Matt, the grumpy, NHL superstar, is up and he has his hands full between tussling with his siblings and being in the presence of the woman he's never Matt, the grumpy, NHL superstar, is up and he has his hands full between tussling with his siblings and being in the presence of the woman he's never stopped loving. Fortunately for him, Jasmine feels the same about him (although it takes her time to admit it), so they have that going for them at least.
But first, Jasmine's working on getting the Kringle's inn booked and in the black. Convincing her grumpy ex to help out would go a long way toward moving things in the right direction, but their history is...complicated. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. So she she calls him and gets the big guy back in town and now she's remembering just how much she liked being with him. Oh, and she's also dealing with sibling shenanigans, photos going viral, and a frozen photo shoots.
On Matt's end, he's staring down the potential end of his hockey career and he's not sure what that means for him. Helping Jasmine when she calls is a no-brainer since he's never forgotten how good they were together. You know, up until she dumped him. But still, spending time with her while he helps his family isn't the worst idea ever.
A minor scuffle at the airport, small town life, skating, picture-taking, fake dating, a man who is about to make some fairly big life changes, and a lady who is trying to get back on her feet after a few career related mishaps. *thumbs up*
(This review is for Crossroads only since Boyfriend and Blonde Date were reviewed previously. All three are FANTASTIC, so dive in, my friends and expe(This review is for Crossroads only since Boyfriend and Blonde Date were reviewed previously. All three are FANTASTIC, so dive in, my friends and experience all the Vermont holiday fun.)
Damien first meets Nicolette when she's 18 and just heading off to college. He's her driver to the airport and this starts a string of pick-ups (of the driving variety) that stretches over the course of years. Through it, she does the college thing. He does the military thing. He has to find his balance after getting out. She has to figure out what she wants out of life. She gets married to a not-so-great guy. He just wants her to be happy. They have the two ships thing going on, but they make an impact on one another every time they meet.
Then life hands them an opportunity where they're both single, they're both in decent places in their life (Damien had a lot to work through after getting out of the military), and they both just might have the chance to kindle that spark that flares up every time they cross paths. *thumbs up* SO HARD!
When life (and her douchey soon-to-be ex) throws a wrench in Ivy's holiday plans, she takes Tairon up on his offer for a ride. The striking dragon hasWhen life (and her douchey soon-to-be ex) throws a wrench in Ivy's holiday plans, she takes Tairon up on his offer for a ride. The striking dragon has been a customer at her bakery for years and she almost maybe feels like she knows him.
On Tairon's end, he's known Ivy was his person for a while, but she was in a relationship, so he kept his distance as much as he could. Which means he's watched from a distance with only minor interactions. Which DOES sound stalkerish, but a dragon's gotta do what a dragon's gotta do.
A quick, sweet and sex-ay read with a cabin, a hot tub, a dragon, and a lady who definitely traded up. *thumbs up* to dragon love!
It's time for big, bad Ulrek to find his happily ever after and let's just say not everybody loves the former Dominion caption who learned what utter It's time for big, bad Ulrek to find his happily ever after and let's just say not everybody loves the former Dominion caption who learned what utter JERKS the Dominion was before switching sides. Ulrek might be standing against the Dominion now, but once upon a time he did everything he was ordered to do and it is going to take a lot for people to forgive that.
Take Delaney, for example. She signs on with the New Horizon as a means to get away from her controlling, abusive husband. She has no idea Ulrek is the captain and she's firmly against helping him with ANYTHING due to his part in taking humans from Earth. But she did sign a contract and Ulrek isn't willing to let her dissolve it because he's kind of desperate for a greenroom technician given the state of his greenroom. Also, her controlling husband? He might actually be worse than Ulrek.
Soon these two are trading verbal spars as Delaney (reluctantly) agrees to at least diagnose the issues in the greenroom. To say that Ulrek enjoys Delaney's sass might be an understatement. And when her soon-to-be-former husband takes steps to keep Delaney in his grasp, Ulrek doesn't hesitate to step in.
After all, a Tallean only gets one mate and it looks like the sassy tech is his. *thumbs up*
Polly has moved back to Green Valley after her divorce and she's...struggling. She's trying to be a good mom to her kids now that she's a single parenPolly has moved back to Green Valley after her divorce and she's...struggling. She's trying to be a good mom to her kids now that she's a single parent, toe the line with her father so he doesn't kick them out of her childhood home (which says SO MUCH about him, really), and figure out how to work her on-call schedule now that her nanny has just given notice. Yeah, the lady has A LOT going on.
