Tag: Romantic Suspense

Review: Opposite Forces by Adrienne Giordano

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

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The Particulars: Romantic Suspense, Carina Press, available as e-book.

The Grade: C+

The Source: Purchased at Kobo
The Blurb:

Jackson Lynx always has a plan. He wouldn’t be Vice President at Taylor Security if he wasn’t steady, smart and reliable. But as capable as he is, he’s not perfect. Approaching the one-year anniversary of kicking his prescription-drug habit, the last thing Lynx needs is temptation. Celibacy is part of his recovery plan. But then Jillian Murdoch asks for his help…

Jillian loves her job–managing pharmaceutical distribution–and she’s suspicious when an unscheduled delivery shows up late on a Friday night. Then someone breaks into her home and, terrified, she asks Lynx to install a security system. Grateful for his help, she’s wary of her attraction to him… She recognizes the Serenity Prayer on his mirror and can’t get involved with an addict.

But when they uncover dangerous secrets they’ll have to trust one another. Their lives, and their hearts, depend on it.

The review:

The two Adrienne Giordano novels I have read so far, have been a hit and miss for me. I loved Relentless Pursuit, and struggled with Man Law, but when Carina Press offered this for 2.99 I decided to buy it. And even if not everything in the book worked for me, I am glad I did.

Lynx and Jillian were both down to earth persons. I liked that their journey from casual friends to something more showed both their internal struggle and why they struggled. I liked that Lynx was determinded to not fall of the wagon, even if he struggled every day with his addiction. Jillian on the other hand knew the dangers of living with an addicted person. I’ll admit that there were times when I wondered if they would end up together or not.

The suspense part was what kept me reading, long into the night. The stakes gradually increased, as they figured out what was going on. As they tried to figure out what happened, the bad guys became more and more desperate to stop them. One thing I liked, was that both Jillian and Lynx played an important part in discovering what was going on. Sometimes when I read Romantic Suspense, it feels like that the heroine’s sole purpose in the book is to be pretty. Not in this book. Jillian was stubborn, and refused to let the bad guys win. And I cheered her on for that decision.

The biggest problem I had with this book was that while I liked the characters, I didn’t feel any romantic spark between them. To be fair, this isn’t necessarily the book’s fault but something I often struggle with when it comes to Romantic Suspense.

Review: Man Law by Adrienne Giordano

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The Particulars: Romantic Suspense, Carina Press, available as e-book
The Source: Books on Board
The Grade: C-
The Blurb:
Security Consultant Vic Andrews lives by his Man Laws:

Never mess with your best friend’s sister
Never get caught
Never get attached
 But he can’t deny his irresistible attraction to Gina Delgado, a young widow with three kids and plenty of strings attached. Even so, having a physical relationship doesn’t mean they’re “in a relationship.”

Gina lost her husband to tragedy; she is not getting emotionally involved with another man in a dangerous profession. Sleeping with Vic is just stress relief.
Until one of Vic’s assignments goes wrong and the target selects Gina and her kids for revenge. There’s nothing Vic won’t do to protect Gina and the children–the family he realizes, too late, he wants. He’ll accomplish his mission but will he have lost his only chance at true love?

The Review:
Ever since I read and loved Relentless Pursuit last summer, I have wanted to read more books by Adrienne Giordano. I was in the mood for action packed romantic suspense, so I decided to buy this book.
The Chicago setting was believable, from the Taylor security offices, to the house were Gina lived. The other settings also felt believable.
The plot was fast paced, and filled with action. It was interesting to follow Vic as he worked through his worries and fear that Sirhan would find him. It was interesting following how Vic and his friends searched for Sirhan, and how they reacted to the threat.
In the middle of this, Vic and Gina also worked through their issues, and their friends opinions. Gina’s reluctance to start a relationship, especially with someone that was in the military consultant business, made sense to me. I enjoyed following the developement of Gina’s and Vic’s relationship, and how it gradually developed from a fling into a real relationship.
The biggest problem I had with this, was connecting with the characters. I cannot pin point why, exactly. Maybe it was because despite the threats, it never felt as if anything was at stake. Not really.

On my wishlist: Romantic Suspense

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

Shay Morgan has stayed hidden for a long time. Living a reclusive life in Earth’s End, Alaska, she’s as far away as she can get from the trauma of her childhood and the man who hurt her long ago. But terror takes over Shay’s life yet again when an unknown stalker steals away the fragile peace she’s built for herself—targeting not only her but the one man who’s ever managed to get past the walls she’s built around herself.
Elliot Winter has lived through being falsely accused before—it ruined his military career. Now it’s happening all over again. And this time, his accuser is a twisted impostor who’s targeting his ex-girlfriend, Shay. Despite a fierce mutual attraction, Shay and Elliot broke up because Shay couldn’t let her guard down, couldn’t let Elliot in. But now they both need to trust each other to confront a psycho who seems to know all their secrets.

