The Summer Kitchen by Lisa Wingate

With her adopted son missing and the rest of her family increasingly estranged, Sandra Kaye Darden is drawn to the little pink house where her Uncle Poppy once provided security. What begins for Sandra as a simple painting project, meant to prepare the house for sale, becomes a secret venture that eventually changes everything.

Cass Blue is having trouble keeping food on the table since she ditched foster care. When Sandra Kaye shows up with lunch one day, Cass has no way of knowing that the meeting will lead to the creation of a place of refuge that could reunite a divided community.

In this moving story of second chances, two unlikely allies realize their ability to make a difference...and the power of what becomes known as the Summer Kitchen to nourish the soul. 

A book that entertains and leave you with a smile inside. A really nice, feel good ending.

D'shai by Joel Rosenberg

The book is set in D'Shai, a land ruled by the Lord Toshtai, where the people have magical talents - kazuh. Some have the kazuh for running, others for acrobatics, swordsmanship, cooking, etc. Kami Khuzud, eldest son of a kazuh acrobat, seems to have none, but finds his talent - an undiscovered kazuh - during his investigation of his sister's death.

A well-written, light mystery set in an interesting Asian /Japanese feeling world. I enjoyed this and would be interested in reading more in this series.

Snow Angels by James Thompson

It is called kaamos-two weeks of unrelenting darkness and soul-numbing cold that falls upon Finnish Lapland, a hundred miles into the Arctic Circle, just before Christmas. Some get through it with the help of cheap Russian alcohol; some sink into depression.

This year, it may have driven someone mad enough to commit murder. The brutalized body of a beautiful Somali woman has been found in the snow, and Inspector Kari Vaara must find her killer. It will be a challenge in a place where ugly things lurk under frozen surfaces, and silence is a way of life. 

 I liked the exotic atmosphere. I knew very little about Finland, but it's delightful to pick up the nuggets of culture, history, and climate that are revealed in the book. It's a pleasure to read something set in a totally different locale.

The mystery was interesting with a few surprise revelations along the way. 

I would eagerly read more by this author.

Alien Embrace by Tracy St John

e-book

Amelia Ryan fled Earth’s fanatically religious government to live quietly among the aliens of Plasius. Her life of peace shatters when a three-man clan from the planet Kalquor kidnaps her and holds her prisoner.

With their people poised on the verge of extinction, the Kalquorians are determined to have Amelia for their mate. Amelia is equally determined to escape. But when her body thrills to the ruthless domination of her captors, she finds herself surrendering to desires she never imagined possible.

Aliens with 2 cocks, 3 dominant men who want to care for and spoil you and lots of kinky sex....what's not to like?

Wonders of a Godless World by Andrew McGahan

An electrifying, tumultuous story of inner demons, desire and devastation. On an unnamed island, in a Gothic hospital sitting in the shadow of a volcano, a wordless orphan girl works on the wards housing the insane and the incapable. She counts amongst her patients a virgin, an archangel, a duke and a witch. Everything appears fine until a silent, unmoving and unnerving new patient arrives from foreign climes. He claims to be immortal. Suddenly strange phenomena occur, bizarre murders take place, and the lives of the patients and the island's inhabitants are thrown into turmoil. What happens between the orphan and her beguiling new patient is an extraordinary exploration of consciousness, reality and madness.

Weird with a depressing ending.

Rosie Little's Cautionary Tales for Girls by Danielle Wood

Lively, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes hilarious, always well-crafted and intelligent - this book is a series of musings from the fictional Rosie.

Some were sad, some had me chuckling and some were strange. An eclectic mix of linked short stories. My favourite was the first story about losing her virginity.

Last Wolf Standing by Rhiannon Byrd

e-book

Mason goes into a diner to get some lunch.  He smells his mate, and as she walks past him he trips her to get her attention.  She feels klutzy and embarrassed.  He comes on all intense and scares her so she runs.  This is all seen by the rogue werewolf Mason is tracking so the rogue werewolf goes after Torry (Masons mate).   Mason saves her.   Then Torry gets scared again when she finds out that Mason is a werewolf too.  So she runs away again.   The bad werewolf kiddnaps her and uses her as bait to try to kill Mason.  Mason kills the bad werewolf and Torry decides that Mason is OK and hot even if he is a werewolf.  They have lots of sex and live happily ever after.