A Sweet Mess

JAYCI LEE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, St. Martin's Griffin, 2020.

How acquired: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss subscription box.

First line: “What do you mean you gave away the Frankencake?”

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: This was a fun romp! Aubrey is a pastry chef with a successful bakery. She creates a special cake for a six year old, who requests gummy worms inside the cake. But Aubrey's part time employee accidentally sells the cake to another customer. Landon is a successful food critic who finds himself stuck overnight in Weldon when he blows a tire on the highway and the only garage is closed until morning. Exploring the little town on foot, he discovers the bakery, where he is the unwitting recipient of that gummy worm cake. When his editor insists he must come up with a review for the magazine, despite not making it to the restaurant he was supposed to be reviewing, he writes a scathing review of that gummy worm cake and the unknown baker who created it, and kills the bakery's business in the process. As if that's not bad enough, Aubrey and Landon met at her friend Tara's bar that evening, and indulged in a one night stand, not knowing who the other person was other than their first names. Until that review came out.

This is my first time reading Jayci Lee, and I'm happy to have discovered her and this rom-com of a book. There is lots of humor embedded in the story and the situations, but also a lot of feeling as Aubrey and Landon get to know each other while trying, unsuccessfully, to avoid each other. While Landon refuses to retract his review or revisit the baker to sample other more delectable creations and write a second review, he does knock himself out to find a way to help Aubrey save her business.

I loved both Aubrey and Landon, and Landon's best friend Aria, who agrees to have Aubrey guest star on her new cooking show, and quickly develops a wonderful friendship with Aubrey. And did I mention the humor? Landon takes Aubrey on a day of wine tasting as she needs to finds a wine for the new dessert she is creating, and despite swishing and spitting she becomes pretty tipsy, and I laughed out loud while reading.

Not to give away any more of the story, but I did get very angry with Landon and his stubbornness, but in the end he groveled and groveled hard, and I do love good hero grovel.

I love this book and I can't wait for the next book, about Landon's brother and Aubrey's best friend.

Goodreads synopsis: Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see her gorgeous Korean unicorn again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.

When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible...by sharing a villa.

When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.

Part Time Cowboy (Copper Ridge, Book One)

MAISEY YATES

Synopsis from Goodreads: Sadie Miller isn't expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straight-laced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her like she's the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a B and B. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…

Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she's so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?

Stats for my copy: Mass Market paperback, Harlequin Books, 2015.

How acquired: Bought

First line: Whoever said you couldn't go home again had clearly never been to Copper Ridge.

My thoughts:  After my first Maisey Yates experience, a book I did not particularly enjoy, several members of a Facebook group I'm in recommended her Copper Ridge series. I happened to already have this book, the first in the series, in my massive TBR, so I gave her another chance. And boy, am I glad I did.

Sadie and Eli argue whenever they're in each other's company, and their bickering is almost juvenile, yet hilarious.

“That's funny, Sadie, because I feel like I end up irritated every time I'm around you.”

“I just think your irritation is contagious,” she said.

“Maybe you're so irritating you irritate yourself.”

On on the same page:

“I'm going to go now. And I'm taking the beer. And the water. Thank you. Again. I'll try not to bother you anymore.”

He snorted. “Good luck.”

“Oh, I don't need it. I don't mind bothering you. You are clearly the one who is bothered by being bothered. So...you're the one who needs the luck, not me.”

Of course, you know what all this arguing is going to lead to. I do love the enemies to lovers trope!

I liked Sadie very much, and I loved Eli. He ticked so many of my boxes: lawman, cowboy, rancher, grouchy, stoic. In control until the right woman comes along to break that control. They both have some serious baggage, and I enjoyed watching them slowly unpack it and share it piece by piece with each other. Yep, high angst level here.

I also liked Eli's sister and brother – Connor is even more of a grouchypants than Eli - and I'm looking forward to their stories. Now I understand why Ms. Yates is so popular, and I'm so glad I didn't give up on her after that first book of her I read!

Down & Dirty (Lightning, Book 1)

TRACY WOLFF

Synopsis from Goodreads: This hard-bodied football star is used to scoring. But he needs all the right moves to get past a fiery redhead’s defenses in a steamy standalone novel from the bestselling author of Ruined.

