A Rogue's Rules for Seduction by Eva Leigh - 3 Stars!

After Dominic Kilburn left Lady Willa Ransom at the altar, she vowed never to reveal how badly she was hurt. Following a year abroad, Willa wants to move on with her life, so she accepts an invitation to a house party. When dark secrets from his past surfaced right before his wedding, Dom knew he didn’t deserve Willa. So, he bolted. To escape the memories of all he lost, Dom heads to a friend’s estate on an isolated Scottish isle. Yet one of the other guests is the very woman who haunts his every thought. Thrown together by family and friends, Willa and Dom try to resist the fiery pull between them. Soon their attraction explodes. Can these lovers find their happily ever after, or will everything detonate a second time?

This was an absorbing historical romance filled with interesting and flawed characters looking for their happily ever after. I could feel the romance and the steam between Willa and Dom. Their sexy interactions kept me turning the pages. But I felt there were too many sexual encounters. Two chapters were nothing but sex between Willa and Dom. I felt it took away from the plot. The overuse of cursing took away from my enjoyment of the story. I think as a reader the cursing was a bit excessive. Other than that, I enjoyed this historical romance. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley - 4 stars!

 

Newly single pizzeria owner Delilah O’Leary is determined to keep her restaurant afloat in the resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. To boost her bottom line, she sets her sights on winning the cash prize in the town’s annual “Taste of Wisconsin” culinary contest. In her corner, there's her wisecracking BFF, her cantankerous great-aunt, and a recipe for Pretzel Crust Deep-Dish Bratwurst Pizza. But while Delilah and her team have been focused on pumping out perfect pizza pies, her ex-fiancé has cozied up to a new squeeze, juice bar owner Jordan Watts―Delilah’s contest rival. When one of Jordan’s juice bar customers is poisoned by a tainted smoothie, Delilah becomes a suspect. Delilah must act quickly before another one bites the crust.
This was a wonderfully delicious mystery filled with delicious characters, a scrumptious plot and a mystery that you want to sink your teeth into. I love Delilah and how she solves this mystery. She's intelligent, well spoken, and curious to the point of being nosy. The only issue I had with this book is that it seemed to take too long to get to the climax. I suggest reading this book if you like cozy mysteries and deep-dish pizza. This review is my unbiased opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy.

Murder She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle - 4 stars!

Jessica Fletcher is speaking at a Book Festival in Belfast, Ireland. When her neighbor Maeve O'Bannon hears about the trip, she asks Jessica to deliver some paintings to her family in the village of Bushmills. Happy to extend her travels, Jessica agrees. The festival goes off without a hitch. But then Maeve’s cousin Michael is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances. Jessica finds herself once again in the midst of a murder investigation, and she’ll have to dig into the O'Bannon family’s secrets to unmask the killer.
I love reading about Jessica and her exploits. I am a long time Murder She Wrote fan, and I enjoy reading about all of the characters from the hit show, and ones introduced in these stories. The plot was very engaging, it kept me guessing until the very end. I will definitely need more from this series.

 

How to Best a Marquess by Janna MacGregor - 5 stars!

Beth Howell is in search of the dowry that her first husband stole, and she needs assistance to do it. She asks Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, to help her. The only problem is he was the one who broke her heart before. Can Beth find her dowry and the truest love at the same time?
This was a sweet romance with so much twist and turns that I was sad when the book ended. Beth and Julian are great romantic characters who have idiosyncrasies and flaws that make them interesting and worthy of love. I loved how this series has bucked the normal view of the "ton" in historical romance novels. These women have made their own way and achieved their dreams. I will definitely read another story from this wonderful author. I want to thank St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review contains my honest opinion.

 

The Note Keeper by Cindy Kirk - 5 stars!

Taylor Higgs’ dad always promised that he would always be a guiding force in her life. During her childhood, he frequently wrote her notes of encouragement. After his death, Taylor is in need of some guidance. Then, mysterious notes start appearing in her father's coat. With each message, Taylor finds herself piecing together not just her grief but also her path forward. She discovers strength, resilience, and the power of love to guide her through life's darkest moments.

This was another great story by, in my opinion, one of the best storytellers of our time. Cindy Kirk weaves a wonderfully romantic and mysterious plot around characters that are likable and charming but with problems and flaws that make them relatable. If you want a feel-good romance, look no further.

 

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost - 4 stars!

For innkeeper Holly White, Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is the ultimate holiday gift. On top of that, her wedding is just around the corner. So, what could go wrong? When a ballet troupe stays at her inn, and one of the ballerinas is murdered, Holly endeavors to solve the case before her wedding day. But what happens when the killer sets her sights on her?
This was a great Christmas mystery to read in the hot weather of July. I love Holly White as an amateur sleuth because she is intelligent, focused and she works with the police. The plot was confounding, and I didn't know whodunit until the big reveal at the end. I will definitely read the next installment in this fabulous mystery series. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.