Turquoise Guardian

Turquoise Guardian by Jenna Kernan

Publisher: Harlequin

January 2017

ISBN: 978-1-335-72073-3

Pages: 248

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Arizona

Carter Bear Den is an Apache on the Turquoise Canyon Reservation and is proud of that fact. He is also a former US Marine that works to protect his people and their land as a member of the Turquoise Guardians. Carter’s one thought after discovering a grisly mass shooting at the Lilac Copper Mine is to find Amber Kitcheyan.

Amber found work at the mine after she relinquished her membership with the reservation and breaking her engagement to Carter. She is the sole survivor of the shooting. At the best she is a witness at worst she is a suspect. Carter is determined to protect the only woman he has ever loved. Even if by protecting her he loses everything else.

This is a great start to a spin off series. The characters are interesting and the overall story arc is proving to be fascinating. Readers will be interested in seeing where this series takes them and how it gets there. It isn’t necessary to read the first series before this one but it will make this series ever more enjoyable to read. If the rest of the series is similar to this book this is will be another series for the keeper shelf. The action starts at the beginning and doesn’t stop until the very end of the story. It also takes some great twists and turns that keep readers guessing just who is doing what. It also brings another way of life to vivid life for the reader. This is definitely worth reading.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Tribal Law

Tribal Law by Jenna Kernan

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

May 2016

ISBN: 978-0-373-69906-3

Pages: 218

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Black Mountain Apache Reservation

Gabe Cosen is a tribal police chief that would do anything to protect both his people and their reservation. It is this dedication to the law that cost him his fiancée. When he sent Selena Dosela’s father to prison she never forgave him. Gabe has vowed to keep her safe with trouble back on her doorstep.

The only thing that would allow Selena to accept Gabe’s help is extreme fear for her family. Selena knows she can trust him with the lives of those she loves despite all they have been through. Gabe as a lawman would never break his word. He might break her heart again if she isn’t careful though.

This is proving to be an amazing series that keeps the twists and turns coming in the overall story arc between the books. It will also have readers eagerly reaching for the last book in the series to see how it all ends. The characters are wonderfully written and really come to life for the reader with each word read. While each book can be read as a standalone readers will get a much richer story experience by reading them in order. This is definitely a series for the keeper shelf.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Override

Override by SJD Peterson

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

August 2016

ISBN: 978-1-63477-240-2

Pages: 212

Contemporary BDSM Romance m/m

Never judge a book by its cover…

Donavan Gregory is an auto worker that is over six feet with a body he has honed in the gym so he is used to people assuming he is a dominant top. They are wrong, unfortunately and it makes Donovan’s desire to explore his submissive side go unfulfilled.

Dr. Seth Manning is smaller and older than Donavan and doesn’t look like a typical Dominant. When the two meet at Pride, Donavan feels Seth just might be his perfect counterpart. Donavan doesn’t have as much experience with the BDSM world as he would like which might be a problem. He doesn’t see what a man like Seth, who is educated, handsome and confident, might see in Donavan. Seth knows that they will fit together just fine, despite the differences on the surface, when it comes to kinky fun and discovery he must convince Donavan there is no problem.

This is a quick read that starts a series that looks like it will be very interesting and complex. The characters are complex and move the story along very well. The story will also have readers wishing it is a longer story as they won’t want to leave the characters. This book will also have readers looking at other books by this author.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Twisted

Twisted by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Avon

May 2015

ISBN: 978-0-06-234964-4

Pages: 363

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

New Orleans

Dean Bannon is in New Orleans for the sole purpose of tracking down a sixteen-year-old girl that is missing. At least that was the reason until he meets a con artist that is drop-dead gorgeous and makes him want to lose his control that is legendary.

Emma Castille doesn’t claim to be psychic especially with her past. She is very good at noticing things that other people miss. Things like the pain in an ex-FBI agent’s heart or the fear in a runaway’s eyes. Emma follows her passion not someone else’s orders especially when it comes to the blistering chemistry she shares with Dean.

After a madman breaks into and leaves a twisted message of You’re Next in Emma’s home, Dean refuses to let her out of his sight. At least until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. Suddenly Emma is aching to give him everything he wants.

This is another book in a series that just gets better with each one. The reader is taken on a trip to the dark side as this story unfolds into an engrossing suspenseful story that leaves the reader wanting even more in this series. The characters are complex, flawed and completely relatable. The action doesn’t stop until the very end. It has some mind boggling twists and turns that has readers turning the pages just to see what will happen next and if everything will work out for both Dean and Emma. It will be interesting to see just where this series will take the reader as they read each book.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Hunter Moon

Hunter Moon by Jenna Kernan

Publisher: Harlequin

January 2016

ISBN: 978-0-373-69882-0

Pages: 217

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Black Mountain Reservation, Arizona

Clay Cosen would like nothing more than to put his dark past behind him. His work of impounding free-roaming cattle is creating new enemies though. Isabel Nosie is a rancher that has her own reason for mistrusting him. She has never forgiven him for her fiancé’s death even though she loved Clay once. It is a death she thinks Clay could have prevented. She soon has no choice but to turn to him as he is the best tracker on the reservation and can hopefully find who is killing her cattle.

Clay is soon a target and a suspect when he attempts to protect Izzie when she is in danger and even as he works to clear her name. Clay is at risk of losing everything: the woman he has never stopped loving and the respect of his family and his tribe.

This is proving to be an amazing series that gives a glimpse into another life. It is full of action and while each book can be read as a standalone readers will get more enjoyment if they read them in order. The characters are complex and intriguing and make for a series that will have readers eagerly reaching for the next book to see what will happen next in the series and to the family. This is also a series that will end up on a lot of keeper shelves.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

The Terms of Release

The Terms of Release The Release Series Book One by BA Tortuga

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

March 2014

ISBN: 978-1-62798-614-4

Pages: 240

Contemporary Romance m/m

Texas

Some say a man can always come home. Sage Redding, after doing hard time, heads to his family’s northeast Texas ranch to help his ailing daddy with the cutting horses.

Adam “Win” Winchester is the cousin of one of the men that was killed in the incident that sent Sage to prison for almost a decade. He is also a county deputy. Win’s uncles, Jim and Teddy are determined to make the entire Redding family and Sage pay for their loss. Win sees it differently in that he figures Sage paid his dues and could just maybe use a friend. Maybe more than a friend. Win is counting on that in fact.

No one is denying that Sage is an ex-con that went to prison for manslaughter. He knows that returning will likely make things go badly for him regardless of the love he has for his father. Maybe a man can always come home but he just might not be able to stay.

This is a very interesting start to a series that if the other books are written like this one should be very good. This one takes readers on an emotional roller coaster that has some major ups and downs but proves to be a book very much worth reading. The characters are intense and complex and they move the story at a fast pace. This is definitely worth checking out and will have readers looking at other books by this author.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Relentless

Relentless by Cheyenne Meadows

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

February 2016

ISBN: 978-1-63476-872-6

Pages: 260

Contemporary Paranormal Romance m/m

Jag is a sniper extraordinaire besides being a jaguar shifter. He is also tasked with his most dangerous and difficult mission to date. He needs to take out the man that is responsible for the death of his husband’s, who was also his spotter, violent death. Again.

Sonar is assigned as the new spotter to the scowling, surly feline alpha. Sonar is also an ocelot shifter. He sees more beneath the surface even as he is impressed with Jag’s skills. He sees a man that is furious and grief-stricken and that is on a trail of vengeance.

Jag and Sonar together face both challenges and perils that test their resolve, skills and the budding feelings they have for each other. The heat between them rises at the same time as the death tolls. The longings they have for each other might give them the strength they need to persevere but it could also force them to succumb and sacrifice everything. The only thing that is certain is that someone won’t be making it back alive.

This is a fast paced book that starts out with a lot of action and doesn’t stop until the very end. It reads more like a short story than a full sized book and proves to be hard to put down. It will also take readers on an emotional roller coaster that keeps going until the end. It would be interesting to see this made into a series as there are so many different characters that make for a very interesting world. This is also one for the keeper shelves.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Moon Called

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Publisher: ACE

February 2006

ISBN: 0-441-01381-3

Pages: 288

Contemporary Paranormal Romantic Elements

Tri-Cities Washington, Montana

Mercy Thompson knows werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way but if you are careful they will leave you alone. She also isn’t human and knows just how good they are at hiding their natures from the human population. They know her when they meet and she knows them too.

Mercy also has a werewolf who is both sexy and her next-door neighbor.

At her mechanic shop she is tinkering with a VW bus that is owned by a vampire.

