Amy's bookshelf: all en-US Sat, 10 May 2025 14:43:29 -0700 60 Amy's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Swoon List (The Love List #1)]]> 98182370 That gig as a Disney princess didn’t do me any favors in the popularity department, but my BGF made sure I kept the tiara. According to him, I'm practically royalty. Pshaw.

Maggie
I failed at living the life of a fairytale princess after falling in a fountain and going viral on social media. I need a new job fast, preferably far away.

Desperate, I say yes to becoming an etiquette coach for rich and famous adults in need of refinement in a distant and widely unknown country. It’s personal relations rehab and comes with a heaping scoop of anonymity.

My first client got in trouble for a prank gone wrong that turned into a scandal. Hashtag relatable, minus the prank part. That joke was on me. I get tasked with the hotshot, over-the-top football star...who also happens to be my BGF, best guy friend.

Declan
We’ve stayed in touch since high school via text, but upon seeing her again after all these years, she’s no longer just the girl next door. Something sparks between us. Or that could be the firecrackers I lit in the hallway.

I’m the first to admit that I’m quick-witted and cocky, on and off the field, forcing her to channel her cheery princess personality to teach me how to be a gentleman. Turns out I rather like these lessons.

When tragedy strikes, she gets a glimpse into my past that I’d kept hidden. Instead of driving her away, she doesn’t leave my side. Can’t say I mind. Unfortunately, if I get romantically involved, especially with someone as smart, funny, and cute as my best friend, I’m off the team.

Will we keep things in the friend zone or fall in love and wind up in the (happily ever after) end zone?

USA Today bestselling author Ellie Hall presents a romantic comedy with sweet and swoony sizzle in this closed door romcom. If you like faith-friendly, heartwarming, Hallmark style romance, you’ll love this feel-good series. Each book stands alone but reading them in order provides a deeper, richer experience.]]> 306 Ellie Hall Amy 0 currently-reading 4.03 The Swoon List (The Love List #1)
author: Ellie Hall
name: Amy
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/10
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[My Wife (Love in Hockey Town #2)]]> 223030599 He’s a new Mr. Mom. She’s a jilted bride. When her role as the nanny develops into a marriage of convenience, will playing house become less of a game?

Liam
I don’t know what I’m doing. In fact, I have no idea where this kid came from. I mean, I know that part, but when he showed up on my doorstep, not only did I have to put everything on hold, but my hockey coach threw me into the sin bin. It might not be entirely undeserved.

Jess
I’m a certified walking, talking romance wreck, then I meet the guy who I think is my prince. On our wedding day, he leaves me at the altar. This means I’m headed back home to my small town and into Granny Dollie’s meddling arms. At least there will be cookies.

Liam
I’m drowning in potty training, team commitments, and legal documents. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep my newfound father status secret.

Jess
I get a job helping the Big Bad Wolf. Yet, somehow, I don’t get bit. Except by his son, who’s ninety-nine percent adorable and one percent feral. Like his grumpy dad.

Liam
I was all about that loner life, but when my money-grubbing ex attempts to ruin me, I propose a marriage of convenience to my assistant. She’s practically part of the furniture, almost living here rent-free. Turns out I don’t mind. Kind of into it. Into her.

Jess
I need a favor that comes in the size and shape of my boss, so when he suggests we get married, I have to remind myself that it’s not real. Nor are my feelings for him. Probably. Maybe a little. Like crumb-sized.

Between lingering looks, arguments over the toothpaste cap, and tingly moments, will this grumpy sunshine pair let love bloom?


My Wife is the PERFECT fit if you love:
•Grumpy sunshine duos
•Single dad
� Slow-burn romance
•Beauty & the Beast vibes
•Small town romcom
•Found family
•Closed-door no cheating, no swears, just sweet & swoony kisses

This is a clean, sweet, closed-door hockey romcom with lots of sweet kisses and a happily ever after. Lace up your skates and get ready to laugh, swoon, and have all the swoopy heart flutters!
]]> 414 Ellie Hall Amy 0 currently-reading 5.00 My Wife (Love in Hockey Town #2)
author: Ellie Hall
name: Amy
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dead Man's Pose (Yoga Mat Mysteries)]]> 60487140
The relaxation goes further than expected. One of Elaina Williams’s yoga students dies in her class. Was the victim helped into Dead Man’s Pose? Behind the scenes, there’s a coverup threatening to unravel Elaina’s tranquil life. It turns out her favourite student was targeted and that strikes at her very core. What was the message that Mario so desperately wanted to give her? Elaina needs to know what’s happening. But there are no easy answers.

She teams up with Ric, a mysterious dark horse, and they navigate the back streets, landmarks and sleezy haunts of Sydney, Australia. From a darkened saloon to a starlit casino, Elaina and Ric’s trail tumbles into a gummy web of intrigue. It’s a city life they thought they knew. Instead, Sydney is hiding pockets of controversial history and a basketful of crime, chaos and quirky characters.

Using unconventional crime-solving methods and coffee-fuelled discoveries, Elaina and Ric reveal that corruption runs deep. But their attraction to each other runs even deeper. Things start ‘hotting up�. As each moment becomes more perilous, Elaina must overcome her fears. If she continues, she risks being the next victim. The stakes are high. With several close calls and the body count racking up, will Elaina and Ric resolve this mystery before time runs out?

Dead Man’s Pose is presented in a stylish noir mystery wrapper. It arrives with doses of romance, laugh-out-loud humour and suspense tucked into shadowy corners. But the layers that make a celebration of what is Australia don’t always end with ‘she’ll be right�.

Earphones Award 2023 from AudioFile for Mystery and Suspense]]> 331 Susan Rogers 0645413607 Amy 0 currently-reading 3.80 2023 Dead Man's Pose (Yoga Mat Mysteries)
author: Susan Rogers
name: Amy
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Rumpled Gentleman: A Victorian Fairy Tale Retold]]> 228102166 A Romantic Rumplestiltskin Retelling Full of Magic, Mystery, and a Deal That Changes EverythingElara Millstone never wanted a life of impossible bargains. But when her father, once a respected alchemist, claims he can change straw into gold, they find themselves trapped in a dangerous game with the powerful Duke of Sutton. If her father fails to deliver on his promise, imprisonment would be the least of their worries.

Desperate to save them, Elara makes a deal of her own with a mysterious masked gentleman who seems to hold the key to their survival. But magic and alchemy are not the only forces at play—secrets, deception, and an unexpected attraction makes things more precarious. As Elara works to outwit the ruthless duke, she begins to has she struck a bargain with a savior or merely exchanged one cage for another?

Set in a Victorian-inspired world where magic is real and power is the ruling currency, The Rumpled Gentleman is a romantic, historical fantasy retelling of Rumplestiltskin filled with intrigue, romance, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s pawn.

Perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings, historical fantasy, and stories where wit and courage are the strongest magic of all.

Originally included in the anthology Magic and Miracles.]]> 108 Sally Britton 1685270611 Amy 2 4.04 The Rumpled Gentleman: A Victorian Fairy Tale Retold
author: Sally Britton
name: Amy
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/26
shelves:
review:

]]> Sisters in the Wind 225699546 From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home� has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state.� But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.

Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend,� a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her.

They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has � had � a sister, and more siblings; a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.

But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance of normal she has had, and now the secrets she’s hiding will swallow her whole and take away the future she always dreamed of.]]> 384 Angeline Boulley 1250328535 Amy 0 to-read 4.44 2025 Sisters in the Wind
author: Angeline Boulley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1)]]> 42774138 Fall in love with this romantic comedy perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Helen Hoang.
Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen -- especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.
]]> 386 Abby Jimenez 1538715627 Amy 3 4.09 2019 The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone, #1)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Amy
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Just a Cozy Murder in the Woods]]> 63241453 249 Ann Stang Amy 3 4.28 Just a Cozy Murder in the Woods
author: Ann Stang
name: Amy
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]> The Fall Risk 223199392 Two good neighbors make the best of a bad Valentine’s Day in a funny and improbably romantic short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.]]> 82 Abby Jimenez 1662529082 Amy 3 4.11 2025 The Fall Risk
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Amy
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves:
review:

]]> Deception (Fallout #4) 61182409
Welcome to Shadow Ridge, where LONGMIRE meets JERICHO.

From USA Today Best-selling author Lisa Harris comes an epic new series where the survival of Shadow Ridge depends on learning how to fight crime all over again.

In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.]]> 236 Lisa Harris Amy 4 4.37 Deception (Fallout #4)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Aftermath (Fallout Series Book Six)]]> 202698550 BOOK Six in the Fallout Series from USA Today, ECPA, and CBA Best-selling Author Lisa Harris.

In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.

“Author Lisa Harris hits it out of the park with these well imagined ‘what if� stories!�

What happens when the lights come back on?

Some had called the attacks on the country by the Realm a second civil war, and Chase Beckett agreed. What he’d seen first-hand had turned into the largest and most destructive conflict on US soil since that era. Not only had the organized group behind the damage taken down the grid and infostructure, they’d also continued to raise havoc across the country.

But just because the good guys had finally won and the power was finally coming back on, didn’t mean that the chaos that had erupted across the country had vanished. No. That was going to take time. And for the McQuaid family, it was going to take everything they had to survive the lights coming back on.

**Each novel contains a standalone mystery, but there are overarching stories that tie together the entire series.

FALLOUT SERIES
The Last Day
Book 1: Survival
Book 2: Hunted
Book 3: Frequency
Book 4: Deception
Book 5: Shattered
Book 6: Aftermath

SELECTED PRAISE FOR THE FALLOUT SERIES

“Hits the dystopian bullseye.�
“A stunner.�
“Author Lisa Harris hits it out of the park with these well imagined ‘what if� stories!�
“The unthinkable meets the unimaginable.�
“After one book, I’m a serious series fan!�
A page-turning, devour-in-one-gulp kind of read.�
“This will be a series I will read again.�
“I am totally besotted with this Futuristic series!!�
“I’ve loved every book in this series.�

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LISA HARRIS is a USA Today bestselling author, a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom, Vendetta, and Port of Origin, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has forty plus novels and novellas in print.
]]> 157 Lisa Harris Amy 3 4.40 Aftermath (Fallout Series Book Six)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Peonies for Paige (In Bloom #1)]]> 62611788
Paige Bell’s dreams are withering. Devastated by a broken engagement, the career-focused college junior is counting on a publishing internship in New York to renew her zest for life. But when the offer falls through and she’s left to finish the summer working in a flower shop, her only pleasure comes from watching the handsome plumber fix the store’s burst pipe.

Trevor Morrison hides his troubled past beneath a cheerful grin. So after his hopes rise when he tumbles head-over-heels for a gorgeous florist, he’s ready to settle down without delay. But his heart sinks when the fiercely independent woman makes it clear NYC is still her calling.

Determined to stand on her own two feet so she can’t be hurt again, Paige tries to balance her personal needs with their blossoming relationship. But with his own abandonment issues surfacing, Trevor wonders if walking away first is the only way to protect his bruised affections.

