Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Danika Dizon would like to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a private investigator.  Her mother would like her to go to college. To make money, Danika is telling fortunes with her tarot cards. She need $900 to fix up her car. 

One day she's confronted by Alex. It seems that Danika gave her sister a fortune and then she disappeared.  Their parents are not concerned but Alex is. Working on her very first case gives Danika a thrill but it may also lead her into some big trouble.
I love Manansala and this book is very indicative of her work, gripping with great character development. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 13, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Random House Children's and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

Of the four boys taken in by Ray Quinn, Ethan was the one who became a lobsterman, staying close to the shore. His whole life has been about loving Grace Monroe from afar. Even after Grace got pregnant, got married, and quickly divorced, Ethan loves her and loves her daughter just as much. But he knows that, because of his past, he's no good for her. They can never be married. But Grace doesn't understand that. 

She's worked hard. First to try and realize her dream of becoming a dancer in New York and then raising her daughter. Now she's working hard to make sure that Ethan knows not only he loves her but that they can be together, forever.

The ending on this one was a bit abrupt. First Ethan was all "I can't, oh woes, I can't" and suddenly it was all "Yay! I can totally do this." And I never quite got why they were together. Other than a childhood love. And, I guess, with Grace being twenty-two she was still young-ish but still should be past puppy love and I didn't see that they were past that.

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #2

This book came out August 1,1998

Follows Sea Swept

Followed by Inner Harbor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau

Noelle works for an engineering company. She's often staying late, covering for her coworker. On this particular day, she's working late (not unusual) but, tonight she decides to go to the night market. There's a booth with a handmade sign advertising dumplings for $5. Noelle decides to take a chance. And that stand is the only thing missing when Noelle wakes up and it's Friday again.
Cam is a brewery owner who is, throughout this book, going through time normally. He and Noelle meet several times in her loop and it feels like he's just starting to know her when the loop abruptly stops.
The time loop in this book is different from other time loops and I quite enjoyed it although I was frustrated. I did enjoy that Noelle had a friend in the time loop, but for me, Avery felt more like a prop to help the story along than a developed character. That may have been a function of us seeing the book through Noelle's eyes. Overall, I did enjoy the book.

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 6, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The Most Magnificent Team by Ashley Spires

The girl and her dog are going out to make a new thing. Only there's somebody already there. In her place. What is she to do? Except make a friend. But the two have very different working styles. Will they be able to work through them?
I normally enjoy Spires books and this one was... fine. While the conflict was well-defined, the resolution was a little mushier.  

Three and a half stars

This book comes out May 6, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Kids Can Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Narwhal's Sweet Tooth by Ben Clanton

From previous books in the series (and this one as well), we know that Narwhal loves sweet things. Waffles are definitely his favorites but ice cream, lollipops, and doughnuts are on his list as well. And that's an issue because his narwhal's horn has just cracked. It hasn't fallen off completely but it sure does hurt. So Jelly and Narwhal go on a quest to see if they can find someone who can help. As usual, an adorable story but too short. 

Four stars
This book comes out May 6, 2025

Narwhal & Jelly #9
Follows A Super Scary Narwhalloween

Followed by A Waffle Lot of Love!

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

Cameron Quinn is living the good life. Races, women, the fast life. What more could you want? But then he finds out that his father is in bad shape. Ever since Ray and Stella Quinn adopted Cameron when he was twelve, his life has been good. He owes everything to Ray. So he immediately goes back to the States. It seems Ray crashed into a telephone pole while rescuing another child. It is up to Cam and his two brothers (and sequel bait) to make sure that the child Ray was working to save, Seth, stays safe.

Anna Spinelli is the social worker assigned to Seth's case. She's skeptical at first that Cam and his brothers can care for a ten-year-old boy but is really attracted to Cam so she's willing to hang back and let them try. Or something like that. But that's what it seems like. 

Eventually, she and Cam do hook up and fall in love.

Three and a half stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #1

This book came out in 1998

Followed by Rising Tides

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Goldsmith's Conspiracy by C.J. Archer

India's place in the world is being confirmed including her work with the government trying to bring magicians and the artless together. It's too bad that two of her biggest enemies have teamed up to try and bring her down. Most especially by trying to make sure that no peace is brokered. And the latest plot has one of their very good friends in the crosshairs, almost ready to be hanged.
I wish there had been more character development over the whole series. Basically people were set in the first couple of books and never really progressed. But the world building kept me engaged far enough into the series that I decided to finish the whole thing.

Three stars

This book came out March 1, 2022

Glass and Steele #13

Follows The Spy Master's Scheme

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla