Solid Gold Murder - Golden Motel Mystery #2

 

Solid Gold Murder is the second Golden Motel cozy mystery by Ellen Byron. Released 29th July 2025 by Kensington, it's 258 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 10th Dec 2025 from the same publisher.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a cute very light cozy mystery set in the Gold Country of Northern California. Hotelier and former sitcom writer Dee and her ex-husband/best friend/business partner Jeff certainly didn't anticipate a *real* latter-day goldrush when they set up panning themed activities for the guests, but that's exactly what happened. Their hotel's popularity explodes when the discovery goes viral, and they're inundated with guests. 

An unfortunate maybe-not-accidental-death has Dee scrambling (again) to figure out whodunnit and save her hotel's reputation before they lose everything. 

It's full of quirky secondary characters (some unappealing or downright loathsome). The author is remarkably adept at scenery and description, and the book is full of beautiful settings which are very easy to imagine. The denouement and resolution are well engineered and satisfying. Although it's the second book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 23 minutes and is capably read by Amy Melissa Bentley. She has a well modulated neutral American accent and does a good job of the various character voices of a range of ages and both male and female. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. With 2 books in the series, it would make a nice binge/buddy read as well as suited for fans of cozy mystery. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The House of Light and Shadows - Secrets and Love #4

 

The House of Light and Shadows is a dual timeline atmospheric gothic mystery by Lauren Westwood. Released 18th Feb 2025 by Boldwood Books, it's 298 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first 3 books in the series are also currently available on KU.

The author uses an interesting storytelling device; each of the books is a standalone based around an actual (fictional) house and the mysteries of the past contained in it. In this case, a dilapidated stately house with secrets and echoes from sisters who lived there a century before and modern day estranged sisters tied to the house. 

The author is quite adept at scenery and descriptive prose. It's not very flowery or overblown, but there's a palpable sense of dread and creepy atmosphere. There's an element of paranormal/magical realism, and although it's integral to the story, it doesn't overwhelm the plot. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 12 minutes and is expertly read by Laura Kirman. She has a well modulated rich alto voice and does a great job of switching between a range of accents (from RP cut-glass precision to broad countryside) and a range of ages and both male and female without hiccups. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.  

Three and a half stars. Recommended for fans of gothic romance/mystery with paranormal elements. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Death at the Village Christmas Fair - Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries #3

 

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third Cotswold Curiosity Shop cozy mystery by Debbie Young. Released 16th Aug 2025 by Boldwood Books is 235 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is *not* currently included in the KU subscription library, but the first two books in the series *are* available on KU. 

This is a fun character driven village cozy set in "Little Pride", a fictive village somewhere in the Cotswolds. It's full of the whimsical slightly eccentric secondary characters, hidden motives and secrets, and over-the-top motivations which keep cozy readers turning pages. Obviously it would never fly in real life, and the main characters often seem to be fresh out of middle school instead of their actual ages/supposed maturity levels. It's within the acceptable parameters for a village cozy however; no harm, no foul. 

Four stars. The language is clean and there's no questionable content. With three books extant in the series, it would be a good candidate for a weekend binge or buddy read. It's a nice holiday themed cozy, so bonus points for that as well. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Murder on an Italian Island - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #12

 

Murder on an Italian Island is the 12th (!!!) Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by T.A. Williams. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Boldwood books, it's 234 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, although this book is *not* currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow, the first 11 books in the series are currently available on KU, so readers who hate to start in the middle will be able to access the previous books without trouble. 

This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery set in locations around Italy. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are set up as private PIs, but also assist local constabulary in solving crimes, especially ones involving the expat community/foreigners. Dan's usually along to facilitate translations in English for the police and witnesses, but his insights are valuable and he and the lead detective have a good rapport and friendship. In this case, a possible murder/suicide/accidental death has Dan & his inspector friend Virgilio trying to sort out the death of a reviled former criminal on Elba whilst on holiday (and of which Virgilio was briefly under suspicion). 

The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are well controlled and believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing and mystery are so well planned and executed, that it would make an excellent long binge or buddy read. 

It's not derivative at all, but it reminded me in a lot of good ways of Leon's exceptional Brunetti books as well as Walker's lovely Bruno, chief of police books. Fans of those authors will find a lot to enjoy here.

Four and a half stars. Very highly recommended. Clever, likeable, engaging, and well engineered mystery with stunning scenery and lovely food descriptions.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Tomlinson's Wake - Doc Ford Mystery #28

 

 

Tomlinson's Wake is the 28th Doc Ford adventure thriller by Randy Wayne White. Released 26th Aug 2025 by Harlequin on their Hanover Square Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are currently not available on KU, though they are available in ebook format. 

