Reading and Reviews (Grafton, Evanovich, Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

P is for Peril by Sue Grafton

 

Kinsey Millhone never sees it coming. She is mired in the case of a doctor who disappeared, his angry ex-wife, and beautiful current one-a case that is full of unfinished business, unfinished homes, and people drifting in and out of their own lives. Then Kinsey gets a shock. A man she finds attractive is hiding a fatal secret—and now a whole lot of beauty, money, and lies are proving to be a fatal distraction from what Kinsey should have seen all along: a killer standing right before her eyes...

 

My Review

So far, all of the Kinsey Milhone books I have read have been highly entertaining. This one didn’t seem quite as tight in the plot as prior books, but I won’t ding it too much for that. I think a couple of the characters didn’t ring true for me. I waited too long to do this review, honestly.

https://www.amazon.com/Peril-Kinsey-Millhone-Book-16-ebook/dp/B001D9T7ZQ

 

 

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

 

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and Trenton vice cop Joe Morelli join forces to find the madman killer who shot and barbecued the youngest son of international black-market arms dealer Alexander Ramos.

Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, is caught on video just minutes before the crime occurs. He's at the scene, he's with the victim, and he's the number-one suspect. Ranger is former special forces turned soldier of fortune. He has a blue-chip stock portfolio and no known address. He moves in mysterious circles. He's Stephanie's mentor--the man who taught her everything she knows about fugitive apprehension. And he's more than her friend.

Now he's the hunted and Stephanie's the hunter, and it's time for her to test her skills against the master. But if she does catch him...what then? Can she bring herself to turn him in?

Plus there are other things keeping Stephanie awake at night. Her maternal grandmother has set up housekeeping in Stephanie's apartment, a homicidal maniac has selected Stephanie as his next victim, her love life is in the toilet, she's adopted a dog with an eating disorder, and she can't button the top snap on her Levi's. 

My Review

This was one of the best, if not the best, Stephanie Plum book I have read. I haven’t read them in order, but it doesn’t matter. It was just gritty enough and quite funny. The dog was a hilarious addition. Stephanie is so down to earth every female reader can identify.

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Six-Stephanie-Plum-Novels/dp/0312976275/

 

Free Fall by Jannine Gallant

 

Ascending Denali with family and friends was supposed to be a celebration of their engagement. Instead, the climb devolves into a horrifying nightmare when her fiancé falls to his death. With survivor’s guilt eating at her soul, Rowan Albright struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. If she hadn’t been bonding with Ian’s cousin, Xander, could she have somehow prevented his death? Or was the reason for his fall far more nefarious? Five years later, Rowan is climbing mountains and guiding backcountry tours in Glacier National Park, determined to put her troubled past behind her—and maybe find love again.

Rowan isn’t the only one with misgivings about the tragic Denali climb. For years, Xander Calloway has wondered if his cousin’s death was intentional. Now a law enforcement ranger with the National Park Service, he organizes a reunion hike to put his theory of foul play to the test. Spending time with the beautiful Rowan is an additional perk since he’s had a harmless crush on her forever. But Xander gets more than he bargained for when a series of deadly mishaps occur. With a killer hiding in plain sight, he’ll lay his life on the line to protect Rowan from becoming the next victim—because a future without her is unimaginable . . . 

My Review

This isn’t my first Jannine Gallant book and certainly not my last. She is skilled at setting you down in a scene, especially the rugged, wilderness kind, giving the reader a wild ride. The suspense, the action, the romance all combine to create a great story.

https://www.amazon.com/Free-Fall-Edge-Survival-Book-ebook/dp/B0H1YZS5ML

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Henderson)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

On Thin Ice (Edge of Survival Book 1) by Jannine Gallant 

After a shattering loss, Fiona put the pieces of her life back together, but can she escape the psychopath hellbent on revenge? 

One horrifying night, Fiona Ward lost her parents and her home in a blazing inferno and barely escaped with her life. Devastated, she testifies against the animal who murdered her family, but his incarceration comes with a steep price—sworn retribution. Standing between her and certain death is the U.S. deputy marshal who relocates her to Alaska, where she’ll face an unknown future with a grandfather who’s a complete stranger. 

