REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Pottermore
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Children’s Literature / Fantasy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: 'There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways ... their magical prowess - their daring - their powers of deduction - and, of course, their ability to cope with danger.'

The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter - but that doesn't stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe'en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through - alive!

My Thoughts: As a fan of this series, the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series crosses the threshold into it becoming more a series for adults than children. With the third book, the reader is given a glimpse of the dark direction the series can take, but the door is definitely thrown wide open with Goblet as Harry faces some of the most challenging times he’s ever had to face. On the upside, he also gets to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity when he attends the Quidditch World Cup with his friends. Even though the event becomes frightening and menacing events occur, Harry seems to enjoy the experience. Luckily for the fans of the series, the unexpected doesn’t stop there. When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, he learns that his school will be hosting a tournament between Hogwarts and two other wizarding schools. Somebody has plans for Harry and they aren’t good plans and Harry has to keep his wits when he is chosen as one of the participants in the tournament.

One thing I did not like about this story is the way Ron behaved after Harry was chosen as one of the champions. I get that he was jealous, but it really bothered me that he is supposed to be Harry’s best friend and you are supposed to be loyal to your friends, but yet Ron did not believe that Harry did not submit his own name into the cup. Even when he finally comes to his senses and realizes his mistake, I felt like Harry forgave him too quickly. I understand why he did, but I felt like Harry let him off the hook too easily. I am sure that Ron gets annoyed playing a secondary role to Harry, but the series is about Harry after all. If it were about Ron, then this book would have been Ronald Weasley and the Goblet of Fire.

I very much enjoyed the introduction of the social custom of learning how to dance and attending the Yule Ball. Harry’s distress at not being able to take Cho Chang to the Ball and worrying about who he should take was entertaining. Hermione’s coming out was also enjoyable to see. Even with Ron’s snotty attitude, it was still wonderful.

I liked Cedric and thought he and Harry demonstrated great teamwork in the tournament even though they were competing against one another. Though the final stage of the tournament was well written and highly suspenseful, it was still difficult to read what happens as Harry’s worst nightmare comes to life. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Draco undergo some major changes as well with the help of Mad-Eye Moody.

I am now more than half-way through the series and am so excited to be reading it again. There are so many things in the books that I missed in the first reading or had forgotten about that it really does feel like I’m reading it for the first time. Even knowing what awaits me in book #5, I am looking forward to experiencing it all over again.

REVIEW: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Title: The Do-Over
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this cute romantic comedy quite more than I thought I would. Teenager Emilie finds herself reliving the same Valentine’s Day over and over enduring seeing her boyfriend not only cheating on her but experiencing the same frustrating and annoying interactions with Nick Stark, her chemistry lab partner. No matter what Emilie does to try to change the events that keep her stuck in February 14, she wakes up and it’s still V-Day.

In addition to the cheating boyfriend and annoying lab partner, Emilie also has to deal with the fact that her father has accepted a new job and will be moving out of state and whether Emilie will be joining him and his new family remains to be seen. Emilie also has to deal with the unwelcome news that the summer fellowship she was competing for and won has been snatched away due to a counting error. It’s enough to drive anyone bonkers, but I really enjoyed hanging out with Emilie to see what happen next and how she responds.

And responds she does. She decides to have a Day Of No Consequences. She steals her Dad’s Porsche, gets pulled over and the car gets impounded, she practically kidnaps Nick and they ditch school, visit a tattoo parlor, fast talk their way onto the roof of an office building and share seven minutes of the most breathtaking kiss Emilie has ever experienced. Nothing is off the table, because nobody except Emilie will remember it tomorrow as it will still be February 14. Or will it?

This story was a fun read for me because it was a reminder to live every day to the fullest extent you can even if you are stuck in a time loop and repeat the same day tomorrow. I liked the characters and the dynamics of Emilie’s life with her family and friends was entertaining. The dialog was realistic for the characters and the story moved at a good pace.

My Final Verdict: The Do-Over is my first Lynn Painter novel. I really enjoyed this author’s voice and her sense of humor shines through the story and characters. I recommend this to teen and young adult readers, fans of romantic comedies and anyone who likes their stories to end on a positive note.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Do-Over from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Pottermore
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publication Date: December 2015
Genre: Children’s Literature / Fantasy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school...

My Thoughts: The third installment of the much beloved Harry Potter series has been my favorite from the beginning and continues to be. With the Prisoner of Azkaban, the reader is given a glimpse of the dark direction this series will take, but this book still manages to be a lot of fun. From Harry’s reckless lashing out at Aunt Marge to his crazy ride on the Knight Bus, from Harry’s first encounter with the dementors on the Hogwarts Express (not fun at all) to obtaining the Marauders Map, from meeting Buckbeak, or battling boggarts that look like Professor Snape to conjuring a Patronus charm to ward off dementors and finally learning that everything is not as it seems may make your average thirteen-year-old more confused than ever, but not Harry. I love how Harry, Ron and Hermione seem to take it all in stride and just get on with it.

Remus Lupin and Sirius Black are two of my favorite characters in this series. Finally, Harry meets people who actually knew and were friends of his parents. I don’t count Dumbledore, I guess because he’s a given and he’s not of their generation. Professor Snape knew Harry’s parents and his revulsion towards Harry and James Potter are all too apparent so meeting Professor Lupin and Sirius Black and learning of their connection to James and Lily make it all the better.

I very much enjoyed the brewing conflict between Ron and Hermione regarding Crookshanks and Scabbers. Hermione has bitten off more than she can chew, it seems, with her extra full class load and seems to be barely managing it so she isn’t her usual analytical self. Of course, knowing already how these two end up by the end of the series doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of watching these characters grow and develop.

