Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

I picked this book up based on the description of it being a thriller/comedy. It was both but there was more comedy than thriller. I very much made sure to read this during the day but it wasn't as gory as I thought it was going to be. There were some bits toward the end but it was so far past the suspension of disbelief it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

Vesper Wright is estranged from her family. She has been for 6 years. But now an invitation has shown up on her front door. One for her cousin's wedding... to the boy Vesper had thought she was going to marry. So Vesper goes back home. And things unravel from there.

A fun romp but not very deep. There were definitely some gore aspects but not as many as I was expecting from other reviews. The whole story wasn't very deep, neither was the character development but it was fun. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 19, 2023

Book I borrowed from the library

Opinions are my own

The 5 Resets by Aditi Nerurkar

I've read any number of books that are self-help or related to yoga or about how to decrease your stress. This one isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but it is put together really well and I like the suggestions. The one that comes up the most is don't start All The Things at once when you're trying to make a change; choose one or two and start with them. Once they are part of your normal routine, you can add more things. 

There are 5 resets but then each one has techniques of how to implement each. Different topics will appeal to different readers but it can also be a little overwhelming with all of the options. 

Four stars

This book came out January 16, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel

I enjoy Bogel's podcast and figured I'd listen to her book before it left Audible Plus. Is there brand new research or anything particularly startling? No. But there are many good reminders that are all gathered into one book. None of which I can remember a day later but it was nice to listen to it. The three main sections were How We Spend Our Time, Take Charge, and Let the Sun Shine In. It was a nice companion to listen two right after I finished The 5 Resets. 

Three stars

This book came out March 3, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis

I really didn't like any of the people in this book. Heath was sort of blandly perfect, Lexi was passive, and Ashley was not much more than young and short. It's loosely part of a series but I don't remember any of the other characters from other books. 

Lexi has returned to a home she didn't really grow up in to a sister she didn't really grow up with. I've seen a lot about siblings in the same household having different childhood experiences and that is true for Lexi and her stepsister. While Ashley's childhood with Daisy was more idyllic, Lexie's experience was more of a mother who promised many thing but never came through. And I'm fairly annoyed that Ashley and Heath kept getting after Lexie to forgive her mother. I've experienced that in my life and it's really annoying. I know that your experience with that person was more positive than mine but that doesn't mean I HAVE to see them the same way. I think they both chilled out a bit by the end but I was already so annoyed it was hard to see it.

Two stars

Sunrise Cove #8

This book came out June 24, 2025

Follows Better Than Friends

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

One Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon with narrator Angie Hickman

Mia Malone is a kitchen witch. Her magic is geared toward healing and world peace, nothing flashy. She recently broke up with the fiancee who was using her but kept his younger sister, Cleo. Mia has bought the old school house in the small town in Idaho where her grandmother lives. The plan is that she will start a catering and food takeaway business. Her first big catering job is for her grandmother's best friend and one of the least-liked women in town. 

SInce this woman is not well liked, it's not a surprise that she ends up dead. It's just too bad that it's before Mia actually gets to cater her birthday and showcase her talents. It's equally bad that Mia seems to be on the suspect list.

There seemed to be some back story that might have been included in the prequel to this series and that threw me off a few times.

Three stars
This book came out June 26, 2021

Kitchen Witch Mysteries #1 

Follows Chili Cauldron Curse

Followed by Murder 101

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley with Thomas Judd (Narrator), Heather Long (Narrator)

I listened to this as an audiobook and it took some time to get into the worldbuilding. There was a glossary to start off with but I didn't really retain that information. However, as the story kept moving along I was able to pick up more of the language and understand the world that Osric and Aurienne inhabited. 

Going in, I knew this was a duology so I was expecting a cliffhanger... but there wasn't one which was so refreshing. Also refreshing? The banter between the two main characters. 

Then general set up is that Osric is a bad guy. But he's a bad guy whose life force is failing him and soon he won't be able to do "bad guy stuff" any more. When that happens, his crew will kill him. So he needs a way out. Unfortunately, the only person who can help him is a certified do-gooder meaning she will in no way want to help him. So, he decides to bribe her. It doesn't work on her, but it works on her mentor. The children in their area have a pox that they've been unable to create a vaccine for. He has the money, she has the talent. Together, nothing will be resolvedin this book but it's a wonderful start. 

Four stars

Dearly Beloathed #1

This book came out July 8, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinons are my own

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

When she was young, Sera Swan used most of her fabulous amount of magic to bring her great aunt, her only parental figure, back from the dead. Since that day, her magic (described as stars like the univerese) has been more like the stars at twilight. Right now, she is managing her inn which, due to a spell that she cast before she lost her magic, only allows for visitiors who really need a place to stay but aren't going to be assholes. There are currently two more or less permanent visitors who are fabulous characters in and of themselves. 

Fate (and an old mentor of Sera's) bring back into her life Luke Larson who is just the person to be able to help her magic return to what it used to be. But doing so will bring her back under the eye of Albert Grey who is the only other magician currently living who has as much magic as Sera used to.

Four books

This book came out July 15, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own