Dirty Thirty - Janet Evanovich

Can you believe it? Janet Evanovich's latest book Dirty Thirty is the 30th book in her long running Stephanie Plum series!

The Plum books are my choice for some escapist, light hearted, comfort listening that doesn't take itself serious at all. Familiarity is another draw for me - I know who, and what, I'm going to find. 

Our lead character Stephanie works as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinny in Trenton, New Jersey. This time around, Stephanie is tracking down two possible jewelry thieves. 

Stephanie is easy to like, with a good sense of humor. The supporting cast includes sidekick Lula, a big hearted former hooker. The banter between Stephanie and Lula is always fun. Lula has taken a bigger role in later books and has a case of her own to settle. Stephanie's Grandma Mazur (my fave) is often involved in whatever is going on.

The real question though, is who Stephanie will settle down with! For thirty books she has vacillated between Trenton police detective or private security firm owner Ranger. There may be an answer this time - or maybe not. (I will definitely be picking up #31 to see what happens next!) 

I chose to listen to Dirty Thirty. I'm so happy that Lorelei King is again the reader. She's been the voice of this series for many years. The continuity is wonderful as it feels like jumping right back into life in the 'Burg'. King has a very versatile and expressive voice. She has created different voices for the characters and it's quite easy to know who is speaking. The voice for Stephanie is pretty calm, no matter what's going on. Lula however is always big and loud. Grandma Mazur's has a perpetually happy voice, always seeing the bright side. Each of the love interests have distinct voices as well. Babe. There's many more and they all fit the mental images I've created for all the players. King speaks clearly, she is easy to understand and her pace of delivery is just right. She brings the action, emotions and calamities of the plot to life with her voice, changing up the tenor and tone to match what's going on. A great performance. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Dirty Thirty.

(PS. The cases are usually pretty light hearted, but I do have to say I didn't find the 'dog house situation' funny at all.)

The Homewreckers - Mary Kay Andrews

Are you looking for a new beach read? Yes? Well, you can't go wrong with Mary Kay Andrews. The Homewreckers is newly released in trade paperback - and is just waiting to be tucked into your beach bag!

I'm a fan of MKA's storytelling. Why you ask? Well, there's always a lead character that you'd like in real life. Hattie Kavanaugh is that character. She's a young widow and works with her father-in-law and best friend flipping houses in Savannah, Georgia. She's ambitious, smart and driven. The supporting cast of characters are just as warm and likeable. Most of them that is. There needs to be some antagonists in every tale as well. Oh, and there's a dog. Every good book has a dog. ;)0

When the latest flip loses money, Hattie has to find a way to recoup their losses. She finds a property, but it's still going to be a struggle. Until....a Hollywood producer offers Hattie a chance to star in a 'home show.' I have to admit, I love those shows. It was fun to read what transpires 'behind the cameras'.

There are some strings attached to the offer though - including one in the form of a co-host - an attractive designer. And there's the next bit - a romantic angle - or two. There's always the right one and the wrong one. We just need Hattie to see what we see!

The last few books have included a mystery as well. Someone seems determined to not have Hattie succeed with this latest reno. But who and why? Well, we discover the why, but the who takes us right to the final pages. There are lots of suspects for the answer to the whodunit, and I was kept guessing. 

And let's not forget the setting. The house they're working on is on Tybee Island, Georgia. Mary Kay Andrews herself has ties to the island. Her descriptions make me want to visit, sit on a porch or walk on the beach. Here's a fun fact  - "Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses."

Now, take these wonderful characters, the fantastic setting and weave in the mystery and romance and what have you got? A book you don't want to put down. And I didn't. Five stars for another engaging, heartwarming, eminently readable, take me away from it all, beach worthy read. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Housewreckers.

And keep your eyes out for Bright Lights, Big Christmas: A Novel, coming out on  September 26, 2023.

We Love to Entertain - Sarah Strohmeyer

Hands up if you like to watch House reno shows. I've got both hands waving!

Well, house renovations and contests are the vehicle for Sarah Strohmeyer’s latest book. We Love to Entertain. But it’s not all fun and games - there’s murder in the mix. 

