Monthly Archives: September 2021

Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh-Review,Excerpt & Giveaway

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Her Renegade Cowboy (Moving Violations 3) by Lora Leigh-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date September 28, 2021.

He will risk his life…

The oh-so-proper school teacher, Lily Donovan has learned, the hard way, that men are not to be trusted. Period. Until Levi Roberts, the new cowboy working at her cousin’s ranch, tempts her carefully-built resolve and awakens an all-consuming passion she thought lay dormant. But when she discovers his deadly secret, and her own secrets come to light, Lily unwittingly joins the lethal cat and mouse race between Levi and the man he’s been hunting for weeks.

To save her heart…

Former Ranger Levi Roberts has seen his fair share of deadly trouble during his years as a tough-as-nails operative. The ultimate expert in undercover investigations, he’s been tasked to find a man with a dangerous agenda in town. Routine work has been boring…until he runs into Lily, the prickly school teacher who tempts him like no other. Getting under her skin has been deliciously satisfying for his red-hot desire, but when Lily lands in the hands of the very man he’s been investigating, Levi will have to fight with every ounce of his heart and soul to save her—and to heal the heart he broke.

••••••

REVIEW. HER RENEGADE COWBOY is the third instalment in Lora Leigh’s contemporary, adult MOVING VIOLATONS erotic, romance series. This is former US Ranger turned US Marshal Levi Roberts, and grade school teacher Lily Donovan’s story line. HER RENEGADE COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective HER RENEGADE COWBOY follows Levi Roberts as he goes undercover in an effort to protect our story line heroine. Two years earlier Lily’s life imploded leaving her a shell of her former self but her past has escaped, and has targeted Lily in the process. Enter US Marshal Levi Roberts, and the man with whom Lily will fall in love. As Levi’s relationship with Lily takes on a more personal tone, Levi struggles between head and heart knowing his duty is to first protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Levi and Lily, and the potential fall-out as Lily’s past comes seeking revenge, and Levi’s secrets may destroy Lily’s new found ability to trust and love.

Lily Donovan suffered at the hands of a man who used his power and trust to destroy those under his control. Lily is stubborn, feisty, sometimes immature and has refused protective custody, and in this, our heroine is often TSTL (too stupid to live), placing herself in the direct line of fire, including trying to save the people she loves. Meeting Levi Roberts meant a possible second chance at a future but Levi’s secrets are one more betrayal that Lily is unable to control. Levi’s latest assignment is to protect Lily Donovan from the threat that is headed her way but Levi never expected to fall in love, placing his heart in danger of losing everything if something happens to our story line heroine.

The relationship between Lily and Levi is predicated upon a lie of omission. Levi is working as a ranch hand in an effort to get up close and personal with our story line heroine but Levi never expected the visceral attraction between himself and Lily, an attraction that may place our couple in the direct line of fire. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Jacob Donovan and Sallie
Hamblen (Strong Silent Cowboy 2),Lily’s sister Shay, Justice Culpepper, and college professor Graham Brisbee. There are some antagonistic feelings towards Justice, Rancor and Pride Culpepper, and I am hoping the author has some plans for a future story line or series for the three brothers.

HER RENEGADE COWBOY is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal, obsession, protection and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is engaging, entertaining and intriguing; the characters are feisty, stubborn and determined; the romance is provocative and spicy.