Fortunately for her, Jace and she cross paths at all the right times. He's her valet at the country club where she's forced to have weekly brunches with her father (and where he learns of her secret love of romance books). He's the clown at her daughter's birthday party. And now he's her nanny. Living in her house and helping her with the kids. Which is fine. Right?
Yeah, these two have some tension. Jace has been entranced by Polly from their first interaction. He doesn't know who she is or how she fits into Green Valley, but he likes everything he sees. And her secret romance books? He REALLY likes those. He'd also really like to develop more than an employer/employee relationship, but he's biding his time on that front. Mostly.
Friends who have your back, romance books, complicated family dynamics, two kiddos with very different temperaments, a man who isn't willing to settle, and a lady who needs to shake off the past and find herself in the process. *thumbs up* all around.
We're back with the Medlar Three and change is in the air. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but the comfortable relationship between SaraWe're back with the Medlar Three and change is in the air. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but the comfortable relationship between Sara, Kate, and Jack is shifting into something different. And change can be hard even when it's good. Heck, it can be nerve-wracking even when it's working toward something all parties want.
So. Jack was away for a while and his return caused some unexpected physical reactions in Kate of the HOO-BOY variety. This thrills Sara and Kate's father, but Kate and Jack still have to work up to actually being together. Meanwhile, a fantastic old house has fallen into Kate's realtor lap and she's THRILLED with it because she has memories of the place from when she was a kid. However, on the first outing she dragged Sara, Jack, and Randal to, they find a body in the old nursery. Sara being Sara, she immediately starts plotting how they're going to investigate.
All that plotting results in the house being fixed up and decorated and the group of individuals who were present when the victim became deceased being invited to a party. And then things got complicated.
Because there are secrets and more secrets and family ties that are hidden. As it turns out, the Medlar Three (along with Randal and others) are smack-dab in the middle of it all.
A very nice conclusion to the overall series. We get answers and closure and enough HEAs to go around. *thumbs up*
Okay. So I recently (like yesterday) read a different fake dating book by KS and LOVED IT and I realized I'd never read this one and OH.MY.GOODNESS YEOkay. So I recently (like yesterday) read a different fake dating book by KS and LOVED IT and I realized I'd never read this one and OH.MY.GOODNESS YES. Patrick is scowly and not great at communicating and he's so fun to read about. He's also kind of gone on Norah, but has the aforementioned terrible communication skills and HA. Dude is good at delivering lines onscreen, but not so great when the words aren't scripted.
Anywho. I liked Patrick. I liked Norah. Him getting a little disgruntled (more than usual) when Norah fangirls over one of his compatriots when she never fangirled over him was GREAT.
But let's get to the meat (so to speak) of the story. Patrick did a not so smart thing (not terrible, mind you, but still not so smart) and is now dealing with the scandalous blowback. He needs some quick PR to show he's not the homewrecker he's being made out to be and the quiet waitress who never bothers him when he slips into his favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant is just the thing. She's genuine in a way anybody else he asked to help him couldn't be and he doesn't mind sharing space with her. Even when she starts babbling from nerves.
On Norah's end, she absolutely knows this something between them has an expiration date. That it's fake. That being with him even in this limited sense puts her in the spotlight. And she's okay with that. Sure, she might be starting to figure out what his brooding, blank faces and scowls mean, but that doesn't mean they're meant to be together. He's a movie star and she's a waitress. Except...they're kind of hot together and those fake kisses are downright steamy.
So, YEAH. Maybe there is something there after all that can make it for the long haul. *thumbs up* ALL AROUND.
Oh, yeah. A quick and sex-ay story about a master saikh who's realized he's spent the last twenty years teaching his students how to excel in the art Oh, yeah. A quick and sex-ay story about a master saikh who's realized he's spent the last twenty years teaching his students how to excel in the art of pleasuring a female and hasn't taken the time to attempt to attract one of his own. Fortunately, Earth women are MORE than willing to let him try to hand at adoring them. So Jero is heading to Earth to get himself a lady.
