Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first listened to the sample because the plot sounded good. I bought it (from Audible.com) because the narrator was excellent! I was not disappointed.

What do you do if you are a ROYAL but penniless? Your royal father is dead but your mother, a beautiful often married non-royal. Your maternal grandfather is an ex-bobbie. Your half brother is a ROYAL married to penny pincher who has little love for you and would like to get you married off as soon as possible.

Why you go off to London to the "family" house. With no money, no servants can be hired to lay fires or turn on the boiler for heating the water for the bath. Thank God for the grandfather who can teach!

Ok, lodging in hand and house tidied (by your hand). Next item is MONEY. You can't hire yourself out as a maid...what would the queen say! Besides, you don't really know how to do that job. But having open the family town house, you could do that and none would be the wiser...hopefully.

When dressed as a maid, you enter empty homes, get things readied for the family's return and leave. If someone enters unexpected, no one notices you if you keep your head down, do your work and get out after all, you are dressed as a maid.

This is how it starts.

There is the QUEEN who wants our heroine to do her a favor and spy on Cousin Dave and "that woman".

There is a ROYAL the family thinks would be a "good match" (doubtful).

Brother comes to town.

Strange things start to happen. Is she just more clumsy than normal or is someone trying to kill her?

A dead body is found in the bathtub.

Brother leaves town.

Who is the dead man? Why was he killed? Who did it? (Can't blame it on the butler, there is none.) Did Brother do it? Surely not!

There is still house party to go to to meet her "potential" husband, to watch Cousin David and Mrs. Simpson, while pondering who the murderer is (all suspects will be in attendance). All this will make it hard to enjoy the perks of being a royal when she is not only trying to ferret out a killer but avoid being the next victim!

Pillow Puppy

When your pet boy is away, his pillow is your pillow! So says Oscar Wild.

The Blight Way by Patrick F. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sheriff Bo Tully gets a call from one of his citizens who he jailed and later did the same to his sons. He wants the sheriff to come out about a dead body draped over one of his fences. Having viewed the corpse through binoculars, he gives a description of said corpse; white, pinstriped suit, one shoe on, one off but covered with a black sock...not the style of the average citizens.

Thus the story begins. It's a ton of fun with some really good lines added to a good mystery.

Dead Center by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Andy Carpenter, the Paterson, N.J., lawyer whose wealth allows him to work as seldom as he chooses, is recovering from the loss of the love of his life, Laurie Collins, who has moved home to Findlay, Wis., to become the acting chief of police. When Laurie calls Andy for help after arresting 21-year-old Jeremy Davidson for murders that she thinks he didn't commit, Andy can't resist heading off to Findlay with his faithful dog, Tara."

Who should read or listen to this one? People who love a good mystery. People who enjoy humor. People who enjoy the romance between Andy and Laurie. People like ME!

Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lt. Eve Dallas not only has to fight a mad bomber but solve a murder mystery ...wait, could the 2 be connected? If so, How and Why?

Read or listen and find out for yourself! It's very exciting!

Sex, Murder And A Double Latte by Kyra Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Remember, I've read other of Kyra Davis' books...not in order...love books you don't have to read in order to enjoy!

This series is witty and quick and great fun! Perfect for a cozy read or listen when the weather is icky or you just need a bit of a giggle. In this one we have art and murder and new men but who is the really bad boy? A Russian who is not who he "claims" to be, an artist who's work some people think a 5 year old could do, or a vampire want to be?

I'll never tell, so you better go get a copy of your own!

Chesty got a hair cut!

 I'm sitting! I'm sitting! Give me the cookie!!!

 I brought her the moonkee but she keeps playing with the outer! 

Ok, I know it's silly but you gotta get baby pictures in the first year!