Is their love destined to be lost in the weeds, or can they put down lasting roots?]]> 256 Kasey Kennedy 1958942006 Amy 0 3.82 Peonies for Paige (In Bloom #1)
author: Kasey Kennedy
name: Amy
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Nursing The Billionaire: A Clean Short Romance (Hometown Heart Series Book 2)]]> 209654438
He wasn't looking forward to going back. His hometown of Houston was more their style. He respected his brother though, so he just needed to get this thing started and get out as fast as possible.

What he didn't expect was his own life to turn upside down.

This book is #2 in the series.
This book is standalone but builds on the characters in book 1, so it's best to start there.
This is a short, bite-sized, clean read.]]> 29 Ada Beck Amy 2 2.60 Nursing The Billionaire: A Clean Short Romance (Hometown Heart Series Book 2)
author: Ada Beck
name: Amy
average rating: 2.60
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Only One More Lie (True Crime Junkies Book 9)]]> 218142722 A killer is making his list and checking it twice . . .

For the past six years, a killer has struck on the same date in random locations near Fairbanks, Alaska. The victims have no connections, leaving investigators with few answers and no suspects.

The daughter of the December Dismemberer’s latest victims pleads with the Arctic Circle Murder Club to take the case. The group of six podcasters travel to the scene of the last crime—a reindeer farm transformed into a vacation destination. With the ominous date fast approaching, the team races to solve the mystery.

But as if battling subzero temperatures, raging snowstorms, and a twisted killer aren’t enough, the team begins to suspect the killer isn’t the only one harboring secrets. Someone would do anything to keep the truth hidden. Even if it means . . . telling only one more lie.]]> 326 Christy Barritt Amy 4 4.70 Only One More Lie (True Crime Junkies Book 9)
author: Christy Barritt
name: Amy
average rating: 4.70
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves:
review:

]]> Shattered (Fallout #5) 62895184
From USA Today Best-selling author Lisa Harris comes an epic new series where the survival of Shadow Ridge depends on learning how to fight crime all over again.

In the prequel to the series, The Last Day, Chase said good-bye to Hope and left Shadow Ridge for an overnight prisoner transport to San Angelo. . .the day before the grid went down. For those rooting for Hope McQuaid and Chase Becket to find each other again, well, the wait is almost over. Except the circumstances aren’t what either of them could have ever imagined.

In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.

**Start with the prequel, The Last Day, then Survival, book one in the Fallout series. Each novel contains a standalone mystery, but there are overarching stories that tie together the entire series.]]> 200 Lisa Harris Amy 4 4.53 Shattered (Fallout #5)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> Frequency (Fallout, #3) 61116878
Four deaths, most likely tied to arsenic-tainted water, leave the town of Shadow Ridge frantic for answers before someone else dies. But that isn’t the only nightmare Tess McQuaid is facing. She has proof someone attempted to cover up a murder as another arsenic death.

HER LIFE DEPENDS ON FINDING OUT THE TRUTH.

Deputy Kellan Gray is heading to Shadow Ridge when he encounters Tess, running for her life. Pursued by a killer in the isolated west Texas desert, can he keep her safe while trying to stop the man determined to silence her?

In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.]]> 232 Lisa Harris Amy 4 4.44 2022 Frequency (Fallout, #3)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Margo and the Faux Good Luck Beau (Nebraska Knights)]]> 221036141 I believe in love at first sight, but is there such a thing as a fake fiancé at first sight?

As the only remaining single woman in a family of gold-digging, marry-rich overachievers, I get desperate and declare that the Viking-Highlander hockey star at my cousin’s wedding is my fiancé. (We’d kept it hush-hush to not steal her thunder. Wink, wink.)

He's either been hit in the head with a puck or he's super stubborn because he refuses to play his part until my mother gives him a disapproving down-the-nose look. (This ignites a fire in his green eyes, which makes the butterflies in me dance a jig.)

Just when I think it’s time to return to the dating board, he makes a proposal to go along with my scheme. Not that kind of proposal, though I wouldn’t object—the goalie is dreamy in a Northern Lights fantastical way. (He needs to get married to make good on a family promise for his inheritance.)

The grump has mojo, but fortunately, I’m made of sunshine and moxie. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, we need all the good luck we can get because my family is on to me, claiming my fake fiancé has a secret.

So do I...and it’s that I’m smitten. He can deny his feelings until the end of the rainbow, but that’s a load of blarney and I’m going to prove it, even if it involves some shamrock shenanigans.

Tropes
•Fake fiancé
•Marriage of convenience-ish
•Stoic versus sunny
•Curvy Girl
•Hockey Goaltender
•Found family
•Small town

This is a clean, sweet, closed door hockey romcom with lots of sweet kisses and a happily ever after. Lace up your skates and get ready to laugh, swoon, and have all the swoopy heart flutters!
]]> 197 Ellie Hall Amy 4 4.34 Margo and the Faux Good Luck Beau (Nebraska Knights)
author: Ellie Hall
name: Amy
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/13
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves:
review:

]]> Confess 22609310
For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it—but can she do it?]]> 306 Colleen Hoover 1476791457 Amy 4 2017, audio-books 4.14 2015 Confess
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Amy
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/14
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: 2017, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Pretending I Love Lucy (Apple Valley Love Stories #3)]]> 59969517 The first rule of being a winner? Never lose your heart �

People think it’s easy being Felix Dodd III. And sure the fortune, legacy, and inheritance aren’t exactly terrible. But the name comes with so many strings, my hands feel permanently tied.

Like I’m stuck following in my father’s footsteps. Like I can’t trust people’s intentions. Like my grandmother wants me settled down before my thirtieth birthday.

I’ve got less than zero interest in marriage, ever since my one attempt at love crashed and burned. But Grams won’t let me access my trust until I’m engaged. Which means I need a fiancée.

Someone who’s looking for quick cash and a quicker getaway.

Someone like Lucy Devlin.

She’s got less than zero interest in me. But if I can get her to play along—just long enough to fool my grandmother—Lucy will be a whole lot richer, Grams will be none the wiser, and I’ll stay heartbreak free.

Just as long as I remember the new rule: Don’t love Lucy for real.]]> 290 Julie Christianson Amy 4 4.04 Pretending I Love Lucy (Apple Valley Love Stories #3)
author: Julie Christianson
name: Amy
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[My Own Best Enemy (Apple Valley Love Stories #2)]]> 58529900 This isn’t a wedding. This is war �

I get it. We were in elementary school. Just a couple of kids on the playground. But after Nash Hendrix called me Enemy instead of Emily, his stupid nickname ruined my life.
Now our best friends are getting married, and they expect me to stand across the aisle from Nash the Ruiner without killing him?
Whatever. I can survive being maid of honor. It’s only for one weekend.

Until it’s not.
When I get roped into wedding planning at the same places Nash is fundraising, I’m ready to blow up our temporary truce.

All I wanted was to start over. New job. New permanently-single status.
But the more time we spend together, the more I feel like � not murdering him.
Is it possible Nash and I don't hate each other?

No way. He’s still my enemy.
My big, dumb enemy.
My big, dumb, gorgeous, sweet-talking, dog-loving �

Emi, you’re doomed.]]> 313 Julie Christianson Amy 3 3.91 My Own Best Enemy (Apple Valley Love Stories #2)
author: Julie Christianson
name: Amy
average rating: 3.91
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Can't Let You Go (Katie Parker Productions, #5)]]> 55230196
Fresh out of college, Katie Parker had it all—a charming romance, a role in a famous stage production, and an idyllic life in London. Until she found her boyfriend cheating and got herself fired from the play. Leaving everything behind, Katie hops a plane home, only to run into her first love, Charlie Benson. As the couple returns to In Between, Katie questions everything she ever thought she wanted—including a renewed romance with her high school flame.

While she attempts to rebuild her life, Katie's plan to manage the family’s theater meets a devastating obstacle, dragging her into a legal battle that will rock her small town. And the boy who once broke her heart seems to have the power to do it again. As Charlie’s secrets unravel, Katie must make a choice. Can she overcome her past and trust Charlie with her heart again?]]> 262 Jenny B. Jones Amy 3 4.36 2014 Can't Let You Go (Katie Parker Productions, #5)
author: Jenny B. Jones
name: Amy
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/21
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Second Chance Ranch (Three Rivers Ranch Romance, #2)]]> 26172022
After his deployment, injured and discharged Major Squire Ackerman returns to Three Rivers Ranch, anxious to prove himself capable of running the cattle operation so his parents can retire. Things would be easier if the ranch wasn’t missing 1.6 million dollars, which forces Squire to hire Kelly, the girl who rejected his high school prom invitation, as his accountant.

She’s back in town with her four-year-old son, living in her parent’s basement until she can get her life back together. With fresh ink on her divorce papers and open gashes on her heart, she’s not ready for much beyond her new job on the ranch.

Squire wants to forgive Kelly for ignoring him a decade ago. He’d like to provide the stable life she needs, but with old wounds opening and a ranch on the brink of financial collapse, it will take patience and faith to make their second chance possible.

For fans of inspirational western romance authors Kimberly Krey, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter.

Themes/Topics
>Clean romance
>Contemporary romance
>Western romance
>Cowboy romance
>Military romance
>Second chance romance
>Romantic suspense
>Texas ranch, divorce, PTSD, some mystery elements, forgiveness, acceptance, love]]> 288 Liz Isaacson Amy 3 4.29 2015 Second Chance Ranch (Three Rivers Ranch Romance, #2)
author: Liz Isaacson
name: Amy
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/19
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Flirting with my Enemy (Love is a Mystery #1)]]> 61247610
Elle Brook

I’m pretty sure heartthrob Zane Masters is sabotaging my business, and I’m going to prove it.

It’s no secret that the big-shot CEO of Got Cake? wants to buy my bakery but I declined his offer––even though it was presented to me on a notecard with a triple chocolate donut.

For the record, I did not eat his over-priced donut... I threw it in the trash.

Off the record––I totally ate it, and oh my heck, it was finger-licking delicious.

Just as I get ready to release something new, Got Cake? announces something suspiciously similar.

Not forgetting the time three crates of fish got delivered to my shop. Dead fish.

It took me DAYS to get rid of the stench.
And Zane is my number one suspect.

The only way I’m gonna find the proof I need to stop all this nonsense is to get close to him. Real close.

He’s a man’s man with a hunky smile and a smolder that can melt any heart, I know exactly what an alpha male like him wants in a woman.

My friends think I’m playing with fire. But I'll do whatever it takes to unravel his dark secrets. And the only way I'll get hurt is if I let my heart get involved. That's not gonna happen.

Besides, there’s zero chance I’m gonna fall in love with my enemy.

Flirting with my Enemy is a cozy mystery romcom. Packed with swoon-worthy romance, heart-warming characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and an exciting mystery.

