Review: In the Air Tonight

In the Air Tonight by Lori Handeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Raye is adopted and has always seen and been able to communicate with ghosts. It made her parents uncomfortable, so she learned to hide it. She also became a people pleaser in part because her dad seemed to never fully accept her. She stayed in her small WI town and is the town kindergarten teacher.
When there is a murder, she meets Bobby who came to town due to similarities to murders in New Orleans where he is a detective. He is also sensitive to ghost's presence, but does not believe in the supernatural.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this. Raye was a good character who was open to learning about her abilities. I would have liked a little more in regards to her abilities/future; like will she consult with the police from time to time? I thought things with her adoptive father were left a little open (like does he fully accept her or not)? I also didn't quite understand her devotion to her small, judgemental town. I did like that Bobby was the one who made the change.
Aside from the complaints above, I liked the romantic-suspense-paranormal mash-up. The next book with Becca (who has her mother's affinity for animals) is setup here. Danger is coming.

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Review: My Vampire Plus-One

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
 

3.5*
We meet Reggie (Reginald) in book 1. And maybe Amelia too (it's been awhile and I don't remember- she is Sam's (Cassie's BFF) sister).
Amelia is an accountant who is a workaholic without much of a social life. Her family wants her to find someone and frequently asks her about her dating life. When she is invited to another family wedding, she asks Reggie to fake date her. They (literally) ran into each other the first time they met and the second time was also random (so must be a sign!). Reggie is also a vampire 9as the title suggests). He also tells Amelia who doesn't take him seriously. He also has "The Collective" after him.
This was fun! I liked Cassie and Frederick's appearances. Amelia gets to save the day in regards to the "Collective." But they (The Collective) are also stupid villains. I liked Reggie's protectiveness in regards to her family; they have a habit of eating at restaurants/serving food that Cassie can't eat.

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Review: On Dancer

On Dancer by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*
Alexander (not Alex, he doesn't do nicknames) is a famous ballet dancer. He's been rehabbing a knee injury for the past year and it's been a slow process. He is 34 and is starting to think about what comes after as ballet and nothing else has been his life since he was a kid. Rudy is 10 years younger and works as his mother's assistant. He was there for her when she got cancer and supported her through her treatment. Rudy has had a massive crush on Alexander for forever.
They meet again when Alexander is in town to star in their small town holiday production of The Nutcracker. The local ballet company has always had a funding issue and they hope to revive interest. Rudy had good ideas about cross promoting through local schools and the local news.
Alexander definitly starts out as kinda rude. He is a bit stunted emotionally and is a bit too blunt. Their romance starts out slow, but builds. I liked the game nights with friends and realized there is more than ballet. Appreciated the epilogue too.

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Review: The Trouble with Mistletoe

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Willa owns a pet shop and loves animals. Keane needs help; his aunt left him her cat. He is not a cat person.
Sweet story of 2 people who didn't have the best childhoods who fall for each other. I did like Willa letting Keane know why she was angry with him early on instead of dragging it out. I did think the friend group was too present in this one (lots of opinions). And it was frustrating in the 2nd half the whole neither one committing to a commitment.
Petunia was the best part.

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Review: Big Witch Energy

Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is Caroline's story. Her family is cursed; they can not leave Starfall Point for more than a day. If they do, they die. Her coven (and friends) Alice and Riley continue to figure out their shared magic. They continue to look for the "locks" that were hidden by the Wellings. Ben and his kids, Mina and Josh, are introduced.
Ben was Caroline's Big Love and she broke up with him as a teenager so he could be free to go off to college and experience life. They quickly slip back into a relationship and knowing their shared history makes it believable. His kids Mina and Josh (both teenagers) find their own abilities too. They were pretty enjoyable (and freaking awesome!). I'd be cool with a Mina and/or Josh story!
Anyway, more is learned about the Wilton curse (and origins). Things are revealed and learned. I thought the whole thing with Cole (the end of it) was abrupt (I'm assuming the authorities were notified?). Cliffhanger with Clark (the lawyer who had a bigger part in book 1 and is working for a certain family) that sets up the next book.

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Review: The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I plan on watching the movie this weekend.
Olive is a PhD candidate who needs to convince her best friend Anh is it okay to date her ex (I use this term loosly; they went out a few times). So, that's fake a relationship! That someone is Adam, who is a professor, grumpy, hot, (and big).
I liked the STEM representation. I thought this had good banter.
I didn't care much for the professor/student relationship (I like fake dating, but not the student-teacher trope). It's also noted the Olive is demi sexual, but rather than acknowledge, except, and realize that is okay and she is who she is; it's instead presentated as "weird" and "not normal." I would have liked to see more of a discussion related to this.
For two highly intelligent people, there was also a lot of "miscommunications". I found this so frustrating and these things keep this from being rated higher. I do think the 3 is generous. And did I mention Adam is big?

