America's Next Reality Star by Laura Heffernan

I picked the book because the title, and then the premise intrigued me. I'm not much of a reality show watcher but I love reading blog posts the day after outlining what happened on the shows. This type of book could become catnip for me.
The back cover is a little misleading. Jennifer (Jen) Reid doesn't lose her boyfriend, job, and apartment in one fell swoop, but they do happen in fairly quick succession. So when the reality show, The Fishbowl, that she applied for sort of as a joke calls and says that they want her, Jen is ready to go -- after breaking her foot while uninsured, she could use $250,000. She, and eleven other people, are picked to live in a house that is all glass while solving puzzles (both mental and physical) in order to try not to be voted off by their fellow contestants. There's all the drama that you might expect but surprisingly little manipulation from the directors. Even though Jen has an archnemesis in the house, Arianna, somehow Arianna keeps getting voted to stay on while Jen keeps being put up for elimination by the audience. And there is a possible romance, the cute law student Justin. But is he actually interested in her? Or is he playing the reality game? If not, why is he spending so much time with Arianna?
The ending was a bit fast for me. I wanted to spend more time with Justin and Jen, to see more of their relationship develop; I was able to connect with Jen but wish there had been more to connect with Justin and with their romance. I liked the world building and am looking forward to the next book, hoping to see more of a connection between the characters.

Four stars
This book comes out March 7

Why We March by Artisan

This book is literally what the title explains; signs from the Women's March of 2017. There are some touching, some funny, and some sad. I wish there had been more exploration of the themes or maybe a quote from the specific marchers but this is a book for any of the women in your lives. Or the men. For the people who were there in person or watching from home. It's a book for those who agree and a way to talk to those who disagree. A fast read that is worth passing on.

Four stars
This book comes outMarch 7

Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh

In the first book of this series, Camille Westcott discovered that, while she was pampered and haughty lady of the ton, all that could be taken away, and it was, when it was discovered that her father was a bigamist and Camille is a bastard. Of course, at this time, that meant that she immediately became an Untouchable. Okay, not that bad. But she's pushed out of the ton and the lord who had been circling her for marriage very publicly repudiates her. Camille soon learns she's stronger than she thinks and regroups, going to work in the very same orphanage that her newly-discovered half-sister grew up in. Of course, that means that she is in close contact with her sister's friend, Joel Cunningham.
Joel isn't impressed by Camille. Not at first. But as he gets to know her, through their teaching together and through her grandmother paying for him to paint both Camille and her sister. And he learns that this new Camille might be someone he could love.
I feel bad because Mary Balogh can usually hit me pretty hard in the feels. And this happened again... but... Balogh's books are usually romances. And this isn't different except that this book concentrates so much on the (amazing and heartfelt) evolution of Camille, that the romance is somewhat put in the shade. It was hard to see really why Joel's feelings changed to love. And, oh dear god, if there can ever be too much "happy" in an HEA, this book is a prime example.

Three stars
This book came out February 7
Follows Someone to Love
Followed by Someone to Wed

If the Duke Demands by Anna Harrington

Miranda Hodgkins is an orphan, living with her aunt and uncle in a small village. She grew up alongside the Carlisle boys, knowing them even before their family was elevated to an earldom and eventually a dukedom. For the past 15 years, she has loved the middle brother, Robert. But lately, he's been paying particular attention to another girl, Miranda is invisible to him. So she's come up with a plan to get him to notice her; sneak into his bed and seduce him. It's all going well until she moans his name... and discovers that the man she's in bed with is his brother Sebastian, the Duke.
Sebastian is astonished that the seductive masked woman who introduced herself as Rose is actually his brother's childhood friend. He's even more astonished when he finds himself agreeing to bring her to London with the family so that she can have a Season. And making a deal with her that, if he can help her land Robert, she will help him find a wife. Of course, fate has different plans in store for them.
There is always a lot of world building in the first of a series and that can take away from some of the story. I also didn't love either the ending of this book nor Sebastian's interminable brooding (dear God, there was so much brooding) but am very excited to read Quint's book when it comes out.

Three stars
This book comes out February 28

The Art of Vanishing by Cynthia Kuhn

Lila Maclean is just trying to regroup after discovering a dead body last semester. The chancellor still seems to have it out for her and sends her off on an errand to interview Damon Von Tussel, the famous author who will be headlining their Arts Week. Too bad the man disappears right after his talk. Unfortunately, Lila's artist mother used to date Damon so it's up to her to track him down and drag him back for his campus appearance. Lila is successful but is somewhat worried when a vague threat is emailed to everyone on the Arts Week committee to cancel Von Tussel "or else." It doesn't help that Lila's mother rushes into town putting herself in harm's way.
This is a nice series but somehow I'm just not connecting. I'm not sure if it's the writing or the story, I feel bad because I can't put my finger on it. I really hope there's not a love triangle in the offing though. That is one of my biggest pet peeves with cozy mysteries, that they start focusing more on the madcap romance than the story.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out February 28
Follows The Semester of Our Discontent

Fatality by Firelight by Lynn Cahoon

I wish I had read the first book in this series because there were a lot of call backs to the other story in this series. Otherwise, this was a perfectly fine book, though a bit convoluted in areas. A LOT of red herrings in this book.
This is the second writer's retreat that Cat Latimer is hosting in the house she lived in with her ex-husband, the house he surprisingly willed to her. During the last retreat, one of the writers (I'm guessing from the references) ended up dead. This retreat has its own share of problems, a famous Hemingway book being stolen from the library, one participant who has a stalker and is almost kidnapped, participants who don't seem fully invested in their writing, Cat finding out that her home town is a supposed "safe zone" for mob families to send their college-aged kids, a big mob guy hitting on her... There's a lot going on.
I would probably read the next book in this series if some of the "over-arching" stories start moving a little faster.

Three stars
This book comes out February 28
Followed by Of Murder and Men

Big Nate: What's a Little Noogie Between Friends? by Lincoln Peirce

** spoiler alert ** If you love Big Nate, this book will be right up your alley. The usual stints with soccer and basketball. Photo Day is a compound threat with School Picture Guy being his usual self but then Coach John shows up as well. We also see more with Jenny and Nate when we all get the news that she is moving to Seattle.

Four stars
This book comes out February 28