Reading Roundup #82: Life is Like a Box of Books

Sometimes you hit a steady stream of just Great Books, sometimes you’re stuck wading through disappointments, and sometimes you get a healthy mix of good and less good, which is where I’m at right now. And frankly, I think it’s a pretty good place because, even if all of these books didn’t steal my heart, they all made me think critically about what I look for in a book, and that can only ever be a good thing.

First up, of course, is the indisputable hit of the week: The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman. He’s done it again! The Thursday Murder Club is back, and everyone is in top form as they solve mysteries, badger mid-level law enforcement, and navigate life, love, and growing older. I really can’t gush enough about this book (and this series), so honestly, you should just do yourself a favor and go read it. Go now.

Crime Writer by Dime Sheppard: A little bit Stranger Than Fiction and a little bit The Last Action Hero, Crime Writer is an action-filled adventure with a charming dash of whimsy (complete with a hilariously Brigadoon-esque wise Scottish elder, dispensing advice and supplying background). It’s a little bit of everything, not digging too deep but reliably supplying the kind of chaotic entertainment I enjoy. Although it took me a while to warm up to them, I ended up liking the characters and found their arcs both satisfying and earned, though the exact plot mechanics of the ending were less so. My thanks to NetGalley and to Ruby Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Marquess’s Stolen Bride (Dukes Gone Dirty #3) by Bella Moxie: This novella has a love of potential, but I was left wishing it were longer so it could flesh out the underdeveloped aspect. But I recognize that this book’s main interest is in the relationship between the leads and not in the close examination of their scars. There were times I wanted to shake the heroine, even while I understood exactly why she was so afraid to trust, but this was thankfully balanced by my own unshakeable trust in the hero. He had moments of doubt but who was so clearly on her side, I knew he’d come through for her. In a straight up melodrama, it was refreshing to find such a reliable hero. My thanks to NetGalley and to Dragonblade Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vanessa Jared’s Got a Man by LaQuette: When a big city divorcée and a small town sheriff team up to stop her slimy ex from marrying his little sister, sparks fly… or at least, that’s the book’s MacGuffin. Very little time is spent on the big plan or on the development of the little sister, who could have been an interesting foil to our heroine. The actual plot, however, is a typical — and quite fun, once you know what you’re in for — small town romance between Actual Adults, with a lot of heat. *fans self* I’m not complaining. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharo: On paper, this book should be everything I love. Star-crossed lovers, decades-old family secrets, first loves, dramatic reunions — all the best melodrama tropes. Sadly, the way those tropes are used did not work for me. I was perfectly ready to fall in love with this book, but I found the grown up version of the hero completely unsympathetic. A tale of fated lovers requires me to believe in the characters’ love, and I simply don”t believe in his. At all. Which is a real shame because I did like the young version of him we see in flashbacks. However, this may all be down to personal preference because the characters certainly ticked some “Big No” boxes for me. And on the positive side, I very much enjoyed Igharo’s prose, which is warm and beautiful without being overdone. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Vorkosigan Saga #19-21 by Lois McMaster Bujold: I can’t believe I’ve reach the end! I’m sad to say goodbye to all these characters I’ve grown to love, but LMB did such a fantastic job wrapping it up. The final book brings us full circle while also leaving a few things open, so we can rest assured the Vorkosigans and their friends will continue to have adventures and be their very Vorkosigans selves… with a large dose of Naismith, too, of course. It’s going to take me a little time to recover, of course, but I’m already looking forward to rereading these someday — and to discovering more of Bujold’s work because she is absolutely a new favorite!

—b