Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Lady Sesily Talbot is well-known in the ton. She cut a swath with her four sisters as the daughters of a coal merchant. Now, her sisters are all married off while Sesily uses her time working with a group of women to take down unscrupulous men. Is it dangerous? Yes. But she feels strong that it is the right thing to do. Would she love to get married? Maybe. But there is only one man who holds her interest. 

Caleb Calhoun is an American in business with Sesily's sister Sera. He has just returned to England after two years away. He was most definitely avoiding Sesily. But now he's back to help Sera and their business partner Fetu while she gives birth. He knows that his past will cause a problem but he just can't stay away from Sesily. And when his past crosses with her present, it may mean that he will never see her again.

MacLean has written another amazing novel. I thought that the wrap up was a little too swift but the book was otherwise enjoyable. Sesily was capable and Caleb recognized that. I am very hopeful that Lady Imogen, resident chemist, will get a story with Bow Street Runner Thomas Peck. 

Four stars

This book comes out August 24th, 2021

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

Trying to resurrect her hometown, Kate Hamilton is really feeling the weight of her own expectations. They have the Barton house and a chunk of money to refurbish it, but how will she find contractors? Will it be enough? 

She finds a contractor, Morgan, who seems like he will be good at the job but the day that he's inspecting the house, they find a body, more of a skeleton really, walled up in the kitchen of the Barton house. He obviously died in the 1800s so it's not of great concern but it is still curious. 

Katie is also dealing with Steve, one of Morgan's contractors who seems to have an ulterior motive for working on the house, as well as balancing her burgeoning relationship with Joshua, who seems to be distancing himself somewhat.

Then, another body is found in the house and this time it's someone that Kate knows. Of course, being a cozy, it is someone who totally deserves it. But that doesn't mean that it isn't disconcerting. And a little worrying.

The mystery in this one is not quite as tight as previous books in the series. Also, the ending was a bit abrupt, especially with a time jump that didn't make sense to me.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out August 24th, 2021
Follows Killer in the Carriage House
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Now You See Her by Linda Howard

Sweeney is an artist. She's happy without a man in her life, just her art. But her life is changing. She's painting murder scenes, scenes that she has no possible way of knowing. And all of a sudden, she's not only noticing men, she's attracting them. 

Richard Worth is the husband of her gallery's owner. He's been trying to divorce her for over a year but it's slow going. He doesn't really care. She's after his money, 'cause he's rich. He's also not as refined as she'd've liked. But Sweeney likes him fine and he's the only one who can warm her from the debilitating cold that takes over after she's painted.

This is definitely a nineties romance with the sweet heroine and forceful hero. A little too forceful but still a nostalgic read. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 25th, 1998

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Newly Wed and Slightly Dead by Danielle Garrett

Even paranormals get married. Which means that they need wedding planners. Well, event planners really but Anastasia Winters has aspired to being a wedding planner and she's finally gotten promoted to the position. But that doesn't mean she'll stay there long. She's got a coworker, Kait, who's gunning for her job and a boss who expects perfection at every event. Even at the rehearsals. So, when Ana bumbles a job (at least according to her boss), she's now on notice. And it's going to be particularly important for her next event because it's going to be the Wedding of the Year. Or at least fairly important because one of the scions of an old and noble vampire family is marrying a human. Which is, apparently, fairly scandalous. And it's a human who may or may not have fairy blood in her far distant past but still. 

Too bad the rehearsal dinner is such a problem. First, the future mother-in-law declares that she will give her son a fortune IF the bride agrees to become a vampire. And the woman has been picking on this poor human nonstop so it's just one more thing they have to deal with. Then, the MIL ends up dead. Staked. Ashes. And the bride seems like the most likely suspect.

A fast, fun, and fluffy book and I enjoyed both it and how it lightly touched on one of Garrett's other series.

This book came out February 14th, 2019

Followed by Couture and Curses

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Stephen R. Covey

Why are the conversations we most need to have often the hardest to actually sit down and have? Because they are HARD. We don't let information flow freely for various reasons.

Know your motives going in. Stick to those reasons during the discussion. Make sure that you stick to facts, not to your story OR tell your story as a story. 

If you need to have a crucial conversation, make sure that you blend confidence and humility. Make sure you listen.

Lots of advice, some will be hard to implement. Will probably re-read at some point. 

Three stars

This book came out September 16th, 2001

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Reckless Miles by Claire Kingsley

I would not have enjoyed this book nearly as much if I hadn't listened to Jessen and Juliette on the "Smart Women Read Romance" podcast squee so much over it. I didn't love it quite as much (the characters were more New Adult, which is not my favorite, and the insta-love was a little hard to grasp, especially since Cooper had been set up as a man who enjoyed... the favors... of many women, never sticking to just one and Amelia had quite literally just been dumped at the altar) but I am enjoying the series in general and will more than likely read more by Kingsley.

Cooper Miles usually babbles somewhat incoherently but not usually at strangers. And not strangers who understand him so well. But this woman in a wedding dress sitting next to him seems to understand him. And she's really hot. AND willing to follow him home and spend some time on a "Cooper-moon" while she sorts through her options. 

Amelia is pretty used to doing what other people tell her to do. She sort of falls in with Cooper but then falls in love both with him and his slightly crazy family. Is it a little too fast? She wonders about that as well but she does feel like this could be the real thing.

There is a subplot with Cooper's dad that seems to be the running thread through all of the books and takes up a LOT of the book. 

Three stars

This book came out September 21st, 2018

Follows Forbidden Miles

Followed by Hidden Miles

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon

A worthy successor to The Boyfriend Project. You definitely don't have to have read the previous book in the series but if you do happen to read it out of order, this book has the same heart, sense of humor, and deftly drawn characters and so, if you liked this one, you should definitely check out the other.

Taylor Powell was able to parlay her fifteen minutes of fame into a little bump in her personal training business but it wasn't quite enough to keep her afloat. Working with NFL player (well, he was and now he's hopeful to return, Jamar Dixon, might be the boost she needs. The interesting thing? She tells him they CAN'T appear to be in a relationship. It will make her look bad and just bring out the trolls. Of course, that goes out the wayside quickly and they are soon in a fake romance that is starting to turn distressingly real. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out June 9th, 2021

Follows The Boyfriend Project

Followed by The Hookup Plan
ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley
Opinions are my own