It is a good thing she isn’t exactly normal because with her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night it is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

With this book it shows just why this is such a popular series. While there are times the characters are a little frustrating it actually works well in the overall story line and is a book that proves to be hard to put down. It also proves to be different than other books in this genre and should prove to be a series that takes readers on an amazing ride. It will be interesting to see how things progress between all the characters.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Fight or Flight

Fight or Flight by Dirk Greyson

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

August 2016

ISBN: 978-1-63477-731-5

Pages: 192

Contemporary Romance m/m

Hartwick County, South Dakota

Mackenzie “Mack” Redford didn’t find life in the big city to be what he expected it to be. He is now home in Hartwick County, South Dakota and he serves as its sheriff.

Brantley Calderone left New York to start a new life by buying a ranch. He is getting used to living at a different pace and settling in when he finds a dead woman on his porch and himself the prime suspect in her murder.

Both Mack and Brantley quickly realized that someone is trying to frame Brantley and he is not safe on his ranch alone. Not to mention the attraction that is developing between them, an attraction that increases when Mack offers to let Brantley stay with him in his home. The killer escalates even as the romance between them does the same. They have to figure out who wants Brantley dead and stay one step ahead or it might end up being too late. Only then can they have the life they are both seeking - together.

This is book that is full of suspense that keeps building until the explosive end. The characters are very interesting and keep the story moving quickly. Just as the reader thinks they have it figured out who is behind everything another twist is thrown in that will have them seconding guessing if they actually do know what is happening and why. It will also have readers hoping there will be more books to go with this one. It will also pull at readers heartstrings and makes for an unforgettable read.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf Apache Protector series by Jenna Kernan

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

December 2015

ISBN: 978-0-373-69876-9

Pages: 220

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Arizona

Kino Cosen is an elite tracker that is hunting for the drug lord that murdered his father. He has finally gotten the Viprer in his sights after a decade of searching, until a woman gets in the way. Kino now has a new lead. Lea Atlaha is an aid worker that has seen the Viper face-to-face and managed to live.

Lea is now a target. Kino thinks he is just protecting her because she can help him get justice for his father but he soon realizes that she is not just another witness. Kino has to choose between his need for vengeance, the woman he has come to love, and the traditions of his tribe as the Viper moves in for the kill.

This is the first book in a series that is a great way to start a series. It has plenty of action and is full of twists and turns that don’t stop until the very end. It also gives readers an interesting view of Native Americans and what life is like on the rez. This should prove to be an interesting series and will have readers wanting to read more about this family and the life they lead.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Blood & Thunder

Blood & Thunder THIRDS Book 2 by Charlie Cochet

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

August 2014

ISBN: 978-1-63216-178-9

Pages: 240

Contemporary Paranormal Romance m/m

New York City

Peace seems unattainable when a series of bombs go off in a Therian youth center that injures members of THIRDS Team Destructive Delta and also causes a rift between agents Dexter J. Daley and Sloane Brodie. The Order of Adrasteia is a new and frightening group that always seems to be a step ahead. Hostility is growing daily between Humans and Therians with panic and intolerance spreading with the Order’s propaganda being littered in the streets. Dex and Sloane are determined to settle a personal score, restore peace and take down the Order with the rest of their team’s help. As the team investigates deeper into the bombings the more it looks like there is a more sinister motive behind everything than just a desire to shed blood and spread chaos.

Sloane is forced to confront secrets from his past that he thought he had left behind for good with the discovery of the frightful truth behind the Order’s intent. It is also a past that could destroy his career, him and the reputation of the organization that made him all that he is today. Dex and Sloane need each other more than ever now along with trust and the strength of their bond that could mean the difference between justice and all-out war.

This is a series that could prove very addictive for readers. The action never stops and with all that is happening in the story it makes for a book that readers won’t want to put down until the find out how it ends. It will also have them reading the rest of the series to see how the overall story arc ends and what happens to all the different characters that make for an unforgettable book.  With just the first two books in the series it really stands out in this genre and will have readers wanting to see what else the author has written.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Hell & High Water

Hell & High Water A THIRDS novel by Charlie Cochet

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

July 2014

ISBN: 978-1-63216-012-6

Pages: 296

Contemporary Paranormal m/m

New York City

Dexter J. Daley is a homicide detective that suddenly finds himself sans, boyfriend and friends when his testimony helps send his partner away for murder. He is lucky to still have his teeth after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, which shows him the consequences and media frenzy aren’t far behind. Dex fears he will be transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct or even worse be dismissed. Instead after a few strings being pulled by his adoptive father, who is a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron that is known as the THIRDS, Dex is recruited as a Defense Agent.

