The Scam by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Evanovich and Goldberg are really hitting their stride in this book. I tore through every chapter enjoying almost every moment. The absolute craziness of the series all comes together in this story. I liked this one even better than The Chase. Would this be a good stand-alone? I don't know. I feel like the build up of the first three books is nice to have so that you can understand exactly how the utter zaniness of this book (using modified land mines to deter coyotes, Kate's dad taking on a member of the Yakuza, bringing in a driver whose last misdeed was to steal a tour bus... with the tourists on it) is central to the series.
I am also really enjoying the interplay between Kate and Nick. With some series, it's just like "Get ON with it already already!" but I tend to feel that more keenly with love triangles (I'm looking at you, Joanne Fluke). Evanovich and Goldberg have created (probably more the former, based on her other books) a great repartee between the two where the sexual tension is at a nice simmer.
This time, Kate (FBI agent) and Nick (sorta-not-really-reformed criminal) are after a casino magnate who is laundering dirty money for some really bad dudes. It's up to them to infiltrate the casino and bring the bad dudes to justice. AND doing it while meting out justice for a friend of Kate's dad and even managing to have some fun.

Four and a half stars

This book comes out September 15, 2015

Follows The Job

Followed by The Pursuit

Ebook from Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Libby August 2023

A Knights Bridge Christmas by Carla Neggers

Woot, woot! Another librarian book! Too bad this book suffers from the return of too much backstory. Every time a character is introduced, we're reminded of what happened in a previous. And, actually, it's not just when they're introduced. It's repetitively knocked over the reader's heads.
Clare Morgan is new to Knights Bridge. She's moved to replace the last librarian who is getting married. This is a change from her, from the hustle and bustle of Boston but she's trying to raise her six-year-old son by herself (she's a widow) and isn't interested in romance.
Neither is Dr. Logan Farrell. He loves his job as an ER doctor but, after meeting Clare, he's realizing there might be something more to life.
This was overall an okay story, but it felt so... shallow. Everything was on the surface. Where was more backstory about Logan's grandparents and great-uncle? What was with that limp last sentence before the epilogue? And what was supposed to be the tie-in with the Christmas Carol? It was started but never really followed through. Well, the characters kept bringing it up but... it felt unfinished.
Two and a half stars.

Bhakti Flow Yoga by Rusty Wells

This is a well-written and thoughtful exploration of yoga. I'm just not sure who it's aimed at.
There is a LOT of information in the first part of this book. Like, a lot. A lot. A cavalcade. And because of that fact, none of it is very in depth. While I'm guessing this may be aimed at new-to-yoga practitioners, it is guaranteed to be overwhelming. There are entire books, entire retreats that cover things that half the page in this book.
And then in the second part, the descriptions aren't always clear, poses build on other poses that haven't yet been introduced, and all of the pictures have the most difficult version of the pose. This part is more clearly aimed at someone who has had some experience with in-person classes.
Personally, I got lost in the first part and enjoyed most of the pose descriptions. An okay book but not sure who I would recommend it to.

The Secret Son by Joan Kilby

Ugh. I really wish NetGalley would warn you when a book is going to be a novella. I really liked the description of Alex Chernoff, successful ladies man, spontaneously deciding to blow off his fabulous vacation because the dad who deserted him sent a birthday card. But the novella form was not long enough to really develop the characters of either Alex or his heroine, Emma, who is in visiting her family at the same time Alex is discovering his. She is very entwined in the lives of Alex's father and siblings and very suspect of Alex. Nor was this book really long enough to do anything other than rush the plot development. I
Had this been a longer book, I suspect I would have very much enjoyed it. Not quite a Whiskey-Creek-Novak book but reminded me of the writing style with just a smidge less angst. Considering that Alex's half-siblings are total sequel bait, I'll be on the lookout to try this author again.
Two and a half stars.

Hanover House by Brenda Novak

A perfect book for a spooky fall, Hanover House sets up a new series with psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot as the main character. When she was sixteen, her boyfriend murdered three of her friends and nearly succeeded in slitting her throat as well. Since then, she's studied serial murderers, trying to figure out what makes them tick. Her baby is a project called Hanover House, a prison being built in a small Alaskan town, not far from Fairbanks.
But the locals aren't exactly excited to have a bunch of sociopaths shipped up from the Lower 48. In fact, someone's been messing around in her building, writing nasty words on the wall and tearing down some of the construction.
Local law enforcement, Sergeant Benjamin Murphy, colloquially known as Sergeant Amarok, calls the good doctor to come up and see the damage.
Because this is such a short story, I don't want to give too much away. This is the start of a nice departure from a more heavily romance book to a bit more suspense for Novak. Her books have never been "comfort reading" for me so this fits in nicely to my perception. I just hope that Jasper (the ex who escaped from prison almost as soon as he was put in) is either sidelined for awhile , becomes more a background noise, or is dealt with quickly. He had way too much action and if that continues, it will get old fast.
WARNING: I didn't read the description carefully. This book is a prequel. It is short.

Followed by Her Darkest Nightmare

Big Nate: Welcome to My World by Lincoln Peirce

In this book, Nate's grandparents visit his school and we find out where some of that precocious snark comes from. We also get a glimpse of what happens when Nate really tries and actually studies.
I've been reading Big Nate books for over a decade. They're a fast and easy to read, nothing offensive for kids. A little snark, but nothing serious.
A great addition to the Big Nate canon.

Four stars

This book came out September 15, 2015

Follows Say Good-bye to Dork City

Followed by Thunka, Thunka, Thunka

Ebook from NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread August 2022 as ebook from Libby

The Skeleton in the Closet by Angie Fox

I didn't read the first book in the series and do feel like I missed out on some of the story. Such as why there's an Ellis Wyatt in the first book by an Ellis Wydell in the second. But it was a fast read and just fun.
Verity Long is back again. Her ghostly companion Frankie is still grounded to her house (or his urn? Because he can travel with her?) She's trying to help her sister, Melody, when Melody's rather irritating volunteer is found dead, by the sisters, in the reading room of the library. Why was she calling people late at night? What did she find that would change the course of the town's history? And why is Frankie so reluctant to get involved?
I'll be interested in reading the next one. Especially to see how Verity and her new love interest/ex-fiance's brother pans out.