Close Up

Close Up (Burning Cove Series)- Amanda Quick
Berkley Publishing
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills. 
 
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
 
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

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While trying to make it as an art photographer, Vivian Brazier pays the bills with crime-and-fire shots she sells to local newspapers.  When her artistic eye sees details at the crime scene of a serial killer, she accidentally puts herself in his crosshairs.  Then Nick Sundridge, private investigator, shows up at her door to tell her she's being stalked by a killer and he's supposed to protect her.  It's enough to send  even as strong and pragmatic a woman as Vivian running for the hills- or at least Burning Cove.  In this little seaside town Nick and Vivian work together with mobster (and Bureau code breaker) Luther Pell to unravel the secrets behind the assassin for hire stalking Vivian- and must try to discover not only who is out to kill Vivian, but why?

 

Amanda Quick (Tightrope) returns to the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood in her fourth Burning Cove book. This time the town is a safe haven for PI Nick Sundridge and photographer Vivian Brazier,  as they try to prevent Vivian's murder.  Nick is extremely laid back, pragmatic, and a perfect example of still waters running deep.  He and his faithful dog Rex make a delightful team, and Rex quite stole the show for me (that happens a lot with me and dogs who are obviously written with love. Also dust bunnies).  Vivian is a wonderful heroine- a modern woman trying to make a living with her photography while working on her art.  She's willing to roll with the punches life throws at her, and her rather personal interest in discovering who would want to hire someone to kill her gives her the believable investment in the mystery that some authors miss with amateur sleuths.  

The mystery is like the relationship between Nick and Vivian: an instant flash followed by a slow burn that builds up a solid foundation and a very satisfying conclusion.  It's an Amanda Quick mystery, so readers familiar with her books will know to expect plenty of twists, turns, and a few red herrings- plus the solution that you never quite see coming but makes perfect sense and ties up those last pesky loose ends after the big reveal. Readers new to the Burning Cove series or Quick's other books will enjoy a delightful, fresh story, while long time readers will also enjoy cameos by Luther Pell, Raina Kirk, Oliver and Irene Ward (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) as well as Caleb Jones!  The psychic twist for the characters here is not as much a part of the plot as in Quick's Arcane series, so mystery readers who don't like too much paranormal with their suspense should still enjoy the story.  Arcane fans (like myself) may be a bit disappointed the psychical aspect isn't pushed more, but I'm personally holding out hope for more in future book- perhaps Caleb Jones' diary can now fall into the hands of the 1930s Jones & Jones agency?

A fun and fast read, with plenty of satisfying plot twists set to the backdrop of glittering nightclubs and art galleries.  Also, huge shout out to the designer of the amazing Art Deco cover!  I love it!

   

Strangers She Knows

Strangers She Knows (Cape Charade 3)- Christina Dodd
HQN Books
Release Date: September 17, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: I have three deadly problems:

1. I've seriously offended a maniacal killer.

2. I just had a bullet removed from my brain.

3. My new daughter is growing up too fast--and she's in the line of fire.

Living on an obscure, technology-free island off California means safety from the murderer who hunts Kellen Adams and her new family.... Or does it? Family time becomes terror-time, and at last, alone, Kellen faces a killer playing a cruel game. Only one can survive, and Kellen knows who must win...and who must die.

__________________________________________________________________

After years of fighting for it, Kellen Adams is finally starting to have the life and family she always wanted.  Her only problems now consist of recovering from brain surgery and her daughter Rae growing up too fast- while Kellen is only just getting used to even having a daughter! Then Kellen and husband Max learn that their old enemy, psychotic serial killer Mara Phillips, has escaped prison and is hunting them down.  The small family moves to a tiny, technology-free island off the coast of California for safety while the professionals track Mara down.  Family time has potential for bonding time, but also for danger when Mara and a typhoon visit the island.  Kellen knows it's up to her to face Mara- and only one of them can come out of this game alive.