Is this a cozy mystery you ask? I would say yes, to a degree it is. But, instead of a retired librarian who loves tea and scones, we have we have Kim the town clerk and her (not so often helpful) assistant Doreen. Kim’s daughter Erika is working on the set of the reno. We Love to Entertain is told through alternating chapters from Kim and Erika. Kim sees things as they and worries about her daughter who comes up with excuses time and time again for what's happening. There’s definitely trouble on the set. Strohmeyer plants a number of red herrings along the path to the final whodunit. And what is happening you ask? Well, I'm not going to spoil the book for you, so I'll leave it for you to find that out. Suffice to say, it's a clever plot that I think takes inspiration from Strohmeyer's own life. She too is an elected town clerk in a small Vermont town. 

I really enjoyed the skewering of the whole house reno/decorate thing.  The reno couple, Holly and Robert, have the funniest (and spot on) newsletters and blog post.  We also get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to achieve that final reveal. And I bet Strohmyers depiction isn’t that far from the truth! 

We Love to Entertain was a fun read with lots of humor, a good plot - and a few bodies. 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of We Love to Entertain. 

Going Rogue - Janet Evanovich

Going Rogue is the 29th entry in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. 

And although it's a series, you can easily read or listen to Going Rogue as a stand alone. There's lots of background provided to let you know who's who etc.  

I've missed a few along the way, but the Plum books are my choice for some escapist, light hearted, comfort listening that doesn't take itself serious at all. The characters are familiar and you just know things will work out in the end. 

Stephanie works at her cousin Vinnie’s Bail Bonds in Trenton, New Jersey. When she arrives at work morning, the door is locked and the office manager is not there. Connie never misses a day of work. Or forgets to bring the donuts. Something isn't right. That supposition is cemented when she receives a call from Connie's kidnappers and the hunt to find Connie is on for Stephanie and her partner Lula. Is the plot over the top? Yep, but that and the characters are what make this series comfort listening for me.  

Recurring storylines include love interests. Yes, that's plural - Stephanie's love life has more than choice, but she seems to have finally decided on who she wants to be with in this latest. Maybe. (Me? Team Ranger) Stephanie's long suffering parents and her Grandma Mazur make appearances in every book as well. I must admit that Grandma is my favorite - I like her take on 'aging gracefully'. There's a plethora of supporting characters that have been fleshed out over the years. And the descriptor quirky could be applied to any and all.

I chose to listen to Going Rogue. I'm so happy that Lorelei King is again the reader. She's been the voice of this series for many years. The continuity is wonderful as it feels like jumping right back into life in the 'Burg'. King has a very versatile and expressive voice. She has created different voices for the characters and it's quite easy to know who is speaking. The voice for Stephanie is pretty calm, no matter what's going on. Lula however is always big and loud. Grandma Mazur's has a perpetually happy voice, always seeing the bright side. Each of the love interests have distinct voices as well. Babe. There's many more and they all fit the mental images I've created for all the players. King speaks clearly, she is easy to understand and her pace of delivery is just right. She brings the action, emotions and calamities of the plot to life with her voice, changing up the tenor and tone to match what's going on. A great performance. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of Going Rogue.

The Patron Saint of Second Chances - Christine Simon

The Patron Saint of Second Chances is Christine Simon's newly released debut novel. If you're looking for a light-hearted, humorous listen, this is the perfect book for you. (Especially if you've enjoyed other books that feature a grumpy senior trying to do the right thing with mixed results, a small village filled with quirky, lovable characters and a David and Goliath story!)

Simon has set her book in Prometto, Italy (population 212). Senor Speranza acts as the mayor of the village and so it is he that finds out that the village water system needs repairing - at a cost of 70,000 Euros. How can he raise the needed funds without worrying the other residents - or having them move away? Hmm, why not start a rumor - that movie star Dante is going to be filming a movie in and around Prometta!? Surely that will bring in the tourists.

