Gift of Gold by Jayne Ann Krentz

Jonas Quarrel doesn't expect to find the true love of his life in a slightly scary cantina in Mexico but sometimes life is funny. He ends up finding her and becoming the dishwasher at her upscale vegetarian restaurant. He knows they're fated to be and he's going to push and push until he gets his way.

He's also got a talent for touching an object, ones used for violence, and reliving the moment that the item was used.

This book is incredibly a sign of the time in which it was written. It did not age really well. I remember enjoying the book but winced through most of it in re-reads. 

Two and a half stars

This book came out in 1988

Gift #1

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are  my own

She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot

I love this book. A lot. It is a great thing to pick up and read when I need to go to sleep 'cause I know it so well that it doesn't make me want to stay awake but enough to hold my interest if I can't go to sleep.

By the same author as the "Princess Diaries," this book is about a screenwriter whose boyfriend left her right after she created a vehicle that shot him to instant stardom. The movie was the "Hindenberg," an obvious reference to Titanic that is pretty hilarious.
Well, the author, Lou, is doubly screwed because the actor on her latest show is Jack Townsend, the man who sets her teeth on edge and is the ex-boyfriend of the woman with whom her ex eloped. So she's having a bad day. One that only gets worse when the pilot of the plane that Jack and Lou are on points a gun at Jack's head and announces that he's going to die. Even though they overpower the pilot, it's too late and the plane is crashing. So now, Lou is in the frozen woods of Alaska with people trying to kill the man she's with and a major snowstorm coming in.
It seems like this would be a strange time for romance, but it works.

Five stars
This book came out December 3, 2002

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

The Bride's Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant

Both the hero and heroine have been side characters in previous Grant books. They've both also known the glare of the spotlight. Jonas Rutherford was a child star in his family's movies (and still is in movies.) Emma went viral as a bride who's wedding went off the rails when her fiance's misdeedsd came to light at the altar. The two meet each other at a low point in their lives and Emma ends up pregnant.

I didn't love the time jump but the after parts were pretty funny. Emma actually understood Jonah not contacting her after a relatively short amount of time (i.e. it didn't drag on too long.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 18, 2024

Three BFFs and a Wedding #2

Follows The Gossip and the Grump

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant

At her best friend's wedding, Sabrina told a secret about her fiance. She thought Emma knew the secret so when their third best friend spilled said secret and Emma didn't know, Sabrina was wrecked. She immediately set out to balance her karma. One of her good deeds? Pretending to be the significant other of a man at a bar so that the scary woman hitting on him would go away. She ended up spending a significant amount of time with the man she only knew as "Duke". Imagine her surprise when he shows up in Snaggletooth later, the man who's bought her family coffee house.

Greyson is shocked to see his one night stand in the tiny mountain town. He's even more shocked to learn that she's the cousin of the man he's trying to get revenge on. But will their burgeoning relationship dreail his plans?

I didn't competely love their story but it was generally entertaining.

Four stars

This book came out October 5, 2023

Three BFFs and a Wedding #2

Follows The Worst Wedding Date

Followed by The Bride's Runaway Billionaire

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Mistress by Amanda Quick

Believing the Earl of Masters to be dead, Iphigina Bright takes on a daring role pretending to be his mistress in order to uncover the identity of the person blackmailing her aunt.

But the Earl is not dead, and he's come to town to claim his mistress.

Four stars
This book came out June 1, 1994

Borrowed audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Mystique by Amanda Quick

One of Amanda Quick's rare foray's into historical fiction not of the Regency genre. Alice is a woman of learning in the 1600's. She's a little bitter because she wasn't able to save her father's estate for her crippled brother. However, she takes solace in her studies. When she buys an unusual green stone, which is subsequently stolen from her, she crosses paths with Hugh, the Relentless, who is also looking for the stone. Hugh decides that, though Alice is a little older and more outspoken than the usual bride, she is his choice. There is some wrangling, Alice is headstrong and doesn't obey orders, she wrecks Hugh's plans for revenge, but in the end, they fall in lurv.

Four stars

This book came out June 1, 1995

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

Kate Valentine made a name for herself with her detective series starring a no- nonsense bartender named Loretta. But then her boyfriend and book editor, Spencer, cheated on her with an heiresson the marketing team, Kennedy. Now the two are getting married and Kate has been invited. Normally, she wouldn't think of attending but she received a handwritten letter from Kennedy's aunt Rebecca, specifically inviting Kate to the island mansion. 