Strangers She Knows concludes Christina Dodd's Cape Charade series (Dead Girl Running, What Doesn't Kill Her) in intense style. The trilogy has followed Kellen Adams: Army veteran, hotel manager, and a woman who has had more than her share of hardships, danger, and surprises in life, as she becomes part of a family with Max and Rae while still balancing danger and duty. The first part of Strangers focuses mostly on Kellen getting herself back together both physically and mentally, and the three of them creating memories and bonds that they missed out on as Rae was growing up without Kellen.  This includes some humorous father-daughter bonding over repairing (or trying to) a F-100 truck, discovering the story of the previous owners of the island, and wonderful reactions to dynamite in the fridge that are classic Kellen and Max. 

 Mara Phillips (Dead Girl Running) was supposed to be locked up forever, but in true criminal mastermind fashion, Mara escapes and comes after Kellen and anyone else she believes betrayed her.  When Dodd decides to go for a crazed and disturbing villain, she comes up with a villain who will chill your blood- and Mara is definitely her crowning achievement! The last hundred or so pages of Strangers, where Mara truly sets her plans into motion, is a non-stop terrifying roller coaster of action and emotion.  

New readers won't feel completely lost since enough background is provided to Kellen's former life and Mara to keep them going, but I think readers will certainly get the most out the characters and their growth by reading the trilogy in order. And I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers when I say I hope I'm not the only one who had the ending of Jaws in the back of their minds when reading the grand finale of Strangers. Followed closely by thinking: I never saw that coming and of course that's what would happen.   Readers of suspense thrillers by Jayne Ann Krentz and J.D. Robb, and Christina Dodd's earlier thrillers, will defiantly enjoy the adventures of Strangers She Knows!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Securing Piper

Securing Piper (SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series)- Susan Stoker
Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: August 20, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: What started as an adventure, soon became hell. Piper Johnson’s thrilled to spend time in Timor-Leste with her best friend, a Peace Corps volunteer…until civil unrest erupts throughout the countryside, including an attack at the orphanage the women were visiting. With the aid of a SEAL team sent to extract the government employee, Piper flees with the only other known survivors—three young orphan girls. Piper wasn’t able to save her friend, but she’ll be damned if she leaves the girls to the mercy of child traffickers in the country’s impoverished capital. However, taking them with her to the States requires something drastic, something crazy…something she can’t do alone.

What started as a mission, soon becomes fate. Since nearly dying on a previous op, Beckett “Ace” Morgan has no time for regrets. Life is far too short. So when he learns the brave, beautiful, selfless woman he’s rescued has a better chance of getting three orphans out of the country if she’s married, he doesn’t hesitate. Ace marries her then and there, instantly gaining the family he’s always wanted. With time, he knows his respect for Piper can grow into love, and meanwhile, he’s saved both her and their new daughters from a fast-spreading rebel incursion.Protecting his girls on foreign soil turns out to be the easy part of the team’s mission. Protecting them from a threat waiting at home may be the biggest fight of Ace’s life. 

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Piper joined her best friend Kaylee in Timor-Leste for what was supposed to be a nice vacation. Kaylee would show Piper the villages she worked at for Peace Corps, they'd catch up, and Piper would get a break from work.  What neither expected was for that to be when rebellion erupts across the country and the orphanage they were visiting gets attacked.  Kaylee hid Piper with three girls and went to find more. She never returned. Ace's SEAL team went into Timor-Leste to find Piper and Kaylee- and found Piper with three girls instead.  They may think they've seen some of the worst the world has to offer, but in the midst of darkness, these girls show them trust and love they didn't expect.  Ace marries Piper to help her adopt the girls and bring them to America, but danger isn't exclusive to foreign countries.

Securing Piper gives a modern (and lovely) twist to the marriage of convenience trope. In this case, it ensures Piper can adopt all three girls before leaving the country (some Tex computer magic may also have helped). Piper and Ace have seen the situation the girls will be in if they stay and that, plus the bond they've already developed with the girls, means neither of them are willing to leave them behind.  It's an eye opening situation, both for them and for the reader, and instead of yelling that they are crazy you're cheering it all along. 