Emerson: Talk about bad first impressions. I have too much riding on this job to show up late on my first day looking like the winner of a wet T-shirt contest, all thanks to an arrogant quarterback who drives like he owns the road. Hunter Browning thinks that because he’s famous, he can fix everything with a smile and a wave of his hand. He’s too bronzed, buff, and beautiful for his own good. Or mine. I can’t let on that I’m a fan . . . no matter how much fun we’d have in the sack.

Hunter: Hitting that puddle was my best play since winning the Super Bowl with a touchdown pass. Sure, it’s not my preferred way to get a girl wet, but I’ll make an exception for Emerson Day. She’s got a sharp tongue and a red-hot temper, even with her soaking clothes plastered to her every curve. Now I know exactly what my next play will be: hire Emerson as my personal real-estate agent, save her job—and see if I can take her off the market.

Stats for my copy: .pdf ARC, Loveswept, 2017.

How acquired: Instafreebie.

My thoughts: This story combined elements that I like with elements that I'm not crazy about, and it all worked. I love an alpha hero. Cocky, arrogant, bring it on. Professional football player and star quarterback Hunter delivers. Witty, cutting banter will always draw me in, and Hunter and Emerson delivered. I laughed out loud several times at their exchanges. A hero who enrages the heroine. Score another point for Hunter. A hero with young kids. Ok, they aren't actually Hunter's kids, but a niece and nephew are close enough. A heroine who turns her nose up at the hero's money and fame. While secretly awed (because she is a football fan), Emerson refuses to let that show, which of course makes her different from every other woman Hunter knows, and therefore more desirable. (Although there is a scene involving a hundred dollar bill that was hilarious.) Characters falling deeply in love in a very short period of time. Not a big fan of instalove, as I like watching a relationship grow, but doesn't bother me too much. First person point of view, present tense. My least favorite tense. But Ms. Wolff does it so well it didn't bother me at all. So score one for her.

Throw in some mega sexy times, and a lot of heart. I cried. More than once. Hunter is the kind of man I would find insufferable in real life, but as I got to know him, and to understand him, I adored him. The narrative alternates between Hunter's and Emerson's points of view, but I felt it was a little more his story than hers. Which was just fine by me. I loved this book. 

Reserved (A Love Story, Book 4)

TRACY EWENS

Synopsis from Goodreads: If only life were as simple as making a reservation.

Makenna Rye Conroy was living the dream—amazing husband, beautiful new baby daughter—when one night changed everything.

Almost six years after Adam’s death, Makenna and her daughter Paige have built a solid, happy life together. Makenna manages her brother’s trendy restaurant, The Yard, and helps out at Ryeland Farms, the family business, all while trying to navigate the world of private school parenting. Sure, being a single mom has its challenges, but she hardly has time to pack her daughter’s lunch in the morning, let alone think about dating.

Travis McNulty, the middle child and the biggest disappointment of the McNulty clan, is a chef at his best friend’s new restaurant. He gave up apologizing for not being the football hero his family wanted a long time ago. In fact, Travis apologizes for very little these days. He loves creating great food, it’s more of a passion than any job, and he lives life on his own terms with as little complication as possible.

For the past couple years, Makenna and Travis have worked alongside each other at The Yard, bickering, teasing, and never taking each other very seriously. Until Makenna has her usual reoccurring dream, but this time instead of her late husband as the featured man, Travis stands in his place. Travis may be attracted to his best friend’s sister, but she’s a widow and a mother, which tops the charts for complicated in his book.

As the game changes, Makenna and Travis, with a little help from Paige, have to figure out what they are willing to risk to reserve a table for three.

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, 2016.

How acquired: NetGalley.

First line: Makenna Rye Conroy was naked again.

My thoughts: I loved this book. Seriously. Loved.

Makenna is a single mom, managing her brother's restaurant and the business side of her family's farm. She's been raising her daughter, Paige, alone since her husband died when Paige was only five weeks old. She's focused all her energy on her daughter and her work, and has created a cozy little home for the two of them. She's had no desire to date. But now suddenly she's had a dream about Travis, the hunky chef at the restaurant, and her brother's best friend. And Travis, being a player, a man whore, not to mention a co-worker, is definitely off limits. So when her best friend, Sage, the bartender at the restaurant, who has been harboring a crush on Makenna's brother, suggests they sign up with an online dating site and put themselves out there, Makenna agrees.

