Books from the Backlog - Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock (A Victorian Mystery #4) by Emily Brightwell

Blurb: Inspector Witherspoon has never come up against a case which he couldn't solve . . . with the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries. But now he's confronted with a bewlidering murder. It seems as though the victim has cheated his stockholders out of a fortune, which leaves each of them with a strong motive for the crime. So Mrs Jeffries is confronted with a complex brew of murder and high finance. This time even she might not manage to add it all up . . .

This charming series of Victorian murder mysteries features mild-mannered Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and, more importantly, Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper. A policeman's widow herself, her quick wits allow her to nudge the Inspector in the right direction to solve the crime.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've read and really enjoyed all of the most recent books in this series and am trying to catch up on the earlier books.  This is the next one I have to read.  

People in Glass Houses - Paranormal Romantic Suspense Review

Goodreads:  People in Glass Houses (Ghost Hunters #16) by Jayne Castle

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  His name is Joshua Knight. Once a respected explorer, the press now calls him the Tarnished Knight. He took the fall for a disaster in the Underworld that destroyed his career. The devastating event occurred in the newly discovered sector known as Glass House—a maze of crystal that is rumored to conceal powerful Alien antiquities. The rest of the Hollister Expedition team disappeared and are presumed dead.

Whatever happened down in the tunnels scrambled Josh’s psychic senses and his memories, but he’s determined to uncover the truth. Labeled delusional and paranoid, he retreats to an abandoned mansion in the desert, a house filled with mirrors. Now a recluse, Josh spends his days trying to discover the secrets in the looking glasses that cover the walls. He knows he is running out of time.

Talented, ambitious crystal artist Molly Griffin is shocked to learn that the Tarnished Knight has been located. She drops everything and heads for the mansion to find Josh, confident she can help him regain control of his shattered senses. She has no choice—he is the key to finding her sister, Leona, a member of the vanished expedition team. Josh reluctantly allows her to stay one night but there are two rules: she must not go down into the basement, and she must not uncover the mirrors that have been draped.

But her only hope for finding her sister is to break the rules…

Genre: Mystery - Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed her books under the Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick names so I thought I would give this series a try.

My Impression: I've enjoyed this author's books and love the bits of paranormal suspense she usually sprinkles through.  And wow this one leans heavily into the paranormal and touches in the scifi realm a bit.  I'm not quite used to this level of world building so it took me a little bit to get into it but once I did I realy enjoyed the story.  

Molly is a fun main character and I love that she is capable and has a strong support system.  Her desire to find her sister and her willingness to go above and beyond makes total sense. I also loved Newton the dust bunny and his tendency to get into trouble.  Josh is a bit more of a conflicted character.  He has some trauma both physical and emotional and feels guilty for what happened with the Hollister Expedition team.  

Once I got into this it was an interesting read and I really enjoyed the adventure!  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I will definitely read more of her Krentz and Quick books and I will look for more of these.  

Would I Recommend this Book? This was a fun read - especially if you like more scifi/fantasy mixed in with your romantic suspense.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - May Flowers

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is May Flowers.  In April we did an April Showers topic so I was excited to see this one - and apparently I have way more books on my TBR with flowers in the title.

1.  A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor - I love Hazel Gaynor and this looks wonderful.

2.  The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen - This book comes out later this year and I'm so looking forward to it.

3.  Death and Daisies by Amanda Flowers - This is an overdue review book.  I've really enjoyed other cozies by this author and this one looks fun too.

4.  The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George - I loved another middle grade series by this author and have been meaning to read this one.

5.  Morning Glory by Sarah Jio - I've enjoyed the books I've read by this author and this one sounds really good.

6.  Sunday at the Sunflower Inn by Jodi Thomas - This author is on my Must Read list this year and this one sounds really wonderful.  Plus, I love the cover.

7.  Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman - I don't know much about this book or this author but I love the sound of the blurb.

8.  Viloets of March by Sarah Jio - Apparently Violets are a very popular flower for titles.  Again, this is an author I'm really looking forward to reading more from and this looks good.

9.  The Magnolia Sisters by Michelle Majors - A magnolia is a tree but I the blooms are distinctive and gorgeous so I'm counting this.  This is another one where I don't know much about the author but the blurb really caught my eye.

10. A Fall of Marigold by Susan Meissner - I love historical fiction with a dual timeline and I've been wanting to try someting by this author.

Are there any books with flowery titles that you want to read?

The Summer Swap - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Cecilia Lapthorne always vowed she’d never go back to Dune Cottage. So no one is more surprised than Cecilia to find herself escaping her own seventieth birthday party to return to the remote but beautiful cottage on Cape Cod—a place filled with memories. Some are good—especially memories of the early days with her husband, volatile artist Cameron, before his fame eclipsed their marriage. But then there are the memories she has revealed to no one. Especially not her daughter, Kristen, who hero-worshipped her father.

