November 2020 Rereads

 As always, opinions are my own

The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz
Fogg Lake#1
Three and a half stars (bumped up a half star on reread)
Followed by All the Colors of the Night
This book came out January 7th, 2020
Audiobook from Overdrive

 Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas #2

Three stars

Follows When All the Girls Have Gone

Followed by Untouchable
This book came out January 2nd, 2017

Audiobook from Overdrive

Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz

Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas #3

Follows Promise Not to Tell

Three stars
This book came out January 8, 2018
Hard copy borrowed from library

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Hidden Legacy #4
Four stars
Followed by Emerald Blaze
This book came out August 27th, 2019
Audiobook from Overdrive

Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

Hidden Legacy #3.5
Four stars
Followed by Sapphire Flames
This novella came out November 6th, 2018
Audiobook from Overdrive

What A Dragon Should Know

Three stars
This book came out September 1st, 2009
Follows About a Dragon
Followed by Last Dragon Standing
ebook from library

The Fatal Flying Affair by T. E. Kinsey

 Flo and Lady Hardcastle are once more pretending to be relaxing in the country but then they get the chance to learn to fly. Well, regular readers will know that Lady Hardcastle will foot the bill for the plane while Flo will become the pilot (which, by the way, she is very excited to do.) Except is the chance to fly the only reason they're checking out the Bristol Aviation and and Aeronautics Company? Of course not. Lady Hardcastle's brother has called on them to come to the aid of their nation once again. It seems that someone is leaking information about the Top Secret Project to the Germans. And, while no one is currently at war, it seems that Germany might be gearing up for it so they need to figure out what is going on and fast. All this while figuring out what they are going to do for the Littleton Village Show.
A wonderful addition to the series. You don't HAVE to have read the other books in the series but I highly recommend it. There were three words I had to look up in this book which meant that, not only was it entertaining, I was learning things as well.

Four stars
This book comes out December 3, 2020
Follows Death Beside the Seaside

Followed by Rotten to the Core
ARC kindly provided by Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

Outspoken Cassandra Pomfret has just arrived back in London and she's already gotten her father's back up. In fact, her latest stunt means that her sister Hyacinth, who absolutely loves the social whirl, can't go out until Cassandra is married. And that is completely antithetical to anything that Cassandra wants. So she runs away. Or tries to. But she's throw off track (and off her carriage) when the Duke of Ashmont discharges a gun as she is riding by.

Lucius (more often called Ashmont) is disgustingly drunk. He almost killed his best friend over pride. And frustration. Because Ashmont went to all the trouble of finding a woman, courting her for weeks, and then Ripley stole her. On their wedding day. I can see how that might be frustrating. But now there's this redhead and she's traveling with the famous Tom O'Keeffe. The same O'Keeffe who was almost trampled to death on the racetrack who is now struggling to breathe because Ashmont wasn't sober. Luckily, Ashmont and his two friends often raise hell in the town and they have a doctor more or less on retainer (in fact, the whole town tends to forgive them because they overpay for any mischief that they cause.) And that means that Ashmont has more time with Cassandra. But that doesn't mean that Cassandra wants more time with him.

I loved that Chase circumvented the obvious route of Cassandra being ruined by Ashmont. At least the first time. I didn't love Ashmont. I think it was true to character for him to be a little slow on the uptake (he had never really had to work for anything before) but he was a little annoying throughout most of the book. A nice addition to the series... now hopefully we'll finally figure out what's going on with Alice.

Three stars
Follows A Duke in Shining Armour
This book comes out December 1st

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

I often wonder why I don't love the rest of the series as much as I love this book (other people love ALL the books) but I think the crux of this one for me was the added "love story" between Amelia and Emerson. I mean, here's this thirty-two-year-old spinster who's got some money and some freedom for the first time in her life. She's more practical and headstrong than most of the women in her time period. Who else would pick up an obviously starving young woman off the streets and decide to keep her? Evelyn turns out to be a wonderful acquisition, fallen woman though she is, but it's still an unexpected event. For anyone other than Amelia Peabody. And then there's her love of Egypt. It's not just because the country is popular. No. Amelia is really interested in the past and her love of languages interests even the irascible Radcliffe Emerson. Yes, he yells at everyone, including her, but digging up the past is serious work and he believes that no one can do it like him. Throw in a mysterious mummy and you've really got some issues for him to deal with.

