The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime

Book Summary

Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle heads to London for a wedding, but when a body is found in connection with a rare book, Gemma sets out to sleuth the slaying in bestselling author Vicki Delany's tenth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Gemma Doyle and her friends have packed their bags and headed to London for her sister Pippa’s wedding. Waiting for her in the hotel lobby is none other than Gemma’s ex-husband, Paul Erikson. Paul has a rare book he wants her to see—calling it “the real deal”—so Gemma agrees to meet him at their old shop, Trafalgar Fine Books, the following day. But when Gemma arrives, accompanied by Grant, a rare book dealer, they find Paul dead in his office.

Kensington Row Houses

Paul had been down on his luck, but Gemma never expected this. Had he borrowed money from people he shouldn’t have? And where is the valuable book he was so anxious for Gemma to see? It’s nowhere to be found in the shop. Because of their previous relationship, Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and vows to find his killer.

As Gemma and her best friend Jayne Wilson follow Paul’s trail of friends, enemies, clients, and ex-lovers through London to Yorkshire, she realizes the puzzle of Paul’s last days is more twisted than she originally thought.

This mystery is anything but elementary, and Gemma and Jayne have to use all their wit to get to the bottom of it before their time in London—or in life—is over.

My Thoughts

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany has Gemma Doyle and her friends in London for Pippa’s wedding.  Naturally, a murder occurs, and the victim is none other than Gemma’s ex-husband.  Gemma, Jayne, and Pippa set out to learn what Paul became involved in that got him killed.  I love the characters in this series.  They are an amusing bunch except Pippa who is more serious (and has excellent connections). I enjoyed the descriptions of London and the various places that the group visited.  It was obvious that the author enjoyed writing these sections and I liked reading them.  

The whodunit is one that can be solved not long after DI Patel (she received a promotion) arrives at the dusty bookshop.  The reason for the guilty party committing the murder is weak.  This was a satisfactory story, but it is not my favorite installment in the series.  The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime is the tenth A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  We get a teaser at the end of what is going to occur in the next book.  The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime transports readers to London with a delightful wedding, an incommodious ex-husband, a grubby bookshop, curious clues, a bar brawl, a troublesome tail, and distressing news from West London.

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime is available from Amazon as well as other booksellers (such as Barnes & Noble, BAM, Kobo).  You can find the other books in A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries here.  You should check out Vicki Delany's other cozy mysteries.  Vicki Delany has Tea with Jam and Dread coming out July 29. It is sixth A Tea by the Sea Mystery.  Thank you for stopping by today (I really do appreciate it).  I will return on Tuesday, January 21, when I am a stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for A Year of Flowers by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  I hope that you have a contented day. It is in the 50s today in Florida (too cold).  I am going to lounge on the couch, so I can huddle under my electric blanket and read a book (or two).  Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele

 

A Stolen Kiss

About the Book

Book: A Stolen Kiss (The Heart of the Amish Book 7)

Author: Mindy Steele

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release date: December, 2024

Who Kissed Who First?

Full of faith, hope, and romance, the series takes you into the Heart of Amish Country.

LeEtta Miller has never done anything spontaneous before, but when a girl is the last one at everything, sometimes she has to take the reins into her own hands. What harm could come from kissing a stranger she’ll never see again?

Benuel Ropp isn’t sure he can ever forgive his father for giving away his inheritance. Taking work far from home, Ben hopes to earn enough to build his future, but nowhere in his plans did he predict being kissed by a beautiful stranger – or having to marry her. To save both their reputations he has little choice but to accept the elder’s demands. Well. . .if LeEtta thought he’d flinch, letting her boldness ruin the future he had all mapped out, she was mistaken. He has a dream to work for, and if he has to make sacrifices to reach them, so will she.

Who kissed who first? He couldn’t even remember anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mindy Steele is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over a dozen novels and novellas in Christian fiction. Raised in Kentucky timber country, Steele has been writing since she could hold a crayon on the wall and lives in northeastern Kentucky—where many of her stories are set.