Things do not go as planned however. A shipboard fire has him squeezing into an escape pod with Dani and a series of unfortunate occurrences has them crash landing on an unknown planet. Dani knows a little about survival and she's more then willing to let Jero practice his lady-loving skills on her (for research. Probably.), but Jero is...not unwilling, but he wants more than a quick hook up. He wants the real deal with Dani. Even though he has a potential partner waiting to meet him back on Earth. And Dani isn't interested in long term.
Let's just say that these two have a few speedbumps they need to navigate over. Plus, you know, the whole getting off this unknown planet thing. Oh, and hopefully they won't get washed away in a freak rainstorm. You know, for a short story, there was a lot going on. *thumbs up*
I know you can't hear me right now, but I'm making this weird appreciative noise because THIS BOOK HIT THE SPOT. It was the book I was in the mood forI know you can't hear me right now, but I'm making this weird appreciative noise because THIS BOOK HIT THE SPOT. It was the book I was in the mood for before I knew I was in the mood for it. How's that for awesome?!?!
Anywho. Riley and Connor. She's the new girl in town who gets drawn into a weird web of small town gossip thanks to her new phone number and Connor's prom queen ex. And, well, the gossips in Port Stewart. Riley's honestly just looking to find her groove in a place that makes her happy and she thinks Port Stewart might be it. What she never expected was a metric truckload of texts for the old owner of her new number and an ex who is weirdly relentless.
As for Connor, he's over his ex. Really. Except everyone in town (starting with his mother) are convinced they're going to get back together. Which makes moving on SUPER difficult. As you might imagine. Riley is a breath of fresh air. She's someone who seems him as he is, not as he was. He likes that more than he realized he would. Fake dating someone he doesn't mind being around seems like a solid plan to get the town off his back. The fact he's emotionally constipated makes admitting he likes Riley a little more difficult.
And those PDAs? HOT!
A whole lot of texts, friendship found in unexpected places, complicated family, chowder, an ex who isn't as bad as she first seems, a man who is trying to figure out what he wants from life, and a lady who absolutely doesn't want to like the man she's fake dating, but WHAT CAN YOU DO?!?!
So. Tully is Leafshire Cove's morally gray witch and I didn't love her in Laini's book thanks to the love spell she slipped Laini and Rom. Consent is So. Tully is Leafshire Cove's morally gray witch and I didn't love her in Laini's book thanks to the love spell she slipped Laini and Rom. Consent is key, my friends. HOWEVER, the consent issue has been addressed (thank you, lord mayor) and Tully isn't nearly as gray as she seemed initially. In fact, she's kind of turned into a good friend for Laini and Kaya. Not that she'll admit it, but her actions speak for themself.
That said, Tully still has some sharp edges. She's furious that a MINOTAUR would dare try to horn in on her magic business when everyone knows minotaurs don't have any magic. Let's just say she's not nice to Argos in the slightest and it's only Argos's laid back personality that keeps things from getting out of hand. Tully is also quick to fling about accusations. Again, it's only Argos's sunny disposition and scientific mind (because Tully is fascinating to him) that keeps things level.
On Argos's end, he really is smitten with Tully's fierce glares and crackling hair from the first. He has his reasons for needing to make money fast and he doesn't really understand the power he's harnessing to make his illusions. Fortunately for everyone, Tully knows what's what and when she unbends enough to work with Argos, THINGS HAPPEN.
A little chaos magic, a pair of sexy glasses, kindly townsfolk, a male who has to shed his inhibitions a little to keep up with his witch, and a witch who likes to be in charge when things go down. *thumbs up*
We're back with Meg and her crew at the Morrisey and our girl is taking some big steps. While telling Detective Anthony about her ability to see ghostWe're back with Meg and her crew at the Morrisey and our girl is taking some big steps. While telling Detective Anthony about her ability to see ghosts didn't go well (and kind of broke Meg's heart a little since she considered the detective an almost-friend), Meg has realized that hiding that big a part of herself isn't helping her. If someone can't handle her ability, it's really on them, not her. So the circle of people who know what she can do is getting bigger.
On top of that, Meg's complicated feelings about her father are finally addressed. Which is to say that Meg blurts out her fears to Wyatt and he admits that he's terrified he's going to mess things up with her. Which AWWWW. So, yeah, those two are finally talking and seem to have found their groove.
