Review - Hush

Title: Hush
Author: Cherry Adair
Publishing Date: April 2011
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy for my eReader.

Hush is the first book of Cherry Adair's new suspense series, Lodestone. Zach Stark wakes up after a night of hot sex with a beautiful woman Acadia Gray, whom he picked up in a bar the night before. He wakes up to find himself and Acadia being held at gun point by a group of savage men. These men have been paid well to kidnap him and Acadia. Neither is sure who the target of the kidnapping is or why for that matter. But one thing is for sure, Acadia and Zach will have to work together if they are to get out of the jungle alive.

Hush started out with such great promise and intrigue. I was riveted for that first chapter or two and then things took a little turn for the worse. It's just that the book is really over the top. The action is way, way intense and dare I say it, just a little bit unbelievable. However, that can make for a fun read. Just be sure to remember when reading to add your suspension of disbelief, otherwise you might just have a serious case of the eye-rolls.

Zach and Acadia have mad, smokin’-hot attraction for each other, that even when faced with guns, scary bad guys and massive explosions, they can take the time to ogle the other person's butt, pectorals or glorious ta-tas. Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, or maybe not. But these two had the mental lusting thing going on, all the while running from the bad guys in a jungle in South America. Sometimes I have a little bit of trouble with this scenario. I have to admit that the book is action packed and will keep readers on the edges of their seats. Just don't take this book to seriously and you will (hopefully) be entertained, like I was.

Review - Hot and Bothered

Title: Hot and Bothered
Author: Dianne Castell
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C+
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Hot and Bothered is the first in a series of books that takes place in Savannah, Georgia. Four women who have been close friends since childhood are all somehow connected to the disappearance of the heir to a wealthy hotel owner. Griff, the wealthy hotel owner, hires Charlotte to find the missing heir. Charlotte is a private PI and with the help of her girlfriends begins to unravel more than just the missing heir. Charlotte finds herself in danger on more than one occasion and it is not just a coincidence. To complicate matters Griff and Charlotte have long since desired one another but never acted on that desire. Although now that Griff and Charlotte are spending more time together, it's getting increasingly harder to do.

Right away, Ms. Castell immerses the reader with “Southern Charm”. It feels like the town of Savannah was created as its own character in the book. The customs and traditions of the people really come out in the writing. The characters' pasts are all intertwined and somehow connected to the mystery that Charlotte is trying to uncover.

I felt that the romance was the weaker part of the story because Charlotte and Griff have to share the spotlight with Charlotte's friends. And those friends are also involved in romantic entanglements. Therefore much of the romance between Griff and Charlotte felt secondary. However, I did enjoy Griff and Charlotte's interactions with each other. They are both fairly straight forward with their emotions - although I can't understand why they waited so long to act on their feelings for each other. It almost seemed like their relationship progressed too quickly over the course of the story to be believable especially in light of them not acting on their crushed for such a long time.

There is a continuing story arc that isn't quite resolved by the end of Hot and Bothered that will be carried into the next book in the series which is Hot and Irresistible. I have in the TBR and I'll probably get to it eventually.

Review - Sins of the Flesh

Title: Sins of the Flesh
Author: Caridad Pineiro
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Paranormal/Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy when I was at the 2010 RT Convention.

Sins of the Flesh is the first in a new series by Caridad Pineiro. Mick Carrera has been hired by a cutting edge researcher to find one of his missing patients who he believes murdered his partner. Once Mick is on the case he realizes that things aren't adding up. Caterina, the woman who he was hired to find, is no murderer. She is a very sick woman dying of cancer, only the cutting edge medical treatments she was receiving somehow worked. They worked but not without strange side effects. Mick and Caterina work together to find the real killer.

Sins of the Flesh is the first book I have read by Caridad Pineiro. She came highly recommended by my good friend Mary. I got this book earlier in the year when I attended the RT Convention. I thought the idea and premise behind this story was very unique and very well done. The reader can tell right away that Ms. Pineiro knows her science. Sins of the Flesh has a very "X-Men" vibe to it but with a more medical aspect.

I did struggle with the pacing of the book in the beginning. It took a while for the author to establish the characters and what was going on. Mick and Caterina don't meet for a while. Once they do, things pick up a little. However, if you are looking for fireworks between these two you will be disappointed. Their romance is very sedate and sweet. It actually worked for me. With all the other stuff going on the book it would have been too unrealistic to have Mick and Cat lusting after each other. As a matter of fact, that is a pet peeve of mine that thankfully I didn't have to worry about in this book. I also enjoyed the glimpses of Mick's interaction with his family. Pineiro has a way of capturing the essence of family. I look forward to reading more by her.