Piper and Ace connect from the beginning- they are a relationship that highlight how well Stoker can make chemistry sizzle between two people without being near a bed. The connection between the team members is great, and despite not really being a fan of kids, I ended up enjoying how Rani, Sinta, and Kemala touch everyone on the team, not just Ace and Piper.  Stoker also does a fantastic job balancing suspense, menace, danger, and forgiveness when it comes to her bad guy.  Without giving it away, this is a book of love and forgiveness even when something seems unforgivable.  Which is a theme that may come back and haunt all of these characters in a future book. Instead of giving the reader hints for just the next book in the series, Stoker also sets up the last book in the series- and while there is no cliff-hanger to Piper and Ace's story, I for one found myself yelling at the end of the book: how can you make us wait a whole year until that story!! The answer of course, is that Stoker is a prolific enough writer that she's keeping busy with several other series for the reader to enjoy while waiting- and that she probably secretly enjoys a bit of maniacal laughter at stringing along the readers as much as she does her heroes.

Securing Piper keeps up the best of Susan Stoker (Securing Caite) traditions: jungle rescues, hot-yet- compassionate heroes, and relatable could-be-you heroines.  A must read for fans of Stoker and her series, or for those just discovering the author.

I received an ARC of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review

Tightrope

Tightrope- Amanda Quick
Berkley Publishing
Release Date: May 7, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn moved to Burning Cove to reinvent herself, but things are not going well. After spending her entire inheritance on a mansion with the intention of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast, she learns too late that the villa is said to be cursed. When the first guest, Dr. Norman Pickwell, is murdered by his robot invention during a sold-out demonstration, rumors circulate that the curse is real. 

In the chaotic aftermath of the spectacle, Amalie watches as a stranger from the audience disappears behind the curtain. When Matthias Jones reappears, he is slipping a gun into a concealed holster. It looks like the gossip that is swirling around him is true—Matthias evidently does have connections to the criminal underworld. 

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.

_________________________________________________________________

Tightrope is the third book in Amanda Quick's new 1930s historical series (The Other Lady Vanishes, The Girl Who Knew Too Much), set in the glamorous small town of Burning Cove. Like many of Burning Cove's residents, Amalie is trying to reinvent herself.  She survived attempted murder by a serial killer and is ready for the quiet life of an innkeeper.  All she has to work with is her aunt Hazel and the steely determination to make her new venture successful.  When possible mobster Matthias Jones shows up to investigate the murder of her first (and only) guest, Amalie sees nothing but trouble unless the case gets solved quickly, so she makes sure to be part of the investigation.  Matthias (long-time readers of Quick will cheer to see a return of the Jones family) may be trained as an engineer but his particular talent is in knowing the truth when he hears it- making him ideal in discovering the truth behind the murder.  Sadly, being a human lie detector can make romantic relationships awkward to say the least.  He's shocked when Amalie doesn't seem bothered by his talent, and knows he needs to see where the attraction between them can lead.

Matthias is a great addition to the Jones family tree, and Quick's heroes in general.  He's intelligent, cynical, conspiracy-minded, a great liar, and knows a good thing when he sees one.  I thought it was sweet that he also shows a bit more vulnerability than others, or maybe Amalie just sees that vulnerability more.  Amalie is a quietly strong and brave woman willing to start over as many times as she needs to and to fight for what is hers.  She and Matthias are a great fit, even if it takes them a little while to figure it out.  I also enjoyed seeing more of reputed mob boss Luther Pell in Tightrope. As a secondary character he's been growing throughout the series and gets to have some truly shining moments here- as well as turning some of the reader's preconceived ideas on their heads!

The plot is a complicated mix of spies, government secrets, revenge, and greed that Quick weaves together into a seamless and intricate whole with even more than her usual storytelling talent.  Snappy dialogue, sharp wits, and quirky characters may be Quick's stock in trade, but Tightrope felt to me like  Quick is becoming even more comfortable in her new era of 1930s golden-age glamor. Tightly written and delightfully complex, Tightrope will thrill Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz fans and the beautiful art deco cover will hopefully entice a new group of readers to the wonderful world of Burning Cove. 