Reading Order and previous reviews

One Tough Cowboy
Strong, Silent Cowboy

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Exclusive excerpt provided by St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Chapter One
The song “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” popped into Lily Donovan’s head as she leaned over the rail fence, her gaze fastened on a perfect male ass, hugged by a pair of Wranglers. From there she couldn’t help but lift her gaze higher, from the narrow waist to a wide, strong back and equally powerful shoulders that flexed against a tight T-shirt. The wide brim of his hat cast a shadow on his neck, hiding any glimpse of his hair. He’d yet to turn around, but did that really matter? The view was perfect from where she stood.
“Yee-haw. Am I right?” Her companion snickered from beside her. “Who’s the new talent?”
Lily cast a sidelong glance at her sister, Shay, who happened to be admiring the same view.
Lily stifled a grin. “I don’t know, but he sure knows how to wear a pair of jeans.”
And she’d noticed over the years that most men hadn’t acquired that talent. Or the backside to carry it off.
“I’m more interested in what he looks like without them,” Shay remarked, more teasingly than serious.
“Of course you are.” Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Cowboys, no matter how good looking, were not usually her sister’s thing.
“You saw him first, though, so I’m giving you dibs.” Shay waved graciously, her perfectly manicured ruby-red nails glinting in the sunlight.
Lily gave in to the urge to roll her eyes. “Gee, thanks. That’s awfully generous of you,”
“Oh, I know.” Shay was always so magnanimous. “You can owe me later.”
“And I’m sure you’ll remind me of it regularly.” Lily couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.
“You know I will,” Shay remarked. “But you need a man more than I do. You have to get back in the saddle, girlie.”
Shay’s intentions were good, but Lily had her reasons for staying single for so long. She admired. Flirted every once in a while. Ogled on occasion. But for the past year Lily had been a strictly “look but not touch” sort of a woman.
Hypotheticals were comfortable. She could talk a good game, and it was safe to banter about a guy’s ass with Shay when his back was turned to her and she wasn’t required to engage in conversation. This was better. Safer. And safe distances like this were likely to be the norm for a while longer.
As if he’d heard them, the cowboy in question turned in their direction. Though the hat shaded his face, the sparkle of honey-gold eyes stood out from the shadows. His gaze locked with Lily’s and held it for the briefest moment.
“Wow!” Shay exclaimed a little too loud. “The front side is just as damn good as the backside!”
“Shay!” Lily hissed. “Shhh. He’s looking right at us.”
“He’s looking right at you,” Shay corrected her. “You might want to offer him a tissue so he can wipe the drool from his mouth.”
Lily scoffed, but she didn’t look away. Strong jawline, high cheekbones, a nose that was just imperfect enough to ground his good looks, and those eyes. They practically glowed. He continued to stare, his gaze unwavering. Lily tried to look away, but his eyes captivated her.
“No one stands around here, girls. You know that.” Lily’s cousin Jacob’s voice boomed from the group of men setting up the cattle chute, breaking the spell. “Fence leaners get put to work, so you’d better get moving or get down here and get dirty.”
He was teasing, but Lily wanted to kick Jacob in the shin for drawing attention to them. It was his ranch, after all, and it wasn’t the first time she and Shay had been given a hard time. They weren’t there to hang around and get dirty, though. They were picking up Jacob’s wife, Sallie, for a shopping trip in Sacramento.
“Sorry, Jacob!” Shay called back. “We’re supervising. But we probably should stay. There’s not a single woman out there to make sure you’re doing it right!”
Jacob grinned and shook his head. He was a good sport. They really did harass him on a regular basis. But they’d been doing it since they were kids, and neither she nor Shay could find a good reason to stop doing it now.
“Aren’t you going to Target or the mall or something?” Jacob swept his hands at them as though to shoo them away. “Maybe you should go make a shopping list.”
“You don’t make a shopping list for Target,” Lily quipped. “Target tells you what you need when you get there.”
She reached a fist up and Shay bumped her knuckles against Lily’s. From the corner of her eye, she kept her attention on the mysterious cowboy and found him watching her again. For the past year, that sort of attention had made her a little anxious. This time, however, it gave her a bit of a thrill.
“Lily, will you please control your sister?” Jacob said with mock exasperation.
“You know she’s uncontrollable,” Lily reminded him with a laugh.
“Boy, you’ve got that right.”
He gave them a wave in parting and headed back to the chute. Lily stepped down from the fence.
“Are you sure you want to go shopping today? Looks like everything you need is right here. Might not be a bad idea to get down and dirty if you know what I mean,” Shay suggested as she followed.
“You’re hilarious.” Lily jabbed at Shay with her elbow.
“Oh, I know.” Shay could always be counted on to be modest.

From Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh. Copyright © 2021 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

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Lora Leigh’s publisher (St. Martin’s Press)  is graciously offering a paper copy of HER RENEGADE COWBOY to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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10. Giveaway runs from September 27 to October 1, 2021

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It Started With a Dog by Julia London – a Review

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It Started With a Dog by Julia London – a Review

 

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Description:
All Harper Thompson wants for Christmas is the huge promotion she’s worked so hard for–which she should get, as long as her launch of the hip new coffeehouse, Deja Brew, goes according to plan. Jonah Rogers is trying to save his family’s coffee shop, Lucky Star, from going out of business, which will be tough with the brand-new Deja Brew opening across the street.