My Final Verdict: Overall, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban provides countless hours of reading entertainment. Numerous intense and suspenseful scenes where long hidden secrets and truths are revealed to the amazement of the reader. When the story comes full circle and the last page is turned, I was left with a feeling of euphoria and a rush of adrenaline, akin to an exciting ride on a fast-moving roller coaster. I wish I could pick one favorite moment from the book, but I fear I would do the story a great injustice if I tried. Due to the brilliant narration by Jim Dale in this audio version, I was pulled into this story immediately, my sense of excitement and anticipation growing as I listened. I love each story in this series, but this one holds a very special place in my heart.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Pottermore
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publication Date: December 2015
Genre: Children’s Literature / Fantasy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Ever since Harry Potter had come home for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor and a spirit who haunts the girls’ bathroom. But then the real trouble begins – someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself!

My Thoughts: The second book in the Harry Potter saga starts out with Harry back at the Dursley’s for summer vacation with a few changes. He has his own bedroom now instead of being relegated to the cupboard under the stairs. It’s actually Dudley’s second bedroom (don’t get me started on the degenerate waste of space this kid is) and out of the grace and goodness of their hearts, Harry is now using it. This entire attitude demonstrated by the Dursley’s resulted in major eye-rollage on my part and activated my gag reflex. These people are truly despicable. Not sure which is the lesser of the two evils for Harry…living with the Dursleys or being attacked by Voldemort.

After a very interesting and exciting first year at Hogwarts, we now find Harry very melancholy as he hasn’t heard from his friends all summer and is feeling very lonely. Harry meets Dobby, a mysterious house elf who comes to Privet Drive to warn Harry not to return to Hogwarts, which is not an option for Harry as he considers Hogwarts his true home. Dobby demonstrates very strange and self-loathing behavior by frequently assaulting himself with inanimate objects to punish himself for saying anything, which is a little bizarre because he doesn’t really tell Harry much of anything, other than to not return to Hogwarts.

Fortunately for the fans of this series, Harry does not listen to Dobby and through a series of misfortunate events manages to return to Hogwarts to discover an evil creature attacking students. Sadly, Harry is thought to be the one behind the attacks so he has to find out who is behind it before the next attack results in another death, like the one that occurred fifty years prior.

In this book, we get to meet a lot of interesting new characters in addition to Dobby. The new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher is best-selling author Gilderoy Lockhart who gives arrogance a whole new meaning. He was quite entertaining but very annoying, except the female students think he’s wonderful. Harry meets Draco Malfoy’s father, Lucius Malfoy who we quickly learn is quite evil and now see where Draco gets it from. Ron’s sister, Ginny is now a first year at Hogwarts and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and the rest of the Weasley family better. Many new magical creatures are introduced in this book such as Fawkes and Aragog, to name a few. A new ghost is introduced to Harry and his friends. Moaning Myrtle haunts one of the girls’ bathrooms and though she can be quite annoying proves to be a very interesting character.

I enjoyed learning more about Hagrid and Voldemort’s past in this story and getting a bird’s eye view, if you will, of major events at Hogwarts fifty years prior with the help of an enchanted diary. I loved the scenes with Harry and Ron in the enchanted car; there’s more than one and one of them is quite intense so be prepared.

My Final Verdict: Overall, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets proves to be entertaining on every level. There are a few intense scenes that may be too graphic for young readers and may cause nightmares but older age groups will be thoroughly pulled into this story as Harry navigates the perilous hallways and dark corridors of Hogwarts to stop the evil creature lurking within.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Pottermore
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Children’s Literature / Fantasy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

My Thoughts: J.K. Rowling does a marvelous job of creating a world so unlike ours but so similar in many ways. The witches and wizards in Harry’s world are not that unlike us when you think about it. They have the same feelings, fears, hopes, dreams and disappointments. There’s a social hierarchy in their world, much like ours. There’s a political structure in their world too, complete with a governing agency, ruling officials and laws and regulations. They go to school, hold jobs, get married, raise families, get old and die. They love sports and entertainment as well. There’s good and evil in Harry’s world too.

Harry is your typical boy for the most part but having never known his parents has left him missing out on that most important relationship. He’s being raised by his mother’s sister and her husband, living with them and their bully of a son, Dudley, but not really wanted. I got angry all over again at the way they treated him and at his living conditions. One thing that amazed me then and still does is why the Dursley’s put up such a fight to keep Harry from going to Hogwarts. They made it abundantly clear every day that they didn’t want Harry, barely tolerating his presence in their home. Going to Hogwarts would get him out of their home and ultimately their lives. They should have been kicking up their heels in joy when the first letter arrived. Perhaps, I will never understand why. Fortunately, the lack of bonding and family love does not turn Harry into a sociopath, bent on destroying lives.

Harry adjusts remarkably well to his new life and the excitement of it all. Once again, I found myself wishing I could go to Hogwarts. Going away to school in a castle with moving staircases, ghosts, magical creatures, and interesting characters may seem like a lot for an eleven-year-old boy to deal with, but Harry does. Finding out his parents were actually murdered by a very evil wizard who also tried to kill him is a lot to take in, as well, but Harry soon learns that those events are a part of who he is and the world he is now a part of.

I wanted to savor each page of the book, but I couldn’t put it down. Even knowing what was coming next, I discovered things I had missed before or perhaps forgot. I had forgotten what a strange and unusual girl Hermione was in the beginning. I had forgotten that Ron is very brave. I had forgotten how troublesome Peeves was and how stern Professor McGonagall could be.