Simon has come up with a fun, light-hearted premise that's just plain fun to listen to. The rest of the village becomes enamored of the film idea, especially with heart throb Dante starring. Uh huh - you can see some flaws in his idea can't you? You just know things aren't going to go to plan for Senor Speranze, no matter how many saints he calls upon.

Simon does a great job with her characters. I love quirky characters and The Patron Saint of Second Chances is chockablock with them. I quite liked Senor Speranze, but his assistant Smilzo was my favorite. (You'll love his screenplay ideas) Simon explores the power of community, relationships of many types and the power of believing in something and someone in her story. A lovely listen that kept me company as I puttered.

I chose to listen to The Patron Saint of Second Chances. The reader was Tim Frances. He did a great job of bringing Simon's work to life. He has a lovely, gravelly tone to his voice that absolutely fit the mental image I had created for Senor Speranze. And it suited the age of the character. Frances is an enthusiastic reader, easily capturing the emotions of the characters and the tone of the plot. He provides a suitable, believable Italian accent for the characters when they are speaking. As the 'narrator' he speaks in his own British accent, which also has lots of movement. See for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of The Patron Saint of Second Chances.

The Recovery Agent - Janet Evanovich

Gabriela Rose made a brief cameo in Janet Evanovich's last Stephanie Plum book. (Game On) I'd read that there was a new series in the works - the first book has just released - The Recovery Agent. 

Gabriela is a recovery agent, working for individuals, insurance companies etc. seeking, finding and recovering just about anything - for a good fee. This time she’s after something that is more personal, and might save the small town she grew up in. A map leading to the pirate Blackbeard's treasure. 

Gabriela is joined in the hunt by her ex-husband Rafer.  The search leads to jungles, small islands and unknown territory. Along the way they run into others  also looking for the treasure, including a death cult. That jungle setting and the derring-do scenes reminded me of Indiana Jones adventures.

I liked Gabriela. She reminded me of someone. ;0) The dynamic between her and Rafer is fun to read. He's much more laid back than she is. 

Readers of the Plum series are going to notice lots of similar and familiar elements in The Recovery Agent. Gramma Franny lives with Mariela's long suffering mother. There's lots of back and forth with Rafer in the romantic sense. Will they? Won't they? The dialogue is often short and snappy. (Although I found some of the 'jokes' fell a bit flat for me.) The sidekicks are a bit bumbling. And you know things are going to turn out just fine in the end. And honestly, that's what I'm looking for. An entertaining, easy, comfortable listen that won't tax my brain.

Lorelei King was the narrator for The Recovery Agent. She’s an excellent reader and I've enjoyed her work on other titles as well. King is an excellent narrator creating different voices for characters that make them easily identifiable. She has lots of movement and expression in her voice that brings the plot to life. Her voice is pleasant to listen to, easy to understand and well paced. She does narrate the Stephanie Plum series as well and this is where I initially had a bit of a struggle. The voices for The Recovery Agent are very similar to the ones provided in the Plum series. At the beginning, I kept picturing characters from the other series. But that lessened as I got further into the book. A good performance from King. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of The Recovery Agent. 

A nice extra is tucked in at the end of the book - a fifteen minute excerpt of the forthcoming (Nov 2022) Stephanie Plum book. #29 is The Rogue.  

The Twelve Dates of Christmas - Jenny Bayliss

I needed to escape Covid for the day and was looking to get lost in the pages of a feel good, heart-warming read. The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss was the perfect (and seasonal) choice!

I adore British rom-com cozies with all of the required elements - a quaint little village full of interesting shops and shopkeepers, quirky residents that are quite familiar with each other's business, a lead character that immediately endears themself to the reader, a supporting cast that have their own stories and more. And that 'more' is of course, romance!

Kate has reached that point in life where she is looking to settle down. All she needs is the right person. So....enter the Twelve Dates of Christmas - with twelve different men.

Kate is such a great lead - I liked her immediately. She's fun, a great friend and daughter and very giving. I have to say, her jobs are intriguing - a fabric designer for Liberty and a baker for the local cafe. (Bayliss herself worked as a baker and I have to say that Kate's creations were mouthwatering!) The supporting cast is just as likable. The 'Knitting Sex Kittens' were delightful! I liked that there were sub plots running through the book as well.

