Tag Archives: Catherine Coulter

Reckoning by Catherine Coulter – a Review

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Reckoning by Catherine Coulter – a Review

 

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Description:
When she was twelve years old, Kirra Mandarian’s parents were murdered and she barely escaped with her life. Fourteen years later Kirra is a commonwealth attorney back home in Porte Franklin, Virginia, and her goal is to find out who killed her parents and why. She assumes the identity of E.N.–Eliot Ness–and gathers proof to bring down the man she believes was behind her parents’ deaths. She quickly learns that big-time criminals are very dangerous indeed and realizes she needs Dillon Savich’s help. Savich brings in Special Agent Griffin Hammersmith to work with Lieutenant Jeter Thorpe, the young detective who’d saved Kirra years before.

Emma Hunt, a piano prodigy and the granddaughter of powerful crime boss Mason Lord, was only six years old when she was abducted. Then, she was saved by her adoptive father, San Francisco federal judge Ramsey Hunt. Now a 12-year-old with a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, she narrowly saves herself from a would-be kidnapper at Davies Hall in San Francisco. Worried for her safety, Emma’s entire family joins her for her next performance, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. Sherlock and officers from METRO are assigned to protect her, but things don’t turn out as planned…

 

 

Review:

Reckoning by Catherine Coulter is the 26th book in her FBI Thriller series.  Agents Savich and Sherlock, who I always enjoy, are the leads in Reckoning; which has two mysteries, with each involved in, though as we get later into the story, Savich will play a big part in Sherlock’s story. 

Kirra Mandarian saw her mother and father murdered 14 years ago, managing to escape to safety. Kirra lived in Australia with her uncle, who brought her up, and now in present time, she returns to the scene of the crime in Porte Franklin, Virginia.  Kirra is smart, savvy and trained in self-defense; she is now an assistant prosecutor, and is determined to find out who killed her parents; taking on a secret identity (Eliot Ness), she sends information to the police and prosecuting lawyers with information that would convict the villain; she also sends the paperwork to Agent Dillon Savich, whom she knows will be able to help.

Emma Hunt, a piano prodigy, was only 6 years old when she was kidnapped, but her father and mother saved her. Now at 12 years old, Emma manages to save herself from another attempt to kidnap her. Agent Sherlock, who has been friends with Emma’s mother, decides to spend time watching and protecting Emma, especially, with a performance being scheduled at Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C. 

What follows is a non-stop exciting and intense adventure with two different cases. Both cases escalated, with many twists and surprises, which is another reason not to reveal these spoilers, so not to ruin the book.  I love Savich and Sherlock, even when they worked separately; they are a fabulous couple and super agents.  I really thought Kirra was a fantastic character, as she was fearless to find the truth about her parent’s death, as well as working closely with Savich, Agent Griffin Hammersmith and the local detective Jeter.  With Emma on close watch, the criminals decide to change the game, and manage to kidnap the mother and Sherlock; this will bring Savich into this mystery.

Reckoning was an exciting thriller from start to finish, and even if it was tense at times, as I was unable to put the book down from start to finish.  Catherine Coulter once again gives us a fabulous story, with wonderful characters, including evil villains.  Reckoning was a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing, suspenseful mystery.  If you like suspense, mysteries, espionage, especially in the world of FBI, I wholly suggest you read Catherine Coulter.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Vortex by Catherine Coulter – a Review

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Vortex by Catherine Coulter – a Review

 

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Description:
Seven years ago, Mia Briscoe was at a frat party with her best friend Serena when a fire broke out. Everyone was accounted for except Serena. She was never heard from or seen again. Now Mia is an investigative journalist covering the political scene in New York City, but she hasn’t given up trying to find out what happened to her friend that night. When an old photo taken at the frat party gives her clues, Mia realizes she knows just where to look. She enlists FBI agent Sherlock’s help to uncover a sinister string of events going all the way back to that disastrous party. But some very powerful—and very dangerous—people will do anything to keep the past buried.

CIA Operative Olivia Hildebrandt is a team leader on a mission in Iran to exfiltrate a betrayed undercover operative. She’s nearly killed by an exploding grenade and saved by a team member. After leaving Walter Reed Hospital, not only has that team member disappeared but two men come to her house to kill her. Savich believes their attack on Olivia is a direct result of the compromised mission in Iran. What intelligence was at stake? Who betrayed them? Savich quickly finds he is now a target himself and unseen enemies will stop at nothing, including murder.

