Relics by Pip Vaughn-Hughes

England, 1235. Brother Petroc is living a simple life as a novice, struggling to keep his soul fairly clean and resisting the local girls. Then one evening he stumbles into a vicious trap - and finds himself on the run, framed by a sinister Templar knight for murder and theft. When his best friend is killed by the knight, Petroc's flight becomes a quest for restitution.

Trusting his fate to an enigmatic relic-hunter, Petroc is determine to get revenge on the man who wrecked his life - and in the process, discovers his own fate is linked to that of a priceless relic...

Adventure, mystery, twist and turns and a touch of romance. I enjoyed this far more than I had expected to.

🌟 21st December: A BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE

Death of a Dreamer by M C Beaton

The rugged landscape of Scotland attracts dreamers who move north, wrapped in fantasies of enjoying the simple life. They usually don't last, but it looks as if Effie Garrard has come to stay. When Constable Hamish Macbeth calls on her, he's amazed that she weathered the difficult winter. But Effie is quite delusional, imagining that she's engaged to local artist Jock Fleming. Later, Effie is found in the mountains.

These are not brilliantly clever detective stories. Nor are they deep psychological portraits. The murders seem almost like an excuse to introduce and play with a cast of eccentric characters. Hamish can be annoying, he is so clever as a policeman and so thick when it comes to women.

An enjoyable entertaining read.

⛄ 14th December: A BOOK WHOSE AUTHOR AND TITLE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE LETTER L
(because no "L" is Christmassy! 😉)

The Eye Of The Sheep by Sofie Laguna

Meet Jimmy Flick. He's not like other kids - he's both too fast and too slow. He sees too much, and too little. Jimmy's mother Paula is the only one who can manage him. She teaches him how to count sheep so that he can fall asleep. She holds him tight enough to stop his cells spinning. It is only Paula who can keep Jimmy out of his father's way. But when Jimmy's world falls apart, he has to navigate the unfathomable world on his own, and make things right.

An extraordinary and powerful story told from the point of view of a remarkable boy. 
Beautifully written & very hard to put down.

🍹 13th December: A TITLE THAT INCLUDES A BODY PART

And a book that I bought.

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school, so early retirement doesn’t bother him. But he is troubled by his inability to remember anything about the first night that he moved into his new and spare condominium on the outskirts of Baltimore. All he knows when he wakes up the next day in the hospital is that his head is sore and bandaged. His effort to recover the moments of his life that have been stolen from him leads him on an unexpected detour. What he needs is someone who can do the remembering for him. What he gets is . . . well, something quite different.

Liam is used to being alone, but dreads loneliness. Change is coming and he's not sure how to cope.

A gentle, slow moving story that I enjoyed.

🌟 12th December: A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN JOURNALLED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

The dead ends are turning into dead bodies...

Stephanie Plum is getting desperate. She's running out of leads in the search for Jimmy Poletti, who was caught selling more than cars out of his New Jersey dealership. Even Joe Morelli, the city's hottest cop, is struggling to find the criminal wheeler and dealer.

Stephanie's No. 1 temptation, Ranger, is also struggling. There's a killer in town with a personal vendetta against him. If Ranger wants to survive, he'll need Stephanie's help - and to reveal a piece of his mysterious past.

Another fun Stephanie Plum book. Lots of humour, Ranger (sigh), Morelli (sigh) and Grandma.

👼 10th December: A TITLE CONTAINING A NUMBER

Who Killed The bride? by Lily Malone

Cally Minter is a woman on the verge of wonderful things. With her best friend Sienna, Cally is about to launch a new tourism venture—Murder Mystery At Butterfly House—in the country town of Cowaramup. All that remains is a final weekend trial with their friends and one very special guest, Brooke Sherman, who represents a prestigious tourism association. A five-star review from Brooke will set the business on its way.
But when Brooke turns out to be different from what Cally expects, the future of Butterfly House teeters on a knife edge. Then Cally’s not-quite boyfriend casts doubt on Brooke’s true motives. One of the famous fibreglass Cowaramup Cows goes missing, and Cally suspects a thief covets more of Butterfly House’s secret treasures.
While their guests solve the mystery of Who Killed The Bride, can Cally and Sienna find the missing cow, catch a light-fingered thief, and make sure their new business doesn’t crash before it can get off the ground? 

I didn't really care who killed the bride. Or who stole the cow. Or what is the brothers secret. Or why the man in the dress is pretending to be from the tourist association.  Too many characters, too many sub-plots, too many obvious twists.

🎉 9th December: A TITLE THAT INCLUDES AN EXCLAMATION MARK OR A QUESTION MARK

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman

Everyone remembers the stories their grandmothers told them. 

But does everyone remember their grandmother flirting with policemen? Driving illegally? Breaking into a zoo in the middle of the night? Firing a paintball gun from a balcony in her dressing gown? 

Seven year old Elsa does.

We are introduced to a woman in her seventies. I can only describe her as totally weird, and very likely, completely crazy. But there is Elsa, a cute seven year old who has this old lady as her dear friend. And her grandmother. Upon her death, Elsa comes into the possession of a compendium of letters. In each one of these letters, Elsa's grandma has left her explicit instructions of what she must do in the case of each specific letter.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. It was both funny and heartbreaking at the same time.

At the end my thought was WOW! just WOW!

🔔 5th December: THE FIFTH BOOK ON YOUR TBR THAT WAS REGISTERED BY ANOTHER BOOKCROSSER

Balloons Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

he Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is days away, and Rachael Fairfield is attempting to break the women''s altitude record—a danger that doubles when she begins receiving threatening notes. When she comes to Charlie Parker for help, Rachael has a grim idea of who is sending them: her own father, recently released after spending fifteen years in prison thanks to his teenage daughter''s damning testimony. 

Not convinced that simply watching Rachael''s father until the festival ends will keep her client safe, Charlie looks into Rachael''s personal life for other suspects, knowing an associate with a grudge or an abusive ex-boyfriend can''t be overlooked. But as shattering secrets involving Rachael''s troubled family emerge, Charlie begins to identify the red herrings among the clues leading to a deadly stalker whose intent is to keep Rachael grounded—by any means necessary.



Advent Calendar Challenge
🎲 4th December: A TITLE WITH A CHILDREN'S TOY OR GAME (not a sport) IN IT 

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

When two young girls go missing in rural Herefordshire, police constable and wizard-in-training Peter Grant is sent out of London to check that nothing supernatural is involved.

It’s purely routine—Nightingale, Peter’s superior, thinks he’ll be done in less than a day. But Peter’s never been one to walk away from someone in trouble, so when nothing overtly magical turns up he volunteers his services to the local police, who need all the help they can get. 

But because the universe likes a joke as much as the next sadistic megalomaniac, Peter soon comes to realize that dark secrets underlie the picturesque fields and villages of the countryside and there might just be work for Britain’s most junior wizard after all.

Soon Peter’s in a vicious race against time, in a world where the boundaries between reality and fairy have never been less clear....

Once again we have Peter's laconic observations on the British police and their procedures ' no fish was harmed (sic) ' and their love of acronyms for example PEACE which stands for Planning, Engage and explain, Account and clarify, Closure, Evaluate training. These are pithy and amusing. We follow Peter's meanderings through the country as he meets various local identities and investigates sheep's intestines, bored holes in trees and ancient ruins. It was fun to be with Peter at the conception of a river god and to be given hints of Molly's (the housekeeper) background.

Advent Calendar Challenge

🎅 1st December; A TITLE THAT HAS A "Q" "X" OR "Z" IN IT

and a book that I bought

A Truth For A Truth by Emilie Richards

A Truth For a Truth is our fifth trip to Emerald Springs, Ohio. It's the home of Aggie Sloan-Wilcox whose husband Ed is the minster in the Consolidated Community Church in town. Aggie has a talent for getting involved in murder investigations. You'd think a small town wouldn't provide that many interesting cases, but once again, Aggie manages to find a whopper.

Godwin "Win" Dorchester is a former minister of Consolidated Community Church. 15 years after he left for another congregation. Win has now retired and wants to move back to relax. He and his wife Hildy have barely unpacked when Win collapses and dies from an apparent heart attack. Since he had a heart condition, it's quickly ruled natural causes.

But in the middle of the memorial service, Aggie gets a call that the police think it is murder. When that suspicion is confirmed, the police quickly narrow in on Hildy. Now Hildy may be overbearing and driving Aggie crazy, but there is no way that woman killed her husband, so Aggie sets out to prove Hildy is innocent. As Aggie begins to investigate, she begins to find that Win wasn't the saint people remember his as. Where in the past is the motive?

Really nice story, the characters are likeable and the story moves along. The book is more entertaining than it is suspenseful -a fun read.  It's the 2nd book I've read in this series and would love to read any more that come my way.