This is a very very well written thriller with an impressively palpable sense of dread throughout which the author ratchets up to a white-knuckle crescendo. Doc is again trying to protect his (admittedly odd) friends including a drugged out hippie seeking higher consciousness and a ragtag bunch of indigenous children led by a charismatic boy who might be the last heir of the vanished Mayan empire.

Apart from saving his corner of the world from thugs and assassins, he's got loads of personal troubles in his personal life trying to reconcile his dichotomous careers as a fixer / spy and also a mild-mannered ecology minded professor of biology. 

It's very well researched and the author does a fantastic job of scenery and settings, with hair-raising descriptions of the jungle wilderness and explosive violence of humans. There are distinct scenes of graphic violence and rough language. The way they explode on the page reminds me a lot of Lansdale's Hap & Leonard books (with less glib humor and more cerebral intelligence and ecology/biology content).  

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for fans of mystery thrillers, for public library acquisition, or for a binge/buddy read. Very high quality fiction.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street - Piper Sail #1

 

The Lost Girl of Astor Street is a historical mystery romance series starter set in Chicago in the 1920s by Stephanie Morrill. Originally released in 2017, this reformat and re-release from HarperCollins on their Blink imprint is out 5th Aug 2025. It's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series (released concurrently, 5th Aug) is also currently available on KU. 

The author is adept at characterization and plot, and the action moves the story along at a good pace. Full of prohibition era scenery and populated by secondary characters from the entire spectrum from law enforcement to organized crime, society girl on the cusp of young adulthood, Piper, just wants to find her best friend Lydia and get back to her life where the worst thing on her horizon is another rapped knuckle from her disgruntled home economics teacher. 

She's soon drawn in to more than she really bargained for, but loyal and brave, she's not about to give up without finding out where Lydia is. 

It's full of jazz age ambience and the author does a good job or making the content age appropriate (it's cozy and there's no extreme on-page violence). Although aimed at a YA audience, it's certainly engaging enough for adult readers as well. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 59 minutes and is capably narrated by Megan Trout. She has a well modulated, neutral Midwestern accent for this read, and does a good job with all the disparate characters' range of ages and both sexes. Sound and production quality are high throughout. 

Four stars. Well written and engaging. With two volumes out in the series, it would be a good choice for a short binge/buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Tale of Mirth & Magic

 

A Tale of Mirth & Magic is a spicy romantasy standalone by Kristen Vale. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Hachette on their Grand Central Forever imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

Full of the sort of humor and occasional snark which make the romantasy subgenre so popular, this story about an itinerant jeweler with chaotic magic which is a challenge for her to control and a temper to match, and a purple half giant, her would-be protector is entertaining and engaging. It's told in alternating first person PoV and chapters are clearly marked (and the character voices are well delineated enough), that it's never a problem to keep the story or characters straight. The style is modern with very little fantasy window-dressing (the anatomical terms are all modern English vernacular) and will probably require some extra effort on the part of readers to maintain their suspension of disbelief. 

There have been comparisons to Travis Baldree's books, and it's honestly a disservice to both. There should also be a note to sensitive readers  There's a fair bit of spicy/explicit content, so caution should be exercised if it's going to be read in public or at work. Props to the author for the body positivity throughout as well as positive gender roles and comfortable sexuality.

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of romantasy. It's relatively short and quick to read, and would also suit a buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

One Sharp Stitch - Nimble Needle #1

 

One Sharp Stitch is the first shopfront cozy in a new series by Allie Pleiter. Released 25th March 2025 by Kensington, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in mid first-quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This series with an appealing young 30-something back home to help her parents by managing the family needlework shop while they're on vacation, is full of southern charm, small town eccentric secondary characters, and a dash of sibling rivalry (is anything ever what it seems?). The pacing is good and it moves along well, without dragging or meandering. The author has a solid grasp of characterization and dialogue and it isn't clunky and the dialogue flows well and believably.

