Monthly Rereads October 2024

The Pilot & the Puck-up by Pippa Grant 

Four stars

This book came out February 16th, 2018

The Copper Valley Thrusters #1

Followed by Royally Pucked

Ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Beauty and the Beefcake by Pippa Grant

Three and a half stars

The Copper Valley Thrusters #3

Follows Royally Pucked

Followed by Charming as Puck

This book came out May 17th, 2018

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Charming as Puck by Pippa Grant

Three stars

This book came out February 1st, 2019

Copper Valley Thrusters #4

Follows Beauty and the Beefcake

Followed by I Pucking Love You
Borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited

I Pucking Love You by Pippa Grant

This book came out April 8th, 2021

Copper Valley Thrusters #5

Follows Charming as Puck

Followed by The Secret Hook-Up

Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Rockaway Bride by Pippa Grant

This book came out June 29th, 2018

Girl Band #3

Follows Stud in the Stacks

Followed by The Hero and the Hacktivist

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

The Hero and the Hacktivist by Pippa Grant

This book came out November 9th, 2018

Girl Band #4

Follows Rockaway Bride

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Liar Liar Hearts on Fire by Pippa Grant

Bro Code #3

Three stars

Follows America's Geekheart

Followed by Master Baker
This book came out March 24th, 2020
Borrowed this as a Kindle Unlimited book
Opinions are my own

The Hot Mess and the Heartthrob by Pippa Grant 

Follows Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire

Bro Code #4

This book came out January 7th, 2021

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Jock Blocked by Pippa Grant

Copper Valley Fireballs #1

Three stars

Followed by Real Fake Love
This book came out May 19th, 2020
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Real Fake Love by Pippa Grant

This book came out September 3rd, 2020

Copper Valley Fireballs #2

Three and a half stars

Follows Jock Blocked

Followed by The Grumpy Player Next Door

Opinions are my own

The Grumpy Player Next Door by Pippa Grant

Three stars

Copper Valley Fireballs #3

This book came out July 8th, 2021

Copper Valley Fireballs #3

Follows Real Fake Love

Followed by Irresistible Trouble

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Crazy for Loving You by Pippa Grant 

Two and a half stars

Follows Wild Open Hearts

Bluewater Billionaires #4

This book came out November 8th, 2019 (oof, not as early as I had thought)

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

 

A Kiss in the Dark by Suzanne Enoch

Sam has been asked to ask for some last minute security upgrades at a museum in New York so she heads up to help out. When she gets up there, it turns out that she was called because the curator got a note warning them that a thief was targeting this display specifically. When Sam sees the note, she realizes is that it is from one of her dad's old aliases. And she finds out that the reason this specific museum has been targeted is because the curator is connected to Sam's father. 

Of course, there are complications because the FBI is still trying to get Sam. And her father is ready to serve her up on a platter.

Not my favorite Sam and Rick story but it was fine and I really liked the reveal at the end. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 8, 2024

Sam and Rick #2

Follows Barefoot in the Dark

ARC kindly provided by Independent Publishers Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher

What a lovely book. It's an exploration of what it's like to be a hero but to be haunted by the thing that people consider you a hero for. 

Clare, Beatrice, and Elowen saved the princess and the kingdom. In the process, they lost their friend (and arguably the best of them, Galwell the Great. Now, years later, they've been invited to the wedding of the rescued princess but none are particularly pleased to attend. 

Beatrice and Elowen have basically hidden themselves away. Clare revels in his fame but his outward levity masks his inner turmoil after having lost the love of his life. But did he ever really have her?

The story does jump back and forth in time which is not one of my favorite plot devices. But we do get to see the characters' growth as well as read through some fun romps. Is the story really completely developed? Maybe not but it's a fun read.

Four stars

This book comes out October 29, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Third Shift Society Volume Two

Ellie and Ichabod return in an continuation of their adventures from the first book. The supernatural detectives are still working on some random cases but we also get a glimpse into what may have happened to Ichabod. Some of his past does include an old flame, Maris. 