The Diva Cooks a Goose by Krista Davis

It promises to be a jolly holiday for Sophie until a Scrooge steals the Christmas gifts from her family and neighbors. The evil elf even pinches their Christmas dinners! Sophie quickly ends the neighbors’ finger-pointing by organizing a toy swap for the kids, restoring the spirit of Christmas. But not for long...

When her sister-in-law’s father shows up to the Christmas celebration with a diva girlfriend just a month after his separation, someone carries out everyone's thoughts of murder. With relatives and friends under suspicion for the deadly deed, and Sophie’s detective boyfriend Wolf out of town, it’s up to Sophie to chase this goose and cook it. Nobody ruins her Christmas!

A typical cozy mystery.  A bit over the top, lots of improbable coincidences and a few too many characters to keep straight.

Overall a bit of light fluff that kept me amused.

Dork Whore by Iris Bahr

20-year old Iris Bahr (fresh out of the Israeli Army) makes her way through Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, etc. Only unlike the average traveler, she has more in mind than just seeing the sights: she is on a desperate mission to lose her virginity...

Funny at times. Confirmed my thoughts on backpacking and I'm glad I didn't experience that. Her desperation to give away her virginity was sad.

It Takes One to Know One. by Isla Dewar

Charlie Gavin was abducted as a baby. He didn’t know who he was or where he came from. His mission was to find himself. And when he did, he decided to spend his life finding other lost souls by opening the Be Kindly Missing Persons Bureau.

Martha Walters, his assistant, has had her fifteen minutes of almost fame and failed. Now, dealing with her guilt and pain, she lives with her mum and dotes on her young daughter. Charlie appears to be a man who is a loser and dreamer, but, hey, his office is near her house, she can lie in of a morning, take her kid to school and the work isn’t too heart-breaking.

A pleasant enough read with eccentric, likeable characters.  Not really a romance, not really a mystery.  

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Imagine you're the only boy in a town of men. And you can hear everything they think. And they can hear everything you think. Imagine you don't fit in with their plans... Todd Hewitt is just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man. But his town has been keeping secrets from him. Secrets that are going to force him to run...

 It's a very unusual and interesting premise. However, after a while, it gets a little repetitive: bad guys show up, narrow escape, bad guys show up again, narrow escape again... Each time there's a little variation, but it does get repetitive.

I liked the talking dog.  Didn't like how violent it got at the end and that it is left on a cliffhanger.

A Very Country Christmas

5 Australian Christmas romance stories.

Under Christmas Stars – Alissa Callen

Small–town teacher Freya George is determined to make up for last year's disastrous Christmas. This year she will stop at nothing to ensure that she and the Woodlea community have the best holiday season ever. But from the moment Freya meets cattleman Drew Macgregor, her plans unravel faster than red Christmas ribbon…

Home For Christmas – Fiona Greene 

When Sergeant Tate McAuliffe, stationed in Afghanistan, opens his Christmas care package from Australia, he is stunned by both its contents and the sender, Layla Preston. Little could Layla know that this impersonal–but–cheerful holiday gift is set to be the start of something big…

The Kissing Season – Rachael Johns 

A wild past, a secret pregnancy and a disastrous marriage: every family has a black sheep…and Hannah Elliot is it. But when she returns to her home town of Wildwood Point, she is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. Then gorgeous Italian Matteo Della Bosca walks into her life and Hannah's resolve starts to slip…

12 Daves Of Christmas – Juliet Madison

Can love transcend time and space? An uplifting story of a lonely writer, her grandmother's ghost and a Christmas road trip to visit 12 different Daves.

Christmas At Remarkable Bay – Victoria Purman 

Prickly Mara has hit a crossroads and is hoping a Christmas alone in idyllic Remarkable Bay will help. Police officer George is also alone for Christmas. Drawn together unwillingly, they try to stay out of each other's way. But Remarkable Bay is a small place… 

My favourite was Home For Christmas by Fiona Greene 

The others were ok, and 12 Dave's was just weird.

Broken Homes. by Ben Aaronovitch

A mutilated body in Crawley. A killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil, possibly an associate of the twisted wizard known as the Faceless Man. Or maybe just a garden-variety serial killer. 

Before apprentice wizard and Police Constable Peter Grant can even get his head 'round the case, two more are dropped in his lap: a town planner has gone under a tube train, and there's a stolen grimoire for Grant to track down. 

So far, so London. 

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening on a housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans, and inhabited by the truly desperate. 

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River—in the jurisdiction of some pretty prickly local river spirits?

 An interesting twisty mystery, or set of connected mysteries but it's really the characters and humour that make this series so enjoyable.

