Book Review- The Second You're Single by Cara Tanamachi

   

Romance

Cheerfully irreverent, bitingly funny, and filled with romantic charm, Cara Tanamachi's The Second You're Single is all about navigating the most romantic month of the year, and how love always seems to arrive when you least expect it.

Freelance writer Sora Reid believes in inertia. She’s the odd one out in a close-knit family of go-getters, including her Japanese-American mom, who hints about her need to lose weight, and her soon-to-be married, overachieving younger sister, who needs her to have a date for the wedding, since a wedding party couples' dance with their Scottish great uncle Bob simply won't do. For Sora, minimal input, minimal expectations is the way to go. She’d rather stay at home with her insufferable neighbor and her adorable pitbull.

The one thing that disrupts her inertia: an intense dislike for Valentine’s Day. What is it with the commercial love machine? Why do we pin our hopes on one romantic day, when staying home with a package of bacon and a bottle of tequila would be way better? Sora’s been betrayed and disappointed more than once and her heart is starting to feel like her Grandma Mitsuye’s antique Japanese ceramic bowl, with its many gold-filled cracks.

When her pledge to stay single in February inspires readers to #gosolo, Sora has a responsibility to empower her readers. But relationships aren’t built to last, so it shouldn’t be that hard. Right?

 Enter Jack Mann. A muscle-bound baker who looks like he lifts logs on the weekends, Sora hasn’t thought of Jack since they were in elementary school together. When they see each other at the local grocery store and the attraction hits hard, Sora knows she has to shut it down, quick. She can’t #gosolo AND get the guy. She can’t let down her readers. And relationships always end, so why should Jack be any different–even though he’s confounding all her long-held expectations of love?

AMAZON LINK 

 3.5 STARS

I have to admit that I had mixed feelings on this one. Which always makes it hard for me to rate.  

I did like that it had both Sora and Jack's individual P.O.V.'s.  Turns out sassy Sora was a problem with confrontation avoidance and to tell a few people to buzz off. It becomes clear how much of that comes from her childhood.  She also needed to ask for what she wanted too.  She just needed to figure out what that was.  I did like her anyway. 

Jack was such a lumberjack sized sweetie.  It was easy to feel what he was feeling about his past and his feelings for Sora both past and current. I didn't realize until almost towards the end of the book that Jack had a problem when it came to something HE needed to confront.  I still liked him anyway.  

With all of that said, even with an unusual story idea, it just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.  There I said it. 

 Would I ever try this author again? Yes, because of some of the humor and fun conversations between the main characters.  

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

(Netgalley)

 

BOOK REVIEW- Commanding Sia (NCIS Series # 1) by Zoe Dawson

   

Separated by loss. . .reunited by duty…

When Lieutenant Ambrosia “Sia” Soto returns from an investigation into a “pilot error” case aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. James McCloud, she comes face to face with NCIS Special Agent and former lover, Christophe Vargas, the man who was involved in an F-18 Fighter Jet accident that took her brother’s life six years ago. But when another incident aboard the carrier involves the death of a senator’s son whose plane crashed into the deck on a routine training mission, she’s now required to return to the carrier with Chris in tow to face a cunning and dangerous foe. Bombarded both personally and professionally, Sia must trust her instincts and suppress the feelings that surface for her enigmatic and sexy partner.

AMAZON LINK 

 3 STARS

Good emotional people were the center of this story.  It had good world building.
There is action that amps up after the slow start which helps.  It has a good ending with a few surprises as well.  One of them is not who the person who was behind everything though.  I figured that out before it was revealed.  It was also revealed the how and why, which I didn't know until then.
I just wish I had liked it more,  it just didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped.   

 

This is a book that I bought just for the record.

BOOK REVIEW- He Said Forever (The Lost Corisis # 4) by [Ruth Cardello]

   

Jared’s childhood was so ugly he changed his name to free himself from it. He fought his way out of poverty and earned his success, but all that isn’t enough when his past catches up to him.

Michawn isn’t looking for love when she meets Jared. She’s confident she already has the perfect man and the perfect life. All she wants is to make enough money to pay for the wedding she’s been dreaming of.
There shouldn’t have been a spark of attraction, but there was . . .then a phone call changes everything for Michawn and her life shatters around her.
She loses everything.

Can a man who sees himself as the last person who should help her, be the only one who can?
With a little guidance from Dominic Corisi, he just might find a way to heal himself as well.

 AMAZON LINK

 4 STARS

 This story has really good main characters that had a lot of depth.  Jared had so bad an abusive childhood that he changed his name and how he went about his life.  It helped that he had some people that helped him along the way.  Calvin was a long time friend with awful memories of his own that he's escaped and now was trying to help Jared more. Jared has a lot of healing to get done and his anger was something major that he has under control until he needs to fight in order to release that anger valve.   Jared now has a family of his heart instead of birth, who have also helped especially in business.  Hamilton has almost become like a father and pulled him into his family.  He's still trying to learn what being in a loving family is like. 

