Deep Six by D.P. Lyle

The book opens in the first person with Jake Longly, former professional baseball star, sitting outside a house doing surveillance. Too bad it's in front of his ex-wife's house and she's not really ecstatic to have him there. So she takes a golf club to his car. This is also how he meets Nicole, a screenwriter. She lets him follow her to her uncle's house so his vintage car won't be ruined in the oncoming storm. This kicks off a relationship that we see in the rest of the book as the two get sucked into the death of one of the people Jake was watching. 

This was a fast ride but I did get thrown off between the third and first person views, even within a chapter sometimes. 

Jake Longly #1

Three stars

This book came out July 5, 2016

Followed by A-List

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

I Didn't Know I Needed This by Eli Rallo

The cover of this book was pretty and the subtitle intriguing so I decided to borrow the book from the library. I quickly realized that I am probably not in Rallo's main demographic but it was an interesting enough book that I finished it. 

Rallo has collected a number of rules for herself that she is sharing with other people. Most of the lists seem to relate to dating and love but she also touches on friendship. Weaving stories of her past loves and lovers into the story, it is easy to see why Rallo is compared to Carrie Bradshaw. 

I'm not a huge fan of stories that skip around in time and this book does that, identifying characters by name though none of them really stuck with me other than Rallo's best friend.

Three stars

This book came out January 1, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Can't Get Enough by G.A. Aiken

Shalin the Innocent wouldn't mind sleeping with Ailean the Wicked but doing so would set off the rampant jealousy of her princess who is obsessed with the male. So she's been sent to the human realm to protect her. 

However, Ailean sees her after a night of debauchery with another woman and he kisses her. When word gets back to the princess, Shalin is suddenly sold to a dragon in the Northlands. Ailean is irate. But he's going to get his woman. 

The origins of Bercalek. Too short but adorable. 

Four stars

Dragon Kin #0.1

This book came out September 1, 2008

Followed by A Tale of Two Dragons

Borrowed from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

Chains & Flames by G.A. Aiken

If you've read the G. A. Aiken Dragon Kin series, you've encountered the Queen of Dragons, Rhiannon and her mate, Bercelak. Their story started when Bercelak fell in love. He battled to make himself invaluable to her mother's court and now her mother has finally decided that they are to be mates. But first, she binds Rhiannon so she can no longer turn into a dragon. She is dropped off as a human at Bercelak's cave. While he isn't happy that she is hurt, he is elated to know that she will finally be his. At least she will be as soon as he finishes wooing her. And makes sure that her mother won't kill her. 

A short story that could have been longer but gives some history to the Dragon Kin stories.

Three stars

This book came out... at some point (?)

Borrowed as Audible Plus book

Opinions are my own

A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker very nearly declared themselves in the last book. But they were interrupted by Stoker's brother, Tiberius. After that, Veronica fled halfway around the world for six months, afraid of her feelings (whether or not she'll admit that to herself). She's barely back when Tiberius lures her to a remote island, to  a house party in a castle with promises of the larvae of a rare butterfly. Veronica knows he has ulterior motives but she's willing to do what it takes to get the butterfly. And maybe to tweak Stoker's nose a bit as she poses as Tiberius' fiancée. 

But it is even more mysterious than it first appears. Three years ago, a woman disappeared on her wedding day and the family has been in hiding ever since. This house party is their first toe into coming back into society. But a seance brings a ghost back to life and old secretes rise again.

The story was fine but the real draw for me was the growth for Veronica. A bit for Stoker as well but their story moved enough to be an enjoyable read.

Four stars

This book came out March 12, 2019

Follows A Treacherous Curse

Followed by A Murderous Relation

Opinions are my own

The Crimes of Clearwell Castle by Benedict Brown

Christopher has finally graduated. Unlike three of his four close friends, he is not going to university. He is still unsure (mostly) of what he wants to do with his life so he's going to head out into the world. Of course, that will be with his adventurous grandfather. This time, they are heading to Clearwell Castle where a friend of his grandfather's resides.

When they get there, a festival of some sort seems to be going on. One featured around Morgana. They find out that hundreds of years ago, one of the castle residents was supposed to marry a local girl (best guess on spelling) from Scouse. She disappeared before the wedding and he married and had a baby very quickly thereafter. Lo, these many years later, the mayor of the neighboring town is still using this as a platform to be elected. 

But there are more current matters to be concerned with as a local man has recently died under semi-suspicious and another person dies while Christopher and his grandfather are there.

This series is absolutely great in that we have an experienced detective along with the inexperienced amateur. Plus, Christopher isn't just immediately an awesome investigator, instead, he is learning the ropes.

Four stars

This book came out September 20, 2022

Follows The Curious Case of the Templeton Swift

Followed by The Snows of Weston Moor

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan

Emmaline Bluewater was engaged to Bastian Truenote until the day he ran away. He didn't even leave a note for her, just for his parents. Emma was already known as lesser in their witchy society. Her family isn't prominent and, as a later born child, she doesn't have a lot of power. When he left, it was the lowest point of her life. But it opened the door to letting her escape her overbearing mother.

It's seven years later though and Bastian has just walked back into her life as though he never left. She's not very happy but he's got a hell of a reason- if they don't marry, his mother will die. So she agrees to a marriage in name only, just so that the contract will be fulfilled.

I wish we had seen more about she formed a friendship with Leah and more about how she, Leah, and Tia opened a bar. I also thought it would have been nice to know more about what she and Bastian did for the Exhibition.

Three and a half stars

This book came out 

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own