Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

July 26, 2025

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

Time traveling detective Mallory Armstrong has been stuck in 19th century Scotland for almost a year, working as the assistant to mortician Dr. Duncan Gray, the mixed race illegitimate son of an upper middle class family. She and Duncan are invited to the wedding of his best friend's sister at her fiance's highland hunting lodge. There is tension among the wedding guests and also with the locals, which only escalates when one of the guests is found murdered on the estate grounds. Instead of being a country holiday with friends, Mallory and Duncan find themselves tying to save the groom from the gallows.

The fourth book in the Rip Through Time series. The author gives enough background that this can be read as a standalone mystery if you haven't read the previous mysteries in the series, or if you're like me and it's been a while since you read the last book. Successfully evokes the customs, attitudes, and class distinctions, as well as police methods of the time. I loved how Mallory almost melted into a puddle when one of the characters finally shows up in a kilt. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries like the Sebastian St. Cyr or the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, or the Outlander historical series.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Hunting lodge in the Scottish highlands

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

July 4, 2025

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Evie Sage, the Villain's perpetually optimistic assistant, is back, keeping him organized and off-balance. Their battle against the king's efforts to take over all the magic in the kingdom continues, while also managing their somewhat unruly families. Evie learns valuable new skills: fighting with a magic dagger, negotiating with magical beings, search and rescue, hanging up severed heads in the Manor's foyer. It's all in a day's work for the apprentice to the Villain. 

Sequel to Assistant to the Villain, another romantasy that is a lot of fun, if a bit longer than it needs to be. After a brief prologue that is largely unnecessary, the story picks up where the previous book ended, so I suggest you read the first book before starting this one. A number of readers complained that it wasn't as good as the first book (happens frequently with sequels, especially when they are bridging to or setting up the next book). Good supporting characters, especially Kingsley the frog with his signs. Themes include morally ambiguous characters, opposites attract, The Office in a fantasy setting, workplace romance/flirtation, snarky humor. The slow-burn flirtation continues. Yes, we are all wishing that Evie would jump Trystan already, because we're pretty sure he's not going to take the first step. Be sure to take a good look at the cover art on both books - lots of fun images.

Looking forward to the third book, coming out in August. If you enjoy this series/style, while you wait for the next book, go read The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst or Legend and Lattes by Travis Baldree.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

June 17, 2025

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Evie Sage needs to find a job to help support her family right away. Desperate, when the local evil overlord (conveniently if not very creatively known as The Villain) offers her a job as his personal assistant, she agrees to work for him. She is amazed at how fast she grows accustomed to severed heads hanging from the ceiling and stray fingers on the floor. But someone is trying to kill the Villain, and by extension, Evie and the other people who work for him. 

The first book in a trilogy, a romantasy filled with mystery, humor, and a hot male protagonist (and who doesn't love a hot male protagonist?). Like The Office in a fantasy setting. After a while, I did want to yell at Evie and Trystan to find a bed and get on with it already. Perfect for a hot summer afternoon or vacation reading - strictly entertainment, it's not going to strain your mind. Cliffhanger ending, so be warned that you may have to continue on with the series.

The modern fantasy office

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

May 31. 2025

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Miami, Luciana's family is in a panic: Luciana's grandmother, her Abue, refuses to evacuate. Normally Luciana is relegated to the sidelines and everyone ignores her, but now that her sister Mari is away at college, Luciana is pulled into the family drama. Luciana is just trying to graduate from high school and figure out her sexuality. Meanwhile, Luciana's mother is treating their evacuation like a family road trip. But then Abue receives a devastating medical diagnosis and comes to live with them, taking over Luciana's bedroom.

