Married in Texas by Debbie Macomber - 3 Stars!

 

This book contains two stories written by Debbie Macomber: Norah- Norah Bloomfield is feeling a bit lonely these days. Her father is recovering from his heart attack, and her sisters are each busy planning their weddings. But then a Texan named Rowdy Cassidy crashes his small plane in Orchard Valley, and into Norah's life. In all Norah's nursing experience, she’s never encountered a more difficult or irresistible man. But Rowdy's connection to the Bloomfields is complicated, and Norah doesn't know if she can trust her heart to him.
Lone Star Lovin' -When Sherry Waterman arrives in Pepper, Texas, she’s definitely not in the mood for romance. But if anyone could change her mind, it’s Cody Bailman. Except the rancher seems to have no idea how to woo a woman. Fortunately, his twelve-year-old daughter has some ideas. Sherry’s definitely attracted to Cody but she needs to know if he feels the same first.
These were good little romantic stories. Even though there was really nothing wrong with them, I didn't feel the connection between the characters. I honestly didn't understand why the women wanted these men. I liked the way the character of Norah was friends with Sherry. This book got three stars because the female characters were likeable, and their stories kept my interest until the end.

The Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle - 5 Stars!

 

In the middle of a wonderful Christmas holiday in Dharma, Brooklyn Wainwright and her husband, Derek receive a phone call from their friend Claire in Loch Ness, Scotland. The laird of the castle, Cameron MacKinnon, has just proposed to her! They plan to be married on New Year’s Day, and they want Derek and Brooklyn to be their witnesses. And while they’re visiting, Claire hopes that Brooklyn can solve a little mystery that’s occurred in the castle library—twelve very rare books have gone missing. Once in Scotland, Brooklyn starts working on the mystery of the missing books but is distracted when one of the guests is poisoned and another is killed by an arrow through the heart. Now Brooklyn and Derek must find a killer and a book thief before another murder occurs and their friends’ bright and happy future turns dark and deadly.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love Brooklyn, she's a fantastic amateur sleuth who somehow finds dead bodies in her spare time. Derek reminds me a lot of James Bond, he's a suave character who loves Brooklyn and assists her in all of her sleuthing. Brooklyn's parents and the other side characters are very unique and fun to read about. The plot was gripping and intriguing. There were red herrings and misdirection that kept me confused until the very end. The setting, an old castle in Scotland, was very well described and added to the overall atmosphere of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope you will too!

Christmas Moon Over Holly Pointe by Cindy Kirk - 4 Stars!

 

Melinda Kelly wants to shake things up for Christmas. She’ll trade snow for sand and spend the holidays in sunny Mexico. A destination wedding in Mexico is the ultimate Christmas vacation, unless you're Jack McPherson, the groom is your brother, and the bride is your ex-fiancée. When a computer snafu cancels all flights, Jack snags the last available rental car and offers Melinda a ride. Melinda's best chance to get back to her family for Christmas is Jack. They decide to spend the Holiday in Holly Pointe and discover that sometimes the best gifts are the ones never expected. And that a Christmas moon, one that signals new beginnings, is shining its light directly on them.
Reading about Holly Pointe always gets me in the Holiday mood. I would love to visit a town like this, full of the festive spirit and people who enlighten your heart. Jack and Melinda's romance is sweet, and believable. I recommend this book to any lover of Christmas romance.

Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower - 4 Stars!

 

Millie’s best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, Gerome Moorhead, in Harvest, Ohio. With him is the new Mrs. Moorhead. Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome's new wife was murdered. Can Millie find the truth before Lois is arrested?
This was a good installment to a series that I love. Millie and the other citizens of Harvest are fun to read about. The story was very intriguing and kept me interested until the very end. I loved the two goats; they were very comical characters. I will definitely read the next one in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Playing the Odds by Nora Roberts - 3 Stars!

 

Raised in wealth and luxury, Serena MacGregor works as a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship. Then gambler Justin Blade appears at her table. He’s a mystery who keeps his cards close to his chest but finds himself desiring to prove to Serena that together they’ve hit the jackpot.
This was a good romance. I loved the main characters, and the secrets that brought them together. Serena is a tough, independent spirit who wants to make her own way. And Justin is a man who becomes a success despite his past. But I didn't like Justin's sexual aggression and the way he didn't accept when Serena said no. It made the reading uncomfortable and took me out of the story. I will read another story from this author.

Bookclubbed to Death by V. M. Burns - 5 Stars!

After the local library in North Harbor, Michigan, is flooded in a storm, Sam offers her bookstore as a new venue for the Mystery Mavens Book Club. Unfortunately, she immediately runs afoul of the club leader, Delia Marshall, a book reviewer who can make or break careers. But the next morning, Sam opens her shop to find Delia dead on the floor, bashed with the Complete Works of Agatha Christie. While Sam is busy writing her latest British historical mystery, a pair of ambitious cops suspect Sam of the real murder. When she gathers Nano Jo and their friends to review the case, they discover everyone in the book club had a motive. Sam must find out who clubbed Delia before a judge throws the book at her.

This was a great cozy mystery to curl up to on a cold November night. I love how there is a mystery inside of the story. I loved both plots, and the characters in both stories are very likeable. I would love the author to actually write a full-sized historical mystery with the characters created by her amateur sleuth. I will read the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader's copy.

Death in the Margins by Victoria Gilbert - 4 Stars!

 

It’s early summer, and Richard Muir and his dance partner, Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, based on folktales and the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then dancer Meredith Fox is found dead backstage. Amy, Richard's wife, is propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves. After Amy teams up with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and the sheriff’s department, they find that there’s many suspects. With Richard and Karla's help, and information gleaned from locals, Amy desperately tries to unveil the killer before the premiere. But is the murderer waiting for Amy in the wings?
This was a great story in this wonderful series. The surprise in the end was both heartwarming and scary because I hope it won't be the end of a series. I love Amy, her grandmother, and all of the other characters. Reading this series always makes me happy. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy.