Nancy Drew and the Bungalow!

 

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While trying to help a friend out of a difficulty, Nancy has a perilous experience in and around a deserted bungalow. She needs to be brave and, on her toes, to solve the mystery.
I’ve always loved the Nancy Drew stories, but I haven’t read all of them, and this one was new to me. It’s a great mystery for the young and young at heart. I think I will continue to read this series.


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A Gambler and A Wallflower Fall in Love!

 

How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Finn Ransome is an expert on Lady Luck, which is why he refuses to take a chance on love. He believes his shortcomings will disappoint anyone he cares about. However, the clock is ticking on his father's matrimonial demands. The only woman to catch his eye is a bluestocking who would never consider a rogue like him. After a disastrous first Season, Tabitha Seaton decided to focus on books instead of ballrooms. She hopes to join the Sterling Society, a collective of the most influential minds in London. Except, they will never admit an unmarried lady. Now Tabitha needs a husband, and a notorious, handsome gambler may be her best bet. They decide to marry out of convenience instead of love. Once married, however, their potent attraction boils over into a deep passion that neither expected. When a painful mistake drives the new lovers apart, Finn will risk it all to prove a scoundrel and a wallflower are a winning pair.
This historical romance had two characters that showed great chemistry even though they were from different worlds. They both showed their inner strength by letting love in their hearts and conquering their personal challenges. I felt that the story was a little drawn out and some parts needed editing. It just seemed too long. But I enjoyed it overall. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Chinese Food and Murder!

 

Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lana Lee’s parents take off to Taiwan, leaving her in charge of her family’s Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. Soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery. And, the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder.
This was a great cozy mystery with a wonderfully written main character who is a joy to read about. The plot was very intricate, with different clues that confounded me, and I was surprised with the solution in the end. I recommend this story to all cozy mystery lovers.


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A Winter's Murder!

 

A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

During Christmastime, the Seaside Knitters are dealing with the death of a friend’s wife, the chef who was hired to cater the mayor’s holiday party. Suspects come to light as the Knitters start investigating. Could it be the husband? Or the wayward relative? Maybe it’s the nanny? The Seaside Knitters are on the case.
This cozy mystery placed me in a holiday mood as I curled up on the couch reading. The plot was very puzzling and kept me guessing until the end. The characters were fun to read about and I enjoyed them. I was confused with all of the head hopping. I’m not used to a multiple POV for a cozy mystery. Lastly, I felt it strange that there were aspects of the mystery that wasn’t revealed to the reader when they were related to the sleuths. Usually there is an unspoken pact between the author and the reader about the revelation of clues. I felt that was a little unfair. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Can Children Help A Loveless Marriage?

 

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfect marriage of convenience. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way. Although William has secretly longed for more from the woman he adores. When Emmeline’s grandfather, the Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little children, William is stunned to discover that his wife invented two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if they team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain. As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprising turns. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.
When I first read the summary for this historical romance, I was intrigued. The concept for this novel seemed interesting and fairly original. Sadly, though, I wasn’t impressed. I didn’t like Emmeline at all, she seemed selfish, conniving, irresponsible, and naïve. She manipulated the whole situation. William seemed very submissive, and I felt he didn’t have a backbone. I honestly was not interested in what happened, and just read it to finish it for this review. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Love and the Heat of Competition!

 

The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Can two people who have a past compete for the same opportunity while rebuilding their relationship? This contemporary romance is about two students who broke up after competing for something each of them wanted, only for it to happen again. Does love conquer the heat of competition?
I wanted to love this story more, but I felt it was too one-sided. Both main characters were likeably flawed and very human. The challenge of the heroine to love herself and have confidence despite her father’s deriding and apathetic attitude is something I know happens in reality. I liked how the hero had actually showed the heroine that he had changed and deserved a chance in her life. What I didn’t like was the way the heroine was lying yet felt betrayed when she thought the hero cheated. She never asked him about it, just thought that she was wronged. And then, she didn’t go over and apologize, she waited until he apologized to her. I felt that she needed to step up and take responsibility for what she did. I felt the hero was being too submissive and there was an inequality in the relationship that annoyed me. Overall, this is a good story which should be used in discussions about honesty and trust in relationships. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Wedding Planning Can Be Murder?!?

 

A Vacation to Die For by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is hustling her fiancé off to a neighboring tourist town to plan her nuptials. But when a mystery man turns up dead at South Cove’s PD, Greg is hightailing it back home to investigate, leaving Jill to finish the vacation solo. She can barely get in a spa day before her own respite is spoiled by a greedy hotel guest and unexpected revelations about Max Winter, the developer conniving to buy her home out from under her. Then there’s the strange men seen lurking about town, and an aggressive and obnoxious family member harassing Jill’s employee. Could all these happenings be connected? Can Jill find the truth before a killer finds her?
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love Jill and her coffee/book shop. I enjoy reading about her investigations. I love Greg and his relationship with her. They make a great team and I hope that we get to see them married and working together to solve mysteries. The plot to this mystery was very confounding. I kept on thinking I knew who the killer was, but I was surprised in the end. I can’t wait to read the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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