Here are more reviews from this weekend:

Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy
Review: This is a continuation of the series.  It has a fairly implausible plot of assassination and a plan to discredit the President.  It plays out in a way that involves Ollie but is a bit farfetched.  There are papers hidden in a cookbook used as (wait for it...) a dead drop.  The action takes place as she's also in the process of serving a State Dinner.  As always, she is able to multi-task.  It ends with her surprise wedding – with the President, her family and her friends in  attendance.  Complete with toque (chef's hat) to which a veil had been sewn.  Sadly, against my better judgment, I liked the book.

Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy
Review: This book explores Ollie's father's death as an investigation that takes her out of the White House.  Her romance with Gav moves along. The romance in this novel is very chaste.  That 'his eyes twinkled when he looked at her' is as racy as it gets.  But a good read.  The book also deals with personality clashes and intrigues within the White House.

The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford
Review: An excellent mystery. The main characters are very moving and likeable. The outcome was a surprise.  I highly recommend it.

Murder at Mullings by Dorothy Cannell
Review: After the slow-moving first chapters, this book really picks up and becomes addicting.  I couldn't put it down.  It's a murder mystery taking place in 1930s Britain.  Florence Norris, the head housekeeper at the manor, is the sleuth here.  When a death occurs in the family, Florence is convinced that it was murder.  Can she figure out who is the murderer in their midst? This book has been compared to both Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs - and for once I think this is an apt comparison.  Definitely read this if you want to be whisked into a different place and time.

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain
Review: This is a last in a series about a female serial killer.  The protagonist Archie Sheridan - who was enthralled and tortured by her – is hunting her again.  His life is in ruins, but he still has power.  The book is a psychological thriller and makes you think about choices.  It is fascinating.  It also explores how - in today's culture - criminals become celebrities.

Hollywood Bound by Tony Nourmand and Peter Doggett
Review: Lush, gorgeous picture book of movie stills from roughly 1919-1967 featuring film stars (both male and female) in bondage of various sorts.  Although the pictures are completely chaste, I believe the point of the book is to be sexually titillating.  However, even if bondage is not your thing, this book is still worth reading because the pictures are huge, crisp,
and clear and the stars (Cary Grant, Bogie, Lauren Bacall, Veronica Lake among others) are very worth looking at.  99% of this book is pictures. Anyone with an appreciation for old films (and/or an interest in bondage) will love this gem of a book.