I reread (and then reread again) the contemporary romance, Lucky by Gigi DeGraham. It featured three teens in their last year of high school who have a polyamorous romance. (Adult content) "Lucky’s life hasn’t been fortunate, despite her name. Not the rich or even middle-class families ever lived in the Sunset Pines Trailer Park but Lucky and her father have love, even if they don’t have much else. Skipping school wasn’t her brightest idea but Lucky never met a rule she didn’t want to break. Lucky would do anything to keep her father out of jail, but going to Halton Prep for her senior year? Didn’t the judge know kids from the trailer park NEVER step foot into that ‘Richy-Rich’ school? But her choice wasn’t hard. It’s agree to go or her dad spends time behind bars. Whatever. Lucky will do anything to protect her father. She’ll compromise for his sake, but Halton Prep’s dress code isn’t all Lucky must deal with. One hot footballer, Whit Graham has claimed Lucky as his and tries his best to become her only guy. Anyone who gets in his way might need a little friendly reminder, even if they are a star cross country athlete. But Hudson Preston isn’t intimidated by the mighty Whit Graham, or his Hellcat Crew. He doesn’t abide by anyone’s stupid bro-code and sets his sights on Lucky. Two hot guys both want to be her one and only but Lucky’s never seen things the way most people do. Now that she’s on this compromising kick, she’s looking at Whit Graham and Hudson Preston with a new idea in mind. The question is, would they even consider it? There’s only one way to find out, and it’s—Game On." ** I also enjoyed a couple of male/male romance stories -- Out in the Cold by Kiki Clark and Catching Starlight by Lisa Henry. /// Regards, Kareni

Your gifts look charming, @kfeusse! What yarn are you using? I have to admit that I favored cotton blankets and toys when my daughter was young. Regards, Kareni

Well-Trained Bodies March They also walk, stand, and sit! Regards, Kareni

A hard fought five for me today! Regards, Kareni

Five for me today! Regards, Kareni

A bookish post from the Word Wenches site ~ What We’re Reading Regards, Kareni

I voted for Target because she can walk into the store and browse items in many different categories. Regards, Kareni

Happy birthday to your grandson, @Lady Florida.! Regards, Kareni

Three today! Regards, Kareni

Thank you, @Lady Florida.! Regards, Kareni

After a certain amount of use, Lady Florida, do you wash these in the dishwasher or washing machine or...? Regards, Kareni

Some edible items; you could give coupons for perishable items. Sardines Olives Cheese Salami Chips Nuts Regards, Kareni

We would have indoor Easter egg hunts with our daughter. After she found all the eggs (in the living room), she'd open them and one would have a hint to the location of the next clue. (As she got older, she might need to do a math problem to know what page of a book to look at or she might need to translate a word or phrase to solve a clue.) Ultimately, she'd locate her Easter basket. Some non-edible suggestions (I often bought items secondhand) ~ Books Magazines Socks Puzzle Art pencils Regards, Kareni

Four here today! Regards, Kareni

I've also recently read Rise by Keira Andrews which was a pleasant gay fairytale retelling of Jack and the beanstalk. "What happens when Jack meets a sexy man atop that beanstalk? Rumors of treasure have long sent fortune hunters clambering up a magic beanstalk to a mysterious castle in the clouds. Survivors told of an evil giant who guards the gold and glittering jewels with savage strength. No sane man would dare risk the climb—but Jack has nothing left to lose. Shunned for his evil red hair and abandoned by his cruel lover, he’s desperate to escape his life. Rion isn’t a giant, only a man bearing the burden of protecting his family’s legacy. It’s a lonely existence, but he’s duty bound. Then Jack appears, and Rion’s world is turned upside down. After a blazing confrontation, undeniable lust sparks. Isolated in the clouds, Jack and Rion give in to their desire and growing connection. But do they have the courage to let go of the past and follow their dreams? Soon they must protect the treasure—and each other—from a new threat. And they have everything to lose." ** I also reread The Protector and Mismatched both by Cooper West. (Adult content in all of the above) Regards, Kareni

