🎋 Midnight in Death - J. D. Robb - 4 Stars - 12/2/21 - set in New York City
🎋 Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-off - Darci Hannah - 4 Stars - 12/24/21 - set in Michigan
🎋 Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes - Diane Chamberlain - 5 Stars - 12/5/21 - set in North Carolina
🎋 Shakespeare's Christmas - Charlaine Harris - 3 Stars - 12/11/21 - set in Arkansas
🎋 Snobbery with Violence - Marion Chesney - 4 Stars - 12/6/21 - set in England
🎋 Twisted Lies - Angela Marsons - 4 Stars - 12/18/21 - set in England
🎋 What I've Done - Melinda Leigh - 4.5 Stars - 12/27/21 - set in New York

Other

🎋 600 Hours of Edward - Craig Lancaster - 4.5 Stars - 12/10/21 - set in Billings, Montana
🎋 Adventures of a South Pole Pig - Chris Kurtz - 5 Stars - 12/23/21 - set in Antarctica
🎋 Christmas Pig - J. K. Rowling - 4.5 Stars - 12/13/21 - set in the Land of Lost Things
🎋 Cowboy Christmas Blues - Maisey Yates - 3 Stars - 12/19/21set in Oregon
🎋 Hygge Holiday - Rosie Blake - 4 Stars - 12/22/21 - set in England
🎋 Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman - 4 Stars - 12/13/21 - set in England
🎋 Matzah Ball - Jean Meltzer - 4 Stars - 12/21/21 - set in New York
🎋 Mooseletoe - Tiffinie Helmer - 3 Stars - 12/20/21 - set in North Pole, Alaska
🎋 Never Say Duke - Erica Ridley - 3 Stars - 12/28/21 - set in England
🎋 Once Upon a Duke - Erica Ridley - 3 Stars - 12/28/21 - set in England
🎋 Rose Bride of Colorado - Margery Scott - 3.5 Stars - 12/20/21 - set in Colorado
🎋 Sleigh Bells Ring - RaeAnne Thayne - 3 Stars - 12/14/21 - set in Wyoming
🎋 These is My Words - Nancy Turner - 4.5 Stars - 12/4/21 - set in Arizona
🎋 A View Most Glorious - Regina Scott - 4.5 Stars - 12/8/21 - set in Washington State
🎋 Victoria: Bride of Kansas - E. E. Burke - 3.5 Stars - 12/16/21 - set in Kansas
🎋 Wolf Stalker - Gloria Skurzynski - 3.5 Stars - 12/20/21

Inside Out - Andrew Grey - (Pennsylvania)
Bronco Boys series Book #1
4★
Former mercenary Bull Krebbs now heads up security at his nightclub in Harrisburg, PA. Working the door night after night, he's seen it all. Though tough on the outside, he's a little hurt that people find him unapproachable. Then he pulls a cute guy out of line to perform a random search, and he's surprised by the reaction he receives. Zach Spencer, graphic artist, isn't intimidated by Bull. He's in awe, and when Bull saves Zach from being trampled on the dance floor, Zach finds his inspiration for the superhero in his graphic novel. Soon Zach wants more and makes his move by asking Bull on a date. Though small, he has a backbone of steel. He'll need it―their happily ever after is thwarted at every turn, including by Bull's interloping mother showing up unannounced and enemies from Bull's past threatening to pull him to the other side of the world.

The story had a little too much drama issues thrown in for an effect that really went nowhere. Bull's mother is a typical homophobe, but her "turn around" was too fast to seem realistic. An ex-client of Bull's that's not taking no for an answer shows up in his kitchen and it also goes nowhere. Another mercenary comes to convince Bull to take a job and goes away when he was told no, He then returns to try to get Bull to pay him when the client won't, and Zach takes the matter into his own hands. What we had previously learned about Zak...also made that a bit unrealistic. Not that it couldn’t have happened...we just had had no real explanation...not before or after. Zach gets some closure in his own life learning the truth about his parent's death and coming to terms with some of his family and the community banishing him some time ago. Zack’s uncle is just a mean, self-rigorous, hard-nosed, spiteful character, and his treatment of Zach was horrendous...to put it mildly...but again mild-mannered Zach. comes out on top. All the “going nowhere” drama didn't bother me very much or take away anything important from the story. I’ve read a lot of Andrew Grey’s books and they are always very good, and his characters always get their "happy ever after"...not to mention that I really liked the slow romance between Bull and Zach.

So This Is Christmas - Josh Lanyon (California)
Adrien English series Book #6
5+★
God Help You Merry Gentlemen... Arriving home early after spending Christmas in jolly old England, sometime amateur sleuth Adrien English discovers alarming developments at Cloak and Dagger Books--and an old acquaintance seeking help in finding his missing boyfriend.... Fortunately, Adrien just happens to know a really good private eye..

It’s a charming, almost, novella that fans of the Adrien English mystery series have been wanting to read for a very long time. It’s sort of a standalone story, but really, it isn’t....if that makes any sense:) The mystery has a great “missing person” plot, that works very well by itself... but the point of the novella is totally...Adrien and Jake. If you haven’t read the first 5 books and are into their emotional arc... go find those 5 books and read them... BEFORE you tackle this one...or you will miss most of the joy of watching them grasp the happy ending that neither expected to ever have. The last major entry in this story was the fifth book of the Adrien English mystery series, “The Dark Tide.” When we left the couple, major changes had occurred. Jake was out to the world...was divorcing his wife, who he never should have married in the first place...and had started his own business as a private investigator. Adrien has survived heart surgery...adopted a cat, or the cat adopted him...and for better or for worse, has accepted Jake back into his life. The novella, however, does not pick up from that point. We join them about six months later, after a Christmas trip to London with Adrien’s family. As they settle back into their rhythms at home, we see that life is good... but not perfect. They love each other deeply, but they occasionally overstep the other’s hard lines. Their vulnerabilities are exposed, and it leaves them open to defensive error. Still, watching them navigate around each other’s “soft spots” and handle their own weaknesses is a satisfying contrast to the secrecy, lies, and pain that defined their relationship in the past. Ultimately, I think the focus on their commitment as a couple, and their efforts to make the relationship thrive, explains why the timing...immediately after Christmas...worked so well. This holiday isn’t just a time for family, food, gifts, and good cheer; it can also be a time for cementing bonds. Even though there were some hot romantic scenes... the heartbeats of this story were the quiet moments where Adrien and Jake are not just together but are self-consciously focused on actually building a life. I really enjoyed it, but again, I’m a long-time fan of the series.... the characters.... and this wonderful author. I do so hope that Josh Lanyon will find it in her heart to extend this series and let us see more of Adrien and Jake as they build a life of love and happiness while still working together on the mystery part of the series that is always there.