Author note: This is a steamy-clean romance. Sizzling kisses but no sex or curse words.]]> 258 Laura Burton Amy 3 3.71 Flirting with my Enemy (Love is a Mystery #1)
author: Laura Burton
name: Amy
average rating: 3.71
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves:
review:

]]> Dropping the Ball 220881980 Pull off the swankiest benefit gala the city has ever seen? Kaitlyn Armstrong has got this. Do it with the high school rival who once humiliated her? Kaitlyn Armstrong so does not have this�

Kaitlyn Armstrong has a pull off a glitzy fundraising gala to redeem her family’s reputation. After all, besides one tiny—okay, catastrophic—failure in high school, Kaitlyn is her family’s rock. Who better to trust?

But then Kaitlyn meets the architect she must work with to pull off the event. Micah Croft is the man who broke her nose, her heart, and her perfect academic record in high school.

Now he’s breaking her eight-year streak of avoiding him.

Kaitlyn fell under his spell once and it ruined graduation. Distraction means failure, and she can’t fail again—not when it will cost her family public humiliation in front of Austin’s social elite.

When the gala plans go wrong, and Micah is the only part that feels right, can Kaitlyn risk choosing him over finally making up for her mistakes in the past?

Dropping the Ball is a closed door romcom featuring old high school rivals with a strong dose of Gilbert and Anne competition and pining. It's a second chance at first love romance with all the sizzle and swoon, but no spice.]]> 309 Melanie Jacobson Amy 5 4.16 2024 Dropping the Ball
author: Melanie Jacobson
name: Amy
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves:
review:

]]> Thieves' Gambit 61366561 Winner takes all: a cutthroat competition for the world’s best thief and the girl who must beat the odds to save her mother’s life.

Rosalyn Quest was raised by a legendary family of thieves with one rule: trust no one. Trapped in a glamorous world of riches and double-crosses, she is about to escape the family business when her mother is kidnapped.Her only chance to save her is to win the Thieves� Gambit � a deadly competition for the world’s up-and-coming thieves, where the victor is granted one wish.To win, she must outwit all of her backstabbing competitors, including her archnemesis. But can she take victory from the handsome, charming boy who makes a play for her heart? The one who might be hiding the most dangerous secret of all?

The most highly-anticipated YA launch of the year from Kayvion Lewisand soon to be a major movie, are you ready to join the Thieves' Gambit?]]> 304 Kayvion Lewis 0593625374 Amy 3 4.03 2023 Thieves' Gambit
author: Kayvion Lewis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/15
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[When Alec Met Evie (Appies, #6)]]> 223634485 Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.

When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.

Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.

Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him.

But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.

A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down.

But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.]]> 331 Jenny Proctor Amy 4 4.34 2025 When Alec Met Evie (Appies, #6)
author: Jenny Proctor
name: Amy
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Missing (The Nikki Boyd Files, #2)]]> 27066859 Nikki Boyd isn't usually called in on homicides; her forte is missing persons. But when a case with two murdered and two missing pops up on a quiet suburban street, she's ready to start the investigation and find missing homeowners Mac and Lucy Hudson. When the first clues lead her to the boat of her friend Tyler Grant--and another dead body--Nikki must untangle what ties Tyler to the Hudsons. The clues pull her into a deadly maze of counterfeit drugs and a killer who will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens his business--including Nikki.
Christy Award-winning and bestselling author Lisa Harris puts readers right into the action in this fast-paced thriller that will have them turning pages long into the night.]]> 316 Lisa Harris 0800724194 Amy 4 4.15 2016 Missing (The Nikki Boyd Files, #2)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Vendetta (The Nikki Boyd Files, #1)]]> 26171342
With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.]]> 304 Lisa Harris 0800724178 Amy 4 4.11 2015 Vendetta (The Nikki Boyd Files, #1)
author: Lisa Harris
name: Amy
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Christmas in the Shadows (The Shadow Agency Book 6)]]> 222946277
High school teacher Chelsea Lennox suspects her neighbor—the high school football coach—is up to something nefarious when she notices unusual activity next door during the night. Fearing the man is putting her students in danger, Chelsea sets out to uncover the truth. But someone thinks she knows more than she should, and the threats against her escalate.

With Christmas fast approaching and lives on the line, Tex and Chelsea team up to bring the culprits out of the shadows and prevent further danger and deaths. But as old feelings resurface, they have to decide if they can trust each other—and Tex's foster father—before it's too late.
]]> 168 Christy Barritt Amy 3 4.58 Christmas in the Shadows (The Shadow Agency Book 6)
author: Christy Barritt
name: Amy
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Bitter Heir and the Beauty (On the Hunt for Love #2)]]> 209256151 Forget about zombies, I feel like a “mombie� these days. Didn’t get an invitation to this poopy party. Don’t recall returning an RSVP to this baby bash. But I wouldn’t trade being a mom for the world. Though, I could do without the newcomer to Hogwash. He almost sent me up in flames.

There I was, minding my own business, when an infant turns up on my doorstep. Okay, I wasn’t minding my business exactly. Living in this small southern town my whole life, it’s hard not to catch a whiff of gossip—or be the focus of it.

This isn’t the first time. Tragedy trails me like a stray cat. Can’t seem to shake the travesties either. Most recently, I risk having to close the Laughing Gator Grille. Not good now I have another mouth to feed. When do babies start eating pancakes, anyway?

When a cocky firefighter who’s used to getting what he wants shows up at table two with a wink and a smile, I’m not sure what the fuss is all about. There’s a reason I’m single.

But Maddock has the key to a door that ought to remain locked. Behind it are secrets, lies, loss. Tears even. But no treasure. At least not anymore. I would know. But that doesn’t stop him from blowing into my life like a wrecking ball on fire, trying to find it...

...and I have to stop him. But what if the real treasure isn't buried, but right under our noses?

This swoony romcom is sweet, clean, and closed-door. Meet an irresistible brown-eyed baby, go on a scavenger hunt, and discover if Honey and Maddock keep secrets or tell all. Read this southern, small-town romance today!
]]> 246 Ellie Hall Amy 4 4.42 The Bitter Heir and the Beauty (On the Hunt for Love #2)
author: Ellie Hall
name: Amy
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Lantern Beach Blackout, Danger Rising: The Complete Series (Lantern Beach Blackout: Danger Rising)]]> 88563916 BrandonPhysically he’s protecting her. But emotionally she’s never felt more exposed.

The last person tech heiress Finley Cooper ever wanted to see again was Brandon Hale. Two years ago, Brandon shattered her heart. Now Finley needs protection, and, against her wishes, Brandon is assigned the job. Even worse, they must pretend to be a couple in order to find answers.

Brandon, a former Navy SEAL, met Finley while on an undercover assignment in Ecuador. But he broke her trust, and now he doesn’t blame Finley for hating him. As a new Blackout operative, Brandon’s first assignment throws him into Finley’s life 24/7. Someone wants her dead, and it’s clear this person won’t stop until that mission is accomplished.

To keep her safe, Brandon must regain Finley’s trust. Can he convince her she’s more than a job to him? Or will peril permanently silence them?DylanHis job is to protect her. The trouble is . . . she doesn’t want protection.

Former Navy SEAL Dylan Granger’s new assignment requires him to use both his tactical abilities and his acting skills. Hired by Katie Logan’s father, his job is to protect the gutsy university professor while concealing his identity. To maintain his cover, he takes the unassuming role of her new assistant.

Katie—a disgraced reporter—has stumbled upon a lead she can’t ignore. Now it’s clear someone is targeting her, but she refuses to back down. Her handsome new assistant is a welcome distraction from the chaos. But Dylan’s skillset goes way beyond his job description, and Katie begins to suspect there’s more to Dylan than he’s letting on.

Dylan’s mission can’t be disclosed—not if he wants to keep Katie safe. But as his feelings for her grow and the danger increases, keeping his secret becomes more of a challenge than he ever imagined. With innocent lives on the line, Dylan must choose between protecting Katie or saving others.MaddoxHe’s on the case . . . and she’s his prime suspect.

Classified technology is missing, a delivery driver is dead, and former Navy SEAL Maddox King must find the culprits before a dangerous plan is enacted.

To find answers, the Blackout agent must go undercover as a maintenance man at millionaire Seymore Whitlock’s estate. While there, he sets his sights on Whitlock’s personal assistant, Taryn Parsons, a woman who has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Six months ago, Whitlock plucked Taryn out of obscurity to become his caretaker. But with deadly incidents haunting the estate, Taryn doesn’t know who she can trust—including the new maintenance man who is both intriguing . . . and unnerving.

The stakes continue to escalate, and Maddox is running out of time to find answers. With the body count rising along with his list of suspects, this assignment may be his most challenging yet . . . for both his skillset and his heart.TitusShe shattered his heart once. Can he set her betrayal aside for the sake of his country?

The last person Titus Armstrong wants to join forces with is the woman who dumped him for his brother, Alex. But Presley Lennox is Blackout’s best chance at infiltrating a dangerous organization known as The System and finding out more about their deadly plans.

Presley Lennox wants out—of both an abusive relationship and the radical group she’s become entangled with because of Alex.]]> 1047 Christy Barritt Amy 0 currently-reading 4.83 Lantern Beach Blackout, Danger Rising: The Complete Series (Lantern Beach Blackout: Danger Rising)
author: Christy Barritt
name: Amy
average rating: 4.83
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gabe (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits #4)]]> 58193621
Dr. Autumn Spenser came to Lantern Beach to start fresh. But while treating Gabe after his accident, she senses there’s more to what happened to him than meets the eye. When she digs deeper into his past, she never expects to be drawn into a deadly dilemma.

Gabe has been infatuated with the pretty doctor since the day they met. Now, can he keep her from harm? Could someone out of his league ever return his feelings or will her past hurts keep them apart?

As danger continues to pummel them, Gabe and Autumn are thrown together in a quest to find answers. More important than their growing attraction, they must stay alive long enough to stop the person desperate to destroy them.]]> 372 Christy Barritt Amy 4 4.68 Gabe (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits #4)
author: Christy Barritt
name: Amy
average rating: 4.68
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[His Jersey (Love in Hockey Town #1)]]> 221719611 He’s a hockey superstar. She’s a hotel maid. When he offers to pay her to wear his jersey to a game, she’s crowned the “Puck Princess.� What could go wrong with fake dating ... aside from everything?

Ella
As I struggle to stay afloat in the housekeeping hustle, a handsome guest and I have a magical night sneaking into the pool, making wishes under the stars, and spilling secrets. But at midnight, I risk turning into a pumpkin, er, my not-so-fancy self, compared to the pro hockey player with the expensive watch. Time is slipping through my fingers as the bill for my dad’s care comes due.

Jack
I’m a hockey superstar, famous for scoring goals and stealing hearts, but I’m at a career crossroads. To fix this problem, I casually ask a pretty woman I’ve just officially met to wear my jersey at a big game. After a fun and flirty weekend, sparks fly, but there’s trouble off the ice because she’s not the trophy my billionaire father has in mind for me.

Ella
When he suggests we level up our fake relationship to a fake engagement, I don’t have anything to lose except my sense of reality as I’m swept into his wealthy world—and my grip on my emotions because this is starting to feel real.

