BOOK REVIEW- The Maid by Nita Prose

   

A charmingly eccentric hotel maid, discovers a guest murdered in his bed. Solving the mystery will turn her once orderly world upside down in this utterly original debut.

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misinterprets the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has had to navigate life's complexities all by herself. No matter, she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But, Molly's orderly life is turned on its head the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself very dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black-but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late?

 A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different-and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

 AMAZON LINK

I heard about this book a lot and it made me curious about why people thought it was so good. I ended up disappointed.  

 The world building was very good. And I liked Molly and her unusual take on the world. However, sad to say I just couldn't finish this book.  Maybe I shouldn't even leave a review on Goodreads because of that.  But I tried, I really did.  It just wasn't my cup of tea and I finally quit trying to push through it. For me, I think it had to do with how naive Molly was and how people were using her because of it.  It just got larger, and wilder when it came to the schemes to use Molly.  One person was helping Molly when it came to interacting with people.  But even Giselle seems like she might also have an ulterior motive or two.  I wish I could have liked it more because it could be seen that author did a good job of writing. 

BOOK REVIEW- CYCLONE ( Linear Tactical Suspense #1)by Janie Crouch

"One rule," he said against her lips.
"Anything makes you nervous, brings back bad memories—you tell me right away. You don't try to power through anything. We go as slow as you need."

Meet Zac Mackay. Military codename: Cyclone .
He's a widower, a protector, a hero.

And the person who could destroy Anne's life.

Doctor Anne Griffin is back in Oak Creek, Wyoming, only because she has no other options. Here, she was always the shy, stuttering girl, invisible to everyone.

Except Zac Mackay. The very reason she left in the first place.

Zac’s years in Special Forces taught him survival skills, and he’s created a company—Linear Tactical—to teach those skills to others, so they never have to live in fear.

Then why is Annie, the last person he’d ever want to hurt, afraid of him?

Zac’s determined to wipe the fear from the eyes of the woman who has never been far from his mind. And fix the mistakes— hismistakes—that put that look there in the first place.

But a predator has set his sights on Annie. And now survival skills will become much more than lessons… 

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK THROUGH:

AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

Wonderful from start to finish!  A new favorite for me.  The people, the tense danger, the enemy waiting to strike again (time and time again). 

Starting out with Annie, she quickly brought out every feeling of wanting to protect her from all the hurts she suffered.  Invisible Annie was how she was seen or rather NOT seen for so long.  All the pain that had caused her to stutter which isn't something you see often in a book.  But I liked how smart she was and how with help she'd managed to get that stutter under control. Being a Brilliant doctor was also something that had achieved. So high five to Annie on that.

I liked that there was a history with Zac, although there was a lot of pain inflicted there too.  Most of it Zac didn't remember.  But prior to that pain, I did enjoy the part of the story where Zac's wife Becky and Annie were such good friends.  

That enemy that was stalking women?  I was so sure I knew who that was and kept yelling in my head, "look around, it's___".   Surprise, Surprise.  I was SO wrong.  Major twist waiting at the end of the book for a spectacular ending.  Bravo author, you got me with that one!  And I loved that you did!

BOOK REVIEW- Hunted in Hope Springs by D.J. Hicks

   

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https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_othr_d_wr_but_top?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0BPCMF1QN

 

 

A series of murders. An undercover operation in a small town. This is not what I had planned to regain my credibility.

But I didn’t have much choice in the matter.

A new start with a small FBI profiling unit has turned into everything I had told my boyfriend I would avoid: dangers, crazy missions, and psychotic killers.

What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. At least for now.

Hope Springs is a small town with a bad attitude and a high death rate. Throw in a rotund, suspicious sheriff, a gun-toting doctor, and I have to wonder if the odds aren’t stacked against me?

When Deputy Matthew appears on my radar with his wide smile, and dead fiancé, my investigation suddenly takes a terrifying turn.

The killer hunting Hope Springs’ residents is closer to me than I’d feared, and I may not make it out of this alive.

