I just knew from the little but that Griffin was in Mitch and Paige's book (Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour) that I was goiOtterly delightful!
I just knew from the little but that Griffin was in Mitch and Paige's book (Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour) that I was going to freaking love his book. The grumpy, nearly monosyllabic guy getting all adorable and chatty with animals? YES, PLEASE. But OMG, even I was not fully prepared for the awesomeness of his and Charlie's story.
Stalker goats. Otter therapists. A nervous pig and her therapy cat. Lunching with Lemurs. I WAS NOT PREPARED.
Oh yes, and also the grumpy vet all but losing it for the sunshine-y marketing/pr/accidental vet assistant was pure rom-com reading gold. GOLD, I tell you. I'd be seriously hard pressed to commit to which I loved more: all of the adorable Griffin-talking-to-animals scenes or the hot as heck Griffin-and-Charlie-on-the-page-together scenes (during some of which there is also talking-to-animal segments. And not just by Griffin). So please don't make me choose one, 'kay? ;)
Run, don't walk to get your hands on this book. It's the first in the new spin-off series (Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild) so a perfect place to start, but I can pretty much guarantee that the exposure you get to the entire Landry clan here will soon have you craving not only the rest of the books in this series (write fast, Erin Nicholas!) but also have you adding the original series (Boys of the Bayou) to your TBR faster than Sugar the goat can track Griffin down in the wilds of of Autre!
Rating: 4 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
This one was super cute! And I honestly had no idea whodunit until Tessa let us in on all the juicy deets in her own clumsy, unique way. Once she figuThis one was super cute! And I honestly had no idea whodunit until Tessa let us in on all the juicy deets in her own clumsy, unique way. Once she figured it out, all the pieces fell in place, but let's just say it's a darn good thing she's the amateur sleuth who keeps finding dead bodies all over the place and not me. I don't think I would have managed to make it out of book 1 alive, let alone book 3. ;)
Hanks and a Hitman is full of twists and turns--much like the fancy yarns Tessa sells in her shop--and I swear I'm starting to feel like all of her friends, family, and yarn store enthusiasts are my friends too. It's darn fortunate that Ms Drew only kills off the unpleasant side characters in her capers! You don't have to have read the other two (and a half) books to enjoy this one, but if you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters (have any interest in fiber crafts that's a plus but not necessary--on a side note, does anyone want to join in my petition to ask the author to share the pattern for those flesh-colored...things that Natalie kept making here?) you'll undoubtedly want to start from the first book. Just so you can get into the full will-she-or-won't-she, Eric-or-Oliver drama from the start.
I know who has my vote. And fully trust that Ms Drew won't draw that aspect of it out too long... (fingers crossed!)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
Definitely not a standalone. Don't even attempt to read unless you already know the world this series (and possibly an earlier series as well? A revieDefinitely not a standalone. Don't even attempt to read unless you already know the world this series (and possibly an earlier series as well? A reviewer of the first book in the series mentioned being equally lost there too) is set in, because zero background information is given here. By the end I still wasn't 100% sure what was going on big picture-wise with these characters, though MC-relationship-wise I was good, at least.
It should NOT have taken me 3 days to read a less-than 150 page book. ...more
I haven't read the first book--to be honest, I don't know that it would have made a difference--but since this one had...issues...I doubt that I'm likI haven't read the first book--to be honest, I don't know that it would have made a difference--but since this one had...issues...I doubt that I'm likely to. I had concerns with the worldbuilding here (for one, I find it hard to believe that every single imported female just quietly accepted their fate before Grayce, and just how self-centered is Brían that it never occurred to him that tearing them all away from their families and lives forever and without warning is unfair and wrong?) and am still not convinced that the overall plan for keeping the hidden valleys going would have really worked as well in practice as they claimed it had for so long.
It ended better than I thought it would, but that's really the best thing I can say about it.
Short, but gives you an introduction to several of the characters who are sure to play a part in Ms Burke's new series, The Phoenix Club. It definitelShort, but gives you an introduction to several of the characters who are sure to play a part in Ms Burke's new series, The Phoenix Club. It definitely whetted my appetite for the first full book in the series--mission accomplished!
Northern Escape introduces us to the dysfunctional Hunter family--Eliis, the oldest brother who left Alaska never iAn explosive start to a new series!