Trust With A Chaser - Annabeth Albert - (Oregon)
Rainbow Cove series Book #1
4★
One hot cop. One bar owner out for redemption. One smoking-hot summer fling destined to leave scorch marks.... Mason Hanks has returned to Rainbow Cove, Oregon with one goal in mind: turn the struggling coastal community into a thriving LGBTQ tourism destination. Step one is transforming an old bar and grill into a gay-friendly eatery. Step two? Don't piss off Nash Flint, the very hot, very stern chief of police who's not so sure he's on board with Mason's big plans. Nash Flint just wants to keep his community safe and enjoy the occasional burger in peace. He's not big on change nor is he a fan of Mason's troublemaking family, especially his rowdy older brothers. But Mason slowly wins him over with fantastic cooking and the sort of friendship Nash has been starving for. When their unlikely friendship takes a turn for the sexy, both men try to steer clear of trouble. Nash believes he's too set in his ways for Mason, and Mason worries that his family's reputation will ruin any future with Nash. Together in secret is a surefire way to crash and burn, and discovery forces a heart-wrenching decision - is love worth the risk of losing everything?

I always enjoy how character driven Annabeth Albert's books are and this was no exception. Both Mason and Nash were likeable and a pair that you could root for. I did wonder why Mason took the abuse from his family...especially his one brother. No wonder no one in the town liked the family. Of course, the brother did get what he had coming to him eventually. Mason lost his heart quicky to Nash, the giant grumpy teddy-bear town sheriff, who was buried so deep in the proverable closet he was nearly a part of the wood structure. The book seemed to drag at times...but that's why I really don't care much for audio books. The characters voices were well done through... and Annabeth Albert can't write a bad book. The romance between these two unlikely, yet so similar warm-hearted characters was a perfect blend of everything that makes an Annabeth Albert story.

Creature - Hunter Shea - (Maine)
3.5★
The monsters live inside of Kate Woodson. Chronic pain and a host of autoimmune diseases have robbed her of a normal, happy life. Her husband Andrew’s surprise of their dream Maine lake cottage for the summer is the gift of a lifetime. It’s beautiful, remote, idyllic, a place to heal.
But they are not alone. Something is in the woods, screeching in the darkness, banging on the house, leaving animals for dead. Just like her body, Kate’s cottage becomes her prison. She and Andrew must fight to survive the creature that lurks in the dead of night.

It took me a while to decide about the rating for this one. There were things that I really liked about it and a few things that I didn't. I finally decided that the good things out won out. The reading it is not really easy...but it's also nearly impossible to put down. Though the protagonist is loaded with chronic illnesses...none of which are not a pleasant place to be. However, her marriage to Andrew is wonderful and fulfilling... warts and all. The warts are what help to make it so charming, because it's just plain real. It's a working marriage that's genuine, not "Prince Charming" and "Sugar Plum Fairies". It's a love story far more romantic than many of the romances I've read. Andrew makes choices...his wife and staying where he is when he has every opportunity to leave. This is as much a story about a relationship as it is about a monster that terrorizes a couple whose only desire is to spend a peaceful, relaxing summer. When Kate's brother and his wife arrive, the monster comes more out into the open. Kate asks of Andrew, "Promise me we can stay here forever?" Of course, neither could have predicted that something . . . else . . . might be inhabiting those very same woods and overhearing her request. Overall, it's a remarkable and unforgettable novel in so many ways. The raw emotion of the characters...the physical problems both within and without the cottage...the ultimate questions of "what, why, and how" is one that will reel you in so that you can practically feel every moment of it right up until the final, unpredictable end.

Not That I Could Tell - Jessica Stawser - (Ohio)
3.5 ★
When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal. By Monday morning, one of them is gone. Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce―and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her―and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions―especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own. As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors―and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

It’s advertised as a physiological thriller...I didn’t think that that was the case with this story. There is a mystery, but it didn’t fit the “physiological thriller” category for me. It does capture very well, the dynamics of a charming small-town world rocked by scandal. The morning after several women friends have had a night out... Kristin and her two young children...go missing. Does Kristin’s husband...from whom she’s separated... have anything to do with her and the children’s disappearance? Since the character of Kristin is already gone when we arrive at the start of the story...the reader only gets to know her through the eyes and thoughts of her neighbors and girl friends’ The character of Paul...her husband... is just “zig-zagged” enough to keep us guessing and wondering. I changed my mind about him at least a dozen times. Overall... It’s a good read and page turner.

Better Not Pout - Annabeth Albert - (Washington) 5
5★
One hard-nosed military police officer. One overly enthusiastic elf. One poorly timed snowstorm. Is it a recipe for disaster, or a once in a lifetime opportunity for holiday romance? Teddy MacNally loves Christmas and everything that goes along with it. When he plays an elf for his charity’s events, he never expects to be paired with a Scrooge masquerading as Santa Claus. His new mission: make the holiday-hating soldier believe he was born to say ho-ho-ho. Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki doesn’t do Santa, but he’s army to his blood. When his CO asks an unusual favor, Nick of course obliges. The elf to his Kris Kringle? Tempting. Too tempting—Nick’s only in town for another month, and Teddy’s too young, too cheerful and too nice for a one-night stand. The slow, sexy make-out sessions while Teddy and Nick are alone and snowbound, though, feel like anything but a quick hookup. As a stress-free holiday fling turns into Christmas all year round, Teddy can’t imagine his life without Nick. And Nick’s days on the base may be coming to a close, but he doesn’t plan on leaving anything, or anyone, behind.

I loved Teddy and Nick... two lonely people in different ways that finds something sweet and precious with one another. There is a large age gap, but they are really very suited for one another. They produce a warmth throughout the story. If you love "feel good", short, sweet stories and don’t mind the same sex couple...this is a great little book.

Bad Idea - Max Walker – (Florida)
Stonewall Investigations series Book #1
4.5★
Gabriel ‘Fox’ Morrison is starting a brand-new chapter in his life. He spent years drifting after his time in the military and finally felt ready to settle in one spot. This leads him to becoming the head detective of the recently opened Stonewall Investigations in Miami. His first case is one that not only hits close to home, but the result could have huge repercussions for more than just him and his client. It’s a case so big, he decides to enlist some help. Jonah Brightly is ending a huge chapter of his life. Him and his girlfriend have zero spark and his professional career is in shambles after an on-work incident leaves him with more than a physical scar. A new job as a private detective would be a lifeline he so badly needed. He goes in for his interview and meets Fox, the man who changes everything for him. Both of them are rocked by an unexplainable force, and both are left questioning everything they’ve known in its wake. As they form a bond through working together on the case, they learn there’s much more that brings them together than holds them apart. But can they keep fanning the flames of their newfound passion or will they be consumed by the growing fire?

It has sizzling connections with heartfelt emotion and lots intrigue and action. This book hit all the marks for a good detective story and a hot new romance. It is a terrific opening book for the series I really loved the awesome characters that we were introduced to. Many of the new detectives have lots of character to explore...and I understand that the author will carry their stories into future books. In this one we meet Gaberial “Fox” Morrison and Jonah Brightly who are really something together. The author has created a compelling storyline with a surprising bad guy and lots of twists and turns along the way. The complexity of the story was satisfying, and the development of the other detectives set me up for wanting more of this series. I cannot wait for where these stories take us next.

Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene O'Connor
4 ★

This December in Kilbane, the entire O'Sullivan brood has gone off to West Cork to spend the holidays with brother James' fiancée Elise's family, including her grandfather, the famous orchestral conductor Enda Elliot. When the O'Sullivans learn everyone will choose a name from a hat to buy a music-related Christmas gift for someone else at the gathering, it seems like their greatest concern--until the cantankerous conductor is discovered crushed under a ninety-pound harp in a local concert hall. With the extended family suspected in his murder, it's up to Siobhán to ensure the guilty party faces the music.

