** Book Review- The Hidden One (Kate Burkholder #14) by Linda Castillo

   

Mystery & Thrillers 

Description

The discovery of an Amish bishop's remains leads chief of police Kate Burkholder to unearth a chilling secret in The Hidden One, a new thriller from bestselling author Linda Castillo.

Over a decade ago, beloved Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. When skeletal remains showing evidence of foul play are unearthed, his disappearance becomes even more sinister.

The town’s elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help, but she quickly realizes she has a personal connection to the crime. The handsome Amish man who stands accused of the murder, Jonas Bowman, was Kate’s first love. Forced to confront a painful episode from her past, Kate travels to Pennsylvania’s Kishacoquillas Valley, where the Amish culture differs dramatically from the traditions she knows. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death?

Someone doesn’t want Kate asking questions. But even after being accosted and threatened in the dead of night, she refuses to back down. Is she too close to the case—and to Jonas—to see clearly? There’s a killer in the Valley who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Will they get to Kate before she can expose the truth? Or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden forever?

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This was a well written story and Kate Burkholder made for one interesting  main character.  What a life she has led both as an Amish woman who didn't quite fit and now a very smart chief of police.  She is stubborn, thorough and never gives up.  Something that endears her to some and offends others on both sides of the fence. I liked John Tomasetti who she often calls just Tomasetti.  He's been her calm rock and I enjoyed the few times that he shows up in the story. They live together and have quite the unique homestead. He just "gets her." 

There are flashbacks to years ago when Kate was living as a young girl and Amish.  Although I'm not a huge fan of a lot of flashbacks in a story it is well done and sets more of a foundation.  

The emotions, secrets and mysteries were well done.  There is more than one surprise in the story which I enjoyed. About the time I thought the adversary was identified, another surprise popped out.  Everything was well done and comes to a good conclusion.  

 

 " I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley. And these are my honest opinions about it.”

***Book Review/ TORN (#4 of LOST(Eden) series) by Cynthia Eden

   

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's latest novel featuring the Last Option Search Team (LOST), one agent's investigation entices a killer into making her his prey. PARTNERS . . . FRIENDS . . .Forensic anthropologist Victoria Palmer has always been better with the dead than the living. Shutting down her emotions, she lets few people in. But then Victoria's latest investigation takes her and agent Wade Monroe to Savannah, Georgia. Handsome, dangerous, and more than ready to play dirty on any case, Wade weakens Victoria's aloofness with just one glance. LOVERS Wade knows their recent cases have pushed Victoria beyond her limits. But her skills are crucial to finding a college student who went missing five years ago. Victoria is able to determine she was murdered, and that the killer is still on the loose. And when the vicious murderer targets Victoria, Wade must do everything in his power to protect her . . . because he refuses to let a woman he loves be torn from him . . . again.

 

AMAZON LINK

 

 5 + STARS

 

Who knew that shy, distant Victoria had such depths and deep secrets? 

Wade had his secrets too but he was intense and determined.  One look at him and you KNEW that he could be dangerous ! The main danger that Victoria felt towards him though was physical threats but potential emotional danger.  Wade could see the pain in her eyes and he knew it was more than just dealing with the aftermath of the dead.

This story had me twisting and turning all over the place.  I thought I had it figured out and then it wasn't that easy.  I love when an author can do that!  As things were learned, I liked the main characters more and more.

The whole plot was excellent, so was the emotions and the final outcome too!   There were also two new people introduced to the team, brother and sister (Ana & Asher).  With the possibility of a detective Dace if he ever leaves his job.  I hope he does. 

I know that I will be reading more stories in this series because although about twisted killers, there is romance and overcoming too !

 

I read this book through HOOPLA Library app.  

BOOKS

 

BOOK REVIEW- Love at First Bark (Love Unleashed #0.5) by Dana Mentink

 

There's Just Something About Jackson

When Marcy Deveraux's romance series catapults to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, no one is more surprised than Marcy herself. After all, she barely passed high school, flunked the driving test four times, and fell into a pool at her sister's wedding.