Dex is eager to start his new job and get his life back on track. When he first meets with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who is also his new jaguar Therian partner it is a disaster. Dex soon learns that getting his partner and the rest of the tight knit team to accept him will be harder than catching the killer they are investigating for the murders of three HumaniTherian activists. It might also be just as dangerous.

This is an amazing opening book to a series that should prove to be fantastic if the rest of the books live up to this one. The characters are complex and interesting and make for a story that is very hard to put down. It is a very different story that makes it really stand out in this genre. It is action packed and fast paced and it reads more like a novella than a novel. Just as the reader thinks they knew where this is headed it takes another turn that will have them working to figure out just who is behind what is happening and what will happen next.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Undead or Alive

Undead or Alive a Bad Things Novel by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

October 2016

Pages: 161

Contemporary Paranormal Romance

New Orleans & Key West

Cassius “Cass” Garvan is the baddest of the bad. He is also the last Reaper, he can literally kill with a touch. He is a bounty hunter that always brings his prey in undead or alive. He has a new target this time. Amber Fortune who is much too tempting. The easy part was hunting her down. Giving her up on the other hand, Cass isn’t sure he can do that.

Amber isn’t about to surrender herself to the Reaper, especially since she has been on the run for decades. Maybe she does have a weakness for bad boys and guys who have a dark side. It doesn’t get any darker than a man who is Death. She also doesn’t fear his touch when Cass kisses her. She just wants him. It can be a very dangerous thing to want a Reaper.

Amber knows she is in for the most dangerous time of her very long life when she is trapped with the Reaper for forty-eight hours. Amber has to convince Cass to let her escape if she has any hope of escaping the torment coming her way. Amber is about to find out if Death has a heart. She will use every trick in the playbook to get Cass on her side. Amber has to be very careful and not let Cass break through her control as she works to seduce him. Because everyone knows that once you fall for Death there is absolutely no turning back.

This is another amazing story in a series that just gets better with each and every book. While they can be read as stand alones the books are so much better if they are read in order. This one is action packed and Cass and Amber make for an unforgettable story as they each try to get their ultimate goals. This one will also have reader eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. It will be interesting to see just where this series goes and how it gets there.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Irresistible Force

Irresistible Force by D.D. Ayres

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

September 2014

ISBN: 978-1-250-04217-0

Pages: 305

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

North Carolina

When a gorgeous stray dog is brought into the animal shelter where Shay Appleton works it is love at first sight. She needs all the protection she can get from an abusive ex that won’t let her go and she is sure that the dog will make the perfect watch dog for her. What she never expected was to find out that her new pet is actually a trained police K-9 named Bogart. Then the human partner of Bogart shows up on her doorstep.

James Cannon is an alpha male that is also an officer who is convinced that Shay stole his dog. Once he gets closer to his suspect he quickly realizes that while Shay is independent and stubborn she also needs more than just a guard dog. She needs him too. Someone from Shay’s past is stalking her and threatening her life. James will have to decide what he is willing to risk for the woman that has stolen his heart. Is he willing to risk not only his best friend but also his career?

This is start of series that if it continues to be as good as this story will prove to be an excellent series. The characters keep the story moving along and figuring out just what exactly is going on will keep the reader guessing until the very end of the book. The K-9 aspect of the series makes for some books that are uniquely their own and really makes them stand out in this genre. The suspense goes full throttle until the end of the story.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Gemina

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf

October 2016

ISBN: 978-0-553-49915-5

Pages: 659

Futuristic Sci-fi, Young Adult

Hanna always knew that when she moved to a space station at the edge of the galaxy it was going to be the death of her social life. What she never thought was that it might actually get her killed.

Hanna is the daughter of the Heimdall space station captain. A daughter that has always been pampered. Nik on the other hand is a reluctant member of a notorious crime family. They struggle with dealing with the realities of life on board the galaxy’s most boring space station. They have no idea that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right towards Heimdall with news of the Kerenza invation.