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Review - The Search

Title: The Search
Author: Nora Roberts
Publishing Date: July 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from the library

When Fiona Bristow was in college she was abducted by a serial killer while out for an early morning job. She was the one woman who managed to escape from Perry, the Red Scarf Killer and managed to put him behind bars for life. Years later Fiona has built up a successful dog training business on Orcas Island. One tough cookie, Fiona has put the past behind her or so she thought until the murders begin again. Fiona with the help of a sexy, grumpy carpenter Simon, struggles to build a relationship while trying to stop a copy-cat serial killer.

Fiona Bristow is a paragon of strength, patience and integrity. She was forced to live through a horrible experience at the hands of a madman and managed to put him away for life. She managed to fight every step of the way and to not allow fear to rule her life. The fact that she is targeted a second time only makes her fight that much harder to keep what she has built for herself. Simon Doyle a grumpy, blunt carpenter with an unruly puppy Jaws, can't help but find himself attracted to her and her strength. Fiona manages to worm her way under his skin no matter how hard he fights the attraction.

Simon was the best part of this book for me. He had some of the best lines in the book because he says what he is thinking without censoring it. Fiona is definitely able to hold her own with the overbearing man. She flings zingers right back at him. Fiona and Simon had great chemistry. However, I did think that these two characters had extremely good control over their emotions, almost too good of control that it seemed a little unrealistic. I would have liked to have seen Fiona or Simon lose that control at some point. It would have made them seem a little more human, imperfect.

The Search is a very gripping tale and Nora Roberts is always good for a fun reading experience. I can easily recommend it to her legions of fans.

Review - Veil of Night

Title: Veil of Night
Author: Linda Howard
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my library.

Jaclyn Wilde literally runs into Eric Wilder while dealing with a traffic violation at city hall. They end up later at a bar and have a night of very passionate sex. The next day Eric is called in to investigate the homicide of a young woman. It turns out Jaclyn is the main suspect, seeing as the victim was a young bride and Jaclyn her wedding planner. Jaclyn had been slapped in the face because the "bridezilla" was anything but pleased with Jaclyn's service. Eric has to clear Jaclyn's name and can't play favorites especially because of their former relationship.

Veil of Night starts off strong. It has a fast, interesting beginning. Unfortunately, things slowly deteriorate from there. First off, let me state for the record that I cannot be impartial when writing this review. I have been a long time fan of Linda Howard. She is one of my favorite all time authors, however I have been less than enthusiastic with her recent releases. This one included.

The problem for me is that I have come to expect a really superb romance, with a strong romantic thread between the hero and heroine. Veil of Night does not deliver in this aspect. While Jaclyn is a fine heroine and Eric a definite hero, the romance is left to the wayside as Howard allows the murder and the details to detract from the main relationship. I can't help but compare Howard's recent work with her former and it just can't compare.

I would say that if reading Howard for the first time, there is still something about her writing that can lend itself to intrigue. The characters invite confidence and an easy manner that will draw readers in. The mystery is somewhat ordinary and hard core mystery fans will most likely think that part of the story is weak. Overall, I am not impressed. I just can't help compare Veil of Night to her other work and it just doesn't stand up. It makes me so sad. I just don't want to give up on her books, but what can I do? I don't think I can hang in there any longer.


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Review - Anywhere She Runs

Title: Anywhere She Runs
Author: Debra Webb
Publishing Date: May 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from Paperbackswap.

Adeline Cooper swore to never step foot in the small town of Pascagoula, Mississippi after a drug bust went bad and her cousin was killed on the job. Adeline's Uncle has blamed her for his son's death and because of his power in the town his threats to harm her force her to leave and never come back. Ten years later Adeline finds herself back in Pascagoula when a case of a missing woman leads her there. Now she must work with her former boyfriend now Sherriff Wyatt Henderson to solve the case.

Let me preface this review by saying that in the past I have really enjoyed Debra Webb's novels. This time though, Anywhere She Runs doesn't measure up. While there were aspects to the book that I enjoyed, the negative outweighed the good.

I'll start with the positive. The mystery surrounding the missing woman was done quite nicely. The clues are slowly revealed and the connection to Adeline was very intriguing. The mystery will easily grasp the reader. Where the book falters for me has to do with the characters themselves most especially Adeline. She is so angry and defensive most of the book it is hard to completely connect to her. Some of this is due to the fact that the author continues to hammer into the reader’s head, just how angry Adeline is about her past circumstances. There are a lot of mental diatribes that just slow the pacing of the story down.

Wyatt is okay, but he doesn't really go after Adeline and spent those ten years pining after her. I don't know. He was too passive for my tastes. Plus after all of the baggage between Adeline and Wyatt, things are wrapped up much to quickly. I don't even think a whole chapter is devoted to the major conflict resolution.