As she's getting onboard the yacht taking her to the island, she discovers that someone else she knows has been invited. Jake, the hot Australian (or as her friend Marla says, "Hotstralian"). However, when they get to the island, the wedding planner doesn't seem to have Jake's name. The two will have to share a room. And that's not the worst part of the weekend. It seems that someone may be trying to kill the bride. And Kate seems like the perfect suspect.

I was honestly annoyed by Kate for the first half of the book. If this hadn't been an ARC, the very manic-pixie-dream-detective of it all would have had me DNFing the book. I did end up making it through and generally enjoyed the book but you really do have to be in the mood for a lot of over the top situations. 

Three stars

This book come out January 21, 2025

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

You're So Extra Finding by Angela Casella

Delia works as a rent-a-granddaughter but she has a chance to be an extra on a movie. A movie where her high school crush is the star. Normally, that high school crush would be the hero of the story but not in this book. Instead, she finds herself hanging out with another extra on the movie, Lucas. 

Lucas is going by one name because his last name is rather recognizable. His family is pretty awful. But he's trying to make amends. Still, it might be a problem when Delia finds out exactly who he is. 

This is definitely part of a series so there were missing parts but I have a feeling we'll find out more in subsequent stories.

Three stars

Finding You #1

This book came out July 1, 2023

Followed by You're So Bad

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

'Til Heist Do Us Part To Have and to Heist #2 Sara Desai

The group is back together again. Like many heist movies, there are some additions to the crew. And, like many heist movies, the additions are necessarily allies. 

At the end of the last book, the team had successfuly stolen and sold a necklace that, while it wouldn't set them up, certainly would set them up for the long run.

This book opens with Jack and Simi having broken up and Detective Garcia making some inroads. The others have, sort of naturally, drifted apart. And into that void comes a demand. A demand that the necklace be returned or the conspirators will be killed. Or maybe their families. But the necklace has been sold. And who has it now? Jack's former flame, Clare. In order to get the necklace back, Simi's team is going to have to do something for her. And that job is going to be even more outrageous and more dangerous. And the team is going to have to be working with the potential betrayal of one of their own.

Four stars

This book came out August 20, 2024

Simi Chopra #2

Followed by 'Til Heist Do Us Part

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Remember When by Mary Balogh

Balogh's Ravenswood series around the Ware family and it's matriarch Clarissa's turn to find love. 

Before she married the Earl of Stratton, Clarissa was a Greenfield and her best friend was Matthew Taylor. Matthew was the younger son of a nearby land owner so their friendship was a little over the line considering how wealthy her family was but nothing scandalous. Though they loved each other, Clarissa had a chance to marry the catch of the season and she loves him too. Was that a mistake? Now in her early fifties, she is wondering that fact. But she doesn't think so. Though she and her husband did not have a true love match, they did love each other. But he's gone and Matthew is still here. What could that mean for them?
Matthew was heartbroken when Clarissa married. He also married but his wife died in childbirth. He left to travel the world but returned to the place where he grew up. Now, he's the village carpenter, making beautiful furniture. That's the reason Clarissa stops by, to request a cradle for her coming grandchild. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 7, 2025

Ravenswood #4

Follows Always Remember

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle

The last of the Dreamlight Trilogy, the lines of Winters and Jones cross lines once more. Now, Adam Winters has become the Head of the Frequency City Ghost Hunter guild but he needs the help of the newly appointed Head of Jones and Jones. It appears that the Winters curse of becoming a Cerebrus (a crazy three-talent)has finally hit him and he needs a dreamlight reader, Marlowe Jones to help him. While they're meeting for the first time, someone takes a potshot at them, trying to chase them into the Underground Jungle. People can get lost and go crazy down there. Luckily, Winters is a full spectrum talent and is able to get them out of there. Now they just need to find the Dreamlight Lamp (before some rogue triplets do) and use it to stabilize the Underground Jungle in order to save their entire world.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 1, 2010

Ghost Hunters #6 

Dreamlight Trilogy #3

Arcane Society #9

Harmony #7

Follows Obsidian Prey

Followed by Canyons of Night

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz

Ever since she woke up from a night she didn't remember, Amelia's talents for seeing people auras has magnified. She can't see them during the day, but at night, she sees a fog of emotions that people have left behind them. This new sight has made it so that she fears going out at night. She's even seeing a therapist for it. But now, her life has gotten stranger since there seems to be a man stalking her. So she calls in some help. 