Listed as a cozy, I found it was more realistic than many cozies and had a pretty good mystery with a lot of suspects, which is sometimes hard to find in Christmas themed mysteries. The characters were mostly believable. I particularly liked Siobhan. She was a good detective as well as a good surrogate parent to her 5 siblings since her parents died. There was a good dose of Christmas sprinkled throughout to give me that holiday feeling. I plan to look for others in this series.

The Last Place You Look - Kristen Lepionka - (Ohio)
Roxanne Weary series Book #1
4★
Nobody knows what happened to Sarah Cook. The beautiful blonde teenager disappeared 15 years ago, the same night her parents were brutally murdered in their suburban Ohio home. Her boyfriend, Brad Stockton - black and from the wrong side of the tracks - was convicted of the murders and is now on death row. Though he's maintained his innocence all along, the clock is running out. His execution is only weeks away when his devoted sister insists that she spied Sarah at an area gas station. Willing to try anything, she hires PI Roxane Weary to look at the case and see if she can locate Sarah. Brad might be in a bad way, but private investigator Roxane Weary isn't doing so hot herself. Still reeling from the recent death of her cop father in the line of duty, her main way of dealing with her grief has been working as little and drinking as much as possible. But Roxane finds herself drawn into the story of Sarah's vanishing act, especially when she links the disappearance to one of her father's unsolved murder cases involving another teen girl. The stakes get higher as Roxane discovers that the two girls may not be the only blonde teenagers who've turned up missing or dead. As her investigation gets darker, Roxane will have to risk everything to find the truth. Lives depend on her cracking this case - hers included.

Roxane is a total mess: She has a messy love life, a messy family relationship, a job she's been phoning into since her father died. She takes Brad's case mostly because she needs the money but becomes more invested the longer she investigates. I...at some point... became more invested also. I kept rooting for Roxane, even when she tried her hardest to get in her own way. I wanted her to please do us all a favor and just figure this out. I didn't have a clue how the pieces of the case would all fit together, which became more and more obvious as all my guesses turned out to be more and more wrong...but I have to say that it was an entertaining ride the entire way.

Magic Hour - Kristen Hannah -(Washington)
3★
. In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past. Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl that she calls Alice, from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.

The book left me with a bit of disappointment, and it was not as rewarding as The Great Alone by the same author. The plot was quite unique, but the actual characters were trite. You have the typical “gorgeous sisters” and “jaw droppingly handsome men” here. The romances involved were also very predictable...there was a bedroom scene thrown in for good measure. Both “handsome men” had unrealistically emotional roles in these romances. The actual “wild child” storyline was unique and interesting...however there were a few parts that seemed far-fetched. There was a nice twist at the end, so the entire story wasn’t entirely predictable. I did like that her story was based on an interesting subject that had its roots in realism. I also liked how parts of the story was told from the child’s point of view. Overall... the book was a fun read, even though it didn’t exactly stand out as a favorite.

The Burnings - Julian Lees - (Indonesia)
Bone Ritual series Book #2
4★
A killer hides in plain sight on the crowded streets of Jakarta . . .When a woman's scorched remains are discovered in her burnt-out car, Ruud Pujasumarta and his team are brought in to investigate what appears to be a routine homicide. But when another woman's charred body is found a few days later, Ruud also finds a banner unfurled by the corpse's feet. A verse from the Quran is scribbled across it, calling for unbelievers to be burned. Suspicions that the team have a religiously motivated serial killer on their hands seem to be confirmed when a third body turns up with the same MO. But who is responsible? Is it the Australian diplomat who was obsessed with the first victim? The imam who preaches Sharia law? Or the military general taking backhanders and living a life of luxury in Jakarta? Despite the many possible suspects, Ruud is suspicious that the killer may actually be someone much closer to home, someone he has trusted for many years. What unravels next is a terrifying chain of events . . . and what Ruud discovers puts his life, and the lives of those around him in danger

One of my friends that brings me m/m romance books is a crime and police procedural enthusiast and recommended the book. Since he’s hardly ever wrong, and I had never read this author, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m really glad for the recommendation and my decision to try it. It’s a fast paced, action packed crime thriller with an intriguing, twisting plot to keep you guessing. Ruud is a great character - so focused, determined, stubborn and intelligent. The story gives an insightful look into police procedures, corruption, bureaucracy and life in Indonesia, bringing the setting vividly to life in the imagination of the reader. This story isn’t for the faint hearted. It is a blood bath with violence and crime throughout the intriguing story...a real page turner that anyone who really enjoys murder mysteries and crime stories with a twist will more than likely really enjoy.

The Resting Place - Camille Sten - (Sweden)
3.5★
Deep rooted secrets....A twisted family history.... And a house that will never let go. Eleanor lives with prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize a familiar person's face. It causes stress and acute anxiety. It can make you question what you think you know. When Eleanor walked in on the scene of her capriciously cruel grandmother, Vivianne’s, murder, she came face to face with the killer―a maddening expression that means nothing to someone like her. With each passing day, the horror of having come so close to a murderer―and not knowing if they’d be back―overtaking both her dreams and her waking moments, thwarting her perception of reality. Then a lawyer calls. Vivianne has left her a house―a looming estate tucked away in the Swedish woods. The place her grandfather died, suddenly. A place that has housed a chilling past for over fifty years. Eleanor. Her steadfast boyfriend, Sebastian. Her reckless aunt, Veronika. The lawyer. All will go to this house of secrets, looking for answers. But as they get closer to uncovering the truth, they’ll wish they had never come to disturb what rests there.

I really, really wanted to like this more. I even went back and reread some passages to see if I had just been loopy when I read it the first time...but...no. I have to admit that I may have expected it to have equaled the first book...The Lost Village. Like most thrillers of this kind, the narrative is split between the past and the present, with the past being a melodrama and the present being underwhelming. The weather keeps the characters stuck inside with a killer that might be lurking on the premises. This is as “mysterious” as it gets. This author has already blatantly demonstrated that she can produce a spine-tingling story with her first book The Lost Village. The writing is good. The plot is good. Camille Sten can indeed write, but the pacing leaves a lot to be desired. There is a prerequisite ending plot twist... (kudos to the author for that) ...and it is by no means a predictable one. I would have read whatever Sten wrote just based on the strength of that debut novel, but this book just didn't have the same effect. It isn’t terrible. It isn't unreadable by any means. It’s just so slow, so average....so unexpected from Camille Sten. It just didn't give the same feeling as the first book did. I gave it 3.5 stars because I like this author so much...and will certainly look forward to more by her. I feel that I should say that if you haven’t read her first book you will more than likely love this one having nothing to compare it to...but read her first book and I believe you’ll see and feel the difference.

Black and Blue - Anna Quindlen - (Florida)
3.5★
For eighteen years Fran Benedetto kept her secret, hid her bruises. She stayed with Bobby because she wanted her son to have a father, and because, in spite of everything, she loved him. Then one night, when she saw the look on her ten-year-old son’s face, Fran finally made a choice—and ran for both their lives. Now she is starting over in a city far from home, far from Bobby. In this place she uses a name that isn’t hers, watches over her son, and tries to forget. For the woman who now calls herself Beth, every day is a chance to heal, to put together the pieces of her shattered self. And every day she waits for Bobby to catch up to her. Bobby always said he would never let her go, and despite the ingenuity of her escape, Fran Benedetto is certain of one thing: It is only a matter of time.