Ellie finally does admit what happened to her with Alice as well which is helpful to the group as a whole. She also is coming more into her powers which is fun to see. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 29, 2024

Follows Third Shift Society Volume One

ARC kindly provided by Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Secret Hook-Up by Pippa Grant

Both Addie and Duncan have appeared in previous books by Pippa Grant. Addie is the batting coach for the Copper Valley Fireballs, a major league team. Of course, she's experienced her fair share of sexism. Not only do people not acknowledge that she might know how to do her job, they also seem surprised when she shows up to an auction in a dress.
Duncan isn't thrilled that Addie is doing the auction. But he at least knows that her bosses asked if she wanted to do it. But that doesn't mean that he's happy hearing how men are talking about her. And not just because the two of them used to hook up.
I really enjoyed this story. Duncan was a little too perfect but Addie got to grow quite a bit. You could really see how the two fit together. That being said, for all that the two had a relationship before, it took a long time for them to get together and figure it out

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 1, 2024

The Copper Valley Thrusters, #6

Follows I Pucking Love You

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own 

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

Bowen Penhallow is a loner (except for his friend Declan who is, admittedly, a ghost). But he has been having a bit of back and forth with Tamsyn Bligh. She is a procurer of magical items. How does she get them? Eh. Maybe best not to ask. But she is a human who is not put off by magical things. She does enjoy meeting Bowen. 

But when she arrives at a house party and realizes that he is there too, she's a bit shocked. Even more shocking is a spell that sends them back in time where they will need to help his grandparents fall in love. They do adjust the course of history, but they also fall in love.

The plotlines don't quite all fit together but it's an overall fun story.

Three and a half stars

The Ex Hex #3

This book comes out October 8, 2024

Follows The Kiss Curse

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

Sirena is a kitchen witch and she has some strict rules for being a kitchen witch that were passed down by her grandmother. It's those abilities that allow her to brew a wish tea. Her wish allows her to re-live her October in the hopes that she'll get the job she wants. She's been out of the work force taking care of family and her last boss stole her recipes so she's not in a good place. Hopefully, allowing herself some more time will let her correct her mistakes. What she doesn't expect is that she gets to spend more time with Gus.

August Dearworth is a former reality show star. He was a showy magician and reveled in the spotlight. But he loved and lost. Now, he's a historian and surprisingly happy to be in the Grove. He's drawn to Sirena like no one else and the two are magic together. But it's an overwhelming magic and both of them are a little hesitant to jump into a relationship.

What I enjoyed about this book is that we go past the date of the first wish. Often, we get to the day of the wish and everything has worked itself out. Sirena and Gus are going to have an extra couple of months in this story. 

I heard about this book on a podcast and asked for it from NetGalley. I was lucky enough to get a copy and, while it didn't hit quite as nicely for me (not all of the story parts melded for me), I really did enjoy most of this book. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 1, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Royally Inconvenient Marriage by Pippa Grant

Peach needs a husband. She lives in Alabama and wants to adopt her sister, Papaya. But the old-timey (and incredibly old) judge seems to think she needs a husband. 

Viktor needs a wife. He's heir to a throne in the kingdom of Honoria (I listened to this so some spellings may be suspect). It's known as the country of love so the monarch must be married in order to ascend the throne. 

Well, it seems like there's an easy solution here. So, the two get hitched and move to Europe taking Papaya and Peach's MeeMaw with them. But all is not smooth. Papaya is still causing problems and the country needs a lot.

I really do enjoy Grant's books. They're usually just the right amount of crazy but this one did have a little more crazy than usual and it made it just slightly less enjoyable.

Three stars

This book came out August 31, 2018

The Royals #3

Follows Rockaway Bride

Borrowed ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is back! And this time, it's someone close to her who's been accused of murder. In fact, the opening scene is Inspector Hewitt interrogating Mrs. Mullet. It turns out, a man she's been cooking for, General (a minor government employee by his own words), has died. The coroner is saying it's mushroom poisoning. But Flavia is on the case.

What she uncovers is actually deeper than a mistaken mushroom picking. In fact, what she discovers is going to upend her world. 

I go back and forth between enjoying these books. Flavia believes that she knows all and that she is always right about everything? Are there people in the world like that? Yes. Do I mind reading books about people like that? No. As long as they seem like they are growing in some way. Flavia... does not. Also, Undine is so annoying. That may be because Bradley is a deft writer who makes you feel his characters emotions but I do not like her even when Flavia does.

