Tag: book 2

April 2026 Wrap-Up

Stack of fantasy books titled The Astral Compendium, Year of Dreams 2026, Whispers of Eloria, and Tales from the Void on a wooden table with glowing fairies, a candle, an open book, compasses, a lantern, and a steaming cup.

Personal Highlights from this month:

  • For the week of March 30th through April 4th:
    • The first half of the week was full of appointments. I had my initial appointment with the Pulmonary Dr. (I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and need a C-Pap machine).
    • I also went and visited my grandcats: Bug (who lived with us for 2 years along with his mom) and Coco (aka Coutore/the girls rescue kitten they adopted last Saturday). I also took in their mail/packages, topped off the cats’ water, fed both cats wet food, made sure the dry food dispenser was working, and cleaned the litterboxes. And, of course, I left my purse there, so BK, Miss R, and I went back to get it.
    • We had a surprise visitor late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning. An unknown man came onto my porch and was looking at either my leaf blower, my air conditioner, or the charger for BK’s electric car. He kept his face covered because we have a sign that says “monitored by Ring audio and visual“. Gotta love wanna-be thieves. He got scared off when BK turned on the living room light and banged on the front window. But, I’m sure he’ll be back…sigh.
    • Miss R learned an important lesson about internet safety. She had lent her Instagram account to a school “friend“. Said “friend” posted very inappropriate pictures there, which were then shared on her Facebook. A friend of the family saw them and immediately called me. After talking to Miss R, we spent a few hours trying to delete the accounts (the girl kept undoing the deletes). We finally were able to move them all (6 of them!!) off her account, and Miss R changed her phone number, password, and put up 2-step verification. Like I said, a lesson learned.
  • For the week of April 5th through April 11th:
    • It’s spring break here, so all school-aged kids in my household were home from school for the week.
  • For the week of April 12th through April 18th:
    • Mr. Z officially has 2 weeks left of his internship. To be honest, I will not miss driving him to and from the hospital Monday-Friday.
    • Mr. Z also decided that he wants to go to the prom. And, boy, tickets are expensive ($50 for stag, $100 for a couple). He will be wearing a black tux with red lining. He is going stag.
    • Miss R rode a new horse this week, and she loved riding it. But, tacking her up was another thing. The horse wouldn’t let Miss R put the bit in her mouth, and if she got it in, the horse slipped the bridle off her head. It took two experienced people (her instructor and the barn owner’s daughter) to get the bit in.
    • Miss R had her unofficial chorus concert on Friday. I didn’t go, but I heard from friends who did that the kids did an amazing job.
    • Mr. Z had in impormto meeting with his drone class (which is why I didn’t get to go to the concert). I ended up waiting almost 2 hours for the class to finish (it was supposed to be 10-15 mins).
    • Miss R had a sleepover with one of her best friends. She also spent all day Saturday and almost all day Sunday with this friend.
  • For the week of April 19th through April 25th:
    • Mr. Z got his cap and gown this week!! He didn’t get his cords or his stole, but I think he’s getting them at Senior Night.
    • Mr. Z went to his prom, and he had a blast. He actually got up and danced (which surprised his father and me).
    • My best friend came up to visit on Sunday. We were able to catch up on a lot. I plan on driving down to visit her once school is out.

Books I Read:

  • Montana Promises Series by Vella Day (I wasn’t able to finish the last book by the end of March):
    • Burning Seduction (Book 5): I believe this is the last book in this series (but there are other series in the same universe). This book centers on Charlotte and Trent’s relationship, with a murder investigation as its backdrop. I loved how their relationship progressed. I also loved the little catch-ups that the author threw in about the other Montana Promises couples. There was an interesting secondary storyline with Harmon (Trent’s brother), and I can’t wait to see if he has his own book (I need to look).
  • The Valkyrie Series by J.K. Hawk:
    • The Nameless Survivor (Book 1): If you like a book told through diary entries and interoffice memos, this is the book for you. While I usually don’t enjoy this format, I did enjoy this book. However, some parts were difficult—such as the depiction of child rape in Mia’s recollections—and I was uncomfortable with the age difference between the survivor (whose name wasn’t given) and Mia, who was 15-16 years old, as it seemed to be at least 20-30 years. Other than that, it was a good read.
    • The Surviving Son (Book 2): This book didn’t live up to the first. My main issue was that the only person who could cure the virus was inexplicably allowed to leave on a risky search for The Nameless Survivor’s son in Northern New England. The timeline was also muddled, as Abel was described inconsistently as either a six-year-old or a teenager. I wasn’t satisfied with the portrayal of The Nameless Survivor, now renamed Adam. Most frustratingly, the ending left Stephanie and Abel’s fate unresolved, leaving the conclusion feeling incomplete.
  • The Imp series by Debra Dunbar (I was able to get almost the entire series on KU. There are 5 books that were not on KU or not on Amazon).
    • A Demon Bound (Book 1): This was an engaging book with a unique twist on the genre. Sam, an imp who has lived on Earth for 40 years as a slumlord, is drawn into a murder mystery when a werewolf blackmails her into trying to kill the rogue angel targeting her kind. The book is fast-paced, witty, and decidedly tongue-in-cheek.
    • Satan’s Sword (Book 2): Another engaging book that centers on Sam and her friends. In this book, Sam had to bail her foster brother, Dar, out of hot water with a higher-up demon. All she has to do is get an ancient artifact and deliver it to said demon. Sam is also dealing with a serial killer who is taking ears as trophies and has moved from the homeless to children. This book was funny, a little gross (there was a lot of gore), and just an overall good read. I am very interested to see what happens in the next book with Sam’s new title, the elves, the demon trying to kill Sam, and the vampires.
    • Elven Blood (Book 3): In this book, Sam must work for an Elven Lord to track down a unique elf/demon hybrid and bring it to the Elven lands, dead or alive. If successful, the Lord will resolve her demon problem. I found this book as enjoyable as the first two, and it was a quicker read. The plot had interesting twists, especially regarding the hybrid, and I liked Sam’s interactions with the Ruling Council of Angels.
    • Devil’s Paw (Book 4): Sam, for once, doesn’t have anyone wanting to kill her. She is content doing impish things (having lots of sex and causing mischief). But things go sideways when Gregory (the angel) is convinced that Sam is behind the murder of an angel and several demons (because of her devouring ability). I loved this book. It was a little faster-paced than the previous three books and featured much more action. I loved Sam’s interactions with Gregory, but I didn’t love how he treated her. I also loved that Sam’s emotional maturity has come so far in just three books and that she has developed strong morals. I was a little surprised and upset by the ending. But saying that, I can’t wait to read book 5 and see what shenanigans Sam gets into in Hel.
    • Imp Forsaken (Book 5): This book centers on Sam and Gabe (Gregory’s younger brother), split between Sam’s recovery in Hel after Gregory’s banishment and Gabe’s investigation into an angel rebellion in Aaru. The narrative alternates between their experiences: Sam’s struggle to heal/recover her powers, her violent encounters with powerful beings, and her leadership in a violent rebellion; Gabe’s efforts to uncover the source of unrest among the angels. The story is marked by intense violence and significant character development. I enjoyed seeing how Sam’s experiences shaped her, and I am eager to see her reunited with Gregory.
    • Angel of Chaos (Book 6): The book follows the Nephilim, Sam, and Gregory (revealed as Archangel Michael), focusing on the chaos Sam creates. It features significant violence and both physical and spiritual sex. The author expands on why angels cannot procreate. Another side of Gabe emerges, as hinted at in Imp Forsaken. Harper, a mortal, was enthralled and impregnated by an angel against her will, which led to anger and trust issues. The ending was expected, and Sam’s absorption of others into her household was intriguing. I’m curious about the Kingdom of Lies and Sam’s deals with sorcerers Kirby and Gabe.
    • Kingdom of Lies (Book 7): This book picks up a few months after Angel of Chaos. Sam’s quest to retrieve a dangerous, modified gem for a sorcerer becomes more perilous when a greedy demon uses the gem’s power to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Sam manages her relationship with Gregory, the tensions in her household, and the mystery of gates opening to other dimensions. Kingdom of Lies is fast-paced, plenty violent, but light on sex. The snark level is high (I love Sam’s sense of humor and her skewed moral compass). The author does something interesting by exposing humans to demons, angels, and other supernatural beings. I was slightly disappointed that the gate closings didn’t get more time, but that would probably take another book. I’m eager to see where Exodus (the next book) will go.
    • Exodus (Book 8): As the angel rebellion peaks and the Ruling Council pressures Sam to leave while elves advance on humans, chaos erupts. In response, Sam welcomes all refugees into her household (most of them on temporary status). She plans to defend Aaru alongside Gregory and his brothers using her Lows. The ensuing battle is tense and well described; plot twists unfold logically yet remain surprising. Ultimately, the conclusion is impactful, as Sam’s allies prove formidable.
    • Queen of the Damned (Book 9): This book starts several months after the events in Exodus. The angels (and Sam) are still locked out of Aaru and trying to get back in. Soon after, Sam learns someone has kidnapped three of her Lows. The investigation is chaotic, but she eventually uncovers the culprit—a very odd figure, like Mr. Rogers with an Ancient twist. The Ancient who took the Lows is unsettling, but ultimately seems fine. As she continues, Sam discovers the Ancients have awoken and want to return to Aaru—a storyline that is both humorous and a bit sad. Later, a surprising twist involving Harper’s angel baby daddy brings the plot full circle and adds a bittersweet note. At the very end, Samael is revealed to be alive. Overall, the book was a compelling, enjoyable read—I couldn’t put it down.
    • The Morning Star (Book 10): This book concludes Sam and Gregory’s journey, focusing on Samael’s rumored return after a 2-billion-year absence. When this rumor proves true, Sam tries to unite the Ancients and demons to avert war on Earth, all while raising Lux, an adorable Angel of Order. The fast-paced, hilarious story delivers well-written twists. Although I had anticipated the Samael reveal back in book 8, the actual revelation and the intense ending twist exceeded expectations. Lux’s biological sire wants him back, but Sam stands firm, and she discusses Lux’s safety with Remiel. The author delivers an astonishing final twist that powerfully concludes the series.
    • With This Ring (Book 11): Several months after The Morning Star, Sam is adapting to her new life, balancing committee responsibilities and personal milestones, including serving as a bridesmaid in Amber/Irix’s wedding. Her adopted angel Lux brings unexpected chaos by taking his ring-bearing role literally. Amid challenges—humans wielding powerful weapons, strict immigration rules, evasive elves, and a zombie onslaught—Sam is overwhelmed but ultimately solves everything in her signature chaotic style. This chaos, paired with her indifference to rules and deep love for Lux and her found family, grounds her and makes the book a joy to read. The hilarious sex toy scene exemplifies the humor, keeping me laughing throughout.
    • A Crown of Imp and Bone (Book 12): I expected this to be the last book, but the author announced book 13, which I’m eager to read. In this installment, Sam faces her most dangerous challenge, juggling wedding preparations and a quest for peace after Lux steals the Seelie Queen’s ring—breaking a historic contract and threatening humans. Sam’s mission plunges her into conspiracies: rescuing kidnapped Seelie girls, investigating mysterious towers, battling the Wild Hunt, Unseelie King for help, and a climactic fight. For the first time in the series, I genuinely feared for Sam’s survival.

