Book Review: Unsuspecting Target (Hard Core Justice #5) by Juno Rushdan

 

Title: Unsuspecting Target (Hard Core Justice #5) 

Author:  Juno Rushdan 

Stars:

Review:

The best part about Harlequin Intrigue books is that readers can pick them up and finish them in a few short days or hours.  The story are fast pace, easy to follow and the characters have enough information to keep readers finishing the book and every once in a while a pops out and readers might find themselves looking for more from this author.
This author is almost there but the story as a few editing issues and possible redundant moments in the story.

The female lead is likeable and the story has a same old feel but the author added a little extra that will hook readers. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys walk the gray line.

Thank you to Harlequin Intrigue for a advance copy of Juno Rushdan Unsuspecting Target.

Synopsis:

Ten years ago, Jagger Carr saved Wendy Haas’s life. Circumstances pulled them apart soon after, but when an assassin targets her at a Manhattan charity gala, Wendy has no choice but to trust Jagger, who’s now deep undercover. Not even their warring feelings can stop desire from reigniting. But the vengeful cartel gunning for them could destroy any hope for a second chance.

ebook, 256 pages

Expected publication: May 25th 2021 by Harlequin Intrigue

About The Author:

Juno Rushdan is a veteran US Air Force intelligence officer and the award-winning author of romantic thrillers. Her books are action-packed, nail-biting page-turners with twists you won’t see coming. Critics from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, BookPage and Library Journal have called her work “heart-pounding James Bond-ian adventure”, “fast-paced”, “gripping”, “a thrill ride” that “will captivate lovers of romantic thrillers.” She is married to her own military hero and is privileged to have two rambunctious kids and a spoiled rescue dog.

Book Review: Darkness Betrayed (Guardians of Eternity #17) by Alexandra Ivy

 

Title: Darkness Betrayed (Guardians of Eternity #17)

Author: Alexandra Ivy

Stars: 4 1\2

Review:

Alexandra Ivy is a can't miss author!!

Its no secret I am a fan of Alexandra Ivy.  It has mainly been her Romantic Suspense series and this is the 3rd book in her Guardians of Eternity series I have read. This book fits into the the paranormal romance series which can be read as a stand alone or part of the 17 book series.  (Side note it is fun to see the author change in writing only become better and better with each book!)

Who would guess the one person you would like you should hate you can't.  The author shows the evolution of change in the different characters and looking for redemption but scared.  The author creates this amazing world that readers will be pulled into with characters and romance that is hot, action that is perfect blend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Lyrical Press publisher for the  advance copy of Alexandra Ivy Darkness Betrayed 

Synopsis:

Once, Brigette was the conduit through which the ultimate evil reached Earth. Now she’s just a lonely Were isolated in an Irish cottage, cut off from her animal and humanity alike. When a band of rebels approach her to take down the king of the vampires, she knows denying them means certain death—but even if she warns the king, he may not listen to the likes of her.

From the moment Xi slips into Brigette’s bedroom to escort her to his king, he sees the heartbreak that hides behind her guilt. The elusive vampire has fought for centuries to master his own regrets, and his word will convince the king to value hers. Neither can escape the attraction between them, even as partners on an undercover mission. But there’s no room for pleasure when their work might redeem her to the Guardians completely—or send them to the death they’ve evaded for so long . 

Kindle Edition, 208 pages

Expected publication: May 25th 2021 by Lyrical Press

About The Author:

I'm not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother's knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I'm not admitting how many) I'm still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

Book Review: How To Be A Badass Vigilante: Book One (How To Be A Badass Vigilante #1) by Michael Anderle

 

Title:  How To Be A Badass Vigilante: Book One (How To Be A Badass Vigilante #1) 

Author: Michael Anderle

Stars: 2 1\2

Review:

I haven't read anything by Michael Anderle and I can't say I am going to go searching for anymore of the author books. Its not that the book wasn't good it was boring either.  The book lacked the creativity I had expect when it came to the title How to Be a Bass Vigilante.  Readers get action and the supernatural story line it just lacks the punch needed to make this reader want to read more by this author.  Several characters ruin the story while others have no point in the story.  At time readers might find themselves skipping pages to get back to the main story or what readers hope is the main story.

This book is one of the reason I stay away from paranormal stories. They do not fill a void in the world of story telling. The story is just there.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Michael Anderle How to Be a Badass Vigilante.

