Happy Valentines Day 2026!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day celebrating in your own way. I plan to cook some nice things for my son and husband and enjoy the rain headed our way. And of course, read. Happy Valentines Day to all my blogger friends and fellow readers out there!

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder At Sea by Helena Dixon (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 23)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Murder At Sea, by Helena Dixon. This series is on my list of wanting to continue even though I haven't gotten far with it. Gorgeous covers, cute characters, and cozy plots. 

In this story, Kitty Underhay goes on an ocean cruise adventure to solve the murder of her cousin’s love interest as well as the jewelry he apparently has stolen. They must find the murderer who is on the ship before he kills again. Set in the 1930's this is a cozy series that is long running, this being book 23. 

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

February 23, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Devon, 1938. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a well-deserved rest when her very upset cousin Hattie suddenly bursts in. She sobs that the gentleman she had been seeing, Richard Westonholme, seems to have vanished, taking all of her jewelry with him. As Hattie describes Richard, he sounds eerily familiar, and Kitty and her husband Matt board a ship in hot pursuit – only to find him lying in a lifeboat… dead.

As they’ve set sail, the murderer has to be on board too, but there are suspects as far as the eye can see. Could Richard’s wife have something to do with the murder? What about the rich heiress and her guardian? And is the steward hiding something fishy?

Kitty and Matt are all too aware that the clock is ticking while the suspects are trapped with no escape. Can they net the killer before the ship docks? Or will one of them be dead in the water before they reach dry land?

Stacking the Shelves #86

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

A Gambling Man by Jenny Uglow

Free with Kindle points

I do not know much about the Stuart Restoration. That whole period of the James/Charles' is murky to me at best and anything concerning Oliver Cromwell forget about it, lol. So I saw this and thought it looked interesting. I probably won't get to it for awhile (I've been sucked back into a book on The Anarchy again) but eventually it's a time period I'd like to know more about. 

Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 4.5)

Free: Libby Audiobook borrow

Yes, the holidays just ended but.....this is book 4.5 of this series and I'm ready to read on so I don't want to skip this one. From reading the summary it will include things I won't want to skip with the next full book. I don't necessarily want to read a Christmas book in February but this one is short and on audio. I'm sure it will be fun. Jane is spending the holidays at her fiance's home, Barnard Castle. Of course a murder occurs and they must work to find out who is responsible. How can you go wrong with castles, snow, Christmas, and a murder mystery?

The King's Coat by Dewey Lambdin (An Alan Lewrie Naval Adventure Book One)

Free with Kindle points

I love books set at sea and this looks good. The first in a series started in 1989 so almost an "old" book, lol. It is about a young man,  seventeen year old Alan Lewrie who is sent to sea in the year 1780 by his father who is hoping to instill a sense of discipline in him. He is headed to America and finds he loves being on the ship and the life of a sailor. The summary eludes to a "surprise," but no hint of what that is. I am intrigued!

An Uncivil War by David Field (The Medieval Saga Book Three)

 

Publication Date:

June 17, 2022

Genre: 

Historical Fiction, Medieval Fiction

Length:  

271 pages

Series:

The Medieval Saga Series

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

England is at war – with itself!

England, 1120

When Henry I dies with no legitimate male heir, the nation is thrown into chaos.
The two rivals for the crown are Henry’s daughter Matilda and his nephew Stephen of Blois, both of whom are determined to emerge victorious.
A bitter struggle ensues which threatens to reduce England to a barren wasteland and many ordinary people find themselves torn apart from each other in the confusion of deciding which side to fight for.

One of those caught up in the fray is young soldier Richard Walsingham who is fighting alongside Stephen. But his sister Elinor is employed as a companion to Matilda.  As the family members come to terms with being on opposite sides of a treacherous dynastic conflict a new contender for the throne enters the picture. Which of the rivals will emerge triumphant? Can the nation be pieced back together again?

Or will more than lives be lost in this uncivil war…?

My Thoughts

Another great read from David Field....it covers The Anarchy period in England between Empress Matilda and the future King Stephen and although it didn't give me a whole lot of new information I hadn't read on this subject before, it did a great job of using fictional characters on each side of the conflict to both inform and entertain. I just love this series and now have only two left to finish. The next book covers King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and the book after that covers the reign of King Richard I, their son. I skipped these middle books awhile back because I already had so much knowledge of the time from reading the Sharon Penman books. But I think this year I'm going to finish them and then move on to his Tudor or Australia focused books. 