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Review: In the Middle of Somewhere

In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up.
Daniel is the first in his family to go to college. He also happens to be heavily tattooed, with a tough guy persona, and gay. Needless to say, his family has absolutely not been supportive of him growing up, to the point of being neglectful and emotionally abusive.
Rex is tall, shy, and lonely. He never knew his dad and growing up with a single mom, they were also moving, so he never put roots down or made friends. He mother is now deceased. His first love was murdered (that's how he came to MI, Jamie was from there).
Daniel and Rex meet when Daniel accidentally hits a dog. He is in town for a job interview at the local community college. They reconnect later once Daniel is living there as a newly minted prof.
I did enjoy this story of 2 broken people who find a connection in each other. They bring light to each's individual darkness. I did like that there was not a big "misunderstanding." Rather, they slowly learn how to communicate with each other. It's not always the best or most effective, but they do (eventually) learn from their mistakes.
I also liked the secondary characters; Daniel's best friend Ginger who did all his tattoos, Leo; a teenager they befriend in their small town, and Will; Rex's ex turned friend. Daniel also gets a surprise in regards to Colin, one of his brothers that tortmented him (probably the most).
What keeps this from being a 4 star read is it does get repetitive and rambles on at times. Daniel also reads as younger to me, but I think that could be reflective of his horrible childhood and not feeling love.

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Review: Partners in Crime

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mira is looking for a husband. Naveen is someone she first matched with, but she was worried about getting too close and hurt. So she ditched him. A handful of year later they meet again. Her aunt has died and he is the lawyer representing her will. Shocker!
The current Mira is a little but more mature and willing to admit when she was wrong, She still has fears related to her past. Her dad was a con-man, hustler. Her sister appears to be the same (or at least similar). Naveen is also more mature and has done some work on himself (went to rehab for alcoholism).
This was both romance, mystery, and action. Some individuals from Mira's past may not be really dead. Fun. I also appreciated the glimpse of Mira and Naveen a year later (and again 7 months later).

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Review: Woof at the Door

Woof at the Door by Laura Morrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grace is an animal behaviorist who can also sense their thoughts/emotions.  She's always had the psychic ability and has learned how to manage it to her advantage.  She trained as a vet, but her ability made it impossible for her to practice.  She's in demand and has helped animals and their caretakers.  

She gets involved in a murder when she is called to assist with the victim's dog Jax.  Jax witnessed his owner's murder and has trauma related to that.  Jax also has to be quarantined for a period of time before he can be adopted and as a vet, Grace is able to do that.

I really liked this.  Grace and her ability.  She's has a very small circle of people (her sister and best friend) who knows about her ability and don't judge her for it.  They love her just as she is.  By the end her circle is a little larger and she is more open about "hey this is what I can do, deal with it."  (My quotes).  There may be a romance with a certain someone too; that knows what she can do and didn't handle it well when she told him, but has since realized he fucked up.  I did think the mystery, the who done it was rushed at the end.   

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Review: Epic

Epic by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a nice, short peak ar Jamie and Wes's life (now married). Told in alternating points of view, Jamie gets to have a little goal keeping fun. And Wes is happy for him. A new job is also in the offering. So Epic!

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Review: Her Best Kept Secret

Her Best Kept Secret by Naima Simone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nore is an event planner and is damn good at what she does.  She owns her own business.  Joaquin is a retired motorcycle racer turned business owner.  He makes his own motorcycles.  They meet at his birthday party (her company was hired to put on) and sparks fly.  They have a one night stand after his party.  

Things only get complicated when his company wants to hire her again for a huge launch they are planning for their all electric motorcycle.  It turns out Joaquin is Nore's ex-finace's estranged 1/2 brother.  They both re-connect and have a shared past in their not-so-great childhoods.  

I liked the pacing and characters (except for James and his mother; they are both assholes). 

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  comtemporary (would also work for one-night stand)

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Review: Go Luck Yourself

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Someone is stealing Christmas's joy. A single shamrock is left. Kris is Coal's (first book, eldest son and now Santa) younger brother. He is tasked with finding out who the thief is.
Lochlan is the crown prince of St Patrick's Day. His uncle is the King who took the crown leading everyone to believe that Loch was immature and unfit to rule. In all fairness, his parents had just died and he was a teenager (I missed how long ago it was, but in this book he was 22? 23?). Anyway, he doesn't have the best reputation as a result of that.
This starts out as enemies to lovers. Kris tinsles the study room Lochlan is in at college. He had a reservation for the room and Locklan refused to leave (he also didn't know who he was). He is a bit horrified when he realizes who is was. Anyway, his cover is to help Loch with his image while really looking for the thief.
This was a fun read, it is light at times, serious at times. The characters do read young (Kris is a year younger than Loch) in part because of certain expectations each felt they had to meet ignoring what they really wanted to do. So, they don't really know what they want. Kris also deals with low self esteem due to mother's abandonment.