Jack
Before we met, my life was mapped out, but she changed the game. Some argue it’s for the worst. But I’ve never felt—or played—better. Before, retirement from the league loomed. Now I have a new goal and it’s a future with her.

Will these starcrossed lovers from different worlds find a way to win each other’s hearts?


His Jersey is the PERFECT fit if you love:
•Billionaire romance
•Fake dating
•Secret identity
•Cinderella vibes
•Small town romcom
•Found family
•Closed-door no cheating, no swears, just sweet & swoony kisses

This is a clean, sweet, closed door hockey romcom with lots of sweet kisses and a happily ever after. Lace up your skates and get ready to laugh, swoon, and have all the swoopy heart flutters!]]> 354 Ellie Hall Amy 4 4.31 His Jersey (Love in Hockey Town #1)
author: Ellie Hall
name: Amy
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
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]]> The Last Exchange 123261975 “Here’s the catch—even if I make it out of here alive, I need a reason to breathe again.�

When MacThomas Pockets finished his last tour as part of the Scottish Special Forces, he was hired to consult for a film director to finesse some scenes that weren’t working. In a twist he never saw coming, he ended up moving to L.A. to work as the bodyguard for movie star Maybe Joe Sue.

It didn’t take long for Pockets to realize there were two Joe Sues: The Joe Sue the public saw with her perfect life and her Hollywood husband. And the private Joe Sue: the one with the traumatic youth that no amount of pills could cover up, who desperately wanted a child of her own.

Even after their paths diverged, he continued to track Joe Sue’s life. Only a few would notice when the bottom fell out. But he did. And that’s when he stepped in.

The latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin travels from Hollywood to rural Montana as one man answers the question: How far would you go—really—to save someone you love?]]> 356 Charles Martin 0785255974 Amy 5 4.23 The Last Exchange
author: Charles Martin
name: Amy
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
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]]> Fragile Designs 123266518 352 Colleen Coble 0785253858 Amy 4
Single mom, Carly Harris, is struggling to pick up the pieces after the unexplainable and unsolved murder of her husband. She moved home with her grandmother to figure out her next steps when her grandmother suggests they turn the large family home into a bed and breakfast alongside Carly's two sisters.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennet and his brother Ryan live next door to Carly's grandmother. Ryan is hired to begin construction on the house, even though Ryan and Carly have a history - one that ended with broken hearts. Carly turns to Lucas as she begins to find mysterious clues, including a potentially lost Faberge egg. In finding that egg, Carly has put her family into danger and Lucas must help her unravel the mystery of who it belongs to and who is after it all while keeping Carly, her son and grandmother safe.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I did not see some of the twists and turns coming, while some did feel a little predictable. The story was fast paced and a great read to start off 2024 with!]]> 4.39 2024 Fragile Designs
author: Colleen Coble
name: Amy
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/08
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
review:
Colleen Coble has written another page turning suspense!

Single mom, Carly Harris, is struggling to pick up the pieces after the unexplainable and unsolved murder of her husband. She moved home with her grandmother to figure out her next steps when her grandmother suggests they turn the large family home into a bed and breakfast alongside Carly's two sisters.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennet and his brother Ryan live next door to Carly's grandmother. Ryan is hired to begin construction on the house, even though Ryan and Carly have a history - one that ended with broken hearts. Carly turns to Lucas as she begins to find mysterious clues, including a potentially lost Faberge egg. In finding that egg, Carly has put her family into danger and Lucas must help her unravel the mystery of who it belongs to and who is after it all while keeping Carly, her son and grandmother safe.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I did not see some of the twists and turns coming, while some did feel a little predictable. The story was fast paced and a great read to start off 2024 with!
]]> A Holly Jolly Diwali 56637919 One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya's wedding.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life--to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.]]> 336 Sonya Lalli 0593100956 Amy 0 2024, book-club 3.53 2021 A Holly Jolly Diwali
author: Sonya Lalli
name: Amy
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, book-club
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture]]> 60693236 672 Christopher Watkin 0310128722 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.51 2022 Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture
author: Christopher Watkin
name: Amy
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/16
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> One Final Target 178836120
A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, one thing seems Jodie has always been the intended target―and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.

Janice Cantore delivers another pulse-pounding contemporary romantic suspense novel about overcoming grief and learning to trust again.]]> 368 Janice Cantore 1496457609 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.18 2024 One Final Target
author: Janice Cantore
name: Amy
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> The Amateur 1675554 256 Robert Littell 0143038141 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.64 1981 The Amateur
author: Robert Littell
name: Amy
average rating: 3.64
book published: 1981
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/08
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices from History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families]]> 200121628
Just as Saint Benedict thrived during the Dark Ages through God-centered daily rhythms and Amy Carmichael created hopeful homes in the midst of destruction and despair, we can create a rule of life that nurtures communities of faith. By highlighting the simple, intentional practices in the lives of notable women, homeschool mom and life coach Jennifer Pepito helps you

- discover God's best for your family and home
- push back chaos by finding your own rhythm
- eliminate distractions so your home becomes a place of refuge
- foster a family culture of simplicity and stability
- raise children who are lights in a troubled generation

Don't fear the future. Create a home that brings life to future generations--and shines with hope and peace in these trying times.]]> 192 Jennifer Pepito 0764239546 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.06 2024 Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices from History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families
author: Jennifer Pepito
name: Amy
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many]]> 61273712
In the summer of 2017, twenty-two-year-old Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind vanished. A week after she disappeared, police arrested the white couple who lived upstairs from Savanna and emerged from their apartment carrying an infant girl. The baby was Savanna’s, but Savanna’s body would not be found for days.

The horrifying crime sent shock waves far beyond Fargo, North Dakota, where it occurred, and helped expose the sexual and physical violence Native American women and girls have endured since the country’s colonization.

With pathos and compassion, Searching for Savanna confronts this history of dehumanization toward Indigenous women and the government’s complicity in the crisis. Featuring in-depth interviews, personal accounts, and trial analysis, Searching for Savanna investigates these injustices and the decades-long struggle by Native American advocates for meaningful change.]]> 320 Mona Gable 1982153687 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.45 2023 Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many
author: Mona Gable
name: Amy
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Deadly Revenge (Pearl River, #3)]]> 209351112
That's where Agent Maxwell Anderson comes in. He and Jenna used to work together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.

As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled when another suspect comes into play, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?]]> 400 Patricia Bradley 0800741641 Amy 0 2024 4.34 2024 Deadly Revenge (Pearl River, #3)
author: Patricia Bradley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/01
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Double Shot Death (A Ground Rules Mystery #2)]]> 58652249
At Campathon, an annual eco-friendly festival held on a farm outside of Portland, fans celebrate the Pacific Northwest’s music scene in quintessential PDX style—with gourmet food carts, reusable utensils . . . and lots of coffee. How else to get through three days of nonstop entertainment? Sage has scored a coveted place for her Ground Rules coffee cart thanks to her new-ish boyfriend, Bax, who’s friendly with Maya, one of the musicians performing.

The festivities begin with a stream of customers, friends, and acquaintances stopping by for Ground Rules� world-class blends, expertly brewed by Sage and her newest barista. But there are tensions between Maya and her former bandmates, who are on the cusp of making it big, and with Ian, the band’s manager. When Sage stumbles upon Ian’s dead body in the nearby woods—his hand still clutching one of her coffee mugs—it’s clear that someone’s grudge boiled over into murder. Can Sage work out who’s responsible before another innocent life fades out, and the curtain falls on Campathon, and maybe her own future, for good?]]> 231 Emmeline Duncan 149673341X Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.68 2022 Double Shot Death (A Ground Rules Mystery #2)
author: Emmeline Duncan
name: Amy
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> Reign (American Royals, #4) 61948564
America's royal family is in shambles. Queen Beatrice is in a coma and Princess Samantha has gone missing—from the look of things, she ran away with her boyfriend, Lord Marshall Davis. Which means that Prince Jefferson is currently on the throne. For some in America, it's exactly what they wanted: a King ruling the country. And for Daphne Deighton, who has tricked Jefferson into dating her again, it's the ultimate dream come true.

Surely this is all just temporary. Won’t Beatrice wake up and reclaim her rightful place? Samantha can't really be gone…can she? And Prince Jefferson will never truly be over his childhood crush, Nina Gonzalez. Right?

For the Washington family, the stakes are higher than ever. Love might save the throne�.if secrets don’t destroy everything first.]]> 415 Katharine McGee 0593710215 Amy 0 audio-books, 2024 3.86 2023 Reign (American Royals, #4)
author: Katharine McGee
name: Amy
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/29
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: audio-books, 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong, #1)]]> 61827543 Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective?

Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective� work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet).

But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could � because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands � Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer.

Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.]]> 339 Jesse Q. Sutanto 0593549228 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.01 2023 Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong, #1)
author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
name: Amy
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/16
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies (Camper & Criminals #37)]]> 203690051 ]]> 288 Tonya Kappes Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.24 Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies (Camper & Criminals #37)
author: Tonya Kappes
name: Amy
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls (Camper & Criminals #36)]]> 198250723
Imagine stumbling upon a body in the woods—only it's not hunting season, and this isn't a deer we're talking about. This twist sends Mae and her gang on a trek through a forest thick with secrets, where every turn in the trail could be the clue they need or a dead end. The victim, a real outdoorsman with a complex web of connections to the wilderness, has left behind a trail as puzzling as a switchback path.

"Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls" isn't just any cozy caper; it's a romp through the great outdoors, complete with twists, turns, and Tonya Kappes' signature dose of humor. Prepare to be hooked from the first gunshot to the last guffaw as Mae digs into a case that proves even the most scenic spots can hide dark secrets and dastardly deeds.

This book is the perfect campsite companion for mystery lovers looking for fun, frights, and friendship. With a backdrop as enchanting as Kentucky's own wilderness and a story brimming with intrigue, betrayal, and, of course, a hefty helping of laughter, you won't want to put it down. So, pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a flashlight) and join Mae and the gang as they navigate the wilds of human nature. "Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls" is more than a mystery; it's an expedition into excitement, proving once and for all that where there's smoke... there's laughter, lies, and a darn good read. Catch your copy today and become a happy camper in the world of cozy mysteries!]]> 206 Tonya Kappes Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.18 2024 Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls (Camper & Criminals #36)
author: Tonya Kappes
name: Amy
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> Strengthening Your Marriage 1147775 208 Wayne A. Mack 0875523854 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.10 1951 Strengthening Your Marriage
author: Wayne A. Mack
name: Amy
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1951
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants]]> 17465709 Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learning to give our own gifts in return.]]> 408 Robin Wall Kimmerer 1571313354 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.52 2013 Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
name: Amy
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/08
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Social Experiment (The Social Experiment, #1)]]> 36184337 From New York Times, USA TODAY, & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Addison Moore.*Romantic Comedy*Rowen Garret is a jerk of the highest order. I knew signing up for some experimental dating experience would not pan out to be a good thing, but after kissing a stranger in the dark for five solid savory minutes only to have the lights come on and expose him for the jerk he is, I have the sudden urge to strangle my new roommate who talked me into this nightmare.Sophie Meyer is a handful. I should know, I hung out in her living room for so long I became a fixture. But that was when her older brother, Braden, and I actually got along, before he snatched my long time girlfriend out from underneath me and stopped speaking to me as if I were the one who hijacked his life. And now here I am with his feisty little sister in my arms, her face lit up in horror at the thought of what we’ve just done. I would never kiss Sophie Meyer under normal circumstances, never even entertain the thought. Nope, this was a bad idea through and through. This is one social experiment I never want to think about again. But one thing is for sure. I will never forget that kiss.]]> 306 Addison Moore 1624300588 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.62 The Social Experiment (The Social Experiment, #1)
author: Addison Moore
name: Amy
average rating: 3.62
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/10
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Secrets of Dynamic Communication: Preparing and Delivering Powerful Speeches]]> 2305320 169 Ken Davis 0310534615 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.08 1991 Secrets of Dynamic Communication: Preparing and Delivering Powerful Speeches
author: Ken Davis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Not What I Signed Up For: Finding the Strength, Purpose, and Faith to Get through a Season You Didn’t Expect]]> 197885505 What do I do when I don’t know what to do?

