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

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

Heroes All by D. M. Hanson

From Amazon:

Heroes All is a story of a single amphibious ship and her crew amongst the thousands of ships that took part in the war. The sailors that served on the Landing Ship, Tank, or LST, were truly unsung heroes in WWII and they remain so today. However, the young sailors that served on these ships were the critical enabler in the bloody battles that followed on land. With incredible fortitude, these young men did their duty and delivered men and supplies ashore again and again. 

Heroes All is a wonderful tribute to a tiny slice of America’s Greatest Generation. As I read the book, I could sense Donna’s mission was to tell the story to honor her father. She succeeded." Andrew L. Lewis, Vice Admiral, USN (retired) 

My Take:

This is not the normal kind of book that I’d pick up, but I fell easily into the story of these men of all ages (but mostly young) as they headed off to war. They’re just your average Joes from all walks of life. You think you know them, but they all hold surprises in their personalities just like we all do. The kid off the streets can be found reading philosophy books in his bunk during off-hours. Two guys who hate each other purely out of habit find they have more in common than they thought, even a similar heritage, and learn to see each other with respect. Strangers become family and boys become men as they face war. 

 

Hanson uses a light hand with honesty as she takes us into their lives, giving a taste of what life was like on an LST. 

 

The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. He was easy to listen to, more like enjoying a radio program than listening to someone read a book. 

I give the story a 4.5 (only because I do like a little romance *wink*) and the narrator a 5) with a PG-13 rating for military language. 

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

Retold by M.C. Frank Coming March 31, 2022

From Amazon: (will be in KU when released on March 31, 2022)

Unwanted. Three boys grew up in an orphanage, abandoned and despised by those who should have taken care of them. They were starved, hit, and abandoned for years.

But they are men now. Gentlemen, so to speak. A little broken, a little damaged and a little destroyed by life, but they hide it behind toughness, money, amazingly folded cravats and, in some cases, illegal activities. Their main strength is each other: they are best friends, partners in crime, a found family.

And then comes the one battle that every gentleman, no matter how brooding, haughty or handsome, must face alone. These are the stories of how they each fight, and lose, the battle against love.

Hooked: Wendy and Lord Darlington

When Wendy Hooke was a little girl, she saved a boy from starvation. The boy, Peter, taught her how to fly. Now the boy is a man, a gorgeous man, and he has forgotten all about her. She watches him take London’s ballrooms by storm, pursued by every designing mama, but Peter doesn’t even glance at her. Because it’s not ‘Peter’ now, it’s Lord Darlington.

Peter hasn’t forgotten the girl who saved his life, but his secrets hold him back. The webs of his secret gang that fights crime on the streets of London are closing in on the greatest criminal of all time, the Viscount Hooke. And Wendy…well, she is his daughter.

Caged: Zella and Pirate Charmont

Zella isn’t crazy. She knows that, but no one else does. And, she has to admit, maybe she does look crazy, locked up here in the madhouse, with hair so long and wild it can practically become a rope.

And it does. One day, she lets her hair down from the tiny window, and someone rudely grabs it like a rope. Like a rope thrown to a drowning man.

“I’m not crazy, you know,” she tells the rugged-looking young man who climbs up, panting as if he is running for his life.

“Sweetheart,” he replies, “I don’t care. If they catch me, I’ll get hanged.”

“Oh. Why?”

“Because, m’ dear. I’m a pirate.”

Seduced: Poppy and Lord Hades

Lord Hades owns a gaming hell that sprawls underneath the city of London like the underworld. It is no secret: the Hell Club is notorious all over Europe. Peers and millionaires travel from Vienna and Paris to enjoy the Turkish baths or play cards with the great political leaders of other countries.

Money and power exchange hands nightly underneath the sparkling ballrooms and gentlemen’s clubs, and no one knows. Until Hades discovers a boy sent to spy on him. But the boy is not a boy.

And she will pay.

Retold includes three dark and sparkling romantic stories inspired by myths, folklore and fairytales, as well as by the glittering world and the roguish gentlemen of Regency London.

My Take: 

I received an early reader copy so I won't comment on editing. I'll also do my best to avoid spoilers. This was a surprisingly good read. Regency isn't my first choice for reading, but I found myself immersed in the stories and in the lives of the characters. These stories revolve around three boys who had to depend on each other for survival in more ways than one. At the heart of things, the books are about how physical, mental, and emotional abuse shape who we are, and how love can break us into pieces and reform us into something new. Often into something stronger, better, and exactly what we always hoped and wished we could be. The process isn't always pleasant though. 

I enjoyed the nod to Peter Pan, the twisted take on Rapunzel, and the descent into Hell with Hades and Persephone. Each story is uncomfortable with its look at abuse and the affects it has on individuals and our communities. It's time we made ourselves look at things like this. I say well done to M.C. Frank for being brave enough to show the ugly underbelly of society.

I give Untold a solid 4.5 stars and a PG 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

Space Boots by Derick William Dalton

From Goodreads: 

Leo Jones wants nothing more than to become a surgeon, but a misplaced terrorist bomb destroys his chance at a fast-tracked career, and nearly his optimism. His plan B finds him cleaning a Navy starship and saving for school, and running out of patience.

Hophnia Zimmerman wields her willpower with even more skill than her violin bow. As a new Navy officer, she's disappointed her first battle is not against an invader, but Leo's traitorous captain. She vows to bring him down, but agonizes over the collateral lives.

In the confusion of damaged ships and reassignments, Leo creates more problems for Hophnia than a misplaced bomb did for him. In their struggle to save the ship and limp back to Earth, they find the battle isn't over. There are vindictive traitors who are not biding their time.

My Take:

And I mean that in a good way. I read to escape, and this was well-written, funny, and smart. The narration was the icing on the scifi cake adventure. Our two main characters Leo and Hophnia are interesting and complex for teens. There were times I'd get frustrated with their choices, then I'd remember their ages and go, "yep, that fits."

The mystery of who the traitors are is really good with lots of red herrings to keep you guessing. But mostly, I just enjoyed the interactions between our main characters. It was funny and real.

I give Space Boots a 4.5 for good writing, a fun ride, the fact I listened to the whole thing in two sittings, and the fact that the narrator added to the experience in a positive way. CLEAN, no romance at all.

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 Jabberwocky Princess by Cece Louise

 

From Goodreads:

He thinks she's peculiar. She thinks he's a joke. They're about to discover that nothing is what it seems.

Kainda is the daughter of a disgraced monster hunter. She longs to use the hunting skills her father taught her, but kitchen maids don’t get to have adventures—especially not a girl everyone thinks is crazy.

That is until devil-may-care Prince Ander enlists her help in defeating a monster troubling a nearby kingdom. As irresponsible as he is charming, Ander won’t let this opportunity to prove himself slip away—especially with a politically advantageous marriage to a beautiful princess on the line.

When Kainda and Ander join forces, they soon realize that what they’re fighting for and where their hearts lie may be at odds. Can they defeat the mysterious monster, or will duty, riddles, and secrets be their undoing?

My Take: 

Note: I'm reading the series for the first time backward, and think that has helped me feel more invested in the characters since I caught a glimpse of them in a subsequent book. I was surprised to find that this story was really two entwined in one. We get Kainda's viewpoint and Opal's. Kainda is the daughter of a monster hunter who is determined to find out what happened to her father while becoming a hunter herself. Prince Ander is giving her that chance while he tries to defeat an unknown monster so he can marry Princess Opal.

I don't want to hash out what you can read in the blurb. What I liked was the little mysteries to be unraveled, as well as the journey of people recognizing that we aren't always what gossip says we are. Kainda says many profound things along the way. Poor Opal was dragged along by duty most of the book, but not from lack of trying to break free. It took love and the climax at the end to finally give her the strength to successfully become her own hero. I loved that because it felt real to me.

The only thing I'm not sure about is the surprise at the end. There were plenty of people I thought might be the big bad guy, but I never guessed the truth. It kind of came out of nowhere. That didn't ruin the story for me though.

All in all, I give the Jabberwocky Princess a 4.5 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

Christmas with the Recluse by Victorine E Lieske

From Goodreads:

When Charley gets sent by her father to appraise a mansion full of antiques, she gets a surprise when she arrives and the owner is cold and mean, and doesn’t want anything to do with Christmas. And even worse? It’s not really an appraisal job at all. He just wants her to clean out his mountain of junk from his garage. But Charley makes it her goal to show him that Christmas is a special time of year. And as time goes on, she sees his frozen heart start to thaw.

Alexander has been dealing with the guilt from his wife’s death for two long years. It’s time to move past, so he hires someone to help rid his garage of his wife’s memories. But when she arrives, she’s not at all what he was expecting. And even though she’s a bit crazy, she helps him find his Christmas spirit once again.

My Take:
*sigh* I really enjoyed this one. It had a faint Beauty and the Beast feel to it without being Beauty and the Beast if that makes any sense. Alexander is mean and grumpy because he's been alone too long, but Charley knows how to light up a room with her positive outlook on life.

Lieske did a great job rounding out her characters personalities so they felt real. The supporting characters were also wonderful. One of the things I really appreciated is that Alexander didn't change overnight. During the ten days they spent together he made progress, but he did slip up. This is realistic. People don't completely change years of habit simply because they want to. And he did want to.

I loved Charley's spunk and forgiving nature.  She was sweet and caring, hiding the hidden depth of her understanding behind her age.

I give Christmas with the Recluse a 4.5 and 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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

The World Around the Corner by Rick Ellrod

A new novella coming August 22nd from Wild Rose Press.

From Rick's Website:
Flirting with the lively rogue Rosmara is the best part of Jeff Stanton’s favorite online role-playing game, even though he doesn’t know her in the flesh. She’s much better company than Dana Roland, the sharp-tongued mechanic who keeps his balky car running—just as Dana would rather banter with Badon the warrior online than with a man she sees as a stuffy professor.

When a young teammate from the game goes missing in real life, Jeff and Dana end up on a road trip together. In a real-life quest, they discover more about each other than either one expected—and new kinds of sparks begin to fly!

My Take:
This was a lot more fun than I anticipated. It's not my normal kind of thing, which might sound strange since I used to love video games. However, I agreed to read this because I have two friends who love online role play games and I was curious to see if this would give me a glimpse into what they liked about it.

I thought Rick Ellrod did a great job helping me see the camaraderie of this team of players and how they worked together. He also did a great job with the back and forth of the characters in their real-life interactions. It was fun to see them before and after they realized their double connection. I always love when pre-conceived notions are stripped away and people have to see each other for who they really are. The romance was sweet and realistic. The search for Evanesce was also interesting in its own right. And Pendragon? Let's just say it's good to have a sneaky match-making leader like that on your side.

This is a short and easy read. I never felt lost or confused with the game world, and the real world scenes were just that--real and believable.

I give The World Around the Corner a solid 4.5 and Clean rating. Check out Rick's website for links when the book is available.

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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

Always a Bridesmaid by Lizzie Shane

From Goodreads:
She's all heart. He's all business.

Parvati Jai knows better than to pin any romantic hopes on Max Dewitt. She may have had a crush on her best friend's older brother since she figured out what boys were good for, but she's looking for Mister Forever - not a workaholic entrepreneur with a romantic attention span that tops out at two weeks. Yet with her business failing, her newly-engaged best friend vanishing into a love bubble, and even her teenage niece announcing she's getting married, Max becomes the one person she can rely on - and the idea of a little fling with him becomes even more tempting.

Max knows his little sister's best friend is off-limits...until Parvati confesses she once had a crush on him and he can't help seeing her in a new - and very intriguing - light. He's never been good at letting people past his charming facade, but something about Parvati makes him want to let down his defenses.

But even if he lets himself fall for her, how can he convince a woman who knows all about his love-'em-and-leave-'em ways that he finally wants forever?

My Take:
This was a pleasant surprise. I found myself sick and spending a lot of time in bed, so I binge read my TBR kindle pile. I think I'd put this more in the love story category than romance, and I think I needed that. This simply means there were chapters that weren't just about the two people falling in love. We really get to know Parvati and Max as individuals without each other before, during, and after they get together. It makes their relationship mean even more.

Parv. *sigh* I felt for her. Her whole world was falling apart. It really was kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy that she talks about two-thirds into the book, but that doesn't make it any less painful. She's trying to be something and someone she isn't to impress her family, her friends, herself, and of course, that's going to implode. The fact she's never told Max she's been in love with him for over a decade is just icing on the cake. And, a note on her best friend Sydney, Parv is WAY to easy on her. Just saying!

Okay, Max is an awesome type A over-achiever alpha male personality. He didn't have a great role model growing up for a loving father figure but in his own way, Max isn't doing as bad as everyone tells him. I love that Parv finally goes for what she wants and is willing to give Max a chance. Unfortunately, before the end, she starts to doubt everything because she listens to Sydney. Why!!?? I love Max even more because he gives Parv exactly what she needs. He needed bonus points because he was going to do it before she runs. I'd like to point that out.