Monthly Playlist (I use songs featured in the book, if there are any, along with a playlist generated by ChatGPT).

Featured Song of the Month

March 2026 Wrap-Up

Personal Highlights from this month:

  • Week of March 1st through March 7th:
    • On March 4th, Mr. Z was honored by our local Rotary Club with a Student of Distinction award. He is our 2nd child to get this award. Miss B got it in her junior year.
    • Miss R got her 2nd treatment of braces on March 5th. She was very sore and unhappy about the bite bar they put on her back teeth.
    • Mr. Z attended the first of two robotics competitions over the weekend. The first one is taking place in Carrabus County.
  • Week of March 8th through March 14th:
    • Miss B and Miss J moved into their first apartment!! BK took the day off (and it was already no school for Miss R and Mr. Z), and we moved them in!!
  • Week of March 15th through March 21st:
    • Mr. Z had a cough that had been lingering for a week, so I took him to the doctor. I thought he would have either bronchitis or a sinus infection. Nope, he had pneumonia. We caught it right at the beginning, so that was good!!
    • Miss R addressed a bullying issue at school. I’m not going to get into it, but a boy had been physically and verbally going after her. She talked to the assistant principal, and it was dealt with.
    • Miss R also had a St. Paddy’s Day dance at school on Friday.
    • Miss R, Mr. Z, BK, and Miss R’s BFF went to see Project Hail Mary. Her science class has been reading the book (finished it on Friday), and her science teacher wanted the entire 6th grade to see the movie. He rented out the theater, and the tickets were only $5 per person. I declined to go because I hate watching movies after reading the books.
  • Week of March 22nd through March 28th:
    • Miss R had to go back to the Dr on the 24th. She had been complaining of a blocked ear since Friday. She had an ear infection that didn’t clear up after she had a sinus/ear infection at the end of February/beginning of March. Hopefully, this antibiotic (not amoxicillin) will do its job. This is the first time in the 20 years I have been a mother that amoxicillin didn’t clear up an ear infection.
    • We got the financial aid packet from App State for Mr. Z. Not going to say how much he has to pay (if no scholarships come through), but it’s a lot….sigh.
    • Miss R broke her wire on her top braces, so off to the orthodontist we went to get it fixed.

Books I Read:

  • The Legends of Dhanen’Mar series:
    • Seeds of Betrayal (Book 4.2): This is Sewyn’s story, which explains why she took the actions she did. I did not like Sewyn, and reading this book made me dislike her even more. None of the main characters from the other books are even mentioned (except for Devlin and Taleb, but not by name). I am very curious about how Adrienne’s storyline is going to progress and who the heck Brienne was!!
    • Legacy of Blood (Book 4.4): Finally, we get the story about Qyn’s parents and how they met!! This book didn’t disappoint. I loved Serena’s spunkiness, and Kain didn’t disappoint at all. I also liked that they introduced the major players I expect to see in the upcoming books. There is also a huge twist (and it is huge) regarding Serena’s pregnancy and what happened afterward. All I have to say is that Serena is one of the strongest characters in this series.
    • Dreams of Mist (Book 4.6): This is Qyn’s story. It takes place immediately after the events of Path of Stars. I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge face-off between Qyn and Serena. There was a brief face-off between them that ended in Qyn’s favor. I also loved that the author got more into his due’foi’beni talents. I am also very curious about Lora. She is unbelievably shy and disfigured (until they get her to a Master Healer), but Qyn is taken with her. A possible romance? Oh, and the mystery of Brienne was answered, and it was HUGE!!
    • Binds of Fate (Book 5): Where do I even start? This book was insane. Devlin is forced to flee Aralexia after the events of Paths of Stars. Taleb realizes that his actions have consequences. Synna and Knoxx arrive in Kohtala with the children (after the events of Dreams of Mist). Lora and her brother are left in Kohtala, and Vivienne is first taken to the city of Revenge and then to Aralexia, where she is placed with Raegan. The Jennites are preparing for war in the North, so Baelin, Taleb, and Madi head there. Meanwhile, Flynn finally gets the Amethyst but at a huge price. He delivers the Amethyst to Synna and Qyn in Kohtala, where they prepare for another battle with Sweyn. But this battle has consequences, and a main character is caught up in it. But a very important lesson is learned, and adjustments are made in time for another attack. This attack takes out another key player (for good, I hope) and tests the Amethyst against the Emerald. Meanwhile, the war in the North is amping up, and Taleb is doing his best to avert it. Baelin does his best to kill Rydin (in battle and through subterfuge) but is thwarted by Rydin’s double Chaos. The Emerald is brought to the North and unleashed on the Jennite army. Half of the army gets a deadly plague, and the other half is left alone….thanks to Rydin’s double Chaos. There is another huge twist in the storyline that made my jaw drop when it was revealed. The book ends with a jaw-dropping revelation and a plan to go find the curse-maker. Oh, and there was a hint of who Flynn is, and one of the main clues was the weapon he carried.
    • Coils of Eternity (Book 5.2): This book takes place 200 years before the series begins. This is also Cryslyn’s story. What got me is that Cryslyn wasn’t a piksie in this book. She was a normal (well, normalish) 15-year-old girl who lived on the run with her mother. The reveal that she was a shapeshifter didn’t surprise me; there were hints in the previous books. I was a little surprised at the end of the book. The explanation for the situation that kept her in Piksie form was sad. But, also sad is what her mother did to Dain. I am looking forward to seeing where he turns up in future books. I also wonder if Cryslyn will ever shapeshift back to her human form.
    • Tangle of Thorns (Book 5.4): This long-awaited book is about Rydin’s younger sister, Andora. It explains the circumstances behind her death (starting with a unicorn). There was a lot more than her just dying. Andora had foreseen her death and the future, including Rydin meeting Madi and Madi becoming one of the central figures in the quests for the Catalyst Stones. She also gave Rydin a list of names. These names were of the men who assaulted her right before her death (there were twelve). And Auguries of Dawn starts off with Rydin finishing that list. But it also shows that Rydin knew he had to meet Madi and that he was instrumental in everything that would happen. That, I did not see coming.
    • Trail of Masks (Book 5.6): So, this book is set towards the end of Binds of Fate. Callan is sent to Vernon to rescue Adrienne, but he first has to complete a task for Vernon’s king: assassinate the assassins who are targeting the king. Then he can go do what he was sent to Vernon to do. Meanwhile, Garitt Simig (the last surviving royal after his family was killed in O’Kada) meets with Vernon’s king to discuss a possible alliance. He also meets up with Knoxx, who is carrying the Amethyst. They are told to go help Callan (whom they don’t like) rescue Adrienne. And there is also the issue of Tossani, who tortured Callan and Tishan. Adrienne is staying with him, and Callan is itching to get revenge. I was very satisfied reading this book because of the ending of two of the villains. For now, there are 3, with one temporarily out of commission.
    • Labyrinth of Myths (book 6): This is the last full book in the series. Unfortunately, the author died before she could complete the series. And again, a lot happened. So here it goes!
      • Qyn dreamwalked into the past with Brienne. He learns about them
      • and their creation, which surprises him. It involves a captive cursebreaker, a coded codex, and a secret that changes everything.
      • Rydin and Cryslyn search for the current cursebreaker and his protector. When he finds them, he learns that Cryslyn is a shapeshifter who has been stuck in piksie form for over 200 years. Rydin is blown away by that revelation and by how young Cryslyn is (she just turned 15 in Coils of Eternity). He convinces the cursebreaker to return and destroy the stones.
      • Callan, Dego, and Tishan are in Vernon and seeking to assassinate the fake Tassoni. They also decide to take out the other two baddies while they are there and to get the Sapphire. Tishan grabs the Sapphire but drops the Amethyst.
      • Taleb decides to correct his mistake of turning down the crown. But he does it in a gruesome way that terrifies his people.
      • Garrit is crowned the king of O’Kada and vows to avenge his people.
    • Crown of Thieves (book 6.2): Set five years before Auguries of Dawn, this novella follows Flynn—a character whose true identity is shrouded in mystery throughout the series, finally revealed in this book. Flynn is actually Aharon Shai, son of the royal guard’s captain in Ceja. Exiled for nearly killing his father, Aharon returns at the request of his best friend, Prince Neco, and arrives to find chaos. The elderly king forces his twelve children to fight to the death to determine the next ruler. Aharon, horrified, is compelled to protect Neco and his betrothed Aya (Neco’s sister), plunging himself into the violent contest. The author also explores how he became Flynn, which I enjoyed.
  • Mystic Stones Series by Kayla Curry:
    • Obsidian (Book 1): I was on the fence about this book for 90% of the book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Instalove (Ava/Tom and Ava/Jesse). I also wished there had been more discussion of how the lack of Internet access was affecting the world (there were comments). I wasn’t a fan of how Ava’s secret was told (and the fact that there was exactly one hint before Jesse dropped that bomb). I did like that Ava turned into a badass boss girl towards the end (after finding out everything) and served Tom a little bit of justice. It was a different type of paranormal romance, and I’m not sure I’d read it again.
    • Ruby (book 1.5): This book is just a rewrite of book 1, except from Tom’s POV. The author condenses everything, which makes this book a very short read.
  • Black Rebel Riders MC Series by Glenna Maynard:
    • Grim: The Beginning (Book 1): Grim was a fast read, but man, it was all over the place. I normally don’t comment on anything like this, but this book seriously needed some editing. I also couldn’t stand the Instalove between Red and Grim (I hate Instalove). And the violence was insane. Even the ending was a cluster. I mean, how did the baby survive being shot in the womb? So many unanswered questions.
  • Through Your Eyes by B.J.S. Bal: This book was confusing AF. It was a time-travel/science-fiction/romance (well, kinda) that was all over the place. The storyline did kinda get on track later in the book. To be honest, the end of the book was the best part because the main character took the villain and “took care” of him, which effectively changed the future and changed the book (if that makes sense).
  • Highlander Heat Series by Joanne Wadsworth:
    • Highlander’s Castle (Book 1): This book is what I call a fluff book (and I enjoy fluff books). A fluff book is one where the plotline is super easy to follow, the characters are unremarkable, and I can breeze through it without worrying about missing anything. I enjoyed the book’s time-travel angle (wishing on a Faerie Flag was awesome). I also liked that the author used real-life landmarks/historical figures and items to make the book feel more authentic. I look forward to the rest of the series, either free or on Kindle Unlimited.
  • Let It Be Series by Barbara Speak:
    • Let It Be Me (Book 1): This book was slightly more serious than the previous book I read. The main female character, Arianna, was involved with something that caused her family to up and leave Baltimore. Her step-dick (my favorite phrase in the entire book) was very abusive to Arianna (mentally, emotionally, physically). There are several scenes of graphic abuse in the book. The main male character, Canyon, was her savior in every sense. He figured out pretty early in the book about the abuse. The book did a 180 after the barn fire that killed almost all of Canyon’s breeding stock (that drove me to tears). It was finally revealed what happened that made Arianna’s family pack up and move to Montana, and, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting it. I also wasn’t expecting the book’s outcome or ending!! I will definitely be looking for the other books to either be free or on Kindle Unlimited.
  • Montana Promises Series by Vella Day:
    • Promises of Mercy (Book 1): For a menage book, this got pretty deep. The main story was focused on Amber and her menage relationship with Cade and Stone. But there was a secondary storyline that focused on mercy killings occurring at the hospital where Amber works. I do want to warn that there are graphic sex scenes that include some light bondage.
    • Foundation for Three (Book 2): This book focuses on Zoey, Thad, Pete, and their relationship (yes, this is another menage book). Like Promises of Mercy, this book got pretty deep. Zoey is a therapist who counsels hospital workers. There is a murder, and Zoey is put in the killer’s crosshairs because of what she knows. There is also a secondary storyline surrounding Thad’s job (he’s a detective) and gangs. There are some pretty intense sex scenes. The author also made the characters very relatable (well, to a point; I’ve never been in a menage relationship, but I get what Zoey and Thad went through with Pete). There was also a very sweet conclusion to Amber, Cade, and Stone’s story towards the end of this book, along with a hint of what will happen to Zoey, Thad, and Pete.
    • Montana Fire (Book 3): This book focuses on Jamie (whose boyfriend in book one was behind the mercy killings) and Max (an ex-cop turned arson investigator whose family was killed in a fire set by a drug dealer). The romance started off slowly because both Jamie and Max had trauma from their previous relationships. Another factor in the relationship taking its time was the attacks/threats against Jamie. But once Max and Jamie were forced together, the sparks ignited. From about midway through the book on, there was a ton of sex. But the author didn’t forget the storyline and had Max protect Jamie and identify the terrorist cells. There was also, at the end of the book, a very sweet update with Amber, Cade, and Stone; a surprise for Jamie, a trip for Zoey, and a hint at who the next book was going to be about.

