I received an advance reading copy of this book.

The Mapleton Police Chief has been suspended, and Ed Solomon has been appointed a reluctant interim Chief in this sleepy Colorado town. Because there isn’t a lot of police action in Mapleton, Ed has a history of looking for trouble where there isn’t any, and his latest pet project is looking for a deadbeat dad killer connected to a travel blog. As the interim Chief, now he’s bogged down with paperwork and administrative duties, leaving him little time to chase “zebras” when he hears hoof beats.

For those familiar with the “Deadly” Mapleton series, this is a peek into Solomon’s life, his family, his thought processes, and of course, understanding his need to connect all the dots in the case he’s been chasing. The “deadbeat dad” case brought danger to his doorstep at the end of Deadly Production, and the stakes are raised in this novella. Against the wishes of his wife, Ed sets himself up as the next target in the deadbeat dad killing organization. A satisfying conclusion to the deadbeat dad storyline that has run through the last several Mapleton books.

Tai Randolph has inherited a gun shop, so she picks up her life and moves in with her brother while she's relocating, only to find a dead woman sitting outside her brother's house. Her brother, away at training, directs her to a hotel for her own safety, but Tai isn't so easily bossed around. When she returns to her brother's house after her police interview, she discovers a private security firm "cleaning up" details that might link her brother to the dead woman. And things only escalate from there.

Trey Seavers is her "personal protection" agent, assigned to follow her around and keep her out of trouble. Trey, an ex-cop with a traumatic brain injury, is a very black and white kinda guy. His points of reference have changed since the accident, so he is strictly business in order to keep focused. Watching Tai is anything but a straightforward assignment, and she disrupts his orderly routines.

The mystery escalates as more bodies fall in the wake of whatever is going on, and Ms. Whittle takes us on a wild ride of espionage, cover-ups and betrayal, presenting us with a host of guilty parties all eligible to be murder suspects. I especially liked the pairing of Tai, a somewhat free-spirited loose cannon, with the orderly, OCD Trey, the way they counterbalanced each other and complimented each other. A well laid out whodunit that kept me reading.

This was one of my favorite books to write, from the beauty and mysticism of Sedona to cameos from family members who were a little off center in their books.

I made a trip to Sedona several years ago with the expressed intent to write about the vortexes, but I didn't have a strong enough story to do them justice. As I started writing RISING MIST, I knew I had the perfect setting for the final confrontation.

What other people think of you is none of your business

That's the lesson Sloan needs to learn, and patient, kind-hearted Roxie is just the person to teach it to him. A fun "lay it on the line" kind of romance filled with danger and hidden secrets that can tear livers apart. A big thumbs up

A charming Christmas novella - Ms. Ridley does not disappoint. Amelia is a control freak uber organizer, and at the ripe old age of 29, she figures if she doesn't get married, her brother won't, which means the family line won't continue. So she sets out to snare a husband, except it doesn't go quite according to her plan, or the contingency plan, or the perfect way she's laid things out. Fun, sweet, engaging, another thumbs up.

Oliver, the new Earl of Carlisle needs a *very* rich bride to pull the estate his profligate father left him out of debt. Grace Halton needs a rich husband to get medical attention for her mother, attention her grandparents doubt. Grace's mother ran away from home and moved to the Americas, leaving grandmother bitter and angry. But when Grace and Oliver meet, a gauche American woman infiltrating the ton, they each decide they have nothing to lose in sharing confidences with the other - which leads to two impoverished and desperate marriage seekers falling in love with each other, the two least acceptable matches to accomplish their goals.

The characterizations were sharp and witty, and Ms. Ridley's ability to spin a good story remains strong and true. I've read her gothic novels and enjoyed them as well - this one is more light-hearted and does not disappoint. I do have to say the sex probably wasn't warranted in this book. That they had the tension going all through the book was enough for me that I didn't need to sit in the marriage suite to watch the resolution to that. This might have been better done "door closed."

As always, I love Jill Shalvis books. Gripping, sexy, heart-warming. I do have to say that I didn't need each of these three novellas to start with "she needed an orgasm to make things better." Fine line between a sexy romance and erotica, and not stating the obvious would have made this book five stars for me. Love the chemistry between the characters, love the deep point of view and the strong, sexy heroes.

Set in medieval England, Marc de Marcel is a French hostage of lowly birth, sent to replace a noble, but his ransom is not forthcoming.

Cecily has lost both her parents, and is duty bound as the Countess of Losford to wed according to the king's pleasure. Until she happens on one of the hated French responsible for the deaths of her countrymen. Sheltered, there is much she doesn't know about the world, and the hostage chevalier becomes her tutor.

I loved Ms. Gifford's attention to historical details and was as impressed by her story notes as with the story itself. A heart rending tale of duty and honor.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I enjoyed these books, all interrelated. Although I'm a fan of romance novels, several of the tropes used were too similar, making very fast happily ever afters, so many of them all at once, a bit hard to chew. My favorite would have been the very first one, Ms. Curtis's story well written and well edited. The others were also well written, but might have benefited from a sharper pen. Minor issues, and yet noticeable.

Light hearted seasonal fluff, and I really did enjoy them overall.