I'm a closet Nora Roberts aficionado, and I love to binge sometimes, especially in the summer. I believe I read this series a way long time ago, but we received these gorgeous new editions at my library so I'm giving it another go.

I also recently finished her Cousin's O'Dwyer series, set in Ireland, and man do these two series share a lot of plot points (even magical incantations). I'm pretty over "so mote it be." BUT, that said, I vastly prefer this series as Roberts spends far less time with the old Salem witches the modern women are based off of, and a lot less time on the magic. Roberts excels when she focuses on characters.

I'm a closet Nora Roberts aficionado, and I love to binge sometimes, especially in the summer. I believe I read this series a way long time ago, but we received these gorgeous new editions at my library so I'm giving it another go.

I also recently finished her Cousin's O'Dwyer series, set in Ireland, and man do these two series share a lot of plot points (even magical incantations). I'm pretty over "so mote it be." BUT, that said, I vastly prefer this series as Roberts spends far less time with the old Salem witches the modern women are based off of, and a lot less time on the magic. Roberts excels when she focuses on characters.

Of all the Roberts I've read, Ripley and Mac may be my favorite couple. I mean, come on, the guy's name is Mack Booke (hah), and he's a super sexy, ripped, clutzy, absent minded professor, historian, and all around sweet guy who is dynamite in the sack because he studied it. He's also perfect for snarky, sarcastic, fire brand Ripley who needs an easy going guy who isn't going to take shit from her.

I think these two had the best moment of "break-up" in any romance novel I've ever read (you know, the point where you worry that your people aren't going to have their HEA). Ripley decides to dump Mac to protect him from herself, and he just pretends to go along with it, and it lasts about one page before they are on each other, and figuring out the other drama of the book. Perfect! Just what I like.

Huzzah.

This was my second ride on the merry-go-round that is The Night Circus (see what I did there). I still found it magical, haunting, and genre defying, and still support my four star review from 2012.

This book is about the circus and the magic contained within it, with a bit of a detriment to the development of the relationship between Celia and Marco. I wanted MORE of Celia and Marco together, whether it would have been in competition or in love. I do however, have my dreams, and in my dreams I have a lovely life planned for them.

I am really excited to make art inspired by this book at my library's Book to Art Club! We'll be painting black, red, and white images on old book pages.

Mia and Sam, both witches, were in love their entire childhood. Sam left Three Sisters Island, and shattered Mia's heart. Fast forward to 15 years later, and Sam is back to win back Mia's heart, and this time for good. Mia doesn't think she can ever forgive him, or trust that he won't leave. Plus, she has that whole evil entity threatening to toss Three Sister's Island into oblivion thing to deal with...

A strong end to the series, with lots of sexual tension and regret (which I love). I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two in the series as I felt it dragged on a bit. The will they won't they went on a tad too long. Plus, as I've said before, this series is SO similar to the newly released Cousin's O'Dwyer quartet that I find it all a bit annoying and repetitive, especially the witch-y parts. Oh well, this is Nora Roberts here so that is to be a bit expected. If I would have read these further apart I wouldn't care.

This book punched me in the feels. Of the YA books I've read, I feel like this ranks up there with Andrew Smith and John Corey Whaley in accuracy of portraying teen guys.

Greg Gaines thinks he has surviving the horrors of High School all figured out - be in all of the social groups, yet be in none of them. As a result, he doesn't really have any friends besides Earl, a profane, short, hyper-angry "coworker" that Greg makes films with.

Then Greg finds out his one time Hebrew School classmate has acute Leukemia. Greg is forced by his mother to spend spend time with her because "he makes her happy." Greg can make Rachel laugh, but he isn't sure what this all means, if anything at all.

Really charming illustrations, but a few of the jokes were repetitive or fell a bit flat. It often felt like I was reading a sweeter version of The Far Side, which didn't always work. My favorite was the whale who couldn't breathe.

A fun, quick read for a lunch break.

This is NOT a likeable book. This is not a book I would ever, ever read again. This is not a book I would run to the theater to see the movie adaptation for. However, this IS a book that I am OK with having read once.

TifAni (yeah, that is her name), now Ani (ahhh-neee) has it all now. We know she has survived some sort of humiliating teen trauma, the details of which are teased out slowly through the story. She doesn't really have a shocking secret like the book blurb teases about (a la Gone Girl), but she has a completely fake, horrid, "perfect" life. A life that she is absolutely miserable in. Now that she is weeks away from locking in her marriage to a wealthy NYC finance guy, Ani has agreed to participate in a documentary regarding the shocking high school situation.

This book is completely riddled with trigger warnings

teen gang rape, black out drinking, assault, emotional assault, active shooters, teen killings, anorexia, bulimia, you name it, it is in here.

. None of the women characters eat, and all of them are rewarded for their horrific "diets" and what they do to their bodies. "She's getting married" is the excuse thrown around. This fixation almost overwhelms the other plot points of the book, and it is treated so glibly. There are never any ramifications for the behavior, even at the end.

Basically, give this a go if you are looking for a real bummer of a time. I didn't give two shits what happened to Ani in the end, but I did find a bit of closure with one of her last moments

when Ani realizes that if she HAD been handed the gun, she would have shot the balls off her rapist and then killed Arthur

.

Samantha Reed quietly watches the massive Garrett family, a family so different from her own. Her mother sneers at the family's apparent lack of control (due to the large family size) and their lifestyle choices, which clash so much with her State Senator standards. Samantha secretly disagrees, and someone from the Garrett family has been watching her right back.

After middle son Jace jumps onto her roof one night, Samantha is sucked into his family-heart and soul. Everything is perfect, but Samantha can't seem to tell her mom she's dating the boy next door. Thankfully her mom is focused on her reelection campaign and a budding romance with a smarmy campaign manager, but one night Samantha's world collides with Jace's in the worst way possible.

A perfect summer read. Ah! You can't help but fall in love with Jace and his family. You want to be in that family. You want Jace as your boyfriend. There is so much love and life. Fitzpatrick is such a vivid writer, and this story just shines. I also enjoyed the peripheral characters, especially recovering addict Tim (who is getting his own book!!!). There was also a lot of kissing, and a couple of very tasteful and lovely sex scenes.

I did read a fairly similar story by Sarah Dessen recently, but who cares. This is amazing. More please!

So, I've never read any JR Ward before, but I received this as an ARC (thank you Netgalley) and it is about bourbon so I thought I'd give it a go. What a soap opera. This tale of a dynasty of Kentucky Bourbon makers was completely salacious, over the top, and honestly sort of fun in a dark, twisty way.

Book One focused mostly on brother Lane (short for Tulane) and his former flame Lizzie the Gardener. They had a hot and steamy romance that was cut short when one of Lane's bimbos told him she was pregnant. After a few years of lies and misunderstandings, Lane is back to visit his "Mama," a saintly cook who is battling cancer and probably not going to be around much longer. Lane and Lizzie can't fight their attraction any longer, but family and some horrible actions by Lane's father threaten everyone's safety-financially and physically.

You're also introduced to a massive cast of characters who I assume will each get their own book in this series. It is a bit distracting and overwhelming and I wanted more details, but again, being saved for additional books. The story did get a bit rape-y, and the sex scenes weren't really too my taste (there were at least two instances of insta-orgasm upon penetration, where it was mutual for both parties involved, yeah right). I will probably read the next installment because I had enough fun, and it took me like a day to get through. Totally a trashy summer read.

I looked this all over, and it is not something to "read" but something to just pour over and enjoy, over and over again. Great addition to the collection.