What Doesn't Kill Her

What Doesn't Kill Her (Cape Charade Book 2)- Christina Dodd
HQN Books
Release Date: January 29, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Warning: Possible Spoilers Ahead!

Synopsis: Kellen Adams suffers from a yearlong gap in her memory. A bullet to the brain will cause that. But she's discovering the truth, and what she learns changes her life, her confidence, her very self. She finds herself in the wilderness, on the run, unprepared, her enemies unknown--and she is carrying a priceless burden she must protect at all costs. The consequences of failure would break her. And Kellen Adams does not break.

_____________________________________________________________________

When Captain Kellen Adams learned in the end of Dead Girl Running that she had a seven-year-old daughter she didn't know about, she knew that her life was going to change.  In the beginning of What Doesn't Kill Her , Kellen is trying to learn how to have a civilian life with a man she isn't sure still loves her, that man's mother (who really doesn't love her) and a daughter.  It isn't working well and Kellen is feeling lost. So when she gets offered a simple security job to help drive a potentially priceless artifact from the airport to a reclusive authenticator, she jumps on it.  Warning bells go off (and then explosions go off) and Kellen finds herself in the wilderness with an artifact, a stowaway daughter, and a bunch of bad guys trying to kill her.  While most people would call that impossible, to Kellen Adams "impossible" just means "harder to do".

Kellen is a great heroine.  She has overcome the trauma and torture of her past to become a fast-acting, fast-thinking Army veteran on par with J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas.  But, like Eve, while Kellen is confident the Army has trained her for handling life-and-death situations, she has no idea how to handle a seven-year-old daughter and all the complications that come with a new civilian family life. She doesn't instantly fall in love with daughter Rae and while Rae's father Max doesn't understand that, the reader certainly can.  Rae may be a happy and intelligent child, but insta-bonding with a strange kid is not realistic- in fiction or reality.  Having to keep Rae alive through a mountain journey teaches both mother and daughter important lessons, and the ties that develop during the trip make a much better foundation for a relationship than Max had hoped for.  As Kellen and Max begin to think that at least some of the trouble had less to do with a priceless artifact and more to do with someone wanting Kellen dead, the two of them do some much needed bonding of their own.  By the end of the book, I was convinced that the little family had a great start to a long and happy, trouble free life.  Except of course, Kellen never does anything the easy way. Be ready for a bit of a cliffhanger ending that Dodd will have to solve in the next book!

The double plot of people after the artifact and people after Kellen blended well- Dodd is a master of her craft and knows how to keep readers engaged with drama and suspense.  People who have read Dead Girl Running will be happy to see some cameos from those characters and be proud of Kellen as she continues to battle the past and the present.  People new to the series will get good backgrounds and explanations and not feel lost dropping in to the second book in a series.  And all of us will probably secretly (or not so secretly) wish we were bad-ass enough to take Kellen's life motto as our own:

What doesn't kill her . . . had better start running!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Untouchable

Untouchable (Cutter, Sutler & Salinas #3)- Jayne Ann Krentz
Berkley/Penguin Group
Release Date: January 8, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer's head has garnered him a reputation in some circles--and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace. 

But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family's hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas's foster sons, starting with Jack.

________________________________________________________________________

For the last few of Jayne Ann Krentz's books (When All The Girls Have Gone, Promise Not To Tell) readers have been following the foster sons of retired cop Anson Salinas as they struggle with traumatic childhoods and the ghosts of the past. All four men have been sure that one of those ghosts- murderer, con man, and pyromaniac Quinton Zane- is still alive.  In Untouchable Jack Lancaster finds himself on the front line in the battle against Zane, because Zane knows Jack may be the most dangerous of them all.

