Not That Duke by Eloisa James

Lady Stella Corsham is short, has curves when they’re not fashionable, is red-haired with freckles, and wears spectacles. Silveser Parnell, Duke of Huntington describes himself. “I am burly, hairy, somewhat immoral, lustful, undereducated, and fond of...

Ironwood by Michael Connelly

Somewhere or another, I saw a complaint that the titles of Michael Connelly’s Catalina novels were too ordinary. I totally disagree. Ironwood, the title of the second book, is perfect. An Ironwood tree has one solid root that grows deep and wide. It’s the...

Deadly Cairns by Joana Snowdon

While Joana Snowdon’s cozy mystery is subtitled A Scottish Road-Trip Cosy Mystery, it’s the first in her Highland Mystery series. Meet Joana Snowdon (yes, the author’s name) and Brian Goodfellow, two freelance photographers traveling through...

A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden

First, I don’t know who designs Rachel Linden’s book covers at Berkley, but they all pop and catch my attention. Linden is the author of one of my favorite books from last year, The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake, one I liked so much that I bought a copy to...

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

Each one of Tim Sullivan’s DS Cross mysteries seem to get better as the series progresses. The Teacher, the sixth one, is the best one I’ve read so far. It combines the usual police procedural story with a behind-the-scene examination of life in the Avon...