Three stars

This book came out September 3, 2024

Flavia de Luce #11

Follows The Golden Tresses of the Dead

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinion
s are my own

Mystery in the Title by Ian Ferguson; Will Ferguson

A surprise call has Miranda being offered a role in a fabulous new film with five-times Oscar-nominated Harry Tomlin. She jumps at the chance. He's a BIG NAME and she's not going to question the fact that the contract has no tricky clauses. It's just a lot of money for a chance to work with the nicest man in Hollywood. 

So why is it Harry who ends up dead after crashing through a skylight? Nothing makes sense. And then his replacement comes in. It's an old beau of Miranda's and a foe of her husband Edgar's. Now she's juggling feelings between her nearly ex-husband for whom she still has feelings (though he doesn't appear much in this book), her handsome ex-co-star who is a divine kisser (although he has a horrible personality), and the handsome and charming producer (although she doesn't really have feelings for her.)

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 22, 2024

Miranda Abbott #2

Follows I Only Read Murder

ARC kindly provided by Mira and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

This Christmas is bringing an interesting twist, Ernest's ex-wife Juliette is in jail. She claims she woke up next to her murdered lover. The police say she murdered him. Now she's sitting in jail and Ernest has lied to his fiancé about why he's left town.

The dead man was a former Hollywood star who left it all to help drug addicted youth get clean. More than one character says that he saved their lives. And yet, the man is dead. But he's not the only one who is going to die in this novella. The reasons for each death are intertwined but hidden behind the doors of a an advent calendar.

This story was... okay. But it's not as tightly put together as either of the other stories in this series and the rules for a holiday story aren't put together as well. Worth reading if you are reading the whole series but I'm not sure it is good on its own. 

Three stars

Ernest Cunningham #3

This book comes out October 22, 2024

Follows Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

At the beginning of the book, Evie is dead. Apparently. At least, The Villain sure thinks she is. And he's devastated. But, as the blurb mentions, she is not dead. In fact, she's leading the revolution to release The Villain. He's been tortured in the cellars of the castle only to be brought upstairs to be unmasked and accused of killing Miss Sage. 

Why should The Villain be unmasked? It's part of a prophecy. One that will maybe bring magic back to Rennedawn and stop the mysterious illness that is killing so many people. There are two other parts, one which includes finding Evie's mother.

In the course of the story, we have two different someones coming back from the dead, one person who does evil for the greater good, and one magic dagger. 

Didn't love all of the world building in this one but I was dying laughing and also wished I had pencil and paper to write down some rather poignant quotes.

Four stars

This book came out August 8, 2024

Assistant to the Villain #2

Follows Apprentice to the Villain

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews

It's Christmastime but that doesn't mean much to Roman. Usually he gets some time off from being the Black Volhv for Chernobog, God of Destruction, Darkness, and Death. But this morning he's woken up to no eggnog and no cookies. Also, there are a wounded boy with a German Shepard puppy (sort of) who are seeking sanctuary in his house. Because he's not already full up with evil animals. But he can't abide the fact that there are a number of men trying to hunt this boy down for no discernable reason. Plus, the hunters are just pissing him off. 

This series is adjacent to Kate Daniels and doesn't have as strong a start as the Iron Covenant but I think it's going to grow into some great books.

Three stars

This book came out July 30, 2024

Roman’s Chronicles, #1

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb

A group of women are out on the town to celebrate a wedding. Before the night is over, one of the brides-to-be is dead in the Down and Dirty. Crack's club. 

Erin had worked hard to be able to save for her and Shauna's dream honeymoon. Her accomplice was supposed to bring in a coconut bra, grass skirt, and the shoes that had brought her to fiancée. When she walked into the private room, she was garroted.

This is an "In Death" where we don't know who the killers are ahead of time. We work through the case with Eve and Peabody. And it pretty much comes down to two people fairly soon. 

I liked this book. I love the whole series and think that Robb is still able to keep some things fresh while still maintaining a rhythm 59 books into the series.

Four stars

This book came out September 3, 2024

In Death #59

Follows Random in Death
Followed by Bonded in Death

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari

Saffron has just gotten back from a botany conference in France. It didn't go quite the way she had hoped (sexism, sexism everywhere.) And getting back, she's still having to prove her place in the department. Luckily, Alexander is back from the Amazon and he's a bright light. 

