Category Archives: Book Reviews

Another good book in this series

A Malevolent Connection

By: Lynn Messina

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a series that I love to read. I look forward to each new release. While I enjoyed this book much more than many others by other authors, for me, it had a little too much angst by Beatrice about her relationship with the Duke.

Apart from that issue, the book was wonderful. New characters and old ones make appearances. Some of my favorites were MIA but will probably show up in the next book.

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Life goes on in small village

Anna and Her Daughters

By: D. E. Stevenson

Rating: 5 of 5

I’ve come across a number of D.E. Stevenson books that I haven’t read before. This is one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There a few references to natives in Africa that, by today’s outlook, seem out of step. However, when you look at the date that the book was written, it comes clear. It is still offensive but it only a small part of the book.

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Another venture into Honey Springs

Mocha and Murder: A Cozy Mystery (A Killer Coffee Mystery Series Book Two)

By: Tonya Kappes

Rating: 5 of 5

Roxanne (Roxy) Bloom is settling into her new business in Honey Springs. She has the local coffeeshop, the Bean Hive, on the scenic area near the lake.

Her friend, Louise Carlton, runs the pet shelter nearby. Louise has a beef to pick with a local orchard owner. He has adopted a chicken that turns out to be more than she had thought.

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Superb Georgian history/romance novel

These Old Shades

By: Georgette Heyer

Rating: 5 of 5

Georgette Heyer has been my favorite author, bar none, since I discovered her when I was a teenager. Her stories always engross me and give me laughs and leave me with a good feeling.

This story is different from most of her other romance novels in that it is set in the Georgian period rather than the Regency period of England’s history. Most of the action takes places in France.

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Funny Christmas mystery

Rest You Merry (The Peter Shandy Mysteries Book 1)

By: Charlotte MacLeod

Rating: 5 of 5

A character in a book I read recently, said that this was their favorite Christmas novel. I was intrigued. I had only read one other book by Ms. MacLeod and it was from another series. I decided to buy the book, only to find that I had already done so!

Easy peasy, I read it expecting a “normal” Christmas tale. Boy, was I surprised. I laughed and shook my head at the shenanigans that Professor Shandy got up to.

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Fun, friends and murder

Marriage Can Be Mischief (An Amish Matchmaker Mystery Book 3)

By: Amanda Flower

Rating: 5 of 5

Millie Fisher is a quiet Amish matchmaker who lives in Harvest, Ohio. Her life-long best friend is Lois, who is neither Amish nor quiet. In fact, she is rather loud both in word and in wardrobe.

The two ladies are an unlikely duo of investigators, but they are always snooping around when murder occurs.

In this story, the murder is not recent, which makes it very difficult to investigate. The police had long since closed the case, when some evidence comes to light.

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Enjoyable story

The Party Crasher

By: Sophie Kinsella

Rating: 4 of 5

I became hooked on Sophie Kinsella books, years ago, when I read “The Undomesticated Goddess.”

I enjoyed this most recent book, which centers on a family in crisis. So much could have been avoided if only they had been willing to talk to one another. However, like most people, they are not willing to do so.

In that sense, it is a snap shot of what is going on with so many individuals. The main character, Effie, is certainly one who keeps things to herself.

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A delight to read

Iris in Winter

By: Elizabeth Cadell

Rating: 5 of 5

I read a number of Elizabeth Cadell books when I was younger. This particular book, is one that I could never track down. So, while reading the ebook versions of many of her books, is like visiting old friends I haven’t seen for a while, reading this book is making a new and treasured friend.

The story is so funny, I kept laughing out loud. My husband wanted me to talk to him about it but I knew he would want to read it for himself.

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Great Christmas novel

A Christmas Legacy

By: Anne Perry

Rating: 5 of 5

I always enjoy reading books by Anne Perry. Her Christmas novels are kind of like the icing on the cake. Generally, supporting characters from her series are the focus of these books.

In this case, Grace Tellman is the heroine of the moment. Grace was a maid for Charlotte and Thomas Pitt back in the day. She is now married to Samuel, who is a police inspector she met while with the Pitts.

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A lovely gem of an older book

Susan Settles Down

By: Molly Clavering

Rating: 5 of 5

One of the latest books I’ve read in my binge of older books, is “Susan Settles Down” by Molly Clavering. It was written long ago and, as such, has a lot going on that would never happen today. For the most part, I find all of it charming.

The story is a slice of life and some of the funny parts don’t translate as well as I don’t know the reference points, but that is what searches on the internet are for.

A brother and sister (Oliver and Susan) go to Scotland to make a new home for themselves. The village people are quite different from what they are used to. The two are a bit smug and feel they are just a tad above their neighbors.

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