Mydworth Mysteries – A Little Night Murder by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

Mydworth Mysteries - A Little Night Murder (A Cosy Historical Mystery Series Book 2)Series: Mydworth Mysteries #2
Publication Date: 9/30/19
Number of Pages: 119

American Kat Reilly and Brit Sir Harry Mortimer are beginning to settle into their new life together in Mydworth. Kat is still a bit concerned that life in the quiet English countryside will be too quiet – especially since she’s not too fond of afternoon teas and other gentrified activities. Luckily, they’ve managed to keep busy with some local investigations – so maybe things won’t be too dull.

As much as Kat loved spending time admiring Harry working on his old motorbike that had been in storage since the war, she was really happy when their new phone rang. Nicola Green, from the WVS (Women’s Voluntary Service), was calling to ask Kat and Harry to stop by her office because she needed to speak with them.

The mother of a young poacher, Syd Buckman, doesn’t believe that her son died in an accident. Yes, the police have ruled that it was an accident, but she just doesn’t believe it. Her son was too good with guns to make such a rudimentary mistake. So, she approached Nicola and asked for her help and advice. Nicola, in turn, contacted Kat and Harry because of their reputations for solving mysteries.

At first, Kat and Harry were inclined to believe it really was an accident – but the more they learned, the more they became sure that Syd’s death wasn’t accidental. Why would anyone want to kill the young man? There are plenty of potential suspects around – other poachers, the owner of the land on which he was poaching, the land steward, a friend with whom he’d had an argument, even his father.

The investigation continues apace and leads in many directions – until at last, the final clues are revealed and the murder is finally solved.

I am really enjoying this series that reminds me a bit of the old Thin Man movies with the lighthearted banter between Kat and Harry – except Kat is more of a fully participating partner than Nora was in the movies. Definitely an entertaining read!

A Kiss for Christmas: Holiday Short Stories by Caroline Linden

A Kiss for Christmas: Holiday Short StoriesA Kiss for Christmas: Holiday Short Stories by Caroline Linden

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: None – but has holiday epilogues for 2 different series.

Release Date: November 18, 2019

This was an absolutely delightful collection of short stories! In addition to five unconnected short stories, there are also two holiday themed extended epilogues (one for What a Woman Wants and one for A Rake’s Guide to Seduction) and if that wasn’t enough – there is also a short novella that is a prequel of sorts to the Scandalous Series!!!

Bel Astre que j’adore: 4 stars – A French Courtesan and an English Solider make an unlikely pair in this very short, very sweet story.

My True Love Gave to Me: 4 stars – A newly married innkeeper and his wife are snowed in alone at their inn for the first time and finally have time to share what is in their hearts.

Adeste Fideles: 4 stars – A returning solider and a widowed lady find they have more in common than they expected when their dogs become friends.

What a Woman Needs for Christmas: 4 stars – Charlotte gets a very welcomed visitor in this sweet holiday epilogue from the novel What a Woman Needs.

A Scot of Her Own: 5 stars – Celica’s mother, Rosalind, the Duchess of Exeter believed that her son-in-law Anthony’s uncle has serious intentions towards her, but after months with barely any word, Rosalind has decided she was mistaken and tells herself to forget him. Patrick Murray, the Earl of Wakefield, has loved Rosalind almost since the moment he met her, but things beyond his control have kept them apart and he hopes his Christmas wish will come true and restore his love to him in this holiday epilogue for the novel A Rake’s Guide to Seduction.

Grace’s Christmas Hero: 4 stars – This story follows Grace and Oliver for 18 years and lets the read share in their sweet love story.

A Kiss for Christmas: 5 stars – Clara Hampton believes her fate is set, she will marry the local baronet’s son Johnathan Mortimer and they will live happily ever after, it seems like everything is going according to expectations, until Johnathan leaves their small town and goes to London. When he returns, he is not the same young man and seems to have no interest in Clara. Bewildered, yet still willing to marry him, Clara sets out to recapture his interest, but finds herself instead attracting the attention of the very handsome, very eligible Thomas Weston. Thomas is a solicitor who has been hired by Johnathan’s father to clean up mess Johnathan made and to keep him on the straight and narrow. But one look at Clara and Thomas is captivated. Will Clara pine after Johnathan or will she realize that Thomas is the only hero for her? Very cute, very sweet story.

All the stories were awesome, none of them have any love scenes (beyond a kiss), but they are all well written, enjoyable little tidbits that only take a few minutes to read. I really enjoyed this collection and am happy to recommend the book!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eBook that was provided to me.*