Years later, Fiona Jones has found her purpose as an Alaskan bush pilot in the tiny wilderness town she calls home. But her peaceful world is upended when her parents’ killer escapes from prison, seeking vengeance. Now a deputy marshal like his father, Caleb Moss will risk his life to apprehend the fugitive and protect the woman whose courage he’s never forgotten. Together, they must outwit her devious nemesis—and the hidden menace neither anticipated. But for Fiona, her greatest challenge may be surviving the threat to her heart… 

My Review

I’m so glad Jannine Gallant has started a new series. I don’t know if the entire series will be set in Alaska, but I’m pleased this one is. I love a setting that is so real, it’s a character of the book. We are treated to a breathtaking opening for young Fiona. When it all starts to unravel years later, the action is nonstop and romance seeps in. This is an entertaining read for sure. 

https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Ice-Edge-Survival-Book-ebook/dp/B0FRT273RC/

The Body in the Belfry: An Izzy Munro Cozy Mystery (Izzy Munro Mysteries Book 3) 

by Alison Henderson 

When insurance investigator-turned-photographer Izzy Munro finds a vintage brooch tucked behind the sofa cushions in the cottage she inherited from her great-aunt in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, she never suspects the little pin will precipitate a cascade of events that culminate in the discovery of the body of a prominent local jeweler, hanging from the bell tower of the historic Carmel Mission.

Suspects abound, from the victim’s widow and stepdaughter, to a trio of shady jewelers known informally as the Cartel. The police are stumped, so Izzy’s boyfriend, an investigator with the DA’s office, enlists her aid as a volunteer consultant. With the help of trusty friends and three cheerful garden gnomes, Izzy uncovers secrets no one could have imagined. But when confronted by the killer, she must rely on quick thinking and her indomitable Burmese cat, Bogart, to survive.

 My Review

Ms. Henderson plunks us down in Carmel-by-the-Sea and aren’t we glad. Izzy is loving the town, although not so much murder. But she’s up for following the clues with a great cast of characters. You’ll be entertained with this whodunit. 

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Belfry-Munro-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0FPDLS6XR/ 

Reading and Reviews (Ligon and Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Running to Daylight by Kim Janine Ligon 

After ten years in witness protection, Morgan Tucker is hidden no longer. Evil hasn’t been thwarted by a false name or Morgan’s move to the small town of Lansdale, Wisconsin.

Mark Trask, a veteran of Lansdale’s police force, returns from vacation to find his reclusive housemate, Phil Hughes, missing. The driver of a black pickup truck stalks Mark and nearly kills him. Are they targeting Mark or is it related to Phil’s mysterious disappearance?

Elsie Dennis lives with her older brother, Hubert, and operates Knitting Pretty in downtown Lansdale. Unexpected danger plagues the siblings. Why now? Who is behind this evil?

Mark and Elsie are thrown together to solve the mysteries surrounding them and try to determine if they are related to a ten-year-old murder. They encounter evil at every turn as together they find their way toward the daylight. 

My Review 

Think the Sopranos meets Mayberry. And since this is a sweet romance, you’ll be spared the graphics. Ms. Ligon begins this tale when Morgan Tucker does the right thing. She is then whisked off, given another identity, and put in witness protection. We are transported to her new life in the second chapter. I liken Lansdale, Wisconsin to Mayberry and our hero, Mark Trask, to the down to earth law enforcement we’d expect in a small town. For me, a good story isn’t enough. I need characters that interest me and are well developed. This story has that. An entertaining read! 

This book will release May 26, but you can reserve you copy now:

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Daylight-Kim-Janine-Ligon-ebook/dp/B0F1P71LKV/

 

 

Unspeakable Sins (Truth and Lies book 4) by Jannine Gallant 

In the peaceful town of Wildwood, a killer is on the prowl . . .

Jessica Hayes hadn’t been back to Wildwood in years. She’d rather poke her eye out than visit her vindictive grandfather, so discovering she’d inherited his home on the James River came as a shock. Quitting her job to move to Virginia was an impulsive decision—one she might live to regret. Because making the old mansion habitable will take a herculean effort.

Returning centuries-old homes to their former glory is what Lincoln Quintrell lives for. When he receives a call from Jessica Hayes, a girl he’d gone to school with, about restoring her grandfather’s plantation house, he can’t wait to begin. The dilapidated mansion makes his heart beat faster—and so does Jessica, who is a lot prettier than he remembered.

Creating beauty from decay and navigating a budding relationship isn’t their only challenge. When Jessica discovers skeletal remains on her property, the Hayes family tragedy is resurrected. The aunt who’d disappeared years before hadn’t run away—she’d been murdered. Now, a killer with evil intent is hiding in plain sight. Will Jessica become the next victim? 