I give Always a Bridesmaid a 4.5 for everyday realism without being too stupid (thank you!). It's got real heartache, real problems, and real solutions. It gets a PG-13 rating for talk about sex and off-screen scenes.

NOTE: I'm not 100% sure on the swear words used so sorry if the F-bomb is in there without warning. I've kind of forgotten since reading.

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 sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

If the Suit Fits by Sally Johnson

From Goodreads:

Finding love at the amusement park can be quite a ride. Becky Perkins has lost her job, her lease, and her car. As a result, she moves back in with her parents and takes the only job she can find: a seasonal position at the local amusement park as a sign spinner. Unfortunately, it includes wearing a foam hot dog suit. 

When she crashes into fellow park employee Hudson Lowell, on her first day, suddenly the job doesn’t seem so bad. Actuary Hudson Lowell feels the weight of the world on his shoulders with this assignment. The Gainesville Amusement Park has been struggling for years. It’s his responsibility to advise the owners as to the viability of the park. Going into the deal, the solution seems pretty simple—until he meets Becky.

The more time Becky and Hudson spend together, the more their feelings grow, making it harder and harder for Hudson to be objective about his decision. If the park closes, it will impact the whole town and directly hurt Becky. And how can he hurt the woman he has fallen for?

My Take:
This was a surprise summer read. Becky and Hudson are both down to earth normal people that you just like right off. I love how they sort of flirt and "run" into each other but it takes the younger co-worker to finally get them out on the first date. There are lots of fun little moments that smack of real life moments that made this enjoyable.

Becky is clueless though about Hudson's real connection to the park. It's not that she's gullible or anything because he isn't really trying to hide it but he's just so normal she never connects the dots or clues. It's kind of heartbreaking when the truth comes out--for both of them. However, I give Becky the best breakup line of the summer when she walks away.

Because the breakup is so emotional, so is the moment they get back together. Very well done and perfectly satisfying.

I give If the Suit Fits a 4.5 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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex by Victorine E Lieske

From Goodreads:

Felicity should have suspected something when she got hired to take pictures at a resort in Belize, all expenses paid. When she arrives and bumps into her ex-fiancé, Aiden, she realizes she’s been set up. His grandmother is playing matchmaker and every time she turns around Grams is forcing Aiden and her together. But she can’t fall for him again, it was a disaster last time, and she doesn’t want to repeat the past.

Aiden can’t believe Felicity is at his resort. She broke his heart five years ago, and he’s determined not to allow it to happen again. But one disaster after another keeps forcing them together and he’s sure Grams is behind all of it. He’s just not sure how long he can hold out without pulling Felicity into his arms and confessing that he never really got over her.

My Take:

This was a quick easy to fall into read. Grandma Phoebe might have been my favorite character. She could see what these two stubborn and heartbroken lovers couldn't—they'd never fallen out of love and needed to be together to truly be happy. All they needed was to talk and trust each other completely. There were so many fun and quirky parts to this romance thanks to Phoebe. Felicity and Aiden fight their attraction to one another valiantly and ignore their feelings and instincts out of fear of being hurt again. 

It's well known that my biggest romance pet peeve is the non communication trope for keeping people apart, however, Lieske handles this very well. It's not a one time thing. It was a problem from the beginning of half communications that became a problem over time and was never corrected. This is something real. Something that does happen all the time and something relatable. I commend her for that. In the end, they both have to give and meet in the middle.

I give this a 4.5 and 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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

The Trust of a Billionaire by Michelle Pennington

From Goodreads:

Hannah Rhodes is determined to keep her beachfront property, even though she can’t afford to. But it’s her childhood home and she can’t bear to see it plowed down by the billionaire investor who keeps raising his offer to buy it. When the same man hires her to be his daughter’s nanny—providing her the income she needs to reject his offer—the irony is not lost on her. However, seeing him as a loving, worried father makes it difficult to enjoy her secret revenge.

For Carter Ellis, building his own resort was a massive risk, but worth it to build a new life for his daughter away from his controlling mother. Everything is going to plan except that the owner of the tumbled-down home blocking his resort view and threatening its success refuses to sell. If only his new nanny would stop distracting him, he just might be able to figure out how to solve this problem. Not only is she beautiful and vibrant, she’s helping his daughter bloom. Just when he begins to give in to his feelings, he discovers who she really is.

When their trust is shaken, will Carter and Hannah sacrifice what they wanted most for a chance at something more?