My Final Verdict: So, whether you are a fan who loves to re-read this series (five times for me now) or someone who is reading it for the first time, embrace the story fully and enjoy the ride. It is an adventure not to be missed. All editions of this series are fantastic and will appeal to whatever preference the reader has, but I highly recommend the audio editions narrated by Jim Dale. All of the different voices for each of the characters, brimming with life and individual personalities give the reader a sense of being in the story with the characters instead of just a spectator.

REVIEW: The Night She Disappeared by Kevin O'Brien

Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: Kevin O’Brien
Narrator: Kyle Tait
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: SOME NIGHTMARES YOU CAN'T FORGET

From the depths of sleep, Seattle TV reporter Anna Malone awakens to her phone ringing. She rarely drinks, and this hangover is brutal. Why can't she shake the feeling that something terrible happened last night? And why can't she recall any of it?

BUT EVEN WORSE

What Anna does remember: an awkward restaurant meal with her married lover, Russ Knoll, and his unsuspecting wife, Courtney. Russ's phone call reveals that Courtney is missing, and as days go by with no trace, he comes under police scrutiny. Anna's in the spotlight too, thanks to a TV rival with a grudge. Anna's not proud of her affair, but she and Russ aren't bad people. They're certainly not the killing kind.

IS THE ONE YOU CAN'T REMEMBER . . .

Anna already suspected that Courtney--a successful, charming author--might have a darker side. Is she truly missing? Perhaps the sudden disturbances in Anna's life aren't accidental after all. But no scenario that Anna imagines can compare to the twisted game unfolding around her, one chilling piece at a time . . .

My Thoughts: If you are a reader that likes a lot of build-up, especially lots of twists and turns in the plot, then grab a copy of The Night She Disappeared by new to me author Kevin O’Brien. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I was all in to find out what happens.

The protagonist of this story is Anna Malone, a Seattle TV reporter who finds herself in the middle of the biggest news story in history because she is involved. The question is just how involved she is. Anna is having an affair with Russ Knoll, doctor and married man. Usually, this plot device stops me in my tracks. When the protagonist of a story is the one involved in adultery, I don’t like it. I’m supposed to be rooting for the hero/heroine of the story, but if they lack all moral fiber, it makes it very difficult.

Russ’s wife is author, Courtney Knoll, who is working with Anna on a news story about her. She’s deaf and has written a young adult series about deaf teenagers with superpowers, so her star is on the rise. The three meet at a restaurant for dinner where the lemon drop cocktails are flowing faster than they are poured and before you know it, Anna and Courtney are pretty drunk. If you haven’t guess already, Courtney is not a very nice person, drunk or sober, but she definitely has a cruel side when she’s drunk. After dinner, Anna accompanies them back to their place and Courtney becomes even more nasty and hateful…hmmm could she be on to you two cheating fornicators? Inquiring minds want to know!

Russ drives Anna home and puts her to bed, but calls her the next morning to tell her that Courtney is gone, some of her things are gone and has she been in touch with Anna? At this point in the story, I’m suspicious of all three of them! Is Courtney really missing or is she setting them up? Is Russ a killer and just trying to cover his tracks? Did Anna go off on Courtney because she’s tired of waiting for Russ to file for divorce?

And just when things can’t possibly get any worse, guess what? They get worse! There is a Nancy Grace type character, Sally, who appears to have a vendetta against Anna and uses her show to put Anna and Russ through the wringer. Before you know it, the show is using every speculation it can to convict and judge Anna and Russ.

Several additional supporting characters made the story more intriguing. Sally’s daughter, Taylor, can’t stand what her mother is doing to Anna, so she reaches out behind her mother’s back to warn her and tries to help Anna figure out what happened that night, since as we all know, Anna was drunk and can’t remember. Taylor is also deaf and knew Courtney too. Anna’s brother who ran away from home as a teenager comes back into Anna’s life but is a drug addict. These characters really added to the story, for me, because their motives and intentions are unclear. What do they have to gain by getting involved?

When everything finally comes into the light and all is revealed, I was completely shocked. I wasn’t expecting this outcome, but it worked really well and provided the much-needed closure without any loose ends hanging. The author did a fantastic job of creating characters that don’t have to be likable for the reader to be invested in what happens to them. He gives just enough of the story to keep the reader interested without giving away the ending too soon. This was an audiobook and Kyle Tait narrated this story very well. I would have preferred a female narrator to read the female parts, but Mr. Tait’s performance was terrific, especially his vocalization of Taylor’s lines as a deaf woman who never learned to speak.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very well written story that delivered a great deal of suspense and intrigue. I never anticipated the conclusion and was quite surprised. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy a twisty novel of suspense and mystery and don’t mind that the characters don’t always have to be likable or redeemable.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Night She Disappeared from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: 11th Hour by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Title: 11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11)
Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Narrator: January LaVoy
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: May 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Your best friend

Lindsay Boxer is pregnant at last! But her work doesn't slow for a second. When millionaire Chaz Smith is mercilessly gunned down, she discovers that the murder weapon is linked to the deaths of four of San Francisco's most untouchable criminals. And it was taken from her own department's evidence locker. Anyone could be the killer--even her closest friends.

Or a vicious killer?

Lindsay is called next to the most bizarre crime scene she's ever seen: two bodiless heads elaborately displayed in the garden of a world-famous actor. Another head is unearthed in the garden, and Lindsay realizes that the ground could hide hundreds of victims.

You won't know until the 11th hour

A reporter launches a series of vicious articles about the cases and Lindsay's personal life is laid bare. But this time she has no one to turn to--especially not Joe. 11th Hour is the most shocking, most emotional, and most thrilling Women's Murder Club novel ever.

