The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

Title: The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love
Author: India Holton
Published: July 23, 2024 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Paperback 384 Pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy Rom-Com
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Love's Academic #1

First Sentence: It was a fine day for birding.

Blurb: Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon.

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals.

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

My Opinion: *A delightful oddity of a book. It took me nearly halfway through to fully wrap my head around the multiple layers, but once I did, it was a fun ride! Imagine a mash-up of historical fiction, fantasy, and rom-com, with characters that feel like a quirky blend of Veronica Speedwell and Stoker, or Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby.

Takes place in late 19th century England, two rival and celebrated ornithologists, Beth Pickering and Devon Lockley, are on a wild and hilarious quest for a magical bird. Lockley is charming and handsome, sure, but also a total rival. Beth, being the genius she is, decides to keep her distance. Devon, however, is completely smitten by Beth’s brilliance and beauty. But, professional rivals, right? They can’t get too close… or can they?

There is now a new competition to capture the endangered caladrius bird. Beth and Devon are forced to team up, and suddenly, keeping their distance isn’t so easy. One bed or two? Decisions, decisions. But with "fowl" play afoot, they have no choice but to trust each other. And let me tell you, the humor and spice in this enemies-to-lovers tale are just perfect.

I had a real “duh” moment when I finally got the secondary meaning of the book’s title, or at least what I think it is. Sometimes I can be so dense! But once I did, it added a whole new layer to the story, especially with the publicists acting as puppet masters. Despite my initial confusion, I ended up loving this book. And yes, I will continue with the series. We’ll meet new characters in the next installment, one of whom is already introduced in The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love. A crossover series? Count me in!

Reading Between the Lies

Title: Reading Between the Lies
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Published: August 6, 2024 by Kensington
Format: Kindle, Paperback 201 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Survivors' Book Club Mystery #4

First Sentence: Rarity Cole loved date night.

Blurb: Bookshop owner Rarity Cole is living her best life after surviving cancer—hosting book clubs, classes, and parties at her store, The Next Chapter, and giving back to her community in Sedona, Arizona. But an awkward outing to an art gallery is about to add a dark slant to the picture . . .

Rarity is grateful for many things and people in her new life, including her friend Shirley, who is helping to provide backpacks and supplies for kids going back to school. But Shirley needs a big favor. With her husband in a memory-care home, she wants to attend an art opening with a male friend but fears local gossip. She asks Rarity, her friend Sam, and their boyfriends to come along as cover. It would be fun if not for the fact that the two couples are barely speaking…

The evening proceeds without any social disasters. But the featured artist—who struck Rarity as more of a spoiled playboy—is later found dead with an arrow in his back. Any lingering tensions must be set aside so the amateur sleuths can find an archer who may have taken the idea of pointed criticism a bit too literally. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: Reading Between the Lies by Lynn Cahoon left me feeling quite disappointed. I’m unsure if my tastes have evolved or if Cahoon’s writing has declined, but her recent books, including this one, haven’t resonated with me. The story feels more like a rough draft, filled with disjointed ideas and tangents, rather than a polished narrative with engaging characters and a plausible plot.

Given that Cahoon has published over 40 books and is an award-winning author, I expected much more. Unfortunately, I only made it halfway through Reading Between the Lies before resorting to skimming the rest. By the end, I was indifferent to the plot, the characters, and the setting.

I think I’ve reached my limit with this series. However, I plan to give her Tourist Trap series one more chance before deciding whether Lynn Cahoon remains on my TBR list. Here’s hoping for a return to the engaging storytelling that initially drew me to her work.

Shades of Mercy

Title: Shades of Mercy
Author: Bruce Borgos
Published: July 16, 2024 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover 352 Pages
Genre: Police Procedural
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Porter Beck #2

First Sentence: At 92,000 feet, the Vulture suddenly developed a mind of its own.

Blurb: Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, doing the same lawman's job his father once did now that he's returned home after decades away. With his twelve person department, they cover a large area that is usually very quiet, but not of late. One childhood friend is the latest to succumb to a new wave of particularly strong illegal opioids, another childhood friend—now an enormously successful rancher—is targeted by a military drone, hacked and commandeered by an unknown source. The hacker is apparently local—local enough to call out Beck by name—and that means they are Beck's problem.

Beck's investigation leads him to Mercy Vaughn, the one known hacker in the area. The problem is that she's a teenager, locked up with no computer access at the secure juvenile detention center. But there's something Mercy that doesn't sit quite right with Beck. But when Mercy disappears, Beck understands that she's in danger and time is running out for all of them.

My Opinion: Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos is a must-read that will captivate you from the very first page. Borgos, an author who truly deserves more recognition, has crafted a story that is both gripping and unforgettable.

The novel centers on Sheriff Porter Beck, a determined lawman facing the challenges of a degenerative illness. His unwavering resolve and straightforward approach are truly admirable. Beck’s sister, with her courage and determination, adds another layer of depth to the story. The community’s steadfast support for their sheriff, always ready to lend a hand, is both touching and integral to the plot.

The book features several graphic and intense scenes, but they are essential to the storyline and never feel gratuitous. Borgos strikes a perfect balance, incorporating just enough technology to intrigue without overwhelming the reader.

One of the most thrilling aspects is the raging fire that threatens the team. This, combined with the presence of some dubious characters, creates a tense and suspenseful atmosphere as they work to rescue those in over their heads.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book, The Blue Horse, expected in the summer of 2025. If it’s anything like Shades of Mercy, it promises to be another enthralling read.

Book Lovers

Title: Book Lovers
Author: Emily Henry
Published: May 3, 2022 by Berkley
Format: Hardcover, 377 Pages
Genre: Romance

First Sentence: When books are your life—or in my case, your job— you get pretty good at guessing where a story is going.

Blurb: Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

My Opinion: I absolutely loved the banter in the early part of Book Lovers. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Nora and Charlie was engaging and filled with witty exchanges that kept me hooked. However, when the storyline shifted to focus more on family drama, I found myself losing interest. The transition from the sharp, humorous interactions to the more serious family issues felt jarring.

As expected, the book concluded with a happily ever after, but I found the last quarter of the book to be slow and somewhat uninteresting. The pacing seemed to drag, and the resolution felt predictable.

I know that romance books are not typically my genre, but I keep trying them in hopes that one day, I’ll find one that truly resonates with me. Despite my mixed feelings about Book Lovers, I appreciate the effort to blend romance with deeper themes, even if it didn’t quite hit the mark for me this time.