Although I track my books on Goodreads, I wanted a place of my own to talk about books. I will post reviews for the most part, but I reserve the right to ramble.
Born to Be Badger by Shelly Laurenston (Honey Badger Chronicles, #5)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Title: Born to be Badger
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Honey Badger Chronicles, #5
Pages: 414
Publisher: Kensington Books
Date: November 28, 2023
Summary:
Emily “Tock” Meyerson-Jackson is on a mission to rid the world of shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. And now that she’s narrowed down her suspects to a brutal coalition of male lions, nothing will get between this honey badger and her prey—not even a dog-loving Tiger with absolutely no time management skills. Doesn’t matter that Shay Malone is ferociously adorable. With a war brewing between cat families, Tock doesn’t have time to lounge around with a football-playing tiger shifter. But when she realizes the coalition is also responsible for the death of Shay’s father, she’s forced to partner up with the flirtatious feline. . . .
Revenge is most definitely on the menu for Shay and his tiger shifter brothers. But when it comes to Shay’s alluring partner in crime-solving, so is seduction. Tock might be a bad-ass of a honey badger, but she’s awfully cute when she’s flashing her fangs, which she’s pretty much doing all the time these days. Good thing revenge is a dish best served hot. Because when it comes to Tock, Shay knows just how to turn up the heat. . . .
Review
You know how there are books that you think are never going to end? This is NOT one of those books.
When I finished, my first thought was, “What do you mean it’s over?!” There wasn’t a cliffhanger or anything. I just wasn’t ready for the book to be finished.
Tock has never been one of my favorite badgers, but I learned to love her in this book. Although she is still obsessed with time, she has found other things to obsess over as well …, such as a certain tiger and his adorable daughter.
And that brings me to the best part/character in this book. Shay’s ten-years-old daughter Dani stole every scene she was in. I adore her. As far as I am concerned, she made the book. I can just see her covering her eyes and saying, “Oh, Daddy!” when Shay has disappointed her by being a tiger male.
I loved, loved, loved this book. I was lucky enough to score an early reviewer’s copy and I have already read it three times. It’s just that good.
If you have spent any time in the Pride/Badger world, read this book. You will not regret it.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
View all my reviews
Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Paranormal, Romance
Mercury Rising by J. B. Aspen
Mercury Rising by J.B. Aspen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Title: Mercury Rising
Author: J. B. Aspen
Series: Magical Midlife in Retrograde, #1
Pages: 288
Publisher: Independently Published
Date: April 27, 2023
Summary:
Midlife—when the magic really begins…
Happy Birthday and hello Mid-life crisis to me. At forty-five, I thought life was over. Dead-end job, empty nest…it was just me and the cat. But when I lost my house and moved in with my senior citizen mom—that was the icing on my cake. Then, out of nowhere, my luck changed—or so I thought. I won a trip to an Inn…
Who knew the prize would be learning I’m not just a broke, divorced, empty-nester—I’m a witch.
Join Mercury as she discovers her hidden past and the world of magic waiting for her at the Phoenix Inn.
Review:
I am a sucker for a paranormal mystery. Add in the fact that this book has a sentient house/inn, a cat, and a woman NOT in her twenties. It was obviously written for me.
The book begins on Mercury’s 45th birthday. She has two wonderful daughters, has been divorced for several years, and her ex has just sold her house out from under her. Her only choice is to move in with her mother in a senior retirement village.
That’s not a terrible thing. She loves her adopted mom. It’s just her mom is living a more exciting life than Mercury has ever had.
Oh, yeah. Adopted. She was adopted when she was a toddler and has no memories of her birth family.
And that turns out to be key to the story.
Mercy is a witch and she had no idea.
I loved this book and will definitely buy the sequel when it becomes available. The writing was engrossing, and although there was the necessary world building, it was not cumbersome.
The book was written in first person which I normally do not like. However, the author did an excellent job and I hardly noticed it.