I can't really recommend this book. There are better out there. If you want to try Debra Webb I suggest Nameless instead.

Review - Infamous

Title: Infamous
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new book and even had it signed by Ms. Suz herself!

Infamous is a stand alone book. Yay, for those of you who want to try Ms. Brockmann and don't know where to start. I'd definitely recommend starting here.

Alison Carter is a history buff and professor back in Boston. She writes a book centering around a famous gunslinger and sheriff. A famous producer reads her book and makes a movie according to the legend. He hires Allison to be his historical advisor for the movie. While on the set, Allison mistakes A.J. for an extra. While she is reprimanding him for wearing briefs (which were not worn in the Wild West) A.J. has an ulterior motive for wanting to meet Allison. See, his grandfather was the infamous gunslinger the movie represents as a murderer. But A.J is being haunted - I use the term loosely because the grandfather has no malice - but wants A.J to set his story straight. So A.J. travels to the movie set to meet with Allison to share the real story.

I am just going to tell you right now, I absolutely loved everything about this story and I feel like gushing about it. Seriously, Suz absolutely rocks!! I just wish she would write faster, LOL! Fans of Suzanne Brockman will still see her signature style - deep, well developed characters, fantastic dialogue and a fly by the seat of your pants plot. What more could a reader ask for? Lots of passion, well not to worry, Suz delivers there too!

There is a lot going on in this book. You have the present day romance between A.J., a carpenter from Alaska, whose tall and buff and is great with his hands *wiggles eyebrows*. You have Allison who is a no nonsense gal with a winning smile and down-to-earth outlook on life. These two are completely explosive when it comes to chemistry. Hang on dear reader, things aren't so simple. Both come with heavy baggage that must be dealt with before the happy ever after can be achieved. Not to worry, Suz mixes in plenty of light hearted moments to even out those ball-busting ones.

Too make things unique and change things up a bit, a ghost is thrown into the mix. This ghost is not hokie in anyway. It is actually very interesting how Suz tied actual historical accounts from the ghost and his past love through her diary. Then to make things even more on the edge there is a suspense plot that puts Allison's life in danger. Trust me, there is a lot going on, but is all brilliantly concocted. I highly recommend this book to all different kinds of readers - fans of contemporary, romantic suspense, Suzanne Brockmann and westerns won't want to miss out on Infamous.


This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon

Review - Naked Edge

Title: Naked Edge
Author: Pamela Clare
Publishing Date: March 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Naked Edge is book 4 in Pamela Clare's I-Team series. Katherine James meets Gabe Rossiter when he rescues her after falling from a cliff and breaking her leg. Months pass and once again Gabe comes to Kat's rescue when a prayer session is broken up by the police. Gabe witnesses a police officer accosting Kat. Within the next week, Kat's close friend and mentor Grandpa Red Crow dies from what looks to be an accidental death. But after Kat does some investigating of her own, it looks like murder and Kat may be next.

Naked Edge is another great addition to Pamela Clare's I-Team series. Ms. Clare takes the reader into the world and traditions of the Navajo people. Kat's mother is Navajo and her father an unknown white man. Kat has always been rejected by her Mother and never knew her father. She has felt apart from both worlds. She is very closed off from people and has almost no experience of any kind in terms of a relationship with people. She doesn't really have any girlfriends and she has never had a boyfriend or sexual relationship.

Naked Edge is a great balance between Kat and Gabe's emotional journey and learning to trust the other and the mystery surrounding Grandpa Red Crow's death. Just like Kat, Gabe has to learn to let people in and get close to him. He suffered a tragedy in his past that he has never gotten past. With Kat’s help Gabe starts to trust again. Naked Edge allows the reader time to see Kat and Gabe morph into more emotionally open people.

One thing about the book that I wonder about after finishing it is why there wasn't anything about Gabe's background growing up with his family. There is a lot of background about Kat's family and the book feels unbalanced with not knowing anything about Gabe's family. Somehow they are left out. It's not overtly obvious when reading the story. It wasn't until the end, did I even notice it was lacking in this area. Despite my one gripe, fans of this series won't want to miss this latest installment.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon

Review - Fade to Midnight

Title: Fade to Midnight
Author: Shannon McKenna
Publishing Date: June 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C+
Sensuality: Hot/Burning
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my local library

Fade to Midnight is the long awaited conclusion to Shannon McKenna's McCloud Brother series. It features the long lost missing brother Kev who is Sean's twin, whom they believed has been dead all these years. Sean troubled by nightmares believes his twin is still alive. Kev is alive but has no recollection of his former life. As a self protective mechanisim his brain has chosen to forget the torture Kev experienced at the hands of a mad scientist.

