Secret Star by Nora Roberts [Review]

Secret Star (Stars of Mithra #3) by Nora Roberts
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 20, 2024

Stars of Mithra
1. Hidden Star
2. Captive Star
3. Secret Star - Kindle

Nora Roberts
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Lieutenant Seth Buchanan is astonished when the beautiful victim of his homicide investigation turns up—very much alive—at the scene of the murder. Grace Fontaine is keeping secrets, ones that should have killed her, but the notorious heiress refuses to reveal anything. The cool, controlled cop never lets his feelings get in the way of his job, and with a killer at large, Seth can’t afford any distractions. But there’s something irresistible about Grace…and eventually Seth finds it hard to remember there’s any mystery more important to solve than that of Grace herself.

Thoughts on Secret Star: The last of the BFFs (and the diamonds) are on tap and...Grace's story is maybe a little complicated. Mostly because everyone thinks she's dead when this all begins. You know, because there's a dead body in her house that matches Grace's description and she's been incognito for a while now.

BUT but but but, it turns out Grace isn't dead. Which kinda blows Seth's mind because he had it in his head that her beauty and bright light had been snuffed out. That said, Seth and Grace's first encounter is a little rough. Not physically or anything, but Seth was surprised to find his murder victim facing him over the barrel of a gun and Grace was surprised to find a cop in her house. Things only got more complicated from there.

It takes time and a dangerous situation or two before Seth and Grace get to the place they need to be. Seth needs to put aside his preconceived notions about Grace and Grace needs to trust the person she's fallen for will have her back. It's a bumpy ride at times, but these two get where they need to be.

On the diamonds front, things get settled there, too. The mastermind behind everything is revealed, the diamonds do their thing (which is more than just look pretty, as it turns out), and things fall into place. An enjoyable, sexy, fast paced series overall!

Mated to the Swamp Monster by Honey Phillips [Review]

Mated to the Swamp Monster (Mated to the Monster) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 27, 2024

Mated to the Monster
Mated to the Minotaur
Milk and Honey
Maid for Her Snow Beast
Satyr's Mate
Bonded Beyond Belief
The Manticore's Mate
Mated to the Dragon
Mated to the Swamp Monster - Paperback | Kindle
The Hybrid's Heart
Mated to the Gargoyle
The Kraken's Kiss
Fated to the Phoenix
Sasquatch Love Spell

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

“Stay out of the swamp!”

Every child in Cypress Landing has been warned about the terrifying monster lurking in the inky tangle of cypress and willow on the edge of town. But sometimes desperation leaves no other choice…

When Rorie sees her vicious stepfather commit a horrifying crime, her only hope of escape lies through the forbidden swamp. Hurt and exhausted by her headlong flight, she is terrified when she sees a huge, mysterious figure lurking behind the wraith-like tendrils of Spanish moss.

Yet despite his intimidating appearance, something in his eyes gives her the courage to beg for help. And even though he carries her deeper into the swamp, she feels unexpectedly safe in his massive arms.

Marsh has been alone for as long as he can remember. But the swamp is his home, and he has long since made peace with his loneliness. Until a beautiful, injured woman pleads for sanctuary…

As he nurses her back to health, he is enchanted by her innocent smiles and tentative touches. She brings a joy to his existence that he has never known. He will do anything for her - anything except let her go.

Thoughts on Mated to the Swamp Monster: No lie, I'm pretty sure both Rorie and Marsh are happy Rorie disregarded the warning about staying out of the swamp the night she runs away from her stepfather. Sure, things might have been a little rocky there for a while, but both of them ended up with their perfect other half and I AM HERE FOR IT.

So. Rorie and Marsh. She's desperate and afraid, but not of the gentle swamp monster who appears when she needs him most and tends her. He's half human, half Other and he doesn't quite fit into either world. So he hides himself away in the swamp and ignores his loneliness. You know, until a sweet young woman crashes into his world and ignites all those feelings he's been working at ignoring.

A little danger (Rorie's stepfather and his minions are NOT NICE PEOPLE), some unexpected friendships, complicated family dynamics, a male who is as sweet as he is intimidating, and a lady who sees the good in her monster pretty much from the first. GOOD STUFF!

Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne [Review]

Candle & Crow (Ink & Sigil #3) by Kevin Hearne
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 12, 2024

Ink & Sigil
1. Ink & Sigil
2. Paper & Blood
3. Candle & Crow - Hardcover | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Iron Druid Chronicles
1. Hounded

Oberon's Meaty Mysteries
1. The Purloined Poodle

Kevin Hearne
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He’s a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there’s one supernatural mystery he’s never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated.

