Mourning Gloria

Finished August 31

Mourning Gloria by Susan Wittig Albert

This is the 19th book in her China Bayles series. Here, China's husband McQuaid is away on a case and her stepson Brian is at camp, so it's just her, her niece Caitie, and the dog Howard Cosell around. Caitie is helping China in both her home garden and the shop garden, as well as helping at the weekly farmers' market. She's also doing some supervised babysitting for friends. 

After a backyard party where Caitie is staying on to do some babysitting, China notices a house trailor on fire on her drive home, calls emergency services, and stops to see if she can help. When she hears a woman calling for help from inside, she tries to get in, but is injured before she can. The experience haunts her, and she can't stop thinking about the trapped woman. 

Jessica Nelson is an intern at the local paper and on the story. When she hears China's details, she becomes personally motivated. Jessica lost her parents and sister to a house fire, something she is still dealing with. She is motivated and good at her job, so when she disappears after leaving a truncated phone message for China, China gets worried. Worried enough to start following in Jessica's footsteps, except she's involving both the local sheriff, whose territory covers the trailer location, and the town police chief. 

There is an subplot about the relationship between the sheriff and police chief as it becomes more serious. 

We also see how Caitie is excelling at her violin lessons, and growing more confident after her past trauma. 

As there sometimes is, a plant theme is clear here. This time it is hallucinogenic plants which covers many plants from coffee and tea to the titled reference to morning glory. This theme also relates to the plot in multiple ways. 

A good read, as usual. 

Accidentally Yours

Finished August 29

Accidentally Yours by Alexa Rivers

This contemporary romance is the first in the Little Sky Romance series. Here, New Zealand CEO and developer Eli Lockwood is starting a new project in the small south island town of Itirangi. There is some community pushback on the impact to local businesses and the tourism the town is starting to attract. 

Aria Simons is a local reporter up for a promotion and looking for interesting and newsworthy stories to help her win the senior position. When she writes about the project, Eli notices and fearing negative impact decides to go to Itirangi in person to represent his company. He is a bit gun shy of media attention after a previous girlfriend dumped him publicly through the media.

He finds himself surprised by Aria, and also attracted to her. She's not the type of woman he usually goes out with, but he finds himself pursuing her.

When his parents unexpectedly dump his teenage sister on him for the summer, hoping that his business mindset and hard work will have a positive influence on her, he finds himself asking Aria for help. He hasn't spent much time with his sister lately and doesn't know how to talk to her. He himself rebelled against his parents by starting his own company rather than joining theirs and he knows the pressure on his sister to join the family business. 

Aria is wary of mixing business with pleasure after an unfounded rumour about doing so negatively impacted her at a previous employer, so although she is attracted, and can see beyond his professional exterior, she doesn't want to be seen as using personal relationships for professional gain. 

As the two give in and pull back from each other, they find themselves dealing with classism, family, and unplanned outcomes. 

An engaging read, with interesting characters, and a great setting. 

Totally and Completely Fine

Finished August 25

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman

This contemporary romance novel follows Lauren Parker, who grew up and lives in the small town of Cooper, Montana. In the present, Lauren runs a craft and book store with her mother, a retired school teacher. Her younger brother Gabe is a famous actor and has helped all the family out financially. Three years ago, Lauren's husband Spencer died in a car accident, something she and her teen daughter Lena are still struggling with. She also has a difficult relationship with Lena as Lena is a moody teen. When the two go to visit Gabe on set, Lauren meets actor Ben Walsh, and there is instant chemistry. Ben is younger than Lauren and she struggles with her attraction, her worries about the age gap and their different trajectories. 

We see Lauren's younger years, after her own father died when she was eleven and she herself was a rebellious teen. Living in a small town, she earned a certain reputation that some locals still paint her as. She knows how reputation can affect her life and doesn't want to go through that again, or bring attention on her own daughter in a negative way.

This is a romance, but also a story of struggling with grief and moving forward after loss. It is about family and intimacy, and how we all long to be seen, even though it can be scary to be vulnerable.

I enjoyed this novel and found it a real page-turner. 