Synopsis:

Virtutis gloria merces

Translation: Glory is the reward of valor.
When given power, what would you be willing to sacrifice for the greater good?
Fed up with playing the normal game, recent university graduate, ex-cum laude, ex-soccer star, ex-popular and mostly broke Kera MacDonagh changed her life when she read ‘How to be a Badass Witch’ and shockingly, the spells worked.
She barely made it out of the first few weeks of on-the-job training before her powers got her in trouble.
Hunted as a magical vigilante, the Kims sacrificed to keep her safe. 
Kera hunts criminals in the darkness of LA, but will she be able to hide the signature of her powers, too? 
Having made the decision to come clean with a boyfriend, she must now live with the results. 
With everything happening, Kera is balancing her sanity as well. Will magic be enough to help her come out on top? 
Of course, she hopes. Because the other way lies madness. 
Go up and click ‘Read for Free’ or ‘Buy Now’ and find out just what trouble a young vigilante can get into when magic is real.

Kindle Edition, 265 pages

Published February 10th 2021

About The Author:

Michael Anderle (ok, weird talking about myself in the 3rd person) (1967-Hopefully a long time from NOW) was born in Houston, Tx. A very curious child, he got into trouble - a lot. What to do with an inquisitive mind when he was grounded? Read!

Ok, done with all of that 3rd person stuff.

In the first 20 years, I mostly read Science Fiction and Fantasy. In the last 10 years I have enjoyed Urban Fantasy and Military Fiction. With this background, I've been blessed with creating The Kurtherian Gambit series, a well-selling, and fan loved, collection of stories.

The fans have propelled these stories beyond my wildest imagination and they should get all of the credit for sharing with friends, family and occasionally the random person on the street. They are fantastic!

Book Review: Called into Action by Paris Wynters

Title: Called into Action 

Author: Paris Wynters 

Stars: 4

Review:

This is a slow burn romance and most of what is described in the synopsis doesn't really happen until late into the book. 

The story is written well enough just like the romance it is a slow story but when the action happens it is quickly and wish the author had a better balance between the fast action pace and the slow more getting to know you stage in the story telling.

All in all the romance isn't steamy but just the right amount of romance to leave readers satisficed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for the advance copy of Paris Wynters Called to Action

Synopsis:

Penelope Ramos has dreamed of being a K-9 search-and-rescue handler since she was a little girl. Armed with a quick mind and her German shepherd, Havoc, she rides into Maple Falls, Vermont, determined to get her certification. She isn’t expecting the gruff, unreadable park ranger assigned to evaluate her skills.

Park ranger Jay Gosling is a pro. It’s clear to him that neither Penelope nor her unpredictable canine has what it takes…although his boss feels otherwise. Whatever. Jay will never have to work with them and he has half a mind to escort them both right out of town. But when a young boy goes missing, he doesn’t have that luxury.

Working side by side tests their tentative peace, but Jay and Penelope are together on one thing: they’ll both do whatever it takes to find the missing child—before it’s too late.

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: May 25th 2021 by Carina Press

About The Author:

Paris Wynters is an adult romance author repped by Tricia Skinner at Fuse Literary. She lives on Long Island (in New York) with her family, which include a son who plays travel hockey and two psychotic working dogs. Paris is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago.


Paris and her son are nationally certified Search and Rescue personnel (she is a canine handler). She is a huge supporter of the military/veteran community. When not writing, Paris enjoys playing XBOX (she is a huge HALO fanatic), watching hockey (Go Oilers), and trying new things like flying planes and taking trapeze classes.

Book Review: The Perfect Monster Paperback by W. Lawrence Nash

 

Title: The Perfect Monster Paperback

Author: W. Lawrence Nash

Stars: 2

Review:

As a reader I am not sure what to make of this book.  The author wrote a prologue explaining that while the characters and events have never happened yet the technology is real and other are possible in the near future.  While he said the book was written in 2015 its had to imagine he didn't update the book to fit with the current historical pandemic we are living in.

Each Chapter has a title some have dates and some do not which can confuse for readers who are new to W. Lawrence Nash.  There is a large cast of characters to keep track of even with the main characters leading the story. 

The story is almost a little to political and almost feels as if he wrote his thoughts and review on the pandemic in a fiction story from different countries point of review.

The story falls flat in many different ways with unnecessary dialogue, too many characters not needed, characters that come into the picture and never return.  

The author uses beliefs to drive a story with what feels like very little research done.

Thank you to the Netgalley for a copy of W. Lawrence Nash The Perfect Monster.