Michawn's family life was the direct opposite of what Jared experienced, but that didn't keep grief away from her door.  It was amazing to see what Michawn was like before grief and guilt knocked her on her butt.  The emotional rut that she withdrew into was totally believable, to me. How is she going to get out of it?  She's going to need some major help.  

The whole story kept me interested.  I appreciated that it didn't have instant sexual encounters right away. Although when it happens, it's hot and happens a lot of course.  They worked to develop a friendship (with attraction) and trust first. 

A good ending with a good Epilogue follows.   

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Crossing The Line (Wilde Ways #7) by Cynthia Eden

  

 Author’s Note: These partners have been on a slow-burn path, but their desire is about to ignite into an inferno they can’t control. You ready to steam up the pages? We’ve got action, thrills, romance…and a hero who is funny, sexy, and willing to do anything to claim his lady. CROSSING THE LINE is a complete, stand-alone novel. Guaranteed happily-ever-after (though reaching that ending will sure be fun…and a wee bit dangerous). Enjoy!

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Partners…with benefits.

Your partner knows your secrets. Your partner watches your back. Your partner…is the star of your fantasies?

Linc Dalton knows that he is supposed to keep his hands off his partner…well, unless he is protecting Blair Kincaid’s gorgeous body. She’s his partner at the elite protection firm of Wilde Securities. Their job is to guard the wealthy, to take out the bad guys, and to generally kick butt. He trusts Blair completely. He admires her strength and courage. And he wants her desperately. Not that he ever intends to let her know that fun fact. Instead, he keeps up a fake persona where he offers her jokes and flippant comments.

Blair is straight-laced. By-the-book. Always by-the-book. Linc likes things a bit wilder. Control isn’t his strong suit, but, with a massive effort, he’s kept his control in place around Blair. With Blair, he’s on his best behavior…

Until he isn’t. Until they get a new case. Until they have to go undercover as lovers.

And, suddenly, Linc has to put his hands on Blair’s delectable form. He has to stay very close to her. Has to whisper sweet promises to her. Has to share the same bed with Blair. It’s just a cover story. He’s not really in love with her…except, one night, they cross the line. Stop being pretend lovers and become the real thing. Once Linc has Blair, there is no turning back. Giving her up isn’t an option.

She broke the rules, and for once, Blair doesn’t care.

She shouldn’t have done it. Blair knows she shouldn’t have let the desire she feels for Linc sweep her away. Yet she did, and now, everything has changed. She wants him more than ever before, and, surely, they can do this, right? They can be lovers and partners and still get the job done. As long as emotions don’t get involved, everything is fine.

Until it isn’t. Until Blair and Linc are targeted as prey. Until all of their emotions are out of control.

When their cover is blown, Blair and Linc find themselves being hunted. It’s a race for survival, and Blair knows that Linc has her back. Just as she has his. Prepare yourself…things are about to get wild.

The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and Linc and Blair are about to turn things red-hot. Molten level. Watch out…you just might get burned.

AMAZON LINK 

3 STARS

I had a hard time getting into this story and that surprised me.  It took me way longer to finish it probably because of all of the stuff at the beginning.  It was the obsession of Linc towards Blair and her denials of her attraction to him.  I was seriously afraid I wouldn't be able to finish the book. It just rolled too slow for me in the beginning.
However, it started to get better for me just less of 50% because of all the action, twists and surprises.
It also did have humor in it especially with Linc's quirky personality even confronted with enemies.
I will give it points for it having a good wrap up of the all the enemies and Linc and Blair do get their H.E.A. as promised.

Book Review- Protective Custody by Lynette Eason

   

A classic story of intrigue and danger from bestselling author Lynette Eason

Guarding witnesses? All in a day's work for deputy U.S. marshal Carly Masterson. Protecting the judge who was indirectly responsible for her mentor's death? That's another story. Still, she won't let harm come to Judge Nicholas Floyd, or the niece and nephew in his care. She's determined to do the job right, and not let her emotions take over-no matter how wonderful it feels to be accepted by the little family. Can she let go of the past and learn to trust again before danger finds them once more?

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This was a really good story with excellent main characters and Nick's niece and nephew had depth and kept the interest going as well. Along with some smiles and some emotions too because of the scary things that they have and are going through.

The dangerous action was intense. And the fact that the villains didn't seem like they were ahead of every attempt for Carly, Nick and his family to not hide safely?  It wasn't just that they seemed to ahead, they actually were and were waiting with heavy duty strategy and weaponry.