The descriptions of the homes, businesses and traditions of the village made me want to move to  Blexford. 

The dates are quite funny, but not every match is successful. The reader can see this clearly and we know the person she really should be with. And that's the fun of these rom-coms - the 'will they, won't they' tension, the missed cues, missteps and misunderstandings. And a happy ending is guaranteed.

I was quite surprised to find that this was Bayliss's debut novel. It was well written, engaging and just plain fun to read. I can see this one as a movie.I look forward to and I'm looking forward to her next book. But for now, here's an excerpt of The Twelve Dates of Christmas. This would be a great stocking stuffer for yourself or a friend! 

(The Christmas timing of the book is a bonus, but you would enjoy it at any time of the year.)

Christmas Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

Christmas seems to have crept up on me this year and I know I need to get started on my shopping. But, the ninth book - Christmas Shopaholic - in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series is here! And surely a book about shopping and Christmas could inspire me - right?

Those of you familiar to the series will be happy to hear that this latest is a return to the 'old Becky' if you will. (I must admit that the last two books that took Becky to the US fell flat for me.)

Becky's love of shopping has not lessened. Or the predicaments she gets herself into. (And these are so much fun!) All of it is done with the best of intentions of course. But the pressure is on this year - Becky will be hosting the family Christmas.

It takes a bit to make me laugh out loud at a book, but Kinsella had me giggling many, many times throughout Christmas Shopaholic. Just what I needed! Just beneath that humour are some truths as well - family, friends and what is truly important.

I enjoyed catching up with Becky and all of the supporting players. I feel like I've come to know them all and hearing what they're up to is like catching up with old friends.

This latest was perfect reading for the season. The door has been left open for the tenth entry in Becky Brandon, nee Bloomwood's life. I look forward to it! But for now - here's an excerpt of Christmas Shopaholic.

You've Been Volunteered - Laurie Gelman - Q and A and Giveaway!!

I'm today's stop on the blog tour for Laurie Gelman's new Class Mom novel - You've Been Volunteered! (If you're looking for a fun - and funny read, this one's for you!) Laurie was kind enough to answer a few questions.....and I have a fabulous giveaway as well!

Tell us about your background and when you decided to become a writer.
I had been a broadcast journalist before and partially during my time as a mother, so I had always written in some form - mostly “just the facts ma'am” pieces for the news. I decided to try my hand at writing when I realized I was going to need something to do now that my daughters were growing up.

 What was the inspiration for the Class Mom novels?
The inspiration for the books comes from my own horrifying, pride-swallowing, butt-chapping experience as the mom who volunteers in the classroom.

 Any favorite authors influence your writing?
Tina Fey is most definitely one of my favorite comedic writers, but I think I took my fiction cues from Lianne Moriarty.

Do you have a connection to Kansas City? Why are both novels set there?
I've never been but I plan to go this summer! I set the book there because it is close to the geographic center of the US. I wanted everyone to be able to relate to Jen's trials and tribulations.

What do you hope readers take away from your novels?
All I hope is that they get a good laugh. Moms always need one.

What’s next – for Laurie Gelman and for Jen Dixon?
Well, Laurie Gelman is going to be dealing with her daughter leaving for college and writing the third Class Mom novel. As for Jen Dixon...we'll just have to see.


"Laurie Gelman was born and raised in the Great White North. She spent twenty-five years as a broadcaster in both Canada and the United States before trying her hand at writing novels. The author of Class Mom, Laurie has appeared on Live With Ryan and Kelly, Watch What Happens Live, and The Talk, among others. She lives in New York City with her husband, Michael Gelman, and two teenage daughters." You can connect with Laurie on her website and follow her on Twitter and on Instagram.

And the giveaway? I have a copy of You've Been Volunteered, a fabulous “Ron’s Gym and Tan” T shirt, and the chance for Laurie Gelman to Skype with the winner’s book club! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only, ends August 24/19.

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See what other bloggers had to say - here's the full schedule. Follow the conversation at #You’veBeenVolunteered, #ClassMom, @lauriemgelman (Twitter), @lauriegelman (Instagram), @HenryHolt (Twitter), @HenryHoltandCompany (FB), and @HenryHoltBooks (Instagram).

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan

I adore Jenny Colgan' books. They're feel-good, heart-warming escapist reading and they never disappoint. I'm always eager to read Colgan's newest book. The latest North American release is Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery.

If you're already a Jenny Colgan fan, you'll be delighted to know that this is the third book in the Little Beach trilogy. Now, you don't have to have read previous books in this series to enjoy this latest - but you'd appreciate the story more if you had.

I adore the (imagined) Cornish town Colgan had used as a setting. Mount Polbearne is (happily) cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tides and is populated by an eclectic group of townsfolk. It's somewhere I could cheerfully live. Polly is the owner of the Little Beach Street Bakery. She, her boyfriend Huckle and pet puffin Neil make their home in a repurposed  lighthouse. Huck is ready to take the next step in their lives, but Polly is hesitant to change the good thing they have going.

Polly is looking forward to a quiet Christmas Day with just Huckle, but of course that's not meant to be. Her friend Kerensa is having a personal crisis, her husband Reuben asks Polly to take on a crazy amount of catering (and truthfully she needs the money), a piece of Polly's past makes itself known and there's trouble between her and Huck. Can all of this be resolved? In time for Christmas? As always, the warmth, friendship and romance elements shine through. Colgan does take on a few heavier topics in this latest - and handles them very well.

Polly is a wonderful lead character - warm, kind, thoughtful and more - just the kind of person you'd love to have in your circle of friends. Huck is pretty much the perfect boyfriend. But it's Neil who takes best supporting player!

Descriptions of baking and baked goods will have your mouth watering. And might be a catalyst for starting your holiday baking! Colgan includes recipes for some of Polly's creations.

This is the time of the year when I enjoy seasonal reading, cosying up with a feel-good read, a cup of tea and a warm blanket. Delightful, inviting and heartwarming, Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery was the perfect start to my holiday reading. In the author's notes, Colgan indicates this may be the last Little Beach book. I'll miss Polly and company (especially Neil!), but know I'll love whatever and whoever Colgan writes next. Read an excerpt of Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery.

"Jenny Colgan is the New York Times-bestselling author of numerous novels, including The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, all international bestsellers. Jenny is married with three children and lives in London and Scotland." Find out more about Jenny at her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought - full schedule can be found here.

I received this book for review from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Giveaway - Death of a Ghost - M.C. Beaton

Death of a Ghost is the 32nd! book in M.C. Beaton's Sergeant Hamish Macbeth series - Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman.

What case is Hamish tackling this time?

From Grand Central Publishing:

"When Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth hears reports of a haunted castle near Drim, he assumes the eerie noises and lights reported by the villagers are just local teenagers going there to smoke pot or, worse, inject themselves with drugs. Still, Hamish decides that he and his policeman, Charlie "Clumsy" Carson, will spend the night at the ruined castle to get to the bottom of the rumors once and for all.

There's no sign of any ghost...but then Charlie disappears through the floor. It turns out he's fallen into the cellar. And what Hamish and Charlie find there is worse than a ghost: a dead body propped against the wall. Waiting for help to arrive, Hamish and Charlie leave the castle just for a moment - to eat bacon baps - but when they return, the body is nowhere to be seen.

It's clear something strange - and deadly - is going on at the castle, and Hamish must get to the bottom of it before the "ghost" can strike again..." Read an excerpt of Death of a Ghost.

"M. C. Beaton has won international acclaim for her New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth mysteries. The BBC has aired 24 episodes based on the series. Beaton is also the author of the bestselling Agatha Raisin series, which is now a television show starring Ashley Jensen, available on Acorn and coming soon to PBS. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband." You can connect with M.C. Beaton on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

If you're looking to read this latest Hamish caper, I have two copies to giveaway courtesy of Grand Central Publishing! Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends March 18/17. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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