Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup

This was an interesting premise and I think Bearup did a fine job at having a story within a story but having so many characters started to weigh down the actual progress of any of them DOING anything.

Caroline Lindley just wants to finish her book. If only her characters would do what they are supposed to. But her characters don't really understand their motivations and they tell her so. Especially Lady Rosamund Hawkhurst. 

As the widow of a prominent nobleman killed in war, Rosamund us used to holding her family together. A new threat has come to the kingdom and she is required to go back to her home country to try and broker peace. She's to travel with one knight who most definitely is not going to be a love interest. No matter what Caroline tries.

Three stars

This book came out February 5, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

It's been a little over a year since the events of the first book. Anne, Violet, and Beatrix have missed their birthday together but the three are reuniting in their Chicago home. Violet is haunted by a mistake she made during her and her husband's acrobatic act. Beatrix no longer seems to have any words. And Anne has to prevent an apocalypse. 

I actually liked this one a bit better than the first because we are getting more character and world building. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #2

This book came out October 1, 2024

Follows The Crescent Moon Tearoom

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

This book is the equivalent of a warm cup of tea. Just nice. Maybe not super exciting, but an even read. 

Three sisters run a teahouse where they read the futures of the witches of Chicago. They have always been in lock step but that is starting to falter. Violet is entranced by an acrobat at a visiting circus. Beatrix's recent manuscript submission is about to take the literary world by storm, and Anne's powers are growing at a pace she is reluctant to reveal to her sisters. 

They are further thrown off balance when one of their regulars reveals that she sees a curse behind their eyes. Suddenly, their whole world is upside down. And it's not helped by the fact that the Council has decided that the three of them must help three witches complete their "Tasks" before the other three die. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #1  

This book came out October 1, 2024

Followed by The Witching Moon Manor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

Trevor and Avila were childhood friends and could have been something more... but weren't. No they're both back in Myrtle Beach. Trevor as a professor at a nearby university, and Avila is there to get her recently deceased mother's house on the market. 

Also with Avila is her daughter, the one with whom she got pregnant after a one night stand and the reason her mother kicked her out of the house. 

I liked that Avila had room to grow but wish had started earlier in the book as she was somewhat annoying before she started to open up. 

Three stars

This book came out February 18, 2025

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Lips Like Sugar by Jess K. Hardy with Stephen Borne (Narrator), Andi Arndt (Narrator)

Cole Sanderson is used to strange women kissing him, he used to be a rock star after all. But he's not expecting the baker who is making his best friend's wedding cake to lay one on him. Nor is he expecting her to ask him to be her pretend boyfriend. 

Mira Harlow is desperate. Her ex is back in town with his perfect wife and she's in town with her son and her mother. So she kisses the next guy who walks in the door. And, the two know that they won't work. Cole is big city, always on the move; Mira is a homebody raising her teenager and helping her mother who is slowly descening into Alzheimers. 

I was frustrated by these characters because I felt like they felt like they were so in a rut of who they thought they were that they took a long time to crawl out of it.

Four stars

This book came out March 28, 2024

Bluebird Basin #2

Follows Come as You Are

Followed by Wish You Were Here

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean, Julia Whelan (Narrator)

Alice Storm is the third child of a billionaire tech family. She is the only one who walked away. So when her father dies and she's summoned back to the family manse. Well, their private island (coincidentally called Storm Island.) 
On the way there, she meets an attractive man and has a one night stand. It's just too bad that Jack Dean ends up being the man who's going to make sure that Alice, her mom, and all three siblings fulfill the tasks that their father left behind. And they are some odd tasks. Her mom has to say one nice thing about her father every day. Her older sister has to break off the years long affair she's been having with her father's employee, her brother has to do manual labor and can't talk on odd hours, and Alice... Alice has to stay. 
Most of the story is third-person omniscient from Alice's point of view, but we do get some of the other characters as well. Because of that, it was easy to feel so frustrated for Alice that no one else seems to see her point of view. 

Four stars

This book came out July 8, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Face the Fire by Nora Roberts

Four stars

This book came out 

Three Sisters Island, #3

Follows by Heaven and Earth

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

Ripley Todd has an okay life. Yeah, she's living with her brother and his new wife and, sure, she's having sort of a dry spell with her own sexual escapades and, well, she's a witch which she's not really enjoying but life is still okay. Then MacAllister Brooke comes to Three Sisters Island. Dr. Brooke is there to study the legend of the Three Sisters. He's very interested in mystical forces and UFOs and then becomes
very interested in Ripley Todd. 

She's not indifferent to him but they have two very different attitudes toward her powers. Of course, Ripley's going to have to learn to trust both Mac and her own powers in order to save her own life as well as those of her "sisters."

Four stars

This book came out 

Three Sisters Island, #2

Follows Dance Upon the Air

Followed by Face the Fire

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi

Rosemary Shaw is a horror author whose book has been optioned into a movie. Too bad the actor they've picked as the lead is a) not what she imagined for that character and b) a total jerk. She's not sure how she's going to make it through this shoot. 

Ellis Finch is a certified Hollywood hunk. He normally does action movies but he's decided that this horror film would make for an exciting change. Too bad the writer thinks that he's all wrong for the part. 

Add in the fact that Rosemary can see ghosts and there's a love spat to figure out on locaiton and there's a lot going on in this book. I generally liked Rosemary and Ellis's story but I was not expecting the dom/sub portion of this book. Nor the age gap (not one of my favorite tropes though El-Fassi does more than most to balance the relationship.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 16, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Ballantine and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Nell Channing is on the run. She's come to Three Sisters Island hoping that she can stay hidden in this small community. What she finds is more than safety. While in Mia Devlin's cafe, Nell notices the cook quitting. She harnesses up all of her courage and offers to try out for the job. Soon, she's part of the community, even to the point of seeing one of the locals, Sheriff Todd. Luckily, Zack grew up on the island, so when it turns out Nell is a descendant of one of the sisters and has to help break the cycle started hundreds of years ago. She'll have to harness her destiny to defeat evil. Yep, I said it.

Four stars

This book came out June 5, 2001

Three Sisters Island, #1

Followed by Heaven and Earth

Hard copy I own

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

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

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

Head Witch in Charge by Avery Flynn

Leona Sherwood is her family’s heir. This comes with great responsibility and she needs to blow off just a little steam. A poker night in Vegas is just the thing. And the handsome man she meets? Bonus.
Erik Svensen is his family’s heir, but not if his father can help it. The man has machinations coming out of his ears. Erik just wants to keep his siblings safe; they’re not the usual type of Svensen. They’re not conniving, scheming, or overall evil. Not like him. Just look at how he's worming his way into Leona's life. And not because he likes or even loves her. No. That's definitely not it.
The two are working to hide the super powerful item from the evil witch group and having epic adventures along the way. 
There are a number of times where there's a wink to the reader when Leona says that we should hear from her sisters (i.e. read their books). While this story was fine, I'm not sure we see why these two end up together and it seemed like a lot of sales tactics to get us to buy/read other books in the series. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out September 2, 2025
Witchington #2
Follows Witcha Gonna Do?
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The Lost Night by Jayne Castle

Rachel grew up in a sort of New Age commune but escaped to the "real" world. She discovered quickly that life wasn't really for her either so she went back to Rainbow Island. There are dark things happening on Rainbow Island, including Rachel losing 12 hours of her life. And Harry Sebastian showing up. 

The great-grandson of a pirate, Harry's talent comes from the dark end of the spectrum. That can make him pretty scary. Which means, despite his attraction to Rachel, he's probably not going to act on it. But he still needs her help since she's the key to unlocking the strange things that are going on in the Preserve.

Three stars

This book came out September 4, 2012

Rainshadow #1, Ghost Hunters #9

Follows Canyons of Night

Followed by Deception Cove

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

In previous books in the series, we learned that Ava Rodriguez was unceremoniously dumped by her husband. When this book opens, the divorce has finally gone through and Ava is ready to turn her life around. To do that, she's going to get dressed up and go out, rather than staying in her room. She's not going to order rose; she's an all new Ava. At the bar is the owner of the hotel, Roman Vasquez and he is intrigued. 

The two start a relationship. Well, Roman is interested in it building into a relationship. Ava just wants it to be physical. See, her family is incredibly overbearing and she doesn't want a repeat of what she went through with her ex. Which is a valid concern. Mostly. Ava is sort of spineless. And Daria gives her really good reasons for being so, but I wasn't entirely convinced that she had made the changes needed and I was really annoyed that SO MANY people told Roman to let Ava handle her own problems and he... didn't. He just decided not to listen to any of them. 

Most of the book -- so delightful. Ending -- squishy. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out September 14th, 2021

Follows A Lot Like Adios

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Do You Take This Man by Denise Williams

RJ and Lear both have recent events that have shaped their present. Neither is really put into this story other than a paragraph or two. Instead, most of the story is concentrated on how much the two dislike each other.  

I can't remember what made me pick this book up but I never connected to either RJ or Lear. Their animosity is so great that it's hard for me to understand how they get together. She's a recent internet celebrity for having married a couple and he's a wedding planner. At the same time, she's a divorce lawyer who is trying to move up in her law firm so there's tension in a lot of her life. 

There were a number of points that kept nagging at me as I read that didn't seem to match up. I don't remember all of them but I was confused because RJ was supposedly only doing weddings for her firm's well-heeled clients but many of the clients didn't seem overly rich. 

Three stars

This book came out September 6, 2022

Ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

Shannon Bodine has just had some rather upsetting news. While her mother is dying, Shannon is told that the man she grew up with is not her biological father. These days, that's not as big a deal but this book was originally written in '96 when people might have cared. Shannon, however, freaks out and decides that he's not really her father. So when a message  comes from Ireland, her heretofore unknown half-sisters want to meet her, she's cautiously curious. 

When she arrives in Ireland, she meets Maggie (from Born in Fire) and Brianna (Born in Ice) and their husbands. She also meets next-door-neighbor and simple farmer Murphy. Murphy is literally struck dumb. 

The two lead very different lifestyles but there is a spark that can't be denied.

Not as good as the first book, this is my third favorite in the series by only a little bit. Murphy is the least interesting of the three heroes and Shannon is a little bit annoying. This book also ages the worst with the most mentions of things that are jarring to the modern eye (I had a whole list as I was reading and now I can only remember cigarettes and asbestos.)

Three stars

This book came out January 1, 1996

Born in Trilogy #3

Follows Born in Ice

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own