I liked the faith challenge that Carly was suffering and watching how she was trying to work her way through it.

Something that really stood out to me was Nick sharing that you had to trust God even when you didn't understand what was going on.  This was the really good part- "Trying to understand the mind of God is exhausting."  Great point, which I found surprisingly true. I hadn't looked at it quite that way before.

 It all comes to a great ending with some good beginnings too!

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App

Book Review- Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert

 

 Cash Evans knows exactly what he wants for Christmas. Too bad he can't have her.

The infamous tattoo artist's been watching geeky Bailey Cooper for months, but that's all he'll ever do: watch. Bailey's too sweet, too smart, too good for the likes of him, and he knows it. So Cash keeps his distance… until a Christmas miracle makes him Bailey's boss.

Socially awkward Bailey learned long ago that men just aren't worth the hassle. Take her new boss, Cash: he's a brooding beast who avoids her like the plague, but he also fixes her plumbing, helps the homeless, and offers Bailey a place to stay for Christmas.

She's never met anyone so confusing-or so impossible to resist. And the more Bailey learns about Cash and his demons, the more she thinks it's time to stop fighting.

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 This story was emotional and colorful.  Colorful beginning with both Cash and Bailey, even their personalities.  They each had big personalities and even bigger hearts. They both had every reason to NOT believe in love and  that love was a very dangerous, destructive illusion.  You find out early in the story why Bailey feels that way and the experiences that she has lived through.  But that doesn't stop her from being VERY attracted to Cash.
  We don't find out until much later why Cash keeps blowing hot and cold when it comes to HIS attraction to Bailey.  She doesn't see herself as a hot babe with her quirkiness and her glasses but he thinks she is cute and she makes him laugh.  By the way, it's good to see the story have a woman in glasses as a main character.  
Some of the color in the story is added by the people in Cash's friends and employees.  But some other interesting people are also added as the story goes along and that includes Cash's mother.
I liked how the story ended and appreciated the good Epilogue.

 

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App

 

BOOK REVIEW- Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

 

 Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire — it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman-and a killer-of a certain age.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

Loved the author's note, funny and it made me smile.  That was unexpected before the story began,  in part it said..I'm not trying to protect the innocent, I'm trying to protect the guilty. 

I agree with another reviewer that they didn't think that the book cover did it justice. BUT it did get my attention. So I think that was an  important choice to get people to stop and take a look. It was different, that's for sure.

At first, it took me a while to get the four women sorted out.  Who was who and what their personalities and skill sets were.  Even how they got drawn into  the Museum.    But once settled, the wild ride really took off. 

I will say that I am not a fan of books that jump back and forth from past to present.  BUT once again it did set a really good foundation and it didn't make me too dizzy. 

Talk about the big heads men in charge underestimated this team of women!  Yikes.  They should have known better but they counted them out to their peril.  And final resting place.  And it was interesting to see how the women found out their retirement was going to be death.

This not just a cut and dry clinical assassin's piece.  There is plenty of emotions, some disagreements and even unexpected humor.   And through the whole intense story I kept wondering if any of them were going to make it out alive.  

You'll just have to read it to find out. And I have to say that I've never read anything quite like this.

I just have to add this: The acknowledgements at the back of the book were funny. My favorite has to be "when my go-to person for all things physical and the pal who never flinches when my text messages start" So I need to kill a guy..."

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App

BOOK REVIEW- Accused (Part 1 of the Pacific Coast Justice series) by Janice Cantore

   

Detective Carly Edwards hates working in juvenile-where the brass put her after an officer-involved shooting-and longs to be back on patrol. So when a troubled youth, Londy Atkins, is arrested for the murder of the mayor and Carly is summoned to the crime scene, she's eager for some action. Carly presses Londy for a confession but he swears his innocence, and despite her better judgment, Carly is inclined to believe him. Yet homicide is convinced of his guilt and is determined to convict him. Carly's ex-husband and fellow police officer, Nick, appears to be on her side. He's determined to show Carly that he's a changed man and win her back, but she isn't convinced he won't betray her again.

As the investigation progresses, Carly suspects a cover-up and strikes out on her own, uncertain whom she can trust. But when danger mounts, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.

 

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 

This is a good faith-filled story  also filled with plenty of dangerous action and situations.  

Carly is struggling believing that God actually exists and it really puts her ire up when her mother keeps "preaching" at her.  She quick to anger over any of the "Bible thumpers" doing that.  She also has the issue of forgiving Nick, her ex.  She can't forgive him because he hurt her big time with his cheating.

Nick really is different now but has got his work cut out proving it to Carly.  One thing that she does trust is that he is an honorable cop. That's a good thing because there's not too many people that she can trust when all the corruption starts leaking out.  As more time goes on, the target on her gets bigger the more she digs. But she's not the only one digging.  There is a surprise ally or two that show up at the end.