An elite BeiTech team invades the station which throws Hanna and Nik together to defend their home. If that wasn’t enough they are also dealing with a malfunctioning wormhole that can rip the space-time continuum in two, and an alien predator that is picking off the crew one by one and all of it before dinner. Now Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their survival but the fate of everyone on the Hypatia and possibly the known universe.

They’ve totally got this though, at least they hope they do.

This story is just as good as the first book in the series. It will also have readers wanting more from this world now. The characters make for a funny and fast paced story that readers won’t want to put down until the very last page and then they will be mourning that it done. The book keeps the humor flowing well through the whole story but the story will also take the reader on an emotional roller coaster that is jam packed with action that keeps going until the very end of the book. Anyone that reads this book even if they like some of the different genres that this book can fall into, will fall in love with both the series and the characters. It is proving to be an unforgettable series that will end up on the keeper shelves. This is a must read for everyone that enjoys sci-fi, futuristic, or young adult books.

I give this 5+ red roses

LRH

Sacramento Dirtier

Sacramento Dirtier by Susan Ward

Publisher: Susan Ward

October 2016

ISBN: 978-1535260008

Pages: 196

Contemporary M/M Romance

Sacramento, California

Colin Rand is a Hollywood leading man who is running for governor in the hopes of reviving his dwindling career. He manages to surprise not only himself but the world when he actually wins. No one is sure why he is surprised because in California anything is possible for an actor because in the golden state things definitely work differently.

Colin is the pretty boy from the Southland that is now landlocked in the capital. People are just waiting for him to fail and the press is constantly watching his every move and he is trapped between the warring political factions. Even worse he now has to keep his sexual predilections under wraps if he has any hope of running the state and not having the press run him.

He has been keeping his private affairs private when it comes to his adoring movie fans so he is an expert on private. What he didn’t expect was for Sacramento to be an even bigger hotbed of jealousy, revenge, lies and lust than the film industry.

He also didn’t expect to catch the eye of his political enemy, Miles James, also his toughest fight in bed.

This story lets the readers see just how much it is possible to grow as they watch Colin go from a real playboy to someone that cares more about what is right than what is going on his personal life. Colin really changes from the beginning of the book to the end and the story takes readers on an emotional journey.  It will also have readers wanting to check out the other books in the series.

I give this one 4 red roses

LRH

Black Ice

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

October 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4424-7426-0

Pages: 392

Contemporary Young Adult, Romantic Suspense

Teton Mountains, Wyoming

Britt Pfiffer trained so that she can backpack the Teton Range. What she isn’t prepared for is an ex-boyfriend who has decided to join her. An ex-boyfriend that still haunts her every thought. An unexpected blizzard hits before she can begin to explore her feelings for Calvin though. It also forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin and accept the hospitality of the two very handsome occupants. Unfortunately the two men are fugitives and Britt soon finds herself hostage.

Britt agrees to guide them men off the mountain in exchange for her life. Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. Britt soon finds chilling evidence of a series of murder that took place on that very mountain which complicates things even more. It is also a discovery that makes Britt the killer’s next target.

Nothing is as it seems though in the mountains. Everyone it seems is keeping secrets. Including Mason, one of her kidnappers. Britt is confused by his kindness and is wondering if he is an enemy or an ally.

This is a book that has so many twists and turns in it that it will keep readers guessing as to just what is going on and what secrets everyone is keeping and if Britt will even manage to survive the mountains. This is a book that is hard to put down once the reader starts it as they will want to know just how it ends and they are taken on an amazing ride.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Sticks & Stone

Sticks & Stone by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

January 2010

ISBN: 978-1-61581-382-7

Pages: 322

Contemporary Romance, m/m

Washington D.C. & West Virginia

FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through desk duty which is almost as frightening as when they almost lost their lives six months ago to a serial killer in New York City. Soon they are ordered to take a vacation for everyone’s sanity. Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia. He is hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them a chance to explore the explosive attraction between them. An attraction that so far they haven’t figured out how to reconcile with their professional partnership.

Ty’s father and brother along with Ty and Zane soon head up into the Appalachian mountains for what they know will be a nice relaxing hike deep into the woods. Deep woods that no one will hear them scream. Soon they find themselves facing danger from all directions. Unrelenting mountains, unpredictable weather, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose and most terrifying of all each other.