Northern Escape introduces us to the dysfunctional Hunter family--Eliis, the oldest brother who left Alaska never intending to return, his younger (but just as troubled) half brothers Nate and Damian, and the dad they all blame for their messed up childhoods, Will. When her only real friend disappears with only a desperate phone call and a missing plane to point to his possible whereabouts, Brielle Ives tries calling all three brothers for help. They all turn her down.
Until Ellis actually shows up.
From almost the very minute Bree and Ellis set out to find Will, the danger begins. I don't want to spoil anything, but believe me when I tell you it's pretty much non-stop. Really, once the warning signal goes off on Bree's plane you can pretty much kiss any other plans you had for your time good bye, because you're not going to want to put this one down until Bree and Ellis are out of danger again.
(Though--are they really out of danger? Only time will tell...and future books in the series.)
As much as I love the human characters here--not only Ellis and Bree, but even Damian, Ellis's youngest half brother who is definitely hiding something from him and Nate--it's the dogs who absolutely steal the show. Bree's sled dogs, led by Norte and Aleu, and OMG Peanut, the reincarnated heiress come back to life in the body of a diva Chinese Crested, might be my new favorite fictional dogs of all time. Ms Burrows managed to give them and every single dog on Bree's team their own distinct personality, and it was delightful. My fingers are crossed that the dogs continue to play a co-starring role in the rest of the series!
Northern Escape gives us an HEA for Bree and Ellis, though since their initial goal of figuring out where Ellis's dad is and what he was embroiled in that led to his disappearance is very much *not* resolved, for the Hunters as a whole this is more of an HFN. To be continued with Nate and Freya's story, which absolutely cannot come out soon enough to suit me...
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
To Love and to Loathe is a frienemies-to-lovers story, and so much fun to read. Diana and Jeremy were just wonderful together, whether theLoved this!
To Love and to Loathe is a frienemies-to-lovers story, and so much fun to read. Diana and Jeremy were just wonderful together, whether they were sniping at a ball or making really bad propositions in the bedroom (we're just going to sleep together and not catch feelings? Does anyone think that would ever work in real life? Yet I can't stop reading...or watching...the trope. Friends with Benefits, I'm looking at you! Yep, I'm a sucker for rom-coms, whatever century or country they're set in.)
I liked that Diana was the only one who saw through Jeremy's rakish persona, and that he was the one person who really understood how important her art was to her. They both knew so much about each other, yet still managed to miscommunicate when it really counted--something which usually drives me crazy, but somehow it was a bit more believable than not here. And that black moment! Even as I was shaking my head at their stupidity, my heart was breaking for them.
Fortunately, there was a grand gesture coming, and it was lovely...
I haven't read the first book in the series yet (To Have and to Hoax) and though they really do tease you with details of Violet and James's rocky road to reconciliation, it was fine starting here. I absolutely will pick up their story, though, as well as whatever book(s) Ms Waters wants to add to the series in the future.
Rating: 4 stars / A-
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Flight is deliciously creepy--from the first scene where Miranda comes across the posed corpses in the canoe to the climax, whI am loving this series!
Flight is deliciously creepy--from the first scene where Miranda comes across the posed corpses in the canoe to the climax, when we all figure out who the antagonist(s) are, I was on the edge of my seat (and maybe sort of yelling at Miranda to GET OUT OF THERE NOW during that latter scene) needing to find out what would happen next. But it is also deliciously sexy--I loved, loved, loved Joel and Miranda together, both as two people working together to solve the mystery before anyone else is killed and as two people becoming closer personally.
Two people who *may* have occasion to take showers together and get caught making out in a car on a public beach during the course of the book. ;)
The book is fast paced, with POVs alternating between Joel, Miranda, and Nicole, the detective in training who is also instrumental in solving the case. There is a decent balance between solving the murders and developing Joel and Miranda's relationship; even though the book takes place in a fairly short time frame their romance doesn't feel unrealistic or rushed--Ms Griffin is especially good at this; that's why she's one of my main go-tos for romantic suspense. <3
Flight is the second book in the Texas Murder Files series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. Bailey of book one (Hidden) is Miranda's sister, but she only plays a very minor role here and you don't need to have read her story at all to enjoy this one. (But you should WANT to read it, because it is also excellent ;))
Patiently waiting for book 3!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
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Penny's working in a male-dominated field (architecture) and is getting sick of being pushed aside in favor of the men in theThis one was so much fun!
