This is book #3, in the VIP series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  To avoid spoilers, and to fully understand the series, I recommend reading this series in order.

Jax is stunned from the moment he meets Stella.  He does not know why he is so attracted, but he thinks about her all the time.  Can he be what she needs to make a future?

Stella is surprised to meet Jax.  The attraction is mutual. She becomes his neighbor.  They meet up constantly and accidentally and the heat is sparking all over.

This story was more involved and a little dark.  I like how realistic it was about addiciton and depression.  These are hard subjects to tackle and I felt it was done well.  I liked reading about the characters falling.  It felt organic, real, and like I was in the room.  I enjoyed this read.  I give this a 5/5 Kitty's Book Spot!

This is book #2, in the VIP series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  For understanding the series, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this series in order.

Sophie meets Gabriel on the airplane to a new job.  Only to find out he is basically her new boss.  Can she fight the attraction that is thrumming between them?

Gabriel AKA "Scottie" find himself annoyed, and then enchanted by Sophie.  She is getting under his skin quickly.  Is it even possible to resist at this point?

This book covered a subject we do not often see written so openly.  The loneliness that is felt by these characters in their lives is unexpected from an outside point of view, as they are both normally surrounded by others.  I liked the fresh approach.  I also liked the humor, the heat, and definitely loved the connection between the two main characters.  I enjoyed reading this and cannot wait to read the next installment to the great series.  I give this read a 5/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

Here's a batch of overdue takes on some good audiobooks. I don't have the time for full-posts, so read the official blurbs if you need more information. Last time I tried one of these, I didn't do such a good job on the "Quick" part, so I'm being more strict with myself this go-around. To that end: the narrators of these do a very capable job with their texts, but I don't have a lot to say about their performance (I'd be happy to listen to other books by them, I should add).

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My Plain Jane

by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows, Fiona Hardingham (Narrator)

Series: The Lady Janies, #2

Unabridged Audiobook, 10 hrs., 7 min.

HarperAudio, 2018

Read: September 24-28, 2019

(the official blurb)

I was really looking forward to this sequel to My Lady Jane, especially because it would involve a supernatural Jane Eyre retelling with a strong comedic sensibility.

It wasn't what I'd hoped it would be, but it was still a lot of fun. The best part of it was having Charlotte Brontë as a character in the story—as Jane's best (living) friend. I enjoyed Charlotte's character enough that I'd willingly read a sequel about her.

And yes, I said, "living" there—Helen, the poor girl from Lowood Institution whose death was so hard for Jane is still around in ghost form. The death was still hard on Jane, but having Helen around as a ghost ended up becoming a different kind of obstacle for her to overcome.

I'd have expected a better link between the Janes—at least a stronger link in the supernatural aspects of the stories—than what we got.

Still, it was a fun listen and I'm definitely coming back for the next installment about Calamity Jane.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here

by Patrick Ness, James Fouhey (Narrator)

Unabridged Audiobook, 6 hrs., 23 mins

Read: October 7, 2019

(the official blurb)

I loved the idea of exploring the lives of the "regular kids" in a high school characterized by heroes, legends, slayers, etc. Basically, the kids at Sunnyvale High who know that Buffy is saving their skin on a semi-regular basis who aren't Xander, Willow, Cordelia, etc. While Buffy is fighting vampires and the rest, these kids have family drama, fall in love, get rejected, worry about the future (assuming they don't get eaten by the Monster of the Week) and all the rest. She may be the hero in general, but they're the heroes of their own lives.

So Patrick Ness tells the story of one group of these students on the verge of graduation (while the world is being saved from a threat too complicated to talk about).

Great, great concept. The execution was . . . okay. I enjoyed it, but it didn't leave me dancing in the aisle or anything. This is only my second Ness, but it didn't feel like this was really his wheelhouse—maybe I'm wrong, maybe A Monster Calls is that thing that's out of the norm for him.