This was like eavesdropping on a really long phone conversation. The story is told through a series of mostly one-sided phone calls between Luciana and her older sister. While I enjoyed it, I can see where some readers would be put off by the format. There are some parts that are hilarious - the family saga is like a telenovella, entertaining if somewhat confusing at times. Luciana's grandmother is great - even though she has been diagnosed with cancer, her main concern is getting her roots touched up and keeping in contact with her boyfriends while she is in the hospital, while at the same time keeping her nosy sister out of her life. The audiobook is excellent. Recommended for readers who like quirky contemporary novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin by Carla Sosenko

May 11, 2025

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin by Carla Sosenko

This is the best book title I've seen in a while. Born with a rare health condition, Sosenko was a pretty face attached to what she considered to be a grotesque body. I was horrified at the insensitive things people did (like reaching out to touch the hump on her back) and the ugly things they said, particularly men. I am glad the author realized that she is just fine exactly how she is and absolutely entitled to live her life how she wants. Sensitive readers should be aware of subjects that may be triggers, including mental illness, wanting to die, physical disability, abusive relationships, and stupid insensitive people (who are unfortunately ubiquitous). Will appeal to readers who enjoyed Jennette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom is Dead.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

April 17, 2025

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong - Chinese mother, tea house proprietor, and amateur sleuth - is back for another adventure. Life has been good for Vera since she solved the murder of the dead man in her tea shop. Business has been brisk, Vera has a new group of friends, and her son has a girlfriend. But in the midst of all this good fortune, Vera finds herself secretly bored. While she doesn't really want to see anyone get murdered, she feels she has a knack for collecting information (and people) and solving mysteries. So when a social media influencer disappears and an unidentified body is found, Vera just knows she can find the answer to both mysteries.

The sequel to Vera Wong's Guide to Murder, with a new cast of strangers who become friends added to the group that Vera collected in the first book. Vera learns about social media and influencers, posting videos of herself cooking and making tea while solving the problems of her new friends. Funny and heartwarming, recommended for readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy their mysteries with more humor and less romance than most cozies.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

What I imagine Vera's tea shop must look like

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

April 10, 2025

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Dan scores a reservation at the exclusive La Fin du Monde restaurant and takes his wife Jane to celebrate their wedding anniversary. But his timing is off, since Jane has decided that she is going to ask for a divorce over dinner (also maybe not the best timing). Not to mention that climate change activists have chosen that night to bomb the restaurant.

Quirky and fun, with a long-term marriage that turns out to be a romance after all. Recommended for readers who enjoy off-beat fiction like Nothing to See Here or Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

December 21, 2024

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

Lucas lives a happy life. He lives alone, works from home, enjoys pizza and a glass of good red wine, and plays video games. His secret to happiness: just say no. When other people want you to do something, either politely refuse or just ignore them. He has no interest in changing his life, and it's a great system until someone in his apartment complex discards an old skillet next to the garbage dumpster, and then the trouble begins.

A short story by the author of A Man Called Ove, filled with Backman's signature humorous view of the human race. Enjoyable.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

And yes, pad thai should have peanuts in it.

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

August 15, 2024

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

A year in the lives of the teachers and staff at a large urban high school, beginning with the sudden death of a substitute teacher in the faculty lounge (conveniently between classes, so that the office staff has time to find someone to fill in for him).

Character driven storyline rather than plot driven, with each chapter devoted to a different character and how they became the people they are. Endearing characters from the young janitor to the curmudgeonly veteran math teacher, who all want the best for their students and co-workers as they fight against a school system more concerned with test scores than education. Even if you're not in education, you'll appreciate the camaraderie and sarcasm. Recommended for readers of contemporary fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Traditional no-frills teacher's lounge

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 16, 2024

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her faithful maid and sometimes deadly companion Florence Armstrong are enjoying a summer lunch with their good friends the Farley Strouds, when Emily's brother Harry summons them, because their unique skills are needed first in Bristol, and then in London. The heir to the Austrian throne and his wife are due to visit England with a trade delegation, and Harry has heard rumors of a planned assassination attempt that his department needs to stop. He enlists Emily and Flo to evaluate the security arrangements, since who would suspect a society lady and her maid to head up a security team?

