Live for a Living by Paula Caligiuri, PhD and Andy Palmer

I liked the title and cover of this book and in some career flux so thought I'd take this book on. There are definitely some good points made by the authors but there is a lot of belief that everything you need is inside yourself. The entire first chapter is about learning your own limiting thoughts while the second looks at finding your skills. I think this focus is a bit myopic as you also have to be aware of the trends around you as well. You may be the very best and most passionate burger flipper out there but if you live in a town of vegans, it's not going to help.

There is more advice related to building a career portfolio, keeping yourself healthy, and identifying your values. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking but there are a number of resources and I've read enough of them to know that they were gathered well and the book is written well. This book could probably work well for anyone looking for a career move but will probably benefit those early in their careers the most. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dead in the Water Deep by Julie Ann Walker

Dalton "Doc" Simmons is not a great person. In fact, the main problem I had with this book was that he was sort of a jerk during most of this book and we didn't get to see a lot of relationship growth between he and Camilla during this book. 

Doc is the last man from a former Navy team that is now doing deep sea salvage. They've found a treasure, discovered a way to make it legal to salvage it, and now they just need to pull up the last bits before a hurricane hits.

There is a lot that goes on in this book but most of it is external conflict including an on-the-page death. 

Three stars

This book came out June 28, 2022

Follows
Show Across the Bow

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Tangled Treasure Trail by Benedict Brown

Christopher is just trying to make it through his last year of school (he's not sure what he's supposed to do once he graduates) when his grandfather comes to take him out of school. There's been a death and Lord Edgington isn't sure that it was natural. Soon, the two are caught up in the world of the Bright Young Things. Unfortunately, one of the young people that they've befriended also dies, this time it is obviously murder. 

Christopher is starting to mature a little bit from the first few books but is still a bit of a prig and more than a little naive yet. I'm enjoying this slow growing up of our main character. The mystery was a little thin but still an enjoyable story.

Four stars

This book came out March 6, 2022

Follows The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall

Followed by The Curious Case of the Templeton-Swifts

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting

Kitty Hart is gaining some renown as a cat sitter who posts on social media. She has her regulars and is slowly adding people on. People like Miles Thorn. Well, his mother, anyway, who needs a sitter for her cat. Unfortunately, the first meeting is beyond awkward. But as the two get to know each other more, they start to figure out that their lives are similar in enough ways to make them compatible. And that the two of them together might be able to work to move beyond the things that are keeping them in the past. 

Four stars

This book came out June 13, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S. K. Golden

I got to read this as both an audiobook and an ebook and enjoyed both. The voice of Evelyn is brought together perfectly by Amara Jasper who brings to life the well-meaning but pampered princes who is only just starting to figure out how the other half lives.

When the book opens, Evelyn is hosting a fancy dress fundraiser for the mayor at the Pinnacle she is talking to Judge Baker and his heavily pregnant wife Elena as well as Doctor Smith. After checking on some details for the party, Mac, her assistant and beau, convinces her to go with him to Yonkers now that everything seems to be running smoothly. They're in the Pinncale's garage (which Evelyn has never been in before) when she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Curious, she opens the door and discovers the judge with a needle in his arm, apparently dead of a heroin overdoes. Detective Hodges is on the case but with a new partner,  Detective McJimsey. The latter is not impressed by Evelyn. 

The mystery ends up being a little bit convoluted but I was especially impressed by the end of this story and look forward to reading the next in the series with bated breath. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Follows The Socialite's Guide to Murder

Followed by The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets

ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Hooked On Hollywood by Mia Summers

Ryan Jones has a bad reputation in Hollywood after he went off on a director and it was captured on someone's phone. Of course, it spread like wildfire. Now he's gone back to his hometown to lick his wounds. It's not like he really enjoys the limelight anyway. Plus, he's going to help raise money for his local theater run by his first acting coach. He doesn't expect to be put up for auction, nor to be won by Olivia Bloom with whom he had his first dance (one he still apparently talks about.)

Olivia isn't expecting to win the dinner. She used to have the mother of all crushes on Ryan but that love died when she saw the infamous video. She also didn't expect to spend the dinner handcuffed to Ryan. She definitely didn't expect for the key to be lost and the replacement won't be back for almost a week. Suddenly, she's spending 24/7 with the man she now despises, taking turns covering ears while the other person uses the restroom, and trying to get dressed with one hand not available.

This was an okay story but I got a little tired of the back and forth. For supposedly mature people these two sure argued like children. Also, Olivia never just asked Ryan what had happened with the video. I also wasn't sure how the two of them were going to have an HEA as their relationship didn't seem to have a lot of the depth you'd need for longevity. 

Three stars

This book came out September 26, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Sterling & Stone and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts by Erin Johnson

The carnival is in town! Imogen is startled to find out there is another witch who is a swallow. It is Edward, the strongman, who she meets when a pole falls on the tent and he saves them from certain death. He also offers to take on training Imogen as the only other swallow they know is Prince Henry and their relationship is... complicated. 

While at the carnival, Imogen overhears the necromancer/seer get in a fight with Rhonda. When Rhonda is later found holding a saw and the necromancer has been cut in half, she seems like the obvious suspect, at least to Inspector Bon. Imogen is determined to prove her innocence. 

Three stars

This book came out October 8, 2017

Follows Seashells, Spells & Caramels

Followed by Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own