I like how the story ended although there is some sadness along the way.  There is hope for the future.

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App.

BOOK REVIEW- The Six Night Truce (by West Oaks,# 1) by Hannah Shield

   

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance 

Get ready for scorching steam and plenty of swoon! Janie and Sean go from enemies to lovers in this heart-pounding, action-packed romance. From the author of the Bennett Security series.

 Description

He’s cocky. Infuriating. And irresistible.
I can’t decide if I want to kiss him or kill him.

When I stepped into the courtroom this morning, I intended to fight for my client’s life. I never expected to run for my own. Now the courthouse is in lockdown, and I’m trapped in a tiny room with my nemesis—the West Oaks PD cop who hates me most.

He’s a single dad with a growly attitude. An ex-Marine. And he’s the star witness against my client. But it turns out Detective Sean Holt and I do have something in common. This threat against us is personal, and the maniac behind it wants us both dead.

We have one week to catch whoever’s trying to kill us, assuming we don’t off each other first. But as we hunt down leads, I start to suspect I don’t hate Sean Holt after all. I might even like him.

And all this hostility is really turning me on…  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

I really enjoyed the snark between Jane and Sean. She is one fierce defense attorney who absolutely terrifies opponents while at court. She's smart, determined and she doesn't back up for anyone. Of course, she doesn't exactly have a push over  personality out of court either.  

Sean hates her on sight and makes sure she knows it.  Or does he?  He's heard about her and none of it is flattering though.  It makes them being together on the run more difficult as you can guess.  It does lead to a fair amount of humor, Sean underestimating Jane, her coming through and him wanting to understand  her more.  When they finally really get together, there is some really "hot" moments between them. I liked watching the friendship develop between them but would have like a bit less of the "hot moments" detailed.  

A sweet and often funny addition is Sean's mother and his son, Henry.  

Twist after twist happens as Sean and Jane run for their lives and try to unravel the mysteries.   Who can they trust?  That's a very good question as the story comes to a surprising reveal when it comes to that. A sweet Epilogue follows which I always like.

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

(NETGALLEY)

BOOK REVIEW- Step Into My Web (Death and Moonlight Mystery# 1) by Cynthia Eden

 

 Step into my web…and you’ll never get out.

Chloe Hastings doesn’t like rules, and she doesn’t exactly play well with others. But she does have one amazing talent—she can get into the mind of killers like no one else. A police consultant and profiler, Chloe is definitely not like anyone that Joel Landry has ever encountered. From the moment they meet—in the middle of a bank robbery—she throws him off balance and pulls him under spell. She seems to have no fear, she plots constantly, and…Joel quickly finds himself trapped in her web.

She needs a new partner…and he’s just the man for the job.

There’s a sadistic killer hunting in the streets of New Orleans, and Chloe plans to catch him. First, though she needs a partner she can trust, and she’s decided that Dr. Joel Landry is the best fit for the job. Sure, he has a dark past. The doctor was attacked by a serial killer, but Joel survived while his attacker did not. Now the ruggedly handsome doctor has turned to the shadows. He’s learned how to hunt, how to fight, how to kill in a thousand brutal ways—in short, he’s acquired all of the skills that Chloe absolutely adores in a man.

He’s exactly what she wants. She could become the only thing he needs.

Together, they should be a perfect fit. She knows the minds of criminals better than anyone else, and Joel can protect her from any threat that comes their way. They’ll have one hell of a time tracking down the bad guys, provided Chloe and Joel don’t kill each other first. Another unanticipated twist for the new partners? Their attraction to each other is explosive, their desire uncontrollable. One reckless kiss seals their fate, and their need won’t be denied. And neither will the killer who waits for his moment to attack.

Once you step into a spider’s web, there is no going back.

Author’s Note: Chloe Hastings always has a plan in play. Her investigations are unusual, her friends are generally on the shady side, and her social skills? Well, those are pretty much non-existent. But Chloe solves every case that crosses her path, and she never, ever backs down. When she teams up with her new partner, all bets are off. Joel is gorgeous, sinful, and about to break through every wall that Chloe possesses. He’ll fight for her, she’ll fight for him, and the criminals in their path had better get ready. There is a new crime-solving team in town.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS 

I borrowed this book for free with my Prime Reading membership and I'm so glad that I did.  Because, WOW!  What a story this was! 

 Starting with Chloe she was just as unusual as promised.   And as secretive as she was, I began to like her more and more as time went on.  What a childhood this woman has had.  And Joel?  Nightmare City is what he has lived through.  

There are VERY interesting people in Chloe's corner and I enjoyed every one of them.  They added so much. 