There was a twist at the end of this one I didn't like, a goody is apparently working for the evil villain.

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

Paris, 1490.  A shrewd French nobleman commissions six lavish tapestries celebrating his rising status at Court. He hires the charismatic, arrogant, sublimely talented Nicolas des Innocents to design them. Nicolas creates havoc among the women in the house—mother and daughter, servant, and lady-in-waiting—before taking his designs north to the Brussels workshop where the tapestries are to be woven. There, master weaver Georges de la Chapelle risks everything he has to finish the tapestries—his finest, most intricate work—on time for his exacting French client. The results change all their lives—lives that have been captured in the tapestries, for those who know where to look.

 Five intertwining stories of making tapestries during the 15th century told from the lowest maid to the highest lord. Some interesting detail on how tapestries were woven.

House of Dark Delights by Louisa Burton

Nestled deep in the French countryside, hidden from prying eyes, stands an infamous castle that for centuries has lured guests with its whispered promise to make any erotic dream come true. Inside its walls you'll discover a world of sensuality, magic and mystery, courtesy of the chateau's residents - beautiful and reclusive immortals who strive to fulfill their guests' most secret desires even as they pursue their own insatiable gratification. You'll meet a tall, seductive elf who can morph from male to female, a bewitching goddess from ancient Babylonia, a playfully lusty satyr, a djinni obligated to satisfy the unspoken appetites of any human he touches, and a vampire as sexually rapacious as he is bloodthirsty.

Within these pages are related the House's most scintillating encounters, past and present. A pair of modern lovers find themselves captivated - and transformed - by the carnal demands of their hosts. An adventuress visiting with the notorious Hellfire Club stumbles from a black mass into a dungeon fitted out for restraint and discipline, where a brooding stranger turns her darkest longings into reality. A virginal female scientist is awakened by an invisible lover to the pleasures of the flesh. A young couple, forbidden to wed by an ancient taboo, finds hope in a sensual threesome. 

A fantasy to entice you into the imaginary world of Grotte Cachee in France where its four immortal denizens entertain their visitors with delicious sex. The book is fun, and the well written erotica is interspersed among actual stories which flesh out the characters.
Since the immortals have resided at the castle for hundreds of years, the episodic stories are set in various eras and are written with authenticity to their time periods. 

I am hunting down the next in the series. 

Hearts West by Chris Enss

Complete with actual advertisements from both women seeking husbands and males seeking brides, Hearts West includes twelve stories of courageous mail order brides and their exploits. Some were fortunate enough to marry good men and live happily ever after; still others found themselves in desperate situations that robbed them of their youth and sometimes their lives.

Desperate to strike it rich during the Gold Rush, men sacrificed many creature comforts. Only after they arrived did some of them realize how much they missed female companionship.

One way for men living on the frontier to meet women was through subscriptions to heart-and-hand clubs. The men received newspapers with information, and sometimes photographs, about women, with whom they corresponded. Eventually, a man might convince a woman to join him in the West, and in matrimony. Social status, political connections, money, companionship, or security were often considered more than love in these arrangements. 

I enjoyed reading the personal journal excerpts and the actual ads that prospective brides and grooms placed in the days of the “Wild West”. They were much more candid and revealing than today’s ads on eHarmony and other such websites.

Most of the couples seemed to make lasting marriages in those days. 

Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch

It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher—and the victim’s wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom—if it exists at all—is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects . . . except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as “the Faceless Man,” it’s up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and—as of now—deadliest subway system in the world.

 A light-hearted, yet dark, fast-paced paranormal murder mystery.  I am loving this series.  The mysteries are always something different but most of all I love the humour and the interesting bits of London history thrown casually into the storyline.

The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume? 

 At least half a dozen different storylines are woven together to tell the tale of a global hunt, spanning close to five centuries, for an ancient Egyptian artifact.

A fanciful, fascinating and thought-provoking page-turner. 

bones to ashes by Kathy Reichs

Brennan, her relationship with Det. Andrew Ryan on the rocks, welcomes the distraction of an unidentified New Brunswick skeleton from Québec's cold case unit. But when the bones are determined to be that of an adolescent girl, Brennan is convinced they belong to her childhood friend, Évangéline Landry, who disappeared at age 15. Now Brennan must come to terms with Évangéline's possible death, while trying to ignore her feelings for Ryan as they investigate a series of teenage abduction murders that could be tied to the mysterious bones. 

An interesting and entertaining story with lots of twists and turns. 

Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie

Theresa is desperate for a change. Forced into early retirement, fed up with babysitting her bossy daughter's obnoxious children, she sells her Highgate house and moves to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.

With its beautiful villas, its bustling cafes and shimmering cerulean sea, the village sparkles like a diamond on the French Mediterranean coast. Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There's Carol, the infinitely glamorous American and her doting husband David; the erstwhile British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine - and the suave Brian who catches Theresa's eye.

As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendships and freedom. However, life is never quite as simple as it seems and as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa begins to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared.  

A light entertaining read. The characters were all rather stereotyped and there were no real surprises. I like the sound of some of the recipes.

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan

A flooded world. A floating circus. Two women in search of a home. North lives on a circus boat with her beloved bear, keeping a secret that could capsize her life. Callanish lives alone in her house in the middle of the ocean, tending the graves of those who die at sea. As penance for a terrible mistake, she has become a gracekeeper. A chance meeting between the two draws them magnetically to one another - and to the promise of a new life. A magical and bewitching story that kept me enthralled.

The Edge of Sleep by David Wiltse

Karen shrugged. "They know you've caught people no one else could find. They know you've been in situations no one else could have survived. They know you're the best hunter in the FBI, with more skill, more courage, more intelligence, mor ... what should I call it? More 'understanding' of the mind of a serial killer than anyone in the Bureau."
"Call it fellow feeling," said Becker.

They'd called Becker back for this case. Had to. He was the only one who knew, really knew, what went on inside someone's head in the throes of a killing frenzy. But this case was different.

Five young boys had been kidnapped from shopping malls in the north-eastern United States. Their mutilated bodies are discovered weekd later, discarded by the roadside. But there is no sexual abuse, and the corpses have been lovingly washed and groomed.

For Becker it means reliving his own hell as he tracks a killer who fits no known profile - and whose victims disappear leaving no sign of their abduction.

I enjoyed this thriller told from the point of view of Becker, the FBI agent and Ash, one of the kidnappers. I did get a bit frustrated with the FBI that they had their theory/profile and didn't look at any other possibilities. 

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul—they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

Our hero PC Peter Grant leads us through an well written, amusing tale where what might be a typical 'Police Procedural' suddenly becomes a story of magic, vampires and ghosts. 

A wonderfully entertaining read.  

Fall From Pride by Karen Harper

Sarah Kauffman sought permission from her church elders to paint murals on a few of the Amish community's barns. Each was designed like an old-fashioned quilt square, representing a piece of the Amish traditions Sarah loved. The works of art were intended to draw more tourists to Home Valley in the struggling economy. But instead, they invited a menace. One by one, each barn is set ablaze and destroyed...

The arson fires spread fear through the community - amongst Amish and Englischers alike. Arson investigator Nate MacKenzie, an outsider, struggles to investigate the crime scenes while adhering to Amish ways. As the fires rage, beliefs are challenged, a way of life is questioned and family secrets are exposed. Now Sarah wonders if she's being punished for her pridefulness... or whether there's a more malevolent will at work.

Enjoyable romantic suspense. I did like the Amish setting of the story. 

Leverage In Death by J D Robb

What would you do to protect your family?

When Paul Rogan sets off a bomb at his office, killing eleven people, no one can understand why. He was a loving husband and father, with everything to live for. Then his wife and daughter are found chained up in the family home, and everything becomes clear. Rogan had been given a horrifying choice - set off the bomb, or see his loved ones suffer and die.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows the violence won't end here. The men behind the attack are determined, organised and utterly ruthless. In this shocking and challenging case, both Eve and husband Roarke are heading into serious danger.

Another good mystery with twists.  Eve and Roarke are so good together.  I enjoy their relationship more than the thriller parts of the books, though both parts are great.

More teasers about the farm Roarke bought for the bet between him and Eve.

Another 10/10.

Kick Ass

The Bride Wore a .44by Maggie Shayne
After waking up from a coma, Kira struggles with her memory that seems tangled perhaps because she has forgotten that she is undercover. Her upcoming marriage was part of her cover, but she thinks it is real so she prepares accordingly. However, she does not understand why wedding planner Marshall fills her mind with desire not the what's his name groom.

The Incredible Misadventures of Boo and the Boy Blunderby MaryJanice Davidson.
Former police officer Gregory wonders how life can be so unfair. Recently he was turned into a vampire and to make matters worse he has met his soulmate that is if he has a soul. The problem is his beloved wants to kill him as Boo is a bona fide vampire hunter.