Jack is a delightfully tortured hero whose very strengths when it comes to working cold cases make for less than ideal relationship material for the average woman.  He worries that each case he solves is bringing him farther into a darkness that one day he may not be able to come out of with his sanity intact. Jack prides himself on being able to calculate the odds of anything, and never considering anything 100% until it has already happened.  Fortunately, Jack finds his way to the little town of Eclipse Bay and to Winter Meadows.  Winter is one of those very rare individuals who sees reality plainly, and still manages to put a positive spin on situations.  For all her positive thinking, Winter is not an annoyingly chipper or bubbly person, but a perfect match for Jack.  She has her own secrets but is now setting up in Eclipse Bay as a meditation instructor.  When Winter is attacked by a crazed stalker, Jack realizes that things are more than they seem, and the stalker is only a pawn being controlled by none other than Quinton Zane.

Untouchable is an exciting suspenseful thriller from start to finish, bringing Jack and Winter from tiny Eclipse Bay to trendy California to the mysterious San Juan islands as they chase leads.  Long-time Krentz/Amanda Quick readers will be happy to revisit Eclipse Bay and Burning Cove, and will cheer cameo appearances by Arizona Snow, Max Cutler, Cabot Sutter, and Anson Salinas.   As always, you can count on Jayne Ann Krentz to keep you glued to the page with her delightful blend of dry wit, crackling chemistry, and edgy suspense.  An excellent finale to this trilogy, new readers won't feel like they jumped into something halfway through the action and devoted readers won't be disappointed!   

  

Defending Chloe

Defending Chloe (Mountain Mercenaries 2)- Susan Stoker
Montlake Romance/Amazon Digital Services
Release Date- December 4, 2018

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Gorgeous women don’t just stumble onto Ronan Cross’s remote property. But this one—vulnerable, victimized, and needing the kind of help only Ronan can offer—tells a story that makes his blood boil almost as hot as his need to protect her.

Since her father’s death, Chloe Harris has become a prisoner. Her own brother, a flesh peddler and low-level player in the Denver Mafia, is forcing her to sell her body for an endgame Chloe never saw coming: control over a vast fortune. Her only way out is to run—straight into the arms of the one hard-bodied man she can trust.

Defending Chloe could rain punishment down on the Mountain Mercenaries. Her brother has Mob connections and the local police in his pocket. But Ronan still has an edge—the unshakable loyalty of his deadly teammates. As well as an unquenchable thirst for retribution…and Chloe.

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Readers can count on Susan Stoker (Claiming Felicity) to give us alpha heroes dedicated to protecting their team and the women they love, strong heroines overcoming incredible odds, and (usually) incredibly disturbing villains (I still regret reading some of the villain's scenes in Defending Allye at night just before turning out the lights).  Defending Chloe is no different.  Ronan "Ro" Cross is a British member of the Mountain Mercenaries with scars in his past that he hasn't shared with anyone.  Chloe not only brings out all his protective instincts, she gets him to share his burdens and see them in a new light.  He's the kind of guy you want at your side: good instincts, a man who treats women with respect, and doesn't play games- but is still fully capable of messing things up while thinking he's doing the "right thing".

Fortunately, even after everything Chloe's been through, she remains strong enough to handle Ro.  After years of abuse from her brother and his girlfriend she should be a broken, terrified, mess.  And she is smart enough to be terrified of her brother's Mafia bosses, and scared of her controlling, amoral brother.  But Chloe is also smart enough to know a good man when she sees one, and she trusts Ro and his friends to help her escape.  Both Chloe and Ro are endearing characters, well-written and three dimensional.  You're cheering for them from beginning to end.

Defending Chloe is a fast-paced thriller, full of edge of your seat action.  As with all of Stoker's books, it is part of a larger series (this is book two in the Mountain Mercenaries series) but it can be read as a stand alone book.  The rest of Ro's team and Allye do show up, but I don't see any new readers getting lost if they start with this book.  I find it fun to reader Stoker's series in order if possible because I find it makes the cameos of other characters more fun for me as a reader but long-time fans of Susan Stoker or those starting with this book will enjoy it and be waiting eagerly for the next one! 