 

 

Review:

Vortex by Catherine Coulter is the 25th book in her FBI Thriller series.  I am a big fan of Coulter’s FBI series, and looked forward to seeing our wonderful FBI heroes, Savich and Sherlock. In Vortex, both Savich and Sherlock are called into separate cases, with each case being led by great heroines.

Mia Briscoe, our heroine, is an investigative journalist for a local newspaper.  Mia still thinks about her friend from college, who disappeared 7 years ago.  When her boss assigns her to be the main reporter for Alex Harrington, the new candidate to be mayor of New York, she does some research and finds a dark blurry picture that a friend found, and sent to Mia.  In a short time, Mia utilizes another FBI friend, who was the boyfriend of the missing girl, to see if he can improve the quality of the picture, which was taken at the college 7 years ago.  After she interviews Harrington, his friends, Mia begins to suspect that there is more to the story, and with her FBI friends help, she meets Special Agent Sherlock, who will begin to work with Mia to find the truths, about now and what happened years ago.  Sherlock was in New York consulting on a serial murderer case, which she will help solve, and she fully becomes invested into Mia’s findings.

CIA agent, Olivia Hildebrandt, was on a top mission, when she was injured, as the mission was compromised.   One of her agents is now missing, and Olivia is determined to find him, since she feels he is in hiding, against foreign terrorists.  Savich is called to represent the FBI in investigating why Olivia is being targeted, as attacks have been made on her life.  Savich will take over the case, as the CIA is not happy about this.  Olivia knows someone from her team has betrayed her, and works closely with Savich to protect her, as well as find the agent who is in hiding, with the flash drive (important data) that is important to both sides. 

What follows is a non-stop exciting and intense adventure with two different cases. Both cases escalated, with many twists and surprises, which is another reason not to reveal these spoilers, so not to ruin the book.  I love Savich and Sherlock, even when they worked separately; They are a fabulous couple and super agents.  I really thought Mia was a fantastic character, as she was fearless to find the truth about her friend’s disappearance, as well as working closely with Sherlock.  Olivia too was a very good character, and was willing to put her own life in danger, working with Savich.  Coulter not only gives us wonderful characters we care about, but she also creates evil villains.

Vortex was a thriller from start to finish, and even if it was tense at times, as I was unable to put the book down from start to finish.  Catherine Coulter once again gives us a fabulous story, with so many different surprises and excitement all the way to the climax.  Vortex was a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing, suspenseful mystery.  If you like suspense, mysteries, espionage, especially in the world of CIA/FBI, I wholly suggest you read Catherine Coulter.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Deadlock by Catherine Coulter – a Review

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Deadlock by Catherine Coulter – a Review

 

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Description:
A young wife is forced to confront a decades-old deadly secret when a medium connects her to her dead grandfather.

A vicious psychopath wants ultimate revenge against Savich, but first, she wants to destroy what he loves most—his family.

A series of three red boxes are delivered personally to Savich at the Hoover Building, each one containing puzzle pieces of a town only FBI agent Pippa Cinelli recognizes. Savich sends in Cinelli to investigate undercover but someone knows who she is.

Savich and Sherlock are up to their eyebrows in danger, but can they figure out the red box puzzle and the young wife’s secret before it’s too late?

 

 

 

Review:

Deadlock by Catherine Coulter is the 24th book in her FBI Thriller series. I looked forward to returning to this series, and it’s wonderful FBI heroes, Savich and Sherlock.  Though this is the 24th book in the series, it does read very well as a standalone. Deadlock has two cases, with one involving a past case, but it is easy to follow without a problem.

Savich begins to receive strange violent puzzles from an unknown person, and knows that this is some sort of threat.  We meet FBI agent Pippa Cinelli, who recognizes the puzzles from her old hometown, and Savich gets permission from Pippa’s boss to allow her to investigate the puzzles in her hometown to figure out who and why. 

At the same time, Savich is in the right place and the right time to rescue a kidnapping attempt of Rebeka, a congressman’s wife. Savich with some help from Sherlock, will begin to investigate who is trying to hurt Rebeka. They learn that she had gone to a medium, who claimed her deceased grandfather was trying to talk to her, and the medium kept talking about stolen money hidden many years ago; Rebeka claims she knows nothing, as her grandfather’s stories were not real.  But Savich knows this is the why Rebeka’s life was in danger, and assigns Agent Griffin Hammersmith (whom we have met in previous books) to protect Rebeka.  The investigation begins with many surprising twists, with Savich being pulled between two intense cases.