My Take:

Hannah is a strong woman who knows what she wants and is willing to work hard to keep it. I love that! It only gets complicated when she starts to see Carter as the loving father he is and not as just the bad guy trying to take away her home. There's great chemistry between them too, and that doesn't help. Their friendship and love grows quickly but it all makes sense as they bond over Addi and her need to be more childlike and experience more joy in her life. 

Mild spoilers:

The most heartbreaking and best moment of the story for me is when Hannah tells Leah to sell the house. Oh man. You'll have to read to learn why, but that was the rip your heart out moment for Hannah and me as reader.

This gets a 4.5 and 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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

Shadows in the Curtain by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
Every stage actress wants fans, but what happens when one goes too far?

Emmy has the perfect life— a house on the beach, a successful career headlining the local theater, and love. But when a brutal murder brings unimaginable grief, Emmy’s world comes crashing down. As she tries to pick up the pieces, she can’t seem to avoid Josh, the new fireman in town.

Emmy does her best to fight the sizzle in her chest when Josh is near. But with the stalker still out there, terrorizing her and those she cares about, she can’t fall for anyone—especially Josh, a suspect in the murder investigation.

If Emmy allows a man to get close, it’s not just her heart she puts at risk, it’s her life.

My Take:
This one was hard for me. From the very beginning, before Emmy's husband is killed, she bumps into Josh and sparks fly. Emmy is married and feels guilty and thus stays away from him, but we get the impression that her marriage was more of a marriage between friends than ever between lovers. While this isn't bad, it kind of left a funny feeling in my mouth. Checketts does a good job though letting you know that Emmy loved her husband and that he was her world even though she never felt for him what she feels for Josh a year later when they start spending time together.

Josh is a great guy, but he does feel like a stalker. LOL, yeah, this story was definitely a different one for me. I enjoyed it though. Josh felt that immediate connection to Emmy and was disappointed to learn she was married. He respected that though and stayed away as well. However, he's also a fireman with an innate need to protect people. Add that to his attraction to a woman who does really have a stalker and it's understandable why he wants to look out for her.

I love how Checketts weaves a mystery while still giving you tender moments to let a romance grow.

I give this a 4.5 with 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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

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

The Touchstone Series by Andrea K Host

From Goodreads:

On her last day of high school, Cassandra Devlin walked out of exams and into a forest. Surrounded by the wrong sort of trees, and animals never featured in any nature documentary, Cass is only sure of one thing: alone, she will be lucky to survive. The sprawl of abandoned blockish buildings Cass discovers offers her only more puzzles. Where are the people? 

Cass is overjoyed at the arrival of the formidable Setari. Whisked to a world as technologically advanced as the first was primitive, Cass finds herself processed as a 'stray', a refugee displaced by the gates torn between worlds. Struggling with an unfamiliar language and culture, she must adapt to virtual classrooms, friends who can teleport, and the ingrained attitude that strays are backward and slow.

Lab Rat One:
Test subject was not the career path Cass had been planning.

With no privacy, too-frequent injuries, and the painful knowledge that she must always be an assignment to her Setari companions, Cass can only wish for some semblance of normality and control. And as her abilities become more and more dangerous, tests and training may be the only thing capable of protecting Cass from herself.

Caszandra:
Cassandra Devlin doesn’t know what she's for, but she knows she's running out of time. Space is tearing itself apart. Ionoth attack in ever-greater numbers. And "the useful stray" has been injured so many times that the Tarens hesitate to use her for fear of losing her.

With one particular Taren now her most important person, Cass is determined to contribute everything she can - and hopes to find some answers of her own.


My Take for the series as a whole:
I just finished rereading the series for the second time. The first time there were several typos and style choices that bugged me about the series, but not enough that I quit. In fact, after the first free book, I paid for the other two because I had to find out how it ended. I enjoyed the second read through even more because I could skip the annoying parts (which I didn't find as annoying this time and didn't even skip).

This series follows a girl straight out of high school, though a wormhole of sorts, and into a completely new world where she has to learn to survive. She goes from being a Stray (someone who wonders through the Ena, to a Lab Rat (her form of coping), to finally finding herself, a cause, and a new home and family.

My main complaint about the series is that Cassandra knew an awful lot about things that most 17-18-year-olds wouldn't (heck I don't know them and watching documentaries is a favorite pastime of mine). The character names also piled up to confuse me at times. Everyone has two like we do, but you rarely see them together to connect first names to last names, not even when new characters are introduced. And there are a lot of characters. However, the second read through was easier to put formal names together with the given names used when off-duty.

The world building is complex and imaginative if a bit disjointed at times. It is young adult, so there's plenty of angst, but I become giddy with Cassandra's need to find connections to her new world by relating them to several fandoms. They aren't more than a sentence and highly entertaining without trying to pull from those franchises. I just love her general geekiness. Here's one of my favorite quotes following the moment she decides to stop actively searching for a way home and help fix the tears in the universe.

"I blame Doctor Who. Mr. Spock. The Scooby Gang: both the ones in the Mystery Machine and the ones with the stakes. I've spent my life with stories of people who don't walk away, who go back for their friends, who make that last stand. I've been brainwashed by Samwise Gamgee."

And finally, in spite of some technical writing issues (which I think were intentional style choices because it's written as a journal), there are moments that I just connected with on a deep emotional level. There's a lot of telling, but then you'll get a scene that just grabs your heart. For instance, at the end of book two, Ruuel and Cassandra finally give in to the romance side of the book. You have to read the first two books to get all the ways this is such a big scene (all the complications and paranormal and political reasons they shouldn't, and so on), but it's one of those moments I just "get".

Ruuel tells her she needs to be certain she wants "this" meaning a relationship with him. Her answer is a beautiful example of love and trust, not just lust.

"What is certain? Haven't even ever really talked. Only know that every day, first I know on waking, is that you're not there. I hate it when you're not there."

*Le sigh* There is awesome sci-fi stuff, superpowers, scary creatures traveling through near space and tears in the walls to reach real space, secret agendas, and people doing the best they can to be "super space ninjas" as Cass calls them, and romance!

So, it's easy to say that this has gone into my multiple read piles. I know I'll visit Tare and Muina again many more times.

I give the series as a whole a 4.5 because it was good enough that I had to read it again, and I know I'll read it in the future as well. This is a world I can live in and enjoy the journey over and over.

I have to give it an R rating because it uses the F-bomb, but sex is mostly innuendo/PG 13.

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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

Romancing the Singer by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
Don't miss this Return to Snow Valley Romance by bestselling sweet romance author, Cami Checketts

Daisy Castleton won Singing with the Stars and a huge recording contract, but when she discovers she has throat cancer, she escapes to Snow Valley, Montana. She didn't plan on literally running into her childhood hero, Jamison Hall, on a hiking trail. Jamison makes her laugh and forget her bleak situation and that might be more dangerous than the predators in the music industry.

My Take:
You know what this means? I've missed a Snow Valley anthology somehow. I'll have to go ferret out the other stories.

Anyway, here's another fun story from Checketts. Daisy is quite stubborn about trying to keep Jamison at a distance. All the reasoning why makes sense, even if you do want to kind of slap her for it. And Jamison! He definitely doesn't have any lack of confidence. Even though he comes off cocky, you can still see that he's a really good guy with his own insecurities. The two of them together have great chemistry and there are several moments that are just funny.

I did feel for Daisy too. She had so much fear about the cancer because of her mother dying from cancer that she couldn't allow herself to hope for the relationship she wanted with Jamison.

As always, Checketts' writing made it easy to fall in the story and not come out until the very end.

I give Romancing the Singer a Clean rating with a 4.5 on the scale. Nothing pulled me out of the story and that's a big deal for me.

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 sex on or off "screen"

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

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

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

Mending Fences by Lorin Grace

From Goodreads:
The fence that once brought them together now keeps them apart.

Mandy needs one last photo to complete her MFA project, digitally transforming the deteriorating Crawford mansion into the stately building it could have been. But a fence stands in her way.

Determined to keep land developers and paparazzi from his great-grandfather’s estate, Daniel Crawford has taken to chasing off intruders by any means possible. No one is going to cross the fence into his land. Or his heart.

My Take:
This was my favorite story in the Mansions series so far! There was nothing to complain or nit pick. The connection between Daniel and Mandy felt real, as did the things keeping them a part. You could argue that Mandy could have let him explain, but women need a cool down period. After that, she did listen. Sadly, the incident with Coach 'Handsy' also felt real to life. Every time "but the team was winning" was mentioned, I wanted to scream because all too often that is more important than women's comfort and safety.

I also loved how in the end, Daniel figures out that love is really about the every day small moments than the big gestures.

I give Mending Fences a 4.5 and 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 sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
R--swearing (can be related to sex), feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot