Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

I'm really excited that Meg Cabot hit it rich with her young adult novels but I wish she would go back to her romances because she's so good at them. Told through journal articles, emails and texts, this story tells of two couples, Holly and Mark who are eloping to get married in Italy, and their friends Jane and Cal. Jane is a cartoonist who is about to hit it big while Cal is a reporter. The two have immediate animosity toward each other. Jane thinks he's uptight (which he is) while he dislikes her frivolity.
Love the well developed characters and the first-person narrative told by several of the characters. Fun, quick read that makes me smile. Can you ask for any more in a book?

Four stars
This book came out in 2005
Hard copy I own
Opinions are my own

Royal Charmer (The Rourkes #4) by Kylie Gilmore

I don't like all of the books in the series but this one was fairly charming with a romance author who meets a prince. He helps her get her mojo back and she poses as his fiancee to help him look more stable. That... is about the crux of the story. I feel like a review of a book I liked should be longer but I just enjoyed getting to see Alice and Lucas's relationship grow.

Four stars
This book came out June 11th, 2019
Borrowed this as a library book
Opinions are my own

Enchanted Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sara Booth is startled to discover a young girl while she is on a horseback ride one day. The child is very young, has a birthmark that looks startlingly like a third eye, and also has note pinned to her back saying that she is cursed and that anyone who helps her will also be cursed.
There was a lot going on in this novella (lots of new-to-the-series history built in) but it was still an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This novella came out June 16th, 2020
Borrowed this book from the library as an ebook
Opinions are my own

Hammered by Pippa Grant

Jace O'Dell has been in an on-again/off-again relationship with kindergarten teacher Ginger for a long time. We know from the first book that he has a history of picking women who chew him up and spit him out. Ginger is no different. And Jace is ready to be done with her. He's met a woman who is much more interesting, with whom he has more chemistry, and who actually seems to want him, Olivia Moonbeam. But Ginger has some news for him, she's pregnant and she wants to get married.
Look, I get that this is the south, but that doesn't mean that they have to get married, just because there's a kid involved. If Jace were doing it for any other reason than "that's what I'm supposed to do," I would have been more sympathetic when he is whining to himself about being with Ginger. Luckily, Olivia is much smarter than he is and realizes that he can choose a different path.
This book is bonkers. The plot barely holds together and I'm not sure that I actually liked Jace. But the fast-paced narrative of the story kept me involved and amused, even when they brought in the clowns.

Four stars
Follows Hosed
Followed by Hitched
This book came out May 28, 2019
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Poesy the Monster Slayer by Cory Doctorow

The pictures in this book are absolutely amazing. The story was a three (basically a hyperactive child keeps her parents awake -- I think it's trying to empower kids to take care of their own monsters but the story doesn't hang together well - would be better with maybe 5 more pages that show more about how Poesy preps) but the pictures are a 5. Brilliantly colored the pictures only enhance and lift the words to a better story.

This book comes out July 14th
ARC kindly provided by First Second Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Charming as Puck by Pippa Grant

Kami Oakley has loved Nick Murphy for a long time. But he's off limits, not just because he's her brother's friend but also because he's a player; he'll never settle down. And the latest incident has just proved it. His hockey team has a history of playing pranks on each other but they've started including animals. And Kami, as a softhearted veterinarian, is often the one cleaning up after their messes. Even though she's been hooking up with Nick for awhile now, she's just realized that he's never going to be serious about her.
Nick is startled when Kami leaves. Even more so that she left his teammate's prank cow behind. He gets that she's mad at him so he decides to make it up to her.
Not my favorite Pippa Grant. It was still fun but there was so much pranking that it got redundant. And I sort of get Kami's anger but... Nick never promised her anything. And she knows he's bad at things like remembering birthdays. Like, how much can you expect?

Three stars

Follows Beauty and the Beefcake

Followed by I Pucking Love You
This book came out February 1st, 2019
Borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own