When Jonah and Harper meet for the first time after accidentally swapping phones, their chemistry is as electric as a strand of Christmas lights. He’s a tall, handsome, compassionate hunk of engineer, and she’s an entrepreneur whose zest for life is very sexy. They love all the same things, like scary movies, greasy food–and most of all, dogs. It’s a match made in heaven…until Jonah finds out that Harper’s the one about to put him out of business.

Only one coffee shop likely can survive, and a competition of one-upmanship ensues in a battle of the brews. The paws really come out when the local rescue shelter has a fundraiser where local businesses foster dogs, and patrons vote with their dollars for their favorite pup. Harper takes in an adorable old bulldog on behalf of Deja Brew, while Jonah fosters a perky three-legged dachshund for Lucky Star. As the excitement builds for who will be crowned King Mutt and king of the coffee hill, Harper and Jonah must decide if their connection was all steam or if they are the perfect blend.

 

 

 

Review:  

It Started with a Dog by Julia London is the 2nd book in her fun and charming Lucky Dog series.  We meet our heroine, Harper Thompson, and our hero, Jonah Rogers as they shared a cab together, with each   traveling during the holidays.   Jonah notices when he is on a plane for business close to Christmas that he has a different phone.  He then realizes that when in the cab, things fell, and the other women (Harper) picked up the wrong phone.   They begin to text each other, but Jonah will not be back until after the holidays, and they each have to deal with using the others phone.  This leads to them sending hilarious texts received from others, and it was a laugh a minute watching them begin to bond. Both are determined to meet each other after the holiday, but most important, Harper loved the dog on Jonah’s phone screensaver.

Harper is in Austin, TX, launching a new coffeehouse, Deja Brew, and determined to make it the best one yet, as she is hoping for a promotion, but her boss and his new assistant make things difficult for her, which causes her to worry about the promotion.

Jonas is an engineer, who has taken a leave of absence to help his sick father run the Lucky Star coffee shop.  When Harper and Jonas finally meet, neither knows that the new Deja Brew (which Harper is handling) is competition for the old fashion Lucky Star, which could put Jonas’s family out of business.

In a short time, their relationship heats up, as they have amazing chemistry together, not to mention that Harper loves Jonas’s big dog, Truck, who is wild and adorable.  Even when they learn about their competitive coffee shops, both Harper and Jonas continue their relationship, as they are falling hard for each other. Harper gives Jonas tips about fixing up the old coffee house with some of her contacts, she also gets to meet his family, who are a fun group, and she has a homey feeling when around them. But she is still determined to make Deja Brew a great place, with high class and amazing features.  The competition between coffee houses will include a dog contest ‘King Mutt’.

What follows is a heartwarming fun romantic romp, with a great couple, wonderful characters, and I absolutely loved the dogs.  London has a way to bring wonderful romances and add fantastic dogs.  I loved Jonah and Harper, as they were very steamy together.  Jonah’s family and Harper’s friend Olive were lots of fun.  Most of all I loved the dogs, who were adorable; Truck (Jonas dog), Bob, a grumpy bulldog (that Harper will adopt), and three legged Lulu (part of Lucky star). 

It Started with a Dog was so very well written by Julia London.  This was a fun cute story, with a fantastic group of characters and adorable dogs. What happens in the competition? You need to read the book to find out.  I really enjoyed reading It Started With a Dog, and suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Cold as Ice (Cold Justice: Negotiators 5) by Toni Anderson-tour

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Cold as Ice (Cold Justice: The Negotiators 5) by Toni Anderson-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 23, 2021.

When Darby O’Roarke wakes up in a strange house with a dead man – with no memory of what happened – she knows who she has to call: FBI Supervisory Special Agent Eban Winters…the man she fell for, and who rejected her, last summer.

A negotiator isn’t supposed to get involved with kidnap victims, and Eban has been trying to avoid the temptation that is Darby O’Roarke ever since they met. One frantic phone call has him racing to Alaska to uncover the truth, but he faces stubborn opposition from the local police, and a growing media frenzy.

