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Snowy day calls for soup and, Mermaids?! 

Angie's an aspiring marine biologist whose hometown in Alaska is starting to starve due to the fish mysteriously disappearing 

Mer-Prince Kaden is leery of landwalkers but is willing to talk to try and stop the massacre of his people 

Angie and Kaden's worlds are clashing with them in the middle 

Oceansong by C.W. Rose purchase link

Shrimp and Corn Soup recipe

Review: False Evidence

False Evidence by Rachel Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

She was in unimaginable trouble and couldn’t begin to understand why. 

False Evidence is the twelfth and final book in the romantic suspense series, Evidence. As I've not read any books in the series yet, it could definitely be argued that I had no business starting here, but it's December and this being set during the holiday time with me craving some romantic suspense, well, I jumped in. I can report that it is possible to just pick this up, there's flashbacks and world-setting history/dynamics/relationships to help newbies (and tempt! to go back and read previous books) acclimate to the world. I think it did hurt me a little that I was all new to the emotions regarding this couple's long history, Lex (Alexandra) may have a been a bit too forgiving to quickly for me, even when an apology was given. If you're a reader of the series, oooh boy would you probably love to experience and get this angsty couple's payoff. 

She loved him but didn’t have him. 

This starts off with in her forties single mom Lex leaving the house of her former roommate who committed suicide, having retrieved a hard drive that had old pictures on it and some personal items. Lex is pulled over by a cop and our suspense gets going when he is aggressive and physical right off the bat. Thinking she's fighting for her life, Lex wacks him in the head with the hard drive and hides in a ditch when a car is coming up the road, not knowing if it will be a cop who will shoot and ask questions later. When the car stops and someone gets out, only to walk over to the knocked out cop and shoot them, Lex knows she's in serious trouble, if not knowing why. This leads to Lex hiding out in her ex-fiance's, Jay (JT), cabin, where he eventually ends up himself, with her daughter, and we move more to the romance side with flashbacks to how Lex and Jay met and how it went so chemistry right for them, only to go so emotionally wrong. 

He’d never loved anyone more than Alexandra, and he’d never hurt anyone more either. 

With characters in their forties, these two have pretty much worked through their emotional baggage in the present time, Jay mentions how a therapist helped him. Jay had those Daddy Issues that had him taking his anger and insecurities out on Lex, leading to their first break-up and then another final one after an attempted reconciliation. Jay didn't think he was worth emotionally investing in and Lex struggled with not wanting to get lost in such a high powered man, he's extremely rich with political aspirations, and her wanting kids with Jay adamantly opposed. Lex met him when she was in grad school, she goes on to get her PhD and is a theoretical scientist who ends up teaching, and with the haven't worked through emotional baggage yet, the timing keeps these two from getting it right. Who knew all they needed was years of emotional work (duh) and Lex accused of murder with a statewide hunt for her going on (wild card)? 

Here she was, sixteen years later, and once again sleeping in his arms. 

In the present, Jay is pretty much all in with wanting Lex back, she puts up a little bit of a wall, she has an almost two year old daughter to worry for now. For as much as Jay was against kids, he falls pretty quickly for the daughter Gemma and going all in on a being a dad (him having a day alone to take care of Gemma lead to some cute/funny moments). You'll get more of their struggles in the flashbacks that span their sixteen year history. Around seventy percent the romance thread is mainly taken care of (there was some much appreciated grown-up feeling open door scenes) and we get the suspense plot coming in strong. I really liked how we get a pov from Lex's roommate, it humanized this character more, and readers see the pieces fall into place of how Lex is wrapped up in all this. It was a little rushed and a little messy with some of the relationship reveals and whys but, for the most part, worked. 

With appearances by past main couples and the payoff for who seemed to be that messy couple in the series, I can see readers emotionally enjoying this capstone book. For a new reader jumping in, I thought some things came a little too easily but I enjoyed the angsty emotional, with some danger, ride.

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Under the Christmas tree read today, and it releases this Thursday! 

🎄📚 

Alexandra and JT haven't talked in seven years 

But Alexandra's in danger and on the run, and the place she can hide, is JT's remote cabin 

When JT learns who's currently a fugitive from police, he's going to step in to help the love of his life 

An emotional second chance romance as Alexandra and JT collide, struggling to find their way back to each other and escape danger 

False Evidence by Rachel Grant (Dec. 19th) purchase link

Review: When We Had Forever: An Emotional Romance with a Twisty Mystery, Uncover the Secrets of Love and Loss

When We Had Forever: An Emotional Romance with a Twisty Mystery, Uncover the Secrets of Love and Loss by Shaylin Gandhi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.7 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

At what moment did I stop being a wife? 

When We Had Forever was a literary romance soap opera of a ride. I've been baptized in the waters of Harlequin Presents, so it's not really a brag when I say, within ten pages, I knew what was going on. Whether you immediately catch the clues like I did, or aren't aware until around seventy percent when the Big Secret is revealed, I think both avenues would offer different kinds of enjoyment. The story is told all from Mina's point-of-view and instead of divided into chapters, we get Before and After timeline switches. I know some struggle with flashbacks but the structure of the story being told this way really supports the plot and the ride of emotions you the reader are supposed to go on. 

Whatever happened between them that day, it was the spark that lit the fire of my husband changing. Which is why I hate Grayson and always will. 

The story opens up with After, Mina struggling emotionally six months after the death of her husband Michael. They were married for over a decade but in first person pov, we really get an in depth feel for Mina's emotions and it's clear right away that everything wasn't rosy in her marriage, especially when it's revealed that she had divorce papers printed out. The jump to Before gives us Mina and Michael meeting, we get a look at young Mina wanting to escape her hometown and travel but having to deal with a mother who is severely traumatized over the death of Mina's brother and a bestfriend of Mina's who also died overseas. Mina and Michael have an instant chemistry but it's clear that Michael is holding something back from her and also doesn't want to persuade her from making the jump to travel to Greece at the end of the month. As the story moves back and forth from After and Before we see how the two fell in love and how Mina is trying to work through how their marriage ended up in the emotional place it did before Michael died. 

“You were right before. You can never start over. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start new.” 

This had some of that overly descriptive literary writing feel and the vast majority of the story is more sedately paced as we spend it in Mina's head and swimming through her emotions. The second half, especially the latter part almost felt rushed as Mina learns Michael had an identical twin brother, Grayson, and he contacts her after Michael's death. When they meet face-to-face it all starts to move pretty quickly as secrets are revealed and Mina has whole new emotions to work through. While the writing was literary, the plot was soap opera flair and I can't help but feel Mina worked through and forgave a bit too much and a bit too quickly. I felt Mina, personally, got a happily ever after and more of a happily for now romantically but that HFN could easily read more HEA for people who buy into immediate no questions asked soulmates. If you're looking to wade around in some emotional angst, this would be a compelling debut to pick up.

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Contemporary romance for this chilly Wednesday. 

Mina's husband died in a car crash six months ago, but if she's honest with herself, the marriage had been long over. 

Now, she's dealing with the haze of grief and a discovery in her husband's office. Enter Grayson, her husband's estranged brother, to complicate matters more. 

Feelings and secrets are stirring to life... 

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi purchase link 

Pesto Pasta Turkey Meatballs recipe

Review: The Secret of the Three Fates

The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

The Three Fates, at Manhurst Castle for one night only. Join them to commune with the dead. 

After reading The Curse of Penryth Hall, I was chomping at the bit to see American heiress Ruby Vaughn and Cornish Pellar Ruan Kivell's story continue. I would suggest reading the first in the series as it would greatly improve your knowledge of character relationships and foundations. We left off with the murder solved in Cornwall and Ruby going back to live with Mr. Owens and things left uncertain with Ruan. The first introduced us to some magical elements, Ruan's Pellar status (a sort of witch) where he has healing powers and can hear Ruby's thoughts. It was hinted at that Ruby has her own status, Morvoren, but she's left not knowing what that really means. This starts off a couple weeks after the first in 1922 London. This time her friend, mentor, father figure, Mr. Owens, has maneuvered her to going with him to Scotland. 