Fade to Midnight starts out with a fairly intriguing premise. Kev McCloud can't remember is past but for some reason he continually pictures a beautiful girl, whom he deems his "angel". He discovers that his angel is actually a real person, Edie Parrish. She has made him the main character in her popular graphic novel. Edie had horrible experiments done on her as a child. These experiments eventually lead to her psychic abilities which come out through her drawings. Edie has always been shy and a disappointment to her father.

The best part of Fade to Midnight is in the beginning when Kev and Edie first meet. They come together in an emotional and fiery explosion. If you have read McKenna before than you’ll know what I am talking about. Kev immediately knows that Edie is the woman for him and he must have her and protect her at all costs. He struggles with wanting to keep Edie safe and do what is best for her, yet he can't seem to keep his hands off of her which places them in danger. Oh, what a conundrum.

Unfortunately, after Kev and Edie get separated from each other because of the bad guys, the book takes a downturn. I felt like things got dragged out too much. The bad guys are so completely over the top eeeevil. Actually, why we are on the subject, everything about this book is over the top. Which can be great in small doses, but in this book at close to 500 pages it got old after a while. In the beginning it is exciting and addictive but by the end of the book I was uninterested and ready for it to be over.

I think fans of the McCloud Brother series will not want to miss this conclusion. But do keep in mind that Fade to Midnight is not without its share of problems.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Outcast

Title: Outcast
Author: Joan Johnston
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy from the RT Book Lovers Convention.

Ben Benedict is trying to make is way in the world after leaving the military because of suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has joined a task force in Washington DC to fight the ever escalating drug problem. Ironically enough, Ben finds himself back fighting terrorism when Al Qaeda operatives target Washington politicians as their next victims through a DC gang Ben has been working with. As if that isn't enough, he finds himself attracted to the doctor treating him for PTSD.

Outcast reminded me a lot of the 80's old school romances. Here, Ben is one of those hero’s who is a real jerk to the heroine and doesn't want to own up to his "softer" feelings. Ben has a lot of Mommy issues and only uses women for sex. He doesn't want to have to depend on any woman and then have her push him away and therefore leave him vulnerable to a broken heart. He'd rather break their hearts first instead of have his own broken. So this pretty much sums up his poor treatment of the heroine.

Even though, Ben is quite the jerk, it is a true testimony to what a good job Johnston does as a writer because she had me coming back for more time and again even though Ben annoyed me. The story is very gripping and entertaining. If you are looking for heroes of the old days and a gripping, dramatic story then Outcast is for you. Good news is that Outcast is the start of a new series and Ben comes from a very interesting high society Washington family. It looks like there will be more great books on the horizon featuring his brothers and sisters.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Ice

Title: Ice
Author: Linda Howard
Publishing Date: November 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library.

Gabriel McQueen is home for the holidays visiting his family in a small town in Maine. His father is the Sherriff and he is concerned for one of his citizens, Lolly Helton. A very dangerous ice storm is hours away from rolling in and Lolly might possibly be stuck in her cabin on a mountain. Gabe's father wants him to go check on Lolly and make sure she is safe. Gabe would rather do anything than that at the moment, as he and Lolly haven't always gotten along in the past. Yet, Gabe could never refuse his father anything, especially something as important as a person's safety and therefore heads off on this fool's errand.

Ice is classic Linda Howard with a military hero, who is tough as nails and competent and cool in the worst of situations. The heroine is a no-nonsense, capable woman willing to do whatever is necessary to survive. Lolly and Gabe have a history of rubbing each other the wrong way, but now they must work together if they are going to survive.

The thing that really frustrates me with this story is the length. It's so dang short, only 198 pages. It's a good story. I enjoyed reading what I was able to, but I soooo wanted more - more back story, more banter between Gabe and Lolly and most importantly more sexual tension. A lot of the romantic development played second fiddle to the suspense. I wanted it to be the other way around.

I can't really recommend this book to readers who haven't ever read Howard before. It's just not up to par with her previous work. I do think that fans of Linda Howard, who can't seem to give her up (I am really talking about myself here), might want to rent this book from their library. I think it took me a couple of hours to read and I was entertained, albeit very briefly.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle form from Amazon.

Review and Giveaway - Dying Scream

Title: Dying Scream
Author: Mary Burton
Publishing Date: December 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Received an ARC from the publisher requesting a book review.

