Review: Us

Us by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

That continues Jamie Canning's (now a junior league hockey coach) and Ryan Wesley's (now a rookie in the NHL) story.  Living together, but having to be quiet about it.  Jamie doesn't interact with Wes's teammates and Wes with Jamie's follow coach's.  They have each other, but not much by way of friends.  Friends you'd have let in and allow them to know things.  As a result, both are isolated, Jamie more so than Wes.

Each thing they do is weighed, will this out us?  When one of Wes's teammates, Blake, moves into the building, things get interesting.  I wasn't sure if he would truly be a friend or the villain.  Blake doesn't know boundaries.  Blake is very likeable and at the same time annoying.

Things come to a head when Jamie gets really sick with the flu complicated with pneumonia.  In the end, things do work out and they learn to really communicate what each is feeling.  Enjoyable!

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Review: Common Goal

Common Goal by Rachel Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eric is Scott's teammate (he is a goalie).  Eric is having a bit of a mid-life crisis; recently divorced (amicably), leaning into his bisexuality, and facing retirement.  It's important to retire on his own terms.  

Kyle is a grad student and figuring out what he really wants to do.  He enjoys her bartending job, but it's frustrated by his boss who wouldn't let him implement changes.  He also likes older men and has had his share of hook-ups.  He is also friends with (and in love with) Kip.

Kyle suggests helping Eric out in his quest to date a man.  And surprise!  They fall for each other.  It was a frustrating (at times) Eric's fixation on his (old) age (41).  That got old quickly.  Kyle didn't have an issue with it, so get over it.  I thought the ending was a bit rushed and appreciated the Epilogue. 

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Review: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cherry (who is Cinnamon's sister) disappeared several years ago and was presumed dead.  She's been locked away in isolation since then.  Enter Dante, a dragon, who is looking for his mate.  He's jealous of Fallon and Felix.  

Dante ends up checking on Gideon (another dragon who has been MIA).  And lo and behold he meets his mate, Cherry.  Dante tries to win over Cherry.    

I think what ruined this for me was I couldn't forget Cherry has been isolated from her family and they do not think she is still alive.  I thought there would have been more with her family and reuniting.  I also thought she would have been more in a hurry to get home.  I just couldn't suspend my disbelief.  We do get to see the cast of characters from the previous 2 books.  That was nice!

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Review: Lucky Break

Lucky Break by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Shawn's (he is the 2nd cook at the saloon in Bently Ghost Town) and Robin (one of the ranch's cowboys).  Shawn had a Bad Thing happen when he was 15 that ostracized him from his small town.  He left when he was 18.  He worked and continued to send money home to his retired grandparents to help pay for his grandmother's health issues (to the point he lived in his car for 2 years).  His parents are both dead.  Robin's husband died  unexpectedly and Robin blames himself.  He ran away from his job (at a traveling rodeo) and was saved by Arthur and Judson, starting over at Clean Slate.   

Both are attracted to each other and their relationship starts out slowly.  It takes time for them to open up to each other (d/t issues with their pasts).  We get appearances from the previous couple and characters from the previous books and see where they are at in their lives/relationships.  Derrick (and Slater) who has an upcoming book has a small amount of page time in this one.  Levi is introduced (Robin's former brother-in-law).  I really enjoyed this.

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Review: Sweet Little Lies

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pru is a ship captain.  Her parents were responsible for something that altered many lives.  Pru feels responsible (even she had nothing to do with it).  She donates money and finds ways to help out those affected.  

Enter Finn.  He owns the bar that has her favorite chicken wings.  They become friends and then more.  And Pru has this secret (related to the above, Finn was among those whose lives changed).  She keeps it from Finn for most of the book.  Very annoying.

Good friend group:  Willa, Archer, Spencer, Elle, Haley.  

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Review: Her Perfect Mate

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Huh. Little world-building in this world of shifters who live among us, some doing normal jobs, and others assist with national security. Enter Ivy, a feline shifter who works for the DOC (and department of DHS, kinda). I did like the idea of shifters in the world. They don't fully shift into their animal form, but rather take on and adapt characteristics they can make one faster, stronger.
This had an interesting start, but I quickly lost interest. I expected more from Ivy, who should have been kick-ass. Instead I got someone (who despite having seniority in DOC and experience) who deferred to her partner, in this case Landon. She was too unsure and behaved stupidly way too many times. I also thought Landon was annoying as a character (seriously, is there anything he couldn't do?). Add in the shifter trope of mating and this was just too much.
Disappointed. I did like the writing and I was as engaged as much as I could be despite characters I personally found annoying.

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Review: Rag and Bone

Rag and Bone by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Story is set in the "Charm of Magpies" world.  Characters are introduced in "A Queer Trade."

Crispin is trying to learn magic the "right" way.  He is struggling, in part, because the majority of his instructors don't seem to understand him and resent him (because of his past).  His partner Ned, is supportive, but also tired of magic.  They both get thrown in the fire (so to speak) when Ned's neighbor is found dead.  Suspiciously.  When nothing untoward is found, Ned takes it up on himself to investigate.

Loved these 2, they work well together.  I liked the end and am a bit disappointed there isn't another installment in this series. 

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