My Thoughts: It’s been over seven years since I last spent time with The Women’s Murder Club and I actually had a few reservations about whether I would be able to pick up where I left off. Happily, for me, this was not the case. One of the remarkable things about this series are the characters and how well developed they are. Within just a few minutes, I felt like I was back in the thick of it with Lindsay, Claire, Cindy and Yuki.

In this edition, Lindsay is pregnant, Cindy and Rich Conklin are engaged but don’t seem to be in a big hurry to make a dash to the altar and Yuki is dating Boxer’s supervisor! Claire was present but didn’t have a significant impact on the events of this story, much like the last one. I really hope she has a larger role in the next book.

Besides dealing with morning sickness, Lindsay is actively investigating the serial killings of several drug dealers and the discovery of several corpse heads in the garden of a famous actor who had been prosecuted and acquitted of his wife’s disappearance and likely murder.

In between all of this, she is also being hounded by a journalist who would rather report innuendo, speculation and conjecture instead of the facts, which puts her relationship with Joe in a precarious position.

I thought the cases were really interesting. Early on in the story, the serial killings of the drug dealers are thought to be the work of a rogue police officer and I was glad that Patterson and Paetro don’t bog the reader down in a lot of irrelevant details that only cloud the story. The revelation of this killer wasn’t a surprise, but the resulting follow-up provided me with many minutes of nail-biting intensity to see how it all played out.

Lindsay has to push hard and be very assertive in getting the green light to investigate the corpse heads. It was pretty gruesome and I figured that in her current condition, Lindsay would take a hard pass on this one. She doesn’t, of course, and I enjoyed the steps she and her team go through to first identify the corpses and then identify the culprit, which was a surprise. I enjoyed the use of forensic anthropology to recreate the faces and facial recognition software to search missing persons cases. It all sounds terribly simple and easy for those who are standing on the sidelines observing, but it’s quite a detailed process, which makes the story all the more interesting.

Patterson and Paetro have a skillful writing team rapport and I really enjoy their collaboration. This audio was narrated by January LaVoy, who does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. Her performance draws the reader in, giving a sense that the reader is part of the events occurring, rather than just reading the book. Several scenes carried a lot of emotion and Ms. LaVoy conveys it very well.

My Final Verdict: I really enjoyed spending time with these characters again and look forward to what they get into next. I recommend this entire series to fans of mysteries, thrillers and police procedurals who enjoy characters that demonstrate real world lives, problems, solutions, disappointments and successes.

REVIEW: The Lost Cats and Lonely-Hearts Club by Nic Tatano

Title: The Lost Cats and Lonely-Hearts Club
Author: Nic Tatano
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: August 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Swapping Prada for purrs…

While covering a story, feisty network reporter Madison Shaw gets more than she bargained for when she rescues a box of orphaned kittens. Suddenly the glamazon of the Manhattan newsroom is doing two am feedings to keep these fur babies alive!

This is certainly a change of pace for the high maintenance workaholic she’s become and taking care of the kittens makes Madison realize how far off track she’s come—after all, she was a stray once too…

When a video of her caring for the kittens goes viral, she knows her image as a hardnosed reporter is shot to hell. What Madison doesn’t expect is the media circus that propels her and the kittens to stardom. And the domino effect that has on her, her career and her love life—especially when she meets sexy Officer Nick Marino…!

My Thoughts: I’m a softie when it comes to stories featuring puppies or kittens and the very talented Nic Tatano brings the plight of four orphaned kittens into the spotlight and the hearts of his fans with this adorable story of an edgy hard-nosed reporter whose life is turned around, upside-down and inside-out when she discovers the kittens while reporting on a story.

I really liked Madison Shaw and though her character apparently undergoes a life changing transformation by taking in these kittens, I didn’t think this was so out of character for her. She struck me as the type of person who believes in justice, fairness and doing the right thing. Rescuing four newborn kittens is a huge undertaking for anyone, especially as these babies need to be bottle fed until they are big enough to eat on their own. I liked the support network Madison has in her life and loved her friends as well. I could see myself being friends with these people.

I loved Nick and thought he was the perfect match for her. Their initial meet-cute was so adorable and heartwarming and their chemistry was sizzling immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed the backstory of the kittens and learning Madison was partial to the special needs one, given her background and upbringing was profound.

What this story also gives is a lot of insight into other areas besides animal rescue. Madison Shaw was an abandoned baby and grew up in foster care and because of the notoriety she gets due to the kittens, she is able to further the awareness of kids needing good permanent homes and families. She is also pursuing political corruption and her dogged determination to get to the truth and expose the cover-up was an interesting side story.

My Final Verdict: I’m a loyal fan of Nic Tatano and will happily read anything he writes, but if you have never read any of his wonderful works, I suggest you start here. This story has so many “aww” moments, of course, but there are also some emotional moments that required the reaching for the Kleenex and some surprises that I didn’t expect as well.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Lost Cats and Lonely-Hearts Club from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: New Teeth by Simon Rich

Title: New Teeth
Author: Simon Rich
Narrator: Fred Berman
Publisher: Hachette Audio, Little Brown & Co.
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: General Fiction / Humor
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Called a “comedic Godsend” by Conan O’Brien and “the Stephen King of comedy writing” by John Mulaney, Simon Rich is back with New Teeth, his funniest and most personal collection yet.

Two murderous pirates find a child stowaway on board and attempt to balance pillaging with co-parenting. A woman raised by wolves prepares for her parents’ annual Thanksgiving visit. An aging mutant superhero is forced to learn humility when the mayor kicks him upstairs to a desk job. And in the hard-boiled caper “The Big Nap,” a weary two-year-old detective struggles to make sense of “a world gone mad.”

Equal parts silly and sincere, New Teeth is an ode to growing up, growing older, and what it means to make a family.

