Not My Kind of Hero by Pippa Grant

Maisey was one of the stars on a D-list home improvement show. Her ex-husband was the other. She knew more about home repairs but was content to be the comedic partner. The ex wanted a bigger star and divorced her so now she's on her own except for her daughter, Junie. If that wasn't bad enough, Maisey's mother was the head of a Ponzi scheme and their names became mud in their home town so Maisey has moved them both to Wyoming. The book opens with them confronting a bear (Earl) and accidentally scaring a man off his horse. 

Flint isn't excited about his new landlord. She never came to visit her uncle and she is a dilettante who is telling him he can't run his after-school program on her property. He'd rather not deal with her at all and wishes that her uncle had finally changed his will to leave his property to the town like he had always said he would.

There are definitely misunderstandings between the two but after some time (and some heated stolen moments that they each assure each other they shouldn't be taking), they figure out they might be perfect for each other. 

I loved getting to see Maisey figure out her new life. I never quite warmed to Flint but I could see why she would. If you like Grant, you will enjoy this book.

Four stars
This book came out August 15, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Penelope Goes to Portsmouth by M.C. Beaton, Helen Lisanti

This book is absolutely crazy. We still get Miss Pym but she is sort of not interested in matchmaking anyone on the coach to Portsmouth since none seem like they would suit. Yes, there is the painfully naive merchant's daughter, Penelope, and the aristocrat's son who she might normally try to pair but Lord Augustus really is just too dissipated. At least, he seems that way until Penelope begs him to try and save Benjamin, a man who cannot hear or speak but is accused of thievery and is due to be hanged. Augustus steps up and... distracts... the evil Lady Kasey (sp?) to find the broach. Benjamin is freed! But there is more than half the book left. 

Still to be read are kidnappings, fires, near drownings, murder for hire, a marriage that Miss Pym doesn't believe in, one she does, and a night at the opera for Miss Pym.

I don't know how all of this fit in such a small book and I really can't believe that this book was published but, outside of the parts I was aghast at, I did enjoyed the end of the ride.

Three stars
This book came out January 1, 1992

Follows Belinda Goes to Bath

Followed by Beatrice Goes to Brighton

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Daredevil Snared by Stephanie Laurens

Youngest of four brothers, Captain Caleb Frobisher has been sent into the jungle to discover the whereabouts of a camp that has been stealing English people from a nearby village and putting them to work in the diamond mines. When he is captured, he uses his chance to embed himself in the mine and be able to work from the inside until their back up arrives.

Katherine Fortescue was one of the young ladies captured from the village. She has barely been hanging on to hope but seeing Caleb reignites the spark. Seeing him also ignites a spark of a different kind. Is it possible she has found true love?

A nice addition to the series but several parts could have been cut out.

Three stars

This book came out July 28, 2016

Follows A Buccaneer at Heart

Followed by Lord of the Privateers

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty

Mrs. Brown is leaving Eternity for a few days and leaving Mallory in charge. This shouldn't be a big deal but there is a delegation of humans, including the new ambassador who are arriving soon. 

The station has been unsettled and Mrs. Brown is hoping to fix that, but things get worse before they get better including the fact that Mallory knows several of the people who have arrived on this ship and, where there are coincidences for Mallory, there is usually murder.

Her best friend from high school, Amy, and Amy's twin brother Parker are among the group. However, it takes Mallory quite some time to remember Parker at all. Their older brother Reggie and his husband Max are there as well as is Oscar Daye, a basketball coach at North Carolina (where the rest of them are from as well) who also runs a gossip blog. Oh, and of course, Jessica, the new ambassador who seems to know quite a bit about Xan and Mallory.

The story does get  a bit convoluted but so was the first. It's still highly enjoyable and, especially if you loved the first book, you should read this one.

Four stars

This book comes out November 7, 2023

Follows Station Eternity

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

I didn't realize this book was going to be a prequel when I requested it from NetGalley. Usually, prequels are not as good as the first book. And that was still true for this book but it was darn close.

Viv has been injured in battle and is stuck in a sea town until she heals. At first, she is bored out of her mind but she finds a bookshop where the rattkin owner forces a book on her. And, to her surprise, Viv enjoys the book (which we also see on page.) And the next one.

But the reason Viv is stuck in Murk is going to come back to haunt her. A man in gray appears and brings two things of great value with him which will lead great evil to the town. Viv knows she isn't going to stay, but she values the people she's met and wants to help them live. 

Four stars

This book comes out November 7, 2023

Follows Legends & Lattes

ARC kindly provided by Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley

One Sweet Holiday by Lucy Day

When I requested this book, I didn't realize it was the third book in a series. It is very much a standalone book though and I didn't feel like I was missing anything by having not read the first two books. I will say that, though this book may have been set at a holiday, I didn't really get that feel so the title is a bit misleading.
Gwen Griffin needs a date to a wedding. Her sister is getting married and Gwen wants everything to be perfect. That includes no one questioning why she's still single.
When Gwen's sister rents out the house next door to one of the groom's friends, Gwen isn't bothered. It's often used as a rental. But she's not expecting the tenant, Logan, to be so gosh-darn handsome. Nor is she expecting to meet him while she's half dressed.
The two spend some time together and are delighted to find that they have much in common and that they may be falling in love.
Closed door romance with a bit of a rushed ending but I overall enjoyed it. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 6, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Blue Crow Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Ever since her sister Sky died, Sage has been avoiding going home. But now, her job has been made redundant and she has nowhere else to go. Besides, the (literal) ghost of her past is encouraging her to go and mend the fences with their other sister.

It seems that Sage can't keep her mouth shut. She blurts out things that other people would keep quiet and that has caused rifts for her in the past. But she's determined to try and patch up those relationships. She's also interested in maybe getting something going with her boss, Nate, at the plant shop where she immediately gets rehired, having been nicknamed the Plant Whisperer when she worked there in high school. But that is her gift, being able to speak to the plants, know what they are and what they need. Her relationship with Nate may not run smooth as another man from her past, Tennessee Reyes, turns up as well. 

This was fast, fun, and fluffy. Sage may not have been the deepest character and there are some definite plot holes but I really enjoyed this story and am hopeful that we will see some sequels.

Four stars

This book came out September 12, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own