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Ocean Light

Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity)- Nalini Singh 
Berkley/Penguin Group
Release Date: June 12, 2018

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead!

Synopsis: Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment--taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling...

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine...

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back--even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy...

__________________________________________________________________

The last time we saw Bowen Knight, human security chief of the Alliance, he was being shot by an assassin and falling into the waters of Venice, presumed dead (Silver Silence).  He was already on limited time thanks to a degrading experimental chip in his brain designed to create a shield against psychic manipulation. Thankfully for him (and readers!) his sister Lily calls in help from the mysterious changelings of BlackSea, who have a possible, highly experimental, solution to all of these problems. Two months after being shot and the events of Silver Silence (not necessary to read before this, but highly recommended because it is a fantastic book!) Bowen comes out of a coma in a BlackSea clinic and meets the station's chef, Kaia Luna.  Kaia and Bowen have plenty of suspicions to overcome, multiple traitors to uncover, and different worlds to reconcile before they can be together- if his brain doesn't kill him first.

Bowen and Kaia are an incredible couple.  He's scarred from a Psy attack when he was a teen and has dedicated his entire life to building the Alliance and protecting humans from the stronger Psy.  She's afraid of loving and losing those who matter most to her.  He is a deadly predator, a hunter determined to see the three races build bridges and live on some level of equality.  She is a graceful creature of the deep who cares for everyone within her sphere.  Two worlds meet and clash, and the sparks between them are both instant and amazing.  I especially loved Kaia- a strong and independent woman who is willing to overcome past trauma and crippling fears for a chance with the man she loves.  Bowen does a great job of figuring out how to blend their two worlds together, not allowing all the obstacles to keep them from the happiness they both deserve. Despite the almost certain death sentence he is under, he lives every moment to its fullest and never gives up. There are some fun cameos by characters from earlier books (especially Kaleb and Sahara!) but Ocean's Light, like the rest of Singh's Psy-Changeling series, can be read as a stand alone book.

Ocean's Light is the first time Nalini Singh really allows us into the mysterious world of BlackSea- the loose 'pack' of all the water changelings on the planet. Interestingly, she doesn't have one of the alpha, political, leaders being our introduction, but a more 'regular' person.  While readers (and Bowen) know Mal and Miane slightly from earlier books, Kaia is new and a more accessible person to show us the alien world of the water changelings as if it is normal.  Because to her, it is.  Singh remains very coy about who shifts into what and although we get some hints, it is clear we're going to have to wait for future books to confirm our guesses.  We don't even get solid confirmation of Kaia's animal until pretty far into the book- a nice piece of careful writing on Singh's part!    

An intense, thrilling, and emotional read, Ocean's Light is a brilliant, must-read, addition to the Psy-Changeling world and hopefully opens doors to exploring some new aspects of that world.  Wonderfully written, with excellent characters and chemistry, this is a book you won't be able to put down after starting- so make sure to clear your schedule for a few hours and enjoy! 

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Shadow Keeper

Shadow Keeper- Christine Feehan
Berkley/Penguin Group
Release Date: May 29, 2018

Rating:
📚📚📚

Synopsis: The paparazzi can't get enough of infamous bad boy Giovanni Ferraro. But unknown to them--and the women he beds--he's just playing a role. Keeping the spotlight on himself keeps it off the family business. And if this lethal shadow rider can't hunt in the dark, he'll find his pleasure elsewhere...

Sasha Provis grew up on a Wyoming ranch and thought she knew how to protect herself from predators. But in the nightclub where she works, she's fair game--until one of the owners steps in to protect her. Giovanni is gorgeous. He's dangerous. And his every touch takes her breath away.

The devil at her heels may have finally met its match...

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The third book in Feehan's Shadow Rider series, Shadow Keeper reminded me why I still read Christine Feehan's books.  As hard as many of them are to get through thanks to poor (or no) editing, sometimes the characters are still worth the read.  Giovanni and Sasha are great characters, with instant and believable chemistry between them that grabbed my interest from the beginning.

The Ferraro family seems to the outside world like a crime family of the rich and famous.  Men resent them, women try to catch them for the money.  Unsurprisingly, the Ferraros have grown more than a little jaded by the fortune hunters- and it becomes harder when they have to keep up the fast lane lifestyle to cover their true lives: Shadow riders who help mete out justice.  Giovanni has been sidelined from riding the shadows thanks to an injury and this is the first book in the series that doesn't actually focus on the shadow-rider aspect of their lives, but on the more human and personal aspects (and costs).  Sasha works at the nightclub the Ferraros own and believes Giovanni's playboy image.  When he comes to her rescue at the club, she has to reevaluate what she thinks she knows- about him and herself.  It was sweet to see Sasha, such an honest and straightforward person, in contrast to all the manipulative money hungry people around her.  She doesn't come across as overly naive and Feehan does a good job of letting Sasha stay true to herself, but also giving her enough backbone to stand up to anyone in the Ferraro family.  

Shadow Keeper was more enjoyable than many of Feehan's latest books.  It was better written and focused, so I didn't have to skim through pages of the same thing over and over again.  The mystery and threat of Sasha's stalker stayed front and center, and Feehan didn't let herself get too sidetracked.  While Shadow Rider, the first book in the series, is still my favorite, I enjoyed Keeper.  The importance of family and honesty is a dual theme woven throughout the book, and really speaks to the core of the entire series.  A good book for paranormal romance readers to add to their to-be-read pile.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

His Wicked Charm

His Wicked Charm (The Mad Morelands)- Candace Camp
HQN Books
Release Date: March 27, 2018

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Lilah Holcutt dislikes Constantine Moreland from the moment she meets him. He may be handsome, but he’s frivolous, rash, impulsive and, worst of all, a flirt. Now that Con’s twin brother has married Lilah’s best friend, she’s seeing way more of Con than she’d like. And when Con’s sisters are inexplicably kidnapped, Lilah’s own curiosity and stubbornness get the better of her, and she finds herself swept into Con’s investigation. 

Con knows that Lilah hates him—he just wishes she weren’t so devastatingly beautiful, that he weren’t so attracted to her. Especially since they’re working closely together to solve the kidnapping, an adventure that leads them to Lilah’s peculiar childhood home, Barrow House, which sits atop an ancient fen and features an eerie maze on its grounds.

The more Con and Lilah uncover, the more they’re convinced that the answers lie buried deep within Barrow House—answers to a mystery darker than either of them could ever have realized.

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You knew from the first time Lilah and Con met in His Sinful Touch that they were meant to be together.  They bickered nonstop and went out of their way to avoid being alone together.  But since Con's twin Alex has just married Lilah's best friend Sabrina, they are sure to be thrown together often.  Con is impulsive, flirtatious, and more than willing to embrace the hint of mystic that clings to most of his family- his one complaint being that their mysterious gifts seem to have passed over him!  Lilah, with her stiff attitude, adherence to society's rules, and seeming lack of humor, constantly rubs him the wrong way.  But when Lilah doesn't hesitate to jump into a search for Con's family when they are kidnapped, he begins to think there may be more to Lilah than meets the eye.  The reader sees Lilah's layers mostly at the same time that Con does, knowing that there is plenty beneath her proper surface and getting hints but waiting along with Con until she reveals them to us.  Lilah is a wonderfully multifaceted character who tries hard to be the prim model of society her aunt has raised her to be, but finds herself chafing at the restrictions placed on her.  

When she and Con go to her childhood home, Barrow House, and we meet her eccentric Aunt Vesta, things get really complicated.  The Moreland family kidnapping seems to have less to do with the Morelands than with Sabrina and Lilah and their families.  All of Camp's Mad Morelands series touch on the supernatural or paranormal, some more than others, and His Wicked Charm twines modern Victorian ideas with a heavy does of the appeal of the paranormal that was popular during Con and Lilah's parents and grandparents time.  Past and present are inseparable though, because the puzzle they are trying to solve may have its origins two generations ago, but is very much alive in the present.  