Reading highlights from the month

  • Continued the Legends of Dhanen’Mar series from February. I wasn’t expecting it to take me as long as it did to get through the series. But that said, the series is excellent, and I was savoring every book.
  • I stopped doing my monthly post featuring what books I got for free. It was getting time-consuming.

Monthly Playlist (I use songs featured in the book, if there are any, along with a playlist generated by ChatGPT).

Featured Song of the Month

How to Fall for a Scoundrel (Her Majesty’s Rebels: Book 2) by Kate Bateman

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: August 20th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Adult, Mystery

Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels

Second Duke’s the Charm—Book 1 (review here)

How to Fall for a Scoundrel—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two unlikely allies team up to solve a case in this novel filled with Kate Bateman’s signature sparkling voice, exciting adventures, and steamy chemistry.

As a founding member of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm, studious Eleanor Law delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a charming con man pretends to be her fictional boss, “Charles King,” Ellie knows he’s lying, but accepting the scoundrel’s offer of help might just be the key to cracking her new case and recovering a priceless manuscript.

“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” as he asks to be called—claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals and seduces with such consummate ease can never be trusted. As the investigation draws them deeper into danger and desire, Ellie’s infuriated to realize she’s developed feelings for her law-breaking accomplice. How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn’t even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry’s past finally catches up with him?

First Line:

Eleanor Law had not expected to kiss anyone at Lady Chessington’s annual Christmas boil, let alone a charming, anonymous scoundrel.

Important Details about How to Fall for a Scoundrel

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Henry and Eleanor)

Content/Trigger Guidance: How to Fall for a Scoundrel contains themes of gun violence, injury, injury detail, and death of a parent. Please read carefully if any of these trigger you.

Language: How to Fall for a Scoundrel contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in How to Fall for a Scoundrel.

Setting: How to Fall for a Scoundrel is set in Regency-era London, England.

My Review

As most of you know, Regency-era romances are one of my favorite genres to read. And, if you have been following me for a long enough time, you know that I love Kate Bateman’s books. So, when How to Fall for a Scoundrel came across my email, it wasn’t even a question of me reading the book. It was an automatic acceptance on my end.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second book in the Her Majesty’s Rebels series. You can read it as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading book one first. It provides a more in-depth background of the main characters and how their detective agency started.

The main storyline of How to Fall for a Scoundrel is centered around Ellie and Harry. Ellie is 1/3 of the owner of King & Co., a detective agency that the Queen uses. Harry is an ex-con who wiggled his way into her life by claiming to be her fictional boss, Charles King. Ellie and Harry are forced together when King & Co. is approached and asked to find a stolen priceless manuscript. But Ellie isn’t aware that Harry has secrets that revolve around his past. What happens when Harry’s secrets come to light? Will their fledgling relationship be able to withstand them?

I loved the chemistry between Ellie and Harry. I wasn’t expecting that because it was an Instalove-type deal, and usually (in my experience), Instalove doesn’t have the chemistry that these two did.

I liked Ellie. She certainly didn’t take any shit from Harry, that’s for sure. I loved watching her interact with him. It was a healthy blend of skepticism, lust (later love), and amusement.

Harry was an enigma. When he introduced himself as Henri, my attention was caught from the beginning. The author did an excellent job of keeping his identity a secret, but I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. I also liked that Harry was very much in tune with his feelings. He acknowledged what he felt for Ellie before she even began to admit it to herself. And for a Regency-era man, I thought that it was refreshing.

The storyline with the manuscript was exciting, but it was more of a backdrop for Ellie and Harry’s romance. I liked the shenanigans that they got into, and I loved watching them fall for each other.

Toward the end of the book, a secondary storyline revolves around Harry. This interesting storyline involved Harry’s eyes (he had heterochromia). Other than that, I can’t get into the storyline because there are some major spoilers, and I don’t want to give anything away.

The end of How to Fall for a Scoundrel was a HEA. I liked how the author wrapped up Ellie and Harry’s love story, solved the manuscript mystery, and solved the secondary storyline with Harry. I cannot wait for the third book in this series to come out!!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Kate Bateman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of How to Fall for a Scoundrel. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to How to Fall for a Scoundrel, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Kate Bateman

Dead Tired (The Expectant Detectives: Book 2) by Kat Ailes

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: June 4th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Adult

Series: The Expectant Detectives

The Expectant Detectives—Book 1 (review here)

Dead Tired—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Being a new mom is murder.

Alice didn’t think her maternity leave would involve so much, well, murder. Before becoming proud new moms, she and her friends bonded more than members of a prenatal group usually would, as they became accidental amateur sleuths and solved a crime together. Now, with all this behind them and Alice’s son Jack somehow already a year old, Alice is keen to finally catch up on some sleep. So when an opportunity presents itself in the unlikely form of an eco-protest, Alice and her friends willingly chain themselves to trees and settle in as an excuse to get some overdue rest. Not the most comfortable arrangement ever, but at this point, they’ll take what they can get.

However, the next morning one of their fellow protesters is found strangled, and any hope of a peaceful interlude is suddenly swept away. Soon Alice and her friends become entangled in a plot involving rogue artists, an enigmatic local entrepreneur, and nude (optional) protesting, offering an unexpected—but not necessarily unwelcome—break from changing diapers and wrestling baby toys away from Helen the dog.

Alice, whose success rate in solving countryside murder is at an all-time high (one out of one), cannot resist the chance to demonstrate her detective skills once more, and assembles her gang of new moms to investigate this latest mystery in their not-so-sleepy English countryside village.

