This was my first book by Elizabeth Hayley. I never heard from this author before but I chose this book mainly because the hero is a cook. As a former cook myself I like to read books about cooks – does anybody do that? Like lawyers or teachers or spies? You know, you want to see if they got it right. Only me? Well, so here I go. The story is about Tim and Quinn … Continue reading Just Say Yes by Elizabeth Hayley
So military romances. Eh. Kinda burned out on them. All those super secret black ops teams that not even the government knows about? After a while they started making my skin crawl, because borderline criminal behavior and a license to kill with no over sight what-so-ever? NOT SEXY. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve read my fair share, or more, of these books, but reality kept nudging in and now? Nope nopenopenope. Set that quibble … Continue reading Target Engaged by M. L. Buchman
I picked this book because it’s rare that I strike out with the first in a series and keep going with another installment. Once bitten, twice shy, you know? But while I didn’t enjoy the first book, I have enjoyed a couple of the author’s novellas, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for an experiment: giving series with a disappointing first book another shot. I am a firm believer in ditching books … Continue reading Facing Fire by HelenKay Dimon
I was not familiar with the Fatal series or Marie Force going into this, but the description looked like it had a bunch of my personal catnip: ass-kicking lead woman, romantic thriller, political elements. (I love reading/watching totally off-the-rails versions of DC. Except House of Cards. Don’t get me started on how much I hate House of Cards.) Anyway, the book opens in medias res, as it were, and it’s immediately obvious that some serious … Continue reading Fatal Frenzy by Marie Force
I didn’t receive a 2016 RITA® Reader Challenge review for this book, so I’m compiling quotes from reviews online and using the grade average from Goodreads as a substitute. This book has a 3.78 average, which I’m interpreting as a B+. And here are the review quotes, linked to the original sources: Sybil aka Lala wrote: …I loved the way the book was written. From the start you’re thrown right into all the confusion and you’re … Continue reading Altered by Marnee Blake
So much of this book worked for me, but the ending did not. The ending made me realize I had problems before the ending. This review will start with the strengths. Jake was a well-developed character, and his PTSD seemed well-done. The flashbacks to Iraq seemed powerful and well-researched and vivid and compelling. All of his previous problems seemed realistic and my heart went out to him. I found all of the characters mostly likable … Continue reading A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade
Francesca “Chessie” Rossi always has a plan. Though she works as an investigator at Guardian Angelinos, her family’s security and investigation business, she stays behind her computer in Boston. She doesn’t do field work. But children can’t be loaded onto laptops. So when she finds evidence that her brother Gabe’s lover bore him a child before dying on the run in Cuba, Chessie knows someone will have to investigate in person. Malcolm “Mal” Harris is … Continue reading Barefoot with a Stranger by Roxanne St. Claire
Trigger warning for torture and attempted rape. Night Hush is a romantic suspense by Leslie Jones. It takes place in the fictional country of Azakistan. A terrorist group has taken an a female American service member hostage, and special forces group Delta Force runs across her in the course of their operations. Heather Langstrom has been tortured and badly injured, but has managed to escape captivity through her own intelligence and skills. Her rescuer, Jace … Continue reading Night Hush by Leslie Jones
I don’t read category romances these days, but they hold a special place in my heart. Back in the day, Mom and I would head out to Crown Books to stock up on the newest Loveswepts, Silhouettes, and Harlequins. She’d be curled up in the corner of the loveseat with coffee and a cigarette, and I’d be on the sofa with a Diet Pepsi, while Dad and the bros did their man things. This was … Continue reading Carter Bravo’s Christmas Bride by Christine Rimmer
Trigger warning for domestic violence The Strongest Steel is a new adult novel about Harper Connelly, a domestic violence survivor with extensive scarring on her back from where her ex-boyfriend carved a phrase into it, and Trent Andrews, the tattoo artist whom she wants to tattoo over her scars. This novel hits several of the new adult tropes. Terrible trauma? Check. Green eyed heroine? (Green eyes are the violet eyes of the new century.) Check. … Continue reading The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole
This is the sixth in a loosely linked series of novels about the Carrigans of the Circle C Ranch. The story starts off well. Willa and her son, Scout, are driving through a snowstorm to a vacation at the Bramble House B&B. They’re being followed. This sounds ominous, but actually isn’t; the car behind them is driven by Finn, who’s booked a room at the same B&B. He’s driving behind them because Willa is obviously … Continue reading A Bramble House Christmas by CJ Carmichael