My Thoughts: New Teeth by new to me author, Simon Rich, is a wonderfully crafted collection of short stories that are equally heartwarming and riotously hilarious. Stories ranging from tips on parenting when dealing with monsters in your child’s closet, to a two-year-old private detective helping his baby sister client to solve a case, to murderous pirates finding a child stowaway on board trying to balance parenting and pirating, tagging along with Babe Ruth when he gets his big break with the Boston Red Sox and many more.

I liked some of the stories more than others, but overall, this was a fantastic read. The audio narration by Fred Berman was excellent. His voice talent is very apparent as he manages many accents and dialects in the different stories as well as his narration, infusing tone and emotion made for more enjoyment for the reader. Several of the stories had me laughing to tears while listening, with continued giggles after the story ended.

My Final Verdict: I had no idea what to expect from a Simon Rich book before I started, but I highly recommend this book to readers looking for hilarious and heartwarming stories. Simon Rich is definitely an author to keep an eye out for.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of New Teeth from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich

Title: Twisted Twenty-Six (Stephanie Plum #26)
Author: Janet Evanovich
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: November 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Humor / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Stephanie Plum's career has taken more wrong turns than a student driver on the Jersey Turnpike, and her love life is a hopeless tangle. In order to save someone dear to her, she'll have to straighten things out in Twisted Twenty-Six the latest, novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.

Grandma Mazur is a widow...again. This time her marriage lasted a whole 45 minutes. The unlucky groom was one Jimmy Rosolli, local gangster, lothario (senior division) and heart attack waiting to happen...well, the waiting's over.

It's a sad day, but if she can't have Jimmy at least Grandma can have all the attention she wants as the dutiful widow. But some kinds of attention are not welcomed, particularly when Jimmy's former "business partners" are convinced that his widow is keeping the keys to their financial success for herself.

As someone who has spent an entire career finding bad guys, a set of missing keys should be no challenge for Stephanie Plum. Problem is, the facts are as twisted as a boardwalk pretzel with mustard.

My Thoughts: After finishing the last book in this series, I honestly thought I was done with the whole kit and kaboodle. I didn’t feel there was anything refreshing or original anymore, just the same old round and round with Stephanie, Lula, Grandma, Joe and Ranger. Stephanie still hates her job, still keeps her gun in the cookie jar, still dating Joe but lusting after Ranger and still can’t keep a vehicle longer than 5 minutes. She’s a hopeless mess and her life is a trainwreck on the best of days. Why do I keep coming back?

I keep coming back to this series because Stephanie is like family. You know, the cousin or sibling who is great fun to be around even though she’s a hot mess and disaster is usually three steps behind her. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, but I know when I’m hanging with Stephanie and Lula, I’m going to be entertained at the very least. Perhaps, not quality entertainment, but there will be laughter and lots of food.

In this installment, we get to spend a lot of time with Grandma. She’s a widow again, after marrying Jimmy Rosolli, who drops dead not long after. Jimmy ran with a bad crowd…think The Sopranos and they are after a set of keys they believe Jimmy gave to Grandma when he died. Nobody will say what the keys look like, what they open or what using the keys will provide. Grandma says she doesn’t have any keys and a Molotov cocktail thrown through the front room window and an attempted kidnapping doesn’t change her mind either.

In between chasing down her FTA’s, Stephanie and Lula decide to look for the keys, which proves quite difficult as nobody seems to know what they look like or how many there are. And to make matters worse, several members of Jimmy’s family are less than pleased that Grandma stands to inherit Jimmy’s millions and are willing to fight dirty to get their hands on it.

I really enjoyed this adventure with Stephanie and the gang. I adore Grandma and, like Stephanie, don’t want to see anything bad happen to her. She’s such a hoot and the series wouldn’t be the same without her.

Lula brought a lot of comic relief to the story, as usual, and I laughed aloud many times at her shenanigans. I’m still wondering what Lula does for money because she’s not a licensed bond enforcement agent and she is always tagging along with Stephanie instead of filing in the bond office. How the heck is she making rent?!

I loved that there were many Ranger appearances and yes, he gives her another car. I love that he is there for her and yes, he has ulterior motives, but I know he cares for her. I honestly don’t know why Stephanie doesn’t go to work for Ranger since she loathes her job. I doubt she would have to worry about making her rent.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a lot of fun and though some of the stories have sunk like stones for me, this one has renewed my interest in Trenton, NJ and the quirky lives of its residents. I recommend the audio narrated by the very talented Lorelei King. She voices the characters splendidly, bringing their personalities to life.

REVIEW: Thirty Days to Thirty by Courtney Psak

Title: Thirty Days to Thirty
Author: Courtney Psak
Publisher: CAMP Publishing
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: What if you were on the cusp of marrying the guy of your dreams and reaching that career goal you set for yourself, only for all of it to be taken away in one fell swoop?

What if this all happened a month before you turned 30?

This is the story of Jill Stevens, who after moving back home, finds a list she made in high school of thirty things she wanted to accomplish before her thirtieth birthday.

With a month left and hardly anything crossed off her list, she teams up with old friends to accomplish as much as she can before the big 3-0. Along the way, she discovers her true self and realizes it’s not about the material successes in life but the journey.

My Thoughts: Thirty Days to Thirty by new to me author Courtney Psak was a lot of fun to read. I felt a strong connection to Jill as a woman who is at a major crossroads in her life with the big 3-0 looming and her realization that she hasn’t accomplished everything she thought she would. After losing her job, boyfriend and home all in the same day, Jill does what many people do. She moves back in with her parents.