First Line:

There used to be an advert for Boursin herby cheese that showed a couple enjoying a picture-perfect picnic in a meadow-only to zoom out and reveal a combine harveswter heading straight for them.

Important details about Dead Tired

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Alice)

Series: Dead Tired is the 2nd book in The Expectant Detectives series.

Content/Trigger Guidance: Dead Tired contains themes that include classism, alcohol consumption, dead bodies, death of a partner, death of a sibling, grief & loss depiction, strangulation, murder, and poisoning. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Dead Tired contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Dead Tired.

Setting: Dead Tired is set in the town of Penton, England.

My Review

I had been waiting for Dead Tired to come out as soon as I had finished The Expectant Detectives. I couldn’t wait to see what trouble Alice, Hen, Poppy, and Ailsa could get into. Well, I wasn’t disappointed. This book had me laughing and trying to figure out who killed Leila and Sam.

Dead Tired is the second book in The Expectant Detective series. It cannot be read standalone; you need to read book 1 to understand what is happening in book 2.

The main storyline in Dead Tired revolves around Alice, her friends, a protest group, two murders, and Alice and her friends (minus Hen) investigating them. The storyline has a nice blend of humor and suspense.

The mystery angle of the book was terrific. The author kept who killed Leila and Sam under wraps until almost the end of the book. There were many red herrings and misdirections from the author, so when it was revealed, I was shocked and saddened. I was also shocked by the murder of Sam and why that person did it.

I enjoyed the humor in the book. As a mother of three, I related to Alice, Poppy, Hen, and Ailsa. I could see myself in each of them. Everything was relatable, from Alice’s dirty house to Ailsa’s crunchy mothering. The first birthday scene had me in stitches, as did the scene where Alice stripped Aurora and put Jack’s clothes on her so she could get dirty.

The end of Dead Tired was typical. I liked how Alice figured everything out and presented the case to everyone. The author also left enough wiggle room with the last sentence in the epilogue. I will be eagerly awaiting book 3.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Kat Ailes for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Dead Tired. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dead Tired, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Kat Ailes

Cast a Cold Eye (Jimmy Dreghorn: Book 2) by Robbie Morrison

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam

Date of Publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical, Fiction

Series: Jimmy Dreghorn

Edge of the Grave—Book 1

Cast a Cold Eye—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In 1930s Glasgow, partners Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid face a danger that threatens to set their city aflame—the second novel in the acclaimed mystery series that began with Edge of the Grave .

Glasgow, 1933. Murder is nothing new in the Depression-era city, especially to war veterans Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner “Bonnie” Archie McDaid. But the dead man found in a narrowboat on the Forth and Clyde Canal, executed with a single shot to the back of the head, is no ordinary killing.

Violence usually erupts in the heat of the moment—the razor-gangs that stalk the streets settle scores with knives and fists. Firearms suggest something more sinister, especially when the killer strikes again. Meanwhile, other forces are stirring within the city. A suspected IRA cell is at large, embedded within the criminal gangs and attracting the ruthless attention of Special Branch agents from London.

With political and sectarian tensions rising and the body count mounting, Dreghorn and McDaid pursue an investigation into the dark heart of humanity—where one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist, and noble ideals are swept away by bloody vengeance.

First Line:

At first it’s like a prison, an iron fist around my head, but as the horror goes on, it becomes a shield and I raise my hands, pulling it tighter.

Important details about Cast a Cold Eye

Pace:  Mostly slow but the pace does pick up towards the end.

POV: 3rd person (Jimmy, Archie)

Series: 2nd book in the Jimmy Dreghorn series

Content/Trigger Guidance: Cast a Cold Eye contains themes of bullying, classism, poverty, sexism, misogyny, terrorism*, attempted rape, dubious consent scenario*, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, blood, gore, dead bodies, body parts, physical injuries, scars, grief, loss depiction, confinement*, explosions, fire, arson, gun violence, knife violence, murder, attempted murder, organized crime, physical assault, police brutality, police violence, stalking*, torture, blackmail, war, riots, military violence, and animal death. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Terrorism—There is talk of the IRA in Glasgow.
  • Dubious Consent Scenario—There is a scene where Jimmy and Archie walk in on a lawyer having sex with a woman. The lawyer tells them that she was using sex to pay a bill. But it didn’t seem like she was there voluntarily.
  • Confinement—Archie remembers how Jimmy saved his adopted daughter from being burned to death in a wardrobe that was barred from the outside.
  • Stalking—Jimmy expresses concern for Ellen, a young WPC, after being made to work with Strachan. Strachan stalked and harassed Ellen in the previous book and continues to do so in this one.

Language: Cast a Cold Eye contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

  • The author also uses slang that is only used in Glasgow. My phone got a workout googling the different terms they used.

Sexual Content: There is mild nonconsensual sexual content in Cast a Cold Eye. There is no consensual sexual content.

Setting: Cast a Cold Eye is set in 1933 Glasgow, Scotland.

My Review:

I was surprised when I got an email saying that my wish for Cast a Cold Eye had been granted. I honestly don’t remember wishing for it on NetGalley, and I also don’t usually read historical police mysteries. But since I had pushed that button and it was granted, I downloaded the book. Now that I’ve read it, I was pretty impressed with what I read.

Cast a Cold Eye is a slow book. But it is not one of those taking forever to get to the next scene of the book. It is slow in the way that the author takes his time with the murder storyline and the secondary storylines in the book. He takes his time building everything up. I liked it because it allowed me to fully understand what was going on in Glasgow, how that affected people (including Jimmy), and how it related to the storyline.

Cast a Cold Eye is the second book in the Jimmy Dreghorn series. It can be read as a standalone. There are references to the first book sprinkled throughout this one, but—and I stress this—those references did not take over the main storyline.

The main storyline in Cast a Cold Eye is the murders of four seemingly unrelated people and the police investigation into them. I was caught by surprise when the author mentioned forensics being used. I didn’t know that people in the 1930s used forensics (I do want to note it was only for the bullets). I enjoyed seeing Jimmy and Archie’s investigation into those murders. I was a little surprised at the connection between the murdered people. I was even more astonished at why those people were killed. What I wasn’t surprised by was who did it. The author didn’t keep that secret. The person was named several times during the book.

Some more minor storylines feed into the main storyline. The most major of those secondary storylines was the one with Ellen, Strachan, their investigation, and their attempted murder. This storyline is connected to the main one, but the author doesn’t reveal how until almost the end of the book. I was shocked at who tried to kill them, and I was surprised by why once Jimmy got that person’s confession. Ellen and Strachan’s relationship is also the main focus of this storyline. Strachan was obsessed with her, and the events immediately leading up to their attack were proof of that. Of course, I do like how Jimmy took care of that.

I liked Jimmy. He was a former boxer and ex-solider who became a police officer. He did his best to uphold the law in Glasgow. His and Archie’s methods were brutal (dunking a suspect in horse manure to get him to talk is one example), but they got results. He and Archie also had one of the best bookish bromances that I have read to date.

The book had many memorable secondary characters, but the two Special Branch operatives, the priest and the female magistrate, stood out the most. The author also connected those individuals directly to the murders and the events that led up to them years before.

The mystery angle of Cast a Cold Eye was wonderfully written. As I stated above, the author did reveal who was behind three of the murders. The reason why those men were murdered was horrific. Why was it terrible? Because of what they did. I didn’t blame that person for wanting vengeance. But, there was one other murder and an attempted murder of two police officers that were not tied to that person. I wasn’t shocked at who was behind the first murder. But the person behind the attempted murder did surprise me. There were also two innocent people in this whole mess. One was severely hurt by the person who tried to kill Strachan. The other person, unfortunately, was going to pay for who this person was related to and their crimes (which was a shame).