 

Tense opener is how this story started..right out of the gate. And it keeps the tensions throughout the story.  I liked that and found myself liking Willow quite a bit and fairly soon.  She really gets points for being tenacious when it comes to solving crimes.  Even when she is coming against resistance.  After hitting Hope Springs talk about resistance and down right hostility against outsiders. Not just unwelcoming but straight-up hostility. The people in the town were something else.  Including that nasty Sheriff. 

I enjoyed the twists, turns and totally unexpected, dangerous reveal of the murderer.  That murderer also told a secret that turned out to be of direct interest to Willow.  

I liked how the story ended, although there was one thread not completed..yet.  But after knowing Willow, that part she will finish. 

I was given a copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts about it.

BOOK REVIEW- Merried: An Unstoppable Christmas (The Unstoppables: Team One #2) by Heather Slade

   

She’s a former CIA agent with a badass reputation.
He’s a wealthy FBI agent with a knack for taking down serial killers.
When the holidays come, their chemistry is UNSTOPPABLE.

CASPER

It’s hard to shake the pain. Losing my husband destroyed me, and now, I’m still picking up the pieces and trying to move on. Helping the Invicibles keeps me active—and sane. Let’s be honest, I have to take one day at a time. But now, they want me to come to their holiday party and frolic in the festivities of the season. And that’s the last thing I want—especially since for the first time in ages, I’m starting to crave someone else—someone who isn’t my husband.

SPIDER

With a serial killer caught and behind bars, it seems like the perfect time to celebrate the holidays. And teaming up with the determined and fiery Casper has me longing for more this season. Taking her to the Invincibles’ party seems like just thing she needs. But when it all blows up and she disappears, I’ll do anything to make this the start of a very MERRY time.

Bought at:

AMAZON LINK 

3.5 STARS

 Although I liked both Casper and Spider and all of the emotion in the story, it just didn't do it for me. Honestly, I just expected more. 
The story was a slow starter, filled with a lot of people, which kept me a bit off balance.  The story was also without a lot of action which I had been expecting.  I know it was about Christmas but I guess I was expecting more danger drama.  Maybe that's just me.  However I will give it points for the parts I did like. 

BOOK REVIEW- Marked for death by Anna Blakely

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For Dr. Maggie Cartwright, spending the day surrounded by death isn't just normal...it's her calling. As a forensic pathologist, it's her job to find justice for victims who are unable to speak for themselves. So when the sexy FBI agent she worked with a few months ago asks her to consult on a particularly disturbing case in Colorado, she can't bring herself to say no.


FBI Special Agent Noah Killion has come face-to-face with evil before, but nothing like the killer he's up against now. With a monster terrorizing his city, he and his team will use every resource they have at their disposal to stop him. Including the beautiful, brilliant doctor he can't seem to forget.


Working together again, the chemistry between Maggie and Noah becomes impossible to deny. While on the hunt for a killer, they find themselves falling hard and fast for one another. And when the monster in their sights becomes fixated on Maggie, Noah vows to keep the woman he's falling in love with safe...or die trying.

Marked for Death is the first book in Ms. Blakely's exciting new romantic suspense series. As with all of Blakely's books, readers should expect lots of heart racing, edge-of-your-seat suspense, hot, romantic scenes, and an HEA for every couple. This series will not contain cliffhangers.  

 

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

 

It hit all the right notes for a really good story for me.   It had really good main characters. With some equally interesting secondary people, like Wade and Jax (even though Jax plays a more minor role).  

But back to Maggie and Noah who are each both exceptional at their jobs.  It took almost no time at all to be drawn into this story and the both of them.  Their careful moving around each other when it came to their attraction was sweet.  There was a careful shyness about it that was fun to watch and they had a serial killer to stop.  So for quite a while they put their focus back on stopping that killer.  Which is going to be a tense, knuckle-biting trip!! 

Oh, and about Maggie and Noah's attraction?  After several near misses of attempts against them, the do finally make some romantic moves together.  

The twists towards the end are a doozie and it comes to a stunning finish.  

There is the promised H.E.A. and I enjoyed the whole book.  It looks like Wade is going to get his own book and I'll be watching for that one too.  

 

I got a free copy of this book without a review being asked for.  And these are my honest opinions about this book.

