The Ashford Place by Jean Copeland

When her aunt died, Isabelle Ashford inherited her house. She's a teacher with the summer off so she decides to fix what she can in the house and then flip it. It's a small town so she quickly gets to recognize the major players including Deputy Sheriff Ally Yates. While the two begin a romance, they also start to investigate why a baby's skull was found on the house's property.

I did like that Isabelle didn't go completely off on her own but the story was somewhat awkward and there was rather a lot going on.

Three stars
This book comes out January 15
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

Now or Never by Victoria Denault

Told in alternating first person, we get the story of Winnie and Holden. It starts when they are both teens and she decks him for saying something about her brother. We then come to the present day and Winnie's father has passed away and she's grieving. His death has opened her eyes to many things, including the fact that her relationship with her boyfriend has been over for some time. She just wants to stay at the family's summer home and lick her wounds. Little does she suspect that her brother has hired Holden to renovate the house while the family  is supposed to be gone.
Holden is shocked to discover Winnie in the house. While they have a past (and his is certainly dark), he is still attracted to her. They embark on a relationship that is just going to be physical. But this is a romance novel so...
This was an okay story but I didn't get a real sense of an HEA in their future and the last Big Misunderstanding wasn't really needed.

Three stars
This book comes out January 15
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

Live and Let Pie by Ellie Alexander

Julie Capshaw is helping her mother look for a home when she hears shouting from the lake below. Two girls were swimming in an abandoned town that was flooded and one of them found a skull. Julie immediately calls her stepfather. This mystery overlaps with the current day where a lot on Julie's block is up for sale and there are a lot of sharks circling to take the land.
I thought this was one of Alexander's other series and was surprised to find myself in the middle of a series but read it anyway. While it was good, I'll probably stick to the other series.

Three stars
This book came out December 18
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

Millie and Reid are part of a group of friends who mostly hang out and play board games. But they're also invited to a fancy soiree where Barack Obama will be showing up so they've all got to find dates. One of the friends suggests online dating. Millie ends up making a second profile and matching with Reid without him realizing it's her. Then the two end up in a physical relationship, all while talking to other people online. At least Reid is.
A pretty good book. The hidden aspect of the relationship went on a bit too long but overall very readable.

Four stars
This book came out December 4th
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

One Night with the Millionaire by Shannyn Schroeder

Tess Howland's life is as full as she can stand it. Full-time caretaker, part-time nurse, full-time mom to three kids... she doesn't need another complication in her life. She's ready to let loose every so often with a random hook-up and leave it at that. 

Miles Prescott is okay with his life. Yeah, his family is pushing him to take on a role he doesn't really want and maybe he's a little tired of going out with so many women but he's definitely not expecting the connection he feels to Tess. Nor the urge he feels to meet her children.

Tess isn't ready for someone who's going all in but Miles is wondering where this connection might take them.

Four stars

This book comes out January 14

ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz

Jack Lancaster was introduced to us in previous books in the series (though I do not believe you have to have read them in order to enjoy this book). He is one of a trio of boys who were fostered by  Salinas after their mothers died in a fire caused by a cult leader, Zane Quinn. The cult leader that the rest of the world thinks perished in the last fire he set. But Jack and his family know better. They know that Zane is still out there pulling strings. And Jack is using his skill as a lucid dreamer who closes cold cases to go after Zane.
Winter Meadows is a meditation therapist who helped to get Jack past his last block. She is hiding in Eclipse Bay after having a really bad experience with a client at her last job. Normally, she wouldn't date a client, but Jack has just ended his sessions and is now fair game. Except that Jack may have to help her face an old enemy. And then she may have to help him.
There was so much going on in this book that refers to other Krentz books that it kept me somewhat removed from this story. I also didn't get the feeling that Jack and Winter had found an HEA. Their relationship didn't seem any deeper than attraction.

Three stars

Follows Promise Not to Tell
This book comes out January 8
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

The Frame-Up by Meghan Scott Molin

This story revolves around a comic book writer. And she's a girl! (woman) which makes it more fun. It's her expertise that helps solve the mystery when she is consulted as an expert after making an off-hand remark about the murder scene resembling an old comic. She's in line at the coffee shop and the remark is made to a handsome guy who turns out to be Detective Kildaire (that name!).
I felt bad because I never really warmed to MG -- the trope of "I'm going to investigate even when I've been told not to and then bumble my way through completely screwing up the investigation but still somehow solve the mystery" annoys the heck out of me. And she has a giant chip on her shoulder that somewhat comes off at the end but is a little too late for me.

Three stars
This book came out December 1
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley