Review: Chili Cauldron Curse

Chili Cauldron Curse by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mia took some time off work to help her grandmother out. She works in a restaurant with her long term boyfriend. She's now responsible for sorting all the food and coming up with a rotation system so foods don't spoil. She also comes across a dead body. Said dead body also happens to be the guy her grandmother just started to date.
Magic Springs is a small town where (mostly) everyone knows each other's business. I had a hard time getting into this one an

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Review: She'll Steal Your Heart

She'll Steal Your Heart by Rachel Lacey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mia quit her job as a high powered lawyer after getting an ulcer and going through a divorce. She now runs a cat cafe. Lauren is back in NYC to make amends for something she did a year ago. Both connect as part of a fandom for a TV show (whose lead was the subject of a previous book in this series). Lauren writes fanfic and dreams of being an author.
Lauren had a good redemption arc (it had been long enough since I read the first book, I didn't remember her, but there is enough here that did not matter). Both Mia and Lauren are likable and work very well together. I appreciated that there was very little drama/angst. Excellent end to this series.

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Review: Sexy/Dangerous: A Sizzling Romantic Suspense Novel Where Passion Is the Deadliest Weapon

Sexy/Dangerous: A Sizzling Romantic Suspense Novel Where Passion Is the Deadliest Weapon by Beverly Jenkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 *

I think I definitely prefer her historicals.

Dr Adam Gray is developing a type of battery that could greatly change the game when it comes to fossil fuels.  The problem?  Everyone (governments, private companies/groups) want it.  Someone even tried to kidnap Adam.  

Enter Max (Maxine) Blake.  She is kick-ass.  Ex military and police, she is all things security.  Her team also includes her dogs, Ossie and Ruby.  Together they kick ass and take names.

I liked the characters.  My main issue was the first third or so of the book.  It was slow.  Yes, I know Max was getting the lay of the land and they were getting to know each other, but it was still very slow (for me).  It does pick up (thankfully).  We do learn why Adam doesn't like dogs (he has a really good reason), and I liked his gradual warming to Ossie and Ruby.  

Nice ending!

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Review: The Price of Honey

The Price of Honey by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this one was interesting; given the length, I wasn't sure what to expect.
Honey is wife #4 to Barney. Barney happened to be a tech billionaire and in flashbacks we learn (shocker) he was an asshole. This starts out with Honey going to his funeral (he had a heart attack) and sitting with his ex-wives; Rita, Meredith, and Svetlana. Shocker; he cheated on all of them.
This takes place in the future; there are automated cars and AI is a big part of everyone's life. But, death still happens and did Barney find a way to cheat it? I appreciated the end. It was kinda good!

Spoiler

more spoiler space

Barney's consciousness takes over the body of a much younger and attractive man. Only said man is wanted for for murder. The asshole gets arrested. And maybe his long-time (taken for granted and belittled) secretary executed a takeover.

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Review: Bad Deal

Bad Deal by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*
Ambrose has a hit show with a supportive (and rabid) fan base. His show may be cancelled because of budget cuts (and it's a LGBTQ show). Harley is ex-military turned security guard providing security while the show is filming.
They get close after Harley saves Ambrose from a mugging and Ambrose needing a plus one to his niece's wedding. So some fake dating it is.
This was a bit slow, but picked up. Both Ambrose and Harley are older (40s), so not as much drama as there could have been. I liked the supportive network at the security (A-List) firm; everyone is friends and have each other's ba

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Review: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So Astrophage, an alien organism, is consuming the sun and stars in our solar system. Earth's sun is dying. It is found out that there is a distant system that appears to be unaffected. A mission; Project Hail Mary, is planned and launched to investigate. Is there a way to save the sun (and Earth)?
Enter Ryland Grace, a teacher, and sole survivor to figure out what is going on. A problem, the sleep state he was in gave him some amnesia and it takes time for him to remember. Multiple people went to great lengths to get Project Hail Mary off the ground (solar farm in the Sahara). And after it was launched too (nuclear weapons to warm the planet to blow up Antarctica).
Ryland meets Rocky, an Eridian whose planet is also dying. He crew mates are also deceased and he is on his own. They team up and overcoming a language and environmental barrier. Their friendship really adds to the story. And yes, they find Taumoeba. This is a game changer.

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Review: Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America

Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America by Robert B. Reich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading Robert Reich's articles in various publications. I had forgotten he was secretary of labor under Clinton (I was a teenager). He wasn't someone I knew much about (other than he was a progressive). There is much to be admired; he was bullies as a child and stood up to bullies as an adult (and continues to do so). This was part memoir and part history lesson from Cold War US to present day.
Programming note: No Kings tomorrow, March Saturday at a city (or town) near you. Be there.

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