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea

Finished August 13

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne

This novel is the fourth and last book in the Tomes and Tea series, but the first I've read. I picked it up for the title, not realizing that it was part of a series. That said, it reads well on its own, and puts you into the action right from the start when you find one of the main characters, Queen Reyna held by a gang who kidnapped her for unknown reasons. She works out how to free herself, while her wife Kianthe, a woman with strong magical abilities who hold the position of Arcandor, launches a rescue mission. 

The rescue team discovers a mysterious alchemy circle hidden in Reyna's holding cell, and begin asking about its unusual design and potential purpose.

The reader soon learns that the pair are recently married, and that Reyna is the new head of a parliamentary kingdom. They live in a New Leaf, small mountain town in the Queendom, and together run a bookstore and café. Reyna is a skilled tea sommelier and they both love books. The marriage has brought tourists to the town hoping to see the couple and the town is not equipped to handle the large influx of people. As they work with town officials on possible solutions, they worry that they might have to close the shop and leave the community they love.

They are due to attend an important magical conference, and hope to learn more there about they alchemical circle, but find there are other strange happenings and attempts to disrupt the core magic that Kianthe is one with. 

This book has tame griffins, powerful ancient dragons, small communities trying to survive difficult conditions, and common goodwill from many citizens of the neighbouring countries. I found it a cosy fantasy with touches of romance, mystery, and danger. It portrays loving relationships and friendships that are accepting of differences and supportive of each other. 

Bleeding Hearts

Finished August 5

Bleeding Hearts by Susan Wittig Albert

This is the fourteenth book in the China Bayles mystery series set in Pecan Springs, Texas. China runs and herbal shop and café with a friend and they've recently added a new partner and expanded into catering. The book includes herbal information and lore and recipes. 

Here China is approached by the local high school principal to discreetly look into the past of the high school football coach. The principal recently received an anonymous call that the coach has been involved with female high school students before. Her legal advisor downplayed it, but she's worried enough to want it looked into. China's mom lives near the town the coach worked in previously and goes to visit the mother of the girl he was supposedly involved with. She discovers that the accusations were dismissed by the school, police, and church there, and the mother was frustrated with the situation, but had let it go until recently, when her daughter, now in college, was found dead in a hotel room.

The death was deemed a suicide, but as China looks into things further, she has more and more questions and concerns. 

On the home front, her partner McQuaid has taken a case in New Mexico, where his ex lives, her stepson Brian has something with a friend that he's worried about, and China's mom has been contacted by her late husband's late secretary's son about some letters he found in his mother's belongings. She's asked China to deal with it and let her know if there is anything she needs to know.

There is a unique cultural part of this novel about the way US football is treated. High school coaches are paid very well, often higher than any other school employee, not always required to teach any classes, and treated as heroes and celebrities when the teams are doing well. This gives a coach a layer of untouchability when rumours arise, and this is definitely in play here.

We also see a lot of China's professional life, with her business partners who are also friends. She's concerned about things in their lives, and about the employees they share. There is a real sense of the community nature of a small town, the politics and social structure, and the activities that have people's lives overlap in unexpected ways. 

Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance

Finished August 1

Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance by Kate Robb

I enjoyed Robb's first novel and was excited to see this one at my local library. I'm glad I picked it up as this is a definite winner. Set mostly in the small Ontario town of West Lake on Lake Huron, the main character here is a local girl, Julia (Jules) DeMarco. Jules works at the local retirement home, Sunnydale, as does her best friend Zoe. Jules had wanted to go to med school, and had taken her MCAT, but financial and family issues made that not an option for her. She loves West Lake, and has seen the influx of tourists and the introduction of more vacation homes in the nearby towns drive out local residents and small businesses, such as her favourite butter tart bakery. 

When one of the residents, Kitty St. Clair, dies, Jules is surprised to learn that Kitty left her a building in town. It used to be a dance hall, but has been sitting empty for years. When Jules comes across Kitty's diary from the months before she married a Toronto man, she begins reading it for clues to why Kitty left her the building. Instead, each time she reads a diary entry, she finds herself back in the past as she sleeps, existing there as Dotty O'Brien, one of Kitty's friends. Her first dream visit takes her to May 1949, where Kitty and Dotty go to the dance hall one night where Kitty hopes to meet Beau St. Clair, a young man from Toronto she's been corresponding with since the previous summer. She also sees a local boy, Knots, who works at the dance hall, and who is very interested in Kitty himself. 