In this book, we meet some brothers. Adrian, Alexander's brother was more connected to their mother's family (more Greek) while Alexander tended more toward their English father's lifestyle. He seems to be a part of the hard partying Bright Young Things.

Also hard partying? Saffron's friend and roommate Eliza. She also has a long-lost brother showing up out of the blue. Nicholas is even more mysterious. He didn't show up for their brother's funeral (Saffron's sweetheart) but he's here now and asking Saffron for help. But his question isn't as innocent as it appears and suddenly Saffron, Alexander, Eliza, and Nicholas are all in danger. 

Apparently everyone who meets her is just smitten by Saffron. No. Nearly every time she meets someone male they are overly interested in her. I think I'll try another book in the series but I'm almost ready to let this one go. In addition to the "everyone falls in love with Saffron", there are some reaches to get her involved in the mystery though at least one of the new characters may add some ways in.

Three stars

This book came out June 4, 2024

Saffron Everleigh Mysteries #3 

Follows A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality

Followed by A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are in Tupelo. While there, a fabulous replica of Elvis's belt is stolen and she and Tinkie are called in to help. This isn't their home turf so it's definitely harder than usual to figure out what is going on. There are a number of musical opportunities and no end to who might have stolen the belt. 

I wasn't sure that the final suspects were really believable as such. There are a number of Elvis-related puns that were fun to read but did get to be a lot to wade through. 

Three stars

Sarah Booth Delaney #28

This book comes out October 15, 2024

Follows Lights, Camera, Bones

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon with Siiri Scott (Narrator)

Cash is 19 and not really thinking about her life. She works as a farm laborer (like she has since she was young) and she uses a fake ID to hustle pool and win free beers. There's a guy she's been hanging around with, Jim. He's got a wife and kids but she doesn't think about that. Really, just puts it out of her mind. Forefront in her mind though? The unknown Native American who was killed in a nearby farm field.

Between her dreams and a request from the sheriff, Cash discovers the name of the man's wife and heads over to talk to her. That leads to her getting involved in uncovering the murder.

Why would a request from the sheriff work on her? He's rescued her in any number of ways and has been a constant adult presence in her life. He's not quite a father figure but not NOT a father figure either so she wants to help. 

It's a fairly simple mystery and is really more about building the characters than creating a complicated story. Definitely interesting but I didn't love it as much as one of the ladies in my book club.

Three stars

This book came out February 20, 2017

Cash Blackbear Mysteries #1

Followed by Girl Gone Missing

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Rockin' Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

Meg's sister-in-law Delaney is pregnant and about to burst. While she's on bedrest, the rest of the family is helping out by feeding her chickadees. This leads to Rose Noir finding a body behind the barn. The bad new is that it's the Gadfly.

Gordon Norton, called the Gadfly by Meg's family, has been a thorn in the side of many people in the true crime community. He keeps trying to prove that people who have been exonerated were actually guilty. In fact, he's been harassing them pretty thoroughly. Which is why no one was happy about the fact that he was coming to the true crime conference that Meg's grandmother, Cordelia, had put together. 

There seem like a few more side characters than usual but we do get to see a lot of the regulars. I didn't love the ending and the motives but the overall book is a nice addition to the series. 

Three and a half stars

Meg Langslow #36

This book comes out October 15, 2024

Follows Between a Flock and a Hard Place

ARC of ebook kindly provided by MacMillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Medici Manuscript by C.J. Archer

Sylvia is still working in Glass Library with Professor Nash and they've discovered an interesting manuscript. There are markings that seem like the book may have come from the well-known Medici family. But there are other markings as well. Some that seem like they might point to some potent magic. 

The whole gang is there again, Sylvia's friend, Gabe, Gabe's aunt, and his friend. And they're all trying  to figure out what they mean. But then the book disappears. Plus, there's the whole "people trying to kidnap Gabe" issue and him discovering more about his own magic.

An interesting addition to the series and at least one impediment to the path for Sylvia and Gabe gets removed. But that plot point could come back later.

Three stars
This book came out March 7, 2023

Follows The Librarian of Crooked Lane

Followed by The Untitled Books

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Family Reunion by Brenda Jackson

Ethan Bennett married off his children and now he's working on the younger generation. He's got four grandchildren who need to find love. In order to help pull them through, he's planning the first Bennett family reunion in fifteen years. Well, he's not, he's turning it over to a cousin or sister or some other woman (because why would he actually do the planning and she likes to do that stuff). 