More from Mindy

The Story Behind the Story with Mindy Steele

A Stolen Kiss

I’m always seeking the not-so-ordinary plot for one of my stories. So, when our youngest son and his intended traded a look one evening, something struck a cord in my always moving imagination. Mind you, Blake told me when he was ten, riding a new bus to a new school, that he met the girl that he was going to marry. So cute, yet, they married in May, eleven years later. A Stolen Kiss is not love at first sight. It’s not even love over-the-years, but that one moment birthed a new character. LeEtta Miller. Not all love stories are as beautiful as our son’s, but all love stories are worth telling.

I’m an author of romance, love inspired stories weaving through rural landscapes where characters unveil themselves into realistic people most of us are glad to know. Romantic fiction gives readers what no other genre seems to offer. It’s an escape, a hope. Hope across illness, loss, despair, and uncertainty. Its community, knowledge, a gathering of friends, unity, while representing comfort.

We all want to add more love to our lives. After all, it is the greatest gift God has given us. Gentle or fast moving, we are sucked in to reach those glorious chapters of a first kiss and a promising tomorrow.

But, what if the kiss came sooner? What if love isn’t fast moving, but something earned and quietly obtained through slow familiarity.

LeEtta Miller is quite the rule follower and people pleaser. I’ve shaken my head at her quite often as I got to know her. LeEtta also feels as if life is passing her by. How many times have we’ve been in those pair of shoes? In one bold moment, she’ll through caution to the wind, and act, impulsively. Thus we get introduced to Benuel Ropp, who’s visiting his grandparents, hoping to earn enough money to buy his own land, back in Ohio. As events escalate, from a chance meeting to an binding union, these two young characters are thrown into new roles neither of them intended. I’ve never laughed more writing LeEtta and Ben’s story, and hope it brings joy, hope, and a wiliness to accept that the mistakes we make in life, are only rocky paths leading us to where we belong.

May you never stop making mistakes and following love’s calling,

Mindy

My Thoughts

A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele is the seventh book in The Heart of the Amish series.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  LeEtta Miller (a very unusual first name that I am guessing is pronounced Lee Etta) was raised by her widowed father.  LeEtta did not grow up with a mother to teach her how to run a household, cook, do laundry, garden, and other tasks handled by a female in Amish society. Benuel Ropp is visiting Cherry Grove to raise money to purchase his own farm in Ohio. LeEtta kisses Ben which is seen by a teenage boy who is besotted with LeEtta.  Unbelievably, this leads to a shotgun marriage (for a quick kiss).  It is a slow burn romance. I found it a little too slow, but others may like this unhurried pace.  

There were some amusing moments and a quirky character or two.  I like the friendly cast of characters especially Ben’s Aunt Oneida. It is an emotional story with the characters dealing with a range of emotions. The ending left me smiling. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story.  I like the life lessons in the story especially about forgiveness.  Forgiving someone is more for yourself than for the other person.  Letting anger and bitterness burn in your heart will only lead an individual down the wrong path.  There are recipes at the end of the story.  A Stolen Kiss is an emotional tale with family farm kerfuffle, a smitten teen, an overprotective father, cheesy dishes, a forced marriage, a barn bedroom, and finding forgiveness.  

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mindy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.  Good Luck!

A Stolen Kiss is available from Amazon as well as other major retailers.  You can find the other books in The Heart of the Amish series here. Lizzie's Little Mouse is the next book in The Heart of the Amish series.  It will be published on March 15. You can find Mindy Steele's other novels here.   Thank you for dropping by today.  Tomorrow I will be shring my thoughts on The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany. It is the tenth A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery.  I was tickled on Friday when Ohio State University won the Cotton Bowl (I am from Columbus, Ohio).  They are heading to the CFP National Championship on January 20 where they will face off against Notre Dame. I hope OSU demolishes the Fighting Irish.  I hope that you have a cozy day. Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you depart. Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Simple Harvest Reads, January 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Stories By Gina, January 12 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13

The Avid Reader, January 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 15

Artistic Nobody, January 16 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 18

Vicky Sluiter, January 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 20

Holly’s Book Corner, January 21

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 22 (Author Interview)

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

 The Stolen Queen

Book Summary

From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

 

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes.

New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”

 

Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

My Thoughts

In The Stolen Queen, Fiona Davis masterfully combines history, mystery, and romance into one compelling tale.  Charlotte and Annie are the two main characters who are at different points in their lives.  The story allows reader’s to traverse between the 1930s and the 1970s with the point of view alternating between Annie and Charlotte.  I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions of the artifacts as well as the art in the museum and the costumes (and fashions).  The author brought the scenes to life for me (I could envision them in my head).  There were a couple of interesting side characters in the story.  One of my favorites was Annie’s landlady, Mrs. Hollingsworth.  

Diana Vreeland

There were intriguing surprises along the way while other plot points were expected. The pacing was good throughout the story, and I like how it ramps up near the end as discoveries are made.  The ending ties everything up neatly with a bow (a little too neatly).  There was one part of the ending that I wish had been done differently, but that is my personal preference.  I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the work archaeologists do at a dig sites and in museums.  I would love to attend the exhibition that Diana Vreeland created. She had creative ideas.  The author brought The Met and The Met Gala to life with her vivid word imagery (the beautiful fashions worn by the attendees).  The Stolen Queen is a fascinating tale with an archaeological dig, fascinating fashions, a unique collar, a sinking ship, Hathorkare’s curse, an enigmatic donor, and uncovering the facts.

Diana Vreeland at Met Gala

The Stolen Queen is available from Amazon as well as other major booksellers. I have been in a slump with regard to books lately, but The Stolen Queen pulled me out of it.  You can find Fiona Davis's other novels here. I encourage you to check out The Lions of Fifth Avenue.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, January 14 with A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele.  It is the seventh book in The Heart of the Amish series. I am taking tomorrow off to escort my mother to an apppointment (hopefully, she does not cancel).  I am looking forward to eating out afterward.  I hope that you have a cheery day.  Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman

Death Among the Stitches

Book Summary

Meet Annie Hart: newly inherited yarn and tea shop owner and reluctant amateur sleuth.

Annie Hart, daughter of Bryan Hart – talent agent to the stars – spends her life getting roped into whatever new task her father needs her to do for his VIP clients. So when she inherits a yarn shop in the small Indiana town of Franklin, she is curious to see what it feels like to have something that is solely hers!

But when her arrival is greeted by the local law enforcement, Annie senses things are not quite as they seem in this idyllic town . . . everyone knows everybody in Franklin yet when it comes to the death of the shop's previous owner, nobody seems sure of anything!

Annie soon discovers that Eleanor Danton was in fact murdered, strangled with her own yarn . . . invigorated by her need to find out the truth, and feeling somehow at home with the friendly bunch of local yarn artists who frequent the shop, she sets out to finding the killer. Much can be achieved over a cuppa and a yarn . . .

My Thoughts

Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman is the debut of A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series. I enjoy cozy mysteries that incorporate crafts, so I was looking forward to reading Death Among the Stitches.  The story moved at an unhurried pace (I swear I saw snails zipping by me).  I did not like the main character, Annie Sara.  I wanted to tell her to grow a backbone and learn to say no.  The author needed to flesh her out more.  I wish the author had not included Gray in the book (this character was more developed than Annie Sara). The girl cannot please her mother who is a famous actress.  I did not like the body shaming (there was so much of it).  I did not enjoy the talk about the “diet,” getting Gray to fit into these ridiculously tiny jeans, and Annie Sara afraid to eat regular food in front of Gray.  There is also Gray’s romance with Officer Smith.  It is just plain silly (a police officer is, of course, no good enough for the daughter of Camille Constatine).