The only thing I wished for was more of Mr. Yow. Who’s that? The cat, of course.
Right now, April 27, 2023, Mercury Rising is available on Kindle Unlimited.
I have already preordered the sequel, Mercury Falling, which is due out on March 14, 2023. I can’t wait.
This book was sent to me by the author in return for an honest review.
Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal
Final Heir (Jane Yellowrock, #15) by Faith Hunter
Final Heir by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Faith Hunter did an amazing job with this finale to her Jane Yellowrock series. Jane went out strong. To the end, she took care of her people. All of the loose ends were tied up and even though I’ll miss Jane and Bruiser, I still have the Soulwood novels to look forward to.
Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal
The Maid by Nita Prose
The Maid by Nita Prose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Title: The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Series: n/a
Pages: 304
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date: January 4, 2022
Summary:
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.
Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.
But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?
Review:
I have read a few books in which the main character does not relate well with people to the extent that it makes them seem odd or mentally disabled. The Maid is another of these books.
Molly does an excellent job as a maid in an upscale hotel. Her boss values her, she has friends (and an enemy) that she works with, and she has a friend that turns out to be using her. In other words, she is like a lot of us.
I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it. The plot and writing are excellent. There are things I saw coming and others which were a complete surprise. To me, that’s a mark of a well-written book.
What I didn’t love was how Molly was treated. She was made fun of and looked down on. In other words, the author was realistic. It hurt me to see how lonely she was. She had work friends, but she did not have anyone she could hang out with outside of work. It was just so sad.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely! I think it would be a wonderful book club book.
Will I read it again? I doubt it. Even though things worked out well, it hurt to get there.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic
How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan
How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Title: How to Love Your Neighbor
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Series: n/a
Pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Date: January 18, 2022
Summary:
Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check.
Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.
Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.
Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he’s found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door–the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it.
With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is.
Review:
I have read this book twice and it was definitely better the second time. I think that is because Noah is not a likable person at the beginning of the book. Knowing how much he grows emotionally made the second reading more enjoyable.
Both Grace and Noah have relationship issues due to each of them having parental horrors for parents. Grace’s mother lets the men in her life define who she is and never takes responsibility for any of her problems. Now that Grace is an adult, her mother expects her to be the one to bail her out financially whenever the need arises.
Noah’s father is a millionaire who collects trophy wives. He uses his money and influence to control his sons. Noah, finally, has had enough and moves from New York to the west coast. Unfortunately, what he knows about relationships, he learned from his father. He thinks any problem can be solved by throwing money at it.
As I said to start with, Noah is not a likable person. However, the changes he makes are what made me really like the book on the second reading.
Although Grace has issues to work through, she is a strong character from the beginning. She has friends and knows how to be a friend. She knows what she wants and is willing to work as hard as necessary to meet her goals.
I liked Grace a lot, but it is the way that Noah grows that makes this book so good. As a reader, I have a hard time overcoming a negative impression of a character. Noah is an exception.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance
The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove, #1) by Jill Shalvis
The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although I always enjoy books by Jill Shalvis, I have to say this is my favorite so far. The main characters, Jane and Levi, are wonderful, but it is the secondary characters that I adore. Charlotte is my favorite with Levi’s family coming a close second. Cat, aka Alley Cat, is perfect. She (spoiler alert: “he” is really a she) is a typical cat. The expectation is for all those around her to serve her needs.
Everyone in the book has issues with relating with others, but the love comes through no matter what. Even Levi’s dad opens up a little. I like that it’s obvious that blood family is not the only type of family that exists and is not necessarily the most important type.
My only negative response to the book is the section with the gondolas. I’m already scared of the things. I may never ride one again.
As always, I can’t wait for the next book. As I said, I always enjoy them.
Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance
Review: Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir by Brent Spiner
Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events by Brent Spiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Title: Fan Fiction: A Mem-noir Inspired by True Events
Author: Brent Spiner, Jeanne Darst
Series: n/a
Pages: 256
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date: October 12, 2021
Summary:
From Brent Spiner, who played the beloved Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, comes an explosive and hilarious autobiographical novel.
Brent Spiner’s explosive and hilarious novel is a personal look at the slightly askew relationship between a celebrity and his fans. If the Coen Brothers were to make a Star Trek movie, involving the complexity of fan obsession and sci-fi, this noir comedy might just be the one.
Set in 1991, just as Star Trek: The Next Generation has rocketed the cast to global fame, the young and impressionable actor Brent Spiner receives a mysterious package and a series of disturbing letters, that take him on a terrifying and bizarre journey that enlists Paramount Security, the LAPD, and even the FBI in putting a stop to the danger that has his life and career hanging in the balance.
Featuring a cast of characters from Patrick Stewart to Levar Burton to Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, to some completely imagined, this is the fictional autobiography that takes readers into the life of Brent Spiner and tells an amazing tale about the trappings of celebrity and the fear he has carried with him his entire life.
Fan Fiction is a zany love letter to a world in which we all participate, the phenomenon of “Fandom.”
Review:
“Fictional autobiography” – That’s how the blurb describes this book and it’s actually the only problem I have with it. I want to know what parts are true!
As a longtime Star Trek fan, I really enjoyed this book. Next Generation was never a favorite of mine, but who could not love Data.
This book is for Star Trek fans. The tidbits about various actors and Gene Roddenberry grabbed me because Star Trek is so much a part of my life. The story itself was engrossing and some of the packages “Data” received were simply gross.
Mostly, this book was fun. Even when bad things happened, I was reminded of a Three Stooges skit, rather than feeling any sense of suspense.
Yes, I enjoyed this book BECAUSE I am a Star Trek fan and that’s my one reservation about recommending it. I can’t imagine anyone who is not a Trekkie caring about it at all.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Mystery, Realistic
Review: When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Title: When Sparks Fly
Author: Helena Hunting
Series: n/a
Pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Date: September 21, 2021
Summary:
Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.
But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.
Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.
Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. I only gave it three stars, but I think it’s because I’m the wrong audience for this book. First of all, though, I want to say what I liked about it.
From the description, it’s obvious it’s a friends to lovers book. I like Avery, Declan – not so much, but I love Avery’s sisters. I’m looking forward to their books even though I was not thrilled with this one. That’s it. That’s what I liked – Avery’s sisters.
The book is written in first person, alternating between Avery and Declan. That way, the reader gets a lot of information that would be hidden if it used a third person narrator. And that brings me to one of the two things I really didn’t like about it. I don’t like first person and I really don’t like alternating viewpoints. As I implied earlier, it’s a personal taste issue.
However, my real issue with the book is Declan is an immature jerk. He’s thirty-years-old, but acts more like he’s still in college. He makes stupid decisions that hurt other people. He regrets them and accepts his responsibility, but still!!!
Finally, in parts of the book, the dialogue is overblown. Declan and Avery talk to each other like they are sitting in a counselor’s office. No one talks like that in real life.
So yes, three stars, but I will read the sequels. As I said, I want the sisters’ stories.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Filed under Uncategorized
A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram, #2) by Darynda Jones
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Title: A Good Day for Chardonnay
Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Sunshine Vicram, #2
Pages: 416
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date: July 27, 2021
Summary:
Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff–and even fuller-time coffee guzzler–Sunshine Vicram, didn’t get that memo.
All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that’s about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)
Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny’s got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he’s not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She’s seen it. Once. Accidentally.
Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn’t know when to quit, Sunny’s life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.
Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.
Review:
Read the first book! Do not read this book without reading the first book! Believe me. Take my word for it. READ THE FIRST BOOK!
Oh, yes, the first book? The title is A Bad Day for Sunshine. It leads right into book two: A Good Day for Chardonnay. I can guarantee that you will have no clue what is going on if you do not read the first book.
