Book Review: Hotshot Hero on the Edge (Hotshot Heroes #6) by Lisa Childs

 

Title:  Hotshot Hero on the Edge (Hotshot Heroes #6)

Author: Lisa Childs

Star: 4

Review:

If Lisa Childs goal was to create two of the most unlikeable characters from the start of the book? She was successful.  Luke comes across annoying, whiny and unlikeable. Willow comes in second with her lack of understanding. Losing a baby is difficult there is only so much of the blame game a reader can handle. 

This isn't really a stand lone book in the Hotshot hero's series.  The author does a wonderful job catching readers up fast on the other books and what happened in the previous books and why everyone is looking at him as a slime bag killer.

The story moves along quickly as readers find the author rhythm in her story telling.  Lisa Child has an ability to tell a fast-paced action-packed story just not with these two characters.  

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Lisa Child Hotshot Hero on the Edge. 

Synposis:

Unable to stand the stress of being a firefighter’s wife, ER nurse Willow Garrison asks her husband to leave. Not long after, however, she realizes she's carrying his child! When his reputation and life are in danger, she lets Luke back into her life. But just who wants to destroy him? Guilty and suspicious, Willow admits her lingering feelings. Can she trust the hotshot to prove his innocence and keep them safe?

About The Author:

Born one dark and stormy Halloween night, Lisa Childs was predestined to write suspense novels. She loves spinning dark and twisty stories that keep readers awake because they’re either too busy turning pages or too scared to sleep. Lisa Childs is the prolific author of more than seventy published novels. In addition to romantic suspense, she also writes women’s fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance.

Book Review: Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy

 

Title: Aphrodite and the Duke

Author: J.J. McAvoy

Stars: 4

Review:

The heroine in this tale is an exquisite Lady of great beauty who happens to be of mixed parentage. She was named after the Goddess of Love and her siblings also carry like names as their father is an avid patron of early history. Having been out of London for four years owing to heart break caused by the marriage of her first and true love. She returns for a London season owing to the coming out of a younger sister. Fate, as is usual, brings her into contact with her first true love who is overseeing his younger sisters  coming out. Although he is now alone her family puts stumbling blocks in both of their paths. Can true love find a way to overcome the various trying obstacles they encounter. Oh, did I mention that her mother is also his godmother which only makes for a more interesting and enjoyable read.

I found this book to make a refreshing change and read it in only three settings. I highly recommend it if you enjoy regency romance stories. I have given this a 4 star rating.

I received an ARC for my unbiased review and the above thoughts are entirely my own.

Thank you, Frank, for your review.

Synopsis:

Second chances are even sweeter. . . .

Aphrodite Du Bell has always resented her name. While the members of the ton, and even the queen herself, praise her warm brown skin, perfect curls, and exquisite features, Aphrodite can't help but think that living up to the literal goddess of beauty is asking a bit much. Her renowned loveliness certainly didn't stop the love of her life from jilting her and marrying another woman four years ago.

When Aphrodite's formidable mother summons her back to London to aid in her sister's debut, she has no choice but to acquiesce. But Aphrodite is determined to ignore one man in particular: Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everely, the man who devastated her all those years ago. Yet why does her guileless heart still flutter at the sight of him?

Evander Eagleman lost his chance for true love, but now that he is an unattached widower, he is determined to win back Aphrodite's trust--and her hand in marriage. But just as the couple make strides to mend old wounds, Evander's true reason for rejecting Aphrodite threatens their coveted future . . . and even their lives.

About The Author:

I’m a twenty-year-old something born in Montreal, Canada but currently living in Virginia for school. I would tell you want my major is however after two years I still have no idea what I’m doing.

So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)

I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.

Book Review: Agent Zero (Region Two #1) by Janet Walden-West

 

Title: Agent Zero (Region Two #1)

Author:  Janet Walden-West

Star: 2 1\2

Review:

The story starts off with an attack on Bruce and while there are some humors moments and lots of action. With supernatural attacking humans.  As the story progresses Bruce turns into a love interest for Vee who is a lethal cryptid who goal is to keep people safe and lives for her job.  

The story really doesn't stand out from any other supernatural story and at times struggles with keeping a basic story line.  Between Sexy and action scenes there isn't much substance to Agent Zero.  

I thought I had started a series maybe three books in but nope this is book 1 and as a reader I found myself lost and confused as to the purpose of the story. 

The positive is the story has a strong woman protecting a weaker man.  Bruce is unlikable character who whines more than he cooks.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Janet Walden-West book Agent Zero.

