Matchgin Hearts by Ellie Hartwood

From Goodreads:

Can a self-centered prima donna survive the trial by fire and find her own everlasting love?

Delia Campbell is abrasive, self-centered, beautiful . . . and on parole. With freedom finally in sight, she's ready to meet the man of her dreams. In Delia's world that means rich . . . very rich.

But when she finds herself back in the courtroom at the mercy of an alarmingly creative judge, Delia is tasked with helping the rich and famous in search of real happiness.

No problem. Right?
Wrong.

Delia is not a rule follower and her parole officer is nipping at her heels.

Enter Trevor Dawson, a handsome electrician with little patience for entitled, narcissistic Delia. Especially when she's recruiting him as an accomplice in one of her questionable schemes.

What could possibly go wrong?

My Take:

I have mixed feelings about this book, but in the end, it wasn't too bad. Let me try to explain. Delia is an extremely unlikable character in the beginning of the story. She's selfish and manipulative, and there really wasn't anything about her that I could relate to. This made it hard to root for her to find love. In fact, I almost quit reading.

However, I've enjoyed this author before and wanted to see if she could redeem Delia. I believe she did a pretty good job of it. By the end, I liked her much better even though she went about everything all wrong. Trevor was great, June and Patrick were great. If not for Delia's friends sticking by her and patiently letting her figure things out and grow, this would have been harder to finish.

There were many moments when I wanted to scream, "Just tell everyone the truth!" I don't know if real people would be so dumb as to do what Delia does at the end to bring everything crashing down...after everything fell apart...no spoilers here, though.

In the end, things came together despite Delia's inability to make good choices (and I understood why she struggled). It was nice to read about older characters, and all scenes of a physical nature were behind closed doors for a clean read. There weren't even swear words, either.

In the end, I give this story a 3.75 rounded to a 4 for keeping it clean.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Love On Spruce Island by Daisy Landish

From Goodreads:

Anna Dawson is a divorced, single mother who works too hard and claims she has no time for a love life. The truth is, at 48 years old, she’s still bitter about her ex-husband. When she’s sent on assignment on a dreamy island, she meets a man that may very well rearrange her priorities.

Tyler Marshall is a charming, African American, 50-year-old ex-military man who never even considered having a committed relationship. But a streak of odd situations puts Anna Dawson on his path. Will he take the hint and give love chance?

My Take:

I give this novella 3/3.5 stars because it felt more like the outline of a story to me. There is a lot of potential here, but the story is so short that I never really got a feel for the characters, and the timeline felt strange. Maybe more time passed than I thought during the story? It felt like he proposed to her on the fourth time they were together.

For my clean reads only followers--there is some innuendo and the f-word is used once but nothing other than kisses happens.

I received a copy from storyorigin in exchange for an honest review.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Glitter in the Stars (Space Janitor #3) by Julia Huni

From Goodreads:

Cleaning the galaxy, one cruise ship at a time.

When maintenance technician Triana Moore gets temporarily transferred to a passenger liner, she doesn't expect luxury and relaxation. Bot-minding is the same on a station or a ship. But with twelve-hour workdays and five roommates in her cabin, Triana thinks she should have read the employment contract more carefully.

Days into the cruise, her boss, Les, goes missing. Triana dusts off her sleuthing skills to start snooping. Together with a retired Marine Corps dance instructor, a socially inept hospitality intern, and her favorite security agent, she must navigate more than just the solar system. They dodge dance competition divas, reality show cameras, and the occasional wealthy sociopath to search for the missing supervisor.

Will they find Les before she goes dancing through the stars? And will they find time to hit the buffet before all the chocolate strawberries are gone?

My Take:

Ah, it's so good to return to the world of our snarky, chocolate loving Triana Moore, space janitor and incognito hi-lev. I enjoyed book three much more than book two. Triana is in full form as she stumbles into yet another mystery while working on a space cruise as a cover for her trip to Sally Ride for a big meeting where she will represent her family. (I'm guessing that's what the next book will be about.) There's still no sign of Bobby Putin, but there is plenty of dangerous fun.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job. It was easy to get lost in the story and simply enjoy. Highly recommended. I give book three in the Space Janitor series a 4.5 and a Clean/PG rating. (I actually want to see Triana and Ty kiss!) 1-5 scale and what it means: 1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure Movie Ratings in relation to my review: Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen" PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door. PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Becoming Hook by Mary Mecham

From Goodreads:

A pirate, a pixie, and a plot to foil Peter Pan…

James Hook never meant to become a pirate, and never dreamed that he would turn against best friend, Peter Pan. Every adventure and eternal youth awaited them… until a pixie exposes a shocking revelation. Tinkerbell’s information forces James into acknowledging that, far from being the benevolent hero he painted himself to be, Peter Pan was kidnapping innocent children.