Penny's working in a male-dominated field (architecture) and is getting sick of being pushed aside in favor of the men in the office. The kicker is when her ex not only takes credit for her idea, but also uses it to get promoted--so her friends encourage her (at a girl's night at a bar) to work on her Big D!ck Energy skills.
So who does she start by sharpening hers on? The guy who will show up at her office as her new partner on the project of a lifetime, of course! (Who *didn't* see that happening? I mean really... ;))
I absolutely adored Penny and Archer. Their banter was on point, their chemistry was great, and once they really got to know each other? OMG, so fantastic. It actually worked in Pen's favor (until it didn't) that Archer saw her from the start as a woman who was going to take no BS from anyone, because it made him work harder to stay on the right side of her. At least until feelings got involved...
The relationship black moment was heartbreaking, but the grand gesture was (chef's kiss) perfect. I am counting the days until the release of the next book in the series, because it sounds fantastic! Or I would, if I knew when it was coming out... ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
I really enjoyed Kyla and Jericho's story. I loved that she was both a mechanic and a cosplay costume creator--not to mentionThis was such a fun read!
I really enjoyed Kyla and Jericho's story. I loved that she was both a mechanic and a cosplay costume creator--not to mention the completely awesome role that one of her cosplay outfit rejects plays later in the story. She's an all-around bada$$ heroine, and I am 100% here for it! I liked that Jericho was not only there for his old friends but also stood up when it counted in his motorcycle group (NOT a club! Or, you know, not *that* kind of club) and that time and age also managed to help heal his relationship with his family.
And OMG, the OTT sexual banter Kyla and Jericho tortured her brother with in the beginning? Just. Too. Funny. And once the banter wasn't banter any more? Even better.
Game of Hearts is the third book in the Fandom Hearts series, but it worked just fine as a standalone. You'd better believe books 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and the novellas are on my TBR now, though! I am loving the new covers too...
Rating: 4 stars / A-
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Just okay. The guy-wins-the-lottery-and-problems-come-out-of-the-woodwork premise was interesting and different, but the execution didn't really work Just okay. The guy-wins-the-lottery-and-problems-come-out-of-the-woodwork premise was interesting and different, but the execution didn't really work for me. Communication could have resolved their problems sooner, and there were weird inconsistencies throughout (like Jean thinking another woman would be a great fit with her ex, but then being shocked when the ex meets that other woman, likes her, and asks her out) that kept throwing me out of the story.
Rating: 3 stars / C-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
A sweet story about finding love again after loss, The Mechanic is a pleasant way to spend a quiet afternoon. It's not as aggressively sexy as many ofA sweet story about finding love again after loss, The Mechanic is a pleasant way to spend a quiet afternoon. It's not as aggressively sexy as many of her other works (The Landscaper series, I'm looking at you) but Garrett's an exhausted single parent to an energetic six year old, not a young single guy lusting after his client(s). Rest assured, there are *some* sexy times here--this is a Robin Stone book, after all!
There is some definite insta-lust going on here between Garrett and Melanie, and the "I love you"s come a little quickly, but it is a novella, so things have to keep moving. Six year old Sadie is adorable, and watching her interact with both adults made me smile--though we never do find out for sure if she manages to talk her dad into getting her a cat, I can make an educated guess... ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ...more
Changing the Rules is one of those books that is likely to have you turning the pages when you know darn well you have other things you're supposed toChanging the Rules is one of those books that is likely to have you turning the pages when you know darn well you have other things you're supposed to be doing, like sleeping ;) Claire and Cooper are great characters, and once their undercover mission gets started the story will absolutely sweep you away.
Apparently if you were a fan of the 21 Jump Street television series, then this book will likely be your jam--one of the secondary characters even mentions it at one point. Since I barely know more about the series than Claire does (I've at least heard of it) I can't say how much it is or isn't like it for certain, but from my coworker's description (once she got past the "I don't know if we can still be friends" part of her lecture) it sounds pretty similar.