Have you ever found yourself in an unexpected season? Struggling with fear, uncertainty, and an unknown future? And thinking to yourself (and saying to God): This is not what I signed up for.

From counselor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice comes a book for when you feel scared, helpless, and in over your head. In Not What I Signed Up For, Nicole takes us on a journey through the biblical story of Joseph—thirteen years of conflict, abandonment, and captivity—to help us see how God uses life’s hard times, twists, turns, and in-between spaces to grow something essential in our souls. With honest vulnerability, she’ll help you learn forward when every choice feels impossible.Persevere when you have no idea how your story will end.Recognize signposts of hope in times of doubt, anxiety, and disappointment.Develop a sense of purpose and a resilient faith as you walk through seasons of uncertainty.As you witness Joseph’s eventual restoration and redemption unfold in an entirely different way than what he must have expected, you’ll find the strength, hope, and perspective to navigate a season you didn’t sign up for.

Not What I Signed Up For also makes a perfect gift for anyone in need of spiritual encouragement.]]> 232 Nicole Unice 1496448669 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.44 Not What I Signed Up For: Finding the Strength, Purpose, and Faith to Get through a Season You Didn’t Expect
author: Nicole Unice
name: Amy
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/24
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> Kissing Kosher 62325757
Avital Cohen isn’t wearing underpants—woefully, for unsexy reasons. Chronic pelvic pain has forced her to sideline her photography dreams and her love life. It’s all she can do to manage her family’s kosher bakery, Best Babka in Brooklyn, without collapsing.

She needs hired help.

And distractingly handsome Ethan Lippmann seems the perfect fit.

Except Ethan isn’t there to work—he’s undercover, at the behest of his ironfisted grandfather. Though Lippmann’s is a household name when it comes to mass-produced kosher baked goods, they don’t have the charm of Avital’s bakery. Or her grandfather’s world-famous pumpkin spicebabka recipe.

As they bake side by side, Ethan soon finds himself more interested in Avital than in stealing family secrets, especially as he helps her find the chronic pain relief—and pleasure—she’s been missing.

But perfecting the recipe for romance calls for leaving out the lies…even if coming clean means risking everything.
ձ> 432 Jean Meltzer 0778334406 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.77 2023 Kissing Kosher
author: Jean Meltzer
name: Amy
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> So Into You 210137413
Britt Branch has a successful My-tube channel where she teaches all kinds of art lessons. Obsessed with the 1970s, she has a style all her own and loves yacht rock. She also has a huge problem--severe social anxiety. She lives with her mom, and while she pays her own bills, she wonders if she'll ever have the courage to move out. When her best friend announces she's getting married, Britt thinks it's time to make a change.

Gorgeous Hunter Pickett has always skated by on his model looks and applying very little effort to anything except sports, and even that was iffy at times. The third son of extremely wealthy and successful parents, he's always been the black sheep of the family and has dealt with the issue by drinking and using drugs. When he lands in jail, he turns his life around. But by his third year of sobriety, he's still dealing with aimlessness. When he catches Britt's channel, he's intrigued and ends up watching her videos even though he's not interested in art . . . at first. He reaches out to her, and they eventually become friends and make a deal--if she gives him art lessons, he'll help her with her social anxiety.

But neither of them is completely honest with the other. When all the secrets come out in the worst way possible, relationships must be rebuilt, and Britt has a decision to make--is she going to continue to hide from life, or is she going to finally start living?]]> 336 Kathleen Fuller 0840716125 Amy 4 reviewed, netgalley
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion]]> 3.63 2024 So Into You
author: Kathleen Fuller
name: Amy
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: reviewed, netgalley
review:
So Into You is a sweet, heartwarming story about a girl learning to love herself and gain confidence in who she is with the love of a boy who loves unconditionally. A few times in the storyline, I wished the characters would "get it together" a little more quickly, and I saw the big unraveling coming after about a quarter of the way through the story, but it was still an enjoyable read!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion
]]> <![CDATA[On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga, #1)]]> 1611657
Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys� extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man (known for a little softshoe and wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms), to the very edge of the Ice Prairies.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers� groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and tangle of the beautiful and horrible, temporal and eternal, and good and bad.]]> 290 Andrew Peterson 1400073847 Amy 5
Somehow Janner and Tink have a way of launching themselves headfirst into trouble. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is an invitation to journey with them and battle. I loved every second and dove headfirst into book two. And then found book three at the library as an audiobook and devoured that one as well. There’s a fourth book in the series, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on it quite yet.]]> 4.32 2008 On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga, #1)
author: Andrew Peterson
name: Amy
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2020, kids-books, reviewed, 2024, audio-books
review:
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (book 1) was a wonderful introduction into a new world of mystery and intrigue. It tells the tale of the three Igiby children � Janner, Tink, and Leeli � and their mother and ex-pirate grandfather. They live in a land that has been invaded by the Fangs of Dang, creatures who treat the Igiby family and their fellow residents of Glipwood Township.

Somehow Janner and Tink have a way of launching themselves headfirst into trouble. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is an invitation to journey with them and battle. I loved every second and dove headfirst into book two. And then found book three at the library as an audiobook and devoured that one as well. There’s a fourth book in the series, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on it quite yet.
]]> Mr. Perfect on Paper 59411914 From the author of The Matzah Ball comes a pitch-perfect romcom following a third-generation Jewish matchmaker who unwittingly finds her own search for love thrust into the spotlight...

The perfect Jewish husband should be:
* A doctor or lawyer (preferably a doctor)
* Baggage-free (no previous marriages, no children)
* And of course—he must be Jewish


As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting love—at least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, she’s been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Dara’s checklist for “The Perfect Jewish Husband� on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Dara’s search into must-see TV.

As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesn’t check any of Dara’s boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Dara—a task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if “perfect on paper� can compete with how hard she’s falling for Chris…]]> 387 Jean Meltzer 0778386872 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.68 2022 Mr. Perfect on Paper
author: Jean Meltzer
name: Amy
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Kilt for Christmas (The Enchanted Highlands #3)]]> 199284667 Legend has it that wishes made at the standing stones during Christmas come true.

As if. Maisie Barron is over it. A small-town girl with big dreams, her frustrations lead her to make a silly wish at the standing stones outside Loren Brae. Little does she know, the magick found there will transform her wish into a catastrophic event that threatens the upcoming Christmas Book Festival. Weston Smith needs a break. Burnt out from his tenure-track professorship, he decides that a holiday in little Loren Brae, Scotland, will be the perfect escape he needs to recharge his batteries. The last thing he expects is to find the woman he’s been waiting his whole life for. With the over-zealous help of a gaggle of elderly book club members, West finds himself on a real-life mission to woo the woman of his dreams. There’s more than magic at play when sparks ignite. Snowed in, with an undeniable attraction brewing, only West and Maisie can save Loren Brae from the snowstorm of the century.

Author’s note: a handsome American takes on a lonely Scotswoman in this stand-alone, small-town, Scottish romance. Wicked banter, a highland ghost coo, and dogs dressed in kilts make this magical Christmas story the perfect happily-ever-after.]]> 240 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.24 2023 A Kilt for Christmas (The Enchanted Highlands #3)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild Scottish Knight (The Enchanted Highlands, #1)]]> 125120553
The knight was supposed to be a man.

Not me, Sophie MacKnight, a marketing associate from California.

This must be a practical joke that the Scots play on visiting Americans. Because otherwise I’ve inherited a haunted castle in Scotland, along with one irritatingly sexy Scotsman, who would be delighted if I turned tail and ran.

Frankly, I thought I would fly here, sell the heap of bricks, and head back home to a life that I…well, I was comfortable with at the very least. Instead, the people of Loren Brae are in trouble, and it appears that as the new owner of the castle, I’m next in line to reinstate the magickal Order of Caledonia. Which means, first, I have to learn to believe in magick. And secondly, I have to train to become a knight.

And my trainer? None other than Lachlan Campbell, the grumpiest man I’ve ever had the annoyance of meeting. It’s a toss-up who is pricklier, Lachlan, or his kilted Chihuahua, Sir Buster. Not only does Lachlan think that I can’t hack it, but he also resents my claim on his castle.

If only he didn’t look so devastatingly hot in his kilt.

Now, I’m stuck proving myself to him, all while trying to figure out how to help my new friends in Loren Brae.

Sparks fly as our swords meet, and we battle our rising attraction for each other.

Who will win in this (Highland) game of love?]]> 316 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.66 2023 Wild Scottish Knight (The Enchanted Highlands, #1)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/06
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> How to Walk Away 36249638
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.]]> 302 Katherine Center 1250149061 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.06 2018 How to Walk Away
author: Katherine Center
name: Amy
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild Scottish Love (The Enchanted Highlands #2)]]> 126832367
I draw the line at serving people grasshoppers for dinner.

As luck would have it, on the same day I quit my job as head chef at Suzette’s, a fine-dining restaurant in Boston, I was offered an opportunity to open a restaurant at a castle in Scotland.

But now that I’m here in Loren Brae, I’m not so sure this city girl can hack it. The nights are too quiet–with no horns honking or insults being hurled–and everyone knows my business.

And on the first day of my new life? I meet the hottest man I’d ever seen before.

Munroe Curaigh. Owner of Common Gin, a dedicated nerd, innately shy, with the biggest golden retriever energy of any man I’d ever met. He immediately appoints himself my protector and I’d be annoyed if his kisses weren’t so wickedly hot. Still waters run deep, and all that.

Speaking of still waters…it appears that Loch Mirren is haunted by murderous Kelpies and the people of Loren Brae need my help.

That’s right. It turns out that I’m descended from a long line of Kitchen Witches and Loren Brae needs me, Lia, a chef from Boston, to help save them from an ancient curse.

