Book Review: A Reckless Match (Ruthless Rivals #1) by Kate Bateman

 

Title:  Reckless Match (Ruthless Rivals #1)

Author: Kate Bateman

Stars: 3.5 

Review:

An engaging historical romance story set in 1815 on the border between England and Wales. Two families, who have had a dispute spanning generations, have the opportunity to lay it to rest. Can a mutual attraction between two of the involved parties be the solution that has eluded them for years? It is a delightful chase with a mutually satisfying outcome.

I enjoyed the story and have rated it 3.5 stars. It reminded me of the Hatfield and McCoy feud, without the violence, that took place in the vicinity of where I was raised as a youngster.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis:

Maddie Montgomery's family is in debt, and her hope rests on the rival Davies clan missing their yearly “pledge of goodwill,” ceding the land that separates their estates. With Maddie's teenage nemesis, Gryffud “Gryff” Davies, Earl of Powys, away, hope is in reach.

But then, Gryff shows up and is stunned that the tomboy he once teased is now a woman. When Gryff and Maddie discover contraband on their land, they realize it can benefit both families. But they've also uncovered a dangerous plot, and they need to work together to get out alive. Soon, their hatred for each other starts to feel more like attraction.

Kate Bateman brings crackling banter, steamy romance, and a dash of adventure into the first book in the Ruthless Rivals series.

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: September 28th 2021 by St. Martin's Press

About The Author:

Also writes as K.C. Bateman

Kate Bateman (also writing as K. C. Bateman) wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she'd 'never finish the thing.' She gleefully proved him wrong. Her Regency and Renaissance-era romances all feature her trademark feisty, intelligent heroines, wickedly inappropriate banter, and heroes you want to both strangle and kiss.

When not traveling to exotic locations 'for research,' Kate leads a double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England and writes despite three inexhaustible children and a number-loving husband who still owes her that dollar.

Book Review: From Britain With Love: Hilarious Comedy Adventures by Robert A. Webster

 

Title: From Britain With Love: Hilarious Comedy Adventures 

Author: Robert A. Webster 

Stars: 4

Review:

An engaging tale of a group of old men residing in a residential care home. They are all musicians and start to perform together and have a surprise success. The humor is British and must be understood to appreciate it fully. They retreat to parts of Asia and sample the seamier side of life while escaping from the publicity which will reveal their true identities and age.

I have rated this book 4 stars and consider it to be a good example of British humor at its best.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Thank you Frank for your review.

Synopsis: 

Proof that getting old doesn't mean you can't have fun. It just means you know how to get away with it!

Fossdyke Retirement Home has seen its fair share of quirky characters, but it’s never seen the likes of these four geriatric rockers!
To outsiders, they are sweet, funny, if not a tad bit ornery. To those in the know, they are meddlesome, rebellious, and in way over their heads. When chaos erupts, they’re not far behind.

What begin as ordinary days, where others their age would spend their time chatting up a friend or family member, these four spend their days and nights making music, performing for their legion of fans, globetrotting to exciting destinations, and of course, getting mixed up in perilous situations. Between outrunning the press and persistent record companies, coming face-to-face with ISIS rebels, and the occasional death or two, it’s all they can do to keep their wits about them and escape injury.
Follow the madcap adventures of Britain’s most irreverently lovable elderly rockers as they trip, stumble, and fall into one situation after another and have a few laughs along the way in From Britain with Love, a hilarious action-packed series!

About The Author:

Robert A. Webster is a multi-genre author based in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Originally from Cleethorpes, UK, he embodies both hearty wit and adventurous vigor, making his prose insanely memorable and incessantly enjoyable. His unique brand of snarky humour and imaginative storytelling breathe vivid life into his work, which combines comical British characters with exotic Southeast Asian settings. The result is "brilliant" and "unpredictable," as Dinorah Blackman of Readers' Favorite says.

His first novel Siam Storm received rave reviews in the expat community in southeast Asia. Its sequels, Chalice and Bimat, were similarly acclaimed. Protector, the fourth book of the Siam Storm series, continues the journey of the lovable scallywags who have a penchant for mischief. The books document high-octane escapades and colourful, fantastical narratives that don't stop.

Book Review: Among Thieves by M. J. Kuhn

Title: Among Thieves

Author:   M. J. Kuhn

Stars: 4

Review:

M.J. Kuhn creates a band of crazy criminals that are trying hard to keep to their personal code. The author creates compelling characters with a well written story line that will pull readers into the story.  The story is well paced keeping the story moving forward with character development that has readers taking sides and wondering who is the good guys and who are the bad guys.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Among Thieves. 

Synopsis:

In just over a year’s time, Ryia Cautella has already earned herself a reputation as the quickest, deadliest blade in the dockside city of Carrowwick—not to mention the sharpest tongue. But Ryia Cautella is not her real name.

For the past six years, a deadly secret has kept her in hiding, running from town to town, doing whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of the formidable Guildmaster—the sovereign ruler of the five kingdoms of Thamorr. No matter how far or fast she travels, his servants never fail to track her down...but even the most powerful men can be defeated.

Ryia’s path now leads directly into the heart of the Guildmaster’s stronghold, and against every instinct she has, it’s not a path she can walk alone. Forced to team up with a crew of assorted miscreants, smugglers, and thieves, Ryia must plan her next moves very carefully. If she succeeds, her freedom is won once and for all…but unfortunately for Ryia, her new allies are nearly as selfish as she is, and they all have plans of their own.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published September 7th 2021 by Gallery / Saga Press

About The Author:

M.J. Kuhn is a fantasy writer by night and a mild-mannered university employee by day. She lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Ryan, a dog named Wrex, and the very spoiled cat Thorin Oakenshield. You can find more information about M.J. online at MJKuhn.com.

Book Review: Crossing Lines: A Spellbinding CIA Romantic Suspense Thriller by Adrienne Giordano

 

Title: Crossing Lines

Author: Adrienne Giordano

Stars: 5

Review:

Adrienne Giordano is a wonderful author who is able to pull readers in from the first sentence to the last page. The dialogue between characters is fast pace and will keep readers needing more between Shane and Liz.  The story moves quickly that will make it impossible to put down the book as readers wonder what the characters are getting into as the book is closed. 

Readers will be kept on the edge of their seats as they finish Crossing Lines.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Crossing Lines.

Synopsis:

While protecting a dangerously attractive ex-agent, a former CIA operative must decide which asset is more important to him: his identity or his heart.
She's running out of friends—and out of time.
CIA operative Elizabeth Aiken is on her own. After a rescue operation in Venezuela goes south and her cover is blown, Elizabeth barely escapes the country with her life. Set adrift by the agency and with a price on her head, she seeks out the only person who can help her disappear.
Viper.
Unfortunately, the devastatingly attractive former operative wants nothing to do with her or the cartel-backed Venezuelan president who wants her dead. Worse still, if Elizabeth's not careful, she'll end up losing her heart instead of watching her back...and there's no room for mistakes with assassins hot on her trail.
Helping her could destroy everything he's worked for.
Former Marine-turned-CIA operative.
Current bar owner.
All-around badass.
Shane "Viper" Quinn has spent years constructing the perfect cover, and he's not about to sacrifice it for a woman he barely knows. Even if she is strong and beautiful and makes him long for sultry nights that could destroy his carefully crafted life.
Still, Shane is forced to fight his growing attraction to the fearsome ex-agent while keeping her in one piece. Elizabeth's enemies are now his enemies—and they aren't going to stop until everyone who stands against them is eliminated. Will having the deadly Viper by her side be enough to save her?

About The Author:

Adrienne Giordano is a USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romantic suspense and mystery novels. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her ultimate supporter of a husband, sports-obsessed son and Elliot, a snuggle-happy rescue. Having grown up near the ocean, Adrienne enjoys paddleboarding, a nice float in a kayak and lounging on the beach with a good book.

Book Review: Right Behind Her (Bree Taggert #4) by Melinda Leigh

 

Title: Right Behind Her (Bree Taggert #4)

Author: Melinda Leigh

Stars; 5

Review:

 Book 4 in the Bree Taggert series is a painful revisit to Bree.  The story pushes readers into finding the heart and soul of a dark story.  Bree faces more heart along with painful memories that will keep readers hooked and ready for book in this can't miss series.

Melinda Leigh is able to bring to life the characters that live in her head.  The characters become part of a family that readers didn't know they wanted but can't live without knowing what will happen next.

Melinda Leigh is able to wrap romance, suspense, family, life and death into a perfect series that readers will never get enough of.

Thank you to publisher for the advance copy of Right Behind Her!

Synopsis:

Twenty-seven years ago, Sheriff Bree Taggert’s father killed her mother, then himself. Now Bree and her younger brother, Adam, find human bones on the grounds of their abandoned family farm. The remains are those of a man and a woman, both murdered in the same horrible way.

When the investigation determines the murders occurred thirty years ago, Bree’s dead father becomes a suspect, forcing Bree to revisit the brutal night she’s spent most of her life trying to forget. The only other suspect is an unlikely squatter on the Taggert farm who claims to know secrets about Bree’s past. When he mysteriously disappears and Bree’s niece is kidnapped, the cold case heats up.

Bree has stoked the rage of a murderer who’ll do anything to keep his identity—and motives—a secret. To protect everyone she loves, Bree must confront a killer. 

About The Author:

Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker who learned that writing books is way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have sold more than 10 million copies across the world. Melinda loves martial arts, rescue dogs, and sea turtles