“Seriously, though, this is news. So you're...on the market now?”

“Wow, what an evolved and sensitive way to put it, Travis.”

“What? I could have said, 'So, I hear your rack shack is open for business.'”

Travis has always crushed on Makenna a little bit, but she's his best friend's little sister and has a child, so she's definitely off limits. Travis doesn't do relationships or commitment. He does a string of sexual encounters with women who have stripper names. But when he notices Makenna seeming to notice him, he begins to really notice her.

Makenna is a great character, and kindergartner Paige is cute and funny and precocious without ever crossing the line to dreaded plot moppet. And Travis. Travis has a beard and rides a motorcycle, which is a strike and a half against him – I don't care for beards, other than a little scruff on occasion, and I'm not into motorcycles. In fact, he didn't really tick any of my usual boxes, other than having a sense of humor and being great with the child. And yet I absolutely adored him. He's got some serious family baggage, and I liked the way the author let that play out.

There are so many laugh out loud moments. I mean I literally laughed out loud, and often backtracked to read those passages again. The writing flows, and the characters and dialogue are well written and realistic, and just full of warmth and heart. And one scene at the end had me a blubbering mess. I stayed up until 1:00 in the morning to finish the book, which I rarely do. 

So, seriously, a wonderful romance, and a wonderful book, and another author whose complete back list I now need to obtain. Not to mention Sage and Garrett's story coming out May 10! 

Animal Instincts

GENA SHOWALTER

Synopsis from Goodreads: Unleashing your inner tigress isn't easy when you're a doormat by nature! Still, after escaping a wretched marriage to a cheating SOB, Dallas party planner Naomi Delacroix isn't about to let another man sweet-talk her into sheathing her protective claws. Not even hunky millionaire Royce Powell, who's hired her to arrange his mother's surprise party. Even if he does make her purr like a kitten with one heated glance...

Royce claims he's been in love with her ever since she threw a party for one of his friends six months ago. But if that's true, why is this incredibly eligible CEO currently taking applications for a wife? Despite herself, Naomi is tempted to fill one out. But can her inner tigress believe a man might change his stripes?

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Harlequin Enterprises, Limited, 2006.

How acquired: Bought.

My thoughts: Naomi has been burned by a cheating husband, and now that she's divorced she's determined to never trust another man. No dating, no falling in love, and definitely no getting married again. Royce saw Naomi across the room at an event she planned for his friend's sister, and six months later he still can't get her off his mind. He arranges for his mother to contact her to plan her “surprise” birthday party, and from the minute he gets her into his life he's determined to keep her there permanently.

I felt for Naomi. I empathized with her, I was right there beside her, agreeing with all her internal thoughts and reasonings. Neither of my exes (one marriage, one long-term relationship) cheated on me (that I know of anyway!), but cheating isn't the only way a jerk of a man can screw you over.

Naomi narrates the story, so we are privy to all of her thoughts and emotions. Watching her deal with Royce, put up walls only to have him knock them down, was incredibly entertaining. She's fun, and funny. She's embarking on a career that she loves, and is good at, but in her personal life she's unsure of herself. She's reading a self-help book, about unleashing your inner tigress, which causes her to have some funny internal conversations with her own tigress. I really liked Naomi.

There's a subplot about Naomi and her mother believing her step-father is cheating and Naomi trying to get proof that was also pretty funny, especially when Royce unwittingly inserted himself into her investigation.

Ah, Royce. What can I say about him besides, Yummy. He's cool and sexy, wickedly charming, and sweet all at the same time. He's pretty perfect and I was in love with him almost immediately after meeting him. Naomi's interactions with Royce's assistant are hilarious. Actually much of the book is hilarious, and I laughed out loud a lot. All of the secondary characters are wonderfully written.

I'll admit I'm not that crazy about the cover, and if it'd been written by some author I was unfamiliar with or wasn't a huge fan of I may have passed it up. I've only read one other book by Gena Showalter, but I loved it (THE STONE PRINCE), and ever since I've been snatching up anything I come across with her name on it.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS is a bit on the chick lit side, which may not appeal to everyone, but don't let that put you off if chick lit isn't your thing. It's a genre I used to read a lot of in my 30's, but as I've aged I began to feel I'd outgrown it. But you never outgrow fun, breezy writing with fantastic and believable characters and a story that keeps you up way past your bedtime two nights in a row! 