Synopsis:

Claire Watchorn and Jack Trenchart dive into the pressurized safe room, as the Biohazard warning siren screams in their ears. The quest to uncover the perpetrators of the global contagion is proving impossible and now the plague spreads to London. Unknown to Jack and Claire, six great nations, China, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Canada and Russia are fomenting the terror. Unknown to the six great nations, their deranged virologist, Roger Sloane, is in thrall to two autonomous and self-rewriting computer programs dubbed ‘The Boys’, who have other plans for humanity. The hopes for Jack and Claire fade as they race to intercept the final devastation planned by Roger Sloane and his soulless masters. Jack and Claire hold the survival of mankind in their hands. But they may be too late.

About The Author: 

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AW.+Lawrence+Nash&s=relevancerank&text=W.+Lawrence+Nash&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Book Review: In Lies We Trust (Reclaiming Heaven Book #3) by E.R. Whyte

 

Title:  In Lies We Trust (Reclaiming Heaven Book #3)

Author: E.R. Whyte 

Stars: 3 1\2 

Review:

The author tells readers that this book is part of a series and each book is a stand alone novel.  The book is a little cliché enemy/lover mob connections.  The male lead is what you expect from these type of books all alpha and the female lead readers well be able to connect with quickly.  The story is 100% romance with action thrown to move the story alone.  

Many readers will love this story other will see the basic story that has a few details thrown in to change the story just enough. 

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of E.R. Whyte In Lies We Trust. 

Synopsis:

Emery “Cotton” Bishop has things she wants to forget. Secrets that need to stay buried.

Emery is shocked to find instant attraction to a rugged Irishman in the local donut shop. It doesn’t matter, though—after a trouble-filled stint in the military, she’s returning to her small hometown to heal and move on.

Nothing’s ever that easy, though.

Brodie Gallagher came to Jessup Falls, Virginia to help save the life of Emery’s best friend. Barely a month later, he’s contracted to kill Emery.

Brodie wasn’t expecting instant sparks upon meeting Emery. He really wasn’t anticipating the order from his boss, head of the Irish mob, telling him to kill her. Why would anyone want to kill this woman with shadows in her eyes?

Even more puzzling is the question of who.

When a second contract killer is dispatched to do the job Brodie is struggling with, he does the only thing he can think of…

…and makes Emery disappear.

Kindle Edition

Published March 31st 2021

About The Author:

Elle is a Virginia girl with a love for reading, photography, and travelling. A former high school English teacher, she now homeschools her youngest child and plays empty-nest mom to her two oldest.

She's been reading, dreaming of, and writing [albeit unofficially] romance since she was twelve years old. It's only recently that she developed the confidence and the discipline to take her dream of being a romance author to fruition. She writes romances that are full of feeling, humor, and sexy heroes.

The End is Coming!!

 It has been over a year of online school for this momma.  I have learned so many things to the point I need a vacation from life.

I have some really smart kids.  I thought the teachers were crazy telling me my kids are gift and super smart.  Honestly I just thought they were normal kids.   

Maybe it is due to the fact I had to create a Geometry Journal to keep up with my second grader.  What the heck remembers what a Quadrilateral or Polygon are.   Also what 2nd grader learns about open closed, 3d and 2d shapes.  Never mind I am sure it is completely normal and I am just way behind in Math Land.

Freshman in high school are the worst and for the first time in his life when grades count he doesn't care!  I CAN'T DO SUMMER SCHOOL PEOPLE!!!

My little 4th grader needs a kind hearted teacher who can give her hugs when needed (As long as she is vaccinated.) I am not a cuddlely person and I need to learn to cuddle. My 4th graders love Language  is touch.  Touch is barely registered on the Love Language scale.

My 6th grader is a rock star!!  She just keeps on going and rolls with the punches.  I am amazed by her ability to learn from her mistakes, fix or ask for help and keep on going!  

I learned teachers are not paid nearly enough.  I have always felt that way!! Teachers need to be paid more than football stars.   The love they have for their profession is amazing and didn't derver the treatment they received because they didn't want to spread COVID to families of their students as well as their family.  Teachers are just as important as any medical professional.

Pray we get though the next two weeks and that my freshman passes his last two classes. Otherwise you might not be hearing from me until July when all the kids are back in school!

Until than I am posting reviews and trying to survive the last few weeks of school.