Getting Darby released from jail and keeping her safe is his first priority. When another woman is brutally slain, evidence emerges that suggests Darby is being framed, and that the culprit is a vicious serial killer who has eluded the FBI for more than a decade…and, now, the killer has Darby in their sights

••••••••

REVIEW: COLD AS ICE is the fifth instalment in Toni Anderson’s contemporary, adult COLD JUSTICE: THE NEGOTIATORS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is thirty-four year old, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Eban Winters, and twenty-six year old PhD student Darby O’Roarke’s story line. COLD AS ICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Darby and Eban’s story begins in book two Colder Than Sin.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Darby and Eban) and first person (killer) COLD AS ICE follows in the wake of the murder Darby’s PhD mentor Martin Carstairs, a murder of which our heroine has been unjustly accused. Desperate for help, Darby ‘accidentally’ contacts FBI Supervisory Special Agent Eban Winters, the man who helped Darby months before following her kidnapping and torture in Nabat Island in the Flores Sea, Indonesia but a second victim all but releases Darby as the prime suspect, a release many refuse to acknowledge or accept. With the arrival of Eban Winters, Darby finds herself under the protection of the man with whom she will fall in love but a man who refused her advances months before. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eban and Darby, as the Eban, and the local Fairbanks, Alaska police department hunt for a killer.

Eban Winter’s attraction to Darby has never waned in the months since her rescue from Nabat Island, Indonesia but Eban refused to act on his attraction knowing Darby had suffered enough at the hands of her kidnappers and abusers. Desperate to prove Darby is innocent of the crime of murder, Eban sees red when the local PD begin to circle like vultures on our story line heroine. Darby O’Rourke doesn’t remember much about the night in question only that she woke to a dead body in someone else’s house but when the killer begins targeting a number of people in our heroine’s life, Eban knows that the killings are personal and directed at the woman he loves.

The relationship between Eban and Darby is one of immediate attraction but months will pass before Eban allows himself any kind of personal interaction in the face of the horrific atrocities Darby suffered at the hands of someone else. With very few people behind Darby as a means of help or support, Eban finds himself Darby’s first line of defense when it comes to proving herself innocent of the crimes. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense without eh use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including several victims of a serial killer who is getting desperate. We are introduced to several fellow PhD students at University of Alaska Fairbanks, as well as local therapist Kim Gleeson, his receptionist Corinne Brown, police detective Signy Torgeson, attorney Elliot Byrne, as well as FBI Negotiator Quentin Savage, and business woman Haley Cramer (Colder Than Sin 2). There may be something developing between Elliot Byrne and Signy Torgeson.

COLD AS ICE is a story of obsession, vengeance, and murder; secrets and lies; relationships and love. The premise is intriguing and haunting; the romance is seductive and steamy; the characters are dynamic, charismatic and resilient.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cold and Deadly
Colder Than Sin
Cold Wicked Lies
Cold Cruel Kiss

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Toni Anderson is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, gardener, mom. Originally from a small town in England, Toni studied Marine Biology at University of Liverpool (B.Sc.) and University of St. Andrews (Ph.D.) with the intention she’d never be far from the ocean. Well, that plan backfired and she ended up in the Canadian prairies with her biology professor husband, two kids, a rescue dog, and a laid-back leopard gecko.

Toni started writing while pregnant with her first child and never stopped. Her greatest achievements are mastering the Tokyo subway, climbing Ben Lomond, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and surviving fourteen Winnipeg winters (fingers crossed). She loves to travel for research purposes and was lucky enough to visit the Strategic Information and Operations Center inside FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2016, and she also got to shove another car off the road during pursuit training at the Writer’s Police Academy in Wisconsin. Watch out world!

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A Cowboy Christmas Legend by Linda Broday – a Review

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A Cowboy Christmas Legend by Linda Broday – a Review

 

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Description:
• A cowboy learning how to start over
• A fiery young woman with the heart to save him
• A past neither can escape, and
• A future worthy of any Christmas miracle.

Devastated by the loss of his young wife—and the life he’d always thought would be his—Sam Legend II has done everything he can to make a fresh start. As a bladesmith, all he needs is a bed, a hot fire, and enough distance from his famous family to finally indulge in a little peace and quiet. So what if it’s almost Christmas? This year, he’s happy just keeping to himself.

But then fiery Cheyenne Ronan comes blasting into his home, and any notion of peace goes flying out the door.

