Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

Determined to hunt down her very own hero, one who willsweep her off her feet and into wedded bliss, and despairingof finding him in London’s staid ballrooms, Heather Cynstersteps out of her safe world and boldly attends a racy soiree.

But her promising hunt is ruined by the supremelyinterfering Viscount Breckenridge, who whisks her outof scandal—and straight into danger, when a mysteriousenemy seizes her, bundles her intoa coach, and conveys her out of London.

Now it’s up to the notoriousBreckenridge to prove himself the heroshe’s been searching for all along . . . 

Another, enjoyable light read by Stephanie laurels.  I like the description of these books by someone else "an alpha male brought to their knees by a dainty female".

Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

It’s not easy to tread lightly wearing steel-toed boots.

Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.

Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job…

Love this series!! This book started out slow. The first half was mostly politics as Sirantha and her crew attempt to broker an alliance with the Ithtorian. But about half way through the book we get back into the action that makes this series such a great read. Looking forward to more of this series soon.

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

The mind of Neil Gaiman is a fertile place of gods, monsters, aliens, magic lingering in ordinary places and a sense that the world is a much wilder, stranger place than we think it is.

 “Feminine Endings”: A story about a human statue—one of those people who deck themselves out and stand on a box in the town square in touristy places in many parts of the world. - Probably my favourite story and very unsettling.

Neil Gaimans world is a very disturbing place.

Dragon's Treasure by Elizabeth A Lynn

In the province of Ippa, the twin sons of Kojiro, the Black Dragon, contended using sorcery and fire to decide which of them would rule their father's kingdom. After his brother's death, Karadur - who has inherited his dangerous father's shape-changing gift - becomes the master of Dragon's County. Torn between the need to continue his line and a fear of his own perilous nature, Karadur has so far remained unwed and childless. But an encounter with Maia Unamira di Sorvino now leads him to make other choices...Meanwhile, her outlaw brother, Treion the Bastard, is terrorising the nearby countryside. His motive being vengeance against the one who drove his mother and sister from their home. When Treion is finally captured, it is Karadur who must decide his punishment. It should rightly be death - but Maia loves her brother ... 

An enjoyable light fantasy. More adventure less romance than the blurb made it sound. 

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself. 

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was charming, flowery and, at times, emotionally overwrought. I loved the descriptions of the countryside, loved, loved the book barge. I enjoyed the way Jean prescribed books for people. But overall it won't be counted as one of my memorable reads for this year. 

The Last Child by John Hart

Thirteen-year-old Johnny Merrimon has to face things no boy his age should face. In the year since his twin sister's abduction his world has fallen apart: his father has disappeared and his fragile mother is spiralling into ever deeper despair.

Johnny keeps strong. Armed with a map, a bike and a flashlight, he stalks the bad men of Raven County. The police might have given up on Alyssa; he never will. Someone, somewhere, knows something they're not telling.

Only one person looks out for Johnny. Detective Clyde Hunt shares his obsession with the case. But when Johnny witnesses a hit-and-run and insists the victim was killed because he'd found Alyssa, even Hunt thinks he's lost it.

And then another young girl goes missing . . .

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I can't wait to read more.    I was kept guessing about who committed all the murders until the end.  Really good mystery. A sad story with a hopeful ending.

The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

 Five years ago, the dragon Tintaglia led a number of exhausted, half starved sea serpents to the Rain Wilds, and oversaw them going into their cocoons. But when they emerged, these new dragons were deformed and stunted in mind and body. Now Tintaglia has gone off with her new mate, leaving the hungry flightless dragons to be fed by the Rain Wilds people who are uncovering Cassarick -- and both dragons and humans are rapidly getting sick of this miserable arrangement.

So the dragons trick the humans into agreeing to take them to the ancient Elderling city of Kelsingra, along with several human keepers. Among those on the journey are the deformed locals including a girl named Thymara, and with an unhappily-married scholar named Alise. But can the strong personalities among the embittered dragons and their equally deformed keepers avoid clashes -- and who will make it up the river? 

Well written with great world building, slow to start but it did grab me and I didn't want to put it down. I would say don't start it until you have the next in the series and unfortunately I don't. 

Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver

A highway patrol trooper notices something strange on the side of the road: a homemade cross, fashioned as a memorial. Except the date being 'remembered' is the following day - the day the police find a kidnapped teenage girl in the trunk of a car, left for dead. Special Agent Kathryn Dance, kinesics expert with the California Bureau of Investigation, is on the case. The teenage victim points her to an online community where criticism is vicious. It looks as though one teen has finally snapped. Then further crosses appear. Now Dance must race against the clock to find the attacker before he can carry out his deadly plans for revenge ...in the cyber world and the real. 

A very good mystery with lots of twists and red herrings.  Some of the bits about cyber-bullying made me very glad I was in High School before the internet.  Some of the stuff about on line role playing games was really interesting.  Overall a very good book.

Imperial Light by Mary Corran

It is the story of two people - Kyria, who has always felt the odd one out of the sept, unable to accept the harsh religion of the priests and determined to find her own way in life - And Hilarion, heir to the Emperor and just as determined not to be a puppet of the priesthoods. When Kyria is chosen as a human sacrifice to the Gods of Light, she discovers powers that let her escape. But the old Gods have only leant her these and in return she must travel the land and return the Light stones to the old temples if both the mortal world, and the world of the Gods, is to be saved. Meanwhile, Hilarion discovers plots against his Grandfather and the truth behind his own power. The old Gods want him to await Kyria and together bring back the old religion.

Very enjoyable read. Great world building, a good adventure and well developed characters.