Marcy is keen to continue her literary success, but she cannot think of a single idea for her next book. Hounded by her agent, family, and friends, she decides to sequester herself in a rustic cabin in the mountains. There, she finds herself face-to-snout with a surprise visitor—a rascally black dog who must have escaped from his owner at a nearby campground.

Enter hunky cowboy Jackson Parker, who runs the stables for the campground and helps Marcy survive the antics of the ill-behaved, zany dog. There's something tender and gentle about this man, who could easily grace the cover of any romance novel. Soon Jackson has Marcy rethinking her own beliefs about what heroes are really made of...and what God intends for her life.

It's cowboys, canines, and capers galore in this charming novella for animal lovers.

AMAZON LINK 

 

 This was a fun,very fast story.  Marcy was quite the kooky but lovable person.  She had quirks that made her funny too.   Easily to relate to and begin to hope for the best for her.  
Jackson was a shy cowboy was enjoyable to watch interact with Marcy and that irresistible semi-wild dog that they gave the name of Charlie.  Charlie brought them together and caused some minor troubles.  He was also sometimes helpful in his strange ways.  He never met food that he didn't like either.  
I liked how the story ended with smiles and H.E.A.

**Book Review- The Executioner and the Lady by DaLeena Taylor

   

She has been sentenced to death.

He would risk everything to save her, even if it means he can never go home again.

Lady Charis Burchard has long been rumored a mad young noblewoman. When word of her uncle’s murder is spread throughout her village, there is no doubt that she is the one responsible.

When the story reaches the local butcher’s shop, Philip Galahad knows better. As Lady Charis is sentenced to death, he hatches a plan to use his greatest secret to save the woman he’s quietly loved since childhood.

He knows there’s no chance that Lady Charis could ever love a simple butcher – but when she finds out his dark secret, will it be the end of their friendship as they know it?

 

I have to admit that the beautiful eBook cover caught my attention right away. That led me to reading the book information. That made me curious.
I have to say that I liked the story and both Charis and Philip. Their story is both sweet and bittersweet at times. Even though we get to know them and the dangers that they face, it is still a light story without being too deep. It also has a good ending.

I received a free copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts about it. 

BOOK REVIEW- Bound by Family (Bound #1): A Motorcycle Club Romance (Ravage MC #6) (Ravage MC Bound Series) by Ryan Michele

 

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Ryan Michele brings you the next generation of the Ravage motorcycle club filled with action, passion and family.

Family loyalty above all.

Cooper Cruz knows what it means to be surrounded and bound by family.

Loyalty, brotherhood, and protection are all learned, earned, and respected by him and the Ravage Motorcycle Club family he grew up in. At the same, he's a man, having fun and living the life he has always envisioned, until a trip to Florida spins his world on his axis.

Bristyl Daniels knows what it means to be smothered and bound by family.

Bonds run deep with her father and all the members of the Sinister Sons Motorcycle Club she has grown up in. But now she's all woman and wishes they would see she isn't a little girl anymore. Then one phone call gives her a chance meeting with a biker like no other. One she can't get off her mind.

When her favorite band comes to play at a motorcycle rally in her hometown, Bristyl decides it's worth the risk to sneak off for a little fun. When a situation gets heated, Cooper and the Ravage MC step in, setting off a chain of events, both good and bad in both their lives.

As the dust settles, Bristyl will have to come to some very hard decisions. Meanwhile, Cooper knows exactly what he wants and now needs to convince his woman it's worth the risk.

** Bound by Family (Bound #1) (Ravage MC #6) is a standalone full-length novel.

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 I'm not sure if I've read any other books in the series with the "older" characters. But that didn't interfere with getting into this story and didn't make it hard to follow either. 

 Cooper and Bristyl were really good main characters which I enjoyed.  Oh and yes there will be more than one hot scene where they "enjoy" each other.  But I did like that they had formed a relationship of sorts before that happened.  The sweetness and the gentleness that Cooper showed Bristyl was unexpected but welcome.  I didn't need all the sex although it was well done.  And yes, I knew going in..Motorcycle Club, so that was expected.  Was I hoping for a good story that is not overshadowed by that?  Yes.  And I got it.  

Cooper isn't a 100% good guy but he had standards and was way better than most.He was afraid that sweet Bristly was too innocent of the ways of the club.  Surprise, Surprise.   Bristyl had been keep out of most of her family's club but she wasn't a total innocent when it came to that.  I liked her and her sweet but also when she needed to be, gutsy ways.

The dangers were out there though and creep up pretty fast putting so many people in harm's way. The ending was a good one.

 

 
 

***Book Review- Fighting For Her (Wilde Ways Book 5) by Cynthia Eden

 

 Author’s Note: Are you up for a twisted and hot take on a wild fairytale? Rick might be a fierce beast, but when the man falls, he falls hard. Prepare for an alpha hero, dangerous fun, hot romance, and some bad guys that are on the scary side. FIGHTING FOR HER is a stand-alone read, no cliff-hangers.

Beauty and the Beast? Nah…this isn’t some sweet fairy tale. FIGHTING FOR HER is about danger, action, and a whole lot of hot romance.

He’s been called a beast…and he likes the title. 

Rick Williams is big, bad, and not someone you want to have as an enemy. As part of the elite Wilde protection team, his job is to kick butt and take names. Protecting and defending—that’s part of his package deal, but his cases don’t usually involve him protecting someone like her.

A crime princess with a body made for the sweetest sin. 

Kathleen O’Shaughnessy is the daughter of an infamous mob boss. Her father made sure that she was locked away from the world so Kat didn’t exactly have easy street growing up. Now that her father is dead, she’s suddenly out on her own—and she’s the target of every enemy that her father made in his very long career.

Keep the princess alive. Keep his hands off her.

The government wants to use Kat as a witness to take down what’s left of her father’s organization. To do that, though, Kat has to stay alive. She’s not big into the whole witness protection scene. Boring guys in cheap suits aren’t her thing. Kat needs protection that’s a bit…Wilder. Good thing Rick is up for the challenge. One look at Kat, and her protection—and her pleasure—are at the top of his to-do list.

It’s not the beast that needs taming. It’s the princess. 

There are seven days until the trial. Seven days in which Rick has to keep Kat at his side day and night. It should be an easy enough task…but when the bullets start flying and they have to go on the run, Rick finds out that the protected “princess” isn’t who he thought. Kat is about to wreck his world, and it’s gonna be one heck of a wild battle.

He’ll do whatever it takes…

He’ll fight hard and he’ll fight dirty to keep her alive. And he’ll also fight with every bit of his strength to win Kat’s heart. The beast is falling hard and fast…and his princess holds his battered heart in the palm of her hand.  

AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

I loved this story..probably because first of all I loved the main characters. Kat was the best when it comes to a funny, sassy unusual people and I was all in FOR her before very long at all. And it just got more that way the more I watched her sashay around. And wow..she also had some "skills" in other areas too. Not to mention that she was funny as all get out.
Rick wow, that guy never stood a chance when it came to Kat. He tried to resist her because he had a job to do and doesn't sleep with clients. Besides, he figured a woman like her NEVER would be interested in a guy like him. Wrong. It was fun watching him trying to not get more involved than he should. It takes a while but she does wear him down and they heat up the sheets. Rick was both rough and tender with Kat, what an intriguing mix. He often made me smile.
The dangers around them are many and complex trying to figure out where the real enemies are hiding. The story stayed intense, unpredictable and good. The ending came with more surprises but I liked how things worked out for Kat and Rick. Because I wondered all along how that was going to happen.
The door is left open for another person to be added with their own story. And I am definitely interested.
" I voluntarily read a free copy of this book, and this is my honest opinions about it.