The Chase by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

This book is why I keep giving Evanovich a chance. Most of her books are too over the top for me. But this one hit the spot between too outlandish and strict procedural to be just plain fun.

Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent working with a known con man and thief, Nick Fox (which will bring inevitable comparisons to Eve and Roarke.) When the book opens, she is helping him pull off a bank heist so they can get evidence to put a man behind bars. The bigger caper is that they have to steal a bronze rooster that was already stolen from the Smithsonian. The Chinese government now wants the rooster back and the US doesn't want to admit that they've lost the statue. Complications arise when it turns out a former Chief of Staff, now the head of a military contract security firm is the one who has the original.
The yes-no relationship between Kate and Nick is more believable than the triangle between Stephanie, Ranger, and Joe. Also less annoying. Probably because it's early in the series. I'll wait and see how the rest of it goes.

Three stars

This book came out June 18, 2013

Follows The Heist

Followed by The Job

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z by Ashley Spires

I had read "The Most Magnificent Thing" and really enjoyed it. This book was also a joy. With delightful illustrations, Spires goes through the alphabet with different words related to inventing. Like in the first book, Spires includes ideas around the fact that failure is not bad, it's just a way to cross off a path that didn't work and I love that. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 5, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Kids Can Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Riley Everett never even knew her mother had a sister and now she's going to a small island in Michigan to meet the woman. But she is unexpectedly sick on the trip over and has no luck being able to use the toilet as Edison Held is hogging it. When he finally comes out, they quarrel but then she pukes on his shoes.

Both regret the interaction and are willing to get to know each other a little better. Which is good because Riley is dealing with some big changes in her life. Her aunt actually died right before Riley got to the island so she's alone in the big house. Well, except for the ghosts. Because there are ghosts. But we really only get to see a couple. 

Soon Riley is getting to hang out with Edison, is learning more about her own powers, and is making friends who are also working with her.

There are a lot of parts missing in this story that I wish we had seen. More of Riley and Edison's growing relationship, more of Riley and her friends learning to use their powers, more time with Riley and her mom. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 5, 2023

Starfall Point #1

Followed by Big Witch Energy

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Hardcastle and Emily are caught up in another mystery when the spring brings an art exhibition to the village of Littleton Cotterell. People are buzzing over the jewel-studded copy of Shakespeare's folio. This is, of course, one of the items that goes missing when a small fire is set causing everyone to panic and run out of the hall. Also missing are a bust and a painting of the local Grange.

The thefts are bad enough but then a man is murdered during the local bicycle race. Luckily Lady Hardcastle and Emily are among the first on scene having recently taken up  the art of cycling themselves. 

There are any number of suspects including an old friend of Emily's from the circus, treasure hunting twins, and even the Farley-Strouds themselves.

A nice addition to the series and I look forward to reading more. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 5, 2023

Follows An Act of Foul Play

ARC kindly provided Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

Does anyone really want to be the Chosen One? Jessica Gold is sure shocked to find out that she might be. Especially because of the... incident... when she was a fledgling witch. But when handsome Derrick Winters shows up and says she's going to help save her town from the demons that come out every 90 years, Jessica isn't so sure but all of the evidence does seem to be pointing to the fact that he may be telling the truth. Along with the Bringer of Light, Jessica will help to save the world (or at least their corner of it.)
This was an okay start to a new series. A lot of world building meant that we missed out on the romance and that the characters weren't as well fleshed-out but it was a cute story and an okay start to a series. 

Three stars

This book comes out September 5

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager

Opinions are my own

August 2023 Rereads

As always, opinions are my own

The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston

Call of Crows #1

This book came out March 31st, 2015

Followed by the Undoing

Connections in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #48

This book came out February 5, 2019

Follows Leverage in Death

Followed by Vendetta in Death

Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb

In Death #49

This book came out September 3, 2019

Follows Connections in Death

Followed by Golden in Death

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Golden in Death by J. D. Robb

In Death #50

Follows Vendetta in Death
Followed by Shadows in Death
This book came out February 4, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Shadows in Death by J. D. Robb

In Death #51

Follows Golden in Death

Followed by Faithless in Death

This book comes out September 8, 2020

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Faithless in Death by J.D.Robb

In Death #52

This book came out February 2nd, 2021  
Follows Shadows in Death

Followed by Abandoned in Death

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #53

Four stars

This book came out September 7th, 2021

Follows Faithless in Death

Followed by Abandoned in Death

Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #54

Follows Forgotten in Death

Followed by Desperation in Death
This book came out February 8, 2022

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

This book came out September 6, 2022

In Death #55

Follows Abandoned in Death

Followed by Encore in Death

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Check, Please! Book 1 by Ngozi Ukazu

This book came out September 18th, 2018

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews 

Meg Langslow #14

Three stars

This book came out June 17th, 2012

Follows The Real Macaw

Followed by Hen of the Baskervilles

Hen of the Baskervilles

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 16, 2013

Meg Langslow #15

Follows Some Like it Hawk

Followed by Duck the Halls

Audiobook borrowed from Libby 

Duck the Halls

Three stars

This book came out October 22nd, 2013

Meg Langslow #16

Follows Hen of the Baskervilles

Followed by The Good, the Bad, and the Emus 

This book came out October 22nd, 2013

The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews 

Four stars

This book came out July 8th, 2014

Meg Langslow #17

Follows Duck the Halls

Followed by The Nightingale before Christmas

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

The Nightingale before Christmas by Donna Andrews 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 21, 2014

Meg Langslow #18

Follows The Good, the Bad, and the Emus

Followed by Lord of the Wings

Listened to on Audible

Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews

Four stars

This book came out August 4, 2015

Meg Langslow #19

Follows The Nightingale Before Christmas

Followed by Die Like an Eagle

Listened to on Audible

Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews

Four stars
This book came out August 2, 2016

Meg Langlsow #20

Follows Lord of the Wings
Followed by Gone Gull

Listened to on Audible

Payback in Death by J. D. Robb

The first two chapters of this book show us a rare glimpse of Eve and Roarke on vacation. But the relaxed mood is short-lived. The night they return to New York, Eve gets a call from an old friend, one who needs a favor. His mentor is dead and it has been set up to look like a suicide. But there are a number of reasons to believe it is a setup. 

Because the deceased was an IAB (internal affairs) detective, he had many enemies over his long career. So Eve, Peabody, and the team begin the long process of crossing names off. And there are many people who do still bear grudges but just as many who seem to have moved on.

There are some side stories with more being done on Mavis and Peabody's house; one of our side characters getting a promotion; and an IAB cop who seems to have it out for Eve. 

A lovely addition to the series

Four stars

This book comes out September 5, 2023

In Death #57

Follows Encore in Death

Followed by Random in Death

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Libby September 2023, hard copy from library June 2024