Down with Love by Kate Meader

First impressions can be crucial and cynical divorce lawyer Max Henderson sure blows his with wedding planner Charlie Love. But sparks still fly and the two have a fling. At least, that's what Charlie assumes. But Max's grinch-y heart has grown a size (he still has a ways before it's three sizes) and wants to explore whether there could be something more there.
Between the two of them, they've seen the extremes of a lot of marriages. They have both had relationships that gave them good reasons not to trust other people. They'll have to work their way past all of that in order find their HEA.
The last Big Misunderstanding was a bit much and I never truly connected with Charlie but this was still a lovely read and a nice start to a new series.


Three stars
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
This book came out August 7th

Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins

Within three paragraphs of starting this book, I knew that Kristan Higgins was probably going to make me cry. It starts with three friends at a fat camp deciding what they would do if they ever became skinny. Sixteen years later, and one of them is dying. Her last wish? That the other two fulfill all of the points on their list.
Marley is a chef. She is amazingly healthy. Except that people always look at her and judge her. Or, that's what she assumes. But she is ready to break out of the rut she's in and go after the man of her dreams. But what if he's not actually the man she needs?
Georgia grew up with a mother and brother who poked and prodded and outright made fun of her size her entire life. It made her have a lot of issues with food and with who she is as a person. She has a father and step-mother and half sisters who love her as does her nephew but her brother is still a jerk.
This book definitely pulled on the heart strings. There was a little too much generalization about "What a Fat Person Thinks" but overall a lovely book.

Four Stars
This book comes out August 7
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Geeky Fab 5 vol. 1: It's Not Rocket Science by Liz Lareau; Lucy Lareau

The book starts with Lucy preparing for a new day at school. It starts off okay, meeting her friend Zara "Zeke" Kumar in line and then discovering that they are in the same pod (desks grouped together). Unfortunately, a monkey bar breaks, Lucy is injured, and it leads the principal to completely shut down the playground during recess. With the help of her new friends, Lucy decides to raise the funds to get a new playground. But the sixth graders don't want the team to succeed; they like having the playground to themselves.
It's a bit cheesy and the "Girl Power" is a little ... unsubtle, but overall an enjoyable read.

Three stars
This book came out July 31
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

In addition to her regular duties of blacksmithing, being a mother to twins, helping the mayor, Meg Langslow is helping out the Episcopalian priest while she's on bed rest. After a meeting one night, she sees light moving in the columbarium (crypt). When she goes to investigate, one of the most contentious lay officials has been killed and many of the niches destroyed.
Linked to a robbery in the late-80s, this crime will result in more crimes including someone shooting at Meg.
Another great book in the series. Andrews knows how to move the timelines and still keep readers involved without an info dump.

Four stars

This book came out August 7, 2018

Meg Langslow #23

Follows How the Finch Stole Christmas!
Followed by Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

This book comes out August 7
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Reread July 2021, as Audible book December 2023,  November 2024

Dig Deep My Grave by Cheryl Honigford

Charlie is going to the big house. To meet his love's, Vivian Witchell, wealthy family. It's touted as a cottage but... it is not as small as it sounds. Plus, her first lover is there on the scene and seems to be making a play for her. Is that why he apparently ends up dead, stabbed, with Charlie holding the murder weapon?
Viv doesn't even hesitate. Even knowing that her tryout for a Hollywood screenplay is on the line, she's going to stick around and make sure that Charlie's proved innocent.
Regular readers will really enjoy this addition to the series.

Four stars
This book comes out August 7
ARC kindly provided by Edelweiss
Follows Homicide for the Holidays

Paradox by Catherine Coulter

The Savich and Sherlock books can be a little uneven for me. But I set my expectations low for the romance on this one (why even include them, they're so glossed over, at this point?) But they're once more drawn into a mystery and that is the more enjoyable part of the story, seeing the two of them work together. This time, it's to thwart someone who seems to be trying to destroy their lives, starting with trying to kidnap their son.
The A story overlaps with a sheriff who happens to witness the murder of the person who sets off the Sherlock/Savich chain of events and the FBI lover of the woman who is murdered. There is also a story about a serial killer that is glossed on.

Four stars
This book comes out July 31st
Followed by Paradox
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Born to Be Wilde by Eloisa James

At the end of the last book in this series, Lavinia Gray discovered that she was not the heiress she thought. In fact, her mother hasy been stealing to supplement their lifestyle for the last few years. Stealing from friends. With nothing left to lose, Lavinia goes to the bedchamber of Parth Sterling, wealthy (adopted) member of the Wilde family, to propose marriage. When he says no, she realizes that she had more to lose as it chips away at her ego.
Parth Sterling doesn't actually believe that Lavinia is as shallow as puddle, but he sure deflects his feelings for her by claiming to believe it. He offers to help find her suitors but quickly realizes that he wants her for himself.
Arrrrgggh. I really enjoyed so much of this book; Lavinia growing into herself, Parth figuring out what he wanted early... but there were so many things that were annoying; Parth being a bit of an alphahole and the Big Misunderstanding. The last felt like it was just tacked on to add pages. But overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out July 31
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
Follows Too Wilde to Wed
Followed by Say No to the Duke

Reread as copy I own May 2024