You might think this topic wouldn’t be something that would make a decent book or a story that anyone would want to read... but it makes an interesting, gripping story that will have the reader literally engrossed in Fran’s life...both before and after Bobby. The protagonist and several other characters are quite likable, the elements of suspense and frustration is there in spades. You might wonder why it took Fran 10 years to have had enough and take her son and run. The reasons are anything but “simple” ... the heart of the matter is that no one would have believed her. She couldn’t go to the police because the police were already in her home...her abuser was a decorated police officer and the father of her son...so Fran runs for her life and starts a new life with a new name. and slowly things begin to fall in to place. But no matter what her friends tell her...Fran knows that Bobby will one day find them...and when he does... her life is over. I want my books to have a happy ending...but as interested as I was in the story and Fran’s life...I just wanted this one to be over. Not because it was badly written or that I wanted to see Bobby get everything he had coming to him... but because it left me feeling a bit of heartache for the life that could have been and the unfairness of it all.

The Dickens With Love - Josh Lanyon - (California)
5★
A scandal cost antiquarian book hunter James Winter everything that mattered to him. Now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition. A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants James to get that book for him--at any price. Three years ago, a scandal cost antiquarian book hunter James Winter everything that mattered to him: his job, his lover, and his self-respect. But now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition. A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants that book at any price -- and he needs James to get it for him. There's just one catch. James can't tell the nutty professor who the buyer is actually, two catches because the nutty Professor Crisparkle turns out to be totally gorgeous -- and on the prowl. Faster than you can say "Old Saint Nick," James is mixing business with pleasure -- and in real danger of forgetting that this is just a holiday romance.

This holiday novella is a total and complete delight. A tender m/m romance with also a tense little mystery underneath. James's and Sedge's story is so deliciously prepared and served that you can almost smell and taste it! The idea of a long-lost Christmas story by Charles Dickens is intriguing and fascinating. Josh Lanyon's story has all the elements to make a wonderful holiday tale, and more. After all Christmas is the time for get-togethers, laughter, peace and love, but it's also the time of stress, loneliness, bitterness and grief. This story was a hopeful one and it left me smiling happily for the rest of the day. It was all about faith, hope and love...those truly were gifts that really matter...wrapped in gold and white paper with heralding angels and tied up with a big red bow. This book just might become a Christmas tradition for me. I'll bet its magic will work every single time...and can't we all use a little magic?

Arctic Sun - Annabeth Albert - (Alaska)
Frozen Hearts series Book #1
4.5★
Ex-military mountain man Griffin Barrett likes his solitude. It keeps him from falling back into old habits. Bad habits. He’s fought too hard for his sobriety to lose control now. However, his gig as a wildlife guide presents a new kind of temptation in superhot supermodel River Vale. Nothing the Alaskan wilderness has to offer has ever called to Griffin so badly. And that can only lead to trouble… River has his own methods for coping. Chasing adventure means always moving forward. Nobody’s ever made him want to stand still—until Griffin. The rugged bush pilot is the very best kind of distraction, but the emotions he stirs up in River feel anything but casual, and he’s in no position to stay put. With temptation lurking in close quarters, keeping even a shred of distance is a challenge neither’s willing to meet. And the closer Griffin gets to River, the easier it is to ignore every last reason he should run.

The first half of the book takes places during a very special nature photography tour in Alaska, and the descriptions made me feel like I was in the heart of Alaska. River and Griff were fighting so hard to NOT be attracted to one another as both men had had problems in their past and were more than leery of inviting more even though their hearts say to go for it. It’s a beautiful story of love and healing. I love the depth that Annabeth Albert puts into her characters, and this book did not in any way disappoint in character development. It does seem to be a bit slower than her other books. That said, the story was full of deep feels and excellent plotting that made a heartwarming story in which River and Griffin learn to accept themselves and each other as they are.

Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris
Harper Connelly series Book #1
3★
A young woman possessing the ability to uncover the final location of a recently deceased individual and to share their last moments, Harper Connelly, aided by her manager, occasional bodyguard, and stepbrother Tolliver, uses her skill to find the dead.

The story is told from the perspective of the lead character, Harper...making it easy reading. I really liked the characters of Harper and Toliver along with the unique gift that Harper processes. it seems it came about as a result of her having been struck by lightning. Ever since then she has had the ability to locate dead bodies. An interesting "gift" but I believe being able to locate missing money, or lost socks in the laundry would have been a more useful gift...but alas, not a great storyline:) Harper's ability is unique and so is the way she received it. (I had to chuckle some at that) ... but it was one of the things that I liked. Also, that it was limited was a clever plotline as it leaves more room for the stories to grow and to be a bit more believable. Harper's relationship with her stepbrother, Toliver is also another good point. Overall, I believe this will be an interesting series for those that either love everything this author writes or wants something a bit more than cozy. I won't be continuing this series...not because of any fault with the story but because I like a bit more "meat" in my mysteries.

Out Behind The Barn - Chad Ludzke & John Boden
3★
“The boys crept to the window and watched as Miss Maggie carried the long bundle into the barn, the weight of it stooping her aging back. Rafter lights spilled from the barn doors and Davey saw an arm fall from the canvas-wrapped parcel. He smiled. “She got someone!” Both children grinned and settled in their beds, eyes fixed to the ceiling. This was family growth.”

It’s only 127 pages long... so to me, that makes it more of a novella. It was originally published under the title of “Aunt Maggie’s Farm” . From the very beginning you know that something insidious is going on at Maggie's Farm. Boden and Lutzke do a great job at dropping in little clues to the mystery as the story slowly reveals what is really occurring. It’s a moving tale about friendship...loss of family...and the lengths some people will go to have their version of a family. The story is also very moody and takes its time giving away its dark secrets. It has a definite Ray Bradbury feel. I do wish that it had been just a tad longer.

Arctic Wild - Annabeth Albert - (Alaska)
Frozen Hearts series Book #2
4★
Hotshot attorney Reuben Graham has finally agreed to take a vacation, when his plane suddenly plunges into the Alaskan wilderness. Just his luck. But his frustrations have only begun as he finds himself stranded with the injured, and superhot, pilot, a man who’s endearingly sociable—and much too young for Reuben to be wanting him this badly. As the sole provider for his sisters and ailing father, Tobias Kooly is devastated to learn his injuries will prevent him from working or even making it back home. So when Reuben insists on giving him a place to recover, not even Toby’s pride can make him refuse. He’s never been tempted by a silver fox before, but something about Reuben is impossible to resist. Recuperating in Reuben’s care is the last thing Toby expected, yet the closer they become, the more incredibly right it feels, prompting workaholic Reuben to question the life he’s been living. But when the pressure Toby’s under starts closing in, both men will have to decide if there’s room in their hearts for a love they never saw coming.

