Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

A friend of mine REALLY enjoyed this as an audiobook. I am a little more lukewarm. McConaughey is definitely an actor, not an audiobook narrator. His reading often sounds almost like he is singing with the cadence that he gives his stories. That being said, I do often enjoy the authors reading their own books, especially when it's a biography so I tried to immerse myself in it. 

It is very raw, honest, and real, based off the journals McConaughey has been keeping his whole life. There are definitely interesting stories here (including the infamous bongo incident) and his voice definitely lines up with the experiences my friends had when he visited our town. 

Three stars

This book came out October 20, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Shane and the Hitwoman by Bob Mayer

I love Agnes and the Hitman (definitely read, don't listen) so I thought I'd try this series. Agnes is not in this book and a few of the couples at the end of the last book are no longer couples in this book so a lot of that book is undone. If you are looking for a continuation of that book this book is ... fine. If you aren't expecting it to be a sequel, it's going to ge more enjoyable. 

Agnes is on trip even though she's set up the wedding of leaders from another country. A very small country. And, of course, there are going to be dramatics that play into Shane's strengths. And those of the scrappy new comer to The Organization, Phoebe.

Three stars

The Organization #1

Followed by Phoebe and the Traitor

This book came out November 16, 2021

Opinions are my own

Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey

I picked up this novella because it looked cute. I finished this book because it was short. 

Britta is a server whose brother is on a minor league hockey team. For her, they're all off-limits. Mostly because she's not interested. Except Sumner. Dude's hot. But he's about to be deported, just as he's about to make it into the big leagues. At leas his teammates are convinced that it's about to happen. So they make a deal. A year of marriage for a green card while she gets money to buy into the bar. 

In alternating viewpoints, we watch the months turn over as Britta and Sumner fall more in love. 

The story was... fine. But it was hard to see how Britta would change her mind about marriage. 

Three stars

This book came out December 1, 2023

Same Time Next Year #1 

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinons are my own

Deception Cove by Jayne Castle

I quite enjoyed this addition to the Castle canon. The story falls close on the heels of The Lost Night with Harry's brother Drake becoming the hero.
Three years ago, Drake was in an explosion that made him unable to see in the daylight. In fact, any strong light causes pain. But he can see quite well in the dark and even people who are trying to make themselves invisible.
Alice North is an unusual woman. In a society that focuses on family, she was raised an orphan. Also, she is a strong enough light talent that she can literally shift light enough to make it appear as though objects disappear.
Drake and Alice meet one night when (like many of the Castle books) Alice's latest place of employment has been shut down and she is now in the midst of being attacked by two street thugs. Alice handles it herself and Drake is duly impressed (and attracted, this is a romance after all). He then propositions her. A Marriage of Convenience that will help keep her ex-mother-in-law off her back and let Alice earn some money. In exchange, Alice has to travel with him to Rainshadow and help take down the paranormal storm that is raging out of control.

What does Alice have to lose? A chance at enough money to keep her going for awhile, even some fabulous riches, get her mother off her back and all she has to do is honeymoon at the same place her last new husband tried to kill her. Piece of cake. 

Three stars

This book came out August 27, 2013

Rain Shadow #2, Ghosthunters #10

Follows The Lost Night

Followed by The Hot Zone

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Miss Morton and the Missing Heir by Catherine Lloyd

Someone has stepped up to claim Miss Morton’s family title. The Scuttons from Epping in Essex have applied to the earldom. Except, of the three there, Mrs. Scutton, the claimant’s mother, seems like the only one who is pushing the information. Thomas seems somewhat indifferent while his sister Mary downright doesn’t believe it. 

But, before Caroline can pull out the information that Mary knows, the woman is killed. Mrs. Scutton is there and sees Mary's newly-freed-from-prison husband and his brother running away. We don't get to see the husband much, but everyone seems inclined to beleive Mrs. Scutton. Why would she lie?

If you've read the Miss Morton stories before, you can probably guess some of the twists. Still fairly light and I really wish we had gotten to see more of the husband, but a quick, mostly enjoyable read. 

Three stars

This book comes out September 30, 2025

Miss Morton #4

Follows Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own 

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