We meet the grandchildren, Taye who was supposedly the smartest of them all but got pregnant young and disappointed the family (now has two daughters), Michael (adopted) who is a pilot with a teenage daughter who is running out of control, Alexia who is a rock idol, and Rae'Jean who is a doctor dating a man (who is white which is causing issues in the family.)

The first half or so of the book is at the reunion and the back half is over a series of months. This book is definitely an earlier Jackson with all sorts of racial and gender storylines that I don't think she would use now. I was honestly surprised it came out in the early 2000s. It's a fine enough book but she has better.

Three stars

This book came out September 17, 2001

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Christmas Movie Ultimate Trivia Book Test by Neal E. Fischer

This is another book that will probably be better as a physical book than as an ebook. The answers are often on another page and flipping back and forth can get a little hairy. 

The trivia in this book is... amazing. There are So Many movies included in this book. Yes, some of them may be argued as Christmas-adjacent, but the author does address this. There are twelve different categories including thrillers, animated movies, and even a whole section devoted just to Christmas Carol adaptations. It's a fun book with a lot of great trivia. There are even little mini sections in between. 

Other than the navigability issues, it's quite a nice book. 

Four stars

This book came out October 1, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Quarto Publishing Group - becker & mayer and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Mister McHottie by Pippa Grant

After the "bratwurst incident", Ambrosia Berger stopped going by "Bro" and asked people to start calling her "Sia." She didn't have the life she expected to live after the incident but she's carved out a pretty could niche on the social media team of Crunchy, an organic food store. Too bad her nemesis (and the other person involved) has just bought the store. 

Chase Jett grew up with the Berger twins and spent a lot of time with their sister. They had a history of pranking each other but their time together is still in his memory. He doesn't think they can pick up where they left off but he knows that the spark they had is still there.

This is barely a three star for me because there is just So Much Misunderstanding in this book.

Three stars

This book came out October 30, 2017

Girl Band #1

Followed by Stud in the Stacks

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

High Intensity by Dara Joy

I remember enjoying the first of the Tyber and Zanita books but not the second. I couldn't really remember why. I now know. It's because Zanita was charming and whimsical in the first book while Tyber was bemused and enchanted (this was well before manic pixie dream girls became oversaturated in our culture.) The second book, she's a nut and he's a prankster know-it-all.
Zanita proposed to Tyber but then tells him she doesn't want to get married because they'll become boring. He decides to prove her wrong by whisking her off to an island adventure where there may be ghosts. Blooey (cook) and Hambone (cat), of course, are going to come along. Zanita's Auntie shows up as well. We even see Mills and Gregor (and his son Cody) a couple of times though the conversation is basically the same in both.

Two stars

This book came out October 1, 1998 

Tyber and Zanita #2

Follows High Energy

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Royally Pucked by Pippa Grant

What do you do with a spare royal heir when he's acting up? Manning Frey's family moves him to the United States where he is on a professional hockey team. He doesn't mean to knock up Gracie Diamonte but he's not exactly upset about it. Except that he's technically sort of engaged. 

Gracie isn't thrilled to be pregnant but that's what life is. She finds Manning incredibly charming but isn't ready to believe that he is read to settle down with a woman like her, she barely graduated high school and is from nowheresville Alabama.

Not as fun as other books from Pippa Grant but still a fast read and enjoyable enough to finish.

Three stars

This book came out April 6, 2018

The Copper Valley Thrusters #2

Follows Pilot & the Puck-up

Followed by Beauty & the Beefcake

Royals #1

Followed by Rockaway Bride

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Dirty Talking Rival (formerly Master Baker) by Pippa Grant

Some Pippa Grant books I love and some are fine. I can't tell you where the line is because they are all a little crazy and over the top but some are just more fun. I'm currently doing a timeline re-read and figured I'd include some of the ones I'd skipped before. This was one of them and it's fun. It's fast. It's fluffy. It's just a little annoying and I think it's because the reason Grady and Annika can't be together is more of a "reason." 