But he’s not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy—and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese.

And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating.

Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new—including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs—in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he’s pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending?

Thoughts on Candle & Crow: Sigil agent Al MacBharrais has A LOT going on. So much. The guy is cursed, dealing with gods and other supernatural beings who like to push the boundaries of what they're allowed to do, and the possibility of ever retiring is just a pipe dream thanks to that aforementioned curse. And yet he's making things work.

He has Buck and Nadia, the Morrigan and Gladys and they're managing to keep on top of things. Sort of. I mean, sure, Nadia is probably starting a cult and Gladys is something that scares the other gods into toeing the line and Buck is a hobgoblin with all the quirks and pranks that come along with hobgoblinry and the Morrigan has a tendency to eat the eyes of people who cross her, but they're managing.

And Al? He's figuring things out. One step at a time and all that. He's getting closer to figuring out who cursed him and that particular journey has him crossing paths with a seer who gives him answers to the vexing trafficking problem he's run across back home. Which, in turn, is tangled up with an unpleasant man from Manchester. Seriously, Al has A LOT going on.

That said, this was a very satisfying end point. Al gets answers. Buck gets direction. Nadia finds her happy place (almost literally). The Morrigan redefines herself in a rather unexpected way. And Gladys...well, Gladys is a lady even the gods don't want to cross and she's happy with that.

A little danger, good whisky, gods and monsters, some very good dogs, magic, curses, the power of belief, and one aging sigil agent who's ready to start the next phase of his life. GOOD TIMES!

Hologram Hookup by Bebe Harper [Review]

Hologram Hookup (Urf Oomons #2.5) by Bebe Harper
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 27, 2024

Urf Oomons
1. Mandy and the Tentacle Monster
2. Chasing Cthulhu
2.5. Hologram Hookup - Paperback | Kindle
3. Spider Alien's Bite
4. Apocalypse with an Alien
Earthers Go Hard

Bebe Harper
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Crystal seduces an alien inside of a simulated environment and she has a fun time, but what she doesn’t know is that she isn’t interacting with an advanced AI program in an entertainment sim, but a real, live lizard alien matched to her by the most advanced dating algorithm in the known universe.

When she rates the experience 10/10 and schedules a follow up date, Oh’Karth believes she has proposed and that they will be mated.

When he leaves everything behind to join Crystal, will she welcome him?

Or will he get his hearts broken?

Thoughts on Hologram Hookup: This is a short and sweet (a quickie, in more ways than one, if you know what I mean) romance between and alien and a human lady who doesn't quite understand the technology she's dealing with. Which works out for both her and Oh'Karth, so I'm sure she's not complaining too much.

With a lack of human males on the space station she lives on, Crystal agrees to try out the dating holodeck FOR SCIENCE. Or at least so she can report back to the other human women on-station whether it's good at helping a human lady decide if an alien is compatible or not. What sort of gets glossed over during the initial sales pitch is that this isn't a holodeck like she thinks it is. Because there's a real individual on the other end and it's more of a high tech (and extremely tactile) dating experience than a holodeck.

So Crystal picks the alien she's interested in, goes into the experience fully believing the whole thing is a simulated scenario, and ends up hooking up with a male who pushes all her buttons. So when he shows up at the station, she's given a bit of a surprise. A good surprise, as it turns out.

Short, sexy, and surprisingly sweet considering the short amount of time these two have to get to know one another. That said, I tend to love when alien and human cultures collide and two individuals have to figure out what's the other means on the fly. *thumbs up*

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen [Review]

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (Hart and Mercy #1) by Megan Bannen
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 24, 2024

Hart and Mercy
1. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy - Paperback | Kindle
2. The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Megan Bannen
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.

Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other?

Thoughts on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy: My girl Amanda recommended this book to me (with a there are "gods and zombie-like creatures and demigods and undertaking and funny family and a lovely romance. also letter writing.") and, GUYS, Amanda know what I like. Because this book? HIT THE SPOT.

When we first meet them, Hart and Mercy are...well, they snipe at one another. A lot. It started with their first meeting and it just kept going from there. They both think the other is infuriating and they might have the occasional fleeting thought about certain physical attributes they admire in the other, but they SHUT THOSE THOUGHTS DOWN QUICKLY. Because no.