What I liked most about Toby & Reuben’s story was that they had real families. Reuben’s daughter was her own character, and through Toby’s dad and sister we got to see low-key prejudice against outsiders that makes some type of sense being in Alaska. I also appreciated how Albert showed Toby’s native heritage, how it affects who he is, without it feeling like a cliche. There was an actual relationship at the heart of the story. You could call this one a fun “opposites attract " story. There was a good build-up as they got to know each other. It was nice that through their narration we got to see how what they had was different from what they had known in the past. I didn’t care much for the daughter, but she had a very small part of the story. I do believe that I liked the first book more but I’m anxious see get to the 3rd book in the series, “Arctic Heat”.

Arctic Heat - Annabeth Albert - (Alaska)
Frozen Hearts series Book #3
4.5★
Owen Han has a fresh lease on life - he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail.... Ranger Quilleran Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should. As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other...while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

I have really enjoyed this short series. Each featured a different couple. This book is about Owen Han, former investment banker and cancer survivor who is fulfilling his bucket list by volunteering to spend the winter helping at a ranger station in Alaska. At the orientation he spies Ranger Quilleran Ramsey, blue-eyed, almost-silver-fox-lusciousness. Of course, being the extrovert that he is, Owen approaches him only to find out that Quill is shy to the point of being rude. They both have had past “boyfriends” who have led them to question long-term relationships. Owen is good with one night or two... whereas Quill is so far in the closet, he must have coat hangers hanging off his ears and smells of mothballs.... not to mention his bad family experiences. Don’t they all? The on again...off again of their relationship made me want to put Quill back in the closet and lock the door, but I knew that they would probably get their “happy ever after". It was just taking longer than I wanted. I have read everything that I can get my hands on by this author, Annabeth Albert is incredibly skilled at bringing her readers along for an emotional ride with all the feels...both good and bad.

Hollow House - Greg Chapman
5★
No one in Willow Street pays it any notice, not the disgruntled Campbell family next door, not Alice Cowley and her suicidal daughter, or Mr. and Mrs. Markham down the road. Not even Darryl, the loner at number seventy, who is abnormal himself, thinks much about it. It is just the old Kemper House, forgotten and abandoned. Until it makes itself known. When the stench of death wafts from Kemper House through Willow Street and comes to the attention of recent resident and newspaper reporter, Ben Traynor, it starts a chain of horrors that brings Kemper House's curse into their own homes and leads others direct to its door. Kemper House not only haunts its neighbors, but it also infects them with an evil that traverses time and reality itself.

It’s starts as a murder mystery and gradually deepens into a cosmic horror tale. It grabs the reader and hauls them across a dark and frightening abyss. One has the feeling, amidst rapidly page-turning, they are not so much making the choice to read, but rather being taken by the author’s ability to weave a compelling and terrifying narrative. It’s like not being able to close your eyes to a train wreck. Just as unsettling as the house, are the troubled inter-relations between characters. A theme of verbal/physical abuse in families and relationships occurs often. Such disorder in the character's lives is what enlivens their vulnerability to the evil that inhabits the Kemper House on Willow Street. If you really, really like haunted house stories you will love this one.

Purgatory - Ken Bruen - (Ireland)
Jack Taylor series Book #10
4★
Jack Taylor has finally found a modicum of peace. He has managed to kick, however tenuously, the substances that had a stranglehold over his life. Yet this fragile existence is threatened when a vigilante killer begins targeting citizens, signing mysterious notes with the moniker “C33” and addressing them to Jack. As Jack tries to unravel the mystery of this demented murderer, he is brought into the fold of an enigmatic tech billionaire who has been buying up massive amounts of property in Galway, seemingly in the hopes of offering this downtrodden city a better future. But if Jack has learned one thing, it’s that people who outwardly claim to be on the side of righteousness are likely harboring more nefarious motives. With the help of a former-drug-dealer-turned-zen-master and a dogged police sergeant, Jack is determined to track down “C33,” even if it jeopardizes his friends, his sobriety, and the last remaining shreds of his sanity.

Jack Taylor can't catch a break: no matter how hard he tries to avoid it, he just can't keep himself from being involved in another messy situation. First, his old clerical nemesis asks him to recover a missing Virgin Mary statue, which leads to serious injury for one of his friends. Then, a serial killer appears to be on the loose in Galway and sends cryptic messages to Jack. Before long he's involved, not only in the search for the killer, but also a connection with a very unusual billionaire financier. There's the usual action, some of it rather grisly, until the end and the identity of the killer is revealed. That's not the end of it, however, for the author has left open two plot lines, which means hopefully, we'll soon find out.

Darling Rose Gold - Stephanie Wrobel
2.5★
For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold. Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar. After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes. Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she's forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score. Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling...And she's waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

Be prepared for the subject matter. It's heavy and disturbing for lack of better words. You may have to take it in small doses. I read this in less than a day. Both the main characters... Rose Gold and Patty...were each dark, manipulative, secretive, and vengeful. Nothing to like there. They are two unique characters that you can definitely tell are related and share some unsavory characteristics. I found them both to be over the top and conniving. It was good that the story was told from both of their perspectives...although it did nothing to make me like either one of them. I do wish that we would have gotten more flashbacks from Patty’s perspective when Rose Gold was younger, I think that could have taken the reader further into her mind...but maybe it's better that her mind was a territory that we were spared. The ending was abrupt. I have to admit I was glad when I was able to close the cover.

You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs
3.5 ★

This was a book of anecdotes from the author’s life that all involved Christmas. They are sometimes funny and sometimes serious and poignant. There is a bit of raunchy here and there and a bit of disgusting in a couple of places. Although all the stories were about some type of life disaster, they kept my interest and all ended on a hopeful note.

Crossroads - Riley Hart
5★
After divorcing the woman he’d been with since he was seventeen, Nick Fuller is starting over. He owns the restaurant of his dreams and he’s determined to meet new people, find new passions, and experience life to its fullest. Easier said than done—that is until he meets his new neighbor, Bryce Tanner… Bryce is all about a good time. He plans to show Nick how it’s done, help him meet a few women, and enjoy the gift of the single life he’s been given. But things don’t go as planned, and soon they realize they’d rather be together than with anyone else. Neither man has ever wanted another guy, but there’s a connection between them from the start—a spark they can’t deny. They find themselves navigating an unfamiliar new world and dealing with unforeseen obstacles. Physical desire isn’t enough, and now Nick and Bryce are at a crossroads. They have to decide which way to go: the easy path they’ve always followed, or the one that's determined to trip them up at every turn.

It's not a real long story, but it's a story that has an interesting, though really not so unusual, twist. Two men who always considered themselves straight, falling for each other. Yes, it does sound kind of weird but deep down they eventually decide that love is love and anyone can find their soulmate whether they call themselves gay or straight. It didn't happen overnight, and they did put a lot of thought into it and tried to weigh all the pros and cons. The angst of whom to tell and the worrying of family and friends' reaction rang true to reality. I remember when our son told us he was gay. He was 15 and was so sure his father was going to have a cow. Instead, my wonderful husband listened to his son's stumbling declaration...put down the newspaper...looked his son in the eye and said "okay...don't forget to take out the trash before you go to school." I loved how most of the story consisted of Nick and Bryce actually falling in love.

Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews
3.5 ★

Christmas is coming, but Savannah antique dealer Weezie Foley is doubly distracted--both by her upcoming wedding to her longtime love, chef Daniel Stipanek and also by the fact that her best friend and maid-of-honor BeBe Loudermilk is due to give birth any day--and is still adamantly refusing to marry her live-in-love Harry.