Gideon Sweetwater is a private investigator. He's wealthy enough to be able to pick his own cases. And he's interested in Amelia's. While he's not exactly sure she's actually seeing what she thinks she sees, he's willing to take a chance. And thank goodness he does, because there actually are some forces after Amelia and not everyone in her life is as they appear. 

You don't HAVE to have read the other books in this series to enjoy it but it would help. 

Four stars

This book comes out January 7th, 2025

The Lost Night Files #3

Follows The Night Island

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from library March 2025

A Christmas Holiday by Janice Bennett, Violet Hamilton, Sara Blayne, Karla Hocker, Anthea Malcolm, Tracy Grant , Elizabeth Thornton, W.M. Cordy

To be fair, I read this book close to when it came out so my rating may be colored by nostalgia. 

Holly Brooch by Janice Bennett

Miss Dorothea Steyning had a chance at happiness. When it fell through, she was left with a debt of honor. This Christmas, she has a chance to repay that debt. As long has her two students don't stand in her way. 

Christmas Bride by Sara Blayne

Kathryn is used to being the head of her rather... dramatic... family. She was married five years ago but he soon left for war. Now that he's back, he's confused as to why she didn't tell the world she's married to a duke. But the more he see of her family, the more he understands. And the more he's enchanted by her.

Glastonbury Thorn by Violet Hamilton

Nicholas Farris is home for the holidays. Before he left for war, he had an understanding with a very beautiful young woman. But now that he's back, he's wondering whether her younger sister might not be a better match.

Yule Log by Karla Hocker

A beautiful young widow sets out to celebrate "Christmas the way it used to be," and finds that a treasured friendship can blossom into a warm and lasting love.

Mistletoe Christmas by Anthea Malcolm

Elizabeth Alder had stubbornly broken her engagement a year ago. But on Christmas Eve, she is given antoher chance at romance...if she's brave enough to take it.

Sheer Sorcery by Elizabeth Thornton.

Jess has been dealing with her guardian for years. She's ready to be free of him. Or so she says. But when her eye is caught by a local shop's "Sheer Sorcery," some truths about their relationship might come out.

Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle

So good until the end.

Lyra Dore made the find of an amber prospector's life and was ecstatic until her boyfriend at the time, Cruz Sweetwater, claimed the find for his family company, Amber, Inc. She was understandably upset. 

So now she can't believe that he's on her doorstep wanting help to get some of his men out of a trap that's been sprung, keeping them locked in the jungle. Even after she's done, he just won't seem to leave. His entire family claims that he loves her, but can she trust the man who left her taking not only her find but her heart?

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 25, 2009

Ghost Hunters #6 

Follows Dark Hunter

Followed by Midnight Crystal

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

A Regency Christmas by Leslie Lynn, Joan Smith, Barbara Metzger, Jennie Gallant

Greetings of the Season by Barbara Metzger

The Earl of Montraven fires his secretary when he discovers the man has been sleeping with the earl's mistress. As a last act, the secretary decides to mix up the cards going with the gifts to the earl's all-but-engaged-fiancée, the mistress he's dismissing, the woman he had hoped to replace her with, his mother,  his sister, and their companion. Of course, this leads to him discovering that the woman he should marry may have been under his nose all along.

Home for Christmas by Jennie Gallant

This short story is actually quite bemusing. A young woman, Elizabeth, is being pushed to marry an older, disreputable man, Baron Rathborne. He has sent her a necklace as a betrothal gift that is later stolen from her. Luckily, Lord Wyckholme is there to help her get out of that engagement and right into another. 

I originally read this book around the time it came out and her uncle infuriated me then... he still infuriates me now. I mean, I try to think the best of people but this man goes into willfully naive

Love a La Carte by Joan Smith

Cybele has put all of her money into a new restaurant, but it has been roundly panned by food critic, Monsieur Bongout. She is desperately trying to save her investment but is also trying to avoid the attentions of the man she may actually love, Lord Sinden. 

The Christmas Ball by Leslie Lynn

Persephone may not have the use of her legs but she has a bright mind. She knows that her sister Athena deserves love. It is Persephone who encourages Athena to attend a masked ball. And it is there that Lord Andrew Finchley falls in love with a mysterious woman.

