Books 1-7

 Bloody River Blues by Jeffery Deaver

Well, that wasn't a good start to the year! I read 125 pages (which was more than a third of the book) and I just couldn't get into it. I found it to be so boring and taking a long time to get anywhere. Too many other good books to waste my time on one I'm not liking.

Not counting this book.

When Murder Comes Home by Shana Frost

Ten guests, two murders, one inn. Who is responsible?
Aileen Mackinnon ditched spreadsheets and a steady salary for the adventurous shores of Loch Fuar in the Scottish Highlands.
Now she's an amateur innkeeper to ten guests. But when one is murdered in his bed and an heirloom goes missing, can Aileen save the inn?
DI Callan Cameron won't have her nosing about, but with another body he has little choice in the matter.
Tension sizzles as Aileen and Callan step into a world of murders, fibs and heists. They might not always see eye to eye, but can they agree whodunnit?

I enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing to the end.  This is a first book in a series so there will be a lot more of the two main characters.

Come Get Me by Molly Black

When two dead bodies are found oddly staged on trains across the country, the FBI realizes a serial killer is at work. FBI BAU Special Agent Caitlin Dare wants to escape her dark past and never ride a train again. But when she is assigned to spearhead the case, Caitlin realizes she will have to play cat and mouse with this diabolical killer—even if it means facing her worst childhood fears.

Good book. Kept me reading, wanting to find out who did it and how he would get caught.

The Social Affair by Britney King

A timeless, perfect couple waltzes into the small coffee shop where Izzy Lewis works. Instantly enamored, she does what she always does in situations like these: she searches them out on social media.
Just like that—with the tap of a screen— she’s given a front row seat to the Dunns’ picturesque life. This time, she’s certain she’s found what she’s been searching for. This time, she'll go to whatever lengths it takes to ensure she gets it right—even if this means doing the unthinkable.

Well, this was a little weird, with quite the twist at the end!

Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts

--Irish Thoroughbred

There’s nothing left for Adelia Cunnane in Ireland. The aunt she cared for has passed, and the family farm has been sold for taxes. But her uncle Paddy has written her: Come to America…The Maryland horse farm where Paddy lives and works is more than Dee dared to dream about. She has always had a magical touch with animals, and here she finds employment in the stables—and a chance to fly, on the muscular back of Travis Grant’s chestnut thoroughbred. It’s easy to put aside a passing pang of homesickness when she can spend her first paycheck—which feels like a veritable fortune—on the feminine frivolities that were never a part of her life in the old country. But the most unfamiliar territory of all is her relationship with her boss, the man who has made all this possible. Spirited but innocent, Dee is disconcerted by the way he treats her—and the way she responds. America may be the land of opportunity, a place where even those from the humblest background can pursue what they want—and, perhaps, even find themselves one day attending the Kentucky Derby. But some divides may be too wide to cross, and Dee fears that demanding more could cost her all that she’s already gained

--Irish Rose

Burke Logan had traveled to a small Irish village to buy horses, and found a spirited filly he refused to leave without—a freckled, fiery-haired beauty by the name of Erin McKinnon... The rough and rugged stable owner offered her a job in America, and Erin bid goodbye to Skibbereen. She would keep his books in order, but how would she keep her heart from breaking?

These two books were the typical Nora Roberts light romances. Boy meets girl, they hate each other, they love each other, they live happily ever after.  

Don't Cry Alone by Josephine Cox

Beth is a woman of rare courage and fortitude, but there is danger and heartbreak to be endured before she can find peace and happiness...

Beth Ward and Tyler Blacklock share a love they know will last forever. But Beth's mother, Esther, is jealous of the girl and seizes an opportunity to be rid of her daughter. Banished in disgrace from the family home, Beth takes the northbound train and alights at Blackburn, friendless and alone.

On this day, Fortune smiles, for Beth is taken in by warm-hearted Maisie Armstrong, a widow with two children. Money is scarce, but love abounds in the cozy house on Larkhill, and Beth is content there to await the birth of her child. But she cannot forget Tyler, and is tormented by the belief that he has betrayed her.

I did enjoy this book but it really dragged on and on in parts.  I think the ending was very predictable as well.

The Home Front Girls by Susanna Bavin

The war is raging in Europe. These girls will do everything they can on the home front – but is a happy ever after possible in such dark and uncertain times? Manchester, 1940: The minute war was declared, best friends Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard, willing to do anything to help their boys fighting overseas. An Auxiliary Fire Service girl by night, Sally ends up stationed at the salvage depot by day. Working amidst the scrap metal and waste paper, helping to make do and mend, isn’t quite the glamorous life in uniform she’d imagined! But she’s determined to do her best, and turn saucepans into Spitfires. When Sally meets Andrew, a quiet carpenter with a heart-breaking smile who understands how important her work is, she finally feels as though her efforts to keep calm and carry on are making a difference. As love blossoms, Sally feels herself opening up to Andrew in a way she’d never imagined possible. But then, just as Sally feels as hopeful as she can be in these times of war, a devastating air raid threatens everything she holds dear. As bombs rain down all over Manchester, deadly fires begin to destroy homes, and lives. With Andrew out rescuing families from the rubble, Sally rushes towards the plumes of smoke that fill the night sky. And is horrified to realize the very worst hit area has the salvage yard right at its heart. Desperate to help in any way she can, Sally, with her fellow salvage girls by her side, sets to work. But what will they find when the smoke clears? Will Sally and Andrew get the happy ending they so deserve? Or will her one chance at true love be lost forever as the morning dawns…?

This was quite an interesting story.  Learning about what happened in the departments of food and salvage. People really did work hard with their regular jobs and then the volunteer work to help the war effort.