“Murderer!” he shouted again, waggling a bony finger at Mr. Owen. 

The new setting of Scotland delivers much the same from the first, magical elements, séance and possibly ghostly activities, and, once again, a murder. Besides, Ruby, Mr. Owens, and Ruan who later shows up, it's a whole new cast of red-herrings. One of my favorite aspects of this was the atmosphere, it's spooky and descriptive. However, that new cast of characters, it got a bit overwhelming. In an effort to always keep the reader guessing, characters are delved into enough to tease just enough focus for finger pointing but the more sedate pace this had, made it tough to stay focused and remember all the reveals and connections. 

There is nowhere on earth you can hide from the dead… 

We get a good deal more on Mr. Owens' background here, his family life and how messy and fraught it was and is, it's mostly his drama that has created the mystery plot thread, along with a past shrouded gentleman's club. Ruby has her own background mess come up with a character from her past showing up but it was more about Ruby trying to solve the murder to keep an Inspector from blaming her and to save Mr. Owens. I was a little disappointed in how this seemed to be less Ruby figuring out clues and more-so overhearing what she needed to, to lead her to the guilty. I just think things could have moved at a quicker place in the later middle half as too many familial, friendship, and past relationship ties piled on. I also thought it was a bit ridiculous how Ruby questioned Mr. Owens' and Ruan's intentions, people she's very close with and knows way better, especially Mr. Owens, instead of solidly looking at who they were pointing at. Benefit of doubt and all but it felt more like dragging out the red-herring aspects. 

“You terrify me. I do not know what lives between us. I have seen more things in this world than I care to admit but I cannot explain what this is.” 

Ruby and Ruan shippers will like the pretty strong romantic element here, their obvious strong connection gets explored more and important discussions are had. Ruby still has her fear of her feelings and will probably make readers upset towards the end but a month later epilogue gives hope for these two and another adventure on the horizon (Howard Carter's discovery has just happened and Mr. Owens has gotten a call). Family drama, murder mystery, supernatural elements coming out to play, and romance, all lead to an atmospheric ride in Scotland this time.

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Remember that book I was crying for to get a sequel last year (The Curse of Penryth Hall)? 

Guess what? 

Our American heiress Ruby Vaughn is back, baby! 

This time Mr. Owen has finagled Ruby into a séance. A séance that goes awry. 

Something you probably never want to go awry 

Ruby's suddenly got another murder to investigate and guess who she enlists for help? 

Ruan's also back, baby! 

The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong purchase link

Pumpkin and Sausage Gnocchi recipe

As always, used turkey sausage. This was a seasonal delight!

Review: Better Than Friends

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.7 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

She'd gotten really good at leaving over the years. 

Seventh in the Sunrise Cove series, each book is set in the small-town but can be easily read as standalones, Better Than Friends was a story about childhood friends who came close to being highschool sweethearts but an accident and emotional angst kept them apart for fourteen years. Olive came to live with her Gram in Sunrise Cove when she was fourteen, escaping not present parents who lived off-the-grid and were too much of free spirits for responsibility. She instantly bonded with Katie, a girl (a character who seems to present on the Autism spectrum) who was an outcast. Katie's twin brother Noah, popular good-looking guy who had an easier social time, became their protector, and Olive's crush. 

“Have you ever wondered what it'd be like between us now, as adults?” 

Olive's been away from Sunrise Cove for over a decade after leaving right after highschool graduation, but keeping in contact with Katie and sporadically visiting. She's started her own PR company in London but when Katie's husband Joe ends up in a coma after being injured on the job, she answers Katie's request for her to come back and help her get through it. Noah, who was also injured in the same accident as Joe, they both work for the Investigative Services Branch for the National Park Service, is off-duty while he heals and helping out at his sister's too. They've been careful to avoid each other over the years and readers feel the tension right away when they come face-to-face. 

He'd not trusted himself to push for a real conversation and reveal feelings he'd long ago buried. 