This story picks up six months after the end of the first and proves to be just as action packed and suspenseful as the first book in the series. With the humor and action in the books it proves to be a hard series to put down. It also will stay with the reader for a long time to come. Readers will want to start the next book right away just to see what will happen to Ty and Zane next and how things progress with both their personal and professional relationships.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Cut & Run

Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

September 2008

ISBN: 978-1-935192-24-4

Pages: 376

Contemporary Romantic Suspense, m/m

New York City

In New York City a series of murders have both the police and FBI alike stymied. They suspect it is a single killer that is sending an indecipherable message. The FBI takes a more personal interest in the case when the two federal agents that are assigned to the investigation are taken out.

When one of his cases blows up in his face Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work. Ty is abrasive and cocky but he is also indisputably the best at what he does. It is hate at first sight when he is paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett. Their partnership is a classic cliché: good cop-bad cop, the odd couple, total opposites especially as Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, focused, and sober. Immediately they both know that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence that has been left by the murderer.

The murderer soon strikes again at them practically before their special assignment starts. Grady and Garrett with have to figure out how to work together if they don’t want to become two more notches in the murderer’s knife even as they are on the run trying to track down a man that is focused on killing his pursuers.

This is an amazing start to a series that has two unforgettable characters that make for a story that is as fun to read about Grady and Garrett learning to work together as it is engrossing by the suspense of the plot that keeps the action high and non-stop. It will also have readers wanting to read more about Grady and Garrett and their unusual partnership. With just this book it proves to be a series with characters that really stay with the reader long after they finish the book.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Omens

Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Dutton

August 2013

ISBN: 978-0-525-95304-3

Pages: 486

Contemporary Paranormal Suspense, Romantic Elements

Olivia Taylor-Jones is twenty-four-years old and has the perfect life. She has an Ivy League education and is the only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family. She pursues philanthropy and volunteerism.  Olivia is also engaged to a young, handsome tech-firm CEO with political ambitions.

Olivia’s world is soon shattered when she learns she is actually adopted. Todd and Pamela Larsen are notorious serial killers that are serving life sentences. They are also Olivia’s real parents. Olivia decides to leave her once comfortable home to find out the truth about the Larsens when the news of them brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity for her fiancé and adopted family.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois. It is an old and cloistered community and it is taking a particular interest in Olivia. It is also interested in her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ pasts.

Gabriel Walsh is her mother’s former lawyer and together they focus on the Larsens’ last crime. The one that Olivia’s birth mother swears will prove their innocence. Gabriel and Olivia start investigating the case and Olivia soon finds herself using abilities that have been hidden since her childhood. The gifts make her both deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies and a valuable addition to Cainsville. It seems there are darker secrets behind the scenes in the her new home and the powers lurking in the shadows have their own plans for her.

This is a suspense story that starts out fast and doesn’t let up until the very end. It will keep readers turning the pages just to see what exactly is happening and just what is the real truth about the Larsens. The characters are complex and make for a story that is as intriguing as it is engrossing. It will also have readers reaching for the next book in the series to watch Olivia grow and find out just who she really is now and also to see just where Gabriel and Olivia end up.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Going the Distance

Going the Distance No Excuses Book 1 by Mila Rossi

Publisher: Mila Rossi

September 2016

ISBN:

Pages: 124

Contemporary Sports Romance

Samantha Wellington finds herself in a dilemma that she isn’t sure how to get out of. Especially as part of it is her fault in that she slapped the hell out of the light heavyweight champion of the world on the night of his first loss and who is also a foul-mouthed athlete that is also the most desirable man she has come across and who she now has to find a way to get an interview with.  Her job depends on that interview and this particular boxer isn’t talking at all.

Trent “The Punisher” Page does what he does best and that is play dirty when he is first humiliated by and then cornered by the spunky reporter. It wasn’t being nice that earned him his nickname. If Samantha wants to know more about him then the price she is going to have to pay is also the one she is unwilling to pay and that is herself.

With her elements of surprise and his determination to succeed they end up evenly matched. Now they are going to have to see if they can break down the enemy without jeopardizing themselves especially with their vastly different motivations.