Warfemby Angela Knight.
Her enemy captured Warfem Alina, who would prefer to die, but fears that her foes will use her as a hostage to betray her people and her beloved Baird.

Painkillersby Jacey Ford.
CIA operative Lauren works as a supermodel to hide her true vocation. Her current perilous assignment is made more dangerous in that she must team up with Agent Jake who owns her heart.  

4 stories, all ok. 3 were from authors I have read and enjoyed in the past. None of them really thrilled or interested me.

A Kiss To Remember by Teresa Medeiros

Laura Fairleigh needs a husband. If she is to keep a roof over her siblings' heads, the prim rector's daughter must wed by her twenty-first birthday. When she finds a mysterious stranger with the face of an angel and the body of Adonis unconscious in the forest and with no memory of his name or his past, she decides to claim him for her own. Little does she know that her fallen angel is really the devil in disguise.

Sterling Harlow, the notorious rakehell known as the "Devil of Devonbrooke", awakens to the enchanting kiss of a lovely young woman who informs him he is her long-lost betrothed. With her sun-kissed cheeks and smattering of freckles, she looks every inch the innocent, but her curves possess a woman's allure. When she assures him he is the perfect gentleman, he wonders if he's lost his wits as well as his memory. He would have sworn he was not a man to be satisfied with mere kisses - especially from lips as sweet and luscious as Laura's.

As he attempts to uncover the truth before their wedding night, a kiss to remember ignites a passion neither of them will ever be able to forget... 

Quick, light, fluffy and totally unbelievable. I can't believe this sort of book used to be the main books I read.

The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass

"Dr. Bill Brockton has been called in on a seemingly routine case, to exhume a body and obtain a bone sample for a DNA paternity test. But when the coffin is opened, Brockton and his colleagues, including his graduate assistant Miranda Lovelady, are stunned to see that the corpse has been horribly violated.

Brockton’s initial shock gives way to astonishment as he uncovers a flourishing and lucrative black market in body parts. At the center of this ghoulish empire is a daring and prosperous grave robber. Soon Brockton finds himself drawn into the dangerous enterprise when the FBI recruits him to bring down the postmortem chop shop—using corpses from the Body Farm as bait in an undercover sting operation.

As Brockton struggles to play the unscrupulous role the FBI asks of him, his friend and colleague medical examiner Eddie Garcia faces a devastating injury that could end his career. Exposed to a near-lethal dose of radioactivity, Dr. Garcia has lost most of his right hand and his entire left hand. Out of options, he embarks on a desperate quest: both of his ravaged hands will be severed at the wrist and replaced with those from a cadaver. But unless suitable ones are found soon, the opportunity will be lost.

Well written, interesting twisty mystery with a surprise twist at the end. 

My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson

Best friends Kamryn Matika and Adele Brannon though nothing could come between them - until Adele di the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn's fiancé Nate. Worse still, she got pregnant and had his child. When Kamryn discovered the truth about their betrayal she vowed never to see any of them again.
Years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter Tegan. With a great job and hectic social life, the last thing Kamryn needs is a five-year-old daughter to disrupt things. Especially not one who reminds her of Nate. But with n on else to take care of Tegan and Adele fading fast, does she have any other choice? So begins a difficult journey that leads Kamryn towards forgiveness, love, responsibility and, ultimately, a better understanding of herself.

I thought this would be lighter, and shallower, than it was. The ending was kinda abrupt, but overall it was an enjoyable read.  

Personal by Lee Child

The 19th Jack Reacher adventure finds our hero pulled into an international law enforcement investigation trying to stop a sniper from attacking the upcoming G8 summit. For a warm up the prime suspect has taken a shot at the French president and he happens to be an ex-Army marksman that Reacher put in prison 15 years ago and is currently in the wind. Who better to track down an elusive assassin than the man who previously caught him? This time out JR is teamed with a young CIA analyst named Casey Nice and they’re off to London via Paris with a ticking clock to beat and two criminal gangs running interference.

This time around it’s all business and despite having an attractive partner Reacher’s got no time for romance. An old general who cajoles Reacher into assisting in the hunt calls him ‘Sherlock Holmeless’ in an on-target jab at JR’s wandering lifestyle. Anyway, Reacher drinks a lot of coffee as usual and with an assist from British intelligence manages to neutralize a Serbian gang and take down the leadership of a domestic gang of ruthless thugs and eliminate the ex-Army assassin while leaving a trail of bodies all over London.

Another enjoyable Jack Reacher story. I enjoyed the twist at the end.