Synopsis:

He owns the spotlight, she lives in the shadows.
VEE
My only purpose? Keep lethal cryptids in check, and our Company existence secret.
Sometimes a girl needs a night of karaoke and tequila though. Instead, after a vicious new cryptid species crashes the party, I end up saving and carting home a way arrogant, way hot chef. With Bruce Kantor now a temporary roommate it seems like the perfect time to indulge my forbidden civilian fascination—especially the friends-with-benefits part. But the feelings he ignites threaten my oath and mission.
BRUCE
Damn right I’m the bad boy of the culinary world.
I live for the limelight, and the legions of #BruceTheBastard fans love my temper as much as my food. After stomping out of one high-profile gig, all I’m looking for are directions to my next. What I get is a giant Komodo Dragon-wannabe, and Vee Ramirez, the most infuriatingly irresistible woman to ever hit my radar.

Even if we survive the relentless monster on my trail, our future is toast unless I can convince Vee there’s more to life than the Company.

About The Author:

Janet Walden-West lives in the Southeast with a pack of show dogs, a couple of kids, and a husband who didn’t read the fine print.

She pens inclusive Urban Fantasy and Contemporary and Paranormal Romance.

A PitchWars alum and Mentor and RWA Golden Heart finalist, she's the author of contemporary romance series, SALT + STILETTOS: South Beach Romances, and the paranormal Region Two Series.

She is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary Agency.

Book Review: All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond

 

Title:  All the Broken Girls

Author:  Linda Hurtado Bond

Stars: 4

Review:

Lina Hurtado Bond creates a mystery using the Cuban culture in Florida as the black drop and several characters that readers will hope will come back for another book by the author.

The story doesn't as well as others author as the story slows down and speeds up giving readers a little whiplash.  In the end the story is a whodunit that readers of mystery and a romance will want to get their hand on this book.  Hope for more.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance copy of All The Broken Girls.

Synposis:

Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie sense of connection.

The others will break

Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime scene awash with arcane clues—and without a trace of DNA from the killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer…or messages for Mari?

Unless she plays the game...

Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets, and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle together before someone else dies—even if it destroys her career. But there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for you…

About The Author:

Author Linda Hurtado Bond is an Emmy award winning TV news anchor and an author of romantic thrillers.

She’s worked as a television news reporter and anchor in Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa Florida. For the past twenty years, she’s shared important information with viewers on the latest medical breakthroughs and has written emotional, human-interest stories on those who have the courage and spirit to fight for their lives.

She writes every day, under deadline, but has always loved losing herself in a good fiction story. Her love for writing fiction actually started in high school, but a thriving, busy professional life, along with five kids ( 2 step-kids, an adopted son from Cuba and 2 daughters ) kept her busy for many years.

Entangled Publishing released three romantic adventures Alive at 5, Cuba Undercover and Flatline. Think James Bond meets Romancing the Stone. Cuba Undercover is based on her own true life love story.

She has received numerous writing awards for Alive at 5 , Flatline and Cuba Undercover.

Her latest book, All the Broken Girls, releasing in 2022, features two Cuban American characters and a deep dive into Cuban American culture.

Linda has won 13 Emmy awards, numerous Society of Professional Journalist awards, Associated Press awards, as well as a Florida Bar award and an Edward R. Murrow award.

This former baton-twirling beauty queen from The University of Georgia, now lives in Tampa Florida with her husband and kids.

Book Review: In the Pines (Mercy Kilpatrick #7) by Kendra Elliot

 

Title:  In the Pines (Mercy Kilpatrick #7)

Author: Kendra Elliot 

Star: 5

Review:

I thought that Mercy Kilpatrick story was done and guess what she is back and better than ever! I love to see how the couple has moved forward in their lives raising two kids and lots of cats. 

Treasure hunting make people do stupid things which includes murders and missing killer.  I have to admit Kendra Elliot at times had me wondering if she knew who the killer was as she was writing the story because nothing pointed to whom it was until she wanted you to know. 

Mercy is still Mercy but has grown and changed as the stories have moved forward. Reader will love the changes that have happened to Mercy and excited to see what adventures are next.  

The author brought back Evan Bolton and readers are going to hope for more stories featuring Evan in the future.

Zero Sexual romance 100% Mystery that readers will love. FYI yes there is swearing.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for advance copy of In The Pine by Kendra Elliot.

Synopsis:

A national treasure hunt with a $2 million prize has driven obsessed fortune seekers to overrun the small town of Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. The hunt’s cryptic clues and the lure of wealth have exposed the desperate side of human greed: theft, fights, trespassing—and even the motive to kill. Police chief Truman Daly craves peace in his town but has a murder on his hands instead. Now the big prize isn’t the only thing hiding in the pines. So is a killer.

When a young boy walks into the local café and claims his mother and baby sister have been missing for weeks, FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick investigates and exposes a disturbing twist in his story. Deep family secrets and lies that started sixty years ago have burst into the present, bringing with them deadly consequences.

Mercy’s and Truman’s investigations lead down a path of murder, revenge, and buried secrets to uncover two intertwined mysteries as dark as an Oregon forest.

About The Author:

She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her family and three cats. She's fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and dreams of living every day in flip flops. UPDATE: She now lives in flip flops and watches the sun rise over the ocean every day.