Weighted Choices by Emma Jane *****

 Weighted Choices by Emma Jane

Food and body image are problems for high school senior Albany Davis. This powerful book shows the full spectrum of her life. Anorexia is serious, but it isn’t her entire life. Too often, people are reduced to their mental health issues. Read this book to get beyond the labels.

Author Emma Jane doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This book confronts anorexia, single parents, financial stress, rape, Down syndrome, math anxiety, bullying, consent, and situationships. How does Albany address a world with numerous challenges?  Many people support her. Cheerleader Cheyenne has been her friend since elementary school. Her single mother. The high school counselor provides a safe space on difficult days. The math teacher offers lunchtime tutoring. The non-judgmental therapist. The friendly Mechanical Engineering nerd. The nurses in the hospital. The good boyfriend. There are no cartoon superheroes, but a realistic army of carers doing their small, but critical, parts.

Albany isn’t the only one with challenges. Fighting got Dylan Wynne kicked out of his high school. His sixteen-year-old brother Riley has Down syndrome. Like Albany, Riley doesn’t let his challenges define his life. Just as this book shows Albany to be more than her anorexia, Riley is more than his Down syndrome. Riley is another team member who guides Albany towards recovery.

In addition to offering hope to people with eating disorders, this book also confronts math anxiety. Albany’s struggles in her precalculus class. Sexual predator Luke uses this to victimize Albany. First, he is the tutor, and then he is a rapist. Rape, math anxiety, anorexia… Albany learns that none of these can be dealt with in isolation.

High school is more than first dates, gossiping, and prom, but those are also part of it. This book is a fast read and a wonderful insight into the reality of recovery.

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cat Press books and book recommendations. 

After Dark (Ghost Hunters, Book 1) (Harmony) Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz) ****

 After Dark by Jayne Castle

Lydia Smith discovered her friend dead in a sarcophagus. Emmett London’s nephew has disappeared along with a valuable family heirloom. How are these events connected? Will their physical attraction prevent them from working together? Steamy romance.

This paranormal romance takes place in the city of Old Cadence on the colony planet of Harmony. The curtain has closed, and contact with Earth is impossible. Lydia has the psychic ability to untangle illusion traps. Emmett has the psychic ability to dissipate ghosts. Both these talents are mediated through amber, which all psychics wear. To safely enter the catacombs, the team must include a tangler and a ghost hunter. Fortunately, Lydia and Emmett are the best. They work together to solve the mysteries of murder and corruption on Harmony.

In addition to the murder of Chester Brady, a disreputable ruin rat who occasionally discovers valuable artifacts, and the disappearance of Quinn, there is the discovery of a jar made of dreamstone, something thought to be impossible. “Dreamstone was well named. Small deposits of it were occasionally found, usually embedded in clear quartz. Not only was it extremely rare, but it had thus far defied any attempt to extract it from the protective quartz. It shattered at the slightest touch, simultaneously appearing to melt and fracture into microscopic shards.”

The politics of Old Cadence is bifurcated into the police, the university, and the respectable members of society (the Restoration Ball and the Society Para-archaeologists) on one side and the Guild (an organization that is only one step above an underworld mob) on the other. Lydia has been fired from her position at the university, and Emmett is from another settlement entirely. Neither is part of the establishment. None of that helps their investigation.

This is a fast-moving thriller with a lot of moving parts and surprise twists.

Lydia has a pet dust bunny. An animal with calm daylight eyes and fierce nighttime hunting eyes. “As long as all you can see are his daylight eyes, there’s nothing to be concerned about. The only time you have to worry about a dust bunny is when he stops looking like a wad of dryer lint.” Emmett raised his brows. “They say that by the time you see the teeth, it’s too late.”

This is an open-door/steamy romance.

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cat Press books and book recommendations. 

Crystal Gardens (Ladies of Lantern Street Book 1) by Amanda Quick ****

 Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

Evangeline Ames unmasks fraudsters who prey on rich, innocent Victorian ladies. Lucas Sebastian consults for Scotland Yard on the most ghastly murders. When they meet, it’s paranormal romance at first sight, but they must solve some mysteries first.

Crystal Gardens, located in Little Dixby, is known for its purported paranormal energy. The plants are carnivorous, and people who enter might never be seen again. The second pool has paranormal energy that enhances passion. The third pool is rumored to hide ancient Roman treasure. “Crystal Gardens was divided into two sections. The outer region was called the Day Garden. It surrounded the walls of an elaborate maze, which, in turn, encircled the interior portion of the grounds, known as the Night Garden.” “There are any number of dangers, such as the poisonous thorns and vines that can lock around a wrist or an ankle and chain a man as securely as an iron manacle.”

Evangeline has no family. She works for the Flint and Marsh Agency with Clarissa and Beatrice as a private inquiry agent, predominantly as undercover professional paid companions. When Evangeline uncovered Douglas Mason before he could marry Lady Rutherford’s granddaughter, he attempted to murder her as revenge. He ended up dead and Evangeline ran away to Little Dixby. When Sharpy Hobson attempted to kill Evangeline in Little Dixby, he also met an unfortunate end.

Lucas Sebastian is the owner of Crystal Gardens and lives there with a local girl, Molly, and his man, Stone. He invited Evangeline to stay at Crystal Gardens for her safety. For propriety’s sake, his step-mother Judith, her maid Mrs. Florence Hampton, his step-sister Beth, and step-brother Tony all come to stay at Crystal Gardens. With all these guests, Molly’s family joins the staff.

In summary, Lucas and Evangeline must solve the mysteries of who is trying to murder Evangeline, who murdered Lucas's uncle Chester and his housekeeper, the source of the paranormal energy, and the Roman treasure.

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cat Press books and book recommendations. 

Obsession in Death by J. D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) ****

 Obsession in Death by J. D. Robb

Lt. Eve Dallas, partner Det. Delia Peabody and billionaire husband, Roarke, must find the mystery killer who is infatuated with Eve. The killer starts with people who disrespect Eve, escalates to Eve’s friends, and then to Eve. Long series, 40 of 60+

This is a police procedural set in the near future with extensive use of data science, facial recognition, video surveillance, psychological profiling, etc. The plot is straightforward with a single killer and seemingly countless computer-generated suspects. Not a thriller, but also not a cozy. The body count and the tension are low. Most of the action is sifting through clues and suspects. The author's pedigree as a romance writer (Nora Roberts) comes out in a few sex scenes between Eve and Roarke. An easy-to-follow page turner.

This is a standalone book and might be better if the reader is unfamiliar with the 39 previous books. A lot of the book reiterates and reviews Eve’s previous cases. I imagine all this history might be tedious if the reader is familiar with it. The plot follows as Eve and her team mine the previous books for suspects and red herrings.

The psychological profiling theorizes on the nature of friendship, why it is hard to make friends, and why some people have few friends. Lots of pop psychology.

There are many places where the author’s romance pedigree shows through.

“I am what I am, do what I do, and a big part of that is being yours.”

“No sexual edge to any of it. So a female, a straight female, makes sense.” “Or a gay man with good skin.”

Roarke had to deal with her moods. It was in the marriage rules.

Why in bed? Why does she put them or take them in bed?” “Vulnerability? Sleep, sex, sickness. Wouldn’t those be the top reasons for being in bed? All of those make you vulnerable.”

“I could get drunk.” She nodded at the idea as she got into the car. “Not a whole lot drunk, not just a tiny bit drunk. Just the right amount of drunk.” “The perfect amount of drunk,” he agreed. “I need another minute.” “What for?” “Just this.” Just holding her, just feeling her heart beat, smelling her hair. Just that.

 Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cat Press books and book recommendations.