The Bright Spot A Novel by Jill Shalvis

Luna's been working on a ranch that barely scrapes by but she has gotten to work for an owner who, though incredibly cranky, has usually treated her well. Well, he did until last week when he died. So, now Luna's trying not to panic while she waits to find out what's going to happen next. She is shocked to find out that she will be the half owner, along with someone from out of town. 

Jameson Hayes is used to coming in and dismantling companies. He knows the farm has been failing and he's not impressed with what he's heard about the manager. He's only planning on being in the town for a short time but is intrigued by a lady he meets at the bar. In true romance novel fashion, the night doesn't end how he would have hoped and it's even worse when he realizes who he was chatting up.

The two will have to work past preconceived notions in order to find out what they want in the end. Neither really has a biological family and they're trying to figure it out along the way.

We get a LOT of background on Luna and her found family but we don't get to see much from Jameson. We especially get to know Luna's best friend Willow and the husband who she just can't get separated from. 

If you are looking for building friendships and in-depth characters, Shalvis is amazing. The romance is a little less well-developed but I don't think regular Shalvis readers will mind. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 16, 2024

Follows The Sweetheart List

Followed by The Summer Escape

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Always Remember by Mary Balogh

Ben Ellis and Lady Jennifer Arden both know what it is to be on the outside. He was born a bastard and she has a twisted leg which means she will never walk. Both are stalwarts of their families in different ways and the families have gathered at Ravenswood for the summer. 

The two don't actually come together because they are outsiders but because Ben tries to help Jennifer and Jennifer falls in love with his daughter. At first, Jennifer is resistant to Ben's help but she really would like to walk, at least some form of it. Or find any way she can to get some freedom (he also shows her how to drive a gig.)

It's a quiet story with a LOT of characters from previous stories and it got rather confusing there for awhile even though I have read the previous books in the series. I'm not entirely convince that the two are in love but I do see how their personalities would mesh well together. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 16, 2024

Ravenswood #3

Follows Remember Me

Followed by Remember When

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

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