Pippa begins to work with Police Chief Wilde to investigate the puzzles, and finds herself under attack by someone who is trying to stop her from going further.  Sherlock and their son are rescued from a fire in their house, which was also a threat.  We the reader, know from the start about the past case, where psychopath Marsia Gay, whom Savich sent to prison, is hell bent to enact her revenge against Savich by hurting those close to him before she has him killed.  This is a vicious and complex web going back years, and Savich, Pippa, Police Chief Wilde need to tie the missing pieces to prove Marsia is behind the threats.

What follows is a non-stop exciting and intense adventure with two different cases. Both cases intensified, with wild endings that was so very well done.  This review is difficult to write, as there are so many surprises, twists, game changers, and to tell too much more would be spoilers. I love Savich and Sherlock together, as they are a great team.  The addition of Pippa, Wilde, Griffin was also very good.  Coulter not only gives us wonderful characters we care about, but she also creates evil villains.

Deadlock was a thriller from start to finish, and even if intense at times, it was an enjoyable ride, especially with terrific our marvelous heroes.  Catherine Coulter once again gives us a fabulous story, with so many different surprises and excitement all the way to the climax.  Deadlock was a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing, suspenseful mystery.  If you like suspense, mysteries, espionage, especially in the world of CIA/FBI, I wholly suggest you read Deadlock.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter – a Review

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Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter – a Review

 

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Description:
On a dark night, Agent Sherlock is driving along circuitous mountain roads in West Virginia when her car is suddenly T-boned at an intersection. As her car spins out of control, a man’s body slams against her windshield and then—blackness. When she finally comes to, Sherlock has no memory of the accident, nor of the moments that led right up to it. But what she does know is that the man she hit is a local CIA analyst…and now he’s missing.

Meanwhile, in the small town of Gaffer’s Ridge, Virginia, Special Agent Griffin Hammersmith has just rescued a kidnapped woman who claims her captor admitted to the murder of three teenage girls. However, the man she accuses is related to the local sheriff and a member of a very powerful family. Special Agent Hammersmith reaches out to Sherlock for help, and they soon realize that the disappearance of the CIA analyst is actually connected to the string of murders. But how?

 

 

Review:

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter is the 23rd book in her FBI Thriller series.   I have read a few books in the series, but this read very well as a stand alone.  Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, both FBI agents, return as our heroes in Labyrinth.   Almost at the start, we are caught by surprise, as Sherlock is in a terrible car accident, having be hit by another car, as well as someone bouncing off her windshield.   Savich runs to the hospital worrying about his wife’s condition, and though she was lucky, she now has amnesia from her concussion.  She finds some familiar things, but she does not remember her husband, Dillon.  While many of the FBI agents close to Dillon and Sherlock stick around concerned about her, another mystery is happening in Virginia.

Agent Griffin Hammersmith is on vacation with friends in Gaffer’s Ridge, when he hears a woman screaming.   He manages to help her escape, and between himself and the rescued woman, Carson DeSilva, they manage to stop the kidnapper and call for help from the local police.  Unfortunately, the police turn things around and put both Griffin and Carson in jail for harming the local resident.    Griffin manages to call Dillion for help, and the FBI will come in full force to help Griffin, and try to solve the disappearance of three 16 year old missing girls.

When Sherlock is released from the hospital, even if she cant remember a lot, she insists to work with Dillon to help Griffin, and eventually dig deep to find out the missing man (who bounced off her car, and is a CIA Analyst) as well as discover why the CIA is involved in some kind of behind the scenes mystery.

With Sherlock at his side, they go first to Virginia to help Griffin, and discover a family that controls the town and police.  There is a slight element of psychic attacks, that someone is leashing out at first Sherlock, but Dillion will rescue her.  However, this is an important part of the Virginia story, which has some twists and surprises.  Griffin and Carson work together to get to the bottom of the missing girls.

Dillon and Sherlock return back home to slowly piece together who is the villain at the CIA, and why.  What follows is a non-stop exciting and intense adventure with two different cases. I was great to see how despite her amnesia, Sherlock as an agent was masterful, something she did not forget.  She worked so well with Dillion and other members of the FBI Team.  It was tough for Dillion as she didn’t know him, but slowly their love for each other will be instrumental in her recovery process.  Griffin and Carson had their lives on the brink, but the wild ending was so very well done.  This is a difficult review to write, as so much happens, especially with two different cases, and to tell too much more would be spoilers.

