Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Romances I'd Like to Read This Year

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 a love freebie so I'm thinking about Romances I'd Like to Read This Year.  I'm not looking at books published this year but at all romances that are on my TBR that need to move up the list soon.

1.  Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis - I've enjoyed lots of books by Shalvis though I haven't picked any up in awhile.  I've seen some great reviews for this one and I'm thinking it would be a great one to pick up.

2.  One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan - This just sounds delightful and I typically enjoy Morgan's books.

3.  Sister's of Summer's End by Lori Foster - I loved the first book in this series and am really looking forward to picking this one up.

4.  Angel's Rest by Emily March - March's romances are always so sweet and heart warming.  I've read several books in this series but never managed to read the first one.

5.  Undercurrents by Nora Roberts - I love Roberts' suspense titles and this one sounds really good but somehow it's fallen through the cracks of my reading life.

6.  Barefoot Beach by Debbie Mason - I have yet to read a book by Mason but her covers are always so pretty that they always catch my eye.  This looks like a great read for summer. 

7.  Something About You by Julie James - I listened to one of her books last summer and really enjoyed it and since lots more of her books are on Audible Escape I'm looking forward to getting more of her books read.

8.  The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries - Jeffries is one of my favorite authors but her books tend to get buried in the piles.  I'm hoping to stop that and I"d really like to pick this one up.

9.  The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay - I read the 2nd book in this series and was a little meh about it but I loved the couple that was in book 1 and there's a bookstore involved so I have high hopes.

10. Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins - This one is probably more under the category of women's fiction but I still want to read it so I'm adding it in!

Sconed to Death + Field Guide to Homicide - 2 Cozy Mystery Reviews

Goodreads:  Sconed to Death (Cat Latimer Mystery #5) by Lynn Cahoon

Blurb: Cat has a full plate at her Aspen Hills Warm Springs Resort, as a group of aspiring cozy mystery authors arrives for a writers retreat. So when baker Dee Dee Meyer stirs up trouble by filing a false complaint with the health inspector against the B&B--all because she insists Cat's best friend Shauna stole her recipes--Cat marches into the shop to confront her.
But Dee Dee's about to have her own batch of trouble. Greyson Finn--a celebrity chef and, until today, one of Denver's most eligible bachelors--has been found dead in her bakery. Cat's uncle Pete, who happens to be the chief of police, warns her not to engage in any half-baked sleuthing. But as her curiosity rises, Cat's determined to discover who served the chef his just desserts--before the killer takes a powder . . .

My Thoughts:  I really enjoy this series and this was one of my favorites I think.  I'm glad to get away from the "family" connections that have been in the past few books.  I did enjoy them but it was nice to have a more straight forward mystery.  I also absolutely loved that this writers' retreat featured a group of cozy mystery authors who happily talked about the process and stories.  The mystery was intriguing and interesting and I really wasn't sure who the killer was until the very end.  In fact I enjoyed this read so much I had to immediately dive into the next book!  Rating:  Really Liked It!

Goodreads:  A Field Guide to Homicide (Cat Latimer Mysteries #6) by Lynn Cahoon

Blurb: Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .
Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.

To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike . . .

My Thoughts:  In a long running series there's always a book that's a bit of a transition story and I think this was one of them.  Seth and Cat are in a bit of a transition for their relationship, Uncle Pete and Shirley are in a bit of a transition in their relationship, and most of the writers in the retreat are in a bit of a transition in their careers.  This led for some unsettled feelings in the story that didn't quite gel for me as much as the previous book.  I loved that this book touched on Seth's past and I loved that he wasn't the perfect guy that he usually is.  At times he even gets a bit snappish.  The ending felt just the tiniest bit rushed but other then that came together nicely.  This wasn't my favorite of the series but it was an enjoyable read and this is a fantastic series.  Rating:  Liked It

This Week in Reading - February 9

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

Where We Belong by Shan McPherson - This has a lot of things I love - an inheritance, a bakery, a fake relationship - so my hopes are high!  (Publisher)

Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder - I really enjoyed the first book in this series last year but I was doing so good to resist this one but I'm only so strong.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Lost Carousel of Provence by Juliet Blackwell and Little Beach Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Listening:  I'm finishing up A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

Watching:  So many Disney movies!  

Off the Blog:

It's Disney time!  These pictures are from our trip in October 2018.  We were supposed to go in October 2019 but had to reschedule.  I've never been in February and I'm so curious to see how it goes with crowd levels and weather and if they do anything special for Valentine's Day.

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  Reviews from the Children's Section - Fridays with the Wizard
Tuesday:  My Favorite Character Jobs
Wednesday:  Claw Enforcement - Cozy Mystery Review
Thursday:  Books from the Backlog - Already Home
Friday:  Friday Fives - February Reads
Saturday:  Duchess in Love - Historical Romance Review

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Sconed to Death + A Field Guide to Homicide - 2 Cozy Mystery Reviews
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Romances I'd Like to Read This Year
Wednesday:  Buried to the Brim - Cozy Mystery Review
Thursday:  Books from the Backlog
Friday:  Friday Fives - Five Books I'm in Love With
Saturday:  A Perilous Undertaking - Historical Mystery Review

Have a great week and happy reading!