I just finished Bride by Ali Hazelwood. The author has previously published contemporary romances and this is her first paranormal romance; I enjoyed the book. The story features a female Vampyre who marries a Were (her people's long time enemy) to forge an alliance. She also has an ulterior motive as she is trying to find her human friend who has disappeared. "Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again... Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf." Regards, Kareni

How very frightening, @Faith-manor. I am glad you are here to share. Regards, Kareni

An all green four today! Regards, Kareni

Two today! Regards, Kareni

Three today! Regards, Kareni

I struck out today...oops! Regards, Kareni

I've finished several books recently. I continued the fantasy series I've been reading with Unquiet Land (An Elemental Blessings Novel Book 4) by Sharon Shinn which I also enjoyed. "Leah Frothen has returned home to rebuild the life she’s avoided for years. But she can scarcely catch her breath before she is summoned to meet with the regent, Darien Serlast, the man who made her a spy. Leah is reluctant to take on a new assignment, but Darien has dangled the perfect lure to draw her in... Leah finds she enjoys the challenges of opening a shop catering to foreign visitors, especially since it affords her the opportunity to get to know Mally, the child she abandoned five years ago. Leah is simultaneously thrilled, terrified, hopeful, moved, and almost undone as she slowly attempts to become part of her daughter’s life. But when the regent asks her to spy on ambassadors from a visiting nation, she develops a dangerous friendship with a foreign woman and finds herself falling in love with a man from her past. Soon Leah learns that everyone—her regent, her lover, and even her daughter—have secrets that could save the nation, but might very well break her heart." ** I quite enjoyed the contemporary romance Sweet Talk: Is it love on the line? by Cara Bastone. This story begins when a man with insomnia leaves a voice text for his sister to the person next to his sister in his contacts. Since the man has dyslexia, that woman's name is listed as a mishmash of letters. She knows who he is, but he can't figure out who she is. They build up a relationship over their phones. "It's officially booty o'clock, I'm alone again in my kitchen choking down a slice of terrible chocolate cake...and I'm pretty sure I just got drunk texted by the man I have a ginormous crush on. I've been daydreaming about Eliot Hoffman's dimples for two months, and even though I'm sure this was a mistake on his end, it doesn't mean it's not an opportunity on mine. It's the middle of the night, and I just wanna talk to him. So I text him back. And then somehow we keep talking . . . ALL NIGHT. We're both insomniacs, so talking all night soon turns into talking EVERY night. And talking about nothing soon turns into talking about something. And here we go from in-depth analysis of reality TV to my relationship with my family, to his amazing artwork. There's no topic we don't cover . . . Except for who I really am. It's the only question of his I won't answer. As my crush turns into an avalanche of Eliot, I think of him all the time now. But if he knew who I was, the entire house of cards we've built this relationship on would come toppling down. I want him to be mine, but we might never be more than just a sweet dream . . ." ** I also enjoyed The Christmas Leap (Festive Fakes) by Keira Andrews which is a contemporary romance between two male friends who find themselves in a fake relationship. (Definite adult content) "Fake romance shouldn’t feel this real… Will: I've never been with a man. Sure, I've thought about it. Wondered. Daydreamed. Imagined. But I wasn't ready to take the leap. I have a reputation as a "ladies' man." No one has any idea how curious I am about men—not even my openly bi best friend. Make that former best friend. Michael ghosted me, and I have no idea why. Michael: The man I love is straight. It hurt like hell when I had to distance myself from Will. I’ve tried desperately to grow up and get over him, but my carefully constructed life just fell apart—and Will rushes to my rescue. Now we’re pretending to be a couple to impress his boss at a holiday retreat. We’re holding hands and hugging. We’re sharing a bed. And Will just kissed me. Is my best friend falling in love with me after all?" /// Regards, Kareni

A bookish post from the Word Wenches site ~ Ex Libris Regards, Kareni

I'm a member of Team Four today. Very nifty! Regards, Kareni

Four for me today! Regards, Kareni