So what’s a girl to do? It’s time to sharpen my kitchen knife, pull out my recipe book of spells, and get to work–or this tiny village in Scotland that I’m quickly falling in love with will be in danger.

That is, if I can come up for air from Munroe’s decadent kisses.]]> 252 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.43 2023 Wild Scottish Love (The Enchanted Highlands #2)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild Scottish Rose (The Enchanted Highlands #4)]]> 180255081 Is a rose without its thorns any less beautiful?

Shona Scott would much rather putter in her garden than deal with brides that get hysterical over floral arrangements. Fed up, she quits the wedding business and renovates a small cottage on her property for holiday rentals. Without the weddings crowding her calendar, Shona will finally get some time to explore a newfound talent. An unexplainable one, at that.

Owen Williams lands in Scotland for a family wedding, only to prolong his trip after his best friend has a terrifying accident on the waters of Loch Mirren. A documentary filmmaker, Owen’s quest for the truth drives him to Loren Brae, determined to uncover the secrets of what lies in the loch. When Owen books Shona’s cottage, he’s thrust into an unexpected attraction for the beautiful gardener who is determined to keep him at arm’s length.

As Shona’s magic unfolds, she must do everything in her power to hide the secrets of Loren Brae from Owen, even if it means ignoring her own heart.

Can love bloom if the seed is planted with doubt?]]> 370 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 audio-books, 2024 4.57 2024 Wild Scottish Rose (The Enchanted Highlands #4)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: audio-books, 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild Scottish Beauty (The Enchanted Highlands #5)]]> 204419271 “She was sunshine to my storm clouds, and I wondered how the two could ever coexist.�

A chance job offer in Scotland gives Willow Barlowe an excuse to escape the predictable life her overly controlling brother, Miles, wants for her. Excited to start fresh as a fashion intern for the local kiltmaker, Willow lands in small town Loren Brae brimming with sunshine and hope. Until she discovers that her new boss is none other than Ramsay McMillan, her brother’s best friend, and the grumpiest man this side of the Atlantic. Never mind the ghost Highland coo that haunts the castle, nor the supposedly bewitched waters of Loch Mirren, Willow refuses to work under Ramsay’s watchful eyes, certain he’s reporting back to her brother.

Ramsay Kilts is home to one of the last remaining traditional kiltmakers in Scotland, Ramsay McMillan. Loyalty, continuity, and tradition are important to Ramsay–as is his privacy. After a family betrayal, Ramsay keeps his walls up, running a veritable kilt empire with as minimum fuss as he can. Enter Willow Barlowe–his new intern, good friend’s little sister, and a veritable thorn in his side. If the thorn is made of sunshine and sparkles that is.

As the two clash, Ramsay must decide if loyalty is really more important than love?]]> 394 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.61 2024 Wild Scottish Beauty (The Enchanted Highlands #5)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wild Scottish Fortune (The Enchanted Highlands #6)]]> 211175245
Orla Clarke is a master builder with a secret—she can see ghosts. Tasked with building Common Gin’s newest distillery in Loren Brae, Orla faces more than just architectural challenges. Haunted by her past as an orphan and the spirits that have followed her since childhood, Orla’s talent for building walls extends to her heart. She’s brilliant at solving problems on the construction site, but when it comes to matters of love, she’s always kept her distance.

Enter Finlay Thompson, the charming and driven director of the distillery project. Determined to breathe new life into the old stone building, Finlay is equally passionate about gin as he is about profits. Betrayed by family, and untrusting of relationships, he can’t help but be entranced by the pint-sized powerhouse overseeing the build-out of the distillery. With mysterious things happening around Loren Brae, the more Finlay puts himself in Orla’s path, the more he is drawn to the quiet builder with luminous eyes.

As spirits bring secrets to light, Orla and Finlay must confront their deepest fears. Can they build a future together, or will their haunted pasts keep them apart forever?]]> 260 Tricia O'Malley Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.53 2024 Wild Scottish Fortune (The Enchanted Highlands #6)
author: Tricia O'Malley
name: Amy
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/18
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Moonlight, Marshmallows, & Manslaughter (Camper & Criminals #35)]]> 198250733

During National Wildflower Week, Normal is abuzz with nature enthusiasts and botanists. But the festivities take a dark turn when a renowned botanist known for her groundbreaking research is found dead under the moonlit sky. The tranquil celebration is shattered, and the town is gripped with shock and disbelief.

The trails may have gone cold, but Mae and her friends are hot on the case. From a land developer with a not-so-clear conservation plan to an assistant whose obsession takes a dangerous turn, the list of suspects is as diverse as the town's flora. Mae delves into a thicket of hidden motives and secrets, discovering that danger in Normal can sprout up unexpectedly.

Navigating through a labyrinth of environmental politics and hidden agendas, the Laundry Club Ladies are determined to expose the truth and bring justice. But in Normal, where the extraordinary often lurks beneath the surface, can Mae piece together the puzzle before the killer strikes again?

"Moonlight Marshmallows & Manslaughter" invites you on a captivating journey through the heart of Kentucky. It's a cozy mystery that intertwines the charm of small-town life with the thrill of the unknown. So, get ready to be immersed in a tale where uncovering the truth is as vital as preserving the beauty of nature itself.]]> 194 Tonya Kappes Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.03 Moonlight, Marshmallows, & Manslaughter (Camper & Criminals #35)
author: Tonya Kappes
name: Amy
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed]]> 26760309 128 Betsy Childs Howard 1433549492 Amy 0 2024 4.32 2016 Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed
author: Betsy Childs Howard
name: Amy
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/22
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Christian History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Christianity, Kings of Israel and Judah, and Queen of Sheba]]> 52736935 Free History BONUS Inside!

Three captivating manuscripts in one book:
History of Christianity: A Captivating Guide to Crucial Moments in Christian History, Including Events Such as the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, the Early Church, and the Reformation The Kings of Israel and Judah: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Jewish Kingdom of David and Solomon, the Divided Monarchy, and the Assyrian and Babylonian Conquests of Samaria and Jerusalem Queen of Sheba: A Captivating Guide to a Mysterious Queen Mentioned in the Bible and Her Relationship with King Solomon Who would have thought that from its humble beginnings as a small group of followers of a Jewish man called Jesus that Christianity would become, less than two thousand years later, the most widespread religion on Earth?

Christianity’s birth and development is a vast, complex story filled with setbacks and contradictions but also with triumphs. It is intricately entwined with the world’s development over the last two thousand years, encompassing entire societies, helping to build and destroy empires, and molding the spiritual lives of people of all races and cultures. This book will reveal the main aspects surrounding this fascinating saga.

Some of the topics covered in part 1 of this book include:
Prophecies with an Announced birth Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ Early Church Christianity Spreads Throughout the World Radical Changes Within the Church Christianity Nowadays And much, much more! Some of the topics covered in part 2 of this book include:
The Last Judges Give Us a King A Boy from Bethlehem Saul Has a Rival King David David’s Downfall The Horrors King Solomon Divided Monarchy The Kings of the Divided Monarchy Until the Fall of Israel Ten Lost Tribes: The Destruction and Fall of Israel Judah’s Resistance and Reforms The Fall of Jerusalem and the End of the Kingdom of Judah And much, much more! Some of the topics covered in part 3 of this book include:
Sheba Before the Queen A Questioning Queen Word of the Wise King A Journey to Israel Encountering Solomon A Forbidden Union Joy on the Journey Home A New King And much, much more! So if you want to learn more about the history of Christianity, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!]]> 191 Captivating History Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.57 Christian History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Christianity, Kings of Israel and Judah, and Queen of Sheba
author: Captivating History
name: Amy
average rating: 3.57
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/20
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family]]> 59892260 From the bestselling author and host of the wildly popularUndisclosed podcast,a warm, intimate memoir about food, body image, and growing up in a loving but sometimes oppressively concerned Pakistani immigrant family.

"My entire life I have been less fat and more fat, but never not fat."According to family lore, when Rabia Chaudry’s family returned to Pakistan for their first visit since moving to the United States, two-year-old Rabia was more than just a pudgy toddler. Dada Abu, her fit and sprightly grandfather, attempted to pick her up but had to put her straight back down, demanding of Chaudry’s mother: “What have you done to her?� The answer was two full bottles of half-and-half per day, frozen butter sticks to gnaw on, and lots and lots of American processed foods.

And yet, despite her parents plying her with all the wrong foods as they discovered Burger King and Dairy Queen, they were highly concerned for the future for their large-sized daughter. How would she ever find a suitable husband? There was merciless teasing by uncles, cousins, and kids at school, but Chaudry always loved food too much to hold a grudge against it. Soon she would leave behind fast food and come to love the Pakistani foods of her heritage, learning to cook them with wholesome ingredients and eat them in moderation. At once a love letter (with recipes) to fresh roti, chaat, chicken biryani, ghee, pakoras, shorba, parathay and an often hilarious dissection of life in a Muslim immigrant family, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is also a searingly honest portrait of a woman grappling with a body that gets the job done but that refuses to meet the expectations of others.

Chaudry's memoiroffers readers a relatable and powerful voice on the controversial topic of body image, one that dispenses with the politics and gets to what every woman who has ever struggled with weight will relate to.
ձ> 352 Rabia Chaudry 1643750380 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.04 Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family
author: Rabia Chaudry
name: Amy
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/19
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> The Rose Code 53914938 The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of East-End London poverty, works the legendary code-breaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.

1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter—the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger—and their true enemy...]]> 624 Kate Quinn 0062943472 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.42 2021 The Rose Code
author: Kate Quinn
name: Amy
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/18
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> I Think I Was Murdered 210137424
Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.

I Think I Was Murdered:

Features a unique look at grief through the lens of technology
Deals with current topics and themes
Will appeal to fans of Ruth Ware, Laura Griffin, Laura Dave, and Sarah Pearse
Includes Discussion Questions]]> 352 Colleen Coble 084071257X Amy 0 2024, netgalley 3.69 2024 I Think I Was Murdered
author: Colleen Coble
name: Amy
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/17
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, netgalley
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Spy Camp: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #2)]]> 61454813 The second book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series continues in graphic novel form as aspiring spy Ben Ripley must spend his summer in top-secret training—and is thrown back into danger.

Ben Ripley is a middle schooler whose school is not exactly average—he’s spent the last year training to be a top-level spy and dodging all sorts of associated danger. So now that summer’s finally here, Ben would like to have some fun and relax. But that’s not going to happen during required spy survival training at a rustic wilderness camp, where SPYDER, an enemy spy organization, has infiltrated the spies� ranks. Can Ben root out the enemy before it takes him out—for good?]]> 328 Stuart Gibbs Amy 0 2024, kids-books 4.40 2023 Spy Camp: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #2)
author: Stuart Gibbs
name: Amy
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/13
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, kids-books
review:

]]> Over the Edge 209351063
Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.