 Of course one person who added so many negative problems was the career climbing FBI agent,  Paul Richardson.  He was aggressive, nasty and subpar when it came to his serial killer skills.  But he also thought he knew it all..unfortunately like Chloe said, his assumptions got innocent people killed.  You go girl.

The whole story is INTENSE with plenty of action, surprises, a well written romance with depth to their interactions.  

I liked how the story ended...for now.  Looks like Chloe and Joel could go on another adventure in another book.  "Save Me From the Dark", is something that I will be looking into. 

BOOK REVIEW- Dark of Night (An Annie Pederson Book 2) by Colleen Coble

  

Mystery & Thrillers | Romance

Description

The law is about justice—not grace. But perhaps ranger Annie Pederson can find a way to have both.

As if the last few months haven’t been hard enough—complete with threats on her life and the return of her first love, Jon—Annie has to figure out whether or not to believe a woman who claims to be her sister, Sarah, who was abducted twenty-four years ago at age five. Annie’s eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, has plenty of questions about what’s going on in her mother’s life—but there are some stories Annie doesn’t want uncovered.

As Annie grapples with how to heal the gulf between her and her would-be sister and make room in her daughter’s life for Jon, she’s professionally distracted by the case of yet another missing hiker in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A woman named Michelle Fraser has now been abducted, and though the woman’s estranged husband is at the top of their suspect list, Annie and her colleagues will need to dig deeper to determine whether these recent mysteries are truly as unrelated as they seem.

In this second novel of bestselling author Colleen Coble’s latest romantic-suspense series, Annie and Jon must fight for the future—and the family—that could once more be theirs.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

What  great book this was.  It had intensity with really good main characters, plenty of emotions and a clean romance.  It kept me involved every step of the way.  There was also the emotional challenges that Annie and Jon faced when it came to Kylie.  Also the wait to find out if Taylor really is Annie's long lost sister Sarah.  A woman who appears to despise Annie making things even harder. 

Missing women is another thing that keeps the mysteries thrumming. The friendships and people in the community were something I enjoyed as well.   The ending was a good one with a few surprises thrown in. 

I'm not sure if I've read anything by this author before but it won't be the last.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

(NETGALLEY)  

Book Review- The Backup Plan A Novel (The Sunrise Cove Series # 3)by Jill Shalvis

 

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction 

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming tale of three people who are bought together when they’re bequeathed an old Wild West inn that has the potential to pull their lives apart, but instead turns into the gift of a lifetime.

When Alice receives a call about an unexpected windfall, she’s stunned to learn the gift is a falling-apart-at-the-seams old Wild West B&B she once considered home—and she’s inherited it along with two strangers. Except they weren’t always strangers. Once upon a time, they were friends. One is her ex-BFF Lauren. The other is Knox, the only guy to ever break her heart, all while never even knowing she existed.

It turns out their lives are unknowingly entangled because they once separately helped the same woman without expecting anything in return. Years later, Alice, Lauren, and Knox are broken in their own way, with their own history—and secrets— causing them to start out on the wrong foot with each other. But according to the will, they must renovate and be partners in the inn for one year or else lose their inheritance.

Stuck together, they make a list of rules to keep the peace—rules that end up doing the opposite, but by some miracle they find what they didn’t even know they were looking for—acceptance, true friendship, and in a case (or two!), true love.

 AMAZON LINK

 4.5 STARS

Knox, Alice and Lauren each get to share their point of view in this emotional story.  It adds more depth to a pretty good story. I enjoyed some of the funny times, with most of it coming out of the mouth of spunky Alice.  There is also much more than just spunk when it comes to her though.

Lauren gets nicknamed Pink by Knox because can you guess?  She adores pink and wears as much of it as she can.  She also is prim, proper and follows a lot of rules.  That keeps most of her fears at bay. She is also awkward at times, especially around men but not at her gig as at the library.  

Speaking of nicknames, Knox knew "Tumbleweed" was what her father called her and when Knox used it, he got called Fort Knox back. Once again, quick wit from Alice.

Knox is one laid back, calm, good looking guy.  But like the other two, he carried his own painful memories from living in Sunrise Cove. And more painful secrets come out with each of Elanor's unsent emails that are read.   I liked the romance that develops between Alice and Knox and how he just "gets" her.  He's the calm to her storm.

Something that was a positive for me was that no matter what had been thrown at them in life, they each had some good skills.  I could have used a bit less of the eye rolling though.

Alone, that's how Lauren felt.  She was tired of begging people to love her. As I read it more, it became clear that each of them was alone in their own way.  And they didn't even see that connection. 