Catherine Coulter once again gives us a fabulous story, with so many different surprises and excitement all the way to the climax.  Labyrinth was fast-paced, exciting, with marvelous heroes, who have to delve deep within the CIA resolve the crimes.  If you like suspense, mysteries, espionage, especially in the world of CIA/FBI, I wholly suggest you read Labyrinth.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter-a review

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Daughter (Devil #2) by Catherine Coulter-a review

Blast From the Past

Welcome to a new feature at The Reading Cafe-BLAST FROM THE PAST-a look back at some of the oldies but goodies in the world of literary romance and ‘bodice-ripper- style novels. Our second installment is DEVIL’S DAUGHTER by Catherine Coulter. Please enjoy Rachel’s review and tell us about some of your favorite romance story lines from the past.

Devil’s Daughter
Devil #2
by Catherine Coulter
Release Date: 1985

Devil's Daughter

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A Note from the Author

Dear Reader:

Devil’s Daughter is the story of Adam and Arabella Welles, the son and daughter of Cassie and Anthony Welles. I have updated the book, since, like Devil’s Embrace, it came out a while ago and needed some tidying up. It has a charming new cover, blend of the old and the new.

Adam has enjoyed women but hasn’t yet found the woman created just for him. As for Arabella, she is as independent and strong-willed as her brother and her parents. When both brother and sister go adventuring in Naples to solve a mystery of their father’s missing ships and cargoes, they discover that the person behind this thievery is an enemy from their father’s past. This enemy manages to drug Arabella and pack her off to a harem in North Africa, Adam in pursuit.

But Adam isn’t alone, there’s a stowaway with him he certainly doesn’t expect. Her name is Rayna Lyndhurst, daughter of a man who is dead set against the Welles family. But do children ever pay attention to their parents?

Arabella finds the harem a frightening yet fascinating place, a golden prison from which there is little chance of escape. Her master is Kamal, the Bey of Oran, a man who must be her enemy but who is unlike any man she has ever known. As for Kamal, he suddenly finds himself faced with a woman willing to fight him to the death — a woman who both bewitches and infuriates him.

I hope you enjoy the adventures of Adam and Rayna, Arabella and Kamal. These are people I’ll never forget.

Catherine Coulter (The Author)

REVIEW

4.5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Devils’ Daughter by Catherine Coulter (first pubbed 1985), is the second featured book of BLAST FROM THE PAST here at The Reading Cafe, and also the sequel to the first one named Devil’s Embrace, that I did last month. Again, I will warn off anyone who is triggered by any kinds of stereotypical bodice rippers elements (such as non/con, kidnapping, rape and blustery story line). I think these kind of books are in a class all on their own and appreciate that some may think they are overly abusive in many ways. I happen to like the uninhibited, lay it out dirty, not pretty but it’ll come together if you give it a chance layers that are displayed. I am also an serious emotional reader and I find a good bodice ripper novel really brings the emotions out of me.

We were given the romance of Cassie and Anthony Welles in Devil’s Embrace. In Devil’s Daughter, we are actually given two love stories as opposed to one, that feature Cassie and Anthony’s son (Adam) and daughter (Arabella). Set in early 1800’s. both Adam and Arabella travel to meet up with their father Anthony, only to be told that thieving has become as issue in their father’s merchant company. Turns out there is quite a tangled web that has been intentional weaved to destroy the Welles family. The enemies happen to be members of family that were the “villains” in the first book. Turns out past grudges are passed on to future generations.

While trying to locate the culprits, traps are set to involve the Welles siblings in a plot to being their father to his knees. Arabella is kidnapped and sent to be a “whore” in a harem. This was interesting as Arabella is one heck of a spit fire and fights with harem leader Kamal tooth and nail. Despite the abuse, be it physical and emotional, both manage to find a sharp edge of love with each other. While his sister is in her own “mini drama”, Adam sets off to unravel more mystery for his father only to find a stowaway on his ship. Turns out this is Rayna who happens to be the daughter of a viscount who really ticked off Adam’s parents in the the first book. Are you dizzy yet readers?? LOL Chance is afforded for a romance to begin and certainly take off between Adam and Rayna. Not as blustery as Arabella and Kamal, Adam and Rayna still meet with their own obstacles and challenges which make for good reading.

Seriously, there is so much story going on I cannot get into it without writing out my own book, so this review really is just scratching the surface. I did not find this book as “violent” as the first one was and it was a little slow to start. Once it took off though .. wonderful! I would absolutely recommend reading the first one or there will be just way too much missed in this book. There is lots of drama to be had, some tear shedding “that was a douchy thing to do” moments, forgiveness, LUST and PASSION, hate and love. I loved that this was a continuation of a story that really stuck with me.