As the dreams give Jules more knowledge of Kitty's circumstances, she also considers that the building, once probate goes through, may offer her a chance to pursue her dream of med school after all. When she finds out that a man from Toronto is in town looking to acquire the property for a condo development she is torn in two ways. The first is whether to sell for her own future, but draw the town into the real estate issues she's seen in nearby towns. The second is when she realizes that the man is one she has a past with. Two years earlier, she spent a night with Reeve Baldwin and never heard from him again. Can she trust him? Why is she drawn to him still? 

I enjoyed the characters here, seeing both Kitty and Jules deal with their dilemmas, and the other small town residents, both those in the retirement home, and the locals like Zoe, and Donny at the Legion, the centre of the town's social life. I got a real feel for the community and the way people look out for each other and are involved with their community. 

The romances between Kitty and her suitors, and between Jules and Reeve were well written and I could feel the attractions. Jules' and Zoe's friendship is also drawn well, and Zoe is a real character. A book that I found hard to put down. 

The Confession Club

Finished July 16

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg

This novel is the third in a loose series set in the small town of Mason, Missouri. They have recurring characters with a focus on different characters in each book. Here, the focus is on Iris, a middle-aged woman who moved to town a few years ago. She is divorced and now teaches baking classes. As the book begins, Iris agrees to help out a friend who has taken on a complicated cake for a get-together that day. The cake takes hours to make, and Iris is pleasantly surprised when her landlord Maddy has unexpectedly returned to town with her seven-year-old daughter Nora and helps with the cake. When the two deliver it, they find a group of women wide-ranging in age who meet weekly for food and sharing confessions. The confession part started at one of their meetings and has proven to be cathartic and helpful and they take turns sharing. The women invite Iris and Maddy to join the group, making representatives from every decade from the 20s to the 70s. Maddy finds herself sharing her insecurity about her life and her urge to return to Mason from the city where she had moved for her art career. She is concerned how her husband will feel about her hard-to-describe urge to leave the city and has avoided talking about the details with him. 

Iris is also having an experience she finds unsettling, an attraction to John, a man she's met recently who has been squatting in an abandoned farmhouse outside of town. John is kind and handy, but also suffering from PTSD from Vietnam and guilt over actions in his past. He's attracted to Iris as well, but is also concerned about his own mental state.

I was really struck by this group of women, sharing details of their lives that are difficult, embarrassing, and deeply personal. They are at different stages in life, and face a variety of life circumstances. They are honest with each other, but also have senses of humour that help lighten the atmosphere when it becomes weighty. I always enjoy Elizabeth Berg as she depicts everyday human struggles so clearly. Her books always leave me thinking. 

A Cold White Sun

Finished July 15

A Cold White Sun by Vicki Delany

This is the sixth book in the Constable Molly Smith series, set in the fictional town of Trafalgar, near Castlegar, in the mountains of British Columbia.  

At the beginning of March break, high school English teacher Cathy Lindsay is up early, looking forward to spending time skiing with her kids. She takes her dog for a walk and is shot dead by a skilled shooter. The police have little to go on, and cast a wide net looking for clues. Molly is on the scene soon after the crime occurred and gets involved in some of the questioning. 

We see a glimpse into her personal life as her relationship with her boyfriend Adam seems to be getting more serious and Molly is unsure about how she feels about that. She also sees her mother beginning a new relationship that involves someone from Molly's work and must deal with her feelings around that change. 

The victim's husband Gord is an IT consultant and their marriage hasn't been great lately, so he comes under scrutiny and has some things that he is hiding. We also learn that Cathy was having feelings for one of her fellow teachers Mark Hamilton, who has issues of his own as well. 

The lead on the case is Sergeant John Winters and we see his personal life as well. His wife Eliza is a retired supermodel and now owns a couple of art galleries, one locally. She has a relatively new employee, Margo, who has losses from her past that come into the plot. 

We also see Cathy's kids and the impact this loss has on them. 

I found the characters interesting and the plot compelling. An enjoyable read.  