I liked how the story ended with all three getting their lives in order.  The Epilogue put a smile on my face as well.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

(From Netgalley)

 

A Book Funny- Yoda & Emotional about books

   

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BOOK REVIEW- ASSASSIN'S KISS by Kate Monroe

   

Esther Quinn has spent the past two years living a life of jeopardy as the mistress of the most dangerous men in Britain, constantly dancing on the edge in a country that has fallen prey to the onset of the Scarlet Plague. When her latest assignment throws her into the path of an assassin with a knife embedded into his flesh and the skill to make her forget everything but him, the twist of fate that has brought them together will change everything... 

I bought this book at:

AMAZON LINK 

 

 This is a lust at first sight kind of story, which I am not a fan of.  I have to give it points though saying that those parts were well written, though I skimmed a fair amount of it too.  I tend to l like more story and felt that I didn't get much of that until much closer towards the end.  Then it had more action ..that wasn't in bed.
I will say on a final note that the assassin did have a surprising weapon to kill with.  That was ingenious.

BOOK REVIEW- Critical Threat (Extreme Measures #3) by Lynette Eason

 

 Christian | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance  

 

Description

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn't mean they're not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer--in prison but certainly not out of Sam's life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter's MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They've met before--and though Grace thought they'd made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They'll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case--especially because it's about to get personal.

AMAZON LINK 

 5 STARS

Grace and Sam, both were really great main characters.  Both of them dealing with SERIOUS ongoing family challenges.  The depth of both of their emotional responses were excellent when it came to getting the reader to feel them.  
Sam has got quite the secret when it comes to family.  Although he's a good guy, he has paid a high price when in it comes to being the son of Peter, the serial killer.  And it just seems like he has to keep on paying.  A lot of people who know about it, look at him with suspicion.  Thinking is it a case of, is the son like his father? One thing I do have to mention though is that I totally loved Vanessa, his mother-in-law, who is living with Sam.  What a gal she is!  Sam's daughter, Eleni figures in the story more than her brother, Xander. But it's a good addition. 
Grace is struggling with her brother's addiction issues that he has not being dealing with and she feels responsible.  Result?  Family messed up.  So why not throw in a very dangerous, serial killer who is also dangerously clever?  Her plate starts to pile up pretty quickly as they try to make sense of this new killer.

Now that I've finished the story I can finally take a breath.  Because wow, the tension, secrets, lies and surprises keep things super hopping.  So did the decision whether or not Grace and Sam could or should have a romantic relationship.  This is a clean story, which makes sense because they are just trying to stay alive and save others.

Great, tense, ending with a couple more secrets exposed too which I consider a bonus. Another bonus was that justice does get served as much as possible.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

(NETGALLEY)

 

BOOK REVIEW- A Burning Question (Detective Kay Hunter) by Rachel Amphlett

 

 Can Kay stop a serial arsonist before another life is taken?

When a third fire deliberately destroys a boat, Kay Hunter and her colleagues suspect a serial arsonist is targeting a small community.

With one man dead and people fearing for their lives, Kay is desperate to stop a killer who shows no sign of stopping...

GOODREADS 

 

I really liked this story, it just hums along!  It was touted as a short story but I disagree!  Well, maybe if the shorter amount of chapters count.  BUT those chapters were so jam packed that I don't think think that matters. 

This is the first story that I have read that had to do with Detective Kay Hunter but I wouldn't mind reading more of them. I liked her a lot and she was whip smart and also knew how to connect with people.  Well, maybe not the arrogant Travis who needed a quick kick to his lazy, trying to use others to climb up butt.  Yep, the author really did make me super dislike him.

This is a well written story with a good twist towards the ending that I enjoyed.

 

BOOK REVIEW- Devil of a Favor by Rachel Amphlett

 

  

Michael's looking forward to a quiet night after he finishes work... and then he's asked to bury a body.

GOODREADS LINK 

 

This was a shorter story that surprised me on how much I liked it. It may have been shorter but it drew me in. And then the ending had my eyebrows going up! I like that when an author can surprise me like that.

Book Review- GWEN SLADE, BOUNTY HUNTER by Sandra Cox

   

Bounty hunter Gwen Slade always gets her man. Until she meets charming outlaw Jordie Kidd. After Jordie saves her family, she finds she can’t in good conscience turn him in, even if he is worth a thousand dollars dead or alive. Instead she sets her sights on the meanest, most-wanted gang in Kansas. Gwen always works alone until she goes after the gang then finds herself partnering with an unlikely source. This time around, not only her life, but her heart is on the line.

 AMAZON LINK 

 5 STARS

I enjoyed every last bit of this story.  Gwen was quite the gal, appearing as tough as nails just to survive.  Her being a bounty hunter was something that she was extremely good at even though her heart wasn't always into it.  But her father had trained her well and she knew she had to at least appear tough and she never backs down. 

Ah yes, Jordie was quite the charmer with the twinkle in his eye.  He's on a wanted poster so most people if they think of him, think murderer.  But there is so much more to him as that twinkle suggests.  I just loved the interchanges between Jordie and Gwen.  They often made me smile.  

Jerky, the dog was a surprise addition that I also enjoyed.  Not only how he joined the group and how he got his name.  

Non-stop action kept me on my toes.  Gwen was a trouble magnet even when she wasn't looking for it, it found her.  Oh, but don't get me wrong she often does go looking for it.

Twists, added surprises keep things intense and lead to a great ending.  

I will be looking for more by this author. 

BOOK REVIEW- Art in Blood (Hunting Grounds # 6)by Nichole Severn

   

A washed-out painter battling to forget her past.
A profiler who needs all the help he can get.
To get to know the artist, they'll have to face a killer's deadly work...or become the main attraction.

Hiding inside the walls of a mental institution was supposed to distance her from the real world, but it seems Becks Gentry can’t leave her old life behind. A malicious killer drove her to give up everything she loved. Now he’s back and using her paintings as inspiration for his own showcase. Only this time, Becks isn’t going to run, and she’s not alone.

BAU agent Raider King has studied Becks for two years after learning of the killer’s attachment to her and her work. His research can prevent countless deaths once published, but as they uncover more of the artist’s masterpieces and the victims exsanguinated to create them, Raider discovers his own attachment to Becks. Putting everything they’ve worked for at risk.

Their worst nightmare is back to finish what he started. And nothing will ever be the same.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS 

This one was a wild, wild story. It was wildly unique when it comes to plot and downright scary at times.  Definitely edge of the seat reading all the way through.

The way that Raider, knew how to deal with Becks was truly well shown and explained.  He knew how to study her and help her from the time she had withdrawn to the sanitarium to the current time.  It was so insightful how he gave her choices.  He asked for permissions and let her decide when she was inside those 2 years.  And he was still the same way as they battled their way through on the outside.  I really loved watching their connection as it grew.  Some of Raider's hurts get exposed in the story as it goes along.

I think it's worth saying that Becks was one talented, interesting person with a lot of depth to her as well.  It's just been hidden and stays that way for a while.

This story was intense especially when it came to the battles with the ruthless villain. This was someone else who has been hiding in the dark. Just waiting to strike, to "play their game", when they were ready.  The final battle is quite the bloody one but Raider and Beck battle to the end.

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- How to See With Your Heart by Jennifer Youngblood

   

Brooklyn Reese has a thriving flower shop but isn’t as lucky in love. Having a lowdown, cheating fiancé is bad enough, but add a meddling mother and catty sister into the mix, and it’s sure to spell disaster.

A rollerblading trek around the lake near Brooklyn’s home comes to a calamitous close when she accidentally plows into a man and his dog. To make matters worse, she realizes the guy’s blind and it was his guide dog that she dragged into the lake. Then she recognizes him—the illustrious and dreamy Dax Preston, former Nascar racing superstar. The very guy she’s had a crush on since the eleventh grade!

Captivated by Dax’s charm and his loyal guide dog Tucker, Brooklyn falls hard and fast as a tender romance blossoms. But Brooklyn and Dax’s idyllic relationship is threatened by an unexpected treatment that could wreck everything.

Can Brooklyn put aside her fears and learn to see with her heart? Or will she let the love of a lifetime walk out of her life?

AMAZON LINK 

3.5 STARS

I liked both Brooklyn and Dax and yes, Tucker who was a plus to the story too.  The emotions and the challenges were definitely there.   However as sweet as Brooklyn was, I got to the point where I thought, "get a backbone and stop being such a doormat."  Yes, I understand that she had years spent with an overbearing mother but still.. After-awhile that started to irritate me.  But it still did have enough things that I liked just on a slightly lower level.  It was sweet, it was often funny, and it was a clean story with a good ending.

I received a free copy of this book through  a newsletter but wasn't required to leave a review.

BOOK REVIEW- The Tie That Binds by Catharina Maura

 

When Alyssa Moriani loses her father, she's faced with an impossible choice: fulfil her father's last wish and marry Daniel Devereaux, her best friend's older brother... or lose her father's company to the one person that'll burn everything she's worked for to the ground.

Her marriage to Daniel was never meant to be more than a business arrangement. They were never meant to be so perfect together, and they were definitely never meant to fall in love.

After all, they started their marriage with an end date in sight.

AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

 Good main characters pushed into an awkward marriage of convenience but it had it's moments.  I did have times where I smiled, and times I enjoyed it.  But this is were it got tougher for me to enjoy...the "games" that they were playing especially the hero of the piece.  He goes hot and really cold with her and I figured out the why but..still I found it unattractive and started getting tired of it.  It went like that for way too long for my liking.  It would have helped if they just talked to each other and they do agree to do that and  they do it for a short time and then quickly stopped doing it. Grr.  
It does have a good ending so I will give it that.  If you're looking for a longer story with some depth,some romance and don't mind the "mind games"? I'd say go for it..but..for me it wasn't quite there for me.  That doesn't mean I'll stop reading something by this author.  This one just wasn't totally my flavor.
 

BOOK REVIEW- The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat

   

The heartwarming, classic true story of a dog who didn't understand he's a dog-and the imaginative boy who loved him.

Funny and poignant, The Dog Who Wouldn't Be is a lively portrait of an unorthodox childhood and an unforgettable friendship. Growing up in on the frontier of Saskatoon, Canada, the legendary adventurer and naturalist, Farley Mowat, received a gift from his mom: a dog she bought for four cents. Farley quickly named him "Mutt."

Mutt displayed skills at hunting and retrieving that were either pure genius or just plain crazy-once going so far as to retrieve a plucked and trussed ruffed grouse from the grocer. Mutt also loved riding passenger in an open car wearing goggles and climbing both trees and ladders - the perfect companion for a child with a love for animals and misadventures.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It's one that I've wanted to read for a while and it didn't disappoint. I do feel that this is a book for all ages and I say that as an adult.

The author's writing style was the first thing that I enjoyed right off the bat.   And he kept me involved all the way.  I'll also admit that I smiled quite a bit and even laughed out loud a time or two.  Of course it wasn't all hilarity, there was hardships and troubles, sadness and some outrageous adventures. 

As unique as Mutt was, Farley's father was even more so although in the beginning it didn't seem so. But he was a educated man, an nomad of sorts and a sea yearning man.  And let's not forget Farley's mother, she had her own way of dealing with things! She had to be unique, dealing with this menagerie of characters. And I'm including all the animals and birds in that group of characters too.

At one point, it became more about the other animals and birds and Mutt took a bit of a mini back seat.  But we always came back to Mutt. 

 

 

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App.

BOOK REVIEW- Guarded by the SEAL( A HERO Force Novel) by Amy Gamet

   

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance 

Description

A panicked woman drives through the night to find her mother's trailer engulfed in flames — the little sister she's never met peeking out from behind a rusted metal shack...

 Teslyn McGregor had been estranged from her mother for years when a sudden phone call and a plea for help set a disaster in motion. I'm scared, Tessie. Promise you'll take care of Ivy if anything happens to me. Teslyn races across two states, her entire world exploding when she finds her mother's home ablaze and her terrified five-year-old sister hiding nearby. She calls the only person she believes could help — her friend Rayne's boyfriend, Ghost — but he's on a mission and asks a friend to help in his place.
Former Navy SEAL Wyatt Sorensen should be on a HERO Force mission hunting down a notorious criminal in the mountains of Colorado. Instead, he's driving across two states to help a woman he's never met, her panicked voice on the other end of the line summoning him simply: Ghost said you would help me.
Ghost. A Delta Force soldier, more like a brother to Wyatt than a friend. If Ghost sent this woman to him, he would do everything in his power to protect her. Wyatt sends a teammate to Colorado in his place and meets the woman at a safe house, but her Jeep matches the plate number on the AMBER alert he passed on the highway, and she's carrying a little girl who seems uncomfortable in her care. How can he trust this stranger who appears to be guilty of kidnapping, and is wanted for arson to boot?
Teslyn must convince Wyatt of her innocence, even with the forces of evil in hot pursuit. Sparks fly between them as they unravel the web of lies surrounding Ivy, but when the HERO Force mission in Colorado goes horribly awry, can Wyatt forgive himself for coming to Teslyn's aid and sending a teammate in his place?

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This story ended up being even better than I had hoped.  Wyatt was one grumpy guy when it came to having this favor called in by Ghost.  Wyatt had big things in the works, something that he had trained long and hard for.  But for Ghost?  Whatever he needs, whenever he needs whatever the cost.   But that doesn't mean he has a good attitude about it especially at first.  Things do slowly start to change in that area and was happy to see some tenderness and caring on his part.

Yikes what Teslyn has gone through as a child! And now coming to rescuing her sister that she knew nothing about, ups some of the worse memories.  Five year old, Ivy is living the life that Teslyn escaped years ago.  No matter what she felt about her mother, Teslyn was going to keep her promise to take care of Ivy.  She is way out of her element and the forces gathering against her are massive. There is plenty of deliberate misinformation out there about Teslyn and quite a few close calls.  

The emotions are so well shown and it didn't take long to want a better life for Teslyn, Ivy and even Wyatt.  

 Things come to a head between at least one main adversary that includes a spectacular chase.  Good ending with hope for the future. 

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

(NETGALLEY)