Bet Me

JENNIFER CRUSIE  

Synopsis from Goodreads: Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes and keeps him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all—true love.

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback; St. Martin’s Press, 2004

How acquired: Received through Title Trader, of which I used to be a member some eight years ago

First line: Once upon a time, Minerva Dobbs thought as she stood in the middle of the loud yuppie bar, the world was full of good men.

My thoughts: When you pick up a Jennifer Crusie book you know you’re going to get:

- a relatable and realistically flawed heroine

- a charming hero

- a cast of quirky and eccentric supporting characters

- usually a dog but this time it was a cat

- fast paced slapstick humor right out of a Cary Grant/Rosalind Russell era movie

Min has just been dumped by her boyfriend, David, in the middle of a theme bar. They haven’t had sex yet, and he’s tired of waiting for her to put out. Her biggest concern? Now she doesn't have a date to her sister’s wedding in three weeks, and her mother will go ballistic.

David then runs into Cal Morrissey and tries to bet him ten thousand dollars that Cal can’t get Min into bed within one month. Cal isn’t interested, in Min or in a sleazy bet and tries to ignore David’s goading, but when David bets him ten dollars he can’t even get Min to leave with him, he takes that bet just to get away.

Min overhears part of the conversation about the bet-to-get-her-in-bed but not the bet-to-get-her-to-leave-with-Cal, and when Cal hits on her shortly after, she thinks he’s just bet David ten dollars to get her into bed. She’s pissed, but decides to string him along, go out with him, take him to her sister’s wedding, and then dump him and make him lose the bet.

However, when they part company that night, they are both agreed that not seeing the other person ever again is a sound plan. But of course their paths will cross and recross, especially since Min’s two best friends get mixed up with Cal’s two best friends. Min is not a thin girl, and her mother is constantly nagging her about not eating sweets and losing weight. Mom has crushed her self-esteem, and since she thinks Cal is out to win a bet, Min certainly doesn’t think he’s really attracted to her. Some of the sweetest moments in the book were Cal addressing her weight, which he doesn't see as a problem in any way, shape or form. And my favorite passage was Cal defending Min to her family at dinner:

"Look, I don't mind you grilling me about what I do for a living," Cal said. "Your daughter's brought me home and that has some significance. And I don't mind your wife asking about my personal life for the same reason. But Min is an amazing woman, and so far during this meal, you've either ignored her or hassled her about some dumb dress. For the record, she is not too big for the dress. The dress is too small for her. She's perfect." Cal buttered a roll and passed it over to Min. "Eat."

Cal’s family are just as bad as Min’s, albeit in a different way, and later Min gets her chance to sit at their dinner table and watch them belittle him and then tell them off.

As with all of her books, BET ME was a fun, fast, slightly manic, entertaining read. Fluffy chick lit (Min’s passion for silly high heeled shoes was a little ridiculous, but then I'm more into purses than shoes) with a feel great resolution.

Dog Day Wedding

RICH AMOOI 

Synopsis from Goodreads: Giovanni Roma was jilted at the altar. Twice. Meeting Natalie is an enchanting distraction—too bad she’s engaged to another man. To top it off, Giovanni’s mother has a mouth with no filter and is obsessed with finding her son a suitable baby-maker.

Natalie DeMarco is a good cop with one problem. Cold feet. Her fiancé is a decent man, but she’s starting to wonder if decent is good enough. Maybe the doubts could be blamed on Giovanni, that guitar-making Italian hunk next door.

Giovanni knows he must do something, but things get out of hand when he learns he’s not the only one who objects to the wedding.

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, published by Season Publishing, 2015; received through Netgalley for review.

First line: “Somebody kill me,” muttered Giovanni Roma, fiddling with his cufflinks.

My thoughts: If I had to describe this book in one word, that word would be Fun. With a capital F.

The story opens with Giovanni being stood up at the altar. As he drives away from the church, he stops to help an elderly woman catch her runaway dog, and almost gets a ticket for leaving his car parked in the middle of the street, but the officer takes pity on him and lets him off with a warning. Later he meets that officer again – turns out she's his neighbor's granddaughter.

