Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

Catalina just wants her sister's wedding to go smoothly. So when her soon-to-be-brother-in-law's mother summons her, Catalina goes. It turns out a family heirloom has been stolen and the only person who could have taken it has to be a family member.
This means that Catalina will have to unleash the power that she's kept under wraps since she was a child. It is a power that she hates to use but she'll do anything for Nevada.
A nice novella and quick read.

Four stars

This novella came out November 6, 2018

Follows Wildfire

Followed by Sapphire Flames
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Reread July 2022, September 2023, as Libby audiobook February 2025

A Birder's Guide to Murder by J.R. Ripley

When a vendor drops out of the American Birding Expo in Philadelphia, the organizer, Phoebe, asks Amy to step in. She doesn't think it's a good idea but it might be that she can spend some alone time with her boyfriend. Even if there are three other people going with them. Including a strangely reluctant Esther.
It starts off bad with their reserved rooms not being available and Amy insulting the VIP, but then it gets worse when said VIP is found dead by none other than Esther who immediately becomes a suspect in his murder.
I had only read one other book in this series and wasn't fully invested in Esther. With this book focusing so much on her, it made it a little less enjoyable for me.

Three stars
This book came out November 13
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own

Nobody's Sweetheart Now by Maggie Robinson

Was Lady Adelaide "Addie" Compton upset when her husband crashed his newest car into a tree? Well, it would've been better had his companion not have been his current mistress, the last in a string of lovers. And it would have been even better if he had stayed dead instead of coming back as an all too real ghost. And in the middle of her first house party since his death. One where the wife of one of the guests has been murdered.
Also sort of awkward? The childhood friend who seems determined to court her, even though they've never leaned that way before. And her attraction to the detective sent from London.  Inspector Devenand Hunter is the first person in his family born in England and that does produce the requisite prejudices from many of the characters. It stinks to see them but it is true to the time.
Overall a nice historical but with the addition of a ghost. Not sure how the series will continue but will be interested to find out.

This book came out November 13
Three stars
Follows Who's Sorry Now
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss; Opinion is my own

Knocked-Up Cinderella by Julie Hammerle

This book was exactly what I thought it would be: fast, fun, and fluffy. A little on the surface, especially in terms of seeing where this was more a romance than a really good friendship, but an incredibly enjoyable read.
As readers, we get to see the back-and-forth first person views of Dr. Erin Sharpe, elementary school principal, and Ian Donovan, globe-trotting venture capitalist. They are both 40 and neither is looking for a relationship. They are good at using condoms (loved the discussion about X-gens and condoms. I've had it with my friends) but something goes wrong and Erin ends up pregnant. They had The Talk before sex and, while both are sure they want to stay out of a relationship, they have ties that may be stronger than their wills.

Four stars
This book came out November 12
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley; opinion is my own

Drawn to Sex by Erika Moen, Matthew Nolan

Erika Moen is not only a wonderful artist, she and her husband are great, sex positive people. They test various sex toys and she publishes their reviews  as a coming on her website Oh Joy Sex Toy. This book covers all sorts of topics including gender fluidity, condoms, and sex toys.
IT took me a little to get through it but otherwise an entirely enjoyable book.

Four stars
This book came out November 2
ARC provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own

My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes

Jane Winston MacGowan is a widow, pregnant, and visiting prisons with her reverend father. She is only trying to make a man on death row feel a little better, she doesn't expect a marriage proposal. Nor does she expect to find out that he's a long-lost duke and about to be rescued from the noose.
Quinn Wentworth (hottie from previous Burrowes books) is beyonad surprised to find out that he's been released. As gentry, no less. But that just means that he can a) rescue the people he's made friends with while in prison, b) find out who put him in jail, and c) take his revenge.
While checking off his list items, Quinn becomes a little less of a hottie while lying and deceiving his wife and family. And his family is a little over the top but I think regular Burrowes readers won't be too disappointed.

Three stars
This book came out November 6
ARC provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own

Santa Puppy by Lynn Cahoon

Jill Gardner and her friends are helping out at the local animal shelter for the holidays. One dog in particular, Baby, catches her attention. Baby is an older dog, brought into the shelter when her homeless dog dad died of a heart attack. But Baby has a mystery surrounding her and Jilly wants to figure it out.
A very fast read, this is actually one of the better novellas in the series. Just a touch of magical realism that was a little iffy for my but overall a nice read.

Four stars
This novella came out November 6
ARC provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own