Death on Beguiling Way

Finished June 19

Death on Beguiling Way by Patricia McLinn

This is the third book in the Secret Sleuth series. Sheila Mackey has started a new life in small town Haines Tavern, Kentucky. She and her new friend Clara go to yoga twice a week. One evening, their usual instructor is away with a more energetic substitute leading the class. When they go to class the following morning they find their instructor from the previous evening was killed just outside the studio and the police are on the scene. 

While the police talk about the murder being random, Sheila and Clara are sure it wasn't and begin to investigate. As usual, their dogs Gracie and Lulu are helpful in engaging with others and in providing a reason to be places. 

Sheila also has new friend Teague reconfiguring the bedroom closets in her house, bringing along his dog Murphy when he works there. Teague, an ex-cop and now teacher and handyman is discouraging of the amateur detective work, but seems to have inside knowledge of his own. 

I enjoyed this plot, with themes of financial fraud, family disfunction, and women trying to restart their lives. A light, engaging read. 

Wonderland Creek

Finished June 16

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

This historical novel is set in 1936. Alice Ripley lives with her parents in a suburb of Chicago. Her father is a pastor and while Alice trained as a teacher, she wasn't good at classroom discipline and went into work at her local public library instead. 

As the book begins, Alice's fiancé breaks up with her, which she has a hard time accepting although she honestly doesn't have strong feelings for him. She also loses her job due to funding. When her aunt and uncle take a road trip to a resort, she gets them to drop her and hundreds of books that she collected for a rural library in Kentucky off at that library, arranging for them to pick her up again a week later. But she finds a situation quite different than she expected. The librarian is a man, which she didn't expect since she'd been corresponding with him and assumed the name Leslie was a female one. There isn't room for her to stay anywhere in the small village without putting someone else out of a bed, and Leslie (known as Mack to his friends) is also looking after the dying black woman who raised him.

When Leslie gets shot and badly wounded, Alice finds herself stepping into his shoes as she manages the household, the library, and even takes on duties as one of the Packhorse Librarians working out of the small library. 

I liked how Alice grew from her experiences, but also had an influence on the community through her love of reading and her dedication to literacy. She overcame many of her prejudices and fears and found real relationships among the hill people as she learned about their struggles, include the union movement, the local feud, and secrets kept close. 

Almost Over It

Finished June 11

Almost Over It by Kylie Gilmore

This is the first in a series, Clover Park Charmers, and a light romance. William (Will) Levi is an orthodontist with a lot of baggage. When he was in college, he drove impaired and put his older brother Charlie in a coma. His brother recovered, but was never the same mentally and walks with a limp. His brother was going to take over their father's orthodontics practice, but dropped out of college and lives a less structured life. Will's former girlfriend fell for Charlie when they went to visit them, and dumped Will. Now, managing the practice with a new orthodontist, Tony, on staff, he takes his job seriously. His retired father, Brian, had him take over the musical portion at the community summer theatre while Brian and his wife went on a cruise. Also involved with the theatre was ex-Broadway dancer Jasmine Davis, and they clashed a lot. Now Jasmine has her dance studio next door to his office and lives in the apartment over it. 

They clash over noise, parking, and other topics, but the chemistry is there. Will finds himself thinking about how both Jasmine and him have perfect bites, and how they would align when they kiss, which seemed a very dentist thing to think about. He also has a feral rescue cat, Sweetie, who torments him, but who he also can't return to the shelter as he knows she'd be put down. 

We see into both their family dynamics, and there are some very spicy scenes. An entertaining read. 

Appointment in Samarra

Finished June 3

Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara

This novel, written in 1934, is set in 1931, and was the first novel by O'Hara. It is considered a modern classic. The main character is Julien English, a manager of a Cadillac dealership in the town of Gibbsville, Pennsylvania. He has been married to his wife Caroline for five years, and has recently turned thirty. We know that he had a previous relationship, that wasn't public, with a Polish immigrant woman named Mary. 

Julien's father is a doctor in town and Julien has always been somewhat of a disappointment to his father, from his antics as a boy to his lack of ambition as a man. Julien and his wife are active socially, belonging to clubs and part of a friend group that parties regularly. It is the Christmas season and we see Julien begin a series of self-destructive incidents that compromise his friendships, his position in society, and even his marriage. They start with throwing a drink in the face of a friend and important business associate.