With her signature spellbinding style, the bestselling and award-winning "queen of inspirational romantic suspense" (Library Journal) delivers another riveting tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.]]> 368 Irene Hannon 0800741897 Amy 0 2024 4.14 2024 Over the Edge
author: Irene Hannon
name: Amy
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/09
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most of Your God-Given Time]]> 56220031
Are you a busy mom with too many demands on your time? Do you feel overwhelmed, distracted, stressed out, and pulled in too many directions at once? Sarah K. Butterfield knows what it’s like to wonder whether you’ll ever have time to yourself again, and to live in the tension between the lure of productivity and the promise of rest. With gentle wisdom and realistic strategies, Sarah shows you how to be wise with the time God has given you.

In this inspiring and practical guide, you’ll learn how to:

+Cast a vision for how you want to spend your time.
+Model your perspective on the life of Jesus.
+Use effective strategies for motivation and productivity in your home.
+Set healthy boundaries around your time.
+Deal with interruptions.
+Prioritize and organize your schedule.
+Be mindful and present in the time you spend with others.
+Enjoy your time like the God-given gift it’s meant to be.

Be confident that you are making smart decisions with your time throughout your journey of motherhood. Crawl into bed at night, knowing that you found enough time for what was important. If you’re ready to start making the most of your God-given time, “Around the Clock Mom� is the guide you need!]]> 112 Sarah K. Butterfield Amy 0 2024 4.71 Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most of Your God-Given Time
author: Sarah K. Butterfield
name: Amy
average rating: 4.71
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Convivial Homeschool: Gospel Encouragement for Keeping Your Sanity While Living and Learning Alongside Your Kids]]> 59702550
Homeschool days can be long and hard. It's easy to lose sight of what's actually happening in the midst of the day to day. Even when we lose our vision, God does not lose His. While we attempt to teach and disciple our children, we find that it is ourselves needing the instruction and discipleship. We also find that God provides both, using our decision to homeschool to draw us closer to Himself. To continue with love and perseverance, we need confidence not in our work but in God’s. These thirty readings will lift up your eyes and spirit so you can focus on what truly matters while doing the daily work of educating your kids.

"This volume is a wonderful resource of wisdom for moms everywhere who struggle and wonder if they are doing enough.� —Cindy Rollins, author of Mere Motherhood]]> 224 Mystie Winckler 1737451700 Amy 0 2024 4.69 The Convivial Homeschool: Gospel Encouragement for Keeping Your Sanity While Living and Learning Alongside Your Kids
author: Mystie Winckler
name: Amy
average rating: 4.69
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Elves, Evergreens, & Evidence (Camper & Criminals #34)]]> 188904465
Mae West's first Christmas as a married woman at Happy Trails Campground should've been merry and bright. But when a Winter Festival turns deadly and one of their own lands on the suspect list, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies know there's more to unwrap than just presents.

With a mischievous reindeer, a friend in jeopardy, and the campground's reputation at stake, Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies are dashing through clues and untangling Christmas mysteries.

Dive into a world of holiday in the campground, Southern charm, and yuletide twists, where tinsel, traditions, and murder collide. Grab a cup of cocoa and join the holiday hunt with Mae and the gang, as they jingle all the way to justice.]]> 278 Tonya Kappes Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.20 Elves, Evergreens, & Evidence (Camper & Criminals #34)
author: Tonya Kappes
name: Amy
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/28
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Just for the Summer (Part of Your World, #3)]]> 195820807
Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?]]> 432 Abby Jimenez 1538704439 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.35 2024 Just for the Summer (Part of Your World, #3)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Amy
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/28
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Playing Defense (Dallas Demons #5)]]> 35624713 244 Aven Ellis 1682914852 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.26 2017 Playing Defense (Dallas Demons #5)
author: Aven Ellis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/26
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[On Thin Ice (Dallas Demons #4)]]> 32505490
1.) It’s a long road to become a full-time author. 2.) She’ll need to work to pay her bills. 3.) And Dallas Demons superstar Matt Rhinelander will never return her feelings.

Holly knows her unrequited crush on the partying hockey player is ridiculous. There’s no way Matt would be attracted to a woman who prefers nights in watching TV or reading books when he’s known for his frequent bar hops and fast lifestyle. Obviously he would never see her as anything other than his teammate’s little sister.

Yet Holly is drawn to the other side of Matt—the man she knows has always been thoughtful and easy to talk to whenever she’s been alone with him. It is this Matt that fueled the crush Holly has on him. And she knows it will always be just that—a secret crush.

Or will it?

Because when Matt helps Holly through a crisis, her heart begins to believe that there might be feelings on his part, too. After a night of hard partying puts Matt in jeopardy with the Dallas Demons, can Holly be the one to save him? And when Matt admits he sees her as more than Nate Johansson’s sister, will it put both of them on thin ice?]]> 289 Aven Ellis Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.21 2016 On Thin Ice (Dallas Demons #4)
author: Aven Ellis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/25
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> Breakout (Dallas Demons, #3) 26833769
Lexi has an editing job for a corporate account, but it’s not fulfilling. Nor is her dating life, despite having the so-called help of The One Online Dating Service. Lexi knows there has to be more for her—on both fronts. She’s ready to take the next step, but it doesn't seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon.

Until a flying puck changes everything.

Niko Xenakis is the new Dallas Demons TV producer, and he’s looking to make his mark in his new role and hopefully work his way back to his hometown of Baltimore. But once he meets Lexi, he might just change his mind on what he wants for his future . . .

But the road to love is never easy, complicated by the fact that they both carry emotional baggage from the past in their hearts. Can these two “breakout”of the past to find love in the present?]]> 248 Aven Ellis 1619359200 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.19 2015 Breakout (Dallas Demons, #3)
author: Aven Ellis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/23
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Definition of Icing (Dallas Demons, #2)]]> 25316260
All Kenley wants in life is people to take her seriously, to see the person on the inside rather than the blonde beauty on the outside. While pursuing her passion of chocolate, Kenley discovered people seek her knowledge. They see past the exterior and fall for the chocolate delights in front of them.

So with work as her focus, Kenley is ready to start her career in Dallas. Men are out of her recipe, because she fears that once they get past her looks, they’ll be disappointed in what they find. Kenley decides she's all about the chocolate now.

Or is she?

Because a chance meeting with new Dallas Demon hockey star Nate Johansson might change everything. Sent to Dallas in a blockbuster trade, Nate is somewhere he doesn't want to be, for reasons that have caused him heartbreak on multiple levels. Nate knows he will never trust a woman again after what happened to him in Minnesota.

But when he meets a woman with an intriguing name and a passion for chocolate, Nate isn't so sure about his theory. And he might just learn a definition of icing other than the one used in hockey with Kenley as his guide...]]> 258 Aven Ellis Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.10 2015 The Definition of Icing (Dallas Demons, #2)
author: Aven Ellis
name: Amy
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/23
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)]]> 203147386
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs―Kingsley’s included―point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies...including their nemesis, the king.

Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?]]> 368 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1649377177 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.07 2024 Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Amy
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/21
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)]]> 13538873
Clay Jannon tells how serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has sent him from Web Drone to night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. After just a few days on the job, Clay realizes just how curious this store is.

A few customers come in repeatedly without buying anything. Instead they “check out� obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. All runs according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes.

He embarks on a complex analysis of the customers� behavior and ropes in friends to help. Once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore. A quest to New York City dips in a world conspiracy for eternal life. The current of romance pulls Clay onward.]]> 288 Robin Sloan 0374214913 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.71 2012 Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)
author: Robin Sloan
name: Amy
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/19
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon]]> 28495892
History remembers Robert F. Kennedy as a racial healer, a tribune for the poor, and the last progressive knight. But Kennedy—nurtured on the rightist orthodoxies of his dynasty-building father—started his public life as counsel to the left-baiting, table-thumping Senator Joseph McCarthy.

A bare-knuckled political operative who masterminded his brother’s whatever-it-takes bids for senator and president, Kennedy okayed FBI wiretaps of Martin Luther King Jr. and cloak-and-dagger operations against communist Cuba that included blowing up railroad bridges, sabotaging crops, and plotting the elimination of President Fidel Castro.

Remembered now as a rare optimist in an age of political cynicism, RFK’s profoundly moving journey from cold warrior to hot-blooded liberal also offers a lens into two of the most chaotic and confounding decades of twentieth century America.]]> 608 Larry Tye 0812993349 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.37 2016 Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon
author: Larry Tye
name: Amy
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/18
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> Home Ice 53205083 Kylie Reed vowed she’d never pick up a man in a bar. It’s one of her personal rules, after all. So falling into a gorgeous ginger’s lap, tossing a glass of wine on him, and then hoping he asks for her number while in a bar would be a trifecta of wrong, right? Organized, rule-loving, and cautious to a fault, Kylie Reed is waiting for the perfect moment to live her dreams—when she has a house, when she meets her husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic boutique a little while longer. All of her dreams are saved for later—as that seems to be a safer place than taking a risk to actually live them. Yet Kylie finds all her rules bending when she falls into the lap of gorgeous Harrison Flynn, captain of the Dallas Demons hockey team. Harrison harbors his own fears for the future, ones he keeps close to the vest. He’s intrigued with the brown-eyed beauty who proceeds with caution, while she’s drawn to the sexy man who pushes boundaries and functions in chaos. The phrase opposites attract has never been truer as the chemistry between them is anything but polar from the second they meet� While the attraction is hot, is that enough to make a relationship work? Can they face their fears for a future they both want? Will this relationship end before puck drop? Or will they find home ice together? If you like swoony heroes, hilarious heroines, and a couple you can cheer for, you’ll want to escape into Home Ice. Can be read as a standalone and a happily ever after is guaranteed.]]> 285 Aven Ellis Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.86 2015 Home Ice
author: Aven Ellis
name: Amy
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/16
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1)]]> 123257687
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.]]> 342 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1649375808 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.88 2023 Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Amy
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/14
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Untitled (Assistant to the Villain, #4)]]> 220864544 Hannah Nicole Maehrer Amy 0 to-read 4.42 Untitled (Assistant to the Villain, #4)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Amy
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #3)]]> 188563996
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie� or “Stop that.�

Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,� and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.]]> 336 Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1529917778 Amy 0 to-read 4.47 2025 Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #3)
author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
name: Amy
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Rom-Commers 195790586 She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.� Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?]]> 336 Katherine Center 1250283809 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.05 2024 The Rom-Commers
author: Katherine Center
name: Amy
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/13
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> The Midnight Feast 199743738 Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin...

