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

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

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

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

One True Pairing by Cathy Yardley

Hailey Frost loves Mystics, a sci-fi TV show with three male leads, but that doesn't mean that she expects Jake Reese to wander into her second job, hiding from a horde of screaming, clothes-ripping fans. Nor does she expect that she will enter into a mutually beneficial fake relationship with him; she'll help boost his Q store but creating a romance story between a star and his fan while he'll boost her family's failing bookstore.

A fun and quirky story with characters that were easy to relate too. Hailey might have been a little too prickly and Jake just a little too cinnamon roll but I did get past that eventually.

Fours stars

Followed by Game of Hearts

This book came out July 25th, 2017

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée by Kristen Painter

This was one of my favorite books in the series with a heroine who hides her light under the bushel of being a librarian. She does love books but part of that is an effort to run away from what she was born to be, a Valkyrie. But right now, she’s a fake fiancée.
Sebastian Ellingham promised his mentor that he would marry the man’s daughter, a cosseted brat who didn’t get any better once she was turned into a vampire. Now, she’s back in town but Sebastian just wants one thing, to get a divorce. That’s where Tessa Blythe comes in. He needs a fiancée, she needs a job. It turns out he has a job to offer if she can pretend to be his lady love until his wife leaves.



Three stars
Follows The Werewolf's Christmas Wish
Followed by A Vampire's Valentine Surprise

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible
This novella came out February 8th, 2016
Opinions are my own

The Greatest Challenge of Them All by Stephanie Laurens

Very few of us like to think that our lives are decided for us since birth. Lord Drake Varisey, Marquess of Winchelsea, heir to a dukedom has been running, it feels like, since birth, trying

to get away from Lady Louisa Cynster, known to the ton as Lady Wild. But he's been dragged into trying to foiling a plot involving a LOT of gun powder and he needs help. Particularly, he needs someone who knows the ins and outs of the tonnish families. And there is no one better at that than Louisa. He knows, though, that if he gets too close, he'll probably fall in love. And that's not such a bad thing.

Louisa has been much more accepting of her fate. She's also cognizant of the fact that Drake is a strong personality and, if she wants to have a marriage where she is an equal partner, she'll have to start as she means to go on. Including making sure that Drake doesn't believe that he can run her over. 

A decent story. A lot of it is devoted to the mystery and bringing in the couples from the first two books.

Three stars

Follows An Irresistible Alliance

Followed by A Conquest Impossible to Resist

This book came out March 11th, 2017

Opinions are my own

An Irresistible Alliance by Stephanie Laurens

 Michael Cynster is startled and relieved at the beginning of this book to realize that, with the engagement of his older brother, he is no longer going to be as big a catch on the Marriage Mart. He can relax. But a hedonistic lifestyle hold no appeal; he's done that for awhile. Instead, he focuses on helping his brother with uncovering a plot involving some gun powder. Gun powder that is being moved by carts but none of them understand how shipping works. But Cleome Hendon does.
Cleo thought that working as her family's business as the manager would be exciting. And it was... for awhile. No, she's got it all figured out. So when Michael comes to her with a built-in adventure, she invites herself along. 
An okay story. Some light contortions to get a lot of people from previous books involved.

Three stars

Follows The Lady By His Side

Followed by The Greatest Challenge of Them All

This book came out March 11th, 2017

Opinions are my own

The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish by Kristen Painter

Bridget Merrow felt a connection to Sam Kincaid in the second book in this series (about six months ago.) But, other than some almost-kisses. He hasn't mad a move since. Now it's Christmas, it's snowing, and she needs a truck to deliver some champagne to a customer. And Sam is available to help. When the two get locked into a freezer, everything changes.

Short, sweet. Obviously not deep. Definitely need to have read the rest of the series to enjoy.

Three stars
Follows The Witch's Halloween Hero
Followed by The Vampire's Fake Fiancée

This novella came out February 23rd, 2016

Opinions are my own

A Little Dare by Brenda Jackson

 Ten years ago, Rachelle Brockman and Alisdare Westmoreland were hot and heavy. But then he told her that he wanted to break it off so that he could go into the FBI. She loved him so she let him go even though she had news of her own. 
Now, it’s time to come home and to finally tell Dare about his son. I actually liked that he 

admitted his own culpability and worked with Rachelle to let AJ make his own choice about when to be a part of the family. Didn’t love that Dare made up his mind and decided to chase her so hard even when she said no but she actually didn’t protest hard.