After accepting the traumatic loss of his hand and of the family he can barely remember, James deserts Pan. In the fight to rescue the Lost Boys, Hook will risk everything, even if that means becoming the most notorious villain in Neverland… or losing the fiery pixie who is stealing his heart.

Can the original Lost Boy vanquish Neverland’s greatest threat?

My Take: 

This was a lovely surprise. I enjoyed seeing the story from James Hook's point of view and appreciated all the nuances of a different perspective. Tinker Bell and James made a great team as they tried to rescue the lost boys from Peter Pan's devious clutches. By part three, I ached for poor James. It seemed Peter would always be a step or two ahead. 

Thoroughly enjoyable! I give Becoming Hook a solid 4 because I enjoyed it (and related to it) better than Peter Pan. 

1-5 scale and what it means: 

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Paint the Grass by H.R. Boyd

From Amazon (I couldn't find it on Goodreads yet):

“You have to lose something first, before you can find it . . .” 

Bethany Taylor has been missing for twenty years. She just doesn’t know it. 

She does know how to be the perfect hostess for her husband’s corporate events. She knows how to fill out scholarship paperwork and set up dorm rooms for her boys. She knows how to create the perfect life for her entire family. And for twenty years that’s exactly what she’s been doing. 

Until the day her husband says “I love you” to his perky-boobed running buddy. 

A single sucker punch to the heart shoves Bethany’s missing life to center stage. 

Two choices come to mind. One requires a pair of pliers, a really sharp knife, and relocating to Morocco. The other, slightly less costly option, calls for a journal, a purple pen, and several cans of spray paint. 

Because a fresh coat of paint can fix all kinds of problems—and maybe even mark the path to a new life. 

Paint the Grass is a hilarious and heartwarming novel that celebrates the process of losing something before you find it and the joy that comes from living life true to yourself.

My Take:

First, this is women's fiction rather than romance, which is slightly outside my normal reading. Having said that, I enjoyed this immensely. There were moments in this story that tugged painfully at my heart because I totally related to the emotions Bethany was going through. My husband has never done what her does, but there are still times when I've felt so lonely right beside him that I could barely stand it.  

However, this book isn't really about sadness. It's about a woman taking back her life and figuring out what she wants and where she will make a difference. It's about empowerment and the lifting gift of sisterhood. I found myself setting my own "paint the grass" types of goals as I read. 

Remember what I love, do something scary, show kindness, and be happy being alone are just a few of her daily goals. Every one of them is an exercise in self-evaluation and a potential for growth and deeper happiness. 

I give Paint the Grass by H.R. Boyd 5 stars and a CLEAN rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Snow White by K M Shea

From Goodreads:

Once upon a time, a princess and her stepmother ruled together with all happiness and joy…until the Queen’s chronic headaches and mood swings escalate to violence, and Princess Snow White is forced to flee for her life. 

Snow White is certain that a dark magic has pushed her once loving stepmother into madness. Shy and bookish as she may be, she will do whatever is necessary to save the Queen, even if it means approaching the infamous Seven Warriors—a group of outspoken fighters who live in the forest—to ask for their help. Unfortunately, six of the men are not convinced the Queen can be redeemed. 

But Fritz, the seventh warrior, is different. 

Hailed as both a deadly fighter and a humble forester, Fritz senses there is more to the Princess than there appears to be. When magical horrors attack, his mind is made up, and the Seven Warriors pledge their loyalty to Snow White. 

With the warriors helping her, Snow White is certain her stepmother can be saved. But just when victory seems near, a poisoned apple changes everything... 

My Take:

Shea is one of my favorite authors for fairy tales. This had enough different elements to be enjoyable. I loved that Snow White wasn't your typical perfect princess being hounded by the big baddie. There is a villain out to get her, but life wasn't perfect before the challenges of good vs evil get started. Here's what I liked (I'll try not to post spoilers!)

1. Snow White had a loving relationship with her stepmother. Queen Faina loved Snow White's father and saw Snow White as her own.

2. Snow White struggled with extreme shyness and anxiety. Over the course of the story, she has to find her own strength to overcome these things, but it doesn't happen overnight. I LOVED that she gets frustrated when she can't speak to the Lords after speaking easily with the Seven Warriors.

3. The Seven Warriors were awesome! The idea that a group of young nobility join up to fight the monsters in their land because the Queen didn't is great. Their interactions are also quite funny.