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are back for their 11th adventure, an entertaining mystery filled with charming characters, punny language, malapropisms, and dry British humor. It's best to read the series in order to understand the various characters' backstories, but also for the sheer fun of the series. Perfect vacation or summer reading. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy light-hearted British mysteries.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie - although they survive the assassination attempt here, they are not so lucky some years later in Sarajevo

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

July 4, 2024

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

A collection of essays/rants by comedian Samantha Irby about her adventures moving to a small town in Michigan after living the first 40 years of her life in Chicago. Some of the essays completely passed me by, like the one about making a mixed tape where I didn't know any of the songs (although I did know most of the artists, like Pearl Jam). One of the funniest essays is called We Almost Got a Fucking Dog, to which I can completely relate. Cute rabbit on the cover. Recommended for readers who enjoy the rants of David Sedaris and Randy Rainbow.

LGBTQ author Samantha Irby

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

June 29, 2024

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

Following the death of a prominent Orange, Eddie Russet and his lover Jane Brunswick are about to go on trial. Since Eddie tested at 87% red, he has been forced into an arranged marriage with the awful Violet DeMauve, whose family wants to strengthen their color line with his strong red genes. Even though he is married to Violet, Eddie has no intention of giving up Jane. The village is competing in the upcoming Jollity Fair, with Jane being one of the star athletes, provided she is not found guilty during the trial. But Eddie and Jane are more interested in finding out the truth about their world, as well as following clues about what Eddie's mother was up to, and what really happened to her.

Return with me to Chromatacia where your existence is controlled by your limited color vision in the long-awaited sequel to Shades of Grey. Really delightful, clever and creative world building. Life is ruled by the color-tocracy with all of its bizarre rules (residents cannot wear gloves no matter what their job is or how cold it is, spoons cannot be manufactured, linoleum is the major produce even though no one wants it, etc.) which begins to make sense as our star-crossed lovers Eddie and Jane go digging for answers. The ways in which the villagers subvert the rules and the rulers is very entertaining. Read the first book before this one - it will make a lot more sense. Recommended for fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy world building.

The color spectrum

Low Hanging Fruit by Randy Rainbow

June 23, 2024

Low Hanging Fruit by Randy Rainbow

A collection of rants by comedian Randy Rainbow. Like all essay collections, some are better than others. There is an essay called "I Feel Bad About My Balls" that made me laugh until I cried. Even straight men would find it funny. Love the cover. Recommended for readers who enjoy essays and rants especially in the LGBTQ category.

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair

June 18, 2024

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair

It's December 1946, and The Right Sort marriage bureau is celebrating peace and its first holiday season with a New Year's Eve ball. They have a growing client list, and they are in the black financially. The only problem is, all of the venues that they contact are already booked. So they turn to Iris's gangster boyfriend Archie for help, since he always has just the place or a guy with the right connections. But during renovations of an old dance hall, a body is found in the wall of a basement storage area, thought at first to be someone trapped during the Blitz. The truth turns out to be far more complicated (just like the girls' personal lives).

Entertaining historical mystery, #6 in the series featuring former spy Iris Sparks and widowed socialite Gwen Bainbridge. A satisfying plot that includes plenty of snarky dialogue and interesting side characters. We are left with a cliffhanger regarding Iris and Archie's romance. At least Gwen doesn't cry as much in this one. Read the series in order from the beginning. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those set after World War II.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

New Year's Eve at a London ballroom circa 1940s

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

June 11, 2024

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

It's right after the COVID-19 pandemic, and Phoebe is checking into a grand hotel in Rhode Island. She always wanted to stay at the hotel with her husband, but unfortunately he found a younger woman and divorced Phoebe. Between the divorce, losing interest in her job as an English professor, and the isolation of the pandemic, Phoebe sank into depression and decided there is nothing left for her. So she makes a reservation to visit the hotel by herself and end her life there - with her cat's pain killers, which taste and smell like tuna. But when she arrives, Phoebe discovers that the whole place has been booked for a week-long wedding event and that she has essentially crashed the party.