The language is squeaky clean, nary a curse to be seen. There is zero NSFW content and the denouement and resolution are well crafted and satisfying. It's a safe, comfortable read -  light but satisfying. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 16 minutes and is capably read by Carrie Coello. She has a well modulated alto neutral American accent, and does a good job juggling the disparate characters with a range of ages and both male and female. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. Definitely one for the fans of small-town shopfront cozies. The author/publisher even included a graphed alphabet in the back of the book for readers who would like to try their hand at monogrammed cross stitch or needlepoint coasters. No publishing info available yet for the second book, but it would make a nice quick buddy read for fans of needlework shop cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ink Ribbon Red

 

Ink Ribbon Red is a cerebral twisty brain-teasing mystery/thriller by Dr. Alex Pavesi. Released 22nd July 2025 by Henry Holt, it's 320 pages and is available in all formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

Trippy and cerebral. Readers will likely find that it takes a while to grasp what's real and not, what's actually happening, and even how the characters really relate to one another in terms of motivation and purpose. It will probably take half the book before most readers really get a firm(ish) grasp on what's going on. That will be a bridge too far for some. For the intrepid readers, the author really does a great job engineering a solid locked room puzzle and he's adept at writing stylish prose. 

The characters are a disappointing lot; unlikable, whiny, immature, stilted, and frankly annoying. Can't imagine anyone would want to spend 10 minutes with any of them. They also don't seem to like one another even slightly (that's putting it mildly). 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of  7 hours, 38 minutes and is capably read by Dino Fetscher. He has a well modulated tenor voice and does a good job with the disparate accents of both sexes and a range of ethnicities. Sound and production quality is high throughout the read. 

Four stars with the codicil that the author disregards *all* the "rules" about pacing and fair play. It's a smart book written by a plainly intelligent author. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise

 

The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise is an engaging and sweetly written picture book for young readers by Riel Nason. Due out 26th Aug 2025 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 48 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Instead of being a sheet like his friends and family, Little Ghost is a patchwork quilt. He feels left out and just -different-. Through his adventures, he finally figures out that just maybe, being different isn't always a bad thing. He's sad and missing his friends when he's having adventures in the cold snowy weather while his thin "sheet" ghost friends have to stay inside because of the cold and snow.

The text is simple, spare, and direct. The softly rendered illustrations by Byron Eggensehwiler enhance the story very well and are full of atmosphere and expressive details (see Little Ghost's "facial" expressions, for example). 

Five stars. This is a wonderful book for kids with good takeaways for all-ages. It would be an excellent choice for public or classroom library, home use, and gift giving, as well as a library story-time or reading circle.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

92 Quick & Healthy Recipes for Every Day: Simple Everyday Meals Ready in 35 Minutes or Less

 

92 Quick & Healthy Recipes for Every Day is a well curated simple collection of recipes by Maryna Verbyk. Released 21st Aug 2025, it's 188 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

These are appealing, quick to make, and utilize ingredients accessible at most any grocery store in North America. Recipes are written including time estimates, special notes, calorie counts (but no micronutrient or other nutritional info), ingredients in bullet list, and step-by-step prep directions. Recipe measurements are given in imperial (American) units, no metric conversions. All recipes are accompanied by a color photo. Serving suggestions are appetizing and appropriate.

Four stars. Simple but appealing and a tiny bit fancier than "student" learn-to-cook cookbooks. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as for a young person living alone for the first time. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Creating a Modern Homestead: Traditional Skills for Real, Everyday Life

 

Creating a Modern Homestead is a well written practical guide to planning, prioritizing, and implementing some more self-sufficient tasks in daily life by Victoria Pruett. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Globe Pequot on their Lyons Press imprint, it's 296 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The book has a logical and accessible format with an understandable progression. The author starts with scratch/slow cooking, deep pantries and stocking needs, through safe shelf-stable food preservation, gardening, and incorporating chickens and other lifestock, and even a solid chapter on sourdough. 

This won't be the *only* book needed to get from dreamer phase to self sufficient homesteader, but it is a very useful resource and will be a welcome addition to the smallholder's library. This would also make a good choice for public or possibly school library acquisition, as well as for community gardens and allotments. The photography throughout is superlative; clear and colorful.

Four and a half stars. The information contained in this volume is slanted toward readers in North America, but there are good takeaways for readers living elsewhere.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Potting Shed Murder - Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery #1

 

The Potting Shed Murder is the first book in a cozy village mystery series by Paula Sutton. Released 27th May 2025 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in late first quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

The author (queen of cottagecore) is a blogger with a huge following and she has a way with scenery and setting descriptions. The descriptions are almost cinematic and it's very easy to picture everything from the houses and streets, to interiors. She has an exceptional attention to detail and it adds a cozy retro vibe to the read. Some of the characterizations are less detailed, but it's still easy to keep the major players clear in the reader's mind. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 19 minutes and is capably read by Jane Ajia. She has a rich nuanced voice and her RP cut-glass narrator voice does a great job of setting the scenery. She enunciates clearly and well and does well with the disparate accents. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Pacing is hit or miss, Ms. Sutton takes a long while to build up the plot, but it's fair play, moderately well constructed, and with a satisfying denouement and resolution, foreshadowing the next book in the series.

