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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Review: If the Shoe Fits

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fresh take on the Cinderella story featuring a plus-size heroine.
Cindy has just graduated from design school (Parsons in NYC). She struggled the last year (delayed grief from losing her father suddenly 3 years prior) and has been blocked creatively. So on graduation, she moves in with her step-mom with plans to nanny her triplet 1/2 siblings while she figures out her next step(s). On the way home she has a chance encounter with a guy on the plane that she clicks with. But she doesn't get his number. Nor he hers.
Erica (her step-mom) is a producer for a Bachelor-like show called "After Midnight." She (and her step-sisters Anna and Drew) go on the show. She hopes to find some inspiration and get her name out there in fashion as a fresh shoe designer. And the Bachelor is none other than Henry, the man from the plane.
I liked the behind the scenes of the reality show (I've watched both the Bachelor and Bachelorette). I think the best parts of this was the fact that Erica is a nice step-mother. Anna and Drew are supportive step-sisters. That is not to say they aren't flawed (they are), but they aren't bad like the fairy tale. I also liked how "After Midnight" ended and the actual end of the book. I would have liked an epilogue however (like this is where Cindy 

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Review: Oh Sh*t, I Almost Killed You! A Little Book of Big Things Nursing School Forgot to Teach You

Oh Sh*t, I Almost Killed You! A Little Book of Big Things Nursing School Forgot to Teach You by Sonja Schwartzbach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted something that was funny and thought, I'm a nurse, let's check this out!

I would recommend this for those new nurses, there is fun, correct advice in this one.  Older nurses will appreciate this too I think.

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