At least Claire wasn't nearly as bored with her job at the end of the book as she was at the beginning--plus now she has Cooper, so bonus ;)
To be honest, I felt a little lost for the first few chapters of this book--it's been several years since I've read anything from Catherine Bybee, and though this is the first book in her new series, Claire, whose POV is dominant in the beginning of the book, references back to a lot of people and incidents that apparently happened in another series (mainly Say It Again though her boss Neil has apparently appeared in three different series) without much explanation, and I kept thinking, wait, should I know who these people are? Once the main plot of this book really got underway it drew me in, but Claire's old school (Richter, where this series gets its name) and the things that happened there come up a lot throughout this entire book, so reading that one at least before this wouldn't be a bad idea.
I really did enjoy this book--the characters are great, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat (and up too late), for sure!--but I did feel left out of the backstory loop quite a bit. So if you have the time and means, I definitely suggest reading Say It Again before this one, if you haven't already. If you don't, just keep reading through the barrage of other characters and past references Claire hits you with, the story's about to suck you in really soon ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
The Rebel is a sweet romance that flirts at a "second chance" label, though I'm not sure a one night almost-hookup really counts as a true "first chanThe Rebel is a sweet romance that flirts at a "second chance" label, though I'm not sure a one night almost-hookup really counts as a true "first chance." The first several chapters of the book (six, to be precise) turn out to be the prequel novella One Night with the Rebel in its entirety, so if you've read that you already have a head start on this one; if you haven't, well, here's your opportunity--turns out you didn't miss out after all.
Eden and Holt play a two steps forward. three steps back dance for much of the book--there are a few complications in the way (the controversy over Eden's ownership of the team has her on edge and possibly in danger, he's a contracted employee of her organization, her ex is a new player on her team, he feels that he's not worthy of her, the fact that she left him a "this was a mistake" note after that night back in college...) that make their relationship a challenge, so this makes some sense.
Even with all that, this story is fairly low angst. Eden suffers a bit of a drama meltdown when their relationship is outed, but it gets resolved fairly painlessly. I was a bit bummed that the her needing security aspect wasn't ever really realized--there were a few protests organized around games, but you never really get the feeling that Eden's in any real danger, and Holt didn't get much of a chance to flex his head-of the-security-team muscles. A shame, really, because did you see his muscles? ;)
Probably what this book does most effectively is introduce readers to the hockey team and a group of secondary characters who will undoubtedly feature in future books--books which I will definitely be here for, because hockey + romance = yes, please! Alex, Eden's ex, stars in the next book (The Rival), and he's less than sympathetic here, so Ms Ryan has her work cut out for her with that one. ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
I *might* have liked Eve's story the best? Maybe? Or maybe it's just that I read it last and so she has the greater share of my sympathy...but Lovely!
I *might* have liked Eve's story the best? Maybe? Or maybe it's just that I read it last and so she has the greater share of my sympathy...but really, GAH! this book just killed me with its cuteness and love. Though I do have to say that after two books of her sister correcting all of her mis-used words (which, okay, were pretty funny at the time) it was lovely that Jacob just took them in stride. Just like Jacob (eventually, once her existence, purple hair, and loud t-shirts stopped freaking him out) too her in stride. As Eve took all of Jacob's so-called "differences" in stride. Obviously, these two were made for each other...and it didn't take them too long to figure it out, either.
Just the perfect amount of reading-a-Talia Hibbert-book time ;)
I am so, so sad that this is the last of the Brown sisters--but am 100% looking forward to whatever Ms Tibbert has in store for us next! I cannot wait <3
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator did a lovely job of reading this one. If you're an audiobook reader, I definitely recommend--the authentic British accent really adds to the reading experience :)
A short prequel intended to whet our appetites for the first full book in the series (The Rebel), One Night with the Rebel absolutely does its jobA short prequel intended to whet our appetites for the first full book in the series (The Rebel), One Night with the Rebel absolutely does its job!
We are introduced to Eden and Holt, witness their "one night" and get a brief synopsis of the next six years--years after she left a "this was a mistake" note in Holt's room and then started a relationship with her crush anyway. (A little too brief, maybe? It's still not 100% clear why she picked the fantasy of her crush over the guy she had an actual connection with--hopefully a full length novel will take care of that.)