Cheyenne’s like no one Sam has ever met—and from the moment he first catches her eye, his quiet life is anything but. Now he’s hunting wanted men with the Texas Rangers, decking every hall, and sharing passionate embraces with the woman who’s set his world alight. For the first time in what feels like forever, Sam’s facing Christmas feeling like his life is full of meaning again—and that with Cheyenne by his side, love can be the stuff of Legend.

 

 

Review:

A Cowboy Christmas Legend by Linda Broday is the second book in her Lone Star Legends series. I have said previously that I love reading Linda Broday’s wonderful historical western romances; she always gives us wonderful stories, great couples and secondary characters. 

We meet our hero, Sam Legend II, who is still grieving the loss of his wife, as he lives alone (away from family), and works as a bladesmith to make money.  Sam has let himself go, with long hair and full beard, since he blames himself for his wife’s death, after the crooked Doolin brothers murdered her.  He goes into town to sell his excellent blades, and on occasion sees his neighbors, the Ronans, as well as another neighbor; he recently lost a friend, who taught him how to make those blades.

One night, out of nowhere, he is accosted by a female, wielding a knife at this throat, accusing him of killing the friend who lived there.  Sam manages to free himself, and learns the women is Cheyenne, the daughter of the Ronan family; he keeps her tied up during the night, until she calms down, and explains that their friend died of natural causes.  Cheyenne has been away for a number of years, helping the Apache children, and did not know about the friend and apologizes.

In a short time, both Sam and Cheyenne become friends and soon they will start to have feelings for each other, but both have open issues to solve; Sam to revenge his wife’s death, and Cheyenne to reveal her dark secrets from her days helping the Apache’s. It was great to see them gravitate to each other, and the wonderful slow burn romance, especially with Cheyenne’s parents away to visit a sick sister, and they spend lots of time together

Sam will run into his old friend, Cap, who is a Texas Ranger, trying to stop the outlaws, who are also printing fake money; we also learn that the Doolins are part of that group.  Sam will agree to help Cap to find proof.  Along the way, a young boy is saved by Sam, and he brings him to Cheyenne’s place, and goes to rescue the boy’s sister and mother.

What follows is an exciting story with nonstop action, heart stopping dangerous situations and a sweet romance between two people that we could not help falling in love with. Along the way secrets are revealed for both Sam and Cheyenne, bringing them even closer together. I really loved Sam and Cheyenne, as their chemistry was off the wall, and it was beautiful to watch the love they had for each other.   There was some humorous fun at times, with the banter between Sam and Cap. I also enjoyed the kids, Aaron and Ellen, as their mother slowly got better. 

Linda Broday once again gives us another wonderful addition to this series which revolves around a fabulous western historical time period. Since this was close to Christmas, it did have a nice holiday feel closer to the end.  A Cowboy Christmas Legend was a wonderful emotional heartwarming story, with a fabulous couple, great characters as well as exciting and suspenseful. I strong suggest you read A Cowboy Christmas Legend.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Lethal List (Katelyn Elms 1) by Fred Tippett II -a review

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The Lethal List (Katelyn Elms 1) by Fred Tippett II -a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2021.

MURDER BY SUICIDE?

Seventeen-year-old aspiring reporter Katelyn Elms is saddened and shocked by the sudden suicide of her friend Marnie Overton in her Santa Barbara home. But after the initial police investigation, Katelyn notices multiple inconsistencies that the cops overlooked—and begins to believe that Marnie was actually killed by a clever and elusive murderer.

Prompted by the insistence of Marnie’s young daughter, Katelyn launches her own investigation and quickly uncovers a disturbing number of buried secrets and lies surrounding Marnie’s final days, including mysterious relationships with a shady district attorney and a womanizing and temperamental boss. Stonewalled by a police force determined to look no deeper into Marnie’s case and unwilling to let a child relitigate the matter, Katelyn presses on with the covert assistance of the Police Chief’s son—who also happens to be the one boy whose affections she has silently pursued for the past three years.

But when her efforts turn up a second questionable suicide, a book of suspects, and a motive to kill with dark ties to a massive underground conspiracy, Katelyn finds that she herself is fast becoming a target for premature death.

••••••••••

REVIEW: THE LETHAL LIST is the first instalment in Fred Tippett’s contemporary, young adult KATELYN ELMS murder/mystery/suspense series focusing on seventeen year old high school student and wannabe investigative journalist Katelyn Elms.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be triggers for more sensitive readers including murder, prostitution and suspected suicide.

Told from third person perspective (Katelyn) THE LETHAL LIST follows in the aftermath of the apparent suicide of a well loved professor and Katelyn’s friend Marnie Overton. With the insistence of Marnie’s twelve year old daughter Lane, seventeen year old, Katelyn takes up the slack of the local police department and begins an investigation of her own when all clues point to murder but all is not well in Santa Barbara when Katelyn uncovers a possible conspiracy linked to a missing ledger, a high end prostitution ring, and a local businessman with a lecherous reputation. As Katelyn, and the Santa Barbara police chief’s son Sean uncover the clues, the bodies begin to amass with a direct connection to the original ‘murder’.

FRED TIPPETT II pulls the reader into an intriguing and suspenseful Nancy Drew™ style whodunit with a heroine who is able to outwit the local police, and has been granted a free-pass to an ongoing murder investigation, and access to all of the crime scenes within hours of each discovery. For most readers, the suspension of reality will be necessary but for younger teens, placing themselves into the leading roles will result in a more visceral and tangible read.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Fred Tippett, II, is the author of the Young Adult Mystery novels The Women in White and The Lethal List. Fred currently lives in Alabama, though he is a Washington-DC-barred attorney. He holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania—and primarily uses his legal education to bolster the credibility of police procedural elements for his novels.

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Seducing the Warrior by Laura Shipley-Review Tour

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Seducing the Warrior (To Love A Wicked Warrior 1) by Laura Shipley-Review Tour

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Dat September 24, 2021.

A soldier losing his vision. A lady fleeing for her life. An unlikely couple… bound together in desire, need, and love.

The man in the shadows…
Injured in battle and his sight failing, Royce Davis has been dwelling in darkness since his return to England, in more ways than one. Consumed by bitterness and pain, Royce is determined to make his way in the world alone. But when a fiery-haired vixen takes up his offer of employment, his heart is awakened by a woman whose beauty enthralls him and whose touch ignites a yearning he cannot resist.

The woman who brings the light…
On the run from a ruthless enemy, Lily Moore finds refuge in Royce Davis’s home. Refusing to be put off by her employer’s coarse manners, Lily senses the real man behind the facade…as well as a desperate passion she finds herself longing to answer.

The darkness that cannot be escaped…
Royce refuses to believe he could ever be worthy of a woman like Lily. But when the past catches up with his new assistant, he will move heaven and earth to keep her safe. Royce must prepare to do battle with a cunning adversary while fighting against his own blindness. Lily never meant for Royce to be caught up in this deadly game. But now what began as a business arrangement has become something much more. Can a bargain born of necessity lead them to a fated love? Or will a madman see them parted forever?

•••••••

REVIEW: Royce is losing his sight! It was gradually going, but fighting in the war has left him with failing eyesight!! Laying in a hospital bed, he vows to become a successful business man and leave the idea of a wife and family firmly behind.
Who’s going to want to marry and later care for a blind man?

Lily is on the run! She had been for a while. She needs somewhere to hide and evade her pursuer!

Meeting Lily has Royce in a spin. Can he really offer her a job when his heart is doing crazy things?! He needs to be professional and forget his fiery headed temptress. Working for Royce will answer her prayers, but he’s so remote, how can she persuade him to allow her to live this new life?

I loved both Royce and Lily, Royce didn’t let his disability stop him from finding his place on the world, but it did make him unsure that Lily could ever look upon him as a man and not just her employer. Lily is a great character, although tired of running she hasn’t given up on love and life. She fights for Royce, even when he constantly pushes her away.

A new series and a new author for me. Slow burn romance that has you rooting for Lily, you want her to succeed in her mission to make Royce fall for her. It will have you turning each page to find out if Lily’s past will catch up to her, and will Royce become her saviour.

Great plot to this new series, and it opens up for fallen hero’s to find their place in a world that will have just thrown them away! Loved the characters of Royce and Lily

Can’t wait to read book two in the series.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie B

Copyright 2021 Laura Shipley

Lily didn’t answer right away, but he heard her footsteps move closer until he knew she was right next to him. He put his hand out and brushed her shoulder. Lily let out a tiny cry before she fell into his embrace. Royce put his arms protectively around her. They clung to each other.
“I have been alone for so long, dealing with this. Sometimes I feel like I am in an abyss of my own making. Fear has been the driving force in my life for so long—fear of the unknown, so I’ve been trying to accomplish all I can before it’s too late.”