The end of Cast a Cold Eye left me wanting more. I wanted to learn more about Jimmy, see more of Archie, and see if there was going to be a resolution to the beef between Jimmy and Strachan and if Elle was going to be collateral.

I want to add that the author did write a note and explain that he did take liberties with places and items.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, NetGalley, and Robbie Morrison for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Cast a Cold Eye. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Cast a Cold Eye, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Robbie Morrison

Wake Me Most Wickedly (Once Upon the East End: Book 2) by Felicia Grossman

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever

Date of publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Jewish, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

Series: Once Upon the East End

Shtup Me at Sunrise—Book 0.5

Marry Me by Midnight—Book 1 (review here)

Wake Me Most Wickedly—Book 2

Seduce Me in Secret—Book 3 (expected publication date: January 2025)

Dream of Me Until Dawn—Book 4 (expected publication date: January 2026)

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Solomon Weiss has little interest in power, but to repay the half-brother who raised him, he pursues money, influence, and now—a respectable wife. That is, until outcast Hannah Moses saves his life, and Sol finds himself helplessly drawn to the beautiful pawnshop owner.

Forever tainted by her parents’ crimes, Hannah sees only a villain when she looks in the mirror—no one a prince would choose. To survive, she must care for herself, even if that means illegally hunting down whatever her clients wish. So, no matter how fair or charming she finds Sol, he belongs to a world far too distant from her own.

Only neither can resist their desires, and each meeting weakens Hannah’s resolve to stay away. But when Hannah discovers a shocking betrayal in Sol’s inner circle, can she convince him to trust her? Or will fear and doubt poison their love for good?

First Line

Night was the best time to hunt-especially if you relied on stealth, not strength, to snare your prey.

Important details about Wake Me Most Wickedly

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Hannah, Solomon)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Wake Me Most Wickedly contains themes of nongraphic sexual assault, nonconsensual sexual contact, emotional abuse, antisemitic language, antisemitic behavior, classism, physical abuse, religious bigotry, injury and injury detail, bullying, violence, medical content*, grief, death of a parent, pregnancy, and deportation. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Medical Content: Solomon suffers anaphylactic shock after consuming a cake with nuts in it.

Language: Wake Me Most Wickedly does not contain swearing, but it does contain language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in Wake Me Most Wickedly.

Setting: Wake Me Most Wickedly is set in the East End of London, England.

My Review:

I enjoy reading historical romances, but reading the same romance format gets boring after a while. So, I am always on the lookout for different historical romances (but do keep in context with the era the book is written in). So, when the Wake Me Most Wickedly widget slid into my inbox, I accepted immediately. Also, I had read the first book in the series and liked it.

Wake Me Most Wickedly is also a fairy tale retelling. I like reading fairy tale retelling and discovering how different authors interpret fairytales. Wake Me Most Wickedly is the retelling of Snow White. I admit I had an issue figuring out how Snow White fit into this. Thankfully, that only lasted for the first couple of chapters, and I enjoyed seeing how this retelling played out.

The main storyline of Wake Me Most Wickedly was your typical romance storyline. Hannah was an outcast in the Jewish community due to crimes that her parents and herself committed while running their pawnshop. Hannah spent two years in prison, and her parents were deported to a penal colony island (I figure it was either Australia or New Zealand). She continued running the pawn shop and took up a side gig of illegally hunting down things for her fence and clients. During one of those jobs, she saved Solomon from being attacked. Solomon, raised by his older brother after their father and his mother died, grew up very sheltered and had almost no worldly experience. Solomon soon becomes enamored with Hannah, much to her dismay. But even she can’t deny the scorching heat between them. When Solomon is injured after being chased by a group of men, Hannah investigates his accident. What she uncovers will rock Solomon’s world. Will her discovery mean the end of her relationship with Solomon?

The author graciously included content guidance at the beginning of the book. I love it when authors do that because I don’t have to take notes about content. At the end of the book (and she did this with the first book), she explains the history of the Jewish people in London’s East End and their treatment throughout the centuries.

I found Wake Me Most Wickedly’s storyline much darker than the first book. I wasn’t sure if I would like it (the first chapter has nonconsensual sexual contact). But, the deeper I got into the storyline, the more I understood why the author wrote this book the way she did. Not everything was sunshine and roses in Victorian London. For people experiencing poverty and those forced to live on the outskirts of their communities, life was awful. The author was correct in reflecting the tone of the book. It made the book much more interesting to read.

Hannah started the book off with me not liking her very much. She had a chip on her shoulder that came across in her words and actions. But, the more the author got into her backstory, the more I saw how those events shaped her into the woman she was in the book. I felt terrible for her because she honestly didn’t think she was attractive enough to a man to commit to and was focused on getting a dowry for Tamara. What got me onto Team Hannah was her fantastic character growth. By the end of the book, I was amazed by her strength and devotion to those she considered family and friends.

I liked Solomon, but he reminded me somewhat of a puppy. How? Well, he was hard to train (no matter what Hannah did to push him away, he still came back), he was loyal, even when the person he was faithful to didn’t deserve it, and he was fiercely protective of his family and friends. I was also on Team Solomon because he deserved to be seen for the man he was instead of the image that he put out for family and friends. The one thing that I didn’t like was that he had a prominent blind spot when it came to his brother. But I also understood. It made what Hannah told him so painful to hear.

The romance angle of Wake Me Most Wickedly was spicy. The author turned the heat up on the sex scenes, and they had me fanning myself. But the sex was only a part of the romance. Solomon and Hannah falling in love was sweet. While Solomon immediately knew that Hannah was the one for him, Hannah fought it tooth and nail. She used every excuse in the book (the age gap: her 32 to his 26), her past, that he was just infatuated with her, his brother, and the considerable class divide to try and drive him away. Thankfully, Solomon didn’t care and pursued her anyway.

A secondary storyline that cropped up around the middle of the book involved Solomon, his brother, and Hannah. I was absolutely disgusted by what Solomon’s brother did, but I like how Solomon’s friends rallied around him and turned it around. It was poetic justice how that storyline ended.

I loved how Wake Me Most Wickedly ended. It was your typical HEA. The epilogue, which takes place five years later, almost made me cry. It also made me wonder who the next book will be about. I have a feeling I know who, but I can’t wait to see if I am right.

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, NetGalley, and Felicia Grossman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Wake Me Most Wickedly, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Felicia Grossman

Sincerely, The Duke (Say I Do: Book 2) by Amelia Grey

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance, Adult, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction

Series: Say I Do

Yours Truly, The Duke—Book 1 (review here)

Sincerely, The Duke—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sincerely, The Duke is the second novel in the historical romance Say I Do trilogy about dukes needing to wed to tap into their wealth by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.

Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina’s wit to navigate her past, reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke.

Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it—until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn’t seem much of an inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love?

First Line:

“She had a son.” Roderick Cosworth, the Duke of Stonerick, considered his mother’s frown as he bent to place a hello kiss onto her cheek.

Sincerely, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Important details about Sincerely, The Duke

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Roderick and Edwina)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Sincerely, The Duke contains themes of classism, sexism & misogyny, chronic illness, death of a parent, and grief & loss depiction. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Sincerely, The Duke contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Sincerely, The Duke.

Setting: Sincerely, The Duke is set in London, England.