There are issues of mental health, infidelity, and economic difficulties as the Depression has begun in the country. We see things from Julien's perspective, but also from others such as his wife Caroline's, has salesman, and some of his friends. 

The title comes from an ancient Mesopotamian tale about a man who tries to escape death but can't. It speaks to the inevitability of Julien's self-destruction. 

An interesting psychological read. 

Crafting for Sinners

Finished May 24

Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer

When I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. Set in small town Kentucky, around a woman, Ruth, who grew up there, it develops into a crazy horror novel with outrageous humour. 

Ruth was engaged to her high school boyfriend until her best friend Abigail asked her what she really wanted in her future and she was forced to look inward. She realized that she was bisexual and decided to be honest with her fiancé about it, but his reaction was less understanding than she expected and they broke up. 

Recently a new megachurch arrived in their town and built not only a church but also a craft store with a religious bent. Given that I work part-time at a craft store, this intrigued me. When management at the store realized that Ruth and Abigail were actually in a relationship, they fired her and Ruth was upset at their bigotry that ignored her ability to do a good job. She'd noticed that they seemed unbothered about shoplifting and she began taking rather than buying for her crafting, the way she was now earning money. When a deadline on a commissioned blanket is changed last minute, Ruth heads to the store for more balls of yarn. 

Shortly after arriving, she realizes that there aren't any other shoppers in the store, and even the usual employees at the front don't seem to be around. As she goes about her task, she finds herself being followed, and accused, and when she accidently injures the man accusing her, she panics. As she moves to the front of the store, she finds herself locked in, and the store is uncompliant with basic safety such as emergency exits. 

As Ruth's knowledge of the store layout benefits her, her diabetes causes her health to become precarious, and she must take drastic action to save herself from what she gradually learns is a more dangerous situation than she could ever have imagined. 

Working with some current issues such as growing traditionalist religious attitude in the U.S., anti-LGBTQIA attitudes, the difficulty of believing what some people are truly capable of, and the health care situation of the U.S., this novel combines humour, horror, and social judgement in a crazy way. It is around half-way through the novel that things begin to get violent. 

Snow Kissed

Finished April 15

Snow Kissed by RaeAnneThayne

Set in small town Idaho, Holly Goodwin More runs a flower shop. Holly is divorced and has a five-year-old daughter, Lydia, who has Down's syndrome. Holly loves Christmas but this year the season is more complicated. Holly's former sister-in-law, who is also a friend, is getting married, and Lydia will be her flower girl. Holly's ex, his wife, and their new baby son will be in town for the wedding. Lydia doesn't want to be pitied for her situation, and her twin sister Hannah comes up with an interesting idea. What if she brings a fake boyfriend to the wedding, so everyone can see that she too has moved on. Holly has moved on, although she doesn't feel she needs a man to prove it. 

One of Holly's employees is in rehab after a scary car accident woke her up to the reality of her life. Because her employee's stepmother was badly hurt in the accident, and the employee's father is busy looking after her, the employee has asked her brother Ryan to come to town to look after her tween daughter Audrey. Ryan is a Navy helicopter pilot who is going through his own physical recovery from a work accident. Until Ryan can arrive, Audrey is staying with Holly and helping look after Lydia. With an employee down during the busy Christmas season, Holly is very busy with floral orders. Audrey and Lydia genuinely like each other and get along well. Audrey also likes the opportunity to earn some money of her own for presents. 

When Ryan is approached about taking on the role of fake boyfriend, he agrees asking for Holly's help in making Christmas special for Audrey with her mother absent. 

As the two grow closer, they develop both respect and feelings towards each other, and the story develops nicely from there. 

Winter's Secret

Finished March 27

Winter's Secret by Lyn Cote

This is the first book in the series Northern Intrigue, set in small town and rural Wisconsin. Someone has been breaking into homes while the owner is away, destroying things for seemingly no reason, and taking only cash, nothing traceable. Many of the victims are seniors and out of the homes temporarily for health reasons. 

One of the main characters is Wendy Carey, a home health nurse in the area. Wendy is first on the scene for one of these crimes as she is driving a patient home after a night away. Wendy lives with her younger sister, who is a senior in high school. Their mother has recently remarried and moved to Florida and both she and her new husband are recovering alcoholics. Wendy's father died when she was young, but she is close to her paternal grandfather. Due to her job, Wendy is familiar with many of the seniors who have been victims of the crimes in question. 