For aspiring artist Lily, Dune Cottage has been a refuge, albeit an illicit one. After dropping out of medical school, she’s cleaning houses on the Cape to get by, guilt-ridden for disappointing her parents. Unoccupied for years, the cottage seemed the perfect place to hide away and lick her wounds—until Cecilia unexpectedly arrives. Despite an awkward beginning, Lily accepts Cecilia’s invitation to stay on as her guest, and a flicker of kinship ignites.

Then Cecilia’s grandson, Todd—and Lily’s unrequited crush—shows up, sending a shock wave through their unlikely friendship. Will it inspire Lily to find the courage to live the life she wants? Can Cecilia finally let go of the past to find a new future? Because as surely as the tide erases past footprints, this summer is offering both Cecilia and Lily the chance to swap old dreams for new…

Genre: Romance - Contemporary    

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed other books by this author and this sounded like a good read.

My Impression: After a slightly slow start I absolutely fell in love with this book.  At the very beginning all of the characters are at a bit of a watershed moment.  They're all facing down things that aren't quite what they seem and decisions that have consequences.  

I loved all the characters and watching them learn to figure out what they want and in some cases find their voice.  Normally in a book with an ensemble cast there are some stories I like more than others and some characters I don't really care for.  I didn't find that to be the case for this book.  I really enjoyed each story and could identify with each of the characters.  

This was a bit of a predictible romance but it was so cozy and heartfelt with likable characters that deserve happy endings that I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.  Sarah Morgan may become my go to comfort reading author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I have absolutely loved her last few books and can't wait to read more from her.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you are looking for a sweet comforting read with characters you can root for this is great choice.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Reading Recap - April 2024

Monthly Recap:

Monthly Reading Count - 18.  I feel like I spent most of the month teetering on the edge of a reading slope but I'm hoping things have straightened out.

Print - 7

Ebook - 5

Audiobook - 6

Mystery - 10

Fiction - 5

Romance - 2

Nonfiction - 1

Favorite Books of the Month:

Favorite Audio:

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica - This won't be in my top ten favorite books for the year but it was a fun thriller and the audio really enhanced the reading experience.

Favorite Book:  

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

Murder in Rose Hill by Victoria Thompson

Least Favorite Book:

Day of Vengeance by Jeanne M. Dams - I wanted to love this one but it just didn't work for me.  I don't think I"ll be continuing with this series.

My Armchair Travel

Domestic Travel:

I visted Wisconsin, Tennessee, New York, Michigan, and South Carolina for the first time.  I also revisited Illinois, Washington, and Massachussetts.

International Travel:  

I didn't travel internationally as much as I normally do but I did visit England twice, Scotland, and Switzerland.

Where did your reading take you in April?  What was your favorite book of the month?

Friday Fives - May TBR

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This is the first Friday in May so I'm picking out five books I hope to read this month.

1.  Mind Games by Nora Roberts - This comes out later this month and I'm so excited to read it.

2.  No One Needs to Know by Kevin O'Brien - This is a suspense title that has been gathering dust on my review shelf for far too long and this month seems like the time to read it.

3.  The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett - This is on my priority list and it looks absolutely gorgeous.

4.  The Glow of Death by Jane K. Cleland - I really love this series and this is the next book in the series.  Weirdly it was really hard to get.  The library didn't have it and I couldn't find it new anywhere so I ended up having to buy a used library copy off Amazon.  The blurb sounds fantastic so I'm curious to see if I can figure out why it was so hard to find.

5.  Run! by Patricia Wentworth - My TBR Tarot prompt for this month was "Choose a book with a one word title"  This was way harder than I expected but I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Books from the Backlog - The Body Under the Piano

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Body Under the Piano (Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen #1) by Marthe Jocelyn

Blurb:  Aggie Morton lives in a small town on the coast of England in 1902. Adventurous and imaginative but deeply shy, Aggie hasn't got much to do since the death of her beloved father . . . until the fateful day when she crosses paths with twelve-year-old Belgian immigrant Hector Perot and discovers a dead body on the floor of the Mermaid Dance Room! As the number of suspects grows and the murder threatens to tear the town apart, Aggie and her new friend will need every tool at their disposal -- including their insatiable curiosity, deductive skills and not a little help from their friends -- to solve the case before Aggie's beloved dance instructor is charged with a crime Aggie is sure she didn't commit.

My Thoughts:  This is a middle grade mystery series based off of Agatha Christie's life and mysteries.  How can I resist it?