Are these the best stories ever? Maybe not. And I may view them with a lot of nostalgia but they are quiet romances that hit a very sweet spot.

Four stars

This book came out October 1, 1994

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

Rich in Your Love by Pippa Grant

Octavia "Tavi" Lightly is a social media influencer. She's vegan, sugar-free, and exercises regularly. Except, she's a fake. Really, she's just trying to keep her head above water because she's spent her money on a cacao farm. And now that her grandmother has instructed her entire family to move to a tiny town called Tickled Pink, her entire house of cards might come tumbling down. 

Dylan Wright was a wild teen. Now he's the town's only plumber and Tavi's assigned project. Gigi wants her to help Dylan get onto social media to raise the town's profile.

There's some pull and push. It's over the top. Not my favorite Grant story but fine. 

Three stars

This book came out July 12, 2022

Tickled Pink #2

Follows The One who Loves You

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant

Phoebe Lightly's life is turned upside down when her grandmother chokes on dinner and nearly dies. After a minute in hell, Gigi has decided that the whole family needs to turn their lives around. To do that, they're going to mimic an old move and move to a tiny town called Tickled Pink.

This... is not in Phoebe's life plan. She has been climbing the family's corporate ladder pretty steadily with the aim of one day running everything. She did make a recent misstep but she's still sure she can figure out how to make Gigi proud of her.

Teague is a local resident. His life turned upside down about twenty years ago when he ran away from his family. These days, he's living in a tiny house and coparenting his daughter with his ex-wife and her new wife. When the Lightlys come to town, he's not impressed. But there's something about Phoebe that is intriguing.

The two might have more in common than it seems at first sight but it will take some time for them to figure out what that is and how to be together. 

I'm not loving this new series but my joy in the Thrusters and Fireballs is more in the whole coterie rather than the single books so I'm hoping that will prove to be the case for these as well.

Three stars

This book came out July 12, 2022

Tickled Pink #1

Followed by Rich in Your Love

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai

Simi and Chloe are ride-or-dies. The book opens with Chloe running to help Simi when there is a man who is mostly dead in Simi's aunt house. So when Chloe calls after a white hacking job turns out to be not so... white, Simi jumps into action. It's there that she meets Jack. 

Jack is a professional thief. A charming thief. One who knows a lot about plants. But he's willing to help Simi. Sort of.

In the best sort of heist, they assemble a team. One that includes Simi's Uber driver, a former suitor, her coworker, and her eighty-something aunt. I may be missing someone but it's a full crew. 

And it's a fun story. I'm glad I listened to it because, if I had been reading, I may have given up because it took a bit to get started.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 18, 2023

Simi Chopra #1

Followed by 'Til Heist Do Us Part

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Mirror by Nora Roberts

We return to the same set of characters as Inheritance. Owen and Sonya had gone through a magic mirror and were in the past, when one of their ancestors was getting married. And they witnessed his bride's death. 

They are quickly brought back to the present day where Sonya's significant other/Owen's best friend, Trey, waits for them with Sony's best friend, Cleo. They are moving further along in finding out how to solve the curse of their family. Sonya's dreams continue but she and Cleo are trying to build good vibes in the house to combat the evil spirit.

There's not a ton that happens in this book that didn't happen in the first book. The plot moves, but a lot of it is the same thing we saw in book one. Cleo and Owen get together in this book and we get to see more interaction with Chef Bree who is a fun character. Nothing ever really drags but there's not a lot that's new either. 

Three stars

Lost Bride Trilogy #2

Follows Inheritance

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War

Khin Haymar is ecstatic to learn that she's being offered a story about Tyler Tun. She's excited for the job opportunity. The fact that Tyler is Hollywood's current Hottest movie star doesn't hurt. Soon she's getting to know this thoughtful, sexy many outside of his shiny star-ness but there's one night at a party when she's approached by a strange man. He attacks her and... well, she does something bad. And Tyler sees her and accidentally helps. They decide to cover it up for... reasons (?) I get that Khin is probably under some stress but her decisions don't really make sense. 

From there, the two are stressed but falling in love. Then there's the (I think unnecessary) late misunderstanding. And the ending felt a bit rushed. 

The marketing on this one is a bit off. The blurb I read said this made it feel like it would be a funny romance and, because of that, it took me a while to get into this book. 

Three stars

This book came out October 8, 2024

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own