My Review:

Regency romances are one of my favorite genres to read. So, when I get an invite to review, and it is a Regency romance, I automatically accept. And that was the case with Sincerely, The Duke. I was so excited to read it; this book did not disappoint.

The main storyline of Sincerely, The Duke centers around Roderick and Edwina, their romance, and Edwina’s secrets. I found this to be a well-written storyline that was easy to read. It also intrigued me with the folklore and superstitions that were introduced about triplets and redheads.

I liked Roderick, but I found him a little blind when it came to Edwina and her sisters. I was yelling at the book (when her sisters arrived for Roderick and Edwina’s wedding) when he did a double take when seeing them together. His surprise when he found out they were identical triplets did make me laugh. His illness was a significant part of this book. While the author didn’t come out and say what his illness was in the book (and for the record, I guessed it early on), she did address it afterward.

I loved Edwina. She was the youngest of the Fine triplets, and she took keeping their secret very seriously. I didn’t understand why she needed to marry first when she was introduced. But the author explained, and I got it. She was the more dependable of the three and needed to take care of her sisters. Her father had hammered it into her to protect the secret, and I understood why she was so hesitant to tell Roderick.

The romance angle of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet but had a little spice. I did get a laugh over who gave Edwina the sex talk. That led to one of the more humorous wedding night scenes I have read. And Roderick, bless him, did the right thing by not pushing Edwina.

The end of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet and what I thought it would be. I loved the epilogue. I liked seeing Edwina and Roderick five years into the future. I cannot wait to see what book three will be about. Since there are two more Fine sisters, the next book will feature one of them.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Amelia Grey for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Sincerely, The Duke. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Sincerely, The Duke, then you will enjoy these books:

Other Books by Amelia Grey

Of Hoaxes and Homicide (Dear Miss Hermoine: Book 2) by Anastasia Hastings

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: January 30th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Historical

Series: Dear Miss Hermoine

Of Manners and Murder—Book 1

Of Hoaxes and Homicide—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings—when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, fielding questions from both irate housekeepers and heartbroken mothers is par for the course…

“Dear Miss Hermione—what is a mother to do?”

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. And though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they’re missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from “A Heartbroken Mother” sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can’t help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public conscious, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione’s investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers that the runaway daughter in question is Sephora’s dearest friend Margaret. Violet sets off to the Children’s compound in Nottintham to convince her to return to London. But with the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh running around and a member of the Children found poisoned to death, Violet and Sephora—along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty—may have more intrigue than they can manage.

First Line:

It is a sad day, indeed, when even an orgy does not interest me.

Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pace of Of Hoaxes and Homicide is medium.

POV: Of Hoaxes and Homicide is told from Sephora and Violet’s 1st person POV.

Series: Of Hoaxes and Homicide is the second book in the Dear Miss Hermoine series. You can read this as a standalone.

Trigger/Content Warning: Of Hoaxes and Homicide have trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Sexism & Misogyny
  • Drugging
  • Dead Bodies
  • Cults
  • Disappearance of a loved one
  • Poisoning

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Of Hoxes and Homicide.

Language: There is no swearing in Of Hoaxes and Homicide. Some language could also be considered offensive to readers who are triggered easily.

Setting: Of Hoxes and Homicide is set in London and Nottingham, England.

Age Range: I recommend Of Hoxes and Homicide to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Violet and Sephora are mind-numbingly bored. While Sephora heads out, Violet answers letters that come to the advice column she took over from her aunt. While looking over the letters, she reads one different from the usual trivial questions of how many teapots one serves or how many aprons one needs to wear in one day. This letter asks for advice about a daughter caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. When Violet attends a meeting in a park with the cult members, she is in for a shock. The girl mentioned in the letter is her sister’s best friend, Margaret. Violet travels to Nottingham with that information, determined to get Margaret out. But, soon after her arrival, a man is found dead of saltpeter poisoning with Margaret hovering over him. Violet must find evidence to prove Margaret’s innocence and take down the cult. With the help of Sephora and their resourceful housekeeper, Bunty, Violet is on the case. But can she solve this case? Can Violet unearth the real killer? Or will Margaret go to jail for a crime she did not commit?

Main Characters:

The main characters of Of Hoaxes and Homicide are Violet and Sephora. While I enjoyed Violet’s character (with her longing for Ezra and her sharp mind), I found Sephora immature and a hindrance to Violet at times. Bunty should have been the ying to Violet’s yang and Sephora as one of the leading secondary characters. Regardless, I liked the characters.

My review:

When I started to read Of Hoaxes and Homicides, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I entered the book knowing it was a cozy mystery and the second book in the series. So, my expectations weren’t too high when I started reading. This book did surprise me with how much I liked it.

Of Hoaxes and Homicides main storyline is centered on Violet, and the cult, her investigation into the cult, and the murder. The storyline was well-written and kept my attention throughout the book. I did think that the POVs from Sephora were a little “meh,” but they did add extra information to Violet’s investigation.

There are secondary storylines that add extra context to what was going on with the main storyline. I found those storylines less well-written but just as enjoyable to read.

The mystery angle of the book was very well written. I liked how Violet, Sephora, and Bunty put together not only who was behind the murder but why and where that person came from. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I also expect that person to appear in later books because of their background.

There was a slight romance angle in Of Hoaxes and Homicide. It mainly focused on Violet and Ezra. For a large part of the book, her affections were one-sided. But then things happened that made me think twice about that.

I loved the letters that were sent in. What they were about were things women in that era were concerned about. I loved that Violet’s responses became grumpier the more the book went on.

The end of Of Hoaxes and Homicides was interesting. The author wrapped up the main storyline in a way that I liked. But she left something unfinished. That made me wonder (along with Violet’s letter) if that foreshadowed book 2.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Anastasia Hastings for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Of Hoaxes and Homicide. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Expectant Detectives, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Anastasia Hastings

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde: Book 2) by Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: January 16th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Historical Fantasy

Series: Emily Wilde

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeires—Book 1 (review here)

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | Kobo | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
 
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
 
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
 
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
 
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.

First Line:

The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has a medium to fast pace.

POV: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is told from two POVs. It is told from Emily’s (and, in one chapter, Wendell’s) 1st person POV. But, it is also told from a 2nd person POV (the entire book is journal entries.)

Series: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the 2nd book in the Emily Wilde series. It would help to read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries before reading this book.

Trigger/Content Warning: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Violence
  • Injury/Injury Detail
  • Animal Death
  • Murder
  • Animal Cruelty
  • Gore
  • Blood
  • Body Horror
  • Chronic Illness
  • Poisoning

Sexual Content:  There is very mild sexual content (mainly kissing, but there are hints of more) in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands.

Language: There is mild swearing in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. There is also language used, while correct for the period, that could be considered offensive to some people.

Setting: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is set in various places. It starts in Cambridge, England, then shifts to a mountain village in Austria. Several journal entries also detail Emily’s time in The Borderlands and Wendell’s kingdom: Court of Silva Lupi in the Faerie Realms.

Age Range: I recommend Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Emily Wilde is off on another adventure. But this adventure has a sense of urgency. Wendell Bambleby, her former rival and exiled Fae king, is being targeted by Fae assains sent by his stepmother. One of the assassins succeeds in poisoning Wendell at a birthday party, and he is slowly dying. He needs to get back to his realm to heal and is having problems finding a door to the realm.