As we get to know the characters, it's both explicitly said, Olive somehow ended up running Noah over Senior year and damaging his leg enough that his baseball career was over before it even begun, and alluded to that there are other issues keeping these two apart. The story provides flashback scenes throughout the book that give us a look at these two in highschool and the events that have lead them to where they are today, which I thought helped give good context. As we get to know them, it's obvious that they both really like each other but Noah keeps saying he doesn't want to be tied down, which is given some foundation because of how he always he had to be perfect and take care of Katie because of pressure from his parents and how navigating society norms aren't as easy for Katie. Olive's stems from the background with her parents, not trusting love and hearing what Noah is saying and something that is alluded to happening between her and Noah five years ago. Once we got into the latter second half, I don't know, the two characters kept acting and saying things in ways that I started to get confused about what was really keeping them apart and it started to feel like the author, not the characters, was telling me they just couldn't be together, if that makes any sense. 

She didn't like regrets, but the truth was, she had plenty. 

The synopsis talked about some mystery, Olive hasn't been able to get in contact with her parents for a while, they missed their check-in call, and she starts to get really worried. It starts off a vague worry that finally comes into play but the utter and total non-climatic way it eventually got dealt with, well, it didn't need to be in the synopsis making me think there was some action mystery here. The storyline does work to deliver a storm and one bed scenario, so I guess. 

Secretly, she loved the fact that there was a side of him that was for her only, not shared with any of the outside world. 

This had a good set of characters that were nicely rounded out, three dimensional secondary characters but it kind of caused the romance to suffer a little, I think. The element keeping our two apart, felt pretty weak and it ended up making the ending feel dragged out for me. Still, Shalvis' writing is always smooth and if you're looking for a more sedate story that will occasionally ping with chemistry, take a visit to Sunrise Cove.

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Time to snuggle in for some comfort reading 

We're back in Sunset Cove with Olive needing to turn to her ex to help find her missing parents 

Noah's been physically healing from an injury but never really healed emotionally from the breakup with Olive 

He's going to help Olive, but who's going to help him if he falls for her again? 

A little mystery and second chance romance! 

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis preorder (Jan. 21st) link

Sweet Chili Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken recipe 

Review: I'll Be Gone for Christmas

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

What did it mean to feel content? 

I'll Be Gone for Christmas was a story told in two alternating povs about can you be someone different in a different place. With some The Holiday movie feel, Bee and Clover switch homes for December. Bee lives in San Francisco and is feeling major burnout, she works with her high powered, feels like favored twin sister and has cost them two accounts over the last few months. She's a writer who can't seem to find any inspiration anymore for the copy edits she's supposed to write. Clover has had a rough year in her Ohio small-town, her mother died and she broke things off with her bestfriend since childhood, now, ex-fiancé. Bee wants to slow things down and thinks a farm in small town America will do it and Clover wants to test some boundaries after feeling completely shut-down by her mother before she died. 

This was more a women's fiction, finding yourself story to me than romance. While both women meet their eventual love interest as soon as they get to their destinations, that aspect kind of disappears as they do some soul searching about who they are and who they want to be. Bee is instantly attracted to Clover's ex-fiance, Knox, who works and lives on the farm but he seems to still be trying to get over Clover and Clover can't help but be attracted to Bee's twin sister Beth, but her mother's comment when Clover tried to come out to her, still rings loudly in her head. I liked how Clover's journey showed how representation matters, the environment and social circle she finds in San Francisco opens her eyes to possibilities and what is “normal”, helping her feel comfortable with her authentic self. There's a thread of Clover reuniting with an old friend and if you hadn't read the back synopsis, you'd be forgiven thinking that is going to be her love interest. It really wasn't until around 70% that Clover and Beth get romance genre going, leaving it to feel rushed and me not feeling a strong connection between them. 

Bee and Knox have some cute moments (a chopping wood scene!) but their romance also doesn't really start going until around 60% and even then there was still the hangover of Know still not completely moved on from Clover. I wouldn't go into this for the romance (closed door and some kisses), more of a finding yourself with some holiday vibes and start of relationships.

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