She caressed his face. “You don’t have to be alone.” Lily’s voice trembled. “You have people who care about you, like Mr. Templeton, Percy,” she paused for a second, “and me. I understand that at times things may seem hopeless, but that is when you need to lean on others the most, and I know that may be difficult.”

He leaned into her soft touch. How had this extraordinary woman come into his life, just when he needed her the most? Since coming home from the war, Royce had felt adrift. Lily’s presence anchored him, gave him a beacon to hold on to, and by God, he would hold her close tonight if she let him.

“What did I do to deserve to have you in my life, sweet Lily?” He placed his hand over hers and kissed it.

“I might ask myself the same thing. Before coming here, the last few months, I had been alone and scared. Fearful of everyone and everything. Ever since I have been here, I have found friends and the happiness that has eluded me for quite some time. I feel like I belong.”
Royce tightened his grip on Lily and pulled her closer. “You will always have a place here, for as long as you wish. I ask for no promises and I give none.” On that, at least, he had to be honest.
“I understand.”

“I may not give you a promise, but I can give you a choice. Stay with me tonight. I will do whatever you ask—I am yours for the commanding. All I ask is that you share this room with me. I cannot bear another night without you.”

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon Author Page /

Laura Shipley is an indie author who writes steamy historical romance with hot, alpha heroes and strong-willed, independent heroines. Through thick and thin, they find their way to love.

While historical romance is her passion, Laura also enjoys reading books from all genres, with paranormal being a close second. Who doesn’t love a good vampire romance?!.

When not writing, Laura enjoys time with her husband and children and has a current obsession with diamond art. Seriously, you should check it out, she loves it. When it comes to movies, believe it or not, horror is her top viewing choice, and she has an unhealthy fascination with true crime shows. Yes, she writes stories about happily ever after but watches TV shows about how best to hide the bodies. It’s probably why all of her books have some level of intrigue mixed into each story.

She enjoys writing novels that take readers to another time and place and allows them to fall in love with the characters. Laura can often be found on Facebook, where she interacts with her readers and provides updates on upcoming releases.

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THE VIRGIN REPLAY (Rules of Love 3) by Lauren Blakely-Review Tour

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THE VIRGIN REPLAY (Rules of Love 3) by Lauren Blakely-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2021

A virgin, an athlete, a fake romance…and only one bed in the hotel room.

Following rules shot me to the top of my game as an all-star baseball player, and the golden rule is this — don’t hookup with your teammate’s sister.

But ask her to be your fake date when you desperately need one for a family wedding?

Nothing in the guy code against that. Plus, the flirty, feisty Sierra’s my friend too, so why the hell not pretend we’re madly in lust for two days in Hawaii? No hardship in a make believe kiss here, a fake smooch there, as long as we don’t cross any dangerous lines.

Then, the hotel books us into the same suite. Which means she’s showering near me, putting on itty bitty bikinis in the same room, sliding into that king-size bed wearing only a black lace cami.

But I resist…until the night she tells me she’s been waiting for me to be her first.

And there’s nothing fake about my desire to say yes, even though that’s definitely against the code. But, maybe only if someone catches feelings?
And neither one of us will.
Until I do…

••••••••

REVIEW:  THE VIRGIN REPLAY is the third instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult RULES OF LOVE erotic romanced series-a cross over with the author’s MEN OF SUMMER series. This is closing pitcher Chance Ashford, and twenty-five year old, bar owner Sierra Blackwood’s story line. THE VIRGIN REPLAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Sierra is the sister of Grant Blackwood (Men of Summer). Some of the events of THE VIRGIN REPLAY cross over with some of the events of ALL IN WITH HIM (Men of Summer 3)

Told from dual first person perspectives (Chance and Sierra) THE VIRGIN REPLAY follows the building romance and relationship between closing pitcher Chance Ashford, and twenty-five year old, bar owner Sierra Blackwood. For close to a year, Sierra Blackwood and Chance Ashford have been dancing around one another with neither one taking the steps to move forward but a mutual friend’s, destination wedding finds Chance asking Sierra to be his ‘fake’ plus one, a fake relationship that will turn into something more. From a few days in Hawaii, to a couple nights in Vegas, Sierra and Chance moving quickly from fake to real, so real that what happens in Vegas went out for the world to see. What ensues is the fake but building romance and relationship between Chance and Sierra, and the potential fall-out as Chance’s bro-code/teammate code is about to be questioned.