Adrianna Thornton is selling her husband's large family estate that has been his family's home for generations in order to pay off her husband's medical bills. She and Craig were hit by a drunk driver which put Craig in a coma for two years and caused Adrianna to miscarry their baby. Adrianna is trying to put her life back together but she keeps receiving these creepy gifts saying they are from her late husband Craig. Also, two bodies are found on her husband's estate and they are the bodies of missing women from several years ago. The detective Gage Hudson has Craig as his chief suspect. Then a new victim appears and what seemed an open and shut case becomes complicated.

As I started reading Dying Scream, I realized right away that there was a previous book with a connection to these same characters. I did a little research and discovered that Dead Ringer features Adrianna's sister Kendall and another detective Jacob Warwick. Oddly enough, the author's website does not disclose that these two books are connected. At any rate, enough information is given to clue the reader in to what happened in Dead Ringer.

I have mixed feelings about Dying Scream, as it has its good points and bad. On the plus side, the mystery surrounding the dead bodies was excellently done. I was never able to guess who the real killer was the whole time. Burton leads the reader through a twisting maze of clues, keeping the reader guessing up until the very end.

Where the book failed for me was the romance between Gage and Adrianna. Adrianna is described frequently in the book as cold and regal. Gage grew up in a trailer park while Adrianna lived in a mansion. Gage feels like Adrianna is too good for the likes of him. I never really felt a connection between them or got the sense that they really loved each other. Gage seemed more wrapped up in the idea of Adrianna, than the actual woman herself. On the otherhand, Adrianna never really looked passed what was on the surface of Gage's personality. I really can't recommend this book, unless you are a die hard fan of suspense.

Now after that glowing review, the publisher generously sent me an extra book that I can offer up in a giveaway. So.... if anyone would like a copy of Dying Scream just comment on this post. This contest will close Thursday, December 10th at midnight. I will pick a winner randomly and announce the winner on Friday. This contest is open to anyone.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Everywhere She Turns

Title: Everywhere She Turns
Author: Debra Webb
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Borrowed this book from the local library.

Dr. CJ Patterson learns that her sister Shelley has been murdered. CJ and Shelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama on the wrong side of the tracks. CJ was able to make something of herself and become a doctor, but her sister Shelley wasn't so lucky. Shelley was a prostitute and drug addict. CJ goes back home to make sure the police are doing what they can to find Shelley's killer. CJ knows that since Shelley wasn't an important citizen that they would be more likely to ignore her murder than make it a priority. She won't stand for that and gets involved with the investigation.

Debra Webb pens excellent suspense. I was engrossed in the story right from the beginning. The suspense portion of the story is very involved. There are a multitude of suspects and angles that the police are investigating. The reader is privy to some of the suspects' points of view, as well as CJ's and the detective Braddock's. CJ and Braddock have a past, which unfolds a little at a time over the first half of the book. The sexual tension between CJ and Braddock is very well done and their first intimate scene together is a scorcher. Whew! I felt that the evolution of their relationship was excellently done and very believable.

The one thing that bothered me with the book was CJ. For an intelligent woman she sure did make some stupid decisions. She had a tendency to put herself in dangerous situations. I think for those readers who are sensitive to this type of heroine will be annoyed with CJ. I could over look it because Webb does pen a good story. The mystery/suspense had plenty of twists and turns where eventually everything culminated in a crashing crescendo. If you can overlook the heroine's bad decision making skills, Everywhere She Turns is definitely an entertaining read.

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

TBR Challenge - Dark Paradise

Title: Dark Paradise
Author: Tami Hoag
Publication Date: 1994
Genre: Suspense (with romantic elements)
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I bought this book from a used book store several years ago. I am just now finally reading it for Keishon's TBR Challenge.

Marilee Jennings is fed up with trying to please everyone but herself. She was a court reporter for several years and she just recently quit her job and broke up with her boyfriend. She wants to take some time to decompress and find out what direction she wants to go with her new life. Her friend Lucy moved out to the small town of New Eden, Montana. Marilee knows Lucy will be supportive of this decision and she leaves California behind with high hopes. When she gets to Montana she discovers that Lucy was killed in a hunting accident and Marilee is her heir. Marilee is shocked by this change of events, to say the least. The longer Mari stays in New Eden, the longer she believes that Lucy was involved with something illegal. Mari is determined to get to the bottom of things.

Dark Paradise is so much more than just a suspense story. It is a story about people learning to deal with the crap life throws at you. To learn how to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going. Hoag knows how to pen realistic and sympathetic characters. She grabs the reader and hooks them into the story with these characters. At certain times the reader is going to be so frustrated and want to throw something at J.D's stubborn head or roll their eyes at Will's childish antics. Great connection with the characters, whether it's a positive or negative reaction is what makes this book such a strong read.