And if that isn’t bad enough, she discovers a list she wrote in high school of thirty things she wants to achieve before she turns 30. Not a big deal, right? Her birthday is a month away and you can imagine how quickly the panic sets in. Some of the things on her list have already been completed. Finish college, check. Work at a law firm, check. However, some of the items on her list seem insurmountable. Get on TV; save a life; kiss a stranger…are you kidding me?! And let’s not even discuss what motivated Jill to include skydiving as one of those items.

What made this book so much fun for me is tagging along while Jill starts to sort out her life. Her best friend, Liz provides much needed moral support and comic relief. Additionally, Jill’s ex-boyfriend from high school, Chris, is also there. Jill hasn’t seen or spoken to him for ten years and I loved how easily they got along and wondered why Jill let him go in the first place. I laughed aloud many times at Jill’s attempts to complete some of the items, such as taking up yoga. Along the way, Jill comes to realize that it’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey.

I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and though her parents got on her nerves because, you know, they’re parents, seeing their relationship become stronger was wonderful.

The only issue readers may have with this book is the speed in which Jill and Chris get back together, profess their feelings and make a commitment. This entire book takes place within a period of one month so it may appear that Jill is totally on the rebound in her relationship with Chris. I had to suspend disbelief and just tell myself that when it’s right, it’s right and when you know, you know and hope for the best.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fun story with characters that I was rooting for from the beginning. I recommend this book to readers who like their stories to have humor and fun mixed in with the romance and featuring characters that aren’t all that different from the rest of us, just trying to get through the hurdles life throws without falling flat on our faces.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Thirty Days to Thirty from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The List by Carys Jones

Title: The List
Author: Carys Jones
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: October 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Five names on a list. The first two are dead. The third one is yours.

Beth Belmont runs every day, hard and fast on the trail near home. She knows every turn, every bump in the road. So, when she spots something out of place - a slip of white paper at the base of a tree - she's drawn to it.

On the paper are five names. The third is her own.

Beth can't shake off the unease the list brings. Why is she on it? And what ties her to the other four strangers?

Curiosity getting the better of her, Beth looks up the first two names, only to find that they're both dead.

Is she next?

Delving into the past of the two dead strangers, the truth Beth finds will lead her headlong into her darkest and most dangerous nightmares...

My Thoughts: Upon meeting Beth Belmont initially, the reader is given a strong impression that someone is targeting her and means to do her harm. While out jogging one morning, Beth finds a piece of paper with five names, her name is the third. She doesn’t know the other people or even recognize the names, so she begins to research the names and discovers the first two names on the list are dead under very suspicious circumstances.

What does this mean?
Is she next?
Who is the author of the list?
Why is she being targeted?

I had all manner of theories regarding the above questions, and I was completely wrong about all of it. This story has an excruciatingly slow build as the author takes the reader into the past, introducing us to a young girl named Ruby, who is institutionalized and is less than cooperative with her therapy. Trying to understand the relevance between Ruby and Beth was frustrating, but I when I finally connected the dots, I needed to know more. The author also adds passages from the point of view of the list’s author, which were even more convoluted and confusing. This unnamed character spends the majority of the book watching Beth, but does not reveal their identity, reasons or agenda until nearly the end. There were so many twists and turns in this story that I started to feel dizzy.

Beth, herself, is very complex and hard to relate to or get to know. She lives in a house with her boyfriend, but outside of jogging, appears to have no goals, hobbies or career aspirations. Her boyfriend encourages her to do more with her life and not waste her talent working at the cinema loading the movie reels. She suffers from nightmares on a regular basis but refuses to talk about it and does not appear to have any friends or close associates. She struck me as a very lonely and isolated character.

My Final Verdict: The audiobook was narrated by Charlotte Worthing, who did an admirable job voicing all of the different characters, which made following the timelines and knowing who was speaking easier for this reader. I may not have finished this book if I was reading the print or e-book edition.

What do you say about a book that completely builds up the story, leading the reader in one direction, but then does a complete 180 and goes somewhere the reader does not expect? I say give it a shot and prepare to be shocked and surprised at what these characters reveal about themselves, their actions, their lives and each other.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The List from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Sister Agatha: The World's Oldest Serial Killer by Domhnall O'Donoghue

Title: Sister Agatha: The World’s Oldest Serial Killer
Author: Domhnall O’Donoghue
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Publication Date: August 2016
Genre: General Fiction / Humor / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Sister Agatha is a colossal 118 years of age, whose vim and vigour would put the most robust athletes to shame. During a routine check-up, however, her doctor claims she has just a week to live, news that proves to be quite inconvenient, seeing as the beloved sister has one ambition in life: to be the oldest person in the world. At last count, she was the fifth.

However, never one to admit defeat, Sister Agatha concocts a bold Plan B. Dusting off her passport, she decides to leave Irish shores for the first time in her very long life, and using the few days remaining, plans to travel across three continents and meet the only four people whose birthday cakes boast more candles than hers.

And then, one by one, she intends on killing them.

My Thoughts: Please, for the love of God, don’t follow in my steps and wait too bloody long to read this book. I say “Bollocks!” to real life and anything else that might interfere with picking up this book right now and diving in.

The former Butsy Miller, now known as Sister Agatha, has been on this Earth for a very long time and has seen her share of trials and tribulations. She’s known love and heartbreak. At the spry age of 118, she has lived through quite a bit and outlived her family and friends. She has no reason to think that this will change, but during a routine visit to her doctor for her check-up, she is given the impression through a major misunderstanding that she has about a week to live.

Obviously, this will not do, as it has long been her aspiration and goal to be the oldest person alive on the planet. The problem is that she’s the fifth oldest living person, so she decides she will abscond with the convent’s debit card and travel the globe to locate the four older persons…and kill them. Yes, you heard correctly. This sweet, very old and innocent appearing nun is out for blood. Her quest will take her to Tunisia, Chicago, Warsaw and Venice.

