When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I'm having a hard time figure out what I think of this book. I was uncertain about the two characters in the beginning, didn't really like that the reveal of why Olivia doesn't like Thaddeus at first (and it's ridiculously quick resolution), and REALLY thought there was too much drama at the end and Thad was a jerk. This book could have been saved with the elimination of any of the 16 reasons the HEA doesn't happen or the streamlining any of the 212 storylines. If this had just been a forced proximity between an opera singer and a football player, this could have been an amazing book, especially by this author. However, all that being said, SEP is an amazing author and I eventually grew to like Olivia and liked Thad other than his (out of character) ridiculousness  at the end. 

Olivia Shore is a world-famous opera singer. She is the perfect choice for a luxury watch brand. Too bad the man they've chose to be her counterpart is such an amazing jerk. This tour is definitely just adding to the problems heaping on her life that are coming out as physical ailments.

Thaddeus Walker Bowman Owens is thirty-six. Not particularly old unless you're a football player. And not particularly galling unless a much younger, much more egotistical player is now the starting quarterback for the Chicago Stars while he is still second string. And now he has to travel with a woman who not only looks down on him, she seems terrified of him. What else is he to do except try to figure out why that is and whether he can't help her figure out her life. 

Three stars
This book comes out June 29th, 2021
Follows First Star I See

Followed by Simply the Best
ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread as ebook from Libby February 2023

Submerged by Daniel Lenihan

I heard about this book on the What Should I Read Next podcast. I worked closely with a Park Service museum at the time and it sounded interesting. And it is... to an extent. The stories do start to sort of run together after a bit but if you are interested in underwater archaeology or even underwater cave exploration, this will be a really interesting book for you. If you don't even like to read about small, enclosed spaces, this would not be the book for you.

Three stars

This book came out March 25th, 2002

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne

I have to admit, I didn't really like the movie You've Got Mail and I was a little squicked by the "To Sir" aspect but I like Lauren Layne a lot and decided to trust the story. I'm glad I did. The romance was probably a three but Gracie's growth and character development were a five. She really grows from following someone else's dreams to figuring out her own. And it's not because she's forced to but because she makes that choice for herself. Sebastian is okay but ends up being the sort of bland Disney prince that Gracie has wanted for her whole life.

Gracie Cooper is running the family business, keeping her father's dream alive. But now she's getting letters from the V. Andrews corporation asking her to give up their rental agreement. But why would she agree to that when she might just start breaking even soon? Besides, it's not like she's got anything going on in her personal life. Except an intriguing guy on this new app that allows for conversation only, no pictures.

Because this book is first-person narration for one character (with some text messages), we really do miss a lot of what is going on in Sebastian's mind. If Gracie hadn't had such growth, I might have minded more but overall my love of character development weighed more in rating this book.

Four stars

This book comes out June 29th, 2021

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books

Opinions are my own

The Third Circle by Amanda Quick

Leona Hewitt is a crystal worker, someone who can use crystals to help people solve their dreams. She has snuck into the house of a high-ranking peer to steal back the Aurora Crystal, an item that has belonged in her family since the 1600s. However, when she finally gets to the room with the crystal, she stumbles over not only a dead body but also Thaddeus Ware, a para-hypnotist who can use his powers to temporarily control other people.

They manage to get out of the house, but not before Thaddeus sets off a poisonous trap and Leona helps to bring him back from a waking nightmare. Thaddeus is also after the crystal, but in order to return it to the Arcane Society, a group of powerful psychics who fear its powers. Unfortunately, they are working against a cabal of the Emerald Table who want to use the crystal to control the world (or some such nonsense).

A lovely tale crafted by Quick who has been uneven in the past few years but has really renewed my interest with the Arcane Society series.

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 1st, 2008

Follows Sizzle and Burn

Followed by Running Hot

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout

Rachel Bruner is wealthy so when she reads a book she likes, she buys ten thousand copies and sends one to everyone she knows... and then some. That wouldn't bring her to the door of Nero Wolfe except that the book disparaged the FBI and now they are on her doorstep. And monitoring her phone line. And following her friends, family, and staff. So she's come to retain the great detective to get the FBI off her back. Normally Wolfe wouldn't be interested but it's the start of a new ear and his coffers are empty. And Mrs. Bruner is offering enough to more or less make it through the whole year. But can Nero Wolfe really stop an entire government group? 

Well, eventually, yes. And he'll solve a murder along the way.

This was an okay story but not particularly gripping. Was great for data entry.

Three stars

This book came out October 8th, 1965

Follows A Right to Die

Followed by Death of a Doxy

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Big Nate: Say Good-bye to Dork City by Lincoln Peirce

The cover of this book refers to the storyline where Nate joins the cool kid clique but then discovers that maybe he was better off where he was before. We also get to see favorite running themes and characters like Nate's crush on Jenny, his antipathy toward her boyfriend Artur, a (brief) return of Revenge of the Mollusk, a glimpse of school photography guy, and Nate playing sports.

A great addition to the series and one that shouldn't be missed.

Four stars

This book came out March 17th, 2015

Follows The Crowd Goes Wild

Followed by Welcome to My World

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

State of Affairs by Marie Force

At the end of the last book (even though this kicks off a new series, I guess), Lt. Sam Holland and her husband Nick Cappuano, Vice President of the United States, have gotten a call that the President has died. This throws their world into chaos. Nick had just the week before announced that he didn't want to run for president and now he's being sworn into office. 

For Sam, this is a nightmare. She has her dream job in the police force. Yes, there are always rumors about how she got there (either sleeping with people, riding her father's coattails, or both) but it's not like she wants to climb the ranks. She just wants to be able to work in the streets. But how will that work when no other First Lady has ever held a job before? 

This book was a little less emotionally fraught than others in the series because there was so much going into the world re-building. And I actually enjoyed the book all the more for it. These things happen in people's lives, seismic shifts change how we view the world, and we have to start from where we are. I can't wait to read the next book.

Four stars

This book came out April 20th, 2021

Follows Fatal Accusation

Followed by State of Grace

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own