Book Review Chance Collision (Crossing Forces, #2) by C.A. Szarek

Title: Chance Collision (Crossing Forces, #2)

Author: C.A. Szarek 

Stars: 3 1\2 stars out of 5

Review:

Chance Collision can be read as a strand alone novel because the author C.A. Szarek  is able to bring readers up to date though out the book. 
The story is a romance from beginning to end with a little mystery so the characters have something to do in-between lusting after each other.
The characters from book one are in book two and C.A. Szarek adds a few new ones in that will have their own stories fro the way the series is set up.
The end felt a little forced and predictable. If readers enjoyed the Collision Force than they will enjoy Chance Collision. 
Thank you Netgalley and Paper Dragon Publishing for the advance copy.

#ChanceCollision #NetGalley 

Synopsis:
owing to protect her had nothing to do with feelings.

Detective Pete Crane catches a new shooting case and considers it business-as-usual. But when the lead witness is the Chief of Police’s fiery assistant, he never anticipated she’d challenge him—personally and professionally. Especially while under his protection.

Little do they know, the shooting she and her grandmother witnessed was anything but random.
Thrown together, their attraction sizzles, even though she’s squarely in the no-fly zone. She makes him break every rule in his little black book.

Nikki Harper has been attracted to Pete since they met two years ago. Witnessing a brutal shooting throws her into a stigma that’s always been her greatest fear—a victim. She has no choice but to accept his protective custody and let him help save her and her beloved grandmother.
Can Pete protect his witness and solve the case, while fighting the intense heat with Nikki?


About The Author:

USA Today Bestselling, award winning author of romantic suspense and epic fantasy romance, C.A. loves to dabble in different genres. If it's a good story, she'll write it, no matter where it seems to fit!

She's a hopeless romantic and always will be. Risking it all for Happily Ever After is what she lives by!

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She's happily married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.

She works with kids when she's not writing.

Book Review: No Regrets (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #10) by Julie Moffett

Title: No Regrets (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #10)

Author:  Julie Moffett

Stars: 5 out of 5

Review:
While I am not a huge fan of the Lexi Carmicheal Book Covers I am beyond happy to say everything inside the book is what readers have come to expect from Julie Moffetts Computer nerd.
No Regets will have readers laughing out loud as Lexi tries to figure out the little black cloud that is always following her.
The story is fast pace, filling in lots of questions readers have been asking. Example how Lexi of loner and computer nerd become best friends with an our going Basia. The back story will have readers love Basia and Lexi's friendship even more.
Thank you to Julie Moffett she has the ability to keep her characters and stories fresh with each turn of the page.  Book 10 will not disappoint readers and fans.

Thank you Netgalley and Carina Press for the advance copy.

Synopsis:
When I agreed to stand by my best friend, Basia, on her big day, I had no idea what I was in for. Bouquets and unflattering evening wear I can handle. But between disgruntled dates, a beach venue and suspicious packages, what else can go wrong? Oh, right—my parents don’t know I’ve moved in with Slash. Oops?

Thankfully, I’ve got everything semi under control, at least as far as Basia and Xavier know. They can leave for their honeymoon happy, knowing Elvis, Slash and I will keep things safe at home.

Meanwhile, Elvis and Xavier’s boss at ComQuest has asked X-Corp—well, me—to take a quick trip to retrieve a sensitive company package from the British Virgin Islands. No hacking involved. Just show up, accept the package and bring it home safely. A cushy assignment, and a safe one. Right? 

Wrong. Things start to unravel the minute I set foot on the boat to the island. Before I know it, I’m up to my neck in thugs, sand and trouble. I’m going to have to work fast to stop the bad guys before the sun sets for good on this unexpected beach vacation.


About The Author:

Julie Moffett is a bestselling author and writes in the genres of mystery, young adult, historical romance and paranormal romance. She has won numerous awards, including the 2015 Award of Excellence, 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the prestigious 2014 HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author, the 2016 Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books of 2002, and the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Bookseller's Best Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her book A Double-Edged Blade was an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Novel.

Julie is a military brat (Air Force) and has traveled extensively. Her more exciting exploits include attending high school in Okinawa, Japan; backpacking around Europe and Scandinavia for several months; a year-long college graduate study in Warsaw, Poland; and a wonderful trip to Scotland and Ireland where she fell in love with castles, kilts and brogues.

Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two sons.

Book Review: Death Below Stairs (Kat Holloway #1) Jennifer Ashley

Title: Death Below Stairs (Kat Holloway #1

Author: Jennifer Ashley 

Stars: 4.25 out of 5

Review:
I found this to be both an interesting and intriguing cozy murder mystery. I enjoyed the manner in which the story unfolded and was investigated and narrated by a servant and not the Lord or Lady of the house. I will admit to being let astray, by some well laid red herrings, and surprised as to who actually committed the murder. There was just the right amount of treasonous action to keep my interest from flagging. I do suspect a budding romance between the principal characters and look forward to seeing how it turns out.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars and look forward to reading other offerings in this series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis: 
Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered. 

Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018 by Berkley Books

About The Author:


NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical and paranormal romance and historical mysteries, as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. 

Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards.

Book Review False Witness (Detective Cooper Devereaux #3) by Andrew Grant

Title: False Witness (Detective Cooper Devereaux #3)

Author: Andrew Grant 

Stars: 3 1\2 stars out of 5

Review:
3 1/2 Stars out of 5
This is not a stand alone novel it is part of a series. I found myself a little lost in the first several chapters because I jumped in on book 3 which is my fault.
That being said there were many times a quick update instead of a long drawn out one would have been much better and simpler. Several times I wondered if the author was trying to make a number count as there was more information than was needed for several scenes. Before readers are half way though the book they know that Cooper Devereaux has an amazing apartment and the location and how rich he is and the car he drives. Which I totally want a (Porsche).
The story has way to many plot holes that might be told in the next book in the series but leaves readers a bit confused wondering if the author forgot about the details that mattered in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine publishing for the advance copy.
#netgalley #AndrewGrant 

Synopsis:
A woman disappears on her twenty-first birthday. The following day her body is found, wrapped neatly like a gift in a crumbling, sun-speckled graveyard. What does Detective Devereaux have to go on? Very little. No motive, no suspects. Then another victim is discovered in a crematorium parking lot. Again, she was killed on her twenty-first birthday. Again, her body was wrapped like a gift. By the third murder the tabloids have dubbed the homicidal monster the Birthday Killer—and Devereaux is under the gun.

While Devereaux’s own violent and mysterious past nips at his heels, and his fragile home life threatens to unravel, he can’t afford to be anything but totally obsessed with the frantic search through the many layers of this city, from its wealthy enclaves to its dark criminal underbelly. The only certainty is that Devereaux is hunting a killer determined to fulfill a deranged agenda in which women’s lives are extinguished like candles on a cake

Paperback

Published by Ballantine Books

About The Author:

Andrew Grant (born 1968, Birmingham, England) is the younger brother of bestselling thriller writer Lee Child. After graduating from the University of Sheffield, where he studied Drama and English Literature, Grant founded a theatre company that produced original material, culminating with a critically successful appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 

Grant remained in Sheffield after graduating from university, but now divides his time between Sheffield and Chicago. 

Book Review: Need To Know by Karen Cleveland

Title: Need To Know

Author: Karen Cleveland

Stars: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Review:
An intriguing counter intelligence mystery involving a CIA analysis working in the Russian section. She discovers something that affects her personally and makes some errors in judgement and then tries to correct them. Overall this is an excellent story which was well presented. I especially enjoyed the zinger at the end which was a really good twist.

I have rated this book 4.5 stars.

I obtained an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis:
Vivian Miller is a dedicated CIA counterintelligence analyst assigned to uncover the leaders of Russian sleeper cells in the United States. On track for a much-needed promotion, she’s developed a system for identifying Russian agents, seemingly normal people living in plain sight.

After accessing the computer of a potential Russian operative, Vivian stumbles on a secret dossier of deep-cover agents within America’s borders. A few clicks later, everything that matters to her—her job, her husband, even her four children—are threatened.

Vivian has vowed to defend her country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But now she’s facing impossible choices. Torn between loyalty and betrayal, allegiance and treason, love and suspicion, who can she trust?


About The Author:

Karen Cleveland spent eight years as a CIA analyst, the last six in counterterrorism. She has master’s degrees from Trinity College Dublin, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar, and from Harvard University. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband and two young kids.