This is one story that reader will be sorry to finish as they will definitely want more. At least this is the start of a series that if it continues in this vein it will be a remarkable series that should be a lot of fun to read. The characters are well written and complex and make for a story that proves to be a fast read as readers won’t want to put it down until the very end.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

An Unlocked Heart

An Unlocked Heart (A Collars & Cuffs story) by K.C. Wells

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

July 2013

ISBN; 978-1-62380-850-1

Pages: 314

Contemporary BDSM M/M Romance

Manchester

Leo hasn’t been living since the death of his submissive lover two years ago. He has just been existing. He has focused solely on making Collars & Cuffs a successful BDSM club located in Manchester’s gay village. Everything changes when he is at Severinos having his weekly meeting with his business partner. There is a new server that holds all of Leo’s attention. Though the man is shy and seems determined to avoid Leo’s gaze it works more like waving a red rag to a bull. Leo has always loved a challenge.

Alex Daniels works at Severinos and is doing everything possible to scrape together enough money to move out on his own. He is drawn to the gorgeous Leo with his icy-blue eyes that has been eating in his area almost every night even if Alex is having a problem coming out.

Alex might be hesitant but Leo won’t let that get in the way. Leo is also determined not to scare Alex so he keeps him away from the club. Leo is one Dom that is sure that telling Alex that would not be a good idea. One date soon becomes two and two ends in Leo’s bedroom. Alex also discovers things about himself he never realized and most assuredly never wanted anyone to see.

This is a story that pulls the reader in and tugs at the heart strings. Readers will also be happy to find this is the start of a series and if the other books are anything like this one it will be an unforgettable series. The characters are complex and make for a story that is hard to put down until the very last page. This is one book to definitely check out for readers that enjoy this genre.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

The Outliers

The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

Publisher: Harper Teen

May 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-235909-4

Pages: 336

Contemporary Young Adult

It has been over a week since Wylie last heard from Cassie. Since their last fight. Wylie does what she always does when Cassie is in trouble and that is save Cassie from herself.

It is different this time though. Cassie keeps sending cryptic clues instead of just telling Wylie where she is at. Cassie also doesn’t have Wylie come by herself like she usually does. Cassie sends Jasper to help Wylie. Wylie doesn’t feel right about trusting the guy that sent Cassie off the rails to begin with. Since Wylie doesn’t have any other choice she needs to ignore her gut instinct and go with Jasper.

It goes from difficult to dangerous fast when they try to figure out where Cassie is. Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is very wrong as she and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine. Cassie isn’t telling them something and now they are wondering if finding her will only be the beginning.

This is a fantastic suspense story that will take readers on a roller coaster ride. Once the action starts it doesn’t stop until the very end. It will also have readers wanting to know what happens next. With each clue that is revealed the story takes another turn that will have readers wondering just where this is going to end up going. Wylie makes for an intriguing character that makes for an engrossing read.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

They All Fall Down

They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire

Publisher: Delacorte Press

October 2014

ISBN: 978-0-385-74271-9

Pages: 339

Contemporary Young Adult Suspense, Romantic Elements

Vienna, Pennsylvania 

Kenzie Summerall somehow was voted onto the list of hottest girls in school and when she lands at number five her average life suddenly becomes amazing. With new friends surrounding her, doors to the best parties are now open to her and the cutest jock in school is after her.

That is the power of the list. Your life changes if you are on it.

One by one though the girls on the list have started to die. Is it a curse or a coincidence? Or is the list in the hands of a killer.

Kenzie’s time is running out but before her number is up she is determined to uncover the deadly secret of the list.

This is story that is full of twists and turns and will have readers hoping there will be more books with Kenzie and her friends it in. The action is none stop and keeps going until the very end of the book. The characters drive this story forward at a pace that makes the reader’s head spin and begging for more. This is one story that stands out from other young adult books and will have reader of all ages eagerly devouring it to find out what happens next.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Secret Heart of Lacie Blade

Secret Heart of Lacie Blade by Diane J. Reed

Publisher: Bandits Ranch Books, LLC

August 2016

ISBN: 978-1-941752-09-8

Pages: 52

Contemporary Romance

Bender Lake

This isn’t just the PTA it is the Gangsta PTA.

Lacie Blade knows she is hardly mother of the year especially after her release from prison on a bad rap. All she wants is to go home and hug her beloved son Winchester. Lacie decides that she needs to convince the handsome principal to take Winchester back when he is expelled from school for fighting kids that teased him about his “con” mother. And to do that she needs to become the president of the PTA and to fundraise more money than the school has ever seen.

