In Charm's Way by Lana Harper

I wasn't especially in love with the last book but I did enjoy this one. There is a lot more in this book about Delilah's personal journey than building a romance and the ending was a little convoluted but overall an enjoyable book. 

Delilah Harlow is still recovering from the events of the last book when she had her brain pretty much scrambled. When the book opens, she is driven to desperation and she tries a spell from a book that she normally would never touch. But she just wants to have her own mind back. Too bad this particular spell makes her a beacon to all of the creepy-crawlies that normally pass Thistle Grove by. 

Into town strides a champion, Catriona Quinn, whose name is just a little too much on the nose. Her mother did that on purpose but it doesn't mean she loves it. She steps into the hero role, even though her armor is a little tarnished. 

The Witches of Thistle Grove #4

Three and half stars

This book comes out August 22, 2023

Follows Back in a Spell

Followed by Rise and Divine

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

Yoga Inversions by Kat Heagberg Rebar

I really liked this book. The illustrations are really helpful. The writing gives a great idea of not only how to get into the poses but also how to cue them. I could have used just a few more prep poses or ideas of how long to use them to build up to the full inversion but, honestly, you probably need to be able to listen to your own body. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out August 22, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Shambhala Publications, Inc. and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

This book was hard to follow because there are so many characters. I wondered if that was because I was listening as an audiobook but I read the follow up novella and it is a little hard either way. The idea is that two lawyers are reading emails after a specific crime and they are trying to figure out what actually happened. Even the reader doesn't actually know who got murdered until we are well into the book as the Fairway Players exchange information about their upcoming play which is meant to raise money for a toddler with cancer. But there are a lot of doubts being sown about whether everyone is who they say they are, whether everyone's telling the truth, and whether everyone mentioned in the story will be alive at the end.

Three and a half stars 

This book came out January 4, 2021

Followed by The Christmas Appeal

Borrowed as audiobook from Library

Opinions are my own

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

This is Shaffer's first published book and, while very enjoyable, reads to me a lot like a number of YA books that feature a reclusive artist setting up a game (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, etc.) except that the main focus is on Lucy Hart, 24 years old. When she was younger, Lucy became enchanted with a series of books set on Clock Island. They were written by Jack Masterson and Lucy, a younger child whose older sister was ill so she was often left by herself, wanted nothing more than to be his sidekick. So she went to the island. But she was sent home. Years later, she is a teacher's aide who wants nothing more than to adopt a boy in her school. But she is in debt, living with a number of roommates, and doesn't have a car. In other words, not a great candidate for adoption. But then, Jack announces a contest and the person who wins will get his latest manuscript. Lucy is one of the four people invited. 

In thinking about the book after I read it, I don't know much about Lucy other than the high points above nor anyone else in the book, including Hugo Reese, the man who ended up illustrating the newer editions of Jack's books and the other person featured in this story. And a couple of times I forgot I wasn't reading a YA book - I think it was partly the set up but also partly the language and perhaps a bit the fact that excerpts from Jack's stories are interspersed in the story. But I really did enjoy this book and hope that Shaffer keeps writing. 

Four stars

This book came out May 30, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Rowan Tripp is a smoke jumper in Missoula, Montana, like her famous father before her. She loves her life and isn't ready to open her heart to anyone. But this is a romance novel so... Gulliver Curry is one of the new recruits and even though Ro doesn't want to be attracted to him, Gulliver worms his way into her heart. 

Of course, the course of true love can't run smooth. Last summer, Rowan's jump partner died in a jump. This year, his lover, Dolly is back with his child. And so is his brother. And most of the rest of the crew. Which is bad, because somebody has it out for the crew this year. And then the bodies start to pile up and Rowan has to be fast on her feet to avoid being dead.

Three stars

This book came out April 12, 2011

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Undoing Project Michael Lewis

We first hear about Michael Lewis. About his ideas that he might be able to game the NBA draft through statistics. To try and take people's gut feelings out of the picks. He tried his best but did not succeed. However, his ideas all stem from the work of Kahneman and Tversky.

Then comes Daniel Kahneman. We hear about his growing up during WWII. About the way that others describe him, as brilliant but maybe a little odd. He eventually ended up in Israel. 

Last comes a brief biography of Amos Tversky who grew up in Israel and was an acknowledged genius. 

Then comes the overlapping work of Danny and Amos. The two come up with a number of interesting ideas about the ways we make decisions. Their relationship is closer than those that they have with their wives. Their work spans more than a decade and their ideas become so overlapping it is hard to tell who came up with which parts of their papers. They come up with the idea that our decisions may not be as clear cut and based on data as we think they are. But then, the cracks began to appear. First, they move to North America, but not to the same place. They don't argue in the same room anymore. Then, Danny starts to feel like his work is overlooked. And it seems like it is. While Amos never adds to that theory, he never publicly disputes it either. Their work never quite comes together again before Amos dies.

This is a really interesting story that falters a bit at the end. Certainly makes me rethink some of my decision-making processes. 

Four stars

This book came out October 13, 2017

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Operation Mincemeatby Ben Macintyre

A wonderfully written narrative about the ruse used by the Allies which ultimately helped win WWII. Wonderfully engaging and researched. Great to listen to as an audiobook.

Four stars

This book came out May 4, 2010

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own