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: Free space

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Review: I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything

I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything by Joanna Stern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I have mixed feelings about AI. I do think it should be regulated and not the free-for-all it is now. I don't like data centers. I also wonder at the AI "bubble" that is keeping the markets high. That bubble could pop and we are in deep shit if it does (should it happen while a certain dictator/authoritarian/king is still the President of the US).
Back on topic, this author is a each journalist and used/lived with AI for a year. There are positives. Like AI can help (as an adjunct) to routine screenings (think mammograms, Colonoscopies, ete). I think AI could really benefit in areas that are limited in terms of specialists (like radiologists). I don't think AI should replace a person, but rather work with someone to better enhance what they do (and how they do it).
I do limit AI in my own personal life (I don't use Chat GTP for example), but would use it enhance experiences (like when I travel- using it to compile reviews so we know what to see/where to go).

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Review: By the Book

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Izzy feels stuck. She's been at her job for a few years and hasn't gotten the promotion she wanted. Still living at home, she's ready for a change. When an opportunity comes up to coach someone with a long promised memoir, she jumps at the chance.
Beau is struggling to write. Son to famous parents (his mom was a model and father an Ocscar winning screenwriter), he's got some expectations.
Beauty and the Beast is one of my personal favorites (I loved both the cartoon and live-action with Emma Watson). I was looking forward to this one. But I was so bored! It's a book about the writing process. And helping someone through the writing process. I had difficulty connecting with the characters too. Clean, very Disney-fied.

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: flowers on cover

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Review: Liar's Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America

Liar's Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America by Andrew Weissmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All about the disinformation (and outright lies) that gets published, pushed, highlighted, and amplified. And so many people read it and believe it and further push, highlight, and amplify said lie(s). We do need some type of penaly/punishment for lies (like Vance's lie about Haitians which lead (and currently) to real world consequences. Or Trump's 2020 election lie that he continues to push. Brazil did it right when punishing Bolsonaro. Why couldn't/can't the US do the same? To push it further; I would like to see term limits for House and Senate members. Term limits for the Supreme Court too (and an expansion to 13 to better reflect the population). Re term limits for the Supreme Court: people are living longer and they retire later. That's why.

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Review: Right Move

Right Move by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We met George in the previous book (Derrick and Slater) and Levi in the book before that (Robin and Shawn). We get appearances by Shawn, Robin, Miles, Reyes, Derrick, and Slater (and briefly Wes and Mack).
I loved Levi's girls (Baby, Ginger, and Sporty). Levi was awesome with George and "got" his anxieties and was very patient with him. George experienced a lot of firsts with Levi. Nice conclusion to series.

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Review: Rogue Protocol

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Super fast paced, lots going on. I liked how Murderbot is becoming even more likeable; it is developing empathy and feelings! Its fun to read how it deals with those things (hint, it's not happy)!
I missed Art.


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Review: Fortune Favors the Wicked

Fortune Favors the Wicked by Theresa Romain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Benedict is a lietenant in the British military and also happens to be blind. He finds ways to keep busy, he dislikes having nothing to do and always needs a task. Charlotte is a courtesan and needs a change.
When a bunch of gold coins get stolen, the hunt is on. She see's this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to change. Benedict sees this as something to do.
Both Benedict and Charolotte relate well to each other and compliment each other well. They each have a past that isn't a wholly happy one. I would have liked more adventure (re findingthe gold coins).

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Review: Unromance

Unromance by Erin Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sawyer has serious writer's block and her book is overdue.  She sold her first book's movie rights when she was starting out and has regrets.  She's learned some things (like not always saying yes).  She's also been through a bad break-up (her writing struggles started around this time).

Mason loved love.  He always tries to be the "perfect" boyfriend, but that is never enough.  After an elevator meet-cute that turns into a one-night stand, they run into each other again.  A friendship (of sorts) and a bargain is set.  Sawyer will try to cure Mason of his romanticism and he will try to provider inspiration for her writing.  

I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the tropey quotes at the beginning of each chapter.  There is some drama on Sawyer's part, but luckily it doesn't last too long.  I thought they each complimented each other nicely.  Good supporting cast of characters.  

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Review: The Long Game

The Long Game by Rachel Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've enjoyed every book in this series, but I think this one was my favorite. We got to "see" couples/characters from the previous books (minus Kip, Kyle, and Eric) and that was a plus. This co-insides/overlaps with "Role Model."
Ilya and Shane are enjoying their relationship. I thought they could have talked more, but luckily no "big misunderstanding" in this one. I loved Hayden's kids (Ruby and Jade) impromptu wedding (they "married" Ilya and Shane). Easy acceptance (hate is taught!). I liked that they took the next step, even if the journey there was not quite like they planned.

Edited to add: Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: latest in series

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