Luckily Lacie knows all about the skeletons in her neighbors’ closets and the bodies at the bottom of Bender Lake. With a little magical help from her fortune-telling friend, Granny Tinker, Lacie uses every trick in the book to blackmail and spy her way into providing the textbooks and computers that the school so desperately needs. The jaded principal soon discovers that Lacie has a heart far bigger than her rap sheet even if it is hidden. She might also just be the best thing that happened to him not to mention Bender Lake Elementary school.

This is a sweet novella that is a fast read but will also have readers wanting to check out the rest of the books in the series. Readers can easily read this story and follow it very well even if they haven’t read the other book in the series. The characters are interesting and make for a fun read.

I give this one 4 red roses

LRH

On The Prowl

On The Prowl by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

September 2016

Pages: 204

Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Florida Keys

Rose Kinley never intended to be one of the most feared creatures walking the earth. She was once human that fell in love with a mysterious stranger. She lost her humanity and died only to come back as a vampire when she got caught in a paranormal war.

Rose now has a choice. She can try and continue to be the good girl or she can let her darkness out to play. It just might finally be time for her step into the dark.

Julian Craig is a panther shifter that is on a mission. He needs to protect Rose at all costs. He literally made a deal with the devil so that Rose could have a second chance as a vampire since it was his fault that she lost her human life.

Julian knows that he needs to let his beast out if he is to have any chance for protecting the only woman that ever touched his battered soul when Rose is targeted by a paranormal collector. Julian is more than ready to show the world just what kind of monster he truly is even if Rose is afraid of the darkness she carries. Julian isn’t afraid of the dark and the monsters that wait in the shadows will bow to him.

This is the next book in a series that proves yet again what an amazing writer this author is. The characters are intriguing and move the story at an extremely fast pace. It will also have readers wanting the next book in the series like right now. While this is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone readers will find it much better if they read the books in order. This is must read for readers that love paranormal romances.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

The Darkest Lie

The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn

Publisher: Kensington

July 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4967-0358-3

Pages: 287

Contemporary Young Adult Romantic Suspense

Lakewood, Kansas

Cecelia Brooks and her mom shared everything from jokes and clothes to coded messages. At least that is what CeCe thought until six months ago. That was when CeCe’s mom killed herself after there were accusations of her mom having sex with a student. Since then CeCe has been the subject of taunts and whispers. With the start of her senior year at high school CeCe is trying to fly under the radar especially as she is dealing with a grieving and distracted father and the social nightmare that is her life now. Instead she is now volunteering at the schools crisis hotline. The same one that her mother worked.

CeCe’s lingering suspicions about her mom’s death resurface as she counsels troubled strangers. She starts to piece together fragments clues with the help of new student, Sam who is also a newspaper intern. Clues point to a twisted secret that is at the heart of the community. Suddenly finding the truth isn’t just about restoring her mother’s reputation but about saving lives including CeCe’s own.

This is book full of suspense that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride that doesn’t stop until the very last page. The twists and turns in the story will have readers guessing until the very end as to just what is happening and who might be doing what. The characters are well written and move the story along at a very fast pace that never leaves the reader behind. It makes for a very fast read.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

The Boy Who Killed Grant Parker

The Boy Who Killed Grant Parker by Kat Spears

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

September 2016

ISBN: 978-1-250-08886-4

Pages: 320

Contemporary Young Adult

Ashland, Tennessee

Luke Grayson moves to rural Tennessee to live with his Baptist pastor father when he is kicked out of his private DC school and as far as he is concerned his life might as well be over. His stepmother is none too pleased to have him not to mention she is completely soulless. Luke’s bad boy status is also not doing him any favors with either the local police chief or his new principal. Grant Parker is the local golden boy that has a violent streak and Luke is proving to be an easy target for him. Especially as Grant has the community of Ashland under his thumb and Luke directly in his crosshairs.

Luke suddenly replaces Grant at the top of the social pyramid when things go topsy-turvy with one freak accident. Now the social outcast is the hero in just a matter of twenty-four hours. This is a welcome change for the students that lived in fear of Grant. There is a price though for Luke’s newfound fame. Luke is the only one that knows the truth about what really happened to Grant Parker and the longer he keeps living the lie the more Grant-like he becomes.

This is another excellent book by this author that writes stories that really make the reader think. The characters is this one are engrossing and make for an unforgettable book that really makes readers see things from different perspectives and see how the social aspect of high school works from the different groups of students. This is an interesting story that opens up readers eyes as they see things through the eyes of different clicks of students.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH