A great read; an emotional roller coaster. Xavier and Samantha have a meet cute shortly before she is permanently moving from Minnesota to California to help with the daily care of her mother who is deep in the throes of dementia. Long distance relationships are hard! Even though I liked both of them, I think my favorite character was Hank!

This story sunk its hooks into me. I liked the 3 main characters and their development (although the daughters and their calamities were stretched to the extreme). The only thing I didn‘t like is being forced to read the next book in the series for answers to questions. Ginny‘s husband just died and he basically disinherits her, leaving her spinning. Her next actions seem like a whim but are the beginnings of taking control back.

A page turner, Laurie is looking for a new special and the story of the twins who supposedly murdered their parents would be perfect. As more new information comes in, she hopes she is narrowing down on the truth.

Never did figure out for sure who the kept woman was supposed to be; lots of options. This was a very violent story. Will and Sarah are called into the scene of a violent death that has all the earmarks of Angie. The case puts serious strains on their relationship. Soft pick

Not sure I can stall til Christmas to read the next in the series! Leta and Dave are at a mystery conference when they‘re woke in the middle of the night. The conference organizer is dead. Dave and the lol‘s are on the clue trail and somehow Leta becomes the lead suspect. I was able to determine the murderer early on, but it was still a fun read.

I actually liked The Fourth Daughter better, but this is truly a creepy suspense. Annie has had a lot of tragedy in her life and she feels like she is going crazy. Then there are all those things she loses only to turn up in weird places; she must be putting them there, right? One extremely stormy day, a stranger appears at her doorstep looking for help. Stranded in the storm they get to know one another and the woman tells a crazy story.

What a fun rom-com! Noah‘s friends are trying to coerce him into joining their bromance book club, telling him how it will help with his relationships. Boy, does he need help. Alexa is still dealing with a sexually abusive job and now an absentee father has turned up who needs a kidney. A bit spicy at times.

Loved the book; loved the ending! There‘s a story of pirates and pirate treasure in Maple Bay. Rumor exists that someone found it and re-hid it. Then there are all the suspected secrets of Bellwoods. This is a story rich in adventure, mysteries and murder, with a few surprises. You won‘t regret reading it!

I‘m going to miss Harry Clifton and the Barringtons. Freddy gets adopted. Emma becomes a Minister and Giles is asked to step down. Harry writes the novel of a lifetime and multiple other shenanigans go down.

Wow! Really enjoyed this and especially it being written in the format of a movie production. So many lovable characters and one you love to hate. Bill Johnson (don‘t call him BJ) is out to make a movie, inspired by an old comic. And it‘s going to be a blockbuster.

You never know what secrets can be found at the local pottery shop. This time Mira and Aerie were nowhere near the initial murder. Their friend, Heather, arrives at her pottery shop to find a close friend tied up and murdered. Mira and Aeri agree to help find the murder. As a bonus, things begin to progress with Dan. Also, Chelsea shows a more human side.

Mira and her best friend head to the flea market and carnival to scope them out. Mira finds a roll top desk that makes her heart sing. Sure, that it‘s beyond her budget, she‘s surprised the vender will give it to her for only $40. She‘s even more surprised when he races off. Then she sees the body under the caravan.

I like how each book follows seamlessly like it is a continuation of the story, without the need to include a teaser. It allows for binging of a series. The construction of a local theater is being sabotaged. When Sam becomes the lead suspect, Aieri asks Mira to clear his name. The pets had less of a part in this one and I missed them, as well as the ghost.

Ok, I‘m a wee bit hooked on this humorous series. A food critic visits the cafe and falls dead after consuming Mira‘s soup. She is the lead suspect, so she knows she has to find the real murderer before the cafe is destroyed due to lack of business.

I enjoy her characters,especially the animals. Mira is finally going to get to move into her new home, but finds the realtor dead in the kitchen. The next day someone starts a fire and the catastrophes continue. Jay and Aeri step in to help, but Mira believes the local police are worthless.

Funny and very spicy, though I didn‘t like some of Huxley‘s chauvinistic tendencies. However, I did like the meet cute. Lottie and Huxley bump into each other while trying to resolve some problems in their lives. They enter into a contract to be fake fiancés til they work through these problems and the fun begins. @FeatherV you would love this one.

The mystery was barely touched on in this story, unless the real mystery was why Penny was avoiding every one. Still, or maybe that‘s why I enjoyed this one more than why others so far. Connie may have been pushing Penny too hard; in any event she quits working at the coffee shop. Connie is in for some surprises when she finally confronts her. About a 3.5.

A visiting author is found dead by his vehicle outside the pub. While Leta and the lol‘s investigate, the greater part of the sleuthing is handled by Gemma. This time when Leta is injured it‘s not because she put herself in danger…at least not intentionally.

Perfectly named; a story of 2 unique people living their lives the best they can. It takes them nearly 20 years to discover just how important the other is to them and how they function.

I was surprised it ended without really solving anything. Stone has a new client who won the lotto big time. The client attracts a new girlfriend whose brother is recently released from prison and whose roommate is also out and a hardened criminal. I can‘t say anymore without serious spoilers.

Very powerful. The worst of humanity and the best of humanity are displayed in this story. Liv and her grandmother, Pi-Ling, search for her grandmother‘s 4th daughter torn away from her when the child was only 18months old. Very moving as you see people struggle to survive evil actions and rejoice in love of friends and family. 5🌟

Wow! This is a story of chances, taking chances, love, and letting yourself be true to yourself. I loved reading this! 5🌟

A satisfying read, perfect for the summer. Clay, a Navajo, encounters a young Hopi woman on the day he moves to Virgin River. She, of course, steals his heart but they both have background issues to resolve.

This cozy mystery novella was a fun, quick read. Mira is on a new adventure to her new home that she plans to turn over, when she observes a man switch cats and steal a show cat. She immediately takes off after him.

Mix King Arthur and yoga and what do you get? The lol detectives. Wendy takes control in this investigation as the little old ladies try to determine who poisoned Caryn during the yoga retreat and whether her fiancée, Arthur was actually murdered rather than a victim of a horrible accident.

I was worried when I saw the bad reviews, but this is a decent read/listen. It just isn‘t up to the high tension levels a Kay Scarpetta can be. I‘d give it about 3.5 ⭐️. Tying in murders from teasers in the previous book, this story actually is about the return of one of the monsters after Kay and her loved ones.

The best one in the series so far. Tru is supposed to deliver a talk at the monthly Arete Society Book Club. Shortly after she arrives at the host‘s home, the head of the club is murdered and the host is suspected. The host just happens to be Tru‘s boyfriend‘s mother. She‘s on the search to clear his mother‘s name. At the same time a robot at the library becomes her nemesis.

A fun quick read of short stories taking place at Charleton House or involving favorite characters from there. I think my favorite is the story of the Lord (James) who is murdered on his birthday and his best friend is assaulted, but they‘re found in a locked room without it being possible for anyone to enter or exit. But, you‘ll find lots of delightful stories to enjoy. Some of these stories were offered singly to readers previously.

This is a holiday series, so I wait for the next book‘s holiday before moving on. Violet has a new coworker, so she has a little more time to spend on her sleuthing. It will be interesting to see what he contributes to the stories. An art dealer is murdered and there are rumors of underhanded activity, so, of course, Violet starts looking into the story. Then her chief suspect, another art dealer, gets murdered too.

A great read with a romance that faced the grit of life. Emma has PTSD and other depressive problems thanks to the mentally ill mother who behaved monstrously. Because her exes go on to marry immediately after spending time with her and she runs across Justin in Reddit, who has the same problem, they develop a plan to break their curse. This book took me through a lot of emotions, made me laugh at times and was a satisfying read.

If you can get past all the whining in the first 1/3 of the book, this is a decent read. It did manage to make me both laugh and cry. Rylie is heart broken by the death of her mother after a long battle with cancer. Her grief incapacitates her so that she can‘t move ahead even with the romance she has dreamed of all her life. It is only when she can accept help and love from others that she can begin to heal. I give it about 3.8⭐️

Wow! I think this was as good as the 1st one in the series. This is Haymitch‘s story and how the reaping destroyed him even if he was the survivor. It tells of his 1st acts of rebellion and the personal battle with Snow. I couldn‘t put it down.

A little slow in some parts, but still a sleuthing romp. Laurie agrees to take on a show for someone who she believes was wrongfully convicted. As she delves more deeply, she begins to believe her victim was really the murderer.

A quick cozy mystery read. Huxton is getting serious with Raina‘s mom, but is it because he thinks she still has trust money and is in line for an inheritance rather than living off family? Then his uncle is murdered. Raina‘s mom asks her to look into the murder. At the same time Raina is still under the burden of a $3 mil inheritance that is supposed to go to her grandfather‘s 2nd family but the family thinks she stole and should give them.

A twisted cozy mystery, with some humorous moments. Rainy has a baby dumped on her at the mall. When his mother doesn‘t return, Rainy contacts her detective friend. A seasonal job gives her more clues and Rainy does all she can to reunite the baby with his mother

This is one of those books that stays with you even when not reading/listening and comes to mind in all parts of your life. I recommend it highly. Clover is a death doula; and she has learned a lot from those she has helped. Now it‘s time to start applying it. Live life well!

I loved this charming book with a touch of ghost, history and romance. It‘s more a book of getting to know and understanding yourself than a mystery. Edie‘s mom has died and she feels she has lost herself. Thinking she is moving to Paris, she accepts a job at a boutique bakery; only to find out it is in Compiagne. As she builds her life, she finds friends and love.

Now my favorite of Alka Joshi! Radha, mother of 2, works as a lab assistant at the House of Yves, a fragrance firm. Her career is about to take off, but her husband is fighting it all the way. On top of it, her big secret is about to explode. Filled with lovable characters and life situations we can understand this book will pull you in and wrap its arms about you.

The 1st in this cozy mystery series is a fun story with some chuckles and lovable characters. Raina Sun‘s campus advisor (and ex who owed her $2k) dies on campus during school break. Because she is high on suspects and her visiting grandma eggs her on, Raina begins hunting out clues on the murderer. And the fact that her childhood sweetheart is the lead detective doesn‘t deter her.

King Nicholai is trying to remove his demon, but yet prepare Rafka for the war he feels encroaching even as he attempts to prevent it. Interestingly, many of the characters learn to face their own demons as the battle of good and evil continues. While Nicholai is searching for answers, Isaac is asked to step in to planned festivities on his behalf. And I hate the very end, but must now read the next book.

A super man is released from prison and immediately kills 2 in self-defense. He‘s more concerned with the distraction this will cause from his goal of killing the woman who tortured him to make a super man. At the same time Puller is looking into the cold case death/disappearance of his mother, because a witness has come forward to say his father was actually in town and could have killed her.

Raina is tricked into acting as Sonny‘s fiancé in return for receiving her grandfather‘s journal back and the truth about his mysterious 2nd marriage. Unfortunately, Sonny‘s brother is murdered at the dinner party and Sonny changes the terms of the agreement to include Raina finding the murderer. This s cozy mystery plays with a Chinese triad.

Told very tongue in cheek in the style of “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” This short story/novella will quickly have you chuckling (or cringing in frustration) at the absurdity of people and life.

Starts with a great 1st line. Is a little slow setting background, but moves along nicely after that. Sunny shows up @ her aunt‘s penniless early in the morning only to find her aunt left on vacation and Sunny is expected to run the cafe. To make matters worse, a patron dies after taking the 1st bite of Sunny‘s cooking. Trying to clear herself of suspicion, Sunny manages to tick off people she was just making friends.

Leta and Dave find their collector host dead when they arrive for their appointment. It looks like some items could be missing in his home. They and the LOLs scout out records to find out what is missing and determine if this was a natural death or a murder. Fun to see how the puzzle pieces fall into place.

Cute cozy mystery with just a touch of ghost. Melanie and her granny, Liza, invest all they have in a home, which they intend to make a B & B, near the beach. The find a skeleton in a vacant hidden room. Since the mystery must be resolved before the police will allow boarders and other more important crimes come up, the gals decide to sleuth. But someone seems to have evil intent towards Melonie.

I think I‘m more enamored with the love story of her marriage, but still a fun read. Aria and her beloved van lifer friends plan to explore France for the summer, but it appears that Rosie is pregnant. And, how does Jon keep showing up?

Loved the surprise ending but not going to spoil it for you. Cross and Bri are trying to solve the mystery of a murdered friend and a new vigilante group, wondering if they could be connected. Fast paced as usual for Cross stories.

A fun, quick cozy mystery with a rushed solution, but it‘s a short novella. Mira meets her sister Darla for a weekend beach vacation. Early on the 1st morning Mira and her dog discover a body. As the bodies pile up, the girls are determined to find the killer before they have to head back home.

Marion is running away from her life and towards the history/mystery of her deceased father. Along the way she finds herself by stumbling into the Peace and Pigs where she makes friends and develops a new family. A good story for a lazy summer day.