This was a quick and easy read with sassy and likeable characters who have ups and downs in their relationships during the Christmas season. There were a few dilemmas, a few surprises and humor to make this a fun read.

Grave Measures - R.R. Virdi
The Grave Report Vol 2
5★
What do shadows darting across the walls, cryptic writing, black fog, and a little girl who can see ghosts have in common? Paranormal investigator and soul without a body, Vincent Graves, has forty-four hours to find out. To make matters worse, his years of body-hopping and monster-hunting are catching up with him. He's losing his mind. An old contact has shut him out. To top it all off, something's skulking through an asylum, killing patients. Three guesses who might be next, and the first two don't count. The writing on the wall is not so clear. But one thing is: if he doesn't figure this out, he's a dead man--well, deader--and a strange young girl might follow. Vincent's got his back against a wall, and that wall's crumbling. Some days it's not worth it to wake up in someone else's body.

This is the second book in this series and I'm sure no one that has been reading my reviews for the past 10 years is at all surprised that I haven't read the first book but instead went straight to the second one. In this one as I seem to have read in the description of the one that I skipped...the stakes again are high...even if Vincent Graves finds himself confined to an insane asylum, tracking down something that's killing patients. I loved Vincent Graves and all his quips. Sometimes it's hard to relate to Graves...like the time he denied that Cap'n Crunch is the most delicious cereal and is totally worth a little bit of mouth shredding. I personally agreed with him...but hey I'm the ones that reads series out of order...so what do I know? At any rate, Virdi has created a fantastic universe full of rich, interesting characters who are easy to root for. I found the "monsters" in this book scary, creepy and "darker" than those found in other books of the horror genre I have read. If you are a horror fan, I would certainly recommend an adventure with Vincent graves.

Better Off Dead - Lee Child & Andrew Grant
Jack Reacher series Book #26
3★

Digging graves had not been part of my plans when I woke up that morning. Reacher goes where he wants, when he wants. That morning he was heading west, walking under the merciless desert sun—until he comes upon a curious scene. A Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around. A woman is slumped over the wheel. Dead? No, nothing is what it seems. The woman is Michaela Fenton, an army veteran turned FBI agent trying to find her twin brother, who might be mixed up with some dangerous people. Most of them would rather die than betray their terrifying leader, who has burrowed his influence deep into the nearby border town, a backwater that has seen better days. The mysterious Dendoncker rules from the shadows, out of sight and under the radar, keeping his dealings in the dark. He would know the fate of Fenton’s brother. Reacher is good at finding people who don’t want to be found, so he offers to help, despite feeling that Fenton is keeping secrets of her own. But a life hangs in the balance. Maybe more than one. But to bring Dendoncker down will be the riskiest job of Reacher's life. Failure is not an option, because in this kind of game, the loser is always better off dead.

I always look forward to this series. I've read every one of them...but his might just be my last one. The one before this I forgave since it was Lee Child's brother, Andrew Grant, joining in. I've read his books also and always liked them, but he just doesn't have the "voice" of Jack Reacher...actually we hardly recognized Jack. It's not a horrible book by any means, but this is just not the Jack Reacher we knew and loved. His lack of concern about crossing lines to get the job done, his violence without hesitation or remorse, his unapologetic appreciation of women; that's what made him stand out and endure through so many books. I love the books and the character enough that I'll give the new author another chance, but if he doesn't get Jack back like he was soon, I give up. I gave it 3 stars for old Time's sake but it was closer to 2.5

The Ruin - Dervla McTiernam - (Ireland)
Cormac Reilly Mystery
3★
When Aisling Conroy's boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters of the river Corrib, the police tell her it was suicide. A surgical resident, she throws herself into study and work, trying to forget--until Jack's sister Maude shows up. Maude suspects foul play, and she is determined to prove it. Cormac Reilly is the detective assigned with the re-investigation of a seemingly accidental overdose twenty years ago--the overdose of Jack and Maude's drug and alcohol addled mother. Detective Reilly is under increasing pressure to charge Maude for murder when his colleague Danny uncovers a piece of evidence that will change everything.

The story has an intricate plot and many characters, so many, in fact, that I had to flip back several times to keep them all straight. It's a compelling mystery set in Ireland which intertwines two separate crimes committed across a 20- year time span. Detective Reilly's instincts tell him there is more to these two cases than an apparent suicide. Cormac's character has some history which followed him from Dublin to the small town of Galway. Galway has a history as well. There are rumors of corruption within the force making Cormac's job all the more difficult. Overall, a fairly good police procedural.

Cup of Joe - Annabeth Albert
Bold Brew series Book #1
3★

Sometimes an ordinary Joe is all you need.... Newbie barista Levi Miles is having a bad day in the middle of a bad month. He's trying to figure out post-graduation life, and a recent breakup hasn't helped. The one bright spot? The charming blue-collar customer with the simple order and reassuring voice. Electrician Joe Simmons can make anything light up - except his love life. As he gets older, he remains unsure about what he wants from a relationship. But an innocent flirtation with the fresh-faced barista is exactly what his ego needs. Levi doesn't need a boyfriend. Or a daddy. But bantering with Joe feels so good, and when their tentative friendship takes a turn for the sexy, a summer fling seems fun. Exploring long-held desires brings them closer with each steamy night, and the idea of parting gets harder. But Levi's only in town temporarily, and the end of summer is approaching. Both are reluctant to disclose their feelings but pushing past their fears may be the only way to keep this special thing going. Can they order up a happy ending before time runs out?

Annabeth Albert is one of my favorites for m/m romance novels...I think I have read almost all of them and I've never given any less than 4 stars. It was almost painful giving the first book in this new series a 3-star rating. The story was good...I really liked the two characters and how they interacted with one another. What I didn't care for was the way young Levi spoke to Joe. With Joe's encouragement and permission, Levi called him "Daddy" when they were together. I know all people have different likes and dislikes... once or twice would not have been so bad...but it was every single time. It seemed that it demeaned Joe and lessened Levi's respect for the man he was falling in love with. I did like that there was a "happily ever after" at the end, but the "Daddy" thing was just too much of a turn off for me to rate it any higher.

Bunnicula - Deborah Howe
5★
Before it's too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household -- a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits...and fangs!

I had the pleasure of the company of my neighbor's 9-year-old granddaughter last night while her two grandmothers Christmas shopped.... for her, she hoped. She brought her book with her and after she fell asleep, I flipped through it, and then I sat down and read all 128 pages of this little charmer. Having Howard, the dog, be the narrator with his friend, Chester, the cat, was a stroke of genius. This book is so funny and absolutely perfect for all ages. Adults will enjoy the break it gives us from our everyday lives and the wonderful humor. The carrots and some of the other veggies were the only casualties in the story, and they were darn cute.

