Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

For three years, Anna Latham has been a part of a living nightmare. At the bottom of a werewolf pack in Chicago, she is a monster who is trapped by circumstance. But she works up the nerve to call the Marrok, the head of all werewolves, and tell him that things are wrong where she is. 

The Marrok, Bram, has known that there is something wrong in Chicago so he sends his enforcer, his son Charles, to figure out what is going on. Bram directs Anna to pick up Charles.

It's immediately up on seeing Anna that Charles realizes that she is his mate. He also realizes that she is not a submissive wolf as she has been told, rather, she is an Omega. Omegas are a rare type of wolf who can bring peace to other wolves. And that is exactly the reason Anna has been treated the way she has... something is rotten in the state of Denmark and it will take both Anna and Charles to solve it.

For a short story, this is really good at introducing two strong characters as well as building a complete world.

Four stars

Followed by Cry Wolf

Published in On the Prowl, August 7th, 2007

Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary

Opinions are my own

Three Fates by Nora Roberts

I reread this book every so often and enjoy it every time. Some aspects haven't aged well as technology is changing but other parts, like the women kicking butt and taking names, have fared better. 

Malachi Sullivan is on a mission. A valuable heirloom has been stolen from him by the unscrupulous Anita and he believes that historian and author Tia Marsh can help him figure out how to get it back. She's quiet, shy, and sort of bland-looking so he figures he can seduce her into giving him information. Unfortunately, the person who wangled the heirloom, a small statue of one of the Fates, from him is keeping an eye on him because they trash Tia's hotel room causing her to retreat. Malachi goes back to Cobh, his hometown in Ireland, to retrench with his family. They decide to split up with his brother Gideon following the trail of a descendant of the man who owned another of the Fates. He ends up in a strip club in Prague trying to get Cleo Toliver to turn over the second Fate. She just wants a trip back to New York and is willing to use Gideon to get there. 

Meanwhile, Anita is working on security expert Jack Burdett, trying to get him on her side. He, being fairly canny, does some research and ends up in Cobh, meeting the Sullivan sister, Rebecca. And thus  several ties that started at the sinking of the Lusitania are closed. 

Four stars

This book came out 2002

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Sometimes a move can be good for the soul. Ignatius "Nate" Burke is hoping that this will be true for him. After being shot, he's leaving most of his worldly means behind and moving from Boston to Alaska. He is weary and beaten down, not up for the no-nonsense attitude of Mayor Hopp much less the overt flirtation of Charlene Hidel, the owner of the local bar and his new landlord. The only thing he barely notices a red parka disappearing down the street as he is looking out the window.  
The red parka turns out to belong to bush pilot Meg Galloway, Charlene's daughter. Her quiet pragmatism is a balm to Nate's soul. He is also starting to get into the rhythm of living in a small town, both the good and the bad parts. Dealing with drunks and small thievery is right about what he wants to deal with right now. A mountain rescue is not something he is expecting. Nor is he expecting that the climbers will have taken refuge in a cave where a body had been hidden for decades.

Four stars

This book came out September 27th, 2005

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Ever After by Jude Deveraux

I'm pretty sure I had said that I would stop reading Deveraux's books but this one was available to borrow immediately, so I did. Of course, the characters are treacly sweet. Even the so-called evil step-sister wasn't as bad as she appeared. Was it a book I would read again? Maybe. It's mostly the time travel ones that drive me over the top. And the fact that this was Jamie, one of Cale's sons (one of my fave short story romances) made it a little easier to swallow.
So, Hallie finds out that her step-sister has been posing as Hallie and is about to claim her inheritance AND take over physical therapy on a wounded trustifarian. But Hallie finds out and jumps on the private jet instead of her sister and ends up falling in lust, then love, with wounded soldier/Doctor Jamie Montgomery.
I did end up reading it again and wonder why I didn't mention at all that there are two ghosts working to ensure the HEA. AND this is the first book that I think I know of Deveraux's that actually mentions condoms! It's a really stupid reason (OMG, the Taggert's are so fertile, you HAVE to use condoms... but don't worry about disease) but it's mentioned!

Three stars

Follows For All Time

Followed by The Girl from Summer Hill

This book came out June 23rd, 2015

Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary

Opinions are my own

For All Time by Jude Deveraux

I have such a hard time with Deveraux's time traveling books. They are just not as good as her other books. And this one was no different. 
Graydon is in town to watch his cousin get married. At least, that's why he's supposed to be in town. As the heir apparent to the Lanconian throne, he is most certainly not supposed to be ogling bridesmaid Toby. And yet... there's a draw. One more powerful than his mother's disapproval and even overriding his good sense to remember that he's supposed to be engaged. But he and Toby have a history. A long history. One that they're willing to go back time to make sure that at least one version of themselves can end in true love...
Oh. My. God. The push-me-pull-you lasted the whole damn book. No seriously. It only got resolved in the last... twenty pages? I mean, good God. Yes, most books have issues like this but the couple at least tries to do something. Not just sit around with an, "Oh woe is me" attitude the Entire. Freaking. Time.

Two stars

Follows True Love

Followed by Ever After

This book came out July 1st, 2014

Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary

Opinions are my own

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I heard about this book on a couple of different podcasts and saw that it was available in NetGalley. I was attracted by the idea of a large and meddling family of women all working to help the youngest of them (and the only girl in her generation) after she accidentally kills a man. Also, a look at the intricacies of a now American family who came from Chinese-Indonesian roots. And those parts I really liked. I also liked the story of Meddy getting to reconnect with her college romance (which we see growing and exploding in flashback chapters; not my favorite plot device). However, my anxiety spiked just a little too high at seeing the body being moved around and the family nearly being discovered.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 27th, 2021

Followed by Four Aunties and a Wedding

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Treacherous Performance by Lynn Messina

One remark from an heiress, Miss Brougham, sent Beatrice Hyde-Clare's tentative hopes for a good (or even semi-decent) season into a tailspin. Years later, Beatrice is now engaged to a duke. And the former Miss Brougham has brought Beatrice a perfect reason not to concentrate on the fact that she will soon be a duchess. She wants Beatrice to find a long-lost family treasure.

Unfortunately, there is more to the story than just that and it sends Beatrice and her fiance off on another adventure, one that threatens their Happily Ever After.

A decent addition to the series. I highly suggest reading them in order as the sum of the total is more than just its parts.

Three Stars

Follows A Nefarious Engagement

Followed by A Sinister Establishment

This book came out November 15th, 2019

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own