Three stars

Followed by Thorn's Challenge

This book came out September 3rd, 2003

Borrowed this as an audiobook from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

The Witch’s Halloween Hero by Kristen Painter

It is a novella wherein the mother of the heroine from the last book accidentally drinks a potion meant for a teenage girl who wants to completely forget her ex. Like, completely. To the point that she can’t even see him if he is 

standing right in front of her. Which seems fairly problematic in it’s own right but then Corette Williams drinks 

it instead and completely forgets her long-time boyfriend Bartholomew Stanhill. And just on the night he has a very important question to ask...
A lot of nonsense about true love’s kiss, etc. and why her daughters didn’t have an antidote recipe at the ready seems weird but... fine. It was short and not horrible but not as good as longer books in the series.

Two and a half stars

Follows The Professor Woos the Witch

Followed by The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish

This novella came out January 20th, 2016

Opinions are my own

Professor Woos the Witch by Kristen Painter

 Nocturne Falls is a pretty amazing place to live if you’re a paranormal. That’s why Cole Van Zant’s daughter is stoked that they are moving there even if it is temporarily. See, her mother just told her that she’s a witch and she is ready to learn more. Cole is definitely not impressed with his ex-wife’s parenting skills. She’s more or less completely out of their daughter’s life and only shows up to tell her some hogwash about being a witch? Nonsense. It’s all nonsense.

But Pandora Williams doesn’t think it’s nonsense. In fact, she comes from a long line of witches. It’s just too bad that her power is broken. All of her spells go just a little bit awry. 

But she recognizes the power in Cole’s daughter and wants to help. The fact that Cole is pretty hot doesn’t hurt. And he’s in town to fix up and sell his great-uncle’s house? Even better. It’s just strange that her power actually seems to work when she’s around Cole. And that his great-uncle was very happily married to Avery powerful witch, who seems to still be hanging around deepens the mystery.

A fast, fun, and fluffy book. The “villain” is a little two-dimensional but it was an easy listen and Cole and Pandora were easy to relate to.

Three stars

Follows The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

Followed by The Witch’s Halloween Hero

This book came out October 8th, 2015

Borrowed from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter

 

This book just wasn't as good as others in the series. It was very much problem: resolve the problem: new problem: resolve the new problem. Other books in the series would  have been better as a novella.es create an overall story with oth

er  issu

es tackled as subproblems. At least three times, I opened the audible (escape) app and looked to see if the book was really done because it seemed like it should be... but it wasn't.  This is one of the very few stories that I think 

Willa Iscove is fae and a jeweler. Too bad her latest creation has created a stalker. And that's what it did. And she gets all het up because the customer is obsessed with her because of her own mistake. Which she acknowledges. But then she accidentally conscripts Nick Hardwin into protecting her. And he's not stoked. Because there's a long history of the fae enslaving gargoyles (which is what he is), he is skeptical that her motives are pure. But Willa actually left home at a young age which is a whole different story and didn't know what she was doing. They do solve that issue pretty quickly but really, the story could have ended there.

Three stars
Follows The Werewolf Meets His Match

Followed by The Professor Woos the Witch
This book came out August 1st, 2015
Borrowed from Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

The Werewolf Meets His Match by Kristen Painter

 Ivy Kincaid isn't exactly excited to be in Nocturne Falls. Getting arrested for a bar fight when she steps in to help an abused woman makes her even less excited. And then, she finds out that the sheriff is her intended fiance. Just great.Hank Merrow doesn't know that he's engaged but he finds out at the beginning of the book. It seems that the Kincaid pack helped to save his brother's life. To return the favor, the Kincaid Alpha wants Hank to marry his daughter. 
While neither want the marriage, there is a strong attraction that could turn to love and maybe even a pack bond. But only if they can get past the family secrets.
This is a fast, fun, and fluffy book. Even the domestic dispute is sort of glossed over quickly and never revisited. Not real deep and we don't get to know Ivy or Hank very well. The premise is thin but overall a fun story.

Three stars
Follows the The Vampire's Mail Order Bride

Followed by The Gargoyle Gets His Girl
This book came out July 1st, 2015
Borrowed from Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

Delaney James knew that there were rumors about her boss but she never believed them. Until the night she goes back to her serving job and sees her boss order a man's death. She makes a noise and is almost captured. Instead of going home, she assumes another woman's identity and becomes a modern day mail order bride. But she misses some of the pertinent information...
Hugh Ellingham's grandmother wants him to have children. Little vampire children to be more specific. Since he, and most of his family, are vampires. But he never expects her to send for a bride for him, especially since she knows he is still mourning his last mate. But Delaney (even if he doesn't know her by that name) is strangely beguiling and he wonders whether he might be about to open his heart again.
A nice start to a series. It took me awhile to get through because it was a little too treacly in places but I made it through and listened to the first part of the next book and it sounds interesting.

Three stars
Followed by The Werewolf Meets His Match
This book came out June 1st, 2015
Borrowed from Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

A Girl Like You by Samantha Chase

If you grow up in a small town, there are pluses and minuses. One of the minuses can be the long collective history when your childhood, and even recent adulthood are sprinkled with stories that don't put you in the best light. And Sam Westbrook really doesn't want to be in Magnolia Sound to begin with but his great-grandfather's legacy of a landscaping business comes with the condition that Sam stay for a year or Mason, Sam's cousin, gets the business.

Shelby Abbott is the only child of the local pastor. In books, being a PK (pastor's kid) means that you either run completely wild or live blamelessly. Shelby is the latter. In fact, she won't even tell her parents that she got Lasik because they have told her that eye surgery is linked to pride. She only lives a little wildly one night when she goes to a club out of town and literally runs into Sam... who doesn't recognize her. They do eventually figure out the case of mistaken identity and begin a relationship. But then one of them decides to make decisions for both of them and, sigh, that's one of my least favorite plot devices. Luckily it is short.

I wish we had seen more with Shelby's parents as well. They loomed large in a lot of the story and then we never saw how the issue with them was solved, we were just told it was.

Three stars
Follows Remind Me
Followed by In Case You Didn't Know
This book came out June 11th, 2019
Borrowed as ebook from the library
Opinions are my own

Remind Me by Samantha Chase

Mallory Westbrook had a hot and heavy affair with her great-grandfather's next-door neighbor, Jake Summerford. But it ended and then she overheard and misunderstood a conversation Jake and her great-grandfather were having about her.
Years later, she is back in town after a hurricane destroyed her great-grandfather's house as well as for his funeral. Jake now owns the house next door and he wants to help Mallory get through her grief. As well as maybe convince her to stay.
This was an okay book but a lot happened in a short time because it is a shorter story. I was alternately irritated with Mallory and wondering why we didn't get to know more of her. I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series because light and fluffy is just what I need right now.

Three stars
Followed by A Girl Like You
This book came out March 12th, 2019
Borrowed as ebook from the library
Opinions are my own

Falling for Max by Shannon Stacey

Tori Burns loves her life. She's a part-time waitress which lets work with people and also work her first love, graphic design. When Max Crawford walks into her diner one day, she is confounded and bemused. The man who half the town believes to be an ax murderer is there to try and meet a woman. Well, it's true it is the only game in town for meeting people but Max is adorably awkward. That's why she agrees to help him practice date. If only they can keep it to practicing...

Four stars
Follows Taken with You
This book came out July 29th, 2014
March 25th, 2014
Listened to on Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

Taken with You by Shannon Stacey

Reading the Kowalski stories made me an instant Shannon Stacey fan. She does not disappoint with a book about Hailey (who's been introduced in other books), the Whitford librarian and Matt, the new game warden.
Matt's a scarred hero (because, what else?). One of his exes not only objected to his erratic hours and coming home muddy and smelling of animal urine, she absolutely tried to change him. I didn't really get where the deep scars were coming from just based on these descriptions, but then again, I live in Montana where stuff like this is the norm, so... It seemed more like he was being super-rigid about women having to appreciate him and his lifestyle and even went out of his way to try and scare subsequent girlfriends.
Hailey is looking for a man who will appreciate opera and five-star restaurants. When she meets a bewhiskered man who hasn't showered in several days while lost in the woods, she's not immediately attracted to him. But when he cleans up so nice and seems like a rational human being... he might actually might make a good companion. For awhile. But not forever, of course!
I did not like that Matt was being such a baby about the outdoors thing and I very much liked that Hailey was willing to be more compromising about how they spent their time. She was right to be pissed when he acted like a child in the French restaurant. I had to appreciate the end of the book when it looked like they were going to create a better balance of what they both loved. Just because they didn't have the exact same tastes didn't mean they couldn't be together.
I absolutely loved that there was a five year age gap (she's 40, he's 35) and there were no mentions of cougars, no argument over "she's too old", or any of the things that you might expect from an older female-younger male-type relationship. Instead, it's simply Matt and Hailey falling in love.

Kowalski Family #8

Four stars
Follows Love a Little Sideways
Followed by Falling for Max
This book came out March 25th, 2014
Listened to on Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy of mine March 2024