Then Hart writes a letter for no other reason than to get his loneliness down on paper and it finds its way into Mercy's hands. And Mercy writes back. And Hart writes back. And soon they're sharing all sorts of things, never knowing the person on the other end is the person they like to needle when they meet face to face. And when the truth comes out (as truth eventually does), they both have to deal with fallout.

Plus, they have to deal with the fact that they've gone and frown FEELINGS for someone they never expected to have feelings for.

Throw in some danger, gods, family dynamics, zombie-esque creatures, a really awful way of gaming a system that shouldn't ever be gamed, more family dynamics, and even MORE danger and you have a really good book. But mostly you have Hart and Mercy figuring themselves out and growing into the people they want to be. Man, it was fun to watch.

How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte Stein [Review]

How to Help a Hungry Werewolf (The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures #1) by Charlotte Stein
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 11, 2024

The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures
1. How to Help a Hungry Werewolf - Paperback | Kindle

Charlotte Stein
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.

Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging around: he’s an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a pact: he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf striking a deal.

Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.

Thoughts on How to Help a Hungry Werewolf: No lie, Cassie and Seth were kind of a hot mess when they got around one another. I mean, they had the big issue from high school hanging over them (which was pretty major) and they then had to throw in all their heretofore unrealized FEELINGS for one another. These two just kept tangling themselves up whenever they got near one another. It was laughably awkward even BEFORE we got to the whole werewolf/witch thing.

Which is an important thing. I mean, Seth is a werewolf. And he's not doing so hot when Cassie encounters him for the first time after returning to Hollow Brook. And this not doing so how thing made Seth make some rather questionable choices as to how to handle his little problem. Which led to Cassie getting a crash course in supernaturals.

On Cassie's end, she's suddenly hit with the fact she's a witch. And she's been one her entire life, she just didn't know it and when she stops and pays attention to that little niggle of intuition interesting things can happen. So, yeah. She's got a lot to deal with. Not the least of which is the dealing with her former best friend. The guy she trusted above all others. The one who caused her to have more than a little baggage after what happened all those years ago.

Let's just say these two have a lot they have to work through on top of dealing with Cassie's newfound abilities before they can get where they need to be.

A bumbling break-in attempt, a town that has more than a few secrets, some dirty talking, a little flying, bad guys who need a push, messy spells, sentient microwaves, a man who made a terrible mistake and is paying for it, and a lady who is being introduced into a whole new world. MAN, these two and their lack of filter when they got going was HILARIOUS!

Caught Bread Handed by London Lovett [Review]

Caught Bread Handed (Scottie Ramone Mystery #4) by London Lovett
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 28, 2024

Scottie Ramone Mystery
0.5. Banana Chiffon and Bad Deeds
1. Heads Will Cinnamon Roll
2. Better Off Shortbread
3. Dead Gingerbread Man Walking
4. Caught Bread Handed - Paperback | Kindle
5. A Pie for a Pie

London Lovett
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Scottie Ramone couldn’t be happier with the way things are going in her new bakery. She has an amazing assistant, and the town locals flock to her shop every morning for their breakfast treats. If only life outside the bakery was going as smoothly. Scottie is still confused about her friendship with Cade Rafferty. In the meantime, Dalton Braddock, the town’s ranger and Scottie’s lifelong crush, has been rethinking his marriage to Crystal Miramont.

The discovery of a possibly rare, valuable coin throws the whole town into disarray, and when the owner of the coin is murdered, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Scottie puts her personal troubles aside and throws herself into the case. She soon learns that some pennies are lucky and some are most decidedly not.

Thoughts on Caught Bread Handed: Oh HO! Things are coming to a head with Scottie's potential romantic interests and it's only making it more confusing for poor Scottie. Plus, there's a dead body or two she needs to deal with. You know, as tends to happen when Scottie's around.

First, the mystery. A rare coin that could be very valuable is at the heart of it all. Well, a rare coin and a little rivalry between some coin collectors in the small town. Or maybe I should say the rivalry leads to a fair pool of suspects for Scottie to sort through. Add in the way the coin was obtained and there are PLENTY of suspects to go around this time.

On the romance front, things could be heating up with Cade, but Dalton still makes Scottie's heart skip a beat whenever she sees him. However, Dalton's upcoming wedding (to someone who is not her) has her trying to be realistic about those heart skipping moments. Then THINGS HAPPEN and somehow the brakes get put on all the potential romance all around. Which is a little off-putting, but maybe everyone just needs to step back and take a breath. Or something.

Anyway. A little danger, a little sting operation, pastries, kisses, coins, and Scottie right in the middle of it all. *thumbs up*