The Abels

by Jeremy Scott, Eric Michael Summerer (Narrator)

Series: The Ables, #1

Unabridged Audiobook, 14 hrs., 5 mins

Tantor Audio, 2019

Read: October 18-21, 2019

(the official blurb)

The concept behind this was fantastic—seriously. An upper-MG/younger-YA novel about a Special Education class in a Super Hero High School? Genius. You've got the kid with telekinesis who was born blind, the teleporter who lost his vision in an accident, a wheelchair-bound telepath (okay, that's been done before), a kid with Down Syndrome who has the genetic markers for superpowers, but no one's sure what they are, and so on. These students come together and learn how to work together and become the heroes they dream of being.

This was a blast—think early-Percy Jackson kind of quality. Some solid emotional moments, real character growth, great action. There was one gut-punch of a surprise that I still can't believe that Scott had the nerve to make—and two big reveals that sealed the deal for me (one that I saw coming for miles, but he executed well enough that I don't care; and one that I should've seen coming, but didn't).

This one will be enjoyed by readers of all ages, I expect. Recommended.

Trained by the best in the business, Emmet Streeter is nobody’s babysitter, until his mentor’s secret daughter needs a bodyguard. She’s everything he doesn’t want: mouthy, obstinate, temperamental, and untouchable. So why can’t he keep his hands off her?

About the Book

Plain Jane and the Hitman
by Tmonique Stephens
Series
The Plain Jane Series
Genre
Adult
Contemporary Romance
Romantic Suspense
Publisher
Independent
Publication Date
January 1, 2019
Purchase Your Copy for Just $0.99!
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No one fucked with him. Including most of the women. Oh, some brave souls sauntered up to him in their bikinis and clear heels. Their breasts high, their pelvises forward, strutting like they were on a runway. With a flick of his fingers, he sent them on their way. 

Now, he stared at her with the icy blue eyes. Did that color have a name? “I didn’t need your help.”
He cocked his head to the side and she noticed he had a touch of salt mixed in with his coal black hair at his temple. His brow lowered to two angry slashes over those eyes, he stated matter-of-factly, “You did. Accept it and move on.” His lips formed a grim slash that she suspected were full if he ever smiled. She couldn’t tell if his jaw was squared or sharp due to a full beard and mustache, but she wanted to know. 

Hand to the small of her back, he guided her through the throng. She had no idea where he led her and didn’t fight it. Out of the crowd was good enough for now. People cleared out of their way when they saw him coming. She didn’t like his familiarity, his hand on her body, heating her skin through the thin barrier of her shirt, or her body’s reaction to that heat. She certainly didn’t approve of the way he took over. For the moment, she kept that opinion to herself. 

He guided her out of the bazaar to a small compact car parked on a side road and opened the passenger door. “Get in,” he ordered, assuming she’d obey as he rounded the front of the car. Such a gentleman. Not that she cared. 

“I was taught to never take a ride from a stranger.” 

He leaned on the hood, arms splayed, knuckles pressed onto the metal, those cold eyes of his latched onto her. “Good lesson. Doesn’t apply today. Get in the car.” 

“Why?” 

An eyebrow shop up and his head cocked to the side. 

She got the sense no one questioned him. That this was a first for him. “You want to stay and deal with that guy when he wakes up, since you didn’t need my help?” 

“Don’t threaten me.” 

His brow arched. “You consider that a threat? Babe, when I threaten you, you’ll know it.” 

Babe? Hackles rose on the back of her neck. The last thing she needed was to be alone in a car with this man. The hotel shuttle coasted by them and stopped at the end of the street, a block away. 

“Thanks for the offer of the ride and getting my stuff back.” She slammed his car door closed and headed for the shuttle. Don’t know why, but she expected footsteps coming up behind her. There weren’t any. She made it to the open-air shuttle and parked her ass on the bench, along with the other hotel guests who visited the bazaar. 

Five minutes later, the shuttle pulled away and she bounced along with the rest of the people, aware of the car trailing them. 

Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.

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About Tmonique Stephens