Natalie is about to marry Jacks, despite the fact that he seems more interested in his car than in her. He doesn't even know her favorite color or flavor of ice cream. After not giving Giovanni a ticket, she sees him again while at her grandfather's house – outside, in his yard, in his underwear. He certainly gets her attention.

I loved the banter between Giovanni and Natalie, and they seemed to click together right away. Most of the characters in the book were pretty memorable, with their own distinct personalities. Giovanni’s mother isn't very likable, calling her son rude names while obsessively trying to match him up with someone who will quickly produce grandchildren. But his friends Stevie and Danny were welcome additions who I enjoyed. There's also Precious, the runaway dog who Giovanni finds himself dog sitting, and who was the catalyst in putting Natalie and Giovanni into each other's company.

A new character was introduced towards the end of the book, and his appearance came out of left field. His involvement and the direction the story took disconcerted me a bit. I felt like the plot almost went over the top at that point. However it was all resolved very satisfactorily.

It's not a deep character study, but rather a light, frothy, funny story that made me laugh out loud several times. It's refreshing to find a cute romantic comedy written by a man, and I've already bought, and look forward to reading, Mr. Amooi's previous book, FIVE MINUTES LATE.

Shut Up and Kiss Me

CHRISTIE CRAIG 

Synopsis from Goodreads: Photojournalist Shala Winters already had her hands full bringing tourism to this backward, podunk town, but her job just got tougher. Pictures can say a thousand words, and one of Shala's is screaming bloody murder. Now she has to entrust a macho, infuriating lawman with her life -- but she'll never trust him with her heart.

Trust or not, Sky Gomez isn't about to let a killer get his hands on Shala's Nikon -- or any of her more comely assets, for that matter. Her mouth might move faster than a Piney Woods roadrunner, but all he can think about is how good it must taste...and how she'll never escape true love.

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, published by Dorchester Publishing Company, Inc.

How acquired: Received from a BookCrossing member.

First line: “Is that war paint or love paint he's wearing?” a female voice rang out from behind Shala Winters.

My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Christie Craig, and the problem with discovering new to me authors is suddenly having a bunch of books to add to my wish list. Because I very much enjoyed SHUT UP AND KISS ME, and am now excited to look through my TBR books and realize that I already do have four of her other books waiting.

While in the small town of Precious, Texas, where she has been hired to come up with ways to promote tourism, Shala attends a powwow. Becoming disgusted by the raucous and disrespectful comments of the women sitting around her (see that first line above), and a little disconcerted by the dancing man who keeps staring intently at her, she gets up to leave. The mayor had warned her there was some members of the community who didn't want the town promoted and didn't want her here, and she thinks this guy must be one of them. As she turns in the bleachers to escape, her bag slides off her shoulder and her camera falls out. She hastily retrieves it, only to have the man suddenly appear in front of her, snatch it out of her hands, and dash away.

Sky Gomez sees a camera flash, and then sees Shala with a camera in her hands, so he jumps to the assumption that she took a picture, and per the sign posted at the gate, stating that cameras are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated, he quickly takes possession of it.

And that's Shala and Sky's meet cute. Although, they don't actually meet until after Shala has run all over town trying to track Sky down. Humor abounds here, from cover to cover, and there were many times I laughed out loud. Sky and Shala are both fun characters, both leery of love for their own reasons. Sky especially. His foster father, Redfoot, claims that the spirits told him in a dream that Shala is his soul mate, but while Sky is respectful of the old ways and participates in the powwows, he doesn't really believe in all that spirit stuff, and he certainly doesn't believe in soul mates. So before even meeting Shala he is already determined to keep his distance from her. Fortunately, he doesn't succeed. Someone is stalking Shala, and getting more and more violent, which throws Shala and Sky together as they try to figure out who, and why.

There are plenty of other characters with side plots keeping the book very busy. Maria, Sky's foster sister, has been in love with their foster brother, Jose, who is Redfoot's son, since she was a teenager, but just when she thought he might be returning her feelings he had taken off for a job in New York. Now she's dating Matt, a white boy, and while she thinks she's in love with him, she still can't stop obsessing over Jose. Plus she thinks Matt is cheating on her with his constant weekend trips to Dallas.