Duchess in Love - Historical Romance Review

Goodreads:  Duchess in Love (Duchess Quartet #1) by Eloisa James

Rating: Liked It
Source:  Library

Description:  A DUKE IN RETREAT

Gina was forced into marriage with the Duke of Girton at an age when she'd have been better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom. Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant.

A LADY IN THE MIDDLE

Now, she is one of the most well-known ladies in London ... living on the edge of scandal --- desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to any one.

A DUCHESS IN LOVE

Finally, Camden, the Duke of Girton, has returned home, to discover that his naive bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton. Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love --- with his own wife!

Genre: Romance - Historical 

Why I Picked This Book:  This was a book I picked up on a whim at the library.  I've heard of Eloisa James' books for years but haven't really read much from her.  The blurb on this one sounded interesting.

My Impression:  I read an Eloisa James book years ago and then never really picked up anything else from her.  My feelings about that first book were on the mixed side - there were parts I really really liked and then parts I really really didn't.  My feelings about this book were not quite as divided but they were still mixed.  The writing pulled me in and made for a fast read.  I really liked Gina and Esme and the rest of her friends.  But there is a LOT going on in this book.  Multiple marriages are being dealt with.  There's an estate to be managed, blackmail to be dealt with, scandal sprinkled about, and a dukedom to be saved.  Most of it was entertaining or interesting but there were a few I could have done without.

The relationship between Cam and Gina was interesting.  They had started off as friends and even with everything that happened they had remained friends.  I was frustrated by the conflict because it seemed like their communication was so great and then suddenly they couldn't talk to each other.  As well it felt like the conclusion was really rushed.  The rest of the book had progressed with so much detail that to have a pretty major development referred to as an afterthought threw me a little.

I don't think Eloisa James will ever be on my favorite romance author but I did enjoy this one and am curious to see how her more recent books compare as this was published in 2002.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Maybe though I think I'll try some of her newer books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy historical romance then I think this is well done though perhaps a little dated.

Friday Fives - February Reads

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  Michelle over at Because Reading is Better Than Real Life   used to do a Five on Fridays that I always enjoyed and I've seen a few other variations on the theme.  As well I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd give start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. Since this is the first Friday in February I'm looking at books I want to read this month.

1.  The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - I've been wanting to read more classic mysteries and this one is high on my list.  It's technically a reread but it's been so long since I've read it that it barely counts.

2.  Ammie Come Home by Barbara Michaels - This is a reread but it's been awhile and I've been missing it.  Michaels' isn't necessarily the highest quality but her books are always enjoyable.

3.  Lonesome Road by Patricia Wentworth - I pulled this one out sometime last year to never read but it always got overcome by events.  It's still out and I still want to read it so I'm making it a priority this month.

4.  The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley - This is my audio pick for the month I think.  I read the first book and enjoyed it but it was seriously long so I thought I might try it in audio form.

5.  Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts - I picked up the first book in the trilogy at the library on a whim and I figure I'll continue it.  It's not her best but it's definitely still enjoyable.

What do you plan to read in February?

Books from the Backlog - Already Home

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:  Already Home by Susan Mallery

Blurb:  After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.
Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf: While I've had mixed feelings about Mallery's series I've really enjoyed her stand alones and this one appeals to me.  Plus, I have no memory when or how I came to own it which definitely means it's been on the shelf too long.

Claw Enforcement - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Claw Enforcement (Second Chance #7) by Sofie Ryan

Rating:  Really Liked It!
Source:  Publisher

Description:  Sarah Grayson owns a delightful secondhand shop in the small town of North Harbor, Maine, where she and her rescue cat, Elvis, are always finding themselves up to their whiskers in trouble. With the help of a quirky group of senior citizens—who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the store—they solve crimes both new and vintage.
Local squabbles about property development have the town in quite a state of drama—and it seems like someone may even be upset enough to kill. When a local man involved in the real estate quagmire falls over dead at a reception to celebrate the harbor front’s redevelopment, Sarah gets roped in to investigate by her own IT expert, Mr. P., who has long known the victim’s stepfather. Between Sarah, Elvis and Charlotte’s Angels, the killer is sure to have claws for concern.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is a series I've really enjoyed in the past so of course I couldn't pass up this latest book!

My Impression:  Oh I love this series and this just might be my favorite one yet!  The book starts off at a fundraiser and it quickly becomes apparent when 2 men get into an argument that things are going to turn badly - and wow do they!  One of the men involved in the argument falls over dead and the investigation gets into gear even before it can be proven that it is actually murder.

I loved going along with another Charlotte's Angels investigation and I liked this was a bit different as they had no official client.  The investigation felt like a series of dead ends and really kept me guessing up until the end.  I loved seeing a bit more of Sarah and Liam's respective love lives - especially Liam's.  Rose and the rest are just the best meddlers and how anyone can stand up against them is beyond me!  Elvis, the cat, added a bit of interest.  I don't really love magical cats usually but Elvis is just the perfect balance.  He's not really magic but he is a really great judge of character and is so maddening hilariously cat-like I enjoyed all of his page time.  I loved seeing a good bit of life in Sarah's store.  I do wish that the store existed because it would be seriously fun to explore!

If you're looking for a fun cozy series with likable characters (including a group of retiree private investigators), a quirky cat, and great mysteries this is a series (and a book!) not to miss.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to the next one and catching up on the earlier books in the series that I haven't read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you love cozy mysteries this is a really fun one.  I think you could jump in right at this book without any issues.

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