Book Review: The Rumor by Lesley Kara

Title: The Rumor 

Author: Lesley Kara

Stars: 4

Review:
Lesley Kara debut novel The Rumor is a story is like the game we all played as kids Telephone. The story works well enough as the rumor of someone around them is a killer.  It is easy to figure out if you are a mystery reader.  The author will try to throw readers off with her mildly interesting twist and red haring. 
The story is ok paced but slows down from time to time than picks right back up.  The story is ok and if you are not a fan of mystery novels this would be a great start.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Ballantine for the advance copy of Lesley Kara The Rumor.

Synopsis:
Joanna is desperate to ingratiate herself with a popular clique of mothers at her son's new school. But when she tries to impress them by repeating a rumor she overheard at the school gates, there's no going back. . . .

Rumor has it that a notorious killer, a woman who has been released from prison years after her brutal crime, is living under a new identity in Joanna's seaside town. So who is the supposedly reformed murderer now living in their neighborhood? Suspicion falls on everyone.

Joanna becomes obsessed with the case, pawing through decades-old records in an attempt to name the killer. But her curiosity not only ostracizes her from the community, but exposes her son and his father to a heartless psychopath who has killed--and may kill again.

How dangerous can one rumor become? And how far will Joanna go to protect those she loves from harm, when she realizes what she's unleashed?

Joanna is going to regret the day she ever said a word..

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication: July 9th 2019 by Ballantine Books

About The Author:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17895669.Lesley_Kara

Book Review: Calculated Risk (A Bree and Tanner Thriller #1) by Janie Crouch

Title: Calculated Risk (A Bree and Tanner Thriller #1) 

Author: Janie Crouch 

Star: 4

Review:
With all Harlequin Intrigue series the stories are fast paced, backgrounds have to be filled in though out the story.  Bree background is interesting and while the author had only so many words to fill in her background I wish she had more space to fill in Bree and her Moms life.  Sometimes Bree's actions fit the story line and other times it feels like something is missing.
Tanner is a protector and wants to help while romancing a woman he find to be trouble.  He is your typical Harlequin Alpha male.
I loved the company that is able to find anyone using a smart phone and what their plans are for the future.  The ending is fast pace and ends. Leaving readers either wishing there were more pages or future stories of Bree and Tanner. 
The new mom part of the story is true including the sleepless lights and falling asleep anywhere and everywhere.  The supporting characters are will written each with a purpose and a reason for being in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harlequin Intrigue for the advance copy Janie Crouch Calculated Risk. 
(Summer is here and so are my kids. I can't find a place to hid and write review without them finding and talking my ear off. Please forgive the grammar and spelling errors.  If they are bad let me know.)

Synopsis:
She thought she was finally safe, But her past won’t let her go.

Sheriff’s deputy Tanner Dempsey is just doing his job when he stops a shoplifter trying to steal diapers and formula. But something about this frightened young woman makes him want to do more. Bree Daniels is grateful for Tanner’s help, but there’s so much she can never tell him… The truth is dangerous to everyone she lets into her life—and could be lethal to Tanner.

Kindle Edition, 256 pages

Expected publication: July 1st 2019 by Harlequin Intrigue

About The Author:

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she's not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds. 
​
Her favorite quote: "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." ~ Helen Keller.

Check out Janie's updates and more on her website at http://www.janiecrouch.com

Book Review: Wrath of the Goddess (Goddess with a Blade #5) by Lauren Dane

Title: Wrath of the Goddess (Goddess with a Blade #5)

Author:  Lauren Dane

Stars: 4 

Review:
Starting at book 5 in a sires is never a good idea and I knew that when I requested Wrath of the Goddess.  Lauren Dane is able to bring reads up to date quickly and while I was lost it has nothing to do with the book or the authors ability to bring a wonderful story and cast of characters to life.  It has everything to do with a reader starting out of order.
Paranormal Romance isn't something I read often but when I read about a author who not only creates memorable characters as well as a balanced story of romance, action, emotions. I couldn't help but grab a copy the second I found one on Netgalley.
The story is fast paced, readers will connect with the passion Rowan has to protect those she loves.  The author creates a world where once again Vampires, Hunters and more are all trying to find a way to have peace.  Rowan carries the weight of the world on her shoulders and readers are able to feel her pain, strength and passions.  
I plan to buy books 1-4 so I can really enjoy this series and everything to come.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Lauren Dane Wrath of the Goddess

(PS forgive me for errors in spelling and grammar my kids are home for the summer and live next to me talking my ear off. NO matter where I hide to write reviews they always find me.)