Four stars. It's a nice series starter. It would make a good choice for public or home library acquisition. Book 2 is due outside the UK in late 2025 (currently out in the UK). It would make a nice buddy read. 

 Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Homegrown Magic - Homegrown Magic #1

Homegrown Magic is the first book in a cottagecore cozy romantasy by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos. Released 11th March 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

Although the writing has a definite YA vibe, there are adult themes, spicy scenes, and more adult situations than appropriate for YA lit. The authors are adept with solid prose and the dialogue is well constructed and paced. The queer friends-to-lovers romance is well written, although the standard massive amount of drama caused by the main characters not *communicating* in any meaningful way with one another was irritating. 

The author(s) did a good job of writing a believable and interesting  gender non-binary character and the they/them pronouns fade into the background quickly (and are used appropriately). As other reviewers have stated, there are coded stereotypes (including names which cannot possibly have been an unfortunate coincidence) which could be hurtful for some readers. The specific issue with Jael's family name is pretty obscure, however, and there won't be many readers who will be conversant with that particular trivia. In other words, the racism isn't in-your-face overt and while it probably shouldn't be ignored or glossed over, won't be apparent to most readers who aren't particularly eagle eyed. 

The happy/cozy aspects are well done and will give readers who enjoy spicy romantasy the happy feels. 

Three and a half stars (mostly because the MCs were annoyingly dense throughout 85% of the book). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Secret World of Denisovans: The Epic Story of the Ancient Cousins to Sapiens and Neanderthals

 

The Secret World of Denisovans is a layman accessible monograph on early hominids, Denisovans specifically, written by Drs. Silvana Condemi & François Savatier. Originally published in French in 2024, this English language translation is due out 19th Aug 2025 from The Experiment. It's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

The authors write authoritatively and well, in fairly simplified (mostly jargon-free) language about the fascinating discovery of a single fingertip and DNA evidence in 2010 of yet another hominid cousin who was neither Sapiens -nor- Neanderthal. 

Fascinating for any readers who are interested in paleoanthropology, current science, biology, and natural history. The authors meander quite a lot in explaining migratory patterns and probable evolutional patterns and developments, and don't always make clear/explicit connections between the information they're providing (elephant DNA for example) and how it should relate to the Denisovan migrations and possible interaction between them and other early hominids. 

It's sparsely illustrated throughout. Although it's not a rigorously academic text, the authors are academics, and have done a stellar job of meticulously annotating the information throughout. The chapter notes and bibliography are likely worth the price of the book for fans of natural history alone. The translation work is seamless, and it doesn't read like a translated book in general.

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Handsewn Wardrobe: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own Clothes from Patternmaking to the Finishing Stitches

 

The Handsewn Wardrobe is a well organized tutorial and technique guide for handsewn clothing construction designed and curated by Louisa Owen Sonstroem. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 344 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Although this is, indeed, a book about hand-sewn clothing, and it contains start-to-finish tutorials with which readers can certainly create credible, functional, and beautiful pieces of clothing, the author emphasizes process and the meditative aspects of creating as much (or more?) than the actual finished products. It takes slow fashion to a whole other level. 

She covers measurements, some simple design elements, and drafting patterns from pre-existing clothes. Materials selection and basic utility sewing are covered, but not in-depth (again, some background with handsewing, or a mentor/teacher/resource will prove handy for beginner sewists). Techniques like slash&spread, adding design elements and cutting pattern pieces are also covered in a straightforward (abbreviated/simple) way. 

The author has added some whimsy in the form of a few simple games (thimble wars, thimble "football", tug of war, etc) which will probably bring a smile to readers' faces. 

Many (but not all) of the included tutorials are surprisingly unisex and can be adapted to more or less anyone. The styling is not at all fussy. There's a Japanese vibe to the simple lines and emphasis on natural fibres and quality materials. 

Four and a half stars. More for the philosophy and process than for the finished products. The author has an engaging, comforting, and wise style of communication. The pace is slow and methodical. This would be an excellent choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, for fibre-arts groups, and for the home sewist's library. 

 Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

Extreme STEM in the Mountains

 

Extreme STEM in the Mountains is a well illustrated STEM nonfiction book for young readers (Lexile 550L, ~7-9 years) and part of the Extreme Stem series by Noah Leatherland. Released 1st Aug 2025 by Mackin on their North Star Editions imprint, it's 24 pages and is available in hardcover (library binding) and paperback formats. 

STEM education is vital across the board for everyone, and there's a serious dearth of good engaging selections which meet kids where they are, engage their interests, and inform/educate. This book is not super technical, it's not difficult, but it does manage to make technology and engineering in mountainous terrain interesting in the context of sports which use equipment/technology/physics to perform safely. It's a very short book, light on text, fully illustrated and photographed throughout in color. The author/publisher have included a short glossary and abbreviated index. 

Anyhow.  STEM book for kids, and it's an interesting one for the target audience. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 

Witchy Stitching: 25 Patterns to Haunt Your Home

 

Witchy Stitching is a neat collection of 25 gothic/witchy themed cross stitch projects and tutorials designed by Meg Black. Released 12th Aug 2025 by Bloomsbury on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 192 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This fun book or gift for all levels of experience.  The first chapter provides a short but useful introduction to materials and supplies. She discusses needles, fabrics, thread counts, embroidery floss, hoops, etc. The photos are full colour and clear and the instructions are easy to follow. 

The patterns themselves are arranged whimsically (for the coven, gothic gallery, halloween, and haunted holidays). The patterns are provided with stitch counts, approximate design size (in & cm), and recommended colors given with DMC numbers.  The borders are very simple and some of these projects won't take long to complete and are well suited to small, sort of last minute gifts, whilst some are quite impressive and will take some time to complete (see cover photo). 

Four and a half stars. Full of witchy/gothic vibes. This would be a good choice for the stitcher's home library, public library acquisition, stitching group library, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Bears - (Genius Kid: Animal Kingdom)

 

Bears is a well illustrated and engaging look at a broad range of bears aimed at young readers (~6-9 years, Lexile 560L) in a series of books about animals and how they're classified. Released 1st Aug by Mackin on their North Star Editions imprint, it's 24 pages and is available in hardcover (library binding) and paperback formats. 

Animals are fascinating, and this is cool introduction to bears of all kinds, full of info related in age-accessible language and abundantly illustrated with color photographs throughout. Small interesting facts are scattered throughout the book in colorful highlighted text boxes.

It's part of a set of books with volumes which feature a host of other animal families. The illustrations are clear and easy to understand/engage with. The author/publisher have also included an abbreviated glossary, index, and some discussion/quiz questions at the end. 

Five stars. Age appropriate, colorful, engaging, and well illustrated throughout. It would be an excellent choice for public/school/or classroom library, home library, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Old Girls' Chateau Escape - Old Girls #2

 

The Old Girls' Chateau Escape is the second book in this fun cozy series by Kate Galley. Released 29th Jan 2025 by small press indie Boldwood Books, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The first book in the series is also available on KU.

This is a cute and engaging destination adventure set in the south of France, and featuring a couple of irrepressible elderly main characters, lots of humor, heart, and a lot of fun. In fact, the bulk of the cast are 70+ in age, trending toward 90.The mystery resolution and denouement are fair play and satisfying. Although not explicitly foreshadowed, there's definitely room for more adventures for Gina and Dorothy. 

It's a proper cozy, so no on-page violence and the language is squeaky clean. North American readers should be aware that it's written in British vernacular (lift, crisps, flat, etc), but it won't cause any problems in context.

Four stars. Really well done. It works perfectly well as a standalone, and readers won't have any troubles getting up to speed if they begin with book 2. With two books in the series, it would be a cute, light binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Deadly Legacy

 

A Deadly Legacy is the sixth Hopgood Hall cozy by E.V. Hunter. Released 19th Nov 2024 by small press indie Boldwood Books, it's 282 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The other books are also available on KU.

This is a well written, engaging, and finely constructed amateur sleuth mystery pairing a former investigative journalist (and boutique hotel co-owner) with her handsome PI partner investigating a climbing fall/questionable death. There's a strong side element of romance, so readers who prefer romance in their cozies will likely enjoy that aspect of the story. The characters are well rendered and mostly believable and the pacing and plot are well done and the denouement and resolution of the various plot threads are satisfyingly wrapped up by the end of the book. It's a continuing series, so if read out of order, some of the character developments and relationships will be spoiled, but otherwise it works fine as a standalone.

Spelling and vernacular are British standard English, but won't pose a problem for readers in context. 

Four stars. A fun continuation of a nice light series. With six books extant in the series, it would make a good choice for a long binge or buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.