Mini-Reviews: Substitute, Local, Cover

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Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter

Lizzie Anderson is a “poor relation” in a respectable Victorian family. Benedict Toomes is a prizefighter with a prison record. But he’s also rich, which makes him just barely acceptable as a fiancé for Lizzie’s cousin, Betsy. Lizzie and Benedict heartily dislike each other; but when Lizzie inadvertently causes a scandal and the family casts her out, Benedict surprises himself by coming to her rescue. Already tired of Betsy, he proposes to Lizzie instead, and since she has no other options, she accepts. As she adapts to Benedict’s life as a boxer on the fair circuit, the two slowly grow closer. Alice Coldbreath is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for historical romance. I loved the detail about life as a traveling fair performer, as well as the romance between Lizzie and Benedict. It’s steamier than I normally prefer, but I loved how honest and direct they are with each other. My only complaint is that not a lot happens; Lizzie meets a lot of people who add some fun color but don’t end up being particularly important to the story. Still, I’d highly recommend this one to fans of the genre who are looking for something different in terms of setting and social class.

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom

Er Thom yos’Galan is a Liaden from a prominent clan; as such, his duty is to make an advantageous marriage. But he’s still consumed with feelings for an old love, the Terran Anne Davis. Three years later, he resolves to see Anne once more before fulfilling his duty to his clan. But when he learns that their affair resulted in a child, his life becomes much more complicated. I’ve heard good things about the Liaden books, and this one was suggested as a good entry point. I found some of the setting and terminology a bit difficult to understand at first, but the main plot is easy enough to follow. The novel is billed as a “space Regency,” which pretty much sums up the genre and vibe. I wish more time were spent on the development of Er Thom and Anne’s romance, but they’re pretty much obsessed with each other from the start, so I’d call it more a novel of manners than a true romance. Overall, I liked the book fine, but I’m not sure I care enough to continue with the series.

Mhairi McFarlane, Cover Story

Investigative journalist Bel has just gotten a tip on a huge story: The beloved mayor of her city is preying on his young female staffers and receiving favors from a known criminal. To get the evidence she needs, Bel goes undercover, but her plan is almost ruined when her new colleague, Connor, sees her using her fake persona while talking to a potential source. To salvage the situation, Bel claims Connor is her boyfriend, even though they actually dislike each other. But as they work together to chase the story, they slowly change their opinions. I love McFarlane’s contemporary romances, and I enjoyed the ride here as well; she’s very good at writing clever banter and conveying the slow build of attraction. But in this case, I don’t believe that Bel and Connor are actually a good match. They are terrible communicators throughout the book, including at the very end when they both dither about confessing their feelings. I also felt there was a bit too much going on in general, with two of Bel’s exes creating problems that didn’t matter and Connor dealing with trauma from a previous job and relationship. I do still think this book is a good read, but it’s not one of my favorites by the author.

Mini-Reviews: Peace, Murder, Dreadful

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Leif Enger, Peace Like a River

Narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land, this book tells the story of a tragedy and its aftermath. Reuben’s older brother, Davy, commits an act of violence and subsequently runs away. Reuben, along with his father and his sister, Swede, head west from their home in Minnesota and travel across the Badlands to find him. They encounter many dangers on their journey, from the unforgiving winter weather to the FBI agent who’s on their trail, hoping they’ll lead him to Davy. But they also find friendship and help in unexpected places. I really enjoyed this novel, which is part coming-of-age story, part Western adventure, and part pilgrimage narrative. It’s a book that feels uniquely American; I don’t think it could have been set anywhere else. I loved the humor sprinkled throughout Reuben’s narration and absolutely adored the character of Swede. Recommended if the premise interests you, and I’m now interested in trying more by Enger.

Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home

English couple Jane and Dagobert Brown are on holiday in the US and find themselves in New Mexico, where Miranda Ross, an old friend of Dagobert’s, now resides. He manages to obtain an invitation to Miranda’s house for the weekend, and he and Jane soon feel that something is off about the seemingly happy, prosperous household. The next day, Miranda is murdered – but who could have wanted to kill a woman who was (apparently) universally beloved? Last year I read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series; this book is a decent follow-up, but it didn’t have quite the same sparkle for me. Jane is the narrator, and her snarky voice is one of the novel’s highlights. Her relationship with Dagobert is often fun, though I occasionally found myself thinking she’s way too good for him! The mystery is fine but didn’t really grab me. I did love that the seemingly ignorant county sheriff is much shrewder than he lets on! Overall, this is a pretty good read, and I do plan to continue with the series.

Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful

This novel opens with a man who has lost all his memories (and his eyebrows). He appears to be trapped in a dark wizard’s lair, which is worrisome – until he realizes he is the dark wizard, the Dread Lord Gavrax. He’s kidnapped a princess, and he’s in league with three other dark wizards to do some kind of evil ritual. But Gav isn’t sure he actually wants to be evil anymore. Can he hide his memory loss from those around him, thwart the evil ritual, and learn how to be a good person? I really enjoyed this charming comic fantasy, which raises some surprisingly complex moral questions as Gav tries to fight his evil tendencies. He’s a flawed but sympathetic character whom I found extremely relatable, and I just wanted good things for him. His goblin minions are wonderful as well, as is the princess, who’s more than she appears to be. Definitely recommended for those who like a spin on the usual fantasy tropes.

Mini-Reviews: Silk, First, Conquest

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Cassandra Dean, Silk & Scars

The setting of this very short novella—more like a short story, really—is early Victorian England, and the plot is a version of Beauty and the Beast. Gwendolyn Parkes is (implausibly) a scribe in a law firm who accidently sends a personal letter, meant for a friend, to one of the firm’s clients: Edward, the Duke of Sowrith. Intrigued, Edward replies, and the two soon strike up a friendship via correspondence—but when they meet in person, his scars from an old injury and her lower social status hinder their romance. The best thing I can say about this story is that I didn’t pay any money for it. The plot strains credulity, the characters are two-dimensional, and the writing is clumsy. I did feel a flicker of charm when Edward, searching for something to write about, can only come up with, “The weather is nice.” But overall, I don’t recommend this one and won’t read more by the author.

Cara Bastone, When We First Met

After a series of mishaps in her life, elementary schoolteacher Cat is looking for some fun. She’d love to have a fling with her hot neighbor, Jared, but every time she tries to get him alone, she ends up talking with his roommate, Quentin, instead. Meanwhile, Quentin’s had a crush on Cat for months but knows she sees him as just a friend. But the more time they spend together, the more Cat finds herself noticing Quentin’s attractive qualities—and the more he hopes their friendship might evolve into something more. I’ve really enjoyed Cara Bastone’s Forever Yours series this year, and this prequel novella is no exception (and it can definitely stand alone). Cat and Quentin are super charming, individually and together, and I was happy to watch their relationship grow. And I was very pleased to see that a secondary character, who could have been a stereotypical “crazy ex-girlfriend,” turned out to have some nuance and depth. I’m really enjoying Cara Bastone’s contemporary romances and can’t wait to read more!

Claire Delacroix, The Christmas Conquest

Rhys and Catherine made a marriage of convenience two years ago, exchanging her wealth for his title and status. Now Catherine is madly in love with her husband but fears he doesn’t feel the same way, as he never pursues intimacy with her. As a result, she’s considering a separation and accepts an invitation to a friend’s house party to make her decision. Little does she know that Rhys does return her feelings, but he fears a family curse that will cause her to die in childbirth. When he attends the house party as well, Catherine—with a little help from a saucy instruction manual—decides to seduce her husband. This was another free e-book for me, and it was just okay. The couple has decent chemistry, but they spend way too much time not communicating for very silly reasons. There’s also a subplot with the courtesan who wrote the seduction manual, which I found utterly boring. Not recommended, but I’d consider trying the author again.

Mini-Reviews: Fake, Falling, Prisoner

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Lynn Painter, Fake Skating

Every summer, Dani used to visit the small town of Southview, Minnesota, where she and her best friend, Alec, were inseparable. But then she moved away, and their friendship came to a painful end. Now Dani’s back in Southview full-time for her senior year, but the sweet, dorky Alec she once knew seems to have disappeared. The new Alec is a popular hockey star who wants nothing to do with Dani. But when circumstances force them into a fake-dating arrangement, they need to confront their shared past and deal with their true feelings. Lynn Painter excels at banter and great chemistry between her main characters, so the romance between Dani and Alec really worked for me. They’re obsessed with each other to a possibly unhealthy degree, but since they’re teenagers, I’ll give them a pass. 🙂 The setup to the fake dating is pretty absurd, and some peripheral plot lines and characters didn’t totally gel for me. But I’ll forgive a lot in a romance if I like the central couple together, so overall I really enjoyed this one!

Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars

In this eighth novel of the Green Rider series, although Sacoridia has defeated Second Empire, its troubles are far from over. Mornhavon the Black, growing ever stronger in Blackveil, summons an evil wraith to find Karigan—who is also being harassed by an enemy she thought she’d already defeated. Moreover, she’s trying to deal with her merchant clan’s business while her father is off rescuing Laren Mapstone, as well as decide what to do about her feelings for King Zachary. I was hoping this would be the last Green Rider book, but alas, there’s clearly still more to come. This book is 650 pages of not much happening, and while some storylines are fun (the Berry sisters), others are tedious and repetitive (everything at the D’yer Wall, Karigan’s mysterious enemy, the threadbare love triangle). I do still have some curiosity to see how things turn out, but since it’ll probably be at least three years till the next book, I feel reasonably confident in saying I’m done. I can always read a spoiler-filled review of subsequent books if I really need to know what happens.

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos

Penric has finally gotten General Arisaydia and his sister, Nikys, safely out of Cedonia and into the friendly country of Orbas. But then they learn that Nikys’s mother has been taken prisoner, which means Penric and Nikys—and Desdemona—must return to Cedonia and rescue her. As they attempt a prison break from a fortress sacred to the Daughter’s order, Penric and Nikys also consider whether they have a future together. This series continues to be delightful, and of course I’m a fan of the romance, which takes a step forward in this novella. I also love the well-thought-out and convincing theology of this world; Nikys’s encounter with the Daughter, and her subsequent conversation with Penric about it, is one of the highlights of the story. I’m still happy to be continuing with the series—although I do hope we get to see Inglis and Oswyl again at some point!

Mini-Reviews: Contract, Fortune, Index

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Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract

Adam Deveril, Viscount Lynton, has just inherited a derelict estate and needs a lot of money fast. He must marry an heiress—but he’s already in love with Julia Oversley, who doesn’t have the requisite fortune. Reluctantly, Adam pursues Jenny Chawleigh instead, the plain and commonplace daughter of a rich tradesman. After they marry, Adam is frequently frustrated by his vulgar father-in-law and pines after Julia; but as he and Jenny build a life together, he finds himself surprisingly contented. I adore Georgette Heyer but had never reread this particular novel before, probably because it’s one of her least romantic romances. It’s a marriage of convenience that arguably never deepens into true love, though by the end Adam and Jenny do share a firm friendship and genuine affection. I do appreciate this book’s realistic look at love and marriage, but it’s never going to be one of my favorite Heyers—I guess I like a little more fantasy and escapism in this genre!

Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club, which has allowed Elizabeth to grieve her husband’s death and Joyce to focus on her daughter’s wedding. But at the reception, a new case comes their way when the best man, Nick, tells Elizabeth that someone is trying to kill him. Shortly thereafter, he disappears. The gang discovers that Nick and his business partner, Holly, are the only two people with access to a hidden fortune; did someone kidnap or kill Nick to steal the money? Meanwhile, Ron deals with a threat to his family, and drug dealer Connie Johnson experiences personal growth. This series continues to be delightful, and after the last book was such a tearjerker, it was nice to read a comparatively lighthearted story. I enjoyed Joanna and her new husband being brought into the fold, and I thought the mystery itself (involving codes) was pretty clever. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and am glad the series is continuing.

Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts

This novel charts the downfall of the wealthy and prominent Doyle family during the course of a single baseball season in New York. Patriarch Frank Doyle is a prominent baseball writer and political commentator; his wife, Kit, works in high finance; son Eddie is at loose ends after leaving the army; and daughter Margo is theoretically getting her PhD but actually not doing much of anything. As the summer of 2009 unfolds, all four characters make choices that will have long-lasting consequences for their and their friends’ lives. I read this novel for a book club with some of my colleagues. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but I was glad to be pushed slightly out of my comfort zone, because I found it well written and thought-provoking. However, I can’t say I enjoyed it; none of the main characters are particularly sympathetic, and it’s frustrating to watch them repeatedly make the worst possible decisions. Overall, I’m not sorry I read this book, but it’s definitely not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Luck, Bar, Summer

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Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw

Winning the lottery has enabled Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a high-powered lawyer, but she’s felt stuck in her life since then. After a tipsy night spent thinking about her regrets, she decides to apologize to the people she feels she’s wronged. At the top of the list are the O’Learys, whose son overdosed on prescription pain meds; Zoe’s firm represented the pharmaceutical company and settled the case out of court. When Zoe shows up at the O’Leary house, she’s confronted by their other son, Aiden, who isn’t interested in her apology. He does, however, need someone to pose as his fiancée for plot reasons; Zoe, viewing this as her penance, agrees. But as she and Aiden spend more time together, they form an unexpected bond. I really liked this book and read it in a day. Clayborn excels at writing believable, nuanced characters, and I was rooting throughout for Zoe and Aiden, who are both lonely and dealing with a weight of grief and guilt. So this isn’t a light, fun read by any means, but I liked it a lot and look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar

In this Golden Age mystery, a game of darts at the pub turns deadly when one of the players is hit by a dart—and almost immediately dies of cyanide poisoning. A trace of cyanide solution is found on the dart, but who had the opportunity to put it there? And why should anyone want to murder Luke Watchman, a celebrated London barrister? I’m continuing to enjoy the Inspector Alleyn series—this is the ninth installment—but I find that the beginnings of the novels are stronger than the endings. The first several chapters of this book are entertaining as they establish the various characters and relationships. But once the death occurs, Alleyn and his associate Fox spend most of their time interviewing suspects and searching the pub (but not telling the reader what they discover). So the second half drags a bit, and the slight romantic subplot among secondary characters isn’t terribly convincing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall and will certainly continue with the series.

Naomi Novik, The Summer War

Celia is 12 years old when she inadvertently curses her oldest brother, Argent, to a life without love. Argent leaves home and soon gains renown as a great knight, but Celia is racked with guilt about the curse and knows she must find a way to break it. But that means entering the summerlands, the fairy realm bordering her kingdom, where many dangers await. I’m a big fan of Naomi Novik in general, and my favorite of her books are the ones with fairytale elements: Uprooted and Spinning Silver. This novella has a similar flavor, and there are some enchanting scenes and bits of world-building. But I wanted so much more from this world and these characters. Celia herself is pretty passive for most of the story, as well as being a child—I want to know what happens after she grows up! I’d love to see more of her overlooked middle brother, Roric, as well. So on its own, this novella isn’t fully satisfying, but I’d love to see it expanded into a full-length novel!

Mini-Reviews: Dance, Babel, Thief

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Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira’s Last Dance

Penric’s rescue mission continues in this novella, as he flees to safety with political target General Arisaydia and his widowed sister Nikys. They need to leave the country without being discovered, which means they must travel in disguise. When their journey leads them to shelter in a brothel, Penric poses as a female courtesan, drawing on the experience of Mira, one of Desdemona’s previous riders. But this masquerade is dangerous in more ways than one, as it complicates the mutual attraction between Penric and Nikys. This series continues to be enjoyable, though this installment is very short on plot. Penric’s gender-bending disguise is the main event, and it causes Nikys to reflect more deeply on the relationship between Penric and Desdemona, and what that might mean for a possible romance. The novella ends on an ambiguous note, so I’m interested to see what happens next!

R.F. Kuang, Babel

Robin Swift is a half-Chinese boy plucked from the slums of Canton and raised to study at Oxford’s prestigious Babel Institute of Translation. Babel scholars are trained to work silver magic via their powers of translation—and this magic in turn powers the might of the British Empire. When Robin first comes to Oxford, he falls in love with the university and the people in his cohort, who are all outsiders like him because of race, gender, or both. But the more he learns about silver magic and its ties to imperialism, the more conflicted he becomes. This is a novel I really wanted to like, and I did enjoy parts of it, like the Oxford setting and all the information about linguistics. But this is a novel with a clear message (imperialism is bad and must be resisted with violence), and I felt like I was reading a polemic rather than a story. The characters we’re supposed to like are not very likable or nuanced, and the villains are absolutely pure evil. So overall, I found this book disappointing, though I think I’m in the minority with that opinion.

Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief

In the penultimate book of the Cadfael series, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has led to the destruction of a Benedictine abbey in Ramsey. Some of its brothers come to Brother Cadfael’s abbey in Shrewsbury to request their aid. Meanwhile, a troubadour from the South of France and his entourage, which includes a beautiful young woman, are also staying at the abbey. When a saint’s relics are stolen and a witness to the theft is murdered, Cadfael must once again investigate these mysteries and determine how justice can best be served. It’s always a pleasure to escape into the world of these novels, and I liked that after taking a backseat in The Summer of the Danes, Cadfael is back at the center of the action, finding clues, interviewing suspects, and talking things over with Hugh. I also liked the callbacks to A Morbid Taste for Bones, although if you don’t remember certain events from that book, you may have a little trouble following this one. But if you love the Cadfael series, this novel won’t disappoint.

Mini-Reviews: Style, Hemlock, Scene

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William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

I somehow made it through an English degree and almost a decade as a professional editor without reading this book, which is a classic (maybe even the classic) American work on writing and grammar. I expected it to be stuffy and out of date — and it is, a bit. The authors resist using “hopefully” to mean “it is to be hoped,” but that ship has definitely sailed at this point. And their brief mention of that newfangled invention, the word processor, is adorable. But most of this book is still helpful and relevant, and I was surprised by how funny it is too! “Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It’s in the dictionary, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it.” Overall, I think this book would be useful for students or anyone whose job requires a lot of writing, editing, or both (notice how I didn’t use “and/or,” which the authors call “a device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often lends to confusion or ambiguity”). It deserves its classic status.

T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver

Since childhood Anja has been obsessed with poisons and their antidotes, and now she’s expert enough that the local townspeople turn to her for help with poisoning cases. Nevertheless, she’s shocked when the king himself comes to her with a problem: His 12-year-old daughter, Snow, is sick from no obvious cause, and her condition is worsening. Anja travels to Snow’s residence and attempts to discover if and how the princess is being poisoned. What she actually discovers is a portal to a mysterious other world; but will she be able to thwart the evil lurking there and save Snow’s life? I’ve loved every one of Kingfisher’s books that I’ve read so far, and this one is no exception. Blunt, tactless Anja is a delight, and her narrative voice keeps the book from being too dark or scary despite a few horror-adjacent moments. I also really liked the desert setting, which evokes Mexico or the American Southwest rather than the traditional quasi-medieval-European fantasy kingdom. There’s a bit of romance too, which is always welcome. Definitely recommended if the premise appeals to you!

Laura Wood, Let’s Make a Scene

Cynthie Taylor is a famous actress who’s just been dumped, and press coverage of the breakup has been merciless. To turn things around, her agent suggests that she sign on to a sequel of the film that launched her career. Unfortunately, that means reuniting with her costar, Jack Turner-Jones, with whom she has a tempestuous history. Even worse, her agent wants them to fake-date each other to create good buzz for the new film. As Cynthie and Jack grow closer in the present, they also have to come to terms with the past. I love a good fake-dating rom-com, and this one is funny, well written, and pure wish fulfillment in a good way. I liked how the narrative alternates between the present and 13 years ago, when Cynthie and Jack first met; the switches happen just often enough to give context and complexity to their relationship. I also liked all the behind-the-scenes acting stuff, especially since the movies are Austen-esque period pieces—it made me wish I could actually watch them! It looks like Wood has already written a book featuring Cynthie’s friend Theo, which I’m now interested in checking out as well.

Mini-Reviews: Blonde, Accomplice, Wager

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Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold

Alex Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley III are spies with a complicated history. In the present, they wake up in an unfamiliar pitch-black room in an unknown location, with no idea how they got there—and they’re handcuffed to each other. The book jumps back and forth in time between their present predicament and the history of their relationship, from when they first met 10 years ago to their first joint mission to the various covert ops they’ve done together. It’s clear from the outset that Alex and King have amazing chemistry, but it’s less clear that their romance could ever have a happy ending. I adored The Blonde Identity—the previous book in this series, featuring Alex’s sister, Zoe—and this book is a similarly well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable spy romance. I cared about both Alex and King as characters, and though they’re frustrating and stubborn sometimes, I was rooting for them all the way. I do think this book is less fun than The Blonde Identity; there’s a lot more drama and angst in the romance, and the stakes of the spy plot feel higher. But if you love a good romantic caper and don’t mind the constant time-hopping, you should definitely check this one out.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain

In this third installment of the Villain series, the entire villainous gang is on a quest to find the magical items and people that will allow them to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, defeat King Benedict, and save the kingdom. But Trystan’s magic is malfunctioning, Kingsley is losing his humanity and becoming pure frog, and there’s a traitor inside the Villain’s ranks (again). Meanwhile, Trystan tries to keep his distance from Evie because of a prophecy that they’ll destroy each other, but obviously Evie is having none of that. This book, and the series as a whole, is a hot mess. I honestly have only the faintest idea of what’s going on with the plot, and I’m not sure it matters; clearly the only thing readers are supposed to care about is the romance. And I’ll admit, I do care about Trystan and Evie’s relationship, which takes a big step forward here. And some of the side romances are also adorable (Gideon and Keeley!). Apparently the author plans one more book in this series, and I will read it just to see how everything turns out. But quality-wise, I can’t say I’d recommend this series.

Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager

Lilith Davenant is a widow of icy demeanor and unquestionable virtue. Julian, the Marquess of Brandon, is a notorious rake. For plot reasons, Julian wagers that he can seduce Lilith within eight weeks. But as he uses every tactic at his disposal to woo Lilith, he begins to genuinely enjoy her company. Meanwhile, Lilith dislikes and distrusts Julian at first, but as she gets to know him better, she realizes she’s seriously at risk of losing her heart. I’m a fan of Chase’s romances in general, but I think this one might be my favorite. It’s very reminiscent of Heyer in its language and plot, but with a bit more angst and drama in the romance. Love makes both Lilith and Julian better people, and Julian’s transformation from callous seducer to sincere lover is particularly great to watch. Highly recommended for historical romance fans, this one was a pleasure to reread!

Mini-Reviews: Novel, Lake, Maid

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Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story

Elsy is struggling in her career, friendships, and nonexistent love life. So she decides to take a vacation, planning to hole up in a mountain cabin and binge-read romance novels. But along the way, she gets lost and ends up in an idyllic small town—one she soon realizes is fictional! It’s the setting of her favorite romance series, which was left unfinished when the author tragically died. Elsy doesn’t know how she came to enter this imaginary world, but she loves seeing her favorite characters in the flesh. She even meets a grumpy yet handsome bookstore owner and dares to think she might belong in this town. I really enjoyed the concept of this novel and liked how it was resolved in the end. But otherwise, I didn’t find it particularly interesting. Elsy adores this town and its residents, but because I haven’t read the (fictional) series Elsy loves, I had no investment in the characters she meets or their problems. Elsy herself is a bit of a wet mop, with few defining characteristics apart from her sadness and her love of romance novels. I also found the prose a bit overwrought. Overall, not a terrible read, but not one I’d recommend either.

AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake

It’s the summer of 1944, and Emmy Lake and her friends all know that the war will soon be over. In the meantime, though, the daily grind of wartime life—battle losses, rationing, German bombing raids—is taking its toll on everyone at Woman’s Friend. Emmy is determined to stay positive and adhere to the government’s instructions about publishing upbeat stories that look forward to an Allied victory. But when she starts receiving letters from women whose husbands and sons are prisoners of war and who are unable to get any information about them, she finds a new cause to fight for. This book is a fitting conclusion to the Emmy Lake series. It has the same light tone as the previous novels while still treating the book’s more serious events with appropriate gravity. My only complaint is that my favorite character, Guy Collins, doesn’t get a story of his own—he ought to be a romantic hero in his own book! I hope AJ Pearce will write it someday. But overall, I’d definitely recommend this series to people who enjoy World War II fiction that’s on the lighter side.

Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other

Abi works as a cleaner for Declan’s posh apartment, but they’ve never met. One night, since her own run-down apartment has a pest problem, she stays at Declan’s place, reasoning that he’s out of town and will never know. But in the morning, she runs into his parents, who have shown up for a surprise visit—and they assume she’s his girlfriend. When Declan finds out, he’s furious, but he also thinks his job would promote him more quickly if he were in a serious relationship. So he proposes a fake relationship to Abi, which she accepts once he agrees to pay off her student loans. But the more time they spend together, the more their relationship starts to feel real. I really love Lynn Painter’s rom-coms, and fake relationship is one of my favorite romance tropes, so this book was right up my alley! Painter excels at writing characters and love stories that feel really genuine and believable. The third-act breakup was unnecessary and irritating, but aside from that, I liked this book a lot and finished it with a big smile on my face.