MEANWHILE, Laurie's cousin is using Meg's studio while he's in town and he's charming and lucky and somehow ends up in the middle of what could be a murder investigation. Which is how Meg's ability comes to light with him since there's no one better to help investigate a sticky death than a lady who can talk to ghosts. PLUS, Meg is working to help Jade (Ripley's ghostly foster sister) figure out the details of her death. Which is dangerous in its own right.
A charming cousin, a whole lot of spilled secrets, Laurie's unwavering support, a few new ghosts, and a lady who is right in the middle of it all. *thumbs up*
I kind of didn't know what to expect with this book going into it (just that it was recommended based on some other books I read recently) and HOO-BOYI kind of didn't know what to expect with this book going into it (just that it was recommended based on some other books I read recently) and HOO-BOY was it a fun one. Rosemary might have joined the crew of the Wayfarer simply as an attempt to start fresh, but she got so much more than that.
So much more.
The Wayfarer became her home and the crew became her family and she got to see FAR more of the galaxy than she ever expected. Because this ship? It's about to take a long journey to a place few have seen. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. Plenty may have seen where they're going, but not a whole lot have lived to tell about it. But the Wayfarer has a contract and the crew is darn good a their job and they're going to do what needs to be done.
This book is extremely character-driven. I mean that in a good way. As the newbie, Rosemary has to find her rhythm with the crew. Not only is she new to the ship, she's also new to life that isn't planet-side. But she has Ashby (who loves his ship and his crew is family and he wouldn't have it any other way) and the others to show her the ropes. That said, just like with any close-knit group/family, there is a little friction. And when the crew runs into potentially dangerous situations, they need to rely on one another when things get dicey.
Like I said, I didn't know what to expect with this book when I picked it up, but it REALLY hit the spot. Sad, sweet, and heroic with a whole lot of found family. *thumbs up*
This is little snippet of a mystery where Flavia is summoned to the scene of a crime and has to deduce the hows and whys in a relatively short amount This is little snippet of a mystery where Flavia is summoned to the scene of a crime and has to deduce the hows and whys in a relatively short amount of time. Given her passion for chemistry (among other things), she has the background knowledge to also sort through who would have access to the needed chemicals to do the deed.
But that's getting ahead of the mystery. First, Flavia receives a desperate call for help and immediately sets out for the local school where she finds a corpse in a most unusual state of being. Flavia being Flavia, she doesn't balk at the examination of said corpse. And after a few probing questions to the person who summoned her, it isn't long before she's figured out what happened.
Short, but fun. As all Flavia's cases seem to be. *thumbs up*
I haven't read any of the other books in this series and I feel like maybe (maybe?) I would have understood the underlying political (for lack of a beI haven't read any of the other books in this series and I feel like maybe (maybe?) I would have understood the underlying political (for lack of a better word) stuff going on if I had. To be fair, since I didn't read any of the other books, maybe I'm wrong about this, but there was more than a little going on behind the scenes that took me a bit to pick up on.
If I look at JUST the romance, here's what I saw: Min is engaged in something that could possibly derail some pretty big contracts if it were to get out. And she goes and tells her assistant about it because she doesn't like keeping secrets? I honestly thought the jig was going to be up at that point. But it wasn't. In fact, the whole fake dating thing didn't make any of the contract negotiations fall apart (mostly because Min and Ethan ended up actually falling for one another, I guess?) so the whole loose lips sink ships didn't play into it.
On Ethan's end, he's BIG on denying what all the physical things that are happening to him when he's around (or thinks of) Min mean. It took Min stating clearly that she wanted to be with him and basically forcing the issue before he sealed the deal. I'm big on consent, so the clear communication is good, but Ethan also tried to tell her (or strongly imply, I can't remember at this point) that she didn't know what she wanted and I'm NOT a fan of dudes telling women they don't know their own minds. So, plus points for the enthusiastic consent, but minus points for not initially listening when she told him she DID want it.
Like I said, there was a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes outside of the romance. I was also finishing this book when I was a little tired, so maybe I glossed over some of the League of Humans and Monsters stuff (I don't even remember if I got their name right if that tells you how tired I was). Fun, but maybe read the earlier books in the series first so the foundation has already been laid for this one.
