Skin Deep by Nora Roberts

From the outside, Chantal O'Hurley would seem to have it all. Blonde, beautiful, and a movie star, most people would trade places with her in an instance. Except then they would be the one being stalked; the ones being threatened with death. Chantal is over it.
Quinn Doran is willing to do a favor for his friend Matt, Chantal's agent. But he's sure he knows what's going on. An actress who needs drama in her personal life as well as on screen, Chantal O'Hurley may be beautiful but she's obviously a nut. Except that she really is getting notes. And phone calls. And flowers. The more time he spends with her the more he realizes that he may have misjudged her.
An interesting story but not a lot of character development. Some definite heat between the two characters. It's not aging very well with Chantal being a smoker (though maybe actresses still are) and Quinn being so very misogynistic.

This book came out September 1988
Follows Dance to the Piper
Followed by Without a Trace
Listened on Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

The Last Honest Woman (The O'Hurleys, #1) by Nora Roberts

Dylan Crosby is writing a book on Abby O'Hurley's late husband and he knows she's keeping secrets. He's bound and determined to ferret out every last one. Including why the widow of a man who was fabulously wealthy is out mucking stalls and cleaning houses.
Married young, Abby's marriage wasn't perfect but Abby consents to talk to Dylan because she needs money. Her boys are growing up fast and her farm needs work. But she has some secrets she doesn't ever want to see the light of day.
Of course, this is a romance so they'll fall in love but the development of the characters and the story-line are pretty good, especially considering this series started as a 90s Harlequin romance series.

Three stars
Followed by Dance to the Piper
This book came out May 1988
Listened to this book on Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

Dance to the Piper by Nora Roberts

Maddy O'Hurley is a recently broken out Broadway star. She left her last play in the middle of a very successful run because she felt she had given all she could. Now in rehearsals for a new play, this sparkling actress is surprised to meet her new angel (play backer) when he interrupts a mugging.
Reed Valentine isn't sure what to make of this intriguing woman. She's nothing like the society women that he's used to dating, but he's strongly drawn to her.
The push-and-pull of both their emotions and their relationship is a lovely story that I've enjoyed reading over and over again.

Four stars
Follows The Last Honest Woman
Followed by Skin Deep
This book came out July 1988
Listened on Audible Escape
Opinions are my own

What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken

Gwenvael the Handsome has been sent by his sister-in-law, Annwyl, to follow up on a rumor that people are plotting against her because she is about to give birth to half-human, half-dragon twins. But that means he has to go to the North and talk to the Reinhold. The man has an offspring that is known as the Beast. Gwenvael is shocked to discover that the Beast is actually a woman, Dagmar Reinhold. And she refuses to help him unless he helps her first. So they'll have to travel together to help to save not only the children but basically the world.
Gwenvael is beyond conceited but Aiken is amazing at making him very likable even through that. And Dagmar is intelligent. Definite shades of Laurenston at her best.

Three stars
This book came out September 1st, 2009
Follows About a Dragon
Followed by Last Dragon Standing
Audiobook from library
Opinions are my own

Connecting Rooms by Jayne Ann Krentz

Owen Sweet is the only private investigator on Misplaced Island so when Amy Comfort needs help looking at her aunt's beau (he started dating her suspiciously soon after Amy's uncle died), she goes to Owen for help. She also can admit that she had a crush on him after he was a client of her real estate business. The two go to visit but pretend to be in a relationship so that Amy can explain why Owen is with her. While there, the two get sucked into a blackmail scheme.
This is a novella so there's not a lot of room to develop characters or the story so it's fine and indicative of Krent's early works.

Three stars
This novella originally came out in the 90s
Book borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

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