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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Review: Double Full

Double Full by Kindle Alexander
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Colt is a college football star on track for a NFL career.  He also has a crush on Jace, a cheerleader.  Jace is out and proud.  The book opens with them having sex in the locker room (with no condom).  A few days later they are hot and heavy in HI.  Colt's homophobic father gets involved with threats and Colt ghosts Jace.

Fast forward 10 years and Colt is miserable, but has a successful NFL career.  Jace has his own cheer-leading school.  Colt's made Many Bad Decisions in an effort to forget Jace.  Things finally change when he decides to grew a pair and straighten out his life that things change.  

This was not my jam.  There was too much angst and they got back together way too quickly.  I thought it was creepy Colt's stalking of Jace in college (not romantic).  Throw in the cliche evil girlfriend, awful homophobic father, an accident (that is not an accident), and you have even more angst that was not needed.  And that accident?  Not even resolved.  

Mitch is the next book (who had a significant part in the back half of this book).  Probably will pass.   

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Review: Bitterburn

Bitterburn by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice Beauty and the Beast retelling. This has the hallmarks of the original tale with some of the problematic moments re-done. Amarrah and Njal are characters you like. The goats were awesome. Amarrah figured out her abilities quickly and I thought the end (in regards to the villains) was somewhat anti-climatic.

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Review: Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service

Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service by Josh Shapiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5* rounded up

Josh Shapiro came on my radar when he was vested for the VP position in Kamala Harris's administration. And also the antisemitic attack on the governor's residence.
At times he is humble and other times he is braggadocios. Either way, he is clearly proud of his (as he should be) life in public service. Depending on how things shake out, I would anticipate him to be a contender for a certain nomination in 2028. I think he is fairly centrist in his views and probably would appeal to many. I have some issues with him, so he's not my first (or second) choice, but we shall see.

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