First, I need to extend all love, appreciation and many kudos to the very talented Domhnall O’Donoghue for giving us a story that has so many twists and turns, but keeps the reader fully engaged. The story switches between the past and present so seamlessly and sidebar snippets are inserted that, at first glance, appear irrelevant to the story, but quickly and cleanly tie in and connect to the story. A very brilliant writing technique that I have never seen done so successfully.

I had so much fun tagging along with Sister Agatha. I liked her immensely and really didn’t want to see her start murdering people, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. She’s already in trouble with the man upstairs for the theft of the debit card, so she really doesn’t have anything to lose, right? Along the way, she meets many interesting and entertaining characters that added to my enjoyment of this story.

My Final Verdict: This story shocked me, surprised me and made me laugh aloud numerous times. I also got a little misty-eyed at parts. Sister Agatha felt like family and I felt quite protective of her. I highly recommend this book to everyone to read right now and many thanks to Domhnall O’Donoghue for giving Sister Agatha to me. I shall cherish her always.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Sister Agatha: The World’s Oldest Serial Killer from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Love and Blarney by Zara Keane

Title: Love and Blarney (Ballybeg #2)
Author: Zara Keane
Publisher: Beaverstone Press LLC
Publication Date: August 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Married in Manhattan…
Ruairí MacCarthy abandoned his life in New York to deal with a family crisis in Ireland. Twelve months later, he’s traded his three-piece suits and Wall Street career for jeans and a job managing his family’s pub in Ballybeg. When his estranged wife bursts back into his life looking for reconciliation, Ruairí must decide if home is where the heart is.

…True Love in Ballybeg.
Jayme King wants Ruairí back. She’s prepared to battle sheep, floods, and crazy Irish in-laws to get him. Discovering he lied about his past was a shock, but Jayme’s had months come to terms with the betrayal. Letting Ruairí go was the biggest mistake of her life. Can she persuade him to return to America and give their marriage a second chance?

My Thoughts: A short, sweet and quite predictable story of a married couple on the verge of divorce being given an opportunity to resolve their differences against the backdrop of a quaint Irish village.

The story moved smoothly, and I enjoyed meeting Ruairi and Jayme but didn’t feel as deep a connection to them as I did the couple in the first book of this series. I honestly spent most of my time reading this book repeating Ruairi’s name and hoping I was pronouncing it correctly. Roo Ree, not Roar Ree. His name didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story, but it certainly distracted me several times.

The conflict between these two characters was resolved so quickly, I had to stop and think about what the problem between them actually was and why they were living on separate continents to begin with. With the exception of Ruairi’s father, I enjoyed meeting his family and touring the area, especially Blarney Castle. I will have to side with Ruairi, however, and decline getting on my hands and knees to kiss the Blarney Stone.

I enjoy this author’s writing style and voice and if romance isn’t your preferred genre, she has a seven (so far) book mystery series that looks to be a lot of fun that I also have on my to be read pile. Start with Dial P For Poison .

My Final Verdict: Overall, an enjoyable addition to this series and though they can be read as stand-alone stories, I recommend reading them in order to enjoy the development of the secondary characters. I’m looking forward to continuing this series with Love and Leprechauns .

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Love and Blarney from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan

Title: Confessions of a First Time Mum
Author: Poppy Dolan
Publisher: Canelo
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.

With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.

In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realize that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…

My Thoughts: Confessions of a First Time Mum by new to me author Poppy Dolan introduces us to former PR executive Stevie and her day-to-day struggles and challenges with being a first-time mother. That, in and of itself, doesn’t sound all that exciting and interesting, or easy to relate to for people who have not experienced parenthood. The wonderful thing about this book is it is easy to relate to Stevie as we all have been in her place, striving to succeed in a world where most days are an uphill climb, trying to make ends meet and bring each day into some sort of semblance of balance and structured order.

I thought Stevie was a riot and her PR background really came into play when she decides to start a blog to strip bare the fantasy of parenthood with the brutal and sometimes horrifying reality of being a first-time parent. The constant crying; the demonic projectile vomiting; the poo explosions; the post-partum saggy bits of skin and what the heck happened to my breasts!?

Stevie feels like she is travelling this road by herself; that she has somehow lost herself and her self-worth along the way. She doesn’t feel like she can talk to her husband and forget about making any Mom mates as they will most likely run screaming in the opposite direction. Fortunately, Stevie does meet and make friends with other parents and even discovers that she still has a lot of talent in promoting not just herself, but also her friends and helping to organize a parent’s festival.

In addition to a plot that flowed smoothly and characters that were easy to empathize with and relate to, I had the added benefit of listening to the audiobook edition narrated by Lizzie Wofford. If, like me, you are a fan of audiobooks, the narrator can make or break the story. The pairing of Poppy Dolan’s books with Lizzie Wofford’s narration is brilliant. On the page and in my ear, they both bring these characters to life and provided many hours of laugh aloud moments.

My Final Verdict: I loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who like stories that center around really flawed characters who are trying their best and sometimes get it wrong, but don’t give up. I also highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that give them stitches from laughing so hard or draws them so fully into the story, they feel like they know these characters and are right beside them every step of the way.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Confessions of a First Time Mum from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Xoe: Vampires, Werewolves and Demons, Oh My! by Sara C. Roethle

Title: Xoe: Vampires, Werewolves and Demons, Oh My! (Xoe Meyers #1)
Author: Sara C. Roethle
Publisher: Vulture’s Eye Publications
Publication Date: October 2009
Genre: Fantasy / Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Xoe Meyers had a normal life. So she was stuck going to high school, and she only had a few friends to call her own. She liked her normal life. Things were about to change though, because there's a new guy in her small town, and he is anything but normal.