Chance Ashford is Sierra’s brother’s teammate and as such, struggles with the unwritten bro-code wherein teammates do not date one another’s exes, sisters, or brothers but Chance’s attraction to Sierra is equally met by Sierra’s attraction to Chance, and their fake weekend quickly turns into something more. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

WE are introduced to Chance’s twin brother TJ, bride and groom Blake and Trish, Chance’s ex Natasha, as well as Sierra’s friend Clementine, and her brother Grant, and his fiancé Gavin.

THE VIRGIN REPLAY is a sports romance story of attraction, secrets, lies and love, family and friendships. The fast paced premise is flirty and fun; the romance is seductive and sexy; the characters are energetic and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter–laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

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The Silent Witness by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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The Silent Witness by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s 4 a.m. when her mom shakes her awake. “Get up baby, we’re going to play hide and seek.” The little girl presses back into the dark space, holding her breath as she hears the shots ring out. She knows she’s next…

When the bodies of a local family are discovered on a quiet street in the small town of Dumfries, Virginia, Detective Amanda Steele takes charge of the case. Brett and Angela Parker were shot three times each, leaving no hope of survival, and their tidy suburban home has been ransacked. But there is no sign of their beloved six-year-old, Zoe.

Zoe is the same age as Amanda’s daughter was when she died, and Amanda can’t bear the thought of another little girl in danger. She’s organizing a search for the child, when she notices something strange about the ottoman at the foot of the Parkers’ bed. She opens it to find Zoe, mute and traumatized, but alive.

With Zoe completely uncommunicative, Amanda must find another way to untangle what destroyed this seemingly perfect family. It’s clear that the killer is searching for something the Parkers had, and until she has this monster behind bars, Amanda fears that he may return for Zoe. When she learns that Brett Parker cut short the family’s recent lakeside vacation, she wonders why. What happened at that lake house, and did it ultimately get them killed?

Amanda heads out to Lake Chesdin on the feeling it might be key to the case, and when she finds a cell phone in the murky waters next to the Parker cabin, she knows she’s made a breakthrough. But then terrible news reaches her from Dumfries; Zoe has been taken from her school playground.

Someone wants to silence the Parker family for good, can Amanda catch them before the little girl she’s desperate to protect pays the price?

 

Review:

The Silent Witness by Carolyn Arnold is the 3rd book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series.  Having noted this numerous times, I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her series, and I feel this series is the best one yet. 

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department.  She is called with her partner, Trent to the scene of a multiple homicide; which was a couple that were each shot three times.  Upon questioning neighbors, they realize the 6-year-old daughter is missing.  While Amanda and team, search the house, she notices the ottoman cover is crooked, and finds the daughter inside traumatized. Amanda fears that the murderer may come after Zoe (child), especially not knowing why her parents were killed.  She and Trent begin to slowly unravel the mystery, which is centered on photos taken at random during a vacation, that someone does not want anyone to see.  Amanda decides to take care of Zoe to keep her safe, but being buried on the case, who can she trust to watch over the child?

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, pulse pounding mystery that kept me unable to put the book down, especially knowing that Zoe’s life was in danger, as well as shocking revealing clues, who may behind the murder.   In the previous book, Amanda found something that hinted at a possible pedophile ring, and she begins to suspect this could possibly be related.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and this was a very good story that needs to be read from start to finish. 

The Silent Witness was an excellent crime thriller that was suspenseful, intense, and kept us glued to the end. I loved the team of Amanda, Trent & her Sergeant, as well as many of the secondary characters; though I did not like the chief. Amanda is a great heroine, and a fantastic detective.  The Silent Witness was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 


Carolyn Arnold was born in a small Canadian town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. As an international bestselling and award-winning author, she has several continuing fiction series, including her popular Detective Madison Knight series. She offers readers nearly three dozen published books in genres ranging from crime thrillers and hard-boiled mysteries to cozy mysteries and action adventures. She currently lives north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles.

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