Tender With A Twist - Annabeth Albert - (Oregon)
Rainbow Cove series Book #2
4.5★
Curtis Hunt has made a name for himself as a chainsaw wood carver, winning national competitions and operating a small business in Rainbow Cove, Oregon. As winter whittles away his tourist traffic, his goal is just to survive the season and try to not get lost in grief for his dead lover. It's been two years, but he's sure he'll never be over the love of a lifetime. However, his body has a certain restlessness that he doesn't quite know how to calm. Logan Rosner knows a thing or two about restlessness. It's what drove him to Rainbow Cove to be a chef at a bar and grill run by his friends. And it's what drives him to a single sizzling encounter with the local legendary lumberjack. Both men get far more than they expected and learn that first impressions aren't always accurate.... But when Logan proposes a series of sexy lessons, Curtis must decide how much he's willing to risk. He knows he can't afford to get attached to Logan's good cooking, his easy smiles, or his caretaking, but he keeps going back for more, even as deeper emotions become involved. Soon, Curtis must decide whether to risk his heart again or risk losing Logan for good.

I have read a dozen and dozens of Annabeth Albert's books and enjoyed every single one of them. This one...” Tender with a Twist” is a whole new level. The main characters are very opposite...young, coddled, urban chef and older, grief-stricken, small-town artist. The supporting characters...friends, parents etc. are so vehement in their disapproval of this relationship. Logan's parents and Curtis' mother-in-law are so over the top negative and pushy about trying to keep them apart. I can't imagine saying those things to one of my adult children, even if I didn't approve of the relationship. Both Curtis and Logan were way too passive with the way they allowed this behavior. I know that there are families who think they should have some say in who their kids get involved with. These characters were rude and overly pushy. Logan is 27 years old, and Curtis is in his early 40’s. Love doesn't come with an "age-gage", and they are both old enough to make their own decisions even if they should turn out to be wrong. Both guys' friends even were not very supportive.... yet they all said, "We want you to be happy." Even with all the negativity it didn't stop me from loving this book. Very well-written m/m romance with unique, memorable characters. Definitely on my re-read list.

Death of a Cozy Writer by G. M. Malliet
3.5 ★

From deep in the heart of his eighteenth century English manor, millionaire Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk writes mystery novels and torments his four spoiled children with threats of disinheritance. Gathering them all together for a family dinner, he announces his secret elopement. Within hours, eldest son and appointed heir Ruthven is found murdered. And soon Sir Adrian himself is found murdered at his writing desk. Every member of the family is a likely suspect. Using a little Cornish brusqueness and brawn, can St. Just find the killer before the next-in-line to the family fortune ends up dead?

All of these wealthy aristocrats were unlikeable, uncaring and snobby. But the writing was very good and made fun of them throughout which was entertaining. The ending was somewhat far-fetched, confusing and a bit of a disappointment. I do enjoy this author’s writing style and will read more by her.

Mystery at The Masquerade - Josh Lanyon - (Rhode Island)
Secrets and Scrabble series Book #3
5★
Love is in the salt air---and so is MURDER. Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village's only mystery bookstore, the Crow’s Nest, is both flattered and bemused when he’s invited to the annual Marauder’s Masquerade, the best and biggest social event of the season in the quaint seaside village of Pirate’s Cove, Rhode Island. The event is hosted by the wealthy Marguerite Bloodworth-Ainsley—a descendant of the famed pirate Tom Blood. Ellery doesn’t even know Mrs. Bloodworth-Ainsley—nor, it turns out—does Mrs. Bloodworth-Ainsley know him. But Marguerite’s son, Julian wants to know Ellery. Julian, handsome, rich and engaging, is a huge mystery buff. In fact, he’s bought quite a few books at the Crow’s Nest bookstore, but never quite worked up the nerve to ask Ellery out. As his relationship with Police Chief Carson seems to be dead in the water, Ellery is grateful for a little flattering attention from the village’s most eligible bachelor, but any hopes of romance hit the shoals when Julian is accused of murdering his mother’s unlikable second husband during the Masquerade's annual ghost hunt in the family’s spooky cemetery

Secrets and Scrabble is a cozy mystery series. I don’t usually care much for cozies ...however I LOVE Josh Lanyon so I am willing to give anything she writes a try. I read the first book in this series Murder at Pirates Cove, several months ago and found even though there’s no hot romantic scenes...the possibility is there if the police chief ever finds the map with the door of that closet that he’s in, marked with a big red X. He is...I am happy to report...is making progress. What the series does have is a really good mystery in a quaint little ocean side town. It also contains plenty of humor as well as well written and likable characters. I was happy to catch up with the quirky characters and appreciated the evolution in Ellery. He was much less clumsy than before, and his romance with Jack is still slow burning...or perhaps simmering is a better word. In the first book in the series, he rescued Watson, who has turned out to be one of the loveliest dogs in the “cozy mystery universe” Things are going well in Pirates Cove in spite of the bodies that seem to come there to die and clog up Ellery’s life. I am so looking forward to visiting again with book #4. Just as a brief side note: If you are not a fan of m/m romances but you are a fan of mysteries...especially the cozy variety...I believe that you would really enjoy this series. The author has really tried hard to make this a series for everyone.

Over Christmas I have been reading The Mistletoe Murder a collection of four tales by P.D.James which were originally written for magazines. Two stories feature her detective hero Adam Dalgliesh but it was the title story that I found most intriguing.
It is set in 1940 and is a country house mystery in which a recently bereaved servicewoman travels in rural England to spend Christmas with long estranged relatives.
Many years later she recalls the murder that takes place while she is there and considers the effect that the bizarre events had on her future career as a writer of crime fiction.
This is an elegantly written story and very atmospheric both in its evocation of wartime Britain and of the old house in which the crime occurs; I found it a very enjoyable seasonal read.

Georgina - Blair Howard (Tennessee)
Lt. Kate Gazzara series Book #8
5★

A forgotten cold case. A long dead teenager. A detective that can't let go. Every cop has an unsolved case they can’t let go. Georgina Harrison was mine. I can’t tell you why… Maybe it was because she was just a teenager, sweet sixteen, that it stuck in my craw. Maybe it was the sight of… you don’t want to know. Maybe it was because I was still a rookie when I accompanied Harry Starke to the crime scene that God awful day. Maybe it was all of those things, but try as I might to move on, I couldn’t. And every year on September twenty-third the memory of that crime scene came flooding back to haunt me. And every year I opened the case file, flipped through it, and then closed it again. This time though…

The scariest thing about this story is that in reality this kind of thing actually exists. 16 years have passed, and Georgina's death still haunts Kate night and day. Solving this one might just require a magician before time runs out. Blair Howard’s Georgina is a haunting tale of cases unsolved. Telling the tale of a teenager’s murder, the beliefs that follow certain events, the lengths people will go to, and the ticking of the proverbial clock to close a case. A lot of questions, still remain. The Red Moon, that occurred at that time, is about to happen again. Most of the young people, who were friends, with the murdered girl, are still around. Secrets are revealed in only the way, that Kate can manage. It's a read that you will want to finish in one long sitting.

Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me by Howie Mandel
3.5 ★

A frank, funny, no-holds-barred memoir, "Here's the Deal" reveals Mandel's ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD--and tells how it has shaped his life and career. As heartfelt as it is hilarious, this is the story of one man's effort to draw comic inspiration out of his most vulnerable places

This book covers how he got started as a comedian and what things he did throughout his career. It does talk a lot about his OCD and ADHD. It’s a big problem for him but it didn’t stop him from jumping into new opportunities, which was admirable considering his difficulties. He’s always liked pranking people since childhood but it was often embarrassing or demeaning. Some parts are very funny. I mostly like Howie but not the pranking parts.

The Celery Stalks At Midnight - James Howe
Bunnicula and Friends series
5★
HARE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW - Bunnicula is missing! Chester is convinced all the world's vegetables are in danger of being drained of their life juices and turned into zombies. Soon he has Harold and Howie running around sticking toothpicks through hearts of lettuce and any other veggie in sight. Of course, Chester has been known to be wrong before...but you can never be too careful when there's a vampire bunny at large!

Okay... This is different than what i usually post here. You might as well meet my friend Jessica. As long as there are books in this series, I have a feeling that she is going to be reading to me A LOT. I don't mind...I can think of so many less pleasing things a 9-year-old could do...and her grandmother has bought her all the rest of Bunnicula..sigh. These are funny and I love Bunnicula and his friends. My daughter brought home a French-Lop and it may have been at least part vampire...so I can relate. Anyway...we finished this one this morning and it was 144 pages of pure nonsense and delight. Absolutely wonderful characters and Jessica commented about halfway thought the book that none of Bunnicula's friends were mad at him, they were all worried about him, and they didn't call him names to make him feel bad. So maybe some of our people that are "in charge" should meet Bunnicula and his friends. The fun never stops with Harold and Chester and who can resist a vampire bunny?

Still Midnight -Denise Mina
Alex Morrow series Book #1 - (Scotland)
4★
Alex Morrow is not new to the police force -- or to crime -- but there is nothing familiar about the call she has just received. On a still night in a quiet suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, three armed men have slipped from a van into a house, demanding a man who is not, and has never been, inside the front door. In the confusion that ensues, one family member is shot and another kidnapped, the assailants demanding an impossible ransom. Is this the amateur crime gone horribly wrong that it seems, or something much more unexpected?

The story is skillfully woven around a handful of misshapen characters centered on Detective Alex Morrow. Alex is a woman of quiet some depth...full of contradictions trying to sort out the truth of her investigation...her boss and her fellow officers...along with her painful and sticky private life and trying to find her place in the world. She juggles all this with a kidnapping...an absolutely goofy love interest between a perpetrator and a victim that she somehow manages to make us feel sympathy for, and the adventures of a truly comic Glasgow gang. Overall, it's not what I would consider great read but certainly entertaining and time worthy.

Small Spaces - Katherine Arden - (Vermont)
Small Spaces series Book #1
4★
After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie who only finds solace in books discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man"—a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price. Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people, she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN. Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. As the trio head out into the woods—bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them—the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small." And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.

It's a YA book and if you are 12 years old the story might be extremely scary material that may be reasons for "lights on, head under the covers" nights...for an adult...it's just an entertaining tale that carries a heartfelt message. It's well written and the story pulls together very nicely. The author has succeeded to paint an eerie atmosphere and some extremely creepy monster like characters. However, the story goes beyond monsters and scary situations. It's about escaping through books and how books carry some of the most powerful healing properties. Katherine Arden has also managed to break down racial and gender stereotypes in this book. Despite some of the serious subjects of depression and grief, and a slightly rushed ending...Small Spaces is a deliciously suspenseful tale of loss, survival, and friendship.

New Leaf - Andrew Grey - (Pennsylvania)
5★
When Dex Grippon’s mother dies, he takes it as a sign—it’s time to give up acting and return to his hometown. If he can find a way to save his mother’s bookstore, he can preserve the one link he still has to his parents. But keeping an independent bookstore afloat turns out to be more difficult than he anticipated, and Dex isn’t the only one who wonders what else his mom might have been selling. Former cop Les Gable might be off the job, but he has to know what was going on at the bookstore, and he’ll do anything to satisfy his curiosity—including befriend the new owner with an offer to help sort out his new business. Something about the bookstore doesn’t smell right, and Les is going to find out what. The problem is that his curiosity about Dex soon far outstrips his interest in what happened at the store. But as curiosity matures into love, the store’s past threatens their future. Can Les and Dex untangle the mystery of the bookshop and escape with their relationship—and their lives—intact, or will the whole thing go up in smoke?

Take one lonely and grieving actor...Dex... add a lonely and injured cop... Les...then toss them into Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and what do you get? Another wonderful romantic delight from Andrew Grey. Mr. Grey brings his familiar Carlisle people into play along the way so that we are transported back in time to the other series which took place in this town or those close to it. I’ve read all the other series and was, as usual, sad to see them end...but here we are with old friends again and making new ones. The characters are both flawed with definite problems, but their relationship works and the emotions come through. The only drawback that I felt the book had, was the fact that that Les let his injury totally dominate every last aspect of his life. Sure, it affected him...that couldn’t be avoided, but he made it the focal point of everything he did. Dex had the patience of a saint. I still enjoyed the story and the characters. Andrew Grey always provides a good story...and he doesn’t disappoint with this one. I loved the name Dex gave his bookstore..."New Leaf".

A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry
3.5 ★

Cantankerous and vinegar-tongued Grandmama arrives on a holiday visit to the home of Charlotte's parents, where a fellow guest--an outcast from her own family--is subsequently murdered. Like the heroes before her in Anne Perry's Christmas novels, Grandmama is called upon to play the role of amateur detective.

Grandmama is a bitter old woman who criticizes everything. As she starts to investigate and learn about the other woman, she does comparisons between the two of them. It makes her rethink some of her attitudes and she’s a better person at the end. This was a quick and decent story with a bit of Christmas sprinkled throughout.

Howliday Inn - James Howe
Bunnicula and Friends series Book #2
5★
Not a great place to visit, and you wouldn't want to live there! The Monroes have gone on vacation, leaving Harold and Chester at Chateau Bow-Wow -- not exactly a four-star hotel. On the animals' very first night there, the silence is pierced by a peculiar wake-up call -- an unearthly howl that makes Chester observe that the place should be called Howliday Inn. But the mysterious cries in the night (Chester is convinced there are werewolves afoot) are just the beginning of the frightening goings-on. Soon animals start disappearing, and there are whispers of murder. Is checkout time at Chateau Bow-Wow going to come earlier than Harold and Chester anticipated?

I really hope these books never end. My little friend, Jessica was always a reader, but this series has really got her READING! I don't think she has turned the television on since she started with the firs book. Not that I have anything against television...just saying. We've set a time that she can read to me, and I am thoroughly enjoying these cute little characters and that Jessica is asking, "Can I go ahead and read the next chapter?" You know when a book begins with a dog named Harold scratching on the door to leave a manuscript in plastic...then stays long enough to have a doughnut and hot chocolate, that you are in for a hilarious adventure. With this in mind, we begin the hair-raising and laughter filled journey of Harold and his cat friend, Chester, at the Chateau Bow-Wow. There's not much horror in this one, it goes straight to the "mystery". Chester and Harold both take turns at being detectives trying to figure out what happened to the missing pets. Chester makes a lot of wild accusations that were mostly all wrong, in the first book. but in this one he seems to be more on top of the game with his detective work, though he does still make a few wild accusations, claiming he knew what was going on the whole time at the end. Was Chester just saying he knew, or did he actually know? It is kind of left up to the reader to decide. Jessica has her own ideas but she's not sharing them with me yet.