My Review 

This book had it all for me: an historical mansion in need of restoration, a soon-to-be bed and breakfast (I always thought it would be fun to own one), family skeletons—the ones you love to uncover but also quite literally, a strong female lead who still needs some man-help, and a hero you can hope gets the girl. There were enough twists and turns to keep the suspense going. The romance is believable and blends beautifully with the mystery. You’ll enjoy this 4^th book in the series. And if you haven’t read the first three, you’ll want to.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and Reviews (Gallant, Grafton, Anderson)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Perilous Quest (Truth and Lies, book 3) by Jannine Gallant 

On a quest to find a lost treasure, will they fall victim to love . . . or murder?

As a genealogist and historical researcher, Brielle Quintrell often uncovers secrets families would prefer to keep buried. Hired by the elderly scion of the Cape Cod Bishops, a dynasty stretching back to the founding fathers, she can’t wait to delve into their ancestry—despite her client’s skeptical grandson.

Weston Bishop has his hands full running his family’s cranberry farm, seeing to his grandparents’ needs, avoiding his ex, and keeping his cousin out of trouble. The last thing he wants is a genealogist digging into his family’s past and creating problems. Especially one as pretty and distracting as Brielle.

When old letters and diaries lead to more questions than answers, hinting at a dangerous legacy, Weston is hooked. The idea of recovering a stolen treasure is almost as tempting as his new partner. But after word of their search leaks, the two discover they aren’t the only ones determined to solve the centuries-old crime. Someone will go to any lengths to find the prize—even murder. 

My Review 

How fun to mix genealogy, history, and a treasure hunt in a suspenseful romantic adventure. Brielle and Weston are appealing characters…a genealogist and a cranberry farmer. There are enough suspicious characters to keep you guessing until the end as to who the villain is. A read you’ll enjoy. 

Q is for Quarry: A Kinsey Millhone Novel by Sue Grafton 

She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed. After months of investigation, the murder remained unsolved...

That was eighteen years ago. Now the two men who found the body are nearing the end of their careers in law enforcement—and they want one last shot at the case. Old and ill, they need someone to help with their legwork and they turn to Kinsey Millhone.

Kinsey is intrigued by the cold case and agrees to take the job. But revisiting the past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of Jane Doe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer. 

My Review 

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. The two old detectives jump off the pages, they are so well written. The cold case research has lots of twists and turns. The suspense is tense. 

When Oceans Rage: A Rivals to Lovers Sea Adventure (Woman at the Helm Mystery Book 2) by Rolynn Anderson 

To save her father, she must shut down corporate espionage and unearth a murderer before the killer finds her.

A shocking inheritance of a shrimp boat from her estranged father entices MIT-trained Jill Morrell to resign from her cushy Seattle job. Her lack of experience boating or fishing soon makes her a pariah on the Port McNeill dock. Worse: While she invests time and energy into a successful prawn season, her father languishes in prison for a murder he may not have committed.

Ray Stewart, stepson of the murdered man, has a stealth agenda of his own. Ray aims to sue Jill for ownership of the million-dollar vessel. In fact, he’ll join Jill’s crew for the season to protect his family’s asset while keeping an eye on the ever-fascinating, unpredictable Ms Morrell.

The raging ocean pales in comparison to the violent and greedy folks out to destroy Jill’s livelihood. Though Ray and Jill are sworn adversaries, they must join forces to find a murderer and identify traitors in their British Columbia community. 

My Review 

First off, Ms. Anderson gives us just enough information about the prawning business to entertain us while telling the story and not sound like an instruction manual. That’s not easy to do. The title tells you Rivals to Lovers which is an interesting trope. Not only is there tension and suspense involving murder and espionage, but the tension between the rivals keeps you turning the pages too. A great read.

Reading and Reviews (Heistand and Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Crumbs of Defeat (A Cookies and Kilts Mystery Book 4) by Jo A. Heistand 

April first. The annual bake-off contest in Beaudin Trace, Missouri. Oven temperatures and entrants' tempers are hot enough to bake most anything. And everyone there thinks if one particular participant would leave, things would cool off.

Evidently, someone's wish is overheard, for the contentious contestant is found post-contest, sprinkled with cupcakes and ready for her postmortem.

The death yields a mix of suspects, all capable of cooking up the murder. The problem is, who was stirred up enough to do it?