Now Eden's the owner of a professional hockey team, and Holt has been hired as her head of security. Oh yeah, and that former crush she was in a five+ year relationship with? He's just been traded to her team. Complicated doesn't begin to cover it...
But it does make for a great premise for a book! ;) One Night with the Rebel is available free right now, and The Rebel will be out next week!
How on earth did I miss the first two books in this series? Must fix this problem ASAP...
I really enjoyed All Consuming. Kal and Hannah's second chancHow on earth did I miss the first two books in this series? Must fix this problem ASAP...
I really enjoyed All Consuming. Kal and Hannah's second chance romance was believable and very sweet. I loved that Kal was so sweet with Hannah's little boy; as a former foster kid he definitely knew how important it is for kids to feel loved and wanted, and he went out of his way to make things special for him (not that his mother wasn't doing her part--she 100% was--but with his dad out of the picture it was especially nice to see all the men in Kal's family going out of their way to make Oliver feel a part of things).
My only real complaint, if you can even call it that, is how low-drama everything is in the book. Kal endures some low level aggression from two coworkers on the Tactical Rescue Team, but it's a mild annoyance to him and is resolved without a lot of fuss in the end. Their main relationship problem is Hannah's need to be independent--she takes it a bit further than she really needs to but then quickly gets over herself to get them to an HEA. Reading this was a pleasant way to pass the time, but there wasn't a sense of urgency to get to the end--there's no real sense of physical or emotional danger here (the former is perhaps a bit surprising given what the hero does for a living).
I guess finding out that I already added Kal's brothers' books to my TBR before I even got to this one's epilogue probably tells you all you need to know... ;)
Rating: 4 stars/ B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book...more
Wishing for a Cowboy is a sweet, slow burn romance between an aunt who's acted as a parent and a father who never knew that he was. Their romance is mWishing for a Cowboy is a sweet, slow burn romance between an aunt who's acted as a parent and a father who never knew that he was. Their romance is messy, since they have to navigate a possible relationship with each other, while still managing to put fifteen-year-old Will first. And that's before you throw Will's actual mother into the mix...
Aiden, Janie, and Will are all very likeable characters, ones that you'll be anxiously checking for glimpses of in future series books (and you'll probably be in luck, because Ms James writes friend groups very well :)) They've all had a lifetime of problems thrown at them, but have managed to come out on top. Not without scars, of course (one of Aiden's is literal) but as the story goes on, they slowly help each other to work through them as they inch their way to a much deserved HEA.
Though this is the third book in Ms James's Wishing River series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. Aiden is enough of a loner that his story isn't completely intertwined with the two that came before (though dare I say he might have a little insight into Hope and Dean's future story?) and since Janie is new to the area, she gets a brief intro to prior relationships when Lanie and Sarah fold her into their friend group. A warning, though--you'll probably get *just* enough that you'll want to know their stories too...just sayin' ;)
OK, well. The author gives a link to this book's trigger warnings at the beginning--https://www.katiewismer.com/trigger-warnings--which the "books" paOK, well. The author gives a link to this book's trigger warnings at the beginning--https://www.katiewismer.com/trigger-warnings--which the "books" page on her site does NOT at all reference (unless I missed it somehow? I'd be happy to be wrong about this--I only got the link from the book itself). I couldn't actually figure out how to find the book's trigger warnings from the site's homepage, which is less than helpful when someone is trying to decide whether or not to read the book.
Anyway--check out the trigger warnings, so you're prepared. It's hard for me to say how realistically most of those are dealt with here, not having any actual experience with the bulk of them myself (thank god), but it really feels as if the author tried to take on waaaaaaay to many issues here to handle any of them really well. This isn't a book I'd feel comfortable giving to a younger teen for sure.
Rating: 2 stars / C-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
Oh, I've missed reading MaryJanice Davidson--I didn't even realize how much until just now! (Yes, all my fault. I know she's been writing all along. IOh, I've missed reading MaryJanice Davidson--I didn't even realize how much until just now! (Yes, all my fault. I know she's been writing all along. I've just been...distracted by other books? Gah, I have no excuse!)