Before Xoe can say, "Werewolf," her best friend's life is in peril, and Xoe's world is turned upside-down. Then, of course, there's Jason. Xoe doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him, and given that he's a vampire, she'd have to be able to catch him first.

My Thoughts: New to me author Sara Roethle offers up a passable story about a high school student who learns that supernatural beings exist in the most abrupt and shocking of ways. Xoe Meyers is a typical teenager, though her life is about to become the most untypical of lives trying to deal with the knowledge that werewolves, vampires and demons exist among us and the danger this knowledge puts her and her friends in.

I thought this was an interesting take on werewolf and vampire fiction. Xoe is a likable character though she comes across as anti-social. Her friends Lucy and Allison are polar opposites of Xoe and I marveled at their compatibility, but it worked well. Xoe’s trust issues are clearly evident from the start and learning that her father abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby sheds a lot of light on Xoe’s personality. Unlike Xoe, I liked Jason from the start and was glad that he is an ally.

I had some issues with the Dan character. He could have been fleshed out more to give the reader more clarity and understanding about his intentions and motives. He comes across as very mysterious and intriguing in the beginning and when we begin to see him for who he really is, it felt like there was a large hole that needed filling but was left empty, leaving this reader flat with unresolved feelings.

I also had some issues with Xoe’s friend, Brian. I found him to be very likable and I wish he were brought into the circle and told what was going on. This is the first story in a series of eight (so far) books, so having cliff-hangers and conflicts with no closure are to be expected. Brian and Xoe’s friendship presents one such conflict offering no closure that I hope will be addressed in the series.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is a good start to what appears to be an interesting series. It is important for the reader to have patience as there is a lot to learn yet about all of the characters. For me, there were a lot of unanswered questions about what transpired in this story so I will continue the series.

REVIEW: Six Dates by Jennifer Joyce

Title: Six Dates
Author: Jennifer Joyce
Publisher: Jennifer Joyce
Publication Date: November 2018
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Natalie attends a speed-dating event where hopefully the dates are as delicious as the desserts.

My Thoughts: A super short story featuring Natalie attending her first speed-dating event where with the ring of the bell, she meets a new man and gets to sample a new dessert. This is my first time reading this author and I found her writing to be fun and witty. I liked Natalie and felt loads of empathy for her as she has to meet and get to know five different men in 15-minute rounds. I loved the idea of each round bringing a different dessert but 15 minutes is not nearly enough time to ascertain if the person sitting in front of you is compatible.

As is the case in real life, dating is a gamble and you don’t know what you’re going to end up with at first glance. Each of the five men Natalie meets are different and some were just awful, but thankfully Natalie does meet a winner.

My Final Verdict: Cute story with recipes for each of the desserts featured. If you are going to subject yourself to speed dating, hopefully the desserts make it all the more sweeter. I look forward to reading more from this author.

REVIEW: Seeking Philbert Woodbead by Anya Wylde

Title: Seeking Philbert Woodbead (Fairweather Sisters #2)
Author: Anya Wylde
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: June 2015
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Miss Celine Fairweather's life was bobbing along like a boat on a tranquil stream when a summons from her beloved sister Penelope Radclyff, the Duchess of Blackthorne, changed it all. Celine hurtles off to the London to help the duchess run the Blackthorne Mansion and to discover the whereabouts of her lost love Philbert Woodbead.

Celine manages to keep things deathly dull and under control for a whole week until she enlists the help of the handsome Lord Elmer-a mischievous rogue, an ex-pirate, and an incorrigible flirt who is wanted dead by all of England's husbands with attractive wives. They scurry from one giddy escapade to another seeking Philbert in musty inns and dusty streets, and through it all Celine tries to keep her bonnet straight, her gloves spotless and her heart in tune with her head.

Life has suddenly turned exciting, and love has well and truly bitten her rosy buttocks. Now the only question is ... who has done the biting?

My Thoughts: When I pick up an Anya Wylde title, I know I am in for a madcap adventure leading to the most unexpected of outcomes and filled with fun and frivolity the entire way. Seeking Philbert Woodbead does not disappoint. Reuniting with characters from Penelope, Philbert introduces us to another Fairweather sister, Celine, who comes to Blackthorne Manor to assist Penelope, who is very pregnant and has been put on limited activities. Unbeknownst to all in residence at the Manor, Celine is on a mission of her own; to locate her true love, a poet named Philbert Woodbead who has left her with god-awful poetry and vague clues as to his whereabouts. To assist her in her endeavors, Celine enlists help from Lord Elmer, another guest at the Manor and with a reputation that Celine would do well to avoid being connected with.

First of all, I admired Celine’s spirit and her dedication to finding her poet, though I had to question her taste as well as her sanity as Philbert does not sound at all like someone she is suited for. Secondly, I found Lord Elmer a delight. His deliberate mispronunciations of Philbert’s name and his loony plans for finding him had me laughing aloud numerous times. I enjoyed spending time with Penelope and Charles again and found them to be wonderful additions to this story.

This story is silly, cheeky and oh so much fun! There are nasty villains afoot looking for Lord Elmer, daring rescues from pirates, horrible poetry that incites a gag reflex instead of hearts aflutter. There are fake moustaches, dinner parties and a ball. I could go on and on about all of the fun Celine and Lord Elmer have while trying to ignore the fact they are perfectly suited for one another, but you should really read the book and enjoy seeing it happen for yourself.

My Final Verdict: If you haven’t read Penelope’s story first, I recommend you start there, just to get a feel of the characters and to understand the background. As of this review, there are four books in this series, and I expect Dorothy’s story will be just as much fun as the first two.