Kristan Higgins, Too Good to Be True

Grace Emerson is in a tough spot: Her ex-fiancé is now dating her perfect younger sister, and everyone in her close-knit but meddlesome family is pitying her. To get them off her back, Grace invents a fake boyfriend, a kind and handsome pediatric surgeon. She also attempts to find love in the real world, but the dating pool in her area is slim until handsome Callahan O’Shea moves in next door. Grace is attracted to Callahan, but he’s nothing like the ideal man she’s imagined. Will she continue to pursue the fantasy or take a chance on a real relationship? I like Kristan Higgins’s romances, but I’m learning that most of them are not keepers for me, and this one is no different. Grace’s judgmental attitude toward Callahan annoyed me, and I couldn’t see why he was interested in her. I felt Grace’s family dynamics were more interesting than the romance, but the “humor” in the family interactions was a bit forced. Overall, I’m glad I reread this one, as now I can remove it from my shelves.

Agatha Christie, Death Comes as the End

In this novel, Agatha Christie puts a unique spin on her usual formula by setting the story in ancient Egypt. Young and beautiful Renisenb has recently been widowed and has returned to her father’s house. There she finds comfort in familiarity among her brothers and their wives and children. But when her father brings home a concubine, Nofret, things change: The family becomes discontented and quarrelsome, and Nofret delights in making them all miserable. When Nofret falls from a cliff and dies, most of the family is happy to accept it as a “tragic” accident, but Renisenb suspects murder — and then more people start to die. I’ve reread this particular Christie novel a few times and always enjoy it. I remembered the killer’s identity, so it was fun to spot the clues throughout the narrative. I also liked the introspective Renisenb and was happy with how her story turned out. If you haven’t tried this Christie book yet, I’d definitely recommend it!

Diane Farr, The Nobody

Unconventional Caitlin Campbell is in the midst of her first London Season and feels stifled by some of the rules of propriety. In defiance of social norms, she decides to walk home alone from a ball, where she immediately gets into trouble: A man, fleeing from a gang of ruffians, grabs her and kisses her in order to evade pursuit. Caitlin knows she should be outraged, but the man’s friendly, playful manners disarm her despite herself. She is shocked to encounter the stranger again — he is in fact a viscount, as well as her new friend’s brother. The attraction between them seems to be mutual, but the gentleman is unfortunately already engaged. I’ve been hunting down used copies of Diane Farr’s novels, and this one, her debut, is quite charming. It’s light and frothy, despite the existence of a murder plot, and there are a couple cute secondary romances as well. The character development isn’t particularly deep, and I would have liked more interaction between Caitlin and her hero. Nevertheless, I definitely enjoyed the book and would recommend the author to fans of light historical romance.