A Wolf After My Own Heart probably isn't for everyone--it's snarky, full of irreverent humor, contains a ridiculous number of asides and even footnotes. There's so much that this book takes forever to explain--because it's the second in the series? Or because of Lila's nothing-can-surprise-her, bizarre-weirdness-just-rolls-off-of-her-like-water-from-a-duck's-back attitude? Even now I'm not sure. I'll go back and read the first book and let you know.
Or maybe I still won't know. We'll see.
Anyway--there was much snort-laughing during the reading of this book. I apologize (again!) to everyone unlucky enough to be in the same room as me as I did so. I tried really, really, REALLY hard not to read too much of it out loud to you, even though you were clearly busy doing your own thing.
I wasn't terribly successful. Again, apologies.
Again, anyway--Wolf is the second book in the BeWare My Heart series, which (apparently, at least so far) deals with shifter social workers. Or a shifter social worker, a shifter PI, a shifter accountant who has decided to do social work instead, and the Stable (plain old regular human) who moves in down the street and finds herself thrown into the middle of their drama, some of which is continued at least in part from the book before and some of which is new(er)(ish).
The Stable (Lila) and the accountant-turned-social-worker-wannabe (Oz, though I spent a whole lot of the first many chapters going, wait--it's *not* Ox, right?) may or may not be fated mates, which may or may not be a thing (everyone keeps saying it isn't, except maybe it is--and their behavior from the start veers heavily on the side of the latter, which means I am 100% using this book to fulfill a "fated mates" prompt for one of the dozens--only the slightest of exaggerations, sadly--of reading challenges I'm doing this year). As if their possibly-paranormal-level of attraction to each other weren't enough, they also have runaway shifter children to keep track of; shifter supremacists, traffickers, and arsonists to find and fight--all while Lila, at least, still hasn't unpacked all of her moving boxes.
It is clear why I wasn't terribly bothered by all of the asides and footnotes now, isn't it?
Anyway--again--I honestly can't adequately put into words how much fun I had reading this book. I'll even forgive Ms Davidson the teensy amount of tears she might have had me in near the end (Sally's mom--GAH!) as I nearly trip over my own (figurative, because of course I'm getting it digitally) feet hustling to get my hands on Bears Behaving Badly ASAP.
And yes, of course Amazon really does sell everything. But you didn't need me--or Ms Davidson's footnotes--to tell you that, did you?
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
A second chance romance with a strong element of suspense/almost-spylike drama!
This was my first book from this author, but it definitely won't be my A second chance romance with a strong element of suspense/almost-spylike drama!
This was my first book from this author, but it definitely won't be my last. I really liked both Amelia and Brandon--they had great chemistry, and it definitely wasn't their fault that their relationship didn't work out the first time (when he was 18 and she was 16--first parental figures and later on her older brother/guardian kept them apart), which is always a plus with a second chance romance. I also enjoyed the investigating-a-criminal-organization element of the book; it's always fun when characters are part of a secret crime-fighting group, and somehow it's even more so in a historical romance. I *loved* that all the men of the Armory are former military, and that having difficulty acclimating to civilian life again was a theme--it's definitely not a new concept, and I wish it had always been more of a concern IRL so it's nice to see it dealt with here, at least a little.
I did think that Amelia kept her biggest secret far too long--for how relatively easily her problem was resolved (even before the epilogue, which practically puts things into overdrive) it just seems that if she'd had a few more conversations about it with people who weren't her brother and/or put a bit more thought into it herself, she could have gotten things moving on that front a lot faster. Even Brandon, who had been gone for years, knew that Amelia's brother doing anything just to be nice to his sister was a stretch, so it's not a huge surprise to anyone but Amelia that he might not have been acting in her best interests all along.
This is the second book in the series (after An Inconvenient Duke) and though the situation with the criminal group the men of the Armory are investigating was clearly a continuation, I didn't feel *too* behind things by starting here. I already have the first book in my TBR, though, and definitely will be keeping an eye out for Merrit's book (An Extraordinary Lord) next!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
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Tessa Wakefield is finally beginning to settle into her new life back in her hometown. She's making her grandmother's yarn shop her own, and is developing a comfortable routine with her new roomies, AKA her grandfather Harry and Kit and Pearl, the cats she also inherited. Except once again Tessa manages to find herself nearly tripping over a dead body--spoiler alert, it might actually be more than one this time...her hometown didn't used to be this deadly, did it?
The excess of murders isn't the only thing different in Cape Discovery this time around--Tessa is also discovering that her high school nemesis might not be quite as vile as she used to be (convenient, since said ex-nemesis and her mother happen to own the best bakery in town). But the (first) dead woman is her new maybe-now-a-friend Rosie's stepmom, and her death brings the paternity of Rosie's baby stepbrother into question--can Tessa figure out whodunit before it's too late? *Should* she attempt to figure it out?
(I mean, of course not. She should leave it to hunky Detective Eric Mana while she eats a few too many sweets and supervises the beginner knitters and crocheters. But obviously this isn't that kind of book ;))
Tessa is definitely a heroine in the tradition of Jessica Fletcher, if Jessica Fletcher were 40-some years younger, lived in New Zealand, and owned a yarn shop instead of writing mysteries. They both live in a charming small town with a plethora of quirky characters and excel at sticking their noses where they don't belong, exasperating law enforcement even while managing to solve the case. There's also an element of Stephanie Plum as well, given her innate clumsiness and the fact that in addition to a hot detective, there is also a hunky bar owner in town as well who also might serve as a love interest (though hopefully Ms Drew won't draw out the who will she choose? aspect of the series to the level of ridiculousness that Ms Evanovich has).
I have to say, I think Kit and Pearl make excellent sidekicks/investigative assistants, even if they do have a tendency to snack on baked goods that are definitely not meant for them. (Much like my own cats, sadly. Who do *not* make up for it by helping me solve murders, thankyouverymuch.)
This is the second book in the series (third, if you count the prequel novella) but could work as a standalone. If you enjoy the quirky antics of Tessa and her feline co-conspirators, though, you'll definitely want to make reading the others a priority!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
So much fun! Grinchy heroine is bonked on the head by a candy cane, and her night just goes uphill from there :) (Fairly insta-love, but it's so cute So much fun! Grinchy heroine is bonked on the head by a candy cane, and her night just goes uphill from there :) (Fairly insta-love, but it's so cute it's hard to mind much.) Originally read in the Jingle Balls anthology.
I really enjoyed Adverse Possession. At times it was more than a little chaotic--probably to be expected when the main character's boyWhat a fun read!
I really enjoyed Adverse Possession. At times it was more than a little chaotic--probably to be expected when the main character's boyfriend is working undercover to stop a serial bomber--but it was 100% in the can't-stop-reading-this-OMG kind of way. Plus, Anna's family, coworkers, and clients were so much fun to read about. And don't get me started on Aiden...
(Thank goodness Ms Zanetti gave him flaws! He dumps all of his cereal--together! Three different kinds!--into the same cereal keeper and has one heck of an Irish temper to go with his accent <3)
I have to admit, I was 100% taken by surprise to find out who was behind all of the murders that kept happening around Anna--Ms Zanetti threw in a last minute red herring, and I swallowed it whole. And that scene where certain individuals have to disarm a live bomb before certain other people are blown to bits? So. Darn. Stressful. I'm telling you guys, I couldn't put this one down!
This is the third book in the series, but it worked okay as a standalone. There are a lot of people to keep track of (Anna's extended family, coworkers, the members of law enforcement and legal profession--and some of their family members--that she comes into contact with; Aiden's coworkers and the people he's undercover among) which *might* have been a little easier to follow if I'd read other books, but I got them all straight in my head eventually ;) Note to self: get your hands on first two books in this series ASAP!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Don't let the cute-sy cover of Connected fool you; there's some pretty heavy topics covered inside. At the start of the book, Bethany, the POV charactDon't let the cute-sy cover of Connected fool you; there's some pretty heavy topics covered inside. At the start of the book, Bethany, the POV character, is in an abusive relationship and things get pretty tense and scary many times. Perhaps the worst is seeing all the excuses that Bethany makes for her boyfriend Trevor's behavior and the ways she's able to justify staying with him (she loves him, he can be so sweet, she's "put so much into" this relationship and doesn't want to throw it away...) because, yikes, you can see why she might be thinking those things at the same time that you're screaming, No! Get away from him, NOW! at her. For these reasons, I really wish the author had put a note at the end of the book about where to go for help (https://www.thehotline.org/ is one place to start) for anyone who might be in a similar situation, now or in the future.
The adorable cover art is 100% reflective of the new relationship Bethany discovers during the course of the book, though--Kevin is a much better example of a YA romance-worthy boyfriend. (Plus, they "meet" online, so that is definitely Beth and Kevin depicted on the cover.) Once their rocky start is over and they settle into a last year of high school-worthy romance together, Beth is finally able to see what it should feel like to be in a healthy relationship, and the difference is stark.
But of course Trevor's not ready to let her go, and more bad relationship drama ensues. Overall the author dealt with this part fairly well--Trevor eventually becomes a behind-the-scenes villain, though, and the resolution of her problems with him is reached rather quickly (efficiently, and in the right way, but--rushed). Bethany eventually gets counseling, which is fantastic, but I'm honestly surprised she was able to deal with things as well as she was before that point. I kind of wished that part hadn't been so glossed over.
Still, this was a quick read and fairly entertaining. For those looking for a book for YA readers, there is a small amount of drug use and some sex (somewhat on the page, but neither detailed nor graphic) and a conversation or two about healthy relationships and what to do in situations like Bethany's would be a good idea.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ...more
Anne and Rafe are a thoroughly delightful couple. From their initial trips around London as Lord ProtecFinally, Rafe's book! Totally worth the wait ;)
Anne and Rafe are a thoroughly delightful couple. From their initial trips around London as Lord Protector and Mrs. Dazzling (don't worry, it'll make sense when you read it ;)) to the epilogue, I absolutely loved these two on the page! Neither one of them is quite what one expects them to be--Rafe is much more of a sweetheart than I ever expected (though one who might still get involved in a pick-up knife fight) and Anne is way more daring and assertive than might be expected for a woman whose first attempted marriage ended in such a spectacularly awful fashion. I almost LOLed every time she put Rafe in his place--she constantly surprised both of us, I think!
Since this series is called "The Pretenders," you know from the word go that deception is going to be a major part of the plot--and that chances are a lack of communication or mis-communication will probably play a role. Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the "could have been resolved with a single conversation!" type of conflict, but here it worked, for the most part. Yes, Rafe should have come clean to Anne sooner than he did--just as Selina should have to Harry and Betrix should have to Thomas--but with their backstory and secrets, it's complicated, and it makes more sense here than it often does.
That doesn't mean I wasn't shaking my head in Rafe's direction more than once, mind you. Lucky for him, Anne is a very understanding woman. With a very healthy sex drive ;)
Anne and Rafe's story had so many connections to other Darcy Burke books--Rafe is Selina (A Secret Surrender) and Betrix's (A Scandalous Bargain) brother, and Anne is Jane's (A Duke Will Never Do) sister--there are references to events in other books as well, and even a few Untouchables show up here too. For all that, though, it *could* be read as a standalone if it had to--but for those who have read any (or all!) of the other books? Get ready for soooooo many A ha! and hold on, isn't that...! moments ;)
Bring on the next series, Ms Burke; I'm ready! <3
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
I did not want to put Cole and Natalie's story down once I started. Their chemistry was offReviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 2/28/21.
OMG, loved!
I did not want to put Cole and Natalie's story down once I started. Their chemistry was off-the-charts hot, and I was more than sympathetic with her wanting to move on from her first marriage. And poor Cole--he 100% deserved to be able to move on from the guilt he'd been feeling over Evan's death--honestly, he is such a good guy.
And I mentioned the hotness, yes? ;)
I loved the relationships in this book. Not only Cole and Natalie's, which I might have already referred to as enjoyable, but also Natalie and her mom; Natalie and Tina, her BFF; Cole and his firefighter brothers; and even Cole and Evan. The relationships are what make this book really shine, and let me know that this series is definitely one I will be here for.
Ms Jordan got the complexity of being a young widow exactly right here. I was more than a little annoyed with the general presumption that being with Cole, her dead husband's BFF, was a betrayal of Evan that would influence Cole's ability to get promoted--he's dead, people, and has been for two years!--but since it all worked out in the end I'll give them all a pass.
(Except for Nora. That woman gets no such consideration from me.)
(Though LOL, I have to admit I'd totally forgotten all about the kittens and their names until Bates jumped up on Logan's lap. I guess even big strong firefighters are still twelve-year-old boys at heart. ;))
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book....more
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