Friends Like Us by Sarah Mackenzie

The first part of the book, we hit the ground running. We meet Bree and Jill, friends since childhood. Bree is about to find out whether or not the lump in her breast is cancer. Jill is still reeling from the death of her husband three years ago. We get to see Bree making an anti-bucket list and jumping right in. She sings karaoke and has a one-night stand. Except that she sees him again when he comes to look at doing renovations on her house.
Jill is only just starting to process her own widowhood and I wish we had gotten to see more of her work, both in figuring out how to grieve and her path back to her mother. In some ways, it seemed rather fast but it does sometimes happen that way and this wasn't a long book. 
The ending was rather fast as well. I enjoyed the middle the best where the characters and the relationships were really developing.

Three stars

This book came out January 26th, 2021

eBook borrowed from Cloud Library

Opinions are my own

The Pride of Jared MacKade by Nora Roberts

Lawyer Jared MacKade is struck dumb by the sight of Savannah Morningstar. She's impressed with him as well but she has little use for men other than her son. After her son's father ran away and her own father kicked her out when she was 16 and pregnant, it's not hard to understand where she's coming from. Add to that that men often assumed she was for sale based on her looks and it's surprising she was willing to have any relationship with Jared at all. But the two are in a relationship and it might even be there for the long run.
Of the four books in this series, I think this one has always been my favorite. Jared is a little more flexible than his brothers and rolls (generally) with the things that pop up in his relationship with Savannah. And Seth, her son, has a personality and isn't just a plot moppet.

Three stars

Follows The Return of Rafe MacKade

Followed by The Heart of Devin MacKade

This book came out October 25th, 1995

Ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

It's been 8 weeks since Curran told Kate that he wanted to have a naked dinner with her. So, the fact that he didn't show up is causing her some consternation. When he won't even come to the phone, she's pissed.
Three weeks later, she's called to the Steel Horse, a bar on the border of the necromancer/shifter areas. A shapeshifter has been infected with disease. And more impossible things are happening. Including Kate picking up a dog and meeting family she didn't really know she had.
A good book that really moved a lot of storylines ahead quite a bit. I'm looking forward to listening to the next one.

Four stars

Follows Magic Strikes

Followed by Magic Bleeds

This book came out May 25th, 2010

Borrowed as an audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Kate is working as a contractor for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid. But she's distracted by the barely-legal Midnight Games that leave her beast friend Derek on the edge of death. She becomes the enemy of a team determined to win the games, the Reapers who are also determined to wipe out all half-breeds.
This is the book where we learn more about Kate's father as well.
I think this would be better read than listened too but that was my easiest option and the narrator is good so why mess with it?

Three stars

Follows Magic Burns

Followed by Magic Bleeds

This book came out March 31st, 2009

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Dropped right into the heart of a mysterious place in a historical time, the first named person is murdered by the end of the first chapter. And thus starts a new series.
The killing took place in the heart of the Inquirers, a place that is impenetrable. Marion is only an first year but she feels the oppressive atmosphere of suspicion as much as anyone. And then someone close to her is fingered for the murder but he leaves her a last clue. So it's up to Marion, her friend Bill, and the mysterious new Inquirer to figure out what is going on. But when anyone might be a friend or a foe, it is tough going. And then the grandmother who begrudgingly raised her sells their house and moves to Ohio while Marion is left behind. 

I didn't connect with the entire story but the author is certainly skilled and the world building is top shelf.

Three and a half stars

Followed by Marion Lane and the Inquirers

This book came out December 29th, 2020
Opinions are my own

The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters

When the book opens, Jessica Tregarth is on the run. From whom? She doesn't know. But her bag was almost stolen (thank goodness for that policeman) and someone has searched it. Now there's someone following her. Luck provides her with the amenable people on the bus she stumbles on to. They drop her at the Blue Boar where she is supposed to meet up with a local, but instead is picked up by David Randall, gothic novelist. While he doesn't believe her story at first, being roughed up by two gentlemen soon changes his mind. Suddenly the two of them are on the run together, being chased (and chasing) the men who seem bent on getting the familial ring away from Jess.
I've read a couple of Peters's books lately and I am enjoying the fact that she mocks the very types of books that she is writing. She does it so well, having her heroine deride the characters in Gothic novels right before they themselves are kidnapped and tossed into a trunk or some other popular plot.

This book is loosely connected to the Vicky Bliss series introducing her eventual love interest to readers as "Cousin John." 

Three and a half stars

Followed by Borrower of the Night

This book came out in 1969

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

M.Y.O.B. (Paperback) by Christophe Cazenove

 I had originally requested this book from NetGalley but didn't realize that the archive date was so soon so I missed the window to read it. But it intrigued me enough that I looked for it later and am glad I did. While older sister Wendy is getting ready to go to her first big dance with her boyfriend, younger sister Maureen is bouncing around... pretty much everyplace.
This whole series really focuses on the love between sisters, even when one is much older than the other. They annoy each other, try to outsmart each other, enjoy each other, and ultimately have each other's backs in a tight spot.

Four stars

This book came out December 29th, 2019

eBook borrowed from Hoopla

Opinions are my own