Books 31-36

 Tango one by Stephen Leather

In different parts of London, three recruits prepare for their first day at the Metropolitan Police's training centre at Hendon. All three had succeeded in getting into the police in spite of weaknesses. But on their first day, the assistant commissioner announces that he wants them to join a team of undercover detectives. Their brief? To become criminals; to work their way up through whatever criminal organisations they can get access to, and to collate evidence against the criminals they come across. Their target? One of the world's biggest drug dealers. Den Donovan, alias 'Tango One' - number one on HM Customs and Excise List of most wanted criminals. Three years later all the recruits are getting close to their target. Too close, perhaps, to remember the rules...

This was a great book, this is a page-turner and even coming toward the end I had no idea how it would all end   It's fast moving and keeps you guessing right to the end as to what will happen.  The twist at the end was such a surprise.

Her Secret Crime by Tikiri Herath

Sometimes, it’s your own family who wants you dead….
It’s midnight.
FBI Special Agent Tanya Stone and her K9 dog, Max, arrive at a private island to investigate a suspicious death.
Tanya is undercover, on the pursuit of a vicious organized crime ring. What she doesn’t expect to find is the matriarch of the Kensington family had just shot herself in the head.
Her blood-soaked face lies immobile on her gold-rimmed plate, red splatters on the sterling silver and pristine tablecloth.
But a deadlier danger lurks in the shadows.
A new terror rips through the mansion as a killer targets the remaining family members.
One by one.
Tanya fights off disturbing memories of her own mother’s brutal death to hunt the mysterious murderer.
First, she’ll have to confront the liars, swindlers, and impostors, because everyone in this twisted house is hiding a dark secret.
But one truth is chillingly clear.
The killer will protect a horrific family past by any means necessary. And their next targets are Tanya and Max….

This was a good story and kept my interest but some of the things that happened were pretty far fetched and unrealistic!

After He Took by Rylie Dark

As a former corrections officer at a prison of ruthless inmates, Detective Sloane Riddle is persistently tormented by memories of the prison system. Now, she uses her insight into criminal psychology to solve murders and high-profile cases—but will success come at the risk of her own safety?
When several convicts vanish into the desert night during a prison break, Sloane faces off against suspects from her past life as a corrections officer. Haunted by chilling memories, she must untangle a snare of deadly clues before another body turns up.

This was pretty good, it did keep me guessing and interested.

Last Kiss by Luanne Rice

A face on a poster, a name in the news, an inexplicable tragedy. A promising young man goes out one warm summer evening and is found dead—murdered—less than twenty-four hours later. No motive. No clues. No answers. Most people reflect briefly on the disturbing headlines, perhaps say a silent prayer of safely removed sympathy, and go on with their lives. But what if the young man was your son? Or your true love?
Nearly a year after the death of eighteen-year-old Charlie, singer-songwriter Sheridan Rosslare still hasn’t played a note of the music that was once her life’s passion. Tucked away in the beach house where she raised her only child, she lives with her memories of him and a grief too big to share even with her beloved sisters or her dear friend Stevie Moore. Nor can Stevie comfort Charlie’s heartbroken girlfriend, Nell Kilvert, whom she regards as a daughter. Nell won’t rest until she finds out what really happened to the boy she loved. Out of the past she summons a man she believes cares enough, and is tough enough, to uncover the truth—Sheridan’s long-ago soul mate, Gavin Dawson.
Now Gavin’s boat, the Squire Toby, sits anchored in the harbor within sight of the window of the woman he once loved, still loves, and will always love. Sheridan, too, had once fervently believed in the miraculous power of love and healing, forgiveness, connection, and reconnection. But that faith died along with her son….

Several tear jerky moments. It was a good read but parts of it dragged on and on.

You'll Be Sorry by Ava Strong

Police officer and single mom Megan York is doing her best to raise her daughter in her small Midwestern town, hoping her past won’t come back to haunt her and that her violent ex won’t be released from prison. But when women turn up murdered on local sailboats, victims of a serial killer, Megan must enter the mind of a killer and tackle the toughest case of her career—while her ex comes up for parole. Can Megan stop a killer—and save her family?

This was good and scary and kept my interest . The police were always racing to beat the clock to try to get ahead of the killer.  

Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz

Elizabeth Cabot is all business. She knows how to maximize her investments and cut her losses--in both her career and her personal life.
So when she discovers that Jack Fairfax has deceived her, she's determined to end their relationship. Putting a stop to their budding romance is easy. But breaking up their business deal will be more difficult. Despite all her efforts, she has no luck disentangling herself from Jack's client company, Excalibur. But the situation becomes even more strained when a new obstacle a lethal act of sabotage that could put both of them out of business for good.
Elizabeth is no fool. If she can help Jack save Excalibur, she'll recoup her substantial investment plus millions in profit. Putting her emotions aside, she insists on helping him search for the scientist who's disappeared with a valuable new crystal that could revolutionize the high-tech industry. She'll go in, solve the problem--and get out.
The trail leads Elizabeth and Jack to a fringe film festival, but their goal is as elusive as the shadowy black-and-white images from classic noir films. Life starts to imitate art, and double-dealing seems to be the name of the game. For these business adversaries turned reluctant partners, keeping an eye on each other--and the lid on a sizzling attraction--seems the only insurance against further treachery. But with millions at stake, trust can turn to betrayal in the blink of an eye.

The story line was okay but the main characters were a bit of a pain and a lot of their interactions were unrealistic.

Well finally I'm posting the last of my 2025 books read. I had such good intensions of keeping ahead of this posting but didn't seem to work out that way. I'm also kind of surprised that I only read 36 books last year!  Don't know why but it is what it is!. Hopefully I'll keep up with posting this year.