Great book, totally worth reading and re-reading. And listening to.

Four and a half stars

Followed by The Curse of the Pharoahs

This book came out in 1975

Borrowed as audiobook from Overdrive

Opinions are my own

Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

 Divorced and single at 34, Riley Thorn just wants to be normal. But she's been cursed with psychic powers. She can hear the thoughts of others and now is apparently clairvoyant because she keeps seeing her next-door neighbor get killed. When he is actually killed, her world gets even more complicated with a hot spiritual trainer sent to her by her grandmother to develop her powers, a handsome detective who may or may not believe her, and a PI who insists that Riley be his fake fiancee.
There is a lot of craziness involved in this book and, while it wasn't quite the level of Aiken/Laurenston-crazy, it was still a three and a half star rating.

Three and a half stars
This book came out August 27th, 2020

Followed by Riley Thorn and the Corpse in the Closet
Ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Last Dragon Standing by G. A. Aiken

Keita has been described in previous books as something of a "slag." Like, girl got around. But there have been shades that she is going to be something more, especially since her mother, the Dragon Queen, hates her so much. 

Ragnar has also been in previous books. He's a little full of himself and thinks very little of Keita. Well, he thinks about her a lot but doesn't actually think she's good for anything. Even so, he is really good at apologizing when he makes a mistake. Like, none of that, "I'm sorry your feelings were hurt" BS.

Together, the two will work to keep Keita's mother on the throne.

The story doesn't hang together well and doesn't make sense toward the end but is so fun it's hard to care.

Three stars
This book came out September 7th, 2010
Follows What a Dragon Should Know
Followed by The Dragon Who Loved Me
Audiobook from library
Opinions are my own

Ride the Tide by Julie Ann Walker

I've been enjoying the Deep Six stories and this is one is no different. We've seen glimpses of the romance between historian Alexandra "Alex" Merriweather and former SEAL Mason McCarthy. She's  a twenty-seven-year-old virgin who has made it plain that she'd like her first to be with Mason. Petite and red-headed, she fascinated Mason but his first marriage burned him to the point where he is not going to be good for any woman. Or so that is his overriding belief. But he also knows that, if he has even just one taste of Alex, he'll never be able to let her go.

And that is very similar to other romances but the Deep Six series also has the search for sunken treasure and baddies that persist in trying to kill one or all of the team. There was a b-plot romance as well that is set up to be the next book but it did take away some from Alex and Mason.

 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 24th

Follows Devil and the Deep

Followed by Deeper than the Ocean

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Awakening by Nora Roberts

When Breen discovers that her mother has been hiding secrets about Breen's father (including a large amount of money that should have gone to Breen), she decides to wrest herself from under her mother's thumb and then grabs her bestie/roommate Marco and goes to Ireland. There, she hops to learn more about her absent father. And what she finds is beyond imagination. She's going to find inner stores of strength and power that she will need in order to help save her father's land and his legacy. This is La Nora so, of course, there will be romance on the way.

This book, like many of Roberts' lately, has a LOT of backstory and character building. The entire first of three parts is just Breen finding out that she doesn't know everything about herself and doing some exploration. The middle dragged a little for me but I am enjoying this dip back into fantasy.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 24th

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own 

The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken

The focus of this book is Brother Gemma. Although it's hard to call her "brother" at the beginning of the book because she feels abandoned by her god and is hardly worshiping him. In fact, everyone thinks that she's drinking like her cousin. However, when someone (not Beatrix!) starts attacking religious sects (starting by slaughtering almost all of the peace monks), Gemma is not especially excited about helping but she saddles up along with her squire Samuel, her sister Ainsley who Gemma and Keeley seem to always forget, and two of the Amichai Laila and Quinn. Quinn is a thorn in Gemma's side though he is definitely a good fighter.

First, they travel to Gemma's past to visit the place where she trained and the other War Monks. There, we learn a bit about why Gemma is the way she is as well as more about the politics of the War Monks. We also get to meet Ragna, another War Monk; one who is even more dedicated to the cause than Gemma. She is the one who ultimately gives Gemma a list of sects to pick up including temple virgins, witches, divine assassins, war priests, a truce monk, and a nun (the Abbess Butcher). Oh, she also gets back her horse Kriegszorn. The one she lost in battle and had to raise (battle monks tend to win battles by bringing the dead back to life.) So what if he's only half normal horse and half rotting corpse? It's her horse!

We do get to see Queen Keeley (who gained such love from me in the first book that I had trouble switching over any to Gemma) and how she's building her kingdom. There are glimpses of Beatrix and what her evil plan is ultimately going to be. And then, a brief glimpse at some special guests who are going to be in the next book.

Definitely start with the first book in this series. This is an Aiken book through and through with characters that go so far beyond zany that you have to love them because they are so well-definied in their own brands of crazy. The beginning was actually a little slower than some Aiken books but it picked up nicely.

Scarred Earth Saga #2

Four stars

This book comes out November 24, 2020

Follows The Blacksmith Queen

Followed by The Heretic Royal

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as ebook from Libby February 2024

White Hot by Ilona Andrews

In the first book of this series, we learned that first-person narrator Nevada Baylor is keeping a secret. She has the type of magic that lets her know when people are lying. When this book opens, she is helping to solve the mystery of a missing girl by putting her own identity in danger. Also putting her in danger? Helping an animal mage she met in book 1 revenge the death of his wife. Nevada will be pulled back into the vicinity of Connor "Mad" Rogan who she was trying desperately hard to avoid. The man makes her burn but he just doesn't seem human.
A nice addition to the series but I find I really like the audiobook narrator. Will try to find book three that way.

Four stars
This book came out May 30, 2017
Follows Burn for Me
Followed by Wildfire
Audiobook from Overdrive
Opinions are my own

Reread July 2022, September 2023

Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

The description of this book from the 2019 NPR Book concierge made this book sound fun and the cover is delightful so I requested this book from my library. I did NOT regret it. With sly humor (I giggled at more than one depiction of Pokko) and beautiful pictures, readers will adore the story of Pokko's whose parents' "biggest mistake" was giving her a drum. 

Five stars
This book came out October 1st, 2019
Hard copy borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

Holiday for Two -- Anthology

All Through the Night by Maggie Robinson

Carrie Moore is an assistant for a famous mystery writer (think Jessica Fletcher on copious amounts of gin.) But she has failed in her latest mission - to make it onto the ferry with Christmas dinner before a snowstorm settles in. And now she's stuck with the mystery writer's nephew in the blinding snow. But a snowstorm might be the perfect time for a personal assistant and an English viscount to spend a little time getting to know each other
A little slow in places and a big bunch of insta-love but I finished it. 

Two and a half stars
While it Was Snowing by Elyssa Patrick

I usually like a novella where the characters have a past. It means that there will be some basis of a relationship that might make sense. In this case, Felicity and Harry's families have been friends for years. Now, Felicity is ready to take things to the next level. But Harry is scared. And a virgin. He's not sure that changing their relationship is going to be good and he accidentally rejects her harder than he means too. Luckily (for him), a snowstorm traps him in the cabin and the two are forced to face each other and what their future could be.
This story was fine but just fine. I didn't connect to either character or have any real faith in their HEA (even though we were shown it in an unusually-long-time-later epilogue.

Two and a half stars

This book came out December 9th 2013

Kindle ebook

Opinions are my own

Beyond Compare by Candace Camp

 I loved listening to the first book in this series and immediately ordered the rest of the series through PaperBackSwap.com. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I didn't like it as much because it wasn't audio or if this book was just harder to connect to but it took me a LONG time to finish this book. 

Kyria Moreland is incredibly beautiful but still unmarried. Rafe McIntyre is a friend of her sister's husband. American and incredibly attractive, Kyria is intrigued. She gets to spend more time with him when a mysterious box is sent to her family's house and the courier dies practically on the doorstep. His last words? Kyrie.

Bullets, knife fights, and kidnapping ensue. But it does go on a little bit long with not as much movement in the romance as there is in the mystery. 

Three stars

Follows Mesmerized

Followed by Winterset

This book came out April 4th, 2004

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Ship of Fools Cathy Yardley

 High school sweethearts Ren and Rachel broke up. Well, he broke up with her and broke her heart. His parents explained to him that it would be too hard to be across the country and maintain a relationship especially since they would both be in school. And he listened.

Ten years later, Rachel needs a favor that only a billionaire (or a billionaire’s kid) can help with. So she calls Ren. And he uses the opportunity to try and get back in her good graces. But Rachel isn’t really happy about that. She decides to give him one week to figure out his whether or not he can fit her into his life. But will Ren crack under the pressure from Rachel adding to the pressure he’s already under from his parents?

I felt like Rachel was a little harder than she needed to be and Ren was just a little too perfect but it was a overall a fast and fun book.

Three and a half stars

Follows Playing Doctor

Book borrowed from Audible Escape

This book came out September 30th, 2018

Opinions are my own

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

As a detective, Nevada Baylor usually goes after divorce cases or insurance fraud. But she's now being forced to go after a rogue fire starter. A very, powerful fire starter. Who's also sort of hot. But is an egomaniac. 
Also after Adam Pierce? Connor "Mad" Rogan. He is known for killing. A lot of people. He also has a lot of magic, one that can be used sort of like telekinesis. Nevada doesn't feel like she has a chance; her magic is just the ability to tell lies. What can she do against two such powerful men?
With so much world building (people have magic, there are different types of magic, how the families with magic work, etc.), there isn't a ton of room for building characters. We learn more about both in later books but I wish there had been just a little bit more to connect to.

Four stars
This book came out October 28, 2014

Followed by White Hot
Audiobook from Overdrive
Opinions are my own

Reread as Audible book I own July 31, 2022, September 2023

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

 The book opens, not unlike many of Krentz's contemporaries, with a murder. We see it through the eyes of the killer. And it seems rather obvious who the killer is as the book goes on, but this is a Krentz novel.
To that end, we do get a hero and heroine. Max Cutler is a former profiler. A case went horribly wrong, stirring up ghosts from his past, and he decided (or the decision was made) for him to leave D.C. He ended up in Seattle, working as a private investigator. His current case involves a dead woman who the police believe to have died from an overdose. Her cousin isn't so sure. He things it's murder. 
Normally Charlotte Sawyer considers herself fairly boring. She works in a nursing home as an the activities coordinator. It's true that her former fiance left her at the altar, but she's working to get over that.  Charlotte step-sister, Jocelyn, says that she is too trusting, and Charlotte agrees. But it doesn't follow that she is also stupid. 
Max and Charlotte's paths cross when Charlotte, watching Jocelyn's house while she's on a tech-free month-long retreat, is the one who picks up the package sent to Jocelyn from the dead woman.  A packages that sends her on an adventure. 
Regular Krentz readers will definitely enjoy the book. It's very much in the rhythm of her recent contemporaries. The love story was a bit fast and furious and the multiple "epilogues" were a bit tedious but overall a fast and fun read. I do hope we get to hear about Max's brothers, Cabot and Jack and find out whether the guru Zane really did die.

Three and a half stars
Followed by Promise Not to Tell
This book came out November 29th, 2016
Audiobook from Cloud Library

Opinions are my own

The Santa Sleuth by Heather MacAllister

Amanda Donnelly just wants to move to the next level of reporting (the hard stuff! Isn't it always?) but is relegated to fluff. For example, her current assignment of picking a child who will rate the Santas around Houston. She wants a bright child with all their teeth but ends up with Virginia who is missing a tooth and who seems to bedevil her teachers/principal though that was very much a case of Show, not Tell since she doesn't seem unusual except for being fairly precocious and creating a lot of the pivot points for the plot.
Of course, (this is a romance novel, after all) Virginia has a single father, Kirk, who relies on his coterie of assistants to help take care of his daughter but seems to deny it. He also demonstrates questionable decision making when he sends Virginia out on location with Amanda after having met her once (maybe it was twice, but still.)
I did finish the story and if you're looking for something sweet and easy to read, this book will be it. It was just a little too sweet for me.

Two and a half stars

This book came out November 1st, 1994 (this explains a LOT)

Got as a free book from Kindle

Opinions are my own

The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen

I love a friends-to-lovers story. It is my catnip. And this one starts off really, really well. You've got socially awkward pathologist Julie O'Neill who is definitely not in love with her bestie-for-life QB Gavin Frost. Even if their parents try to throw them together. Every. Single. Time. the two are back in Crytsal Springs for Christmas. Well, Gavin has been sent home by his boss (must read the boss's book, The Wedding Deal) because said boss is a believer in taking time off and resting. Even for a football star. Now Julie and Gavin will be thrown together in every conceivable way by their mothers. And it seems like this is the year that they might start noticing each other.
I liked most of this book. A lot. But the meddling. Oh my gosh. I like a meddling family but one with more of a deft touch. They see proof that Julie and Gavin are in a relationship and jump right into marriage. Who wouldn't that freak out? To be fair, having the family, rather than a protagonist, cause the last Big Misunderstanding is pretty unique. And I did like that the make up scene wasn't a spectacle but fit in with the story.

Three stars

Follows The Wedding Deal

This book comes out November 16th

ARC kindly provided by Entangled Publishing LLC and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Gray's Anatomy Puzzle Book by Dr. Gareth Moore and Dr. Gabrielle M. Finn

 An interesting premise on learning. Each "chapter" (about 3 pages) contains the same things. One page a few paragraphs delving into a specific part of the body listing muscles, bones, tendons, and how things work. These are fairly high level and interesting to read. This page is followed by puzzles that usually have the answers contained in the paragraphs above with a few outliers. The puzzles are actually a fun mix of search a words, Sudoku, matching and more. 

It was a lot to digest. I would HIGHLY recommend buying this book in the physical form as it will be easier to do the puzzles as well as flip back and forth to the answers.

Four stars

This book comes out November 17th

ARC kindly provided White Lion Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Ms. Behave by Cathy Yardley

 In previous books in this series, we knew that Simon, medium-time TV star of a sci-fi series, has some mysterious past in Snoqualmie and that it probably has something to do with the gender-neutral, kick-ass lawyer Mallory and we finally get to find out what it is. 
The two were best buds in high school but when Simon caught feelings, he tried to be super secret and respectful about it because he thought Mallory was a lesbian so he wasn't going to put all of his feelings on her. Which, he probably could have shared some but... teenagers aren't the smartest and I very much respect the "why lose a best friend" question. They did get handsy with each other one night but were yanked apart soon after so never had a chance to follow up.
Years later, Simon still thinks Mallory's hot, especially when she saves his butt from a potentially awkward situation. He is still trying to respect her feelings, even when she is coy (but that seems to have been their relationship in high school also.)
Maybe not the best representation of bisexuality (some things seemed stereotypical but I'm not an expert on the topic) but Mallory was strong and confident in who she was and I enjoyed that about her.

Four stars

Follows What Happens at Con

Followed by Playing Doctor

This book came out July 30th, 2019

Borrowed from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

 There is a reason that this book was being talked about so very much in Romancelandia. A slow burn novel where neither heroine really knows that they love the other is just delightful. Emma can't confess her crush on the main show writer she works for. That's her <i>boss</i>. And Jo Jones, former child star, is far in the closet and more concerned with her career than her love life. Besides, dating her assistant would be inappropriate. But a picture on the red carpet has the tabloids buzzing. Both Jo and Emma's families and friends are telling them that there might be some truth to the matter but neither wants to admit that it might be true for very valid reasons. Throw in a little #MeToo situation that Jo handles like a boss and this is a book that was balm to the soul in the current world situation. 

Four stars
This book came out
Borrowed as an ebook from the library
Opinions are my own

The Shifter Romances The Writer by Kristen Painter

 Roxy St. James just got out of a supremely sucky marriage. She is delighted to move to Nocturne Falls where it is Halloween 365 days a year. And moving next door to a hunky cop and his cute (but bum) younger brother. That can only help her get past her writer's block and keep writing her best-selling shifter-romance series.
Officer Alex Cruz is worried. Roxy St. James doesn't seem to be a tap water drinker. As one of the paranormal people who live in the area, that's a problem because the bespelled water is the reason that more humans don't discover that most of the "characters" in town are real. It is also not very helpful that he seems to be attracted to the woman (plus, she speeds!) But when mysterious packages start appearing on her doorstep, he'll do anything to protect her.

Two stars

Follows A Vampire's Valentine Surprise
Followed by The Dragon Finds Forever

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible
This novella came out May 24th, 2016
Opinions are my own

Without a Brew by Ellie Alexander

When you're in a tourist town that's based on a Bavarian village, winter is the time to rake in the cash. Sloan Krause and her boss haven't officially opened the B&B that is attached to the microbrewery but a sudden winter storm during a festival means that their rooms are the only place for stranded people to stay. That includes a lovey-dovey couple, four rather entitled young people, and a young woman who seems to be hiding something even though more than one person recognizes her.   And it is the young woman who ends up dead.
This was a solid addition to the Sloan Krause series. There were a few too many suspects and the murder victim's history was a little overcomplicated. I am also sort of curious where the storyline with Sloan's former in-laws and her own past are going.

Three stars
Follows Beyond a Reasonable Stout

Followed by The Cure for What Ales You
This book comes out November 10th
Ebook kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

 What a wonderful, political book on a wonderful, political day. The politics is not a huge part of the story but it definitely affects how lawyer Olivia Monroe and junior senator Max Powell ultimately end up together. 
It starts with a conversation at a hotel bar discussing the merits of cake versus pie. Olivia is tired after moving back to LA from NYC and her first full day at her own firm but she enjoys talking to the cute guy a few seats down. When she gets back to her hotel room, she is shocked to see him on her television screen. The man is a politician! Even more startling is the fact that he starts courting her with cakes. Well, one to begin with. The more she gets to know him though, the more she likes. 
Max is used to being impulsive. And he's always landed on his feet. But Olivia is a Black woman working in a world run by White men; she doesn't get to be impulsive. Max is fairly Woke but that doesn't mean that he really understands nor that the course to true love really will run smooth.
I liked Olivia. She was a strong lady who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask. I liked Max. He was fairly self aware of his own privileges and, even when he wasn't, he works to pull his own head out of his ass rather than making others do the work for him. I really hope we get a book about Max's friend and roommate.

Four stars
This book came out June 23rd 2020
Follows Royal Holiday

Followed by While We Were Dating
Borrowed this book from my local library
Opinions are my own

Forever Charmed by Rose Pressey

I really like Rose Pressey's Haunted Vintage Myster series so, when this book was free on Kindle, I picked it up. And it's an interesting story. Halloween Laveau inherited her great-aunt's gigantic house. She can't afford the upkeep and is converting it into a B&B. But there is something buried in the house. A powerful something. Something powerful enough to even make Hallie, a fair-to-middling witch, a necromancer. And that means that all sorts of beasties and ghoulies are going to show up at her house, including two hotties who seem to have it out for each other.
I finished the book but just barely. I didn't like Hallie for most of the book (not very bright and not a lot of backbone) and the world building was sort of scattered. I might try the second book if I can get it for free since the book picked up at the end and because I know that Pressey can write better, this might just be first-book-itis.

Two and a half stars
This book came out March 25, 2013
Kindle ebook
Opinions are my own

Burn This! by Tasha Black

 Dragon-shifter rockstar Johnny Lazarus is at the top of the world or at least he should be. But the dragon that was put to sleep for 300 moons is about to come out or... else. But no one actually knows what "else" is. Johnny assumes that it means he will lose his dragon which is okay with him. The dragon has only caused him problems. So he decides to go to a rehab center because it is quiet, out of the way, and he can wrestle with his demons out of the spotlight.
Neve Whittaker is a nurse (more than a nurse? I either missed the clarifications or it was never clearly stated) at the rehab center. She's met many famous people and isn't impressed by Johnny. But she is attracted to him. First his exterior and then, as she gets to know him, the man himself. They'll just have to survive the blackness that seems to be chasing Johnny.
I really thought I was going to DNF this book after the first few pages. But I didn't and it was okay. There were a lot of things that weren't really explained and I didn't feel like we got to really know either Neve or Johny or why they would have an HEA.

Two and a half stars

This book came out March 7th, 2016

Book from my Kindle collection

Opinions are my own

A Vampire's Valentine Surprise by Kristen Painter

Delaney Ellingham is feeling run down. But that’s not a surprise since she’s prepping to be in three different categories in the Valentine’s Day bake off. One in which her arch enemy’s daughter (who she actually likes) is also participating albeit in a different division. But is it just stress or something more sinister.

This is the novella in this series that made me realize that I really just need to stop reading Painter’s interstitials; I do not like them. The regular books are super fun, fast, and fluffy but when that gets compressed into a novella, it is just fast with not as much of the fun.

Two stars

Follows The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
Followed by The Shifter Romances the Writer

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible
This novella came out January 11th, 2016
Opinions are my own

Game of Hearts by Cathy Yardley

I don't love the trope of my best friend's sibling (unless that is not the source of the tension) and this one didn't really make me change my mind. Yardley is a really good writer and I am very much enjoying this series but this book was not as good as the first two. I mean, even though Kyla Summers and Jericho Salomon are adults, there's some stupid reason why they're not supposed to get together; her brother doesn't want them to. I mean, Jericho also has some motorcycle club (clean cut, not SOA) issues that he's dealing with and being back in his home town to help Kyla out is bringing up some old memories that he thought were long out of his head, but those aren't nearly as much of the focus. I also didn't like that Kyla's brother never really seemed to get that her passion wasn't the garage. I get that that is probably true to life but I do like my romances to have an all around HEA (with an HFN being an okay substitute.)

Fours stars

Follows One True Pairing

Followed by What Happens at Con

This book came out January 30th, 2018

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

Fries and Alibis by Trixie Silvertale

 Mitzi Moon is an orphan but one who just received an unexpected inheritance, a bookstore in a small town she's never heard of. This part of her family had never contacted her before but, what the heck, her life sort of sucks right now so why not get out? And she makes a super positive first impression in town... first the sheriff tries to roust her because he thinks she's a vagrant and then, when he trips, she falls on top of him. Plus there's a body that shows up behind her new building which turns out to have a mysterious connection to Mitzi and her grandmother's ghost... life gets weird fast.
Mitzi is somewhat brash, especially in her own head which we get to hear. The narrator really gets into this role adding a ton of sounds and energy that adds to this feeling about Mitzi. The story ended up being a little fractured but a fun story all the same. 

Three stars

Followed by Tattoos and Clues

This book came out July 30th, 2019

Borrowed as audiobook from RB Digital

Opinions are my own

Love Lies by Cynthia St. Aubin

I'm guessing this series may continue after this book but this would be an okay stopping point. It would not be an okay starting point; I highly suggest reading the other two books first. This is sort of a cozy mystery (no description of the murder) series but with open door sex (you see it on the page) that wraps up Hannalore "Hanna" Harvey's romance with Mark Abernathy and her ultimate choice in whether or not she wants to become a werewolf. In this book, she meets Mark's father, a demigod, a unicorn, and many more famous people ripped from the pages of our history books. Is the world-building a little shaky? Yes. Are some of the plot points a little loose? In places. But if you're reading for that, you're not going to enjoy this book anyway. It didn't suck me in like the first book did but it still retained the zaniness and humor that other books in the series had and I really like Hanna as a character. She was a little shaky after a divorce when the books started but really grew into a woman who vacillated between two men (sort of) which normally annoys me but St. Aubin made it pretty clear who Hanna was going to end up with and followed through without too much shilly-shallying. 

Three stars

Follows Love Sucks

Followed by Love Binds

This book came out October 27th

ARC kindly provided by Oliver Heber Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own