Book Review: A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) by Darynda Jones

 

Title:  A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)

Author: Darynda Jones 

Stars: 4

Review:

Another story in the Sunshine series about a small town police chief. I have read the previous book and would recommend that they be read in order as it would give you a better insight to Sunshine the main character. It is a combination of various nefarious infractions to be found in a small town with the underlying and unsolved kidnapping of Sunshine when she was a teenager always at the in the murky shadows. I found the book to be delightful and enjoyable. My only negative would be the very descriptive sex scene. I do not feel the story required such detail. I would buy this book for friends.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.  Thank you Sue and Frank for the review.

Synopsis:

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: July 27th 2021 by St. Martin's Press

About The Author:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Book Review: Thief of Souls: An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery (Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #1) by Brian Klingborg

 

Title: Thief of Souls: An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery (Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #1) 

Author: Brian Klingborg

Stars: 4.5

Review:

The author manages to transport the reader to another country, that most of us are unfamiliar with, and make us feel comfortable. There we are able to follow Inspector Fei

through a difficult murder investigation from beginning to end. The investigation is fraught with both local and national politics, personal bias, and fear of law enforcement agencies. Inspector Fei skillfully navigates this morass and, through diligent police work, successfully resolves the murder in spite of these problems. Additionally, two others connected, but unsolved, in a nearby metropolitan area are solved. The story progresses in a realistic and logical manner.

 

I have rated this book 4.5 stars. If you enjoy a good murder mystery you will not want to miss this one.

Thank you Frank your review.  I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis:

Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police college but he’s been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing—headed by a rising political star—is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.

As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger. 

ebook, 288 pages

Expected publication: May 4th 2021 by Minotaur Books

About The Author:

Brian Klingborg is a graduate of Harvard's Regional Studies East Asia program, and spent many years living and working in Asia and Europe. In addition to his first novel, Kill Devil Falls, published in 2017, he's written widely on Chinese martial arts.

His second novel, Thief of Souls, will be published by Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) in March 2021.

He currently lives in New York City.

Book Review: Marked Raven: Raven Tales Book Two (The Raven Tales 2) by J.B. Dane

 

Title: Marked Raven: Raven Tales Book Two (The Raven Tales 2)

Author:  J.B. Dane 

Stars: 4

Review:

I am not sure where to start.  Readers will need to start with the first book in the series to understand the characters.  J.B Dane tries hard to fill in the last book quickly as possible at the beginning of the story. Yet it falls apart in confusion.  Soon the story picks up in the most unique urban fantasy I have read. 

The author created a story that will have readers wondering if the author forget to add the kitchen sink to the crazy cast of characters.  The author ability to write will timed humor , perfect pace to the action of the story as well as moment that will have you scratching your head wondering what will happen next.

I would highly recommend you read the first book in the series first because the author wasn't able to give a clear picture or understanding how the character came to life and into their world

Thank you to Netgalley for the a copy of J.B. Dane Marked Raven

Synopsis:

Valentine’s Day could be the most dangerous time of the year if an angry Cupid is the hit man hunting you down.
Bram Farrell, paranormal PI, has been yanked from the pages of the novel. His author and creator brought him into real-world Detroit to do a job for her, but the job went south, and the real-world Detroit is as loaded with monsters and magical beings as the pages of her books were. And they are all out to get Bram and exact some otherworldly revenge on him.

Most guys wouldn’t mind that it’s raining females, some expected, some surprises, one he could do without. And then there is his new secretary, Naomi, who he’s falling in love with. Keeping her alive—and himself—is going to be tricky.

Outrunning an alchemist, a vampire, and a witch is going to take more than cutting wit.
Luckily, this paranormal Sam Spade has some resources besides his dry sense of humor. His dachshund Hellhound is with him and his magic is coming back. Which should be helpful considering someone has put a hit out on him.

There’s a lot on Bram’s plate this February. The question is, will he live through it this time?

Entertaining, funny and suspenseful, Marked Raven is the perfect place to pick up the Raven Tales urban fantasy series

Kindle Edition

Published January 12th 2021

About Th Author:

J.B. Dane loves writing snarky sleuth heroes. Her regular "crew" includes Bram Farrell (The Raven), Nick Claus, Rip Patterson, and a lot of dragons.

She came to fantasy mystery late, running up a tally of over 30 romance titles as Beth Henderson. Oddly enough, she began reading urban fantasy as a "palate cleanser", thinking she'd never write in the genre. Her muse thought differently and introduced her to a guy she'd first thought up in the late 1980s before she was published. Bram Farrell was still sitting patiently in the waiting room for his turn to become a hero in what would also turn out to be Dane's first series. She's very glad the outdated magazines didn't chase him away