The new sheriff, the other main character, is Rodd Durant. Rodd lived part of his childhood in the area, but grew up elsewhere. He came back after inheriting his uncle's ranch. He is growing increasingly frustrated by the ongoing crimes as there is call from some locals questioning his abilities as the crimes continue. He asks for Wendy's help, learning about who might be potential targets. 

Wendy has also been a victim of the town gossips, mostly around her mother's past. She tries to not let it bother her, but it does. As the two spend time together, feelings develop and Wendy worries about drawing Rodd into the negative gossip. 

Wendy and her family are strong churchgoers, and close to the local minister and his family, often babysitting their very active young son when needed. We see into some of their family life, and the minister's family as well. 

This novel definitely shows both the good and bad of being part of a small community, and the realities of aging. An enjoyable read.

A Scottish Country Escape

Finished March 17

A Scottish Country Escape by Julie Shackman

This is the fourth book in the Scottish Escapes series, where each book is a standalone story. Here the main character is Elle Cassidy, and it is almost a year since her parents died in an accident. Since then, she moved back into their home where her grandmother has a suite to herself. Now she is ready to tackle her mother's newsagent shop, deciding to reopen it as a stationery shop, carrying a range of fine stationery as well as stationery items for children. As she is beginning her renovations to the shop, she has an encounter with a newcomer to the town, famous mystery author Dexter Grayling. He has ignored the signs indicating the narrow street is pedestrian only and not only nearly hit her and another local woman, but also had a condescending attitude that didn't include recognition of the situation or any apologies.

When the local woman, Linda Carlucci, has a strange reaction, muttering at him with her hand on her necklace, she doesn't think much of it until he returns soon after looking for Linda as he is sure that she laid a curse on him. Elle doesn't believe it, but her grandmother does, and urges her to help him.

As she spends time with Dexter, she changes her feelings about him, and an attraction is formed.

As Elle is dealing with the logistics of her work around the shop, and becomes involved in the fight to save their local forest trail, she does help Dexter. But the questions lead her into not only past events in their small town, but also into her family's past. 

This book has a mystery element, a paranormal element regarding the curse, and a romantic plot line for Elle. I really got a feel for the setting, and Elle's home and shop. I enjoyed the read, which is the second book I've read in the series. 

A Bookshop to Die For

Finished March 15

A Bookshop to Die For by M.P. Black

This is the first book in the series A Wonderland Books Cozy Mystery. As it begins, a woman in a bridal gown runs down the street and into a bookstore. It is Alice Hartford and she's run to a place that represents home and comfort, the bookstore that her mother ran when she was a child. Her mother sold it when she became ill, and later passed away from her illness. Alice has kept her love of bookstores, and currently works in a London store, and was supposed to be marrying the owner of the store, until she ran away.  

In the store she had a special place, and she wonders if it is still there. It was a reading nook, built into an old wardrobe. She finds it, and carefully gets into it. While in there thinking, she hears a loud noise and hears someone running past. When she comes out, she finds a man who'd been doing work on the building dead. Was it an accident, or deliberate.

Alice is convinced it was a deliberate act, and is determined to find out, but the authorities seem quick to rule it an accident and close the shop until it is deemed safe. Alice gets a room at the local hotel and finds herself, and her mother, remembered by the owner and other locals. When she finds out the current owner is determined to sell, and the only likely buyer is a developer, she sets her sights on saving the shop but her suspicions and investigations may lead to a different answer for her and the store. 

I liked the small town atmosphere, and the local community spirit. There are a few quirky little things that are fun, and the love of books is strong in the town. 

What Are Friends For?

Finished March 13

What Are Friends For? by Patricia McLinn

This is the first in a four-part series set in small town Illinois. It has a few plotlines that work together. The main characters are in their thirties, but they have memories of their high school days. Zeke was a bit of a loner, felt bullied, and only really talked to one girl in his chemistry class, Darcie. He did have his eyes on the prom queen, Jennifer, but felt she was out of his league. Darcie had big plans to go to college and apply to the FBI. There was also something that happened between Darcie and Zeke just before they both left town, but they have never talked about it, or even at all since.