It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests� healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule� cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

THE FOUNDER * THE HUSBAND * THE MYSTERY GUEST * THE KITCHEN HELP

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at� The Midnight Feast.]]> 354 Lucy Foley 0063003104 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.55 2024 The Midnight Feast
author: Lucy Foley
name: Amy
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/12
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Break of Day (Annie Pederson #3)]]> 63354425 336 Colleen Coble 0785253785 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.22 2023 Break of Day (Annie Pederson #3)
author: Colleen Coble
name: Amy
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/11
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Beginning (The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, #1)]]> 34448839
In the first adventure in the series, Peter and Mary find themselves witnesses to the creation of the world just as God is speaking it into existence. Can they unlock the mystery of the scrolls before they get trapped in history forever? Children will discover the answer as the two characters ride rhinos, meet the angel Michael, and talk to a certain snake in the Garden of Eden. Riveting text and engaging illustrations bring this beloved Bible story to riotous life.]]> 112 M.J. Thomas 0824956842 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.21 2017 The Beginning (The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, #1)
author: M.J. Thomas
name: Amy
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/10
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Between Flowers and Bones (The Restorationists, #2)]]> 203608455 In a world where paintings become portals and adventure lurks behind every canvas, the young Restorationists discover that every Gift was made to fight the darkness in the second novel in the thrilling middle grade series from the award-winning author of Beneath the Swirling Sky.Twelve-year-old Georgia assumed she would one day be the last Restorationist protecting art from evil forces. So she was thrilled when her cousin Vincent finally joined the family calling.But Vincent’s flashier Gift makes Georgia feel like a sidekick rather than a hero. And things only get more complicated and perilous after he willingly steps into the heart of danger.Will the remnants of the Restorationists� society fracture under the pressure of the Distortionists� schemes? Or is Georgia’s Gift really enough to rescue her family, the art world, the Restorationists—and ultimately save the day?]]> 288 Carolyn Leiloglou 0593579550 Amy 4
I am loving the stories in this series! They are well thought out, include quite a bit of art history and very engaging! I can't wait for the next story!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.]]> 4.56 Between Flowers and Bones (The Restorationists, #2)
author: Carolyn Leiloglou
name: Amy
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/15
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: kids-books, netgalley, reviewed, 2024
review:
Between Flower and Bone continues the story of Vincent and Georgia, two young cousins who are able to travel through paintings. Throughout this story, Georgia struggles because she feels like Vincent's gift as a painter is the flashier gift and she feels like she has lost her place within the family. However, through the journey, Georgia learns that we must all work together to use our gifts in order to bring about the most good.

I am loving the stories in this series! They are well thought out, include quite a bit of art history and very engaging! I can't wait for the next story!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[Spy School: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #1)]]> 57066669 Can an undercover nerd become a superstar secret agent? Now a graphic novel!

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: CIA or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.� In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him?

Actually, no. There’s been a case of mistaken identity—but that doesn’t stop Ben from trying to morph into a supercool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl. And through a series of hilarious misadventures, Ben realizes he might actually be a halfway decent spy…if he can survive all the attempts being made on his life!]]> 296 Stuart Gibbs 1534455434 Amy 0 2024, kids-books 4.08 2022 Spy School: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #1)
author: Stuart Gibbs
name: Amy
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/12
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, kids-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #3)]]> 176443457
During a spy school game of Capture the Flag, twelve-year-old Ben Ripley accidentally shoots a live mortar into the principal’s office—and immediately gets himself expelled. Not long after going back to the boring real world, Ben gets an offer to join evil crime organization SPYDER. And he accepts.

Ben can tell he’s a key part of their sinister plan, but he’s not quite sure what the plan is . Can Ben figure out what SPYDER is up to—and get word to the good guys without getting caught—before it’s too late?

Follow Ben as he crosses over to the dark side in action-packed, full-color panels.]]> 368 Stuart Gibbs 1665931930 Amy 0 to-read 4.34 Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel (Spy School Graphic Novels #3)
author: Stuart Gibbs
name: Amy
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1)]]> 44421460 What would you change if you could go back in time?

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.

But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?]]> 213 Toshikazu Kawaguchi 1529029589 Amy 0 2024 3.66 2015 Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1)
author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
name: Amy
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/07
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money]]> 18702622
Find practical strategies to raise money-smart kids in this debt-crazed world. Smart Money Smart Kids offers common-sense ways to teach these money lessons:

Where money comes from
The value of hard work
How to save, spend, and give
Debt, and how to avoid it
Paying cash for college
Living responsibly]]> 272 Dave Ramsey 1937077632 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.25 2014 Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money
author: Dave Ramsey
name: Amy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/09
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't]]> 201335331
We've all heard the mind-boggling statistics about technology and social media use. The numbers don't lie; our obsession with smartphones and social media is slowly eroding the very essence of our homes and families. We see it. We feel it. We know it.

So what do wedoabout it?

Spoiler Forget parental control apps, time limits, or reward charts. This revolutionary path takes us into the heart of the beast the social media algorithm. Former social media influencer and trailblazer Erin Loechner has seen the perks and pitfalls of social media usage, and she knows how to hack the strategies of tech wizards and platform experts so you can borrow their billion-dollar playbook to engage your family in meaningful ways away from screens.

The Opt-Out Familyis packed with eye-opening research and startling insights, as well as practical encouragement and creative ideas to transform your family's relationship with today's ever-evolving technology. As a result, you

Experience more quality time with your children that doesn't revolve around screensCreate healthy habits as a family that will set your children up for success in the futureDiscover what your kids actually need from you, and learn how to delight and engage them better than a device canAnd, ultimately, establish true and lasting influence within your own four walls--and far beyondThe Opt-Out Familyunlocks a world where genuine connections flourish and technology takes a backseat. It's time to reclaim your home and build a tech-free family culture that's stronger than your Wi-Fi signal.]]> 320 Erin Loechner 0310345693 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.32 The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't
author: Erin Loechner
name: Amy
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/05
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dolphins in Danger (Magnificent Mulligans)]]> 199721320
The Magnificent Mulligans are back, and they’re learning again how to stick together, protect the vulnerable, and stand up for what’s right. When Dad gets a call from a friend who needs help with a distressed dolphin, he and Lisa drive up the coast to try to help. But a big storm in the forecast is going to make this mission difficult.

Meanwhile, the other Mulligans are excited about new opportunities. Julie is learning to take care of flamingoes, Janelle is learning to play tennis, and Nick is learning how to fly an airplane. Nick’s first lesson? Convincing his instructor that he’s really ready to take the yoke. The guy keeps glancing nervously at the parachute he brings along for the flight!]]> 160 Bill Myers 1646071328 Amy 0 2024, netgalley, kids-books 4.50 Dolphins in Danger (Magnificent Mulligans)
author: Bill Myers
name: Amy
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, netgalley, kids-books
review:

]]> Home Is Where the Bodies Are 194020321
While going through their parents' belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.

Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.]]> 256 Jeneva Rose Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.77 2024 Home Is Where the Bodies Are
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Amy
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/21
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Food Triggers: Exchanging Unhealthy Patterns for God-Honoring Habits]]> 58543358
Do you crave unhealthy foods or overeat when you're stressed, bored, or lonely? These and other food triggers not only have an emotional and physical basis, they can also become a spiritual battle. In this groundbreaking book, certified health coach Amber Lia exposes 31 common food-related struggles that trap people in unhealthy thinking and eating patterns. Learn the practical strategies you need to

· identify the specific food triggers sabotaging your health and happiness
· break free from the cycle of reactionary eating and feelings of defeat
· find the motivation and methods needed to embrace healthy habits

Today can be your turning point. Break the chains of food triggers and replace them with God-honoring habits. More than discovering what it takes to have a healthy body, you will receive spiritual health for your soul!

"What if your hunger pangs aren't about physical hunger at all but an invitation to develop a spiritual appetite for God? If food is your trigger, this is your opportunity!" --WENDY SPEAKE, author of The 40-Day Sugar Fast]]> 240 Amber Lia 0764238884 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 4.05 Food Triggers: Exchanging Unhealthy Patterns for God-Honoring Habits
author: Amber Lia
name: Amy
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lay Them to Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless]]> 103450619 A fascinating deep dive into the dark world of forensic science as experts team up to solve the identity of an unknown woman named "Ina Jane Doe," exploring the rapidly evolving techniques scientists are using to break the most notorious cold cases, written by the host of the popular true crime podcast, The Fall Line

Fans of true crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order know that when it comes to "getting the bad guy" behind bars, your best chance of success boils down to the strength of your evidence--and the forensic science used to obtain it. Beyond the silver screen, forensic science has been used for decades to help solve even the most tough-to-crack cases. In 2018, the accused Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, was finally apprehended after a decades-long investigation thanks to a very recent technique called forensic genealogy, which has since led to the closure of hundreds of cold cases, bringing long-awaited justice to victims and families alike. But when it comes to solving these incredibly difficult cases, forensic genealogy is just the tip of the iceberg--and many readers have no idea just how far down that iceberg goes.

For Laurah Norton, forensic science was always more of a passion than anything else. But after learning about a mishandled 1990s cold case involving missing twins, she was spurred to action, eventually creating a massively popular podcast and building a platform that helped bring widespread attention and resources to the case. LAY THEM TO REST builds on Laurah's fascination with these investigations, introducing readers to the history and evolution of forensic science, from the death masks used in Ancient Rome to the 3-D facial reconstruction technology used today. Incorporating the stories of real-life John & Jane Does from around the world, Laurah also examines how changing identification methods have helped solve the most iconic cold cases. Along the way readers will also get to see Laurah solve a case in real time with forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy Michael, as they try to determine the identity of "Ina" Jane Doe, a woman whose head was found in a brush in an Illinois park in 1993.

More than just a chronicle of the history of forensics, LAY THEM TO REST is also a celebration of the growing field of experts, forensic artists, and anthropologists (many of whom Laurah talks to in the book), who work tirelessly to bring closure to these unsolved cases. And of course, this book asks why some cases go unsolved, highlighting the "missing missing," the sex workers, undocumented, the cases that so desperately need our attention, but so rarely get it.

Engrossing, informative, heartbreaking, and hopeful, LAY THEM TO REST is a deep dive into the world of forensic science, showing readers how far we've come in cracking cases and catching killers, and illuminating just how far we have yet to go.]]> 352 Laurah Norton 0306828804 Amy 0 2024 3.83 2023 Lay Them to Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless
author: Laurah Norton
name: Amy
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024
review:

]]> The Princess of Las Vegas 90587135
Crissy Dowling has created a world that suits her perfectly. She passes her days by the pool in a private cabana, she splurges on ice cream but never gains an ounce, and each evening she transforms into a Princess, performing her musical cabaret inspired by the life of the late Diana Spencer. Some might find her strange or even delusional, an American speaking with a British accent, hair feathered into a style thirty years old, living and working in a casino that has become a dated trash heap. On top of that, Crissy’s daily diet of Adderall and Valium leaves her more than a little tipsy, her Senator boyfriend has gone back to his wife, and her entire career rests on resembling a dead woman. And yet, fans see her for the gifted chameleon she is, showering her with gifts, letters, and standing ovations night after night. But when Crissy’s sister, Betsy, arrives in town with a new boyfriend and a teenage daughter, and when Richie Morley, the owner of the Buckingham Palace Casino, is savagely murdered, Crissy’s carefully constructed kingdom comes crashing down all around her. A riveting tale of identity, obsession, fintech, and high-tech mobsters, The Princess of Las Vegas is an addictive, wildly original thriller from one of our most extraordinary storytellers.]]> 400 Chris Bohjalian 0385547587 Amy 0 2024, audio-books 3.39 2024 The Princess of Las Vegas
author: Chris Bohjalian
name: Amy
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, audio-books
review:

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