To prove herself innocent of killing Tiffany, bakery shop owner Kate Dunbar investigates. But she quickly wonders if the bake-off was the conclusion in a series of risky events, and if her own elimination is just around the corner.

 MY REVIEW: 

This is a cozy with a cast of characters who make it fun for Kate to investigate the murder of Tiffany, an obnoxious wannabe chef. Reg was my personal favorite. The setting is fun too. The Mississippi River, a dog bakery, and a culinary school all play roles. Unfortunately, Kate is among the list of possible murderers for the police. Her amateur sleuthing is a quest to prove her innocence. 

This was my first read of this series, although it is the fourth book. I feel if I’d read the prior books, a couple of the characters would be more complete. Kate’s relationship to the sheriff was vague. But the read was entertaining. Lovers of cozy mysteries will enjoy the story. 

 

Final Witness (Truth and Lies Book 2) by Jannine Gallant 

The face of a killer could be the final picture he takes…

As a photojournalist, Nash Quintrell travels the world, capturing striking images of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. He certainly never expected to snap a photo of the assassin who shot the nation’s first woman president on her Inauguration Day. Discovering his pictures hold important clues to identifying the men behind the attacks on several high-profile figures is a shock. But they also provide the key to rekindling a relationship with the woman he once loved and pushed away.

When FBI Special Agent Tempest English sees Nash in the inauguration crowd, camera in hand, she has no choice but to approach him. Her mission is to catch a killer, and she’ll take whatever help she can get, even if the last thing she wants is to work with the man who dumped her years before. Nash may have broken her heart, but fate throws them together again, and his photos are the best lead she has.

In an effort to unmask the powerful players behind the conspiracy, Nash and Tempest must track a ruthless band of homegrown terrorists. Infiltrating their circle risks not only their lives, but a future together neither imagined was possible. 

MY REVIEW:

I’m like a broken record when it comes to Jannine Gallant’s books. Just plug in a different title and the praises are the same. Isn’t this a timely read too, with political intrigue and a female president? There’s a story of intrigue and conspiracy with homegrown terrorists. And then there is the romance. Photojournalist Nash and FBI Agent Tempest make a fiery couple solving the crime and revisiting their love story. Romantic Suspense readers are sure to flip the pages of this satisfying book with a smile on their faces.

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Black)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Desperate Alliance by Jannine Gallant

A stolen painting leads to a second chance at love—if they survive.

When Annalise Quintrell discovers a painting at the Philadelphia museum where she works—a masterpiece she authenticated—is a forgery, her career is on the line. Confident she didn’t make a mistake, Annalise is convinced someone stole the original. But with no proof, will anyone believe her? The only way to salvage her reputation and her future is to find the missing painting. The problem is, she has no one to turn to for help—except her ex-fiancé.

Rory Cavanaugh made the worst mistake of his life, not when he got caught robbing an art gallery, but when he withheld the truth about his past from Annalise. Unable to forgive his lies, she cut him out of her life—and her heart—for good. But now she desperately needs his help, and Rory will do anything to make amends for hurting her. Because convincing her to take him back seems like a fantasy.

As Rory and Annalise work together, following a trail of clues in their search for the lost painting, long-suppressed feelings bubble to the surface. Can she get beyond her anger and heartache and find a way to forgive him? Or will the criminal determined to stop them at any cost make them both pay the ultimate price for love?

My Review:

Jannine always delivers a good story. This one felt a little different than her regular suspense plots as we made our way through the artworld instead of the wilderness. But she navigated the landscape convincingly. The story was good, and her characters imperfect. And that’s a good thing. Rory has led a less than honest life, but he had his reasons. Annalise is stubborn and unforgiving. They have depth and that added a good dimension to the story.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Save Me by Molly Black 

FBI Special Agent Katie Winter is no stranger to frigid winters, isolation, and dangerous cases. With her sterling record of hunting down serial killers, she is a fast-rising star in the BAU, and when a woman is discovered in the middle of a frozen lake, Katie is the natural choice to partner with Canadian law enforcement to track the killer across the brutal and unforgiving landscape.

But tensions run high between Katie and her new Canadian partner, and time is running out before the killer’s trail goes cold. The case also conjures the demons of her own past: Katie’s younger sister, vanished years ago on the shore of the very same lake, a case that remains unsolved.

Can Katie keep her demons at bay long enough to enter a killer’s mind and stop him before it’s too late?

Or will this diabolical monster outwit her in his game of cat and mouse?

My Review:

This story held my attention most of the time. The problem between Katie and her new partner, and the why of it was so vague I had trouble understanding. The disconnected plot lines with the partner and her sister bothered me. Small stuff like typos were also disconcerting. It wasn’t a bad story but could definitely have benefited from a good editor. And by the way, I'm in the minority in my opinion of this book, so if you're a Molly Black fan you won't agree. If she's new to you, I encourage you to check the page on Amazon and the reviews there.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Barbur)

Although I've managed to do a little reading over the last few months, I haven't taken the time to post reviews. I'm just busy-busy writing. But I had to stop, take a break, and get some reviews done, or I'll forget what the books are about!

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Chilling Moonrise (Leave No Trace Book 4) by Jannine Gallant

An inheritance she never anticipated or desired sparks murder . . . and passion.

Widowed and left with her husband’s vast empire to manage, Camille Valentine isn’t sure how much longer she can hold on. Between her single-minded need to succeed and the very real threats on her life, the pressure is crushing her soul. The only thing keeping her sane is the man determined to protect her at any cost.

Former Navy Seal and black ops agent Michael Zorn spends his days chauffeuring an extremely wealthy—not to mention gorgeous—woman to and from her business meetings. Not the future he’d envisioned, but he’d made a promise to the man who’d once saved him, one he doesn’t intend to break.

As a hired assassin steps up his game, Camille and Michael fight for their lives. From the Santa Barbara shore to the redwood forest to the rugged beauty of Mount Rainier, her desperate plight ignites feelings neither of them anticipated. But until they uncover the identity of the traitor behind the hitman, true happiness is an impossible dream—because their reality is a relentless nightmare. 

MY REVIEW:

I’ve loved this series and couldn’t wait to dive into book four. As usual, Ms. Gallant gave me a good entertaining read.

Camille Valentine has been on my radar since she was mentioned in another of the series books. I hoped she’d get her own story with her Navy Seal bodyguard. Camille has her hands full with too much money and too many greedy step-children. It’s a mystery if one of them could be trying to kill her. Thank goodness for Michael Zorn, who’s promise made to another man to protect Camille has him watching her every move. Trouble is, watching her and her watching him watch her leads them into a relationship they didn’t expect. Hold on, this isn’t all about romance. There is plenty of suspense. Enjoy this read!

AMAZON BUY LINK

Primitive Weapons: A Tye Caine Wilderness Mystery Book 2 by David Barbur 

It was supposed to be a simple job: go to the private island, find the missing billionaire.

Instead, tracker Tye Caine and his friend Gary find themselves caught in a dark conspiracy that blends ancient artifacts with modern technology.

Hunted by an unseen gunman, stalked by dark shapes in the forest, Tye and Gary must first unlock the decades-old secret of the island, then understand the modern-day technological terror that is about to be unleashed.

Tye will need all his wilderness skills to survive this one.

My Review:

I’d like to classify this as a “man’s man book” and yet I kept reading to the end. It’s a real blend of mystery and suspense, high-tech/low-tech, and a touch of supernatural. Once in a while I felt a little lost in the jungle of the plot just like the characters, but the twists and turns are probably what held me. It’s an adventure you might enjoy.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and #Reviews (Gallant, Clark, Cornwell) #suspense

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Twilight Deception (Leave No Trace Book 3) by Jannine Gallant

Shot, wounded, and bleeding, Tristan Flanagan is on the run from a once trusted business partner who stole money from their company and set him up to take the fall. He flees into the Grand Canyon, hoping for a miracle.

While on an overnight camping trip, artist Willow Larkin stumbles across a man more dead than alive. Though skeptical of his wild story of betrayal and embezzlement, especially when she was burned once before by a charismatic liar, Willow is still drawn to this desperate, sexy stranger. Against her better judgement, she hides him in her secluded cabin to recover—unaware that helping him puts her in the crosshairs of a violent criminal.

Staying one step ahead of both the police and a man intent on murder, the pair embark on a dangerous mission to prove his innocence. But finding the truth to clear his name is a deadly game—one they must win before he’ll be free to love again. If they survive . . . 

MY REVIEW

What Ms. Gallant does so seamlessly is dropping us in nature’s setting for a wild ride of suspense and romance. 

When Tristan takes off, shot and bleeding, we’re with him on his escape into the wild…the wild being the Grand Canyon. Born and raised in Arizona, this setting held an extra punch for me, especially with some of it taking place in Flagstaff where I went to college. 

Lucky for him, an outdoorsy, gutsy woman rescues him and joins him on a ride to prove his innocence. 

