The Christmas Bell Mystery by Benedict Brown

 

Christopher meets a young woman on a train who is in distress. Ever the gallant rescuer, Christopher talks his grandfather into finding the girl in hopes of saving her grandfather from being murdered. This is how this Christmas story begins for Christopher and his family. 

Once more Christopher and his grandfather are on the case. There is a murder, but not who they expected. Chrissy once again is on the right track but he doesn't quite manage to get to the correct conclusion. But never fear, the great detective and Chrissy's mentor, Lord Edgington, is also on the case and nothing gets by him. With a houseful of suspects, Chrissy and Edgington have their work cut out for them uncovering family secrets. It is always fun to read a Lord Edgington Investigates mystery and this one does not disappoint. I love a good Christmas story and so does Chrissy! I think you will enjoy this one too! It's a good read any time of year, not just for Christmas! I read it in May!

Lost Lake by Susan Sleeman

 

When Gabe's best friend Kenna calls and tells him she's scared and heading to see him Gabe worries when she doesn't show up. Where could Kenna and her daughter be? Soon Kenna's body is found. But where is Lucy her daughter? Gabe and Elaina, a detective on the force, team up to find Lucy. They know they are racing against the clock to find a killer and an abductor. Will they be able to overcome their pasts to find a lost little girl before it is too late?

I think this is one of my favorites in this series. There was a good amount of romance and also a good amount of suspense to keep me turning the pages. I loved El and Gabe together. They knew they cared for each other and there wasn't a lot of denial in that. They just had to figure out if they could make it work. There was the right amount of suspense to keep the reader interested, but not over the top. We once again got to see how the Lost Lake Team supports each other and how well they work with law-enforcement. I always have to mention the spiritual aspect of this author's writing. I like the way the characters struggle with their faith, yet they don't let go of it. The author portray's faith in a very real way that allows the reader to relate and know that struggles with faith are real and can be overcome. I definitely recommend this series and this book!

The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson

 

Christine is in search of family that she only recently found out she had. She finds her biological grandmother who mistakenly thinks that Christine is applying for a housekeeper job. Christine would like to learn more of who her biological parents were, but maybe some skeletons are better left in the closet!

The writing reminded me a bit of Grace Livingston Hill. An innocent girl, a sinful world, and all works out in the end. I enjoyed reading this even though we are not anywhere near Christmas at the moment. It was an enjoyable and quick read and I would recommend it to those that enjoy a heart-warming story around the holidays.

Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller

 

EJ(Emma Jane) and her best friend Jordan have created a dating app called Dream Match. They have worked for years on it. Ever since EJ was young she has been driven to succeed. Now she is close to her goal and she is determined to reach it even if it means alienating her best friend and her family. Will EJ realize what she already has before it is too late?

This is the second book in The Silver Teapot series. I have to say I liked the first one better. Although this is loosely based on Emma by Jane Austen it is very loose. As in similar names, and maybe a bit of Mr. Knightley setting Emma straight. Just as I had a hard time getting through Emma, I had a hard time getting through this book. And oddly it wasn't because I didn't like it, it just moved along rather slowly. So should I say ploddingly? I definitely didn't care for EJ's character. She was driven. It made her harsh and a bit blind to what was going on around her. For a smart person it took her awhile to come to her senses. I liked Jordan's character. Above all else he told Emma the truth...until he didn't. He never lied to her, he just avoided her. He was harsh, and then he avoided her. It confused her and their friendship wasn't based on confusion. But as in Emma, everything worked out in the end and EJ once again became a character I could like. The third book, Not So Very Sensible, comes out in October of 2026. The description sounds good so I will most definitely read it. As for Not Precisely Mr. Knightley, like EJ, I was determined to reach my goal by finishing the book. I found that it was worth it in the end and I'm glad I stuck with it. If you read it let me know what you think!