If you are looking for a great bodice ripper series, Devil by Catherine Coulter is a great one to indulge in. Just know you are going to get a whole lot of crazy thrown at you .. I happen to love a good dose of crazy, every now and then!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter-a review

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter-a review

Blast From the Past

Welcome to a new feature at The Reading Cafe-BLAST FROM THE PAST-a look back at some of the oldies but goodies in the world of literary romance and ‘bodice-ripper- style novels.  Our first installment is DEVIL’S EMBRACE by Catherine Coulter. Please enjoy Rachel’s review and tell us about some of your favorite romance story lines from the past.

 

Devil's Embrace

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From the author

Dear Reader:

Welcome to my very first historical romance, Devil’s Embrace,titled by my husband, and first published in 1982. I’ve updated it stylistically, edited it, trimmed it just a bit, and the art department designed a splendid new cover that magically includes some of the original art work.

Cassie Brougham and Anthony Welles, Earl of Clare, are my favorite characters of all time. Cassie has known the Earl of Clare all her life, but she’s in love with a soldier she’s been secretly writing to since she was fifteen. Now he’s home and they’re going to be married. But the day before her wedding, Anthony Welles kidnaps her aboard his yacht and sails away with her to Genoa, Italy; his stated intention to make her his wife.

Cassie is not happy about this.

This is an unusual love story, to say the least, that will make you weep and laugh and root for what you know is best for both of them. There is pain, doubt, captivation, and escape. But regardless of what happens, this is a love that is of the forever sort, something that is true and very real, and will stay close to your heart, I hope, for a very long time.

If you missed Devil’s Embrace the first time around, do read it now.

Enjoy,

Catherine Coulter (The Author)

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

THIS BOOK! ONE SERIOUS HOT MESS .. and I loved every single wrong, abusive, degrading, dramatic, bodice ripping minute of it. LOL

So here is a “Blast from The Past” review of Catherine Coulter’s Devil’s Embrace (the first book of her Devil series) and keep in mind that this was first published in 1982. This was written well before there was an established new adult, biker/rocker. BDSM romance sub genre. This was written in the time when Bodice Rippers were the risque read and I personally may have snuck a book or two from my mother’s book shelf when I was a young girl to indulge in what I knew was wrong ..lol! I know many readers will see nothing but the abuse and lack of integrity in characters and yes that is not always my fave part, BUT, I am an emotional reader who loves to bask in the dramatic, and these old bodice ripper books always give me goosebumps, make me so seething angry that I want to whip my book across the room, make me cry at the unfairness in treatment of characters, and finally, completely feel agahst at the audacity that the author went … there! So once I am done reading a book like this .. I honestly find .. I am the HOT MESS who just read something so completely ridiculously brilliant, I feel I need to defend why I loved it. LOL

I will start this review by saying that there is the following. Rape, non-con everything, abuse, kidnapping etc .. if you are triggered by any of these, please skip this book.

We are set in the late 18th century and our heroine Cassie Brougham (high noble beauty) is about to marry the man of her dreams. Before she gets to say her “I do’s” and live happily ever after she is kidnapped by our hero Anthony Welles (he is an Earl) and taken away from everything she loves. In order to keep her bound to him, Anthony takes her virginity making her his in every way. He imprisons her to keep her close so he has every chance to change her anger into passion.

As they travel across water, foreign land, Anthony does everything wrong to get Cassie to come around and open her heart enough marry him. Cassie will not have any of it as she believes Anthony has ruined her life (and he has). As time goes by, Cassie slowly begins to give in to the passion Anthony teaches her and maybe even fall a little bit in love with him regardless of her angry heart.

Both Cassie and Anthony have crazy adventures, misunderstandings, jealous spiteful moments and so many other characters and situations thrown their way to do everything to make things harder. Sometimes, it’s even their own selves that get in their own way. This book has it all, but keep in mind it is seriously dark and quite frankly unkind at times.

Catherine Coulter is a vivid writer. She can write her words in a way that let’s me see beautiful (and not so beautiful) imagery in my mind. I gasped and tingled at some points in this story. Her secondary characters certainly had a place in this book, but my goodness her main characters were perfectly imperfect! You made me FEEL and FEEL HARSH Catherine .. that gives you a 5 star in my opinion, no matter what some will precieve as right or wrong in your story telling process.

Next month I will “Blast from the Past” the second book to this series and I am eager to indulge!

HAPPY BODICE RIPPING READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel T

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