 

BOOK REVIEW- Of Valor & Vice: (A Revelry’s Tempest Novel) by K.J.Jackson

   

Her life was charmed, until it was not.
Near destitute after the sudden death of her wastrel husband, Lady Pipworth must find a way to support herself and her young nieces until her brother returns home to assume his role as head of the family. Thanks to her three brothers that raised her, Adalia’s one outstanding skill in life is gambling, and with a dower house now at her disposal, plans to fill the coffers—scandal begetting or not—begin to take shape.

A mysterious duke with one goal in mind.
The Duke of Dellon is interested in nothing more than fulfilling the needs of running his ducal estate. As for a wife and an heir—he will get to it, eventually—as long as it fits neatly into his orderly life. But when a long-ago vow rears, landing upon his shoulders, he obligingly sets out to do what is required of him—stop Lady Pipworth from the foolery of operating a gaming house. And, if he should need to, marry the woman.

A vow invoked from the grave leads to a secret that could destroy everything.
Her gaming house a success, the last thing Adalia wants is an arrogant duke poking into her affairs. But when a sudden death threatens the very thing she holds dearest, can she possibly trust the one man that can save her and her nieces?

Bought at:

 AMAZON LINK

3 Stars

I had mixed feelings on this one.  I have read a few stories by this author that I liked but I had trouble with this one.  There were parts that I liked and it was a different kind  of story, especially when it came to the emotionless Toren.  Adalia sure made up with emotions because she was defintely full of them.  She also was not afraid to express them.  
This story didn't pull me in as much as I would have liked BUT it did hold a few surprises towards the end and at least one I never saw coming.  Which I did like.
Everything comes to a good end with also a good Epilogue.  So I kind of liked parts of it, just not all of it.

BOOK REVIEW- Wanted: Vampire's Assistant : (Moonhaven Cove Book 1) by [Dusty Rose, Jessica Martinez]

  

She's scrappy and pure sunshine.
He's a 1,000 year old vampire.
Together they're magic.

Ever had life kick you in the teeth after it shoved you down the stairs?

Yeah, that’s how my day was heading.

And then I saw an ad in the paper that changed my life—Wanted: Vampire’s Assistant. Qualifications must include: loyalty, sturdiness, flexibility, dependability, fearlessness, intelligence, and please no applicants that are prone to temper or fits of terror.

Normally, I’d laugh at the absurd ad, but I emailed the prankster—Draven Leto, instead. People need jobs, Mr. Leto. Prank ads are not appreciated.

I wasn’t expecting to get a reply.

And I certainly wasn’t expecting for the ad to be invisible to everyone else on my floor.

Then a self-proclaimed vampire with a voice that could melt honey called and invited me to interview for the position.

And I accepted.

Like I said, life changing.

Wanted: Vampire’s Assistant is part of my new Moonhaven Cove series. Each book in the series builds off the previous books, but still stands on its own. If you’re looking for clean paranormal romance with swoony kisses, snappy dialogue, funny and heartwarming characters, and plenty of suspense and action, you’ve found the right place. Welcome to Moonhaven Cove.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STAR

 This was a wild, fun read with great, unusual characters in it just like you would expect.  The world building was outrageously awesome and so were the emotions in it too.  
Mia, what's not to like about her?  Not a thing as far as I was concerned.  She might be people challenged with all their chaos and swirling emotions but get her at home with where she was SUPPOSED to be and she became more peaceful and centered. Even if "people" trying to kill her and her boss.  She was also hysterically funny, and I could see why she often made others laugh, especially Draven.  And her substitute curse phrases made me laugh too.
Draven was quite the man of the hour, and  he was beyond interesting.  I kept thinking that he was interested in Mia in more than friendship but that was a good starting point.  I loved watching their process and interactions.  Even more fun was Mia discovering she had "skills".  
I also enjoyed the other people who became friends with Mia.  They just couldn't seem to help liking her.  This was new to her since she'd never really had friends before.
The only thing that bothered me was the introduction of a witch and a familiar since I didn't know that was coming and I might have skipped the book.  I was glad however that the witch part wasn't really spent much time on.  Because other than that what a entertaining story.
Great ending to the story with an equally good Epilogue.