Jose couldn't wait to get out of Precious, but when Redfoot is injured, he rushes back home. Jose's arrival, and his first couple of days in town, played like a farce, as one thing after another happens to him. The string of events was almost over the top, but the author kept me laughing and engaged enough that I didn't mind. I wasn't sure at first if I liked Jose, but he grew on me.

Another character I particularly liked was Sky's friend, Lucas, a loner with a military past, law enforcement connections and a secret government job. Compared to the other characters above I guess he was a more minor character, but he seemed to open up and evolve a little in his brief time on the page, and I would have loved to see more of him.

After I finished the book, I went to the author's website, hoping there were or would be more books about this quirky little town (ok, hoping there was or would be one about Lucas), but alas, no. I did find an Epilogue to the story. However, after only reading about a third of it I navigated away as I didn't feel it really added to the story and was superfluous.

A light, sometimes silly, bordering on slapstick, romantic comedy, with a mystery at it's core, and a fun cast of characters. 

Fish Out of Water (Fred the Mermaid, Book 3)

MARYJANICE DAVIDSON 

Synopsis from back of book: Fred the mermaid has taken the bait and chosen Artur, High Prince of the Black Sea, over human marine biologist Thomas. And just in time. The existence of the Undersea Folk is no longer a secret, and someone needs to keep them from floundering in the media spotlight. Fred has all the right skills for the job, but not for when her real father surfaces and his presence complicates matters even more.

As civil war threatens to sink the merfolk, Fred can't stop thinking about the landlubber she left behind...

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, a Jove Book published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2008; received through Paperback Swap in 2011.

My thoughts: It's been awhile since I read the first two books in this series, and at first I was thinking I might need to reread them in order to follow along. But it didn't take long to get my bearings and get engrossed (plus the author included a one and a half page “The Story So Far” which helped).

Not a whole lot actually happens in this book. Fred is reluctantly renting a four bedroom house on the beach in Florida (“And what do I need four bedrooms for? You know what that'll mean for me? Drop-in guests.” pg. 3), and acting as an ambassador for the Undersea Folk, who came out to the world in the previous book. Sure enough, one by one those extra three bedrooms start to fill up as Jonas, Thomas, Dr. Barb, and – surprise, surprise! - Fred's biological father show up on her doorstep.

In between Jonas dragging her around town to cake tastings and fittings for his wedding to Dr. Barb, Fred becomes engaged to Prince Artur, gets to know her dad a little, moons over Thomas (who I much preferred to Artur), finds herself liking Tennian the mermaid even while resenting her for stealing away Thomas, and meets Tennian's friend Wend who she can't quite figure out.

Then the king comes to her home to ask Thomas to ask his retired Naval captain father for help – many merfolk have disappeared over the past year, and he (diplomatically) suspects the government might be involved somehow. And when we found out who was behind the disappearance of the merfolk – well I'll just say I did not see it coming and was just as shocked as Fred and her friends.

I love Fred. She's sarcastic and argumentative and funny. Jonas is also very funny. Really, I love just about everybody in these books. I especially liked the chapter with Thomas' father, who I was prepared to dislike due to their almost non-existent father/son relationship. And I love the gorgeous covers on all three books.

Sleeping With the Fishes

Swimming Without a Net

                                           

FISH OUT OF WATER was a fun, quick read, and I really wish there was a fourth book. Queen Betsy of the Undead and... books has gotten somewhere like 15 books (I've only read up to around book 9 or so), but Fred has so much more substance to her than Betsy, I'd much rather have more Fred. 

Anything You Can Do...(Harlequin Superromance No. 776; Women Who Dare No. 37)

ROZ DENNY FOX 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 'I contend that today's man could handle the rigors of pioneer life. Could a woman? - Nolan Campbell.

'You bet! Anything he can do, she can do, too! -Emily Benton.

'And probably better!' -Sherry Campbell.

There's only one way to find out. Nolan Campbell (known as Camp) recruits a group of women to reenact the kind of wagon train journey made by settlers of the 1820s. These women include his sharp-tongued sister, Sherry - and Emily Benton. Emily with her fragile beauty, her delightful laugh, her two impossible children. Emily, who's as determined and capable as any pioneer.

Surrounded by big horses and smart women, Camp discovers that wagon train life, 1990s-style, isn't what he expected. Sometimes it's fun (not to mention funny) and sometimes it's frightening. Kind of like falling in love. With Emily...