Synopsis:
A wedding day should be one you remember fondly, but for Rowan Summerwaite, the fond memories are swept aside by the brutal murder of one of her dearest friends. She heads back to Las Vegas to track down those responsible for the death and finds there's so much more than a killing. A multilayered conspiracy involving multiple groups of paranormals begins to show itself, and Rowan is on the hunt with her wrath burning from within like holy fire. 

About The Author:

Lauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.

Book Review: Special Forces: The Spy (Mission Medusa) by Cindy Dees

Title: Special Forces: The Spy (Mission Medusa) 

Author: Cindy Dees

Stars: 3 1\2 

Review:
Cindy Dee writes a decent romantic suspense story for the summers.  Readers can start with this book and know what will happen from beginning to end.  The author has a fake rap scene but the female characters still feels the same emotions.  The author creates a likable female lead woman can bound with.  The Zane the male lead is strong but weak as well which creates a blend of two decently written characters. 
The story moves quickly and finished with what readers have come to expect with Harlequin Suspense books.
The story is a easy fast read but also easily forgettable unless you are a fan of Cindy Dee.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harlequin Suspense for the advance copy of Cindy Dee Special Forces: The Spy

Synopsis:
The Mission Medusa series continues…

To maintain his cover, spy Zane Cosworth kidnaps Medusa member Piper Ford. She might be trained to endure a hostage situation, but when one of her kidnappers continues to protect her from harm, she finds herself losing her heart. They flee for their lives, and the lines between enemy and lover begin to blur. But will they survive long enough to explore this new passion?

Kindle Edition, 288 pages

Expected publication: June 1st 2019 by Harlequin Romantic Suspense

About The Author:

indy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.

After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.

Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.

Book Review: Texas Trouble (Lone Star #2) by Gerry Bartlett

Title: Texas Trouble (Lone Star #2)

Author: Gerry Bartlett 

Star: 3 1\2 

Review:
Texas Trouble is a little bit of a confusing book a the Lone Star series. First off I didn't read book 1 but the author does catch readers up though out the book about what happened in book one.
The story jumps between Scarlett and her drama and Ethan and his drama.  They create a romance over their looks and than get to know each other.  Texas trouble has two stories going on at the same time with unless characters and lack of back bone from Ethan.  The suspense was odd at times and didn't make any since.  
I would recommend reading book one as it should have reader understand what happened to Scarlett Hall at least I hope so.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Lyrical Liaison for the advance copy of Gerry Bartlett Texas Trouble.

Synopsis:
Scarlett Hall followed a job and a friend to Texas, but that cost her more than she’d bargained for. Now, wounded but determined to get past one of the worst days of her life, she decides she has to pull herself together. First step: cover up the physical scars left from her ordeal. That’s easy. But the emotional scars are proving harder to handle . . .
 
Then she meets Ethan Calhoun. This bad boy seems ready to make his own changes and might be just what she needs to start a new chapter in her life. When he offers her a job as manager of his new bar, she decides to go for it. A change of pace and a hot guy who makes her forget her troubles while she’s in his arms are a great cure. But it soon becomes clear that danger will be in Scarlett’s life no matter how many changes she makes. As Scarlett comes face to face with her worst nightmare, it seems happiness was just an illusion. Maybe Texas is just too much trouble . 

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: June 4th 2019 by Lyrical Liaison

About The Author:

Eternity or Mexican food? Tough call.


Gerry’s a native Texan and lives halfway between Houston and Galveston with her rescue whippet, Jet. Pictured with her is her late wonder dog, a Bedlington Terrier named Belle.

When she started writing, she was still teaching and used the pseudonym Lynn McKay. You can probably still find her historical and two romantic suspense books for a penny on-line. Now that she’s no longer in the classroom and discovered the fun of writing about vampires, she uses her real name. Too bad some people think Gerry is a boy's name or short for Geraldine. No, it's not. Really.

She's still writing her Real Vampires series but is back to romantic suspense and contemporaries writing for Kensington. Her Texas Heat series starts in Houston, her home town. Then watch for Texas Lightning, the first in her Lone Star Suspense series set in Austin where she went to the University of Texas. She loves the hill country there and brought some of her favorite characters from the Texas Heat series to Austin for the fast-paced suspense in the three books in that series. 

You can check out Gerry’s website at gerrybartlett.com to find her blog and articles for writers. Her Perils of Publishing gives the scoop on what happens once "the call" comes. Oh, did you think it would be all roses and champagne? Well, of course it is. 

When Gerry's not writing, she's treasure hunting for her antiques business in Galveston. Her favorite finds? Vintage purses and jewelry. It's a struggle not to keep it all. You can find out when she works there on one of her two Facebook pages.