This story continues with the saga of the family from book one who are fictional characters, always placed into the drama and court royalty involved in the real history. I usually don't like this and prefer to stick to historical fiction with real people but I don't seem to mind in the Field books. He uses their story in a way that is readable and always sticks with what really happened. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: On the Wings of the Storm by Maggie Craig (Storm Over Scotland Book Four)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, On the Wings of the Storm, by Maggie Craig. I subscribe to her newsletter and I have read the first book in this series and although it was a bit more in the romance department than I usually like it was still good. 

I had forgotten about the series until I read the newsletter and saw book four was coming out. Of course now I'm behind, lol....always behind in my series reads. I love all things Scottish, Jacobite, Outlander-like, so I may need to start book two soon. If you want a good read about the lost Stuart cause with some romance thrown in, you will like this series. 

Historical Fiction, Scottish Historical Fiction

February 12, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Summer 1745: Prince Charles Edward Stuart has landed in the Highlands, igniting a rebellion that will set Scotland ablaze.

Redcoat Captain Robert Catto has painful personal reasons for hating all Jacobites with a passion. Except for one. Christian Rankeillor is a fiercely intelligent apothecary in Edinburgh. Her loyalty to the Jacobite Cause is unshakeable.

Now, as the Rising gathers force and loyalties harden into life-or-death choices, Catto must confront enemies on and off the battlefield as well as the ghosts of his troubled past.

On opposite sides of a brutal conflict, can Robert and Kirsty dare to hope against all the odds they might have a future together? Or will the coming storm destroy their last chance at love?

Stacking the Shelves #85

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

A Watery Grave by Joan Druett (Wiki Coffin Mysteries Book One)

Free with Kindle points

I love mysteries and books set at sea so this looked like a good one. It involves a half Maori sailor linguist, Wiki Coffin, who is set to voyage with the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838. When he is accused of murder he is left behind and only later can he try to join the fleet. Even though he has cleared his name, it is feared the real killer is on one of the ships headed to the Pacific Island Expedition Site. Coffin is now tasked with finding him.

Seeds of Empire by K.M. Ashman (Seeds of Empire Book One)

Free with Kindle Unlimited subscription

I always feel a little guilty that I love history (especially British history) yet don't know much about Ancient Rome, Julius Caesar, all the things.....I guess it just hasn't been a topic I'm super interested in. But I want to learn more and so I am always on the lookout for books like this that might teach and entertain me. This three volume series looks just long enough to cover Julius Caesar's life but not so detailed I'd be lost.

Women of the Anarchy by Sharon Bennett Connolly 

Free: Hoopla Borrow

I can't say enough how much I adore this author! Not only is she co-host of my favorite history podcast, A Slice of Medieval, she is highly knowledgeable of her subject and so accessible to her listeners and readers. Her facebook page is so personal with her book signings, travels, and updates. She is one who will respond to questions and comments as well. 

I can't get some of her books as easily as others especially the newer ones but this one was free to borrow. If you love Medieval history you must listen to her podcast or get her books!

Arsenic at Ascot by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book 4)

 

Publication Date:

November 28, 2023

Genre: 

Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery

Length:  

282 pages

Series:

Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

London, 1918 Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle. This year's Ascot themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity.

Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for the "mane" event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiancé Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and "stirrup" her plans. And when a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with some very hairy clues. Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be put out to pasture by the killer?

My Thoughts:

I have to admit I wasn't excited about this book even though I've really enjoyed the series so far. The location was not an exotic one and the plot about animal activism looked like a bit of a snooze. But I don't like to read series out of order or skip a book because I always miss something important. I listened to this on audiobook so that made it a bit more fun and bearable. Unfortunately, I was right in that this was my least favorite, but seemed to be a bridge to the next few books that are set in fun locations. So I'm glad I read it.

Fiona is excited to have her own case to work on and gets to disguise herself again as a man and infiltrate places she wouldn't normally go. She is not a super duper animal person but feels that there is value to protecting them and is sympathetic to the activists' cause. When the horse doctor at the country house she is visiting dies she has to shift her focus to that instead of just simply infiltrating the activist group. Fredricks is of course always lurking around, Archie shows up unexpectedly and Fiona is once again caught in the middle between the two.

This time she really starts to fall more for Fredricks charms. And that is the part of the book that is fun and necessary to read up on. Their relationship is next level in this book and hers and Archie's is a little back burner now. I had always thought Fredricks might not be the villain he's portrayed as and we will see how that unfolds in the next couple of books.