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, published by Harlequin Enterprises, Limited, 1988; received through BookCrossing in March 2014.

My thoughts: I actually finished this delightful little book last week, and hopefully my poor memory will allow me to do it justice. I very much enjoyed it.

Camp and his sister Sherry seem to have quite a sibling rivalry relationship, and Sherry is adamant that women can do anything men can. Camp is a college history professor, and Sherry is a department chair for women's studies. At a work function they get into a discussion with some colleagues about how modern women have lost the domestic skills of their grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and how soft women are today compared to the women of pioneer days. At Sherry's prodding, Camp agrees to sponsor a group of women on a wagon train reenactment along the Santa Fe Trail, so that he can write a paper comparing and contrasting pioneer women versus modern women. His plan is to follow the wagon train by car, staying in motels along the way, and checking in with the women when they pass through a town. But after one of the women drops out at the last minute, and the other women threaten to mutiny when they realize he isn't actually participating, he gets roped into driving a wagon.

What follows is a quite amusing tale, with the women practically running circles around Camp while on the trail. And one woman, of course, particularly gets his interest aroused. Emily is a widow with a teenage daughter and a preteen son, who are spoiled and coddled by their wealthy grandparents, and she is hoping to use this trip to spend some quality time with them, and ground them a little more in reality. And boy they needed it, especially her daughter. They look down their noses at their mother and constantly talk about their grandparents' money. There's also a college student who has a crush on Professor Nolan and wants to get closer to him, Maizie, the grizzled old wagon master, and assorted other participants.

I didn't really relate to Emily at first, even though I, too, raised two kids as a single parent. I couldn't really understand why she allowed her deceased husband's parents to retain so much influence over her life and her children. Emily's reasoning is that they are such big wigs, owning half the town and having influence over politicians and judges alike, and if she doesn't kowtow to them and repay the humongous sum of money her husband borrowed from them (unbeknownst to her until after he died) they'll take her children away from her. But my mind had trouble accepting that there was a real threat of that happening.

Regardless, I still liked her, and Camp, and I laughed several times, which is always a plus. I also kept thinking what a great movie this book would make. 

The Nerd Who Loved Me (Nerds, Book 2)

VICKI LEWIS THOMPSON

Synopsis from Goodreads:

She's got the high-kicks...
Lainie Terrell is no ordinary single mother. With feathers in all the right places, she's one of the hottest showgirls in Vegas. Aside from a hot-tempered ex-boyfriend on her sequined tail, Lainie's biggest problem is finding a decent babysitter for her son. Lainie's dilemma is solved when she ropes Harry Ambrewster, the casino's shy-but very smart and cute-accountant, into the task.He's got the low-down...
Inheriting his chemist father's high I.Q. and sexy good looks, Harry has always been intrigued by Lainie. He isn't thrilled at the prospect of babysitting, but he'll do anything to get near the gal who fuels his craziest fantasies. Then Lainie's dangerous ex comes knocking...Their option? Run faster than a pair of net stockings...
In disguise and on the lam, Lainie's masquerading as the perfect wife. Harry's doubling as the he-man protector. But with a set-up this hot, who's fooling who? When the lights go down, and the masks come off, a nerd like Harry could be just the right ignition to set a woman like Lainie on fire...

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, St. Martin's Press, 2004; bought at a used book store in 2005.

First line: “At work, my mommy wears teeny-tiny, sparkly clothes.”

My thoughts: Vicki Lewis Thompson is one of those authors who, after first discovering them, I begin collecting everything of theirs I come across. NERD IN SHINING ARMOR was the first of her books I read, way back in 2005, and since then I've collected the entire Nerds series, though this is only the second of those I've gotten around to reading. I've read seven other books by Ms. Thompson, most of which I've enjoyed, and I have another whopping forty-three of her books in my massive to be read pile!

