"The Mountain Man's wife" by Florence Linnington

Travis has returned to a long empty house after he had gotten word that his father had died several years earlier, leaving him everything. He'd been happy with his roaming lifestyle, but now is realizing how lonely he is and has begun thinking that having a wife to come home to would be nice. And when he meets a woman named Ruby, he seems to think that maybe he has found her.

Ruby lives with her brother, who refuses to listen to her advice. She knows that the soil on their land is unable to grow anything, but her brother refuses to give up or accept help or advice from anyone. So when she gets the opportunity to marry a man who actually listens to her and is willing to take her advice, she agrees and marries him right away.

This is a sweet story that focuses on love in several forms. The expected conflict is not between Travis and Ruby, who are well suited to each other. Instead, the conflict in this book comes from a gang that comes to town looking for two young children who have run away. Though clearly there is more to that story.

This was one of Ms. Linnington's best tales so far. It doesn't follow the usual plotline of a mail order bride story, and that only managed to increase my enjoyment of it. If you've enjoyed any of Ms. Linnington's other books, please don't skip this one. It's an enjoyable story that just might tug a bit at your heartstrings a bit.

"Tw'elf Knight" by Nova Nelson

As the four Knights were reading for their first joust of the morning at the magical renaissance fair they had each been cursed to remain in forever, the body of a female elf is found in the stables. She appears to have fallen through the roof, though when and how was a mystery as no one had seen or heard it happen, though it had clearly been a recent death. Now, Sir Olivia seeks to solve this murder, even if it seems to implicate the man who she had begun to develop feelings for.

This was the fifth book in the magical renaissance fair mysteries. I found it to be quite entertaining and very fun to read. There were a number or unexpected twists that added to the difficulty for Olivia to find the truth and the murderer. This story builds on the earlier books in the series and continues to amuse me with the antics of several of the characters. Pax the dove, in particular, who used to be the wings of an angel kept me snickering at his misbehaving nature. 

I enjoyed this book just as much as the rest of the series. I believe that anyone who has read any.of the other books in this series or who enjoys cozy mysteries, fantasy stories, or renaissance faires would enjoy this book as much as I did. 

"Blameless" written by Gail Carriger, read by Emily Gray

Alexia has been thrown out by her husband after he assumes that there is no way that he could be the father of her baby due to his being a werewolf. And once the news that her husband believes her to have been unfaithful spreads, her family also tells her to leave their home. And having lost the protection of the Woolsey werewolf pack, the vampires begin in earnest to try and have her killed. It can only be assumed that they know something about the child she carries that no one else does, and for some reason it causes them to want to destroy her unborn child, and they will do everything they can to make that happen.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this book. The narrator, as with the previous two books, did an excellent job of differentiating between each of the characters, allowing no accidental confusion as to which character is speaking at any point in the story. The only real complaint that I have is that there seems to be unusually long pauses between the segments of this story. Several were long enough that I had to  check to make sure my book was still actually playing and not become paused somehow.

But that issue aside, it was a good story and I feel that this is an audiobook that should appeal to anyone who has either read or listened to the previous books in the series. It should also appeal to those who enjoy vampire and werewolf stories, and in particular to those who enjoy a bit of steampunk.

"Fairy wives of Windsor" by Trixie Silvertale

Coriander the fairy runs the fortune teller's tent in a cursed renaissance faire where the traveling performers are all magical beings who are under a curse that does not allow them to ever leave. On the day this story takes place, the body of another member of the faire falls out of her caravan when she goes to set up her tent. Calling her friend Fraxi for help, it is at this point that the lazy and incompetent sheriff comes by and sees Fraxi touching the body as she tries to see who it is and immediately arrests her for the murder. Now it is up to Coriander to figure out who actually killed Winston, why, and how they did it so that Fraxi won't be the one punished for the crime.

Like the first three books in this series, this was a very fun read that held my interest from the beginning through to the end, where there were a few very big surprises. It was well written and very entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, cozy mysteries, and renaissance faires. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this or any of the previous books in the series. I know I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book in this series.

"The Englisher" by Samantha Price

Florence has eloped with Carter Braithwaite & the two of them couldn't be more happy together. She doesn't regret the decision to leave the Amish lifestyle, though she misses her orchard and her family. Her stepmother Wilma is set to marry Levi and has declared that he will run the orchard, even though he has no idea how or even what needs to be done. 

This series just keeps getting better and better as it continues on. I've been enjoying watching Florence learn more about living a non-Amish lifestyle while doing her best to help her family whenever possible.

There is a heart & depth to the story & series that keeps me coming back to find out what happens next. I believe that anyone who has enjoyed the previous books in the series, or Amish romance novels will enjoy this book as much as I did.