What I found slow was the mystery plot. There just wasn't enough there. Finding the doctor's murderer involved the usual questions and red herrings, yes, but I didn't find myself all that interested in the characters or their back stories. And the ending whoodunit wasn't super exciting or complicated I thought. 

This was still a good book. Fiona is funny and self deprecating and Kitty comes in about halfway through (with her doggie as usual) and helps to solve the case. Clifford from the war office is there as well with his overbearing personality and "know it allness." And there is the fun of dressing for Ascot and the country house scene. I have grown to really enjoy these characters and so I will be continuing with the series. 

The next book is set in Moscow and involves the Kremlin and the Bolshevik government circa 1918 so it should be exciting! 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Vanished in the Crowd by Rhys Bowen (A Molly Murphy Mystery Book 22)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Vanished in the Crowd, by Rhys Bowen. I have only read the first book in this series but I enjoyed it. So I know many people are loving them and want to know about the latest book. 

Molly investigates the case of a missing female scientist in 1909 New York. Taking place during the 300th celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River, it includes some historical elements that sound interesting. I know fans of the series will be excited for it! 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! 

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

March 10, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

New York is busier than ever as two million visitors come to the city to witness the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, marking the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. Parades, exhibitions, carnivals, and a marvelous display of the wonders of the latest invention, electricity, across the city make for two straight weeks of celebrations, which Molly and her family, along with their friends Sid and Gus, are excited to enjoy. But Molly is secretly dealing with financial troubles. She is too proud to ask her friends for a loan, but when they want to hire her as a detective she jumps at the chance.

Sid and Gus are hosting fellow Vassar graduates to take part in one of the parades but one of the women, a brilliant scientist, never shows up. It seems nobody knows where she is, including her husband. Is she trying to run away from her life or is it something more sinister? Why have the Vassar women really come to New York City? When Daniel asks Molly to spy on her friends and find out just what they are planning she finds her loyalties horribly divided. Then the parade turns deadly and only Molly has the tools to find out the truth.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: New Authors I Discovered in 2025

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025." I am going to list 10 authors that I hadn't heard of before or ones I now know about that would be added to my TBR pile. I have either read one of their books or own one to read this year. The link will take you to their Goodreads page if you want to see a full book list and bio. Happy reading!

1. Michael Jecks- Focusing on the first crusade, historical fiction on a subject that is hard to find

2. Abigail Keam- She runs a Facebook cozy mystery page I love and has written some cute cozies herself. 

3. Vanessa Kelly- Her cozy country house mysteries have a Jane Austen feel to them and look cute.

4. Michael Livingston- Non-fiction author focusing on medieval history...my favorite!

5. C.W. Gortner- His novels about more obscure queens intrigue me enough to start collecting them...Juana of Castile and Isabella of Castile are two that I want to read more about.

6. Raymond Wemmlinger- His novels also feature historical subjects less known....Queen Anne of Scotland is one I'd like to read about.

7. Beth Cowan-Erskine- she writes 1930's country house murder mysteries set in Scotland....and there are only two books so far so this might be a series I can actually stay caught up with.

8. Katherine Kurtz- She has written several novels about The Knights Templar and their origins. These books were written in the 1990's so they are becoming classics.

9. Jenny Telfer Chaplain- She writes "sweeping, historical family sagas" and the box set I have is set in Ireland and Scotland around the late Victorian era. 

10. Myra Hargrave McIlvain- Her novels and specialty is Texas historical fiction set in the mid-1800's.  I am from Texas so they looked intriguing. 

Do you know any of these great authors? Which of their books are you familiar with and would you recommend them?

Stacking the Shelves #84

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Murder On the Village Green by Rosie Hunt (Lady Felicity Mystery Book One)

Free with Rosie Hunt newsletter subscription

Rosie Hunt sends out her newsletter each week and it's really cute. She suggests other cozy mystery authors too and really shares some fun personal and book information. This week she gave away her first book in this series on Kindle. 

Lady Felicity is caught up in an English country mystery murder and it's the 1920's, everyone's favorite cozy historical time period. No, I don't need another series to start (10 books total) but i can't help myself when the author is so charming. And of course, the beautiful cover :) 

The Winter List by S.G. MacLean (Damian Seeker Book 6)

Kindle purchase: 99 cents this week

I bought this because it was on sale so cheap but I still haven't read this series. I keep trying to start but I get distracted by other books. I don't know why. Maybe I just haven't been in the mood for dark mysteries lately. This is the latest one so at least I'll have it when I want it. I own The Seeker, the first book and I've read and reviewed another S.G. MacLean book, The Bookseller of Inverness, and enjoyed it. 