From the first page I was hooked. I don't think this is considered a trope, but I do especially like stories where the hero is not used to being around children but finds himself having to interact with one. Although since Dexter, aged 4, is one of those kid geniuses who talks and acts much older than he really is, and Harry the accountant is also pretty danged intelligent, Harry doesn't really have much trouble talking to and relating to Dexter for long. Which makes him the perfect babysitter, as the usual babysitters don't last since they're all apparently to dumb to keep Dexter amused. I have this thing about kids in books. I like when a character has kids, but I want the kids to be realistic actual characters in their own right, and not just overly precocious plot devices. Dexter, with his super intelligence and often adult behavior, sometimes tread close to that brink, but he never toppled over it. Since my own kids are intelligent but non-geniuses, I don't know how realistic Dexter is, but overall I liked the way he was written and was happy with him.

While Harry has admired Lainie from afar, or at least from the audience at her shows at the casino where they both work, he would never seriously consider asking her out. For one, why would she want to go out with a boring accountant? And for two, Harry's mother was also a single parent show girl, and Harry wants a wife who is the complete opposite. Meanwhile, Lainie doesn't think Harry could ever get serious about her because, for one, see his for two above, which Lainie is aware of, and for two, she figures he wouldn't think she's smart enough for him.

I really liked Lainie. I was just a tad uncomfortable with the fact that she moved her child out of state and away from her ex without having anything set up legally through the courts to protect her rights in case the ex came calling, though I know women do this all the time. And I totally get why she did it. And when the chips were down, I admired that she was prepared to sacrifice her own happiness for the future well being of her son. I would do just about anything for my kids, but I don't think I would have been wiling to do what Lainie was prepared to do.

I loved Harry. He isn't the chiseled bronzed stud that the hero often is (not that I don't like them also), but neither is he the stereotypical nebbishy geek that the word nerd often suggests. He's a good man, who wants a good woman who can satisfy him both sexually and intellectually. When there is danger, his adrenaline flows and he may be frightened, like a normal person would be, but he tamps the fear down and acts courageously. He's a gentleman, but he's also a man.

Throw in the worthless ex who needs to show his father he has an heir in order to inherit a fortune and pay off his gambling debts, Harry's mother and her ex-showgirl friends, her long time boyfriend with suspicious mob behavior, and a good ole boy time share salesman/snake wrangler, a little suspension of disbelief for the slightly outrageous plot, and you've got a funny and very enjoyable good time that will leave you with the happy feels. 

Devil of the Highlands

LYNSAY SANDS

Synopsis from Goodreads: He is the most notorious laird of Scotland: fierce, cold, deadly...and maybe even worse. Yet Evelinde has just agreed to wed him. Anything, she thinks, is better than her cruel stepmother. Though Evelinde should be wary of the rumors, she can't help but be drawn to this warrior...for the Devil of the Highlands inspires a heat within her that is unlike anything she has ever known.

They may call him whatever they wish, but Cullen, Laird of Donnachaidh, cares only for the future of his clan. He must find a wife, a woman to bear him sons and heed his commands. He has no need for beauty or grace, but one taste of his lovely bride's sweet lips and the sultry feel of her skin arouse an untamed passion. Perhaps there's more to marriage than he thought.

Stats for my copy: Large print hardback, published by Thorndike Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning, by arrangement with Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2009; borrowed from my local library.

My thoughts: If I didn't have a job to go to every day, which means having to get up of a morning, I might have read this entire book in one night.

This is the third of the author's non-vampire books I've read (the first two being The Brat and What She Wants.) As with all of Ms Sands' heroines, Evelinde is very likable, although she felt somewhat familiar, being similar, personality wise, to the heroines of THE BRAT and WHAT SHE WANTS. Cullen, however, was much more distinctive and I was quite enamored of him. But then he was the very description of “the bad boy”, and aren't we drawn to those men? At least on paper.

Since her father's death, Evelinde has been under her stepmother's power, and treated quite badly by her. Step-mama is thrilled to have arranged a marriage for Evelinde with the man who is fearfully known as the Devil of Donnachaidh, anticipating that Evelinde will be miserable in her new life. If she survives her marriage. After all, the devil is rumored to have killed his first wife when she did not bear him any heirs. And other relatives have died under suspicions circumstances.

But of course a reputation is sometimes just a reputation, and we all know there will be an HEA in the end. In the meantime, the characters have to deal with Evelinde constantly having accidents and close calls that become more and more suspicious, while she is determined to get to the bottom of the aforementioned deaths and clear her husband's name.

The situations Evelinde gets into are sometimes ridiculous, but I laughed out loud several times. I can always count on that happening when I pick up a Lynsay Sands book.