Even though this is a straight suspense, there is quite a bit of romance to it and I was surprised. I wasn't expecting that. Mari and J.D.'s romance unfolds slowly. At first, J.D. is more like an anti-hero. He tries to scare Mari off, mainly because he is attracted to her and doesn't like that he feels attracted to her. Mari stands her ground and doesn't let him bully her. She is the right mixture of spit-fire and vulnerability. I really liked her character. J.D. was harder to like because he is so angry about everything.

Where the story falters a little bit for me is this book comes in at 528 pages. It was a long book with a lot of characters narrating the story. Mari and J.D. spend some time contemplating their feelings for one another and some of it seemed repetitive. Also, there is a secondary romance between Will and Samantha, which I liked very much. After the conclusion to the suspense portion of the story, I wish Hoag would have come back and cleared up a few things with Will and Samantha. Something big happened to them, but their reunion happens off page and it would have been nice for the reader to experience this directly through the characters themselves. Other than that, for fans of suspense, I would definitely recommend Dark Paradise.

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Tasting Fear

Title: Tasting Fear
Author: Shannon McKenna
Publishing Date: July 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: D
Sensuality: Hot

Three sisters each find love while trying to discover who murdered their foster mother in this collection of novellas. In Outside the Limit, Nancy meets carpenter Liam Knightly on the stoop of her Mother's house. Before she died she had hired Liam to do some remodeling. In Ask For More, Nell answers an employment ad requesting a poet to help with a video game. She discovers that her new employer Duncan is none other than the gorgeous man who she waits on at the diner where she works. Then in Ready or Not, Vivi goes to live on the property of Jack Kendrick, a former military operative and good friend of Duncan's. Vivi needs protection from the killer who has yet to be apprehended.

The biggest issue I had with Tasting Fear was that is was the same story told three times, only the names were changed. The women all had the same personality, just interchange a different focus on art. One was a poet, one a sculptor and the other a musician. The men were all grunting, cave dwellers with super-sized penises, that once they found out their woman was in danger wanted to control every aspect of their lives in order to protect them. It really was the same story told over and over again.

Because these stories were short, no real character development was able to be done. The characters very quickly fell in love and it seemed staged and unrealistic. This time McKenna's writing lacked emotion and failed to hook me. The story would have had much more appeal had it only been one couple as the focal point. Then that couple would have had the proper time to develop their relationship in a reasonable and believable time period. I am sorry to say that I can not recommend this book. Fans of Mckenna, I suggest reading an old favorite to pass the time until she publishes a full length novel.

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Review - Hot Pursuit

Title: Hot Pursuit
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Publishing Date: August 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot

Hot Pursuit is the 15th book in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series. Anyone who is familiar with my blog knows how much I love this series. Brockmann has gone back to two of fans' favorite characters, Alyssa and Sam. Their story continues as they are now happily married with an infant son. Alyssa and Sam both work for a private firm Troubleshooters Inc. which was founded by Sam's former SEAL Chief Tom Paoletti. Alyssa takes an assignment to provide protection to a young congress woman who has received threatening notes recently. Things take a sinister turn when a heart is found in the bottom of her secretary's desk.

Suzanne Brockmann is known for her multiple story arcs and Hot Pursuit is no exception. This time Danny Gillman, or Gilligan as his SEAL brothers refer to him meets Jennilyn who is an aid to the congresswoman, Maria. He pursues her for a two week fling while he is in New York with no strings attached. Jennilyn is used to men ignoring her while they trip over their tongues after they lay eyes on Maria. So when Danny approaches Jennilyn she isn't exactly sure how to handle him.

Hot Pursuit is typical Brockmann with great dialogue and interesting characters, yet it definitely wasn't my favorite by her. Part if this was due to the fact that I didn't really like Danny. I hated the way he approached Jennilyn. It wasn't romantic, it was logical and cold and quite frankly, a big turn off. But their story will continue in Brockmann's next book and with faith I am sure she can turn Danny into real "Hero" material. He just didn't have it in this book. He was too selfish by far, and has some growing to do.

Alyssa and the killer portion of the book went well. Sometimes the killer narrated the story, but they were brief and spaced far apart. One complaint I had was the way the cover summary mislead my expectations of the book. This is the part that I am scratching my head over:

But then, while investigating a suspect, Alyssa is ambushed and suddenly finds herself imprisoned by The Dentist. Cut off from everyone she loves and relies on, Alyssa must call upon all of her strength and skill to survive this final confrontation with the sadistic monster, meanwhile trusting that her Troubleshooter teammates, led by her beloved Sam, will reach her before it’s too late.