This story takes place in 1660 right at the time of the restoration of Charles Stuart, something I know almost nothing about. It focuses on Damian Seeker's daughter, Manon, and her fear that her father will be found to be a traitor and spy to the former government, appearing on The Winter List of those who are being hunted down for execution. 

Westward To Freedom by David Field (The New World Nautical Saga Book Three)

Free with my Kindle Unlimited trial

I'm loving that Kindle Unlimited has all the David Field books but running out of time to read them all on the free trial I have. It ends mid February. So since I have read book one in this series, I need to try to read the other two before my membership expires. 

This book covers the adventure of the Pilgrims and The Mayflower voyage. I know a lot about this subject but Field always manages to add things I'd never heard before. I'm sure it will be a great read.

The Bastard by John Jakes (Kent Family Chronicles Book One)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1974

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

528 pages

Series:

Kent Family Chronicles

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Meet Phillipe Charboneau: the illegitimate son and unrecognized heir of the Duke of Kentland. Upon the Duke's death, Phillipe is denied his birthright and left to build a life of his own. Seeking all that the New World promises, he leaves London for America, shedding his past and preparing for the future by changing his name to Philip Kent. He arrives at the brink of the American Revolution, which tests his allegiances in ways he never imagined. The first volume of John Jakes's wildly successful and highly addictive Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard is a triumph of historical fiction.

My Thoughts:

I had forgotten how much I love John Jakes. And for most people their favorite series is his trilogy about the Civil War, North and South. I think the Kent Family Chronicles are far better and am wondering why on earth I have not finished them? I still have to read books 7 and 8. So they are definitely on my TBR list for this year. The Bastard I read years ago so this was a re-read for me but I'll admit I didn't read it super thoroughly the second time around. I am going back through them and reviewing them in preparation for the last two books. 

In this story we are introduced to Phillip Kent who has changed his very English name for a more American one. He is the patriarch of the subsequent stories and his family along with others will be followed throughout the series. Jakes does a great job of showing messy character flaws in his protagonists while also making you want to see them succeed. With Kent, we get to see the how and why of the American rebellion unfold and how it wasn't as easily had as we like to think today looking back in hindsight. 

There are multiple side stories, romance, battles....just about everyone will find something they like. It isn't just war focused but also focuses on the politics of how things came about. The emphasis on the family allows for drama as well, meaning you won't be bored if you are like me and don't want just military focused content. 

I loved knowing that it was just the beginning of the story of America, the Kent family, and historical accuracy. With this series I know Jakes wanted to honor American history and teach people about it in an entertaining way. He does a great job and the reading is easy enough for younger people, although there are some racy parts so I'd say older teens are fine but not any younger for a target audience. 

If you want to dive into a family saga with many twists and turns and learn some wonderful history along the way you will love this first book in a long series story. Jakes takes you all the way to the end of the 19th century.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book Seven)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Vengeance in Venice, by Erica Ruth Neubauer. This is another cozy mystery series I'm wanting to catch up on and I've read the first four books. I love the locations and the character development. The covers are pretty awesome too! In this one, Jane and Redvers are finally married but of course their honeymoon has to contain drama and murder. 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading y'all!

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

March 31, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

At long last, Jane and Redvers have arrived in Venice, the famed city of love, for their honeymoon. But behind a mask at a costume ball on the Grand Canal hides the gaze of a heartless killer.

Venice, 1927: As romantic as it is mysterious, the Floating City is a dream destination for the newlyweds, but they’ll soon discover the twisting canals hide more mystery than they expected. It begins when they are invited to an elaborate party at Clara Morton’s stunning palazzo on the Grand Canal. The affair is as eccentric as the hostess, who is dressed as Medusa, and features everything from snakes to her pet cheetah to tarot card readings.

The fete also features a fresh corpse—Clara’s ex-husband, found dead in the garden with marks around his neck. The hostess accuses the tarot card reader, who happens to be an acquaintance of Jane, claiming the woman foretold the death of someone close to her. Jane and Redvers come to the young woman’s aid as they learn she was far from the only partygoer with a motive. As the couple follows a labyrinthine trail of scandalous affairs, brazen blackmail, and people who are not who they say they are, they hope that Venice will disclose her secrets before they both end up in over their heads.