Like the rest of the Mad Morelands series, this book can be read as a stand alone, although there are enough references to events in His Sinful Touch that readers may want to start with that book first.  His Wicked Charm is a fast-paced, brilliantly written thriller from start to finish.  Con and Lilah have smoldering chemistry that, when they finally allow themselves to give in to it, becomes a beautiful and passionate relationship that was one of the best I've read in a long time.  A perfect blend of logic and mystic, normal and paranormal, Lilah and Con balance each other and turn into a perfect team.  The mystery's twist at the end was shocking- and completely perfect. His Wicked Charm may be my new favorite Candace Camp book!   

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 

Fast Burn

Fast Burn (Body Armor Series)- Lori Foster
HQN Books
Release Date: March 20, 2018

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead!

Synopsis:  The moment Brand Berry meets beautiful, driven Sahara Silver, the connection between them is electric. It’s also something he can’t pursue. Sahara wants him, sure—to join Body Armor, where his MMA skills, size and cocky attitude make him perfect for her elite crew of bodyguards. For Sahara, the agency always comes first, and Brand needs more. Yet when she’s kidnapped by men searching for her missing brother, he doesn’t hesitate.

Somewhere along the way, flirting with Brand for the sake of business turned very personal. Despite his refusal to join Body Armor, it’s Brand who steps up when Sahara needs him most. Now there’s no more time for games, and no point denying the hunger they both feel. They’ll escape together or not at all. But if they survive, can Sahara finally surrender control to claim this blazing passion?

__________________________________________________________

Sahara Silver has always been convinced that her brother Scott isn't dead- despite all evidence to the contrary.  She's sure she would feel it if he was gone and has always tried to look at inheriting his Body Armor agency as keeping it in trust until he comes back.  Of course, she doubts he'd agree with some of her decisions- like hiring sexy ex-MMA fighters as body guards.  One particularly sexy, not quite ex-fighter she hasn't succeeded in hiring is Brand Berry.  He's interested, and he likes her, but she hasn't managed to seal the deal.  When she gets kidnapped by men looking for her brother Sahara is thrilled to know someone besides her thinks Scott is still alive- but not so thrilled at the danger she's in now.  Brand and his friends come to the rescue, and now its up to all of them to keep Sahara safe and find out what is going on before it's too late!

Readers of the Body Armor series (Close Contact, Hard Justice, Under Pressure) have been waiting for Sahara and Brand's story for awhile now.  It's obvious where the sparks between the two should lead- but how to get them there?  Sahara is a tough woman who's used to always being in control, Brand's a confident man who uses control to win his fights.  Both have to learn how to give and take to make a relationship work.  I liked how well Foster balanced Sahara's being the boss of a male dominated agency with Brand's convincing her she didn't have to be the boss outside of work as well- and she was allowed to have more of a life than just work!  That she could be a strong woman but still compromise in her private life.  He made it clear to her that he stood behind her when it was work related, and he wouldn't try to take control from her.  It was hard for Sahara to find that balance, and I wish we'd seen a little more of the relationships in her past that made her the way she is now, but by the end we saw enough of her relationship with Scott to make her attitude pretty understandable.  But Foster continues to give us strong, likable female (and male) characters who learn to balance toughness with softer emotions like love and be better for it by the end of the book.

The mystery behind Scott's disappearance and Sahara's kidnapping gets interesting and twisted, and without giving anything away I wonder if we'll be seeing more of Ross- the ringleader behind the kidnapping.  Fast Burn is a fast-paced page turner full of Foster's usual blend of wonderful characters, witty dialogue, and intriguing suspense.  While readers new to the series won't feel lost starting with this book (each in the series is stand alone), long-time readers will be happy to see characters they already know pop up along the way.  

A great book to end the Body Armor series.  Can't wait to see what Lori Foster has in store for us next!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review