11. Tantalize (Book 1)

By Cynthia Leitich Smith (336 pp, ebook)

I have been wanting to check this author out and grabbed this from the library. I think it's considered YA and it's a paranormal romance. The main character Quincie has lost her parents but inherited their restaurant and her family is trying to re-launch it as a vampire themed place -- which I love this set up. Her best friend is a hybrid werewolf and still learning the ropes of this. The problems of running a restaurant go side by side with murder and supernatural creatures at odds. Again, I'm not the best audience for YA -- at times I really enjoyed the book but I had trouble following the rules of the world-building and it was darker than I expected.

10. The Heart of Devin MacKade

By Nora Roberts (250 pp. ebook)

This was another Nora category romance (fron 1996) for book club that I already had. In this one the main character is Devin MacKade who is one of 4 super dreamy brothers -- 2 were already married in earlier books. Devin is the sheriff and has been carrying the torch for Cassie since they were kids. When she was young she unwisely married an abusive man and has been suffering in that relationship until shortly before the book begins. It's been 12 years and Devin is trying to support her as a friend while being wildly attracted to her. She's trying to reconstruct a life for herself and her 2 kids but also fancies Devin. I didn't enjoy this one as much. I thought Devin was a turd at times and the Cassie character was thinly characterized and not super interesting.

I didn't end up finishing a more recent Nora. The one I had on hold at the library was still weeks away and I switched to another and it didn't work for me at all so I DNFd.

9. Taming Natasha

By Nora Roberts (256 pp, ebook)

For book club we decided to read some older Nora and some newer Nora to discuss. This is a category that I already had and enjoyed it more than I expected. It was a standard romance -- sad widower moves to small town to raise his daughter and meets and is instantly attracted to a ravishing beauty with a hidden, painful past who resists him. This was from 1990 and there were things you wouldn't put in a romance now but it was satisfying bus reading.

8. The Tainted Cup

By Robert Jackson Bennett (432 pp/ebook)

Great book! It's a fantasy with a murder(s) mystery and political intrigue. But also lots of humor. Terrific world-building. Amazing characterization. Great plotting. I don't know how to do a thumbnail summary -- here's my best effort: The main character is Din and he is an engraver meaning he's had some bio-enhancements that give him a perfect memory and he works in service of a detective-investigator Ana -- who is a fun, cranky but sharp lady. They start with one murder but uncover all kinds of shenanigans while the empire is threatened by the leviathan season. High recommendation! Can't wait to read more by this author.