The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken

We are on the fourth of the three Smythe-Ferguson sisters (the third being a scheming bitch who is trying to build an empire), Ainsley, in this book. She feels like a forgotten sister. Keeley, the oldest, loved her brothers and sisters and the forge. Gemma was a fighter and then a war monk. And she was always Ainsley's main sparring partner and now the first to dismiss any of the contributions Ainsley is trying to make. But, now that the dragons have arrived (a crossover from Aiken's Dragon Kin series) and that might change the odds. 

There are SO MANY characters in this book. You will have a little bit of a chance if you've read either the Dragon Kin books or the Scarred Earth books so far but there are still a LOT of people to keep track of. Aiken is great at spinning off side characters and that happens again in this book but we also get a return of the rather large group of characters from the previous book in the series. So, a lot of page space is taken up with these characters. did I still enjoy this book? Mostly, yes. I really wish we had gotten to see more of Gruff, the centaur who doesn't usually talk, especially in the building of his relationship with Keeley. As it's own book, this is about three stars but as an addition to the overall series, four stars.

Scarred Earth Saga #3

Three and a half stars

Follows The Princess Knight

This book comes out November 24, 2022

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as ebook from Libby February 2024

Full Bloom by Jayne Ann Krentz

In her late twenties, Emily Ravenscroft is finally feeling like she is coming into her own. She's been under her family's thumb for too long. But this is the last straw, chasing off a man she wasn't even seeing. If her parents or brother had bothered to ask, she would have let them know. Worst of all, they brought back their favorite enforcer, Jacob Stone, who Emily once had an unrequited crush on. 

Jacob Stone has left the Ravenscroft's employ but he came back to help out when he heard it was for Emily. Now a grown woman, Jacob is ready to be with the woman he's always adored. 

This is definitely an eighties book with a masterful man though the woman isn't quite so helpless. Lots of misunderstandings though that drove me nuts.

Two and a half stars

This book came out in 1988

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

I read the first 30 or so pages of this book and then the last 30 or so pages and wasn't really sure that I wanted to read the middle. But I'm glad I did. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first but I did like seeing the process of Helen and Rhys falling in love. We saw them get engaged in Cold-Hearted Rake when Helen's family was penniless and she thought she'd get engaged to the uncouth but very wealthy Rhys Winterborne. But when Helen's family comes into money, her well-meaning sister-in-law tells Rhys the engagement is off. But Helen doesn't want that. So this book starts with her seducing Rhys so that they'll have to get married. So why is this book so long? Well, it turns out Helen has a secret. One that she doesn't realize until after the seduction might make Rhys call off the wedding.

I'm not sure why this book was so rocky for me. It's frustrating when you can't pinpoint exactly why a book isn't clicking, it just didn't. For regular Kleypas readers, that may not be the case.

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 31, 2016

Follows Cold-Hearted Rake

Followed by Devil in Spring

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Witch Is Inn by Danielle Garrett

Holly and Adam have officially bought the Beechwood Inn but they are having problems with their liaison to the Haven Hospitality Committee. They need to do all of the things he says or they won't get rated by the HHC, the only way they can advertise to the magical community. No advertising, no guests. So they'll have to figure out how to work with Pierre Ancel. Too bad he ends up dead just outside of Holly's greenhouse. Even worse, someone saw a man who looked like Adam arguing with Pierre early the evening before.

The mystery ends up being a little thin with the end being way too quick. There was nice development of some of the side stories though with Holly going on a date with a human and Evangeline's baby shower being in the planning stages. We also get a nice set up to the next book which will feature Lacey's return. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 30, 2020

Follows Sassy Witch

Followed by Men Love Witches

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells

I don't remember which podcast I heard about this on and I'm not sure why I enjoyed this book so much but I did. If I had to guess, it was just waiting to see what happened next. I'm not sure I'll read other books in the series since they seem to focus on young/new adults and that's not my favorite but I am glad I read this one.

Una is one of the lowliest members of the her pack. She is unmarried, unmated, female, and has a bad leg resulting from a childhood injury. So why is she suddenly going into heat and telling the entire pack that her mate is the alpha. He tells everyone that she is wrong or maybe moon mad. Una runs and accepts the local healer's offer to break their bond. But Fate is tricky and Killian is stubborn. It may just end up that Una is his mate after all. And, if that's true, he's not letting her go.

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 12, 2021

Followed by The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Spy x Family, Vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo

Twilight and Nightfall are entered in an underground tennis tournament. If they win, they can take anything they want from the tournament host's vault. In that vault is a piece of information that may restart the war between East and West. As with most underground tournaments, the rules are that anything goes. During the tournament, Nightfall is still determined to prove to Twilight that she is the better choice to be his wife. But when she plays Yor later, she finds that she may not be as good a player as the current Mrs. Forger. Even though she wins, Yor is feeling uncertain about her place in the family as she is beginning to develop feelings for Loid. 

We also get to see Anya hanging out with her best friend and at school where she is still trying to make friends with Damian.

A lovely book and nice addition to the series. 

Four stars

This book came out December 28, 2020

Follows
Vol. 5

Followed by Vol. 7

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past by Lucy Score

Riley Thorn is supposed to be settling into her HEA. She's got a hot boyfriend, a new house, and a good job. `But the new house has a closet that still has a ... particular smell, and the good job is a little uneven as the man running the show, her hot boyfriend, Nick, is obsessed with his former (police) partner's sister is the focus of his attention. 

Six years ago, Beth disappeared and turned Kellan's life upside down. Nick is wanting to finally close this unsolved case. In the meantime, the rest of his work is suffering. 

A new character shows up who is just as wild as the rest of the group but she just might lead Riley and the rest of their crew to some answers about Beth. If only Riley's psychic powers didn't choose this moment to go on the fritz. 

A fast, fun, and fluffy ride with a large dose of hijinks thrown in. Maybe a little too many hijinks but I am glad that this planned trilogy is going to continue for a longer series.

Four stars

This book came out April 21, 2022

Follows Riley Thorn and the Corpse in the Closet

Followed by Riley Thorn and the Body in the Backyard

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own