About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

Taliath is in a loveless marriage. And she was sent there by a goddess. A goddess who would know exactly how much the people of the town she's in would hate her. Her skin is different, her ways are different, and, well, she's a witch. That has made them especially grumpy. Grumpy enough that they are going to hang her.
Briec the Mighty is strangely drawn to this... human. She has magic but that isn't why he wants her. At least, he doesn't think so. It's the fact that she argues with him. It makes her intriguing. And not a little hot. So he saves her from the villagers and claims her life. But then she disappears and his heart hurts. Luckily, this is a romance and he will find her again.

Three stars
This book came out December 1st, 2008
Follows Dragon Actually
Followed by What a Dragon Should Know
Audiobook from library
Opinions are my own

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Sibling rivalry can be deadly and never more so than between Annwyl the Bloody and the brother who has tried to kill her since her father brought her to their home when her mother died. Annwyl is one of the few who is willing to stand up against her brother's tyranny.

Dragons have little use for the affairs of humans. Fearghus the Destroyer is one such dragon. He hasn't been seen for years for just that reason. But when he sees Annwyl being attacked by a group of men, and fending them off, he decides to step in. Nursing her back to health, this dragon is intrigued by the human. But she isn't quite as enamored as he is. Well, she is intrigued by his brain. But her body is more in love with the warrior who is teaching her how to fight.

When I found out that this author is Shelly Laurenston, I immediately grabbed this book. And it is the same- kooky, a little loose with details, but an overall fun ride.

Three stars

This book came out September 1st, 2008

Followed by About a Dragon

Audiobook from library

Opinions are my own

Reread as as hard copy of mine March 2021, Audible Plus January 2024

Love Me by Bella Andre

The first book of this series featured the siblings of this book. Janica has known that she loved Travis and was perfectly willing to have a relationship but he wasn't. He's also her sister's best friend and doesn't want to rock any boats. But his Type A personality is pushing this surgeon to the breaking point. When he's told to take a vacation, Janica follows him to make sure he's okay and lust explodes.
I didn't see how this relationship was deeper than the physical but it was a fast and easy read and much better edited than the first book.

Three stars
Follows Take Me
This book came out June 28th, 2010
I borrowed this ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler

My mother encouraged me to read this book that in turns made me laugh and cry. Can you be irreverent about cancer? Especially if you are a "good Christian" and the diagnosis makes you question so many things? Yes. But not everyone does it with the grace and truth that Bowler writes with. A dip into "Prosperity Christianity" is included; the belief that, if you believe in God enough, if you are a good person, you will be blessed with whatever you want whether it is health or wealth or anything else. Her look at death made me cry so many times but this is the kind of glimpse into Christianity that I adore; brutally honest about the failings but steadfast nonetheless. This is the glimpse into death that I adore; brutally honest about how much it sucks and not just because you have lost or are losing someone but because of how inadequate our culture is in dealing with it.

Four and a half stars
This book came out February 6th, 2018
Hard copy I passed on
Opinions are my own

Iron Kissed by Patricia Biggs

Mercy's mentor Zee has called her in to help solve a series of murders. The victims were all fae so the human police haven't been brought it. Mercy quickly determines the killer but is shocked when Zee is arrested for the man's death. He is obviously not the killer but the Gray Lords are willing to let him take the fall in order to have it cleaned up quickly. The acceptance of fae by the humans is imperative and having one person go down is not beyond their plans.
But Zee belongs to Mercy. Whether or not he wants her to investigate, she's going to. And this book ends with a rather graphic seen and some discussion of what happens in the aftermath of rape. I am so glad that I read this book even though I listened to the rest of the series because there is at least a bit of space between the book and the brain that sometimes isn't there if you are absorbing a book through your ears. I haven't personally had the experience but, from the outside, it seemed like an eloquent description of what a victim has to wrestle with.

Four stars
Follows Blood Bound
Followed by Bone Crossed
This book came out January 82 2008
Ebook borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Mercy agrees to help her vampire friend Stefan by being a witness when he goes to warn a vampire that he is encroaching on the local seed (not sure of spelling). But what they find is something far worse than a regular vampire. Shut out from the investigation at first, Mercy suddenly becomes the only one that can save the world.
I don't love love triangles. And to throw in someone else is just even more frustrating. And there still aren't a lot of women in this series which makes it hard to identify with (basically there's Mercy, then a bitchy werewolf named Honey and the head of the vampires, Marsilia -- not exactly shining examples of womanhood.) I'm giving the series a couple more books but am not interested in a series that drags out the will-they-won't-they.

Three stars
Follows Moon Called
Followed by Iron Kissed
This book came out January 30th, 2007
Opinions are my own

Just This Once by Rosalind James

Hannah Montgomery is a hardworking marketing director for a women's athletic clothing company. She also raised both her sister and her brother. Who could be more deserving of a break? And her vacation to New Zealand is fantastic. At least until she gets sucked into a riptide and starts to tire.
Drew Callahan sees her swimming and is able to come up by her in a kayak and get her to shore. He's immediately intrigued and asks her out. Hannah is surprised at first but soon takes him  up on his offer. They do all sorts of fun things like hiking and going for coffee astonishing Drew because mostly the women he dates just want him to buy them things. See, Drew is a big time rugby star and makes so much money, he should pay for them (is what they think anyway.)
This was a really interesting story because it is part whirlwind romance but then turns into long distance and they make it work. There were parts of the story that dragged a bit but mostly a fun story.

Three and a half stars
Followed by Just Good Friends
This book came out August 29th, 2012
I read this book through Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own