Meanwhile, Emily is trying her hardest to keep the head of her and Wendell’s department, Dr. Farris Rose, from expelling her and Wendell from the college. Everything comes to a head when assassins attack Wendell while lecturing, forcing him to use magic to defend himself. By doing that, he exposes himself as Fae, and Rose is livid. He wants Wendell and Emily gone but will forget everything if Emily takes him on her expedition to the Austrian mountains.

Emily, who doesn’t back down from anything, reluctantly agrees. She plans to complete her map and look for Wendell’s door; two extra people will hold her back. But Emily didn’t expect the village to be surrounded by the Fae or to start seeing apparitions of a discredited scholar and her friend while in the mountains. It will take all of Emily’s knowledge and resources to cure Wendell, find his door, figure out the mystery of what happened to the scholars, and complete her map. Can she do it?

Characters:

The primary and secondary characters were well-written and well-fleshed out. The author was able to keep surprising me by introducing different nuances into characters already introduced (mainly Wendell and his love for Emily).

Emily, who is the main character, is deliciously grumpy and cantankerous throughout the book. I did expect her several times during the book to whip out her umbrella and smack Rose with it (he deserved it). I also didn’t expect her to go to the lengths she did for Wendell.

My review:

It isn’t often that the sophomore book in a series blows me away. So, I was shocked when I ended up loving Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. I could not read this book fast enough and had it finished within a day. I loved everything about it. I couldn’t get enough of Emily and Wendell’s relationship with the Fae, Emily’s relationship with people other than Wendell, and her absolute determination to save him.

The main storyline of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands centers on Emily, Wendell, his sickness, her map, and the search for his door. I found the storyline to be well-written. As stated above, it captured my attention. The storyline had twists, turns, and a few surprises along the way.

My only quibble with this book is that I wished the author had stayed more in Wendell’s court: The Court of Silva Lupi. But, because of the duration of the visit (only a couple of journal entries), she was able to pique my interest. With what happened, I hope there is more of this court in future books.

The fantasy angle of the book was terrific. I liked how the author took fairytales and mythical creatures and put her spin on them (the satyrs will forever be etched into my memory…and not in a good way). Returning to the Faerie Realm, I was fascinated by every person/creature in that realm. There was so much lore and information that it was almost hard to process.

The romance angle was also interesting. I did think that Wendell’s affection was one-sided until halfway through the book. Then it started to spice up. But, when Emily talked to Wendell’s stepmother, his stepmother said something, making me wonder exactly why Wendell was with Emily. I hope it is addressed in the next book because it was disconcerting to read.

The book’s angle with the two missing scholars was interesting up to a point. After they came out of Faerie, I started to lose interest. And besides, I thought that the woman was a complete jerk to Emily (who had a bad case of hero worship up to that point).

I am also interested in seeing how Ariadne will figure into upcoming books. She was an absolute sweetheart in this book, and she was also fearless.

The end of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the main storyline. But there was so much kept open. I am eagerly looking forward to book 3!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Heather Fawcett for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Heather Fawcett

Wanted (Poster: Book 2) by Amy Kulp

Publisher: Amy Kulp

Date of publication: January 1st, 2023

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Series: Poster

Missing—Book 1 (review here)

Wanted—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

What will bring down the most notorious female criminal in the world?

Meet “Y,” FBI’s third most wanted criminal best known for being cunning, intelligent and unknown to most a mother of a young boy. She is a criminal for hire on the black market of human trafficking..

But a new job brings with it a new dynamic that she’s never had to face. Working with a team but not just any team – a first of its kind even for a seasoned criminal like Y.

An all women team. Riddled with too many strong personalities, loose guns and a new target that triggers something at the core of Y she has ignored for way too long.

Trust is not something you can lean on in her world and when her son goes missing, Y will do just about anything. Suddenly everything is not gonna go according to plan.

Will Y find her son in time or is this her strange twist to live with?

First Line:

The van ride back is always quiet.

Wanted by Amy Kulp

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Wanted has a fast-paced storyline.

POV: Wanted is told from Y’s 1st person POV.

Series: Wanted is the 2nd book in the Poster series. While you do not need to read book 1 to read this book, I suggest it. Book 1 explains Y’s backstory and how she ended up where she is now.

Trigger/Content Warning: Wanted has trigger and content warnings (most in this book are graphic). If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Bullying
  • Sexism & Misogyny
  • Slut-Shaming
  • Rape
  • Sexual Assault
  • Sex Slavery
  • Sex and Human Trafficking
  • Domestic Abuse & Violence
  • Drugging
  • Miscarriage
  • Pregnancy
  • Forced separation of mother and child
  • Body Horror
  • Blood
  • Dead bodies
  • Brainwashing
  • Scars
  • Captivity & Confinement
  • Car Accident
  • Gun Violence
  • Kidnapping
  • Murder & Attempted Murder
  • Physical Assault

Sexual Content: There is sexual content in Wanted. Because of the nature of the book, I will warn you that some of Y’s memories involving sex and its being used for punishment can be graphic.

Language: There is moderate to explicit swearing in Wanted.

Setting: Wanted is set in and around New York City.

Age Range: I recommend Wanted to anyone over 21.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Y is used to being the best. In 10 years, she has never failed to deliver what her bosses want: people to sell on the human trafficking black market. After another successful procurement, Y is surprised by another target when she returns home. She is even more surprised when she sees her new team. It is made up entirely of all women. Her target is the biggest one yet: the daughter of a famous comedian. With only a certain number of days to acquire the girl, Y needs to whip her team into shape. Something doesn’t sit right with her about the team, but she will deliver. She always does.

Can Y deliver the girl? Will her team become a cohesive unit? Or will Y’s perfect streak go down the drain, and her life shatter into a million pieces?

Main Characters:

The characters in this book were not likable. But, I did pity them, considering everything they had gone through and would continue to go through. Even the “good” guys (and I use good loosely) were not likable, which surprised me. I wasn’t expecting the police and FBI to be shown in the way that they were, and honestly, the descriptions are probably more realistic than what people think.

Y, who is the main character, was realistically written. She is someone who was brainwashed into forgetting her past. She took pride in kidnapping people and couldn’t care less about what happened to them after she dropped them off. She was kept in line with threats of rape and torture. She had no hopes or dreams other than living for the moments when she could see her son. But there were cracks, which widened as the book went on. By the end of the book, I pitied her. But where she ended up wasn’t where she needed to be.

My review:

While I did enjoy reading Wanted, I was also very disturbed by it. Human trafficking is a huge problem everywhere. As the mother of 2 girls and a boy, I had nightmares of my kids ending up like those shown in the book. My range of emotions reading this book went from horror to sympathy to horror and then disbelief.

The storyline of Wanted was interesting. Wanted takes place ten years after the events of Missing. It follows Y, her team, their target, and what happens when a unit fails. It also follows Y as she slowly begins to remember who she was before she was trafficked and her rush to find her son. Both storylines were well-written and well-researched. While the storyline did disturb me on so many levels (see the first paragraph), I did feel the need to keep reading. I wanted to know if Y would ever regain her memories, find her son, or get captured by the police (she was #3 on the FBI’s most wanted list).

I really can’t go much into the storyline without giving away spoilers. Spoilers hinder me from writing the review the way I want. There is so much I want to talk about but can’t because of spoilers, some of them being major.

The end of Wanted both enraged and saddened me. Where Y ended up was the last place she needed to be. What was done and said to her by her husband made me want to go through the book and throttle him. But I am looking forward to reading book 3. There were a lot of storylines left up in the air.

Many thanks to Amy Kulp for allowing me to read and review Wanted. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Other books by Amy Kulp