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Sparkling!

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A Wager at Midnight  (Betting against the Duke #2) by Vanessa Riley       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ There’s a certain cadence of prose running through Riley’s novels about the Duke of Torrance and his wards, the Wilcox ladies. I really enjoyed this title in the “Betting” series. Scarlett Wilcox had made a bargain with the Duke. He could choose a husband for her. Scarlett’s greatest desire is to research medical science in particular the eye, in order to understand the cataracts that beset a favorite companion. To attend medical lectures she must disguise herself as a man. She presents herself as Scotland Wilcox. This leads to some problems when taken up by a group of medical men, whisked off to White’s and thence to a brothel! Scarlett wants to know more about Dr. Carew. Is he brave enough for her? Her time with him disguised as Scotland was interesting. Carew (who’s recently been jilted) is thinking of Scarlett as wife material, but will he take her scientific desires seriously? ...
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Startling Venice! Murder and more!

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Vengeance in Venice  (Jane Wunderly Mystery #7) by Erica Ruth Neubauer             ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another delightful mystery set in one of my favorite cities—Venice. Redvers and Jane finally slip away for their honeymoon to that charming place, when much to their surprise they are joined at their hotel by Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes. Aunt Millie invites them to a costume ball thrown by the very eccentric Clara Ann Morton, an heiress who walks a leopard on a leash, has a snake around her shoulders, and wears a gown that is entirely see through! Oh my! Risqué even for the ‘20’s. Of course there’s a murder in Clara’s Palazzo gardens that night. Of course a friend of Jane’s is blamed—a friend Jane didn’t realize would be here. Their quiet honeymoon turns into an investigation with a cast of thousands who could be the perpetrator. Colin and Jane, along with help from Aunt Millie, are determined to finding the culprit. Then begin their honeymoon. I loved Neu...
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Loneliness of the Runner!

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The Canal Runner's Code  (Copperwhistle Bridge Mystery #1) by Jordan Peace           ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Someone is stealing information from a Runner’s Network in Thornwick. It’s subtle and the network and retired runners are facing a catastrophic loss of face, current employment  and any future enterprises. A runner never lasts beyond  seventeen. Running from an early age plays havoc with their knees. Pim is into that time. She’s continuing, but knows her time is nearly up. Pim’s been a loner forever. She started running nine years ago. Her mantra has been to trust no-one. In that aloneness she doesn’t see the people who care. (I feel there’s a similar atmosphere in Tamora Pierce’s Beka Cooper series—although the stories are nothing like each other. Perhaps it’s the lonlieness or determination of the heroine). When Pim’s information is stolen and she’s accused of untrustworthiness, Pim is alarmed. Pim knows the runners routes backwards and frontwar...
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Small town, plots and revenge!

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The Keeper  (Cal Hooper #3) by Tana French             ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In the West Irish town of Ardnakelty a young woman, Rachel Holohan goes missing. A young woman who’s been going out with the son of the town’s wealthiest family—the Moynihan’s. When found, she appears to have committed suicide by drinking antifreeze, then falling in the raging stream. Or did she? The truth will be more twisted than that. Getting to the bottom of things will embed Cal even more deeply in the Ardnakelty community and the town’s landscape. A town his partner Lena has spent a lifetime trying to isolate herself from. Now their actions will draw them both further in. When Lena, and Cal’s stepdaughter Trey, are targeted Cal can’t just lie down. He needs to get to the bottom of things. Just as Trey’s feckless father has turned up with his own grand plans. Besides now Cal’s become a part of the problem and its resolution! A gripping tale of small town relationships and their pre...
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Her Outrageousness can’t help herself!

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A Wretched Folly  (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery #14)  by Lynn Messina              ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave has much to cope with. They're off to Kesgrave’s ancestral hall, Haverhill, she’s pregnant, and she wants to appear, well Duchessley! She’s avoided the moment for as long as she can.    Now they’re enroute to Haverhill Hall the moment of Duchiness will begin. Scary! No more murder duchess, no more Her Outrageousness. Bea is behaving herself.  The scale of Haverhill Hall is overwhelming. Bea has problems finding her way around. Then there’s the size of the ducal bedroom. That freaks Bea out. When Bea trips over a body in the Pinery! her efforts not to get involved are masterly, until she can’t help herself. Bea become involved. The relationship between Kesgrave and Bea is absolutely lovely. Watching their interactions is joyous.  Kesgrave’s anger over Bea having been the brunt of society’s rumor and sc...
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Looking for Mr. Right

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A Most Unsuitable Suitor  (Spicy Regency Romances) by Emma Orchard             ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really tried to get into this story but I kept leaving it and picking up something else. The plot moved slowly, and my interest waned.  Unusual, because normally I enjoy Emma Orchard’s titles. Allegra Constantine has to choose a suitor. Her fancy alights on the unsuitable Max Severin. Her other suitors are like Goldilock’s porridge “just not right.” But Max?! The two main characters figuring out if marriage was in the cards or not left me yawning and completely apathetic to their plight. They were quite commanding each in their own right, but together, the chemistry balked. Even though the pace picked up in the last parts, I was just over it. A Boldwood Boooks ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the auth...
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Hellions unmoored!

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The Halifax Hellions  (Halifax Hellions #1-2) by Alexandra Vasti             ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I thought I was going crazy when I started Margot’s story, one of the Halifax twins. I wasn’t. I had read it before on Vasti’s website. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. Her relationship with Henry Mortimer is outrageous and  chaotic, not to mention the carriage crash! A real one! Matilda’s story! Well that’s certainly an eye opener. Again outre, and enchanting with a touch of the gothic. Matilda’s relationship with the Marquess of Ashford, Christian de Bord, emerges as challenging, tender and different. We have four people who are kind, often leave turbulence in their wake, and loving.  Some broken, others stalwart and true.  Margot and Matilda must sort out their responses to life as it’s been, their lives as twins, and where and who they wish to become. In doing so they become unmoored  and yet more whole. Delightful! And yes ...
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