Some of the descriptions may lead you to believe this is a rom-com, but it's not. This is a delightful feel-good read, one of the best books that I've read this year, written with warmth and humor and a wonderful writing style. The storyline focuses on the connection that we all long to make with others, and that most of us are lonely inside, even when surrounded by other people. The characters are all likable, and you want them all to have a happy ending, even the self-centered bride and Phoebe's ex-husband. The dialogue has a genuine ring to it. And it's so much like a real wedding: all the weird family members, the friends that you suspect may actually be frenemies, the kids sneaking alcohol under the adults' noses, things going wrong, no matter how carefully you plan. Strongly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story with great characters. A major studio has already picked up the film rights.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

A Rhode Island wedding

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

May 14, 2024

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Any Carpenter and his ex-cop wife Laurie Collins return with a new case. This time, Andy is defending a man wrongly accused of a mass shooting at a law firm. The more they dig, the more irregularities they uncover.

The latest entry in a very enjoyable mystery series does not disappoint. The mystery here involves the Dark Web, a complex conspiracy, and a mass shooting, all of which could be taken from a daily newscast. I love Andy's snarky sense of humor, the quirky supporting characters, and there are dogs - what more do you need?

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Paterson, New Jersey

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

May 2, 2024

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Cinnamon Hotpepper, a spice trader, stumbles home drunk from a village festival, only to find a demon hiding in her family's cinnamon grove. After she sobers up, the demon tells her that he needs her help, and if she doesn't help him, it could go badly for her family. So she agrees to go with him to achieve his quest, with the stipulation that he return her home safely when the quest is completed. Except of course, it's not that simple.

Fun, steamy fantasy. Reminded me somewhat of Legends and Lattes, but with a lot of sex tossed in, some of it quite explicit. Be warned.

Two dragons (yes, there be dragons here)

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

December 17, 2023

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid/sidekick/BFF Florence Armstrong are enjoying the May Day festival in their village of Littleton Cotterell, which includes the inaugural May Day art exhibit. In addition to artworks created by the local residents, there are pieces from the local museum and a few pieces borrowed from Sir Hector Farley-Stroud, plus a priceless volume of Shakespeare's plays. But shortly after the exhibition opens, thick black smoke rolls through the exhibit hall, causing the building to be evacuated. When the smoke clears, several pieces of art (including the Shakespeare volume) are missing. A few days later, following the local bicycle race, one of the riders is found dead.

The tenth adventure for Lady Hardcastle and Flo. There are three mysteries here: the art theft, the murder, and a possible secret treasure. Love the puns, witticisms, and malapropisms between Lady H. and Flo. Fun and relaxing.

Example of a ladies' cycling costume, circa 1920

Vera Wong"s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

December 12, 2023

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong is a lady of a certain age who owns a failing tea shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. She adheres to a strict daily regimen of rising early and opening the shop, even though she has only one regular customer. This leaves her plenty of time to follow (read: stalk) her only son online. But one morning when she comes downstairs to open the tearoom, Vera finds a dead body on the tearoom floor.

Heartwarming cozy mystery. Vera is a nosy older woman who had advice for everyone, whether they want it or not. She's correct that 20 somethings tend to be self-focused and dramatic - I base that statement on the 20 somethings in my own family. Very enjoyable.

San Francisco's Chinatown

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djeli Clark

October 31, 2023

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djeli Clark

Eveen is a member of the Dead Cat Tail Assassins guild, and an undead contract killer. During the annual Festival of the Clockwork King, she accepts a commission from an anonymous patron to ship (read: kill) a target in a wealthy district. Expecting some old mobster or shady businessman, Eveen infiltrates the building with no difficulty, but when she reaches the bedchamber, she finds a young woman who looks suspiciously familiar. Realizing that she has been set up, Eveen has until dawn to figure out how to beat her enemy and save herself. And her doppelganger.

I love P. Djeli Clark's fantastical fiction, and this novella does not disappoint. I especially enjoy his female characters: strong, smart and snarky. The ending is open enough that there could be a sequel (I hope, I hope!).

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dark goddesses