Annika is on leave from the Army to help her mom and her thirteen-year-old sister get set after her mom had some rapid onset blindness. Some of the getting set is opening a bakery, her mother's dream. Not Annika's; she can burn water. Luckily, her sister is good at baking and is holding them up. Unluckily, they live in a small town and it may not have enough people to support their business. There is a next town over though.

Too bad, in the next town over, her former best friend Grady already has a bakery. And he's actually good at baking. And really enjoys it. But he's barely breaking even himself. So they get talking long enough for them to decide to ride the storylines of rival bakeries (it works because their two towns have been rivals for generations anyway.)

So, in public they are trash talking each other while falling in love behind the scenes.

Three stars

This book came out June 27, 2019

Part of the Bro Code universe

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own 

Wrong Side of Forty by Jana DeLeon

Marina Trahan might never have known that her husband was cheating if her last hair appointment of the day hadn't gotten canceled. Not only does she find him in bed, it's with a girl only three years older than their daughter. The girl who stole two of their daughter's boyfriends. The girl who is wearing the new lingerie that Marina just bought to spice up their love life. 

Now, Marina doesn't have a house, doesn't have a job, but DOES have her sister and her mom's old fishing cabin. And the dog. And, now, some strange guy who is calling himself a demigod and telling her that she is a "seeker." Of course, she is the one who has to save the world.

But does Marina want to be that person? She's forty-eight years old and she's tired. But she needs the money and Alexios is offering her a million dollars. 

I didn't expect much from this book. Did every plot point make sense? Maybe not. Were the characters entirely loveable? Maybe not.  But I thought it was going to be fast, fun, and fluffy and that's what it delivered.

Four stars

Marina at Midlife #1

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Flirting with the Frenemy by Pippa Grant

Ellie and Wyatt have been at each others throats since they were kids. They had one frantic night together but, when he expressed regrets, she ran out. Then she was in a car crash.
Eighteen months later, he's staying at his friend's house in a small town called Shipwreck. When he walks in with his son, they find Ellie in the tub. Well, Wyatt does. And he's intrigued.
Ellie, on the other hand, is not so intrigued. Not only is Wyatt now walking in to her week at her brother's house, he's messing up her plan for the week. Her best friend is getting married to the brother of Ellie's ex. To make things less awkward, Ellie has lied about having a boyfriend. Through... circumstances... her best friend comes to believe that Wyatt is the new boyfriend. So now they have to spend time together.
Grant's writing is good in this one, I just don't love the storyline. I would say there's too much drama but that is sort of usual for a Grant book, this one is just TOO over the top for me.

Three stars

This book came out March 1, 2019

Bro Code #1

Followed by America's Geekheart

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Give and Take by Adam M. Grant

If you really thought about it, you might assume that people who hog all the glory or keep all the money for themselves are the only ones who get ahead. Grant uses this book to argue that the opposite is true, that we need to look for the givers in our lives. The chapters are split into topics like influencing people,  recognizing potential, and burn out and each looks at how givers and takers approach each. Each chapter also provides real-world examples.

Chapter 5 specifically talks about how to approach communication from a place of non-dominance. That an average interviewer was looked down on when they spilled coffee but it made an expert more relatable. In this chapter, he also references "powerless speech"- hesitations, hedging, disclaimers and more. Normally, you might think this displays a sense of inferiority but it can make people more receptive than a forceful arguement would.

Grant does a deep dive to understand why some people succeed and others fail. His theory? There are givers and takers in the world. The people who lift up everyone around them and the ones who are only in it for themselves. 

Grant weaves together stories of both givers and takers and why they succeeded and what they did to help or hinder others. My biggest surprise is that successful givers aren’t immune from self-interest, they just help others succeed as well.

Four stars

This book came out in 2013

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

Scott travels all over the world for his job but he's ready to settle down. And there's something about coffee shop owned by Dina that is helping to stir his longing for the home fires. While he is very interested, she is a little more hesitant.

Dina is a witch. And when she was younger, she put a spell on someone she was in love with and it has reverberated through her love life since. She is not anxious to start something with this man who is so attractive. But he just keeps showing up in her life. Even at her friend's wedding where (darn those matchmakers!) they've been put in the same cabin. So, Dina decides not to fight fate. But will Scott survive?

Three stars

This book comes out October 1, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley

Opinions are my own