4. Angel adds another dimension to the story altogether, and I have questions!

All in all, it was a quick and entertaining read. 

I give Snow White by K.M. Shea a solid 4 (only because I found myself skimming at times).

1-5 scale and what it means: 

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

The Delta Family Romances by Cami Checketts

From Amazon:

A family sworn to protect a secret so dangerous it may destroy them all. Don't miss this fast-paced and flirtatious clean romantic suspense series by USA Today Bestselling Author Cami Checketts.

Delta Family Romances
Deceived
Abandoned
Committed
Betrayed
Devoted
Compromised
Endangered
Accepted
Returned
Devastated

My Take:

Cami Checketts is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors because I know there will be a good balance of suspense and danger mixed in with the romance. This review is for the 10-book Delta Family Romances. This is a Christian romantic suspense series. So, romance with Christian values of no sex before marriage (These characters share an intense attraction to each other, but manage to stay in control of their desires), prayers for strength and guidance during the suspense parts, and some good guys fighting bad guys stuff.;

The suspense and mystery of what the Delta weapon was and how that would all play out was really good. I loved getting to know and care for this family over the course of the book, making the last book more emotional than I expected. One of the best things about the characters was that they were not perfect. Each one had real-life issues that they needed to work through with the help of their soulmates. 

The romances were sweet, and yes, I'd call them soulmate romances. Why? Because all of them were insta-love with intense connections zinging between the couples. We have strong men and women which is a lovely change from the normal romantic suspense. The girls weren't useless and could often best their men in a fight. The feelings of love hit them fast and developed just as fast. 

The books were all quick reads for me. However, I did find myself skimming a lot to get to the action. There was a lot of internal thought that felt repetitive at times. I'd glance through paragraphs at a time to get to the dialogue. These books felt like 30% dialogue and 70% rumination by the characters. 

We are constantly reminded of what the emotional issue was holding the person back from accepting the love being offered. A few times I did get frustrated with that and wish they would hurry up and move on. There were a couple of instances where if the couple had sat down and talked for ten minutes everything would have been fine. However, I did read all ten books, so they must not have been too annoying. :)

All in all, I give the entire series 4 Stars and a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Visitor by Wayne Meyers

From Goodreads 

Professor Douglas Keller meets extraterrestrial Aldrea, a beautiful Quenterian scientist stranded on Earth, while hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. Hunted by the FBI and a warring faction of Aldrea’s people called the Radicals, she turns to Doug for help. Doug is no hero, but after Aldrea used her telepathic abilities to heal him from a lethal wound, a psychic bond formed between them that opened their minds to each other in ways Doug cannot understand and Aldrea cannot explain. 

In a nightmarish turn for the worst, Doug, Aldrea, and the FBI agents find themselves very far from Earth in the middle of a violent galactic coup engineered by the ruthless Radical leader, Veera, who aspires to dominate the galaxy. They must defeat Veera before Earth is enslaved—or destroyed. Out of their league and out of time, only the bond between Doug and Aldrea might prevent disaster, if they can figure out how to use it to defeat Veera before it’s too late.

My Take: 

I received a free copy from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.

First, the concept and plot are good. Everything is there to make a great story. The characters have potential, but I wanted more depth from them. For instance, the CIA and FBI agents acted like a bunch of middle schoolers vying for importance. I never felt they were actually smart enough to pull off what they do in the book. 

The prologue was too long and made me think of the Incredibles movie where they talk about the bad guy monologuing. I believe the book would have had more mystery without the info dump at the start. Otherwise, this was an okay read. I did find myself skimming A LOT and I don't feel like I missed anything important. These were some super lucky characters in my opinion.

I give Visitor 3.5 stars and a Clean rating. There might have been language, but I don't remember it.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

From Goodreads:

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he? 

My Take:

This was thoroughly enjoyable as an audiobook. The narrator was entertaining and easy to listen to. The story was also great. Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

What I liked about Ryland was that he was your everyday guy, except really smart. He could have been one of the world's top scientists, but he gave into fear and became a high school science teacher instead. Lucky for earth! I enjoyed the process of memory recovery and his excitement with each new discovery. The ending also made me tear up a bit. No spoilers! You'll just have to read (or listen) for yourself.

I give Project Hail Mary 4.5 stars.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

From Goodreads: 

Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations—and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

My Take:

There has been a lot of audiobook listening this month. Today I'll touch on the more than 20 hours of Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey. 

This series starter has great characters and a full-steam-ahead plot line. Miller, a cop on a space station,was my favorite character. He had the feel of a classic private investigator struggling with personal demons and the need to do what's right. Then there's Holden who is almost naively hopeful throughout. 

I really enjoyed this book. There was a good balance of action, character building, and consideration given to the volatile political environment brewing between the three groups. There was lots of language, but the story made me laugh out loud as well as fear for humanity. It didn't end with a cliff hanger, but it leaves the door wide open for more great story. 

I give Leviathan Wakes 4.5 stars and an R rating for language. There is no nudity or on page intimacy.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Frozen Hearts by Ellie Hartwood

From Goodreads:

Jo’s an uptight New York transplant.

Jared’s a mountain man with a clingy husky named Petunia.

He’s fire; she’s ice.

When life forces them back together, old rivalries flare. Will Jo and Jared ignite a spontaneous combustion . . . or will love finally thaw their Frozen Hearts?

My Take:

This is a fun little romance set in Alaska. I love destination stories, and having been to Sitka a couple of years back, I could really settle into this one. 

The characters were interesting and the story well written. I enjoyed it, but I thought the "thing" that Jared did when they were teens was going to be way worse than it was. It was hinted at for so long and built up to the point that when it came out it was a bit of a let down. Not bad, but not as satisfying as I expected. In fact, it made Jo seem really petty and immature about the whole thing after so many years. I did appreciate that after the truth came out, Jo immediately felt better/forgave Jared.

At the end, our couple is separated for a time while Jo tries to work things out. She completely ghosts Jared, her aunt, and her best friends in Sitka for several months only to reappear at the end and all it mended. It worked, but I wanted a little more. 

Anyway, the book was nice, well-written, and cute. I give Frozen Hearts 3.75 stars and a Clean rating

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Stranded For The Holidays

From Goodreads:

Stranded for the Holidays is a collection of clean romance novellas where the Hero and Heroine are stuck together!

The Yuletide Thief by Daisy Landish

A Clean Historical Holiday Romance

As a vicar’s daughter, Emily Hawthorne has few marriage prospects in the country. She loves children and has resigned herself to becoming a governess. Before leaving for London to seek employment, she decides to arrange a proper Christmas for the orphans of their church. But she’ll have to compete with Robin of Sussex, a highwayman who fancies himself the next Robin Hood.

Stranded with a Shifter by Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Stranded Together: A YA Holiday Romance

When Kayla stops in Jessie’s Café after a day of Christmas shopping, a cute guy offers to buy her coffee. But when they’re about to sit down, he makes up some excuse and bolts in a panic. Next thing she knows, Kayla is stuck in the department store elevator with him and everything changes.

Clueless at Christmas by Peyton Lawson

A Sweet Contemporary Holiday Romance

When a beautiful woman knocks on his cabin door in the middle of a blizzard on Christmas eve, Jacob can’t believe his luck. From the looks of it, Santa sent him an angel in the snowstorm.
But things are never as they seem...

Grounded for Christmas by Daisy Landish

A Classic Grumpy/Sunshine Sapphic Holiday Romance!

Jamie hates Christmas, and is less than looking forward to spending it with her mum, whose drinking problem always seems to worsen come the holidays.
But the arrival of Emma brings an unexpected twist to the season. Will she manage to raise a little holiday cheer out of her new friend?

My Take:

This was a super quick read. I liked that there were different romance genres in this set of short stories. They are cute, wholesome stories that will make you smile. They did feel a bit rushed to me though, and I wished the stories were longer. There just wasn't time to flesh out the characters with depth other than the romance thread. The one about the reindeer shifter had me laughing at the thought of a reindeer shifter. All the stories were in good fun.

All in all I'll give this 3.5 stars and a clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Gratuitous Epilogue by Andrea K Höst

From Goodreads: 

NOT A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. An extra for The Touchstone Trilogy. 

What happens when the plot ends? A relentless barrage of weddings, babies, and planetary colonization! Meandering through the two years following the conclusion of the Touchstone Trilogy, this self-indulgent collection of family reminiscence is more saccharine than dramatic, with the most action to be found in snowball fights. 

For those who truly just want to know what happens next, no matter how mundane, read on for the everyday, ordinary lives of psychic space ninjas playing house.

My Take:

I waited several years before picking up this 4th book in the Touchstone series. Mostly because reviews said it was boring. However, I've read the first three so many times that I was finally ready to know what happened after Cass saved the universe with the help of her psychic ninjas. :)

Even though they are no longer being attacked by Ionoth, there is still enough going on in the story to make it interesting. Plus, I needed to know, you know? I actually think if I could step through to Muina I would be a sight sight talent. Isn't that the one always trying to work things out because of the need to know and understand? Anyway, I enjoyed this story and don't regret giving in and buying it. 

I give it a solid 4 and a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always