Now Zeke has a successful technology company and hasn't been home in years, seeing his mother only when she comes to visit him. Darcie moved back home during college after the death of her father to help her mother manage things and work to keep the house. She works for the local police force. Jennifer married her prom king, and has a daughter, but is now divorced and struggling a bit. The town, Drago, also has some financial issues, and the planning committee, which both Jennifer and Darcie are on, has chosen Zeke as this year's honorary alumni host for the spring fair, hoping to convince him to help. He will also be one of the judge's of the town's beauty pageant, which is about choosing a young woman to represent the community, not just looks. Due to this, he finds himself the target of one young woman's affections, and must fend her off. 

Zeke was reluctant to come, but the other management in his company convinced him the PR would be good, and he has an ulterior motive we gradually learn. He also has a large chip on his shoulder about the town, and how he feels it views him and his immigrant parents. Zeke's company is working on some new projects and they are trying to be careful about security around his coding work. 

The small town flavour comes through here, from the issues the town and its surrounding rural community face, to how people know everyone in town. Darcie, as a police officer, is very tied in to the community and where help is truly needed, as well as who might have reasons for some of the strange activities that begin to happen. 

I really enjoyed the immersive nature of the book, with its individualistic characters and their backgrounds. 

The Gingerbread Bakery

Finished February 2

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore

This is the fifth book in the Dream Harbor series, but the first one I've read. The main characters here are Annie Andrews, who is the owner of Gingerbread Bakery, and Mac Sullivan, the owner of Sullivan's Pub, which he bought from his parents. 

The two have known each other most of their lives. Annie took a dislike to Mac from elementary school, when he bullied her best friend Logan. Her opinion of him hasn't improved. But when they finished high school, most of their contemporaries went on to college and in November they encountered each other at a local event. Mac bought some of Annie's cookies from her home-based business, and then arranged to meet her again. They found themselves spending time together and beginning a friendship. Something happened to change that, but we don't find out what until later in the book. Now, Mac has been back in Dream Harbor for three years, and Annie has been avoiding him every chance she gets. With Logan getting married to Jeanie, a more recent addition to the town, they find themselves both part of the wedding party and forced to spend time with each other. When a small crisis arises days before the wedding, and Annie determined to keep Logan from worrying, she finds Mac is the one who helps, and doesn't give up. Not only does he help with the crisis, but he also forces Annie to deal with the past and the events that drove them apart.

A Christmas season romance with a small town setting and even some kittens. 

A December to Remember

Finished December 29

A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss

Augustus Balthazar North, owner of North's Novelties and Curios in the village of Rowan Thorp has set off on his last adventure, dying in his van on an European mountain. He never really settled down, although he had charm enough to attract ladies and he never pretended to be anything he wasn't. Through his many liaisons he had three daughters, and they all spent a month every summer with him together.  

Maggie, the oldest lived in Rowan Thorp, her mother moving there to see if there was any long term relationship possible, and she ran a greengrocer that Maggie has now taken over. Simone's mother is very business-oriented and Simone is now a physiotherapist married to a therapist and the two are going through a rough patch after having several unsuccessful IVF tries. Star is a free spirit, similar to her mother, never settling down, growing up in a series of communes and in other group settings. She's just been evicted due to the actions of an ex-boyfriend. 

Augustus has set some strange conditions in his will, asking that his daughters work together to bring back the Winter Festival that the town used to have on the solstice. The other is that they find the 32 altered monopoly houses that Augustus has hidden in the shop. The shop has been around since the 1740s, with North's passing it down to the next generation, collecting interesting objects from all over.

The women hire Sotheby's to catalogue the items in the shop and possibly sell some of them at auction, and Sotheby's has sent a lovely young man who is very interested in Augustus' reputation as a collector, eager to see what treasures the shop holds. 

As the women look for the houses, research the festival which was held until several decades earlier, and get to know each other again, they also find community in Rowan Thorp, and find other reasons that the town is the place they want to call home. 

I really enjoyed all three sisters, who all have interesting lives that differ widely from each other, but are also good women. Each finds skills that contribute to their situation and that affect their personal lives in other long-term ways. There is humour, good will, and lots of good food as well.

A seasonal read that brings the feeling of joy and friendship out in a big way.

A delightful novel.