OH.MY.GOODNESS. Oaken's booooook. The guy is the biggest sweetheart who ever sweethearted and he was so genuinely happy for Garrek and Magnolia even tOH.MY.GOODNESS. Oaken's booooook. The guy is the biggest sweetheart who ever sweethearted and he was so genuinely happy for Garrek and Magnolia even though Magnolia was originally intended as his bride and he's practically pining for a bride of his own and I AM THRILLED TO GET SEE HIM GET HIS HEA.
Okay. Garrek and Magnolia and their nearly-feral ward (whom I ADORE) have settled near Oaken while he gets back on his feet. Literally. His broken ankle is what set up the chain of events that led to him missing out on meeting Magnolia. That all turned out well in the end, though, and now he has his people close by.
Then a damaged ship lands unexpectedly in his mountains and Oaken is INSTANTLY smitten with Jaya. Even after she threw a hammer at him. Or maybe because she threw a hammer at him. Regardless, he's more than willing to offer a fourteen day trial marriage so she can stay on planet while she waits for needed parts to be shipped for repairs. Sure, he knows that if she leaves, he'll have two missed romantic connections and that might look bad to any future potential brides, but he also kinda knows Jaya is the one for him. So he goes all in.
Jaya is a little less gung-ho. She just wants to get her ship fixed and head back out. Sure, the big green cowboy is a hunk and a sweetheart and she might kinda like him a little more than she's comfortable with, but her place is NOT planetside and she has no intention of staying. Probably.
Husband lessons, a sex-ay movie date, Killian and his nearly-feral ways, sweet critters, nasty weather, a male who knows his person when he sees her, and a lady who has to take a long look at what she wants for the future (spoiler: it might just be a sweet, green alien cowboy). *thumbs up*
Yessss. Warden Tenn is up and his special someone is Tasha, the liaison for the bride program. Given that the Zabrian government neglected to inform TYessss. Warden Tenn is up and his special someone is Tasha, the liaison for the bride program. Given that the Zabrian government neglected to inform Tasha that the planet they were contracting brides for was a penal colony, she's a little panicked over the situation the initial group of brides she sent down might now be in. So she heads planet-side to make sure they're a-okay.
As she quickly learns, all the brides are more than thrilled with the men they've married. They're happy. They're thriving. They're as besotted with their husbands as their husbands are with them. But Tasha isn't exactly convinced. So she and Warden Tenn head into a neighboring Warden's territory so Tasha can meet a set of convicts without the bias of the human wives who obviously adore their husbands. Which sounds a little counterintuitive, but it makes sense. I swear. Tenn is...well, he's not thrilled to be heading into another male's territory, but he is thrilled to get to spend more time with Tasha. No lie, when these aliens meet their special someone, they go ALL IN.
Complete aside, but Warden Hallum's men are just as adorable as Tenn's. And I have SUCH a soft spot for the chaotic energy of Xennet (and Killian), so I would be 100% down with seeing Rivven, Dorn, and Xennet (and Hallum???) get matched in the future. Seriously, though, Xennet and Killian and their playbook of facing the unknown with a weapon in their hands (or tails) just slays me. I love it so hard.
A road trip, only one tent (!!), chaos gremlin Zabrians, happy brides, a little danger, a male who is used to being in charge, and a lady who has to recalibrate what she wants out of life before it's too late. *heart eyes*
This is a short and sweet little nugget with Peri and its crew working to infiltrate a station that's dealing with a little unrest. We get to see IrisThis is a short and sweet little nugget with Peri and its crew working to infiltrate a station that's dealing with a little unrest. We get to see Iris and the others interact with Peri and...well, the aftermath of Peri's first encounter with Murderbot.
Despite all the bad things happening around them, Iris and Peri have a moment and Iris starts to realize that Peri might have found someone it might be able to call a friend. Or whatever. Let's just say that Iris is happy for Peri regardless of what form this budding relationship takes and go with that.
Peri, being what it is, also manages to needle the other members of the infiltration team, scare some of the newbies, and engage in some verbal sparring with another. I must say I completely appreciate Peri's ability to terrify humans who are new to the Peri-sphere.
All in all, a short (but engaging) look at some of what Peri's crew had to deal with in their missions and a touching moment or two between it and Iris.