The mystery was lackluster.  The murder took place long before Annie Sara inherited the schoolhouse.  Annie Sara makes a half-hearted attempt to learn what happened to the murdered woman.  The clues drop at the end of the story before the anticlimactic reveal.  Those who are avid cozy mystery readers will have no problem unraveling the puzzle.  I enjoyed the snippets about knitting and crochet.  I wish the story had focused more on the craft.  My favorite part of the book was hearing about the Hoosier cabinet Annie Sara picked up for the kitchen at the schoolhouse (there was one in our kitchen when I was a child). I like that the history of the cabinet was included. Death Among the Stitches mostly dealt with Annie Sara’s day to day activities.  There were repetitive details particularly about the summer people who rented homes and liked to party. I wish Death Among the Stitches had likeable characters, more depth, and an intriguing mystery.  I felt that this story missed the mark.  

Death Among the Stitches is available from Amazon*.  You can find Betty Hechtman's other cozy mysteries here.  Two other books that came out today are The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis and Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert.  Tomorrow I will feature The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis.  It is a captivating tale.  A cold front arrived last night, so I am keeping warm under my electric blanket with my cat, Dickens perched right next to me.  My mother is under her electric blanket along with a couple of other blankets.  It is hard to believe that I was wearing a t-shirt and capris yesterday.  Do you have snow in your area?  I have not seen snow since I was twelve (the last time I was in Ohio). I loved school, but I also enjoyed the occassional snow day (I could read all day). I hope that you have contented day.  Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton

 The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits

Book Summary

Why Are Baking Contestants Disappearing?

 

Mysteries have a way of following Fannie Miller, so when she makes it into the finals of the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest and contestants start disappearing, she calls on her old friend Foster Bates, a retired cop and part-time private investigator. Could it be that other finalists are somehow responsible for these disappearances, thinning out the competition? Like the couple on verge of divorce who need the prize money, or the three Beiler sisters, always in a huddle whispering. One thing is for certain—Foster and Fannie will stay on the case until the end, and everyone involved will have learned something important about baking contests, solving mysteries, and life.

 

New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter and Emmy-Nominated Author Martha Bolton have teamed up to deliver a delightful whodunit from Ohio’s Amish country.

My Thoughts

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton is a lighthearted Amish cozy mystery.  I was looking forward to this story because it combines two things that I enjoy, which are baking competitions and a mystery.  I like that the story has Amish, Mennonite, and English characters. I did struggle in the beginning as the point of view switched between the various characters. I would have liked the two main characters, Miss Fannie and Foster to have been more developed. The story references a previous case that Fannie and Foster had worked on together, but this is the first book to feature these characters (I could not find another book that with Fannie and Foster).  Fannie’s mystery was a letdown.  I kept hoping it would develop into something more, but it did not.  There is a hint of romance in the story.  I enjoyed the interactions between Fannie and Foster.  I did feel the story was too long (thirty-five chapters plus the epilogue) with repetitive details and it was predictable.  The recipe for Miss Fannie’s mouthwatering biscuits is at the end of the book.  The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits had a cute ending.  

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits is available from Amazon* as well as other major book sellers.  Wanda Brunstetter has The Peacemaker coming out February 15.  You can find Martha Bolton's other books here.  Thank you for dropping by today.  I hope that everyone had a joyful Christmas and a very merry New Year. 

Did you get everything on your wish list?  I received an adult tricycle (I wanted it because of the big basket in the back which allows me to cart items to the clubhouse and to take Dickens, my cat, on rides), comfy pajamas, a Danbury Mint Raggedy Ann & Andy ornament (I have received one every year since they began in 2008), and a Christmas Stitch (my mother is a big believer in giving something fun and cuddly for Christmas).  The only thing missing was a book for my Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden collections (I collect the vintage editions from when they were originally published). I will return on Tuesday, January 7 with my thoughts Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman.  It is the first book in A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series.  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.  I am off to take my mother to a medical appointment (I hope--she has cancelled it twice). I look forward to hearing from you.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.