Are we all clear now? You do understand you have to read the first book first, right?
Now that that is out of the way.
I never thought Darynda Jones could top her Charley Davidson series, but she has definitely done it with the Sunshine books. These books are straight contemporary with a mystery and (will you get on with it?) a romance. Actually, they don’t have a mystery, they have multiple mysteries.
Who abducted Sunshine when she was a teenager?
Who is the father of her daughter?
Who is her Chief Deputy in love with?
Has Randy (the raccoon) been officially deputized?
And a new mystery involving one of Levi’s uncles . . . is he in prison unjustly?
And the thing about Darynda Jones, she can make you feel any of these mysteries are just as important as another.
This book does clear up some of the mysteries, but it definitely introduces more mysteries and problems. The plot is wonderful, but my favorite parts are the one liners.
For example, there is one scene where Sunshine has to climb a ridge. She thinks to herself that she needs more cardio and less Oreo. That could be me talking. No, I mean really. That could be me.
And of course, my absolute favorite parts of the books are her chapter headings. I’ll leave you with my favorite one.
“Donate blood today! Please note: it must be your own blood.”
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Filed under Uncategorized
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Title: The Bookshop of Second Chances
Author: Jackie Fraser
Series: n/a
Pages: 448
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date: May 4, 2021
Summary:
Thea Mottram is having a bad month. Her husband of nearly twenty years has just left her for one of her friends, and she is let go from her office job–on Valentine’s Day, of all days. Bewildered and completely lost, Thea doesn’t know what to do. But when she learns that a distant great uncle in Scotland has passed away, leaving her his home and a hefty antique book collection, she decides to leave Sussex for a few weeks. Escaping to a small coastal town where no one knows her seems to be exactly what she needs.
Almost instantly, Thea becomes enamored with the quaint cottage, comforted by its cozy rooms and shaggy, tulip-covered lawn. The locals in nearby Baldochrie are just as warm, quirky, and inviting. The only person she can’t seem to win over is bookshop owner Edward Maltravers, to whom she hopes to sell her uncle’s antique novel collection. His gruff attitude–fueled by an infamous, long-standing feud with his brother, a local lord–tests Thea’s patience. But bickering with Edward proves oddly refreshing and exciting, leading Thea to develop feelings she hasn’t felt in a long time. As she follows a thrilling yet terrifying impulse to stay in Scotland indefinitely, Thea realizes that her new life may quickly become just as complicated as the one she was running from.
Review:
I have read this book twice now and I have to say it was even better the second time. I liked it so much that I changed my 4-star to a 5-star review. I rarely give books a 5-star and never to an author I have never read before.
Obviously, I loved this book. It is a romance, but more than that it is a description of a woman’s recovery after having life kick her in the teeth. As the description says, Thea loses her job and her husband (the rat bastard) in a matter of weeks.
What she doesn’t know is that it will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.
She inherits a house from a great-uncle that she has only met four times. She can’t understand why it was left to her instead of a closer family member. Her uncle explains why in the will.
And this is why I love this book. It has the best lines in it. I could have done an entire review of just great lines. I won’t, but I will include this one.
Uncle Andrew states he left the house to Thea “whom I have only met on four occasions, but who each time was intent on reading rather than talking, which has always been my own preference.”
Since I feel the same way, this really appealed to me.
Anyway, she meets a man who’s a “right arse.” Everyone says so, even him. Fortunately, she just finds him amusing. Of course, she falls for him. I’m not giving anything away. It’s a romance after all, right?
There is no great mystery or secrets to be discovered. This is a book about relationships and is hysterically funny in places. I did have to Google a few terms because I am from the United States and this book is very British. I didn’t always get the slang.
I just have to say, “brown sauce” does not sound at all appealing.
I’ve already recommended this book to friends and my local librarian. It is truly a fun book to read.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
View all my reviews
Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Realistic, Romance
Elaine Reads . . . constantly! 