You’ll enjoy this one!

AMAZON BUY LINK

Forging Forgiveness by C. B. Clark 

When small-town college instructor Candace Cooper discovers bloody, bare footprints in the snow while running in a state park deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, it brings back the horrific nightmare of her past.

Detective Aiden Farrell is determined to redeem himself in his new position in Colorado, even if that means ignoring his growing feelings for the beautiful professor he meets during an investigation. His fear that the footprints she saw are connected to a recent spate of missing teens intensifies when Candace is assaulted on campus.

Aiden and Candace join forces, but as they start unraveling the truth, they get closer to each other—and to a killer who'll stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious goal.

Caught between duty and love, Aiden fights in a race against time to save the woman he loves. 

MY REVIEW

A college professor with a tragic background meets a detective who is still smarting from recent indiscretions. Sounds like the makings a conflicted story with many possibilities. Add murder and love to the mix, and you’ve got a great romantic suspense. Ms. Clark delivers. Enjoy the read!

AMAXON BUY LINK

Serial by Patricia Cornwell 

Forensic investigator Reilly Steel, Quantico-trained and California-born and bred, imagined Dublin to be a far cry from bustling San Francisco, a sleepy backwater where she can lay past ghosts to rest and start anew.
But a serial killer soon puts paid to that idea.

A young man and woman are found dead in a hotel room, the evidence initially suggesting a suicide pact.
But as Reilly and the investigative team dig deeper and more bodies are discovered, they soon realize that each crime has an intriguingly unique element in common.

And that a cunning mind is at work, one who seeks to upset society's norms in the most twisted way... 

MY REVIEW

This story was twisty but unfortunately, some of the twisting seemed to have broken ends not connecting. I think part of the problem was Reilly’s guilt over her sister’s disappearance so many years earlier. Of course, she’d be affected, but to the degree portrayed didn’t quite seem real. She also seemed to connect dots that just weren’t there between the crimes. I liked a lot of the supporting characters—I tend to like a book if the plot is weak but has good characters. The plot twist at the end is a good one leaving the story with a redeeming quality.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and #Reviews (Gaughran, Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. I love to share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Amazon Decoded by David Gaughran

Blurb: Want to sell more books on the world’s biggest retailer? Fancy Amazon doing the selling for you instead? Amazon Decoded: A Marketing Guide to the Kindle Store will show you how.

•Learn what Visibility Marketing is and how understanding Amazon’s philosophy can boost your sales.
•Discover the algorithms that really go into Sales Rank and dispel some remarkably common myths.
•Decode the ways Amazon recommends millions of books to readers every single day.
•Implement proven marketing plans, optimized for maximum Amazon visibility.

Whether you are exclusive to Amazon and chasing those page reads, or a wide author trying to survive the onslaught of Kindle Unlimited titles, Amazon Decoded will share the secrets of the Kindle Store and how you can sell more books.

AMAZON BUY LINK

My Review: This book was an absolute eye-opener. I’m a complete newbie when it comes to advertising. Amazon is a maze to try to figure out on my own. Mr. Gaughran even made algorithms easy to understand. I loved the history of how it all got started. He made what could be a very dry book to read, interesting.

A Deadly Love by Jannine Gallant

Blurb: In the heart of the redwoods, a madman waits . . .

Recovering from a broken engagement, Brooke Wakefield escapes to her grandmother’s home deep in the redwood forest, determined to start over. Not an easy task when her teenage crush lives next door. The last thing she needs is another man to break her heart, but Dillon’s sexy smile still sends her heat level soaring.

Dillon Tremayne isn’t looking for a relationship. With a young son, an eccentric grandfather, and a logging company running him ragged, he can’t afford any romantic entanglements. Too bad Brooke’s humor and strength—not to mention her kisses—are so hard to resist.

When a woman from his past is brutally murdered and another disappears, Dillon is heartsick—and terrified the killer will target Brooke next. Can Brooke and Dillon find love in the heart of the forest? Or will a madman’s twisted fantasy destroy their chance at happiness?

AMAZON BUY LINK

My Review: A Deadly Love was so entertaining. Ms. Gallant’s blurb doesn’t do the book justice if you’re a lover of character driven novels. Let me tell you, the characters in this book take front and center stage. Brooke and Dillon come alive on the pages. But the secondary characters like the grandfather really round out this book. The suspense is intense. The story is well rounded. Another good story from Jannine Gallant.