For me these two sentences ramped up the suspense because every time Alyssa was by herself, I kept waiting her to get abducted. She does, but let's just say it was misleading.

Brockmann wrote an Author's Note at the end of the book. In it she states that she will have one more Troubleshooters book where Izzy and Gillman will get their happy endings. But she may not write anymore after that. I will be sad if that is the case. I want Lopez to find someone!

Here is what others had to say:

Book Junkie
Thrifty Reader
Romance Novel TV
Book Binge
imagic Reflections
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Arch's Bookland

This book can be purchased in print and kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Angels Fall

Title: Angels Fall
Author: Nora Roberts
Publishing Date: 2006
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: A
Sensuality: Warm

Something terrible happened to Reece Gilmore back in Boston, terrible enough to cause her panic attacks and doubt her own sanity. Trying to make a new life for herself she hits the road and is not sure where she will end up. She is just living in the moment trying to survive each minute, each hour. Her radiator in her car finally gives up in the quant town of Angel’s Fist, Wyoming. As she is walking down the street waiting for her car to get fixed she notices the sign in a diner window proclaiming a need for a cook. With only $200 in her pocket, she decides maybe it's time to stop running and get a job.

Not more than a week into her stay in Angel’s Fist as she is hiking a trail Reece witnesses a murder. When she reports what she saw the town Sherriff investigating doesn't quite believe her. There is no evidence of the supposed murder that she witnessed; no body and no signs of a struggle. Her only saving grace is that local recluse and mystery author Jamison Brody believes her. Strange events start happening and Reece begins to doubt her sanity. Brody and Reece start to build a trusting relationship and with each other’s help begin to decipher this murder mystery.

I am on a roll with my choice of romantic suspense books lately. Angels Fall is another one for the keeper stack. Reece Gilmore is a complex puzzle that readers will fall in love with. Sure she is a little bit neurotic with her tendency to check, double check and triple check the locks on her doors and windows. And sure she sleeps with the lights on and can’t handle small closed spaces, but that’s what makes her so unique and lovable. She wasn’t always like that but something horrific happened in her past. The reader doesn’t find out right away why Reece is this way and that is part of the intrigue to the story.

Brody is a perfect match for Reece. He is brutally honest with his opinions. Whenever Reece would start to have a panic attack he would not allow it. There would be no pity, or sympathy from his corner. He sees the inner strength in her, the courage that it takes for her to get up every day and face the world and he admires that. He only wants to encourage her to keep moving forward, not backwards. As soon as Brody takes the tough guy approach with her, it gets her back up. Reece not one to let him badger her, gives as good as she gets. Let the sparks fly!

I felt that the suspense and romance was perfectly balanced in Angels Fall. The romance was passionate and the suspense was thrilling. The town of Angel’s Fist is the perfect backdrop with its soaring sights and charming townspeople. I can see why Nora Roberts is the Grand Dame of romance.


This book was part of Keishon's TBR Challenge 2009. The theme for this month was wrongfully accused or just released from jail. This doesn't quite fit that description, but it had been lanquishing in my TBR since the book was first released three years ago. I don't know what took me so long to get to it!

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Burn

Title: Burn
Author: Linda Howard
Publishing Date: July 2009
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm

Jenner Redwine is twenty-three working second shift in a meat packing plant. On her way home from work as she stops to buy a six pack for her moocher boyfriend she also buys a few lottery tickets. Believe it or not, Jenner wins the lottery. Jenner knows that her life is about to change drastically. Even though she might not be well educated, she is no dummy. She takes the proper precautions to ensure the safety of her winnings before claiming the winning ticket. Fast forward seven years later and Jenner is traveling on a charity cruise to Hawaii with her best friend, Sydney. Only Sydney is kidnapped and held captive to ensure Jenner's participation in the surveillance of the cruise's owner without any missteps.

Burn is classic Linda Howard, maybe not at her best, but damn entertaining that's for sure. The first part of the book tells the story of how Jenner went from poor white trash, to hob knobbing with the filthy rich. What is so awesome about Howard's writing style is that the reader is not just told how diligent and smart Jenner is, but shown through the actions she takes to prepare herself for the changes to her new life after she claims her winning lottery ticket. This part of the book has clearly shown the reader what type of person Jenner is and what she is capable of.

Then Jenner is thrown into a stressful situation on the cruise and she doesn't panic at all. Instead she gets angry and fights back. Cael Traylor needs access to Jenner's suite in order to keep tabs on what the ship's owner is up to. He is impressed and yet annoyed with Jenner's prickly personality. These two are like two dogs in a kennel circling each other, snipping and snarling and waiting for an opportunity to pounce. The dynamic between Cael and Jenner is laced with lots of sexual tension and is a lot of fun to read.

I found the suspense to overshadow the romance to a certain degree. The suspense is the main momentum for the story and the most important aspect. I prefer it to be the other way around with the romance leading the way. But even with this as the case, Burn was a very enjoyable read. Jenner has definitely made the top of my list of favorite heroines by Ms. Howard.

This book can be purchased in hardcover or kindle by Amazon.

Review - Trust Me

Title: Trust Me
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Publication Date: 1995
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm

Once again Sam Stark finds himself rejected at the alter. You think he would be used to it by now. Sam is the owner and founder of Stark Security Systems. He confines himself to logic and order and prefers to spend time with his computers rather than people and their messy emotions. He was hoping marry a woman to help him deal with the social aspects of his company. He definitely wasn't looking for something as chaotic as falling in love. Desdemona Wainwright finds herself in the awkward position of needing to give Stark the catering bill for the wedding reception. After a few weeks, Stark comes to the conclusion that he doesn't necessarily need a wife to accomplish his goals, a caterer on standby will do the same thing, without the complications of emotional attachments. So, he hires Desdemona to cater his business's social events. Stark finds himself hopelessly attracted to her and he can't seem to keep their relationship purely professional.

The first time I read Trust Me I was impressed with this entertaining story of opposites attract. Stark is introverted and logical while Desdemona is friendly and passionate. It definitely made an impression on me and remained one of those books that I repeatedly would look back and fondly remember. After reading it a second time, I started to notice a few things that didn't bother me the first time, that did bother me now.

It is an interesting conundrum because one of the things that makes the book wonderful also greatly annoys me. I really liked that Desdemona and Stark are so clearly defined by their personalities. They fit very neatly into the category of cold, logical computer nerd (right down to his pocket protector) and flighty, emotional theater supporter. But after a while the categories became to narrow and then the characters almost seemed more cliched than actual people. I got tired of hearing Desdemona use the phrase, "I am a Wainwright, we're theater people" every time she reacts to something. Stark was the same way, only it had to do with chaos and logic.

It's possible that I am just being overly picky because I really liked Trust Me. There is a large cast of supporting characters and they are all vividly and distinctly described. Desdemona surrounds herself with her family and they make up her catering staff. Stark has his two young half brothers living with him and they add to the story as well. Even Starks receptionist with her pithy greetings, and she has a different one for every morning, really adds a fun flare to the book. There are also so many little fun quotes scattered throughout the story. And I'll leave you with an example of one such scene.

He scooped Desdemona up in his arms. Her soft gasp of excitement heated the blood in his veins.
"Am I as light as a thistledown?" she asked demurely. "I've always wondered."
He considered the question carefully. "No. But you don't weigh nearly as much as a mainframe computer."

This book was part of Nath's re-read challenge. Head on over to Nath's to view a list of other participants.







This book may be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Don't Tell

Title: Don't Tell
Author: Karen Rose
Publishing Date: 2003
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: A
Sensuality: Warm

Mary Grace Winters nine years ago ran away from her abusive husband with her seven year old son Robbie. She knew if she stayed with her husband any longer that he would eventually kill her with his frequent beatings. After healing a broken back, that was the result of a fall down the stairs, Mary Grace changed her and her son's name and moved to Chicago.

There are three separate plot threads in Don't Tell that all eventually come together to a very exciting conclusion. The first is Mary Grace, now Caroline Stewart, meeting and falling in love with her new boss Max Hunter. The second is Rob Winters Caroline's abusive, cop husband, who now discovers after nine years that his wife was not abducted and killed, but deceived him and has hidden from him. He is on a hunt to find her and make her pay for taking his son away from him for so long. The third thread are the cops who are looking for Mary Grace and are following Rob's trail.

Don't Tell was very well balanced between the suspense portion of the book and the romance between Caroline and Max. This was a very intense read. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, waiting for Rob to catch up with Caroline. I was biting my nails, hoping and praying the cops would catch Rob before he gets to Caroline. Rob was one of the scariest bad guys I have come across in a long time. He is truly a sadistic sick pup and the stuff of nightmares.

While Rob is hunting her down, Caroline is finally letting down her guard and trying new life experiences with Max. It is not easy by any means. Both Max and Caroline have huge baggage that they have to deal with. Caroline is weary of men and not sure she can entirely trust one again. Max carries incredible guilt for causing the death of his father and is a bitter man. Caroline teaches him about what it really means to live and their story is very moving. The romance is more sweet than hot, but it was in keeping with Max and Caroline's personalities. I just loved this book and highly recommend it. Karen Rose is awesome!

Here is what others had to say:

The Good, The Bad, The Unread
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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format at Amazon.