 I love, love the cover for this one. Just love it.   And, Shiloh is giving away a signed copy here.

Review:Twisted by Laura Griffin

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The Particulars: Romantic Suspense, Pocket, available in print and as e-book.
The Source: Purchased at Kobo
The Grade: C
The Blurb:
ALLISON DOYLE’S NEW CASE WILL MAKE HER CAREER . . . IF SHE LIVES TO SOLVE IT.
Motive, opportunity, and no alibi—rookie detective Allison Doyle knows it’s as close to a slam dunk as most investigations get. But even though her small-town Texas police department has identified a prime suspect in a young woman’s vicious murder, she can’t rest easy. And when legendary FBI profiler Mark Wolfe shows up with a startling new theory, all her doubts are amplified. If Wolfe is correct, the real killer is an elusive psychopath who has left a trail of bodies behind him. And he’s just days away from his next kill. . . .
Allison was supposed to be Wolfe’s way into the case, nothing more. But she’s ambitious, stubborn, and far too tempting. With the help of her contacts at the Delphi Center crime lab, Wolfe is within striking distance of the monster he’s pursued for ten years. Except the closer Allison and Wolfe get, the more reason there is to fear. Because with a predator this brutal, every thread of evidence can make a difference between hunting a madman—and becoming hunted yourself.
The Review:
Laura Griffin has been on my to check out list for awhile, so when Kobo had its coupon bonaza, I purchased it.
I have mixed feelings about this book. In many ways, this book felt very realistic. I liked the hostility between the San Marco PD and Mark Wolfe, but I also liked that they came to a grudging truce, and cooperated. I also liked that Mark juggled a number of cases, which felt more realistic that the luxury to focus on one case.
When it came to the characters, I liked Allison’s indepence, and her determination. How she was determined to find the killer. I also liked Mark. He had spent 10 years as a profiler, and it had scarred him. Which made sense.

Unfortunately, this book has it’s weak spots. It is possible that some of them stems from the fact that it is book five in the series.
The biggest issue for me was the fact that I had trouble connecting with the characters. But it doesn’t end there. I never felt that they truly cooperated. Sometimes it felt like FBI and San Marcos PD were running parallel investigations, and consulting with each other regularly.
And then there were the Delphi Center. I can understand why someone decides to donate a hefty sum of money to a crime scene lab, but what baffled me was the lack of fees. It might be that it was mentioned in a earlier book, though.

Review: Copper Lake Secrets by Marilyn Pappano

On By MikaelaIn reviews

The Particulars: Romantic Suspense, Harlequin, available as e-book
The Source: Purchased at Allromance
The Grade: B-
The Blurb:
 “What happened that summer?”

The ill-fated vacation Reece Howard spent at her grandparents’ Georgia home long ago changed her in ways her mind still refuses to remember. She forgot about the man she once knew as “Jones,” but she can’t ignore the flashes of desire she now feels toward him. With her family estranged, she doesn’t have a good reason to return to Fair Winds. Until now.

Jones is looking for answers…answers he can find only at the plantation he left behind years before. By surprise, he discovers Reece there—all grown up and beautiful—never imagining he might be able to help chase away her demons. And neither of them expects an attraction as combustible as the secrets surrounding them.

But falling in love might be the most dangerous thing they can do…

The Review:
I love Marilyn Pappano’s Copper Lake books. I don’t rush out and buy the latest immediately, since I am not keeping track of her release schedule, but I buy them when I am in the mood for Romantic Suspense, set in the South. This book is no different. Or actually, it is. It has the additional element of a haunted plantation filled with secrets.Which is another thing that I love.
The atmosphere gave me goosebumps. Part of it was because it could be taken from a historical novel, set in the south. From the house, to Miss Willa’s manners. Just about everything.
It was nailbiting to follow Reece and Jones search for the truth of what happened that summer 15 years earlier. Their search shed new light on what happened all those years ago. From Reece arrival, to the foggy memories that she have dreamt nightmares about.
The characters felt like mirror images of each other. They were estranged from their families, both of them had lost something during their Summer in Copper Lake. It was touching to read about their unfolding romance. 
So what I didn’t like. If this had been release as a Paranormal Suspense, I would have given it an A. Since it is published as a Romantic Suspense, I cannot give it an A. Why? The romance between Reece and Jones are sweet and touching, but there is no obstacles for them to overcome in their relationship. Or if it is, it was swallowed by the Suspense part of the book.
Still, I enjoyed it and I plan to read more by Marilyn Pappano in the future.

Review: If you hear her by Shiloh Walker

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The Particulars:  Romantic Suspense, Ballantine, available in print and as e-book
The Source:  Purchased at Booksonboard
The Grade: A
The Blurb:
A CRY IN THE WOODS

The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration.

Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.


The Review:
If you hear her have been on my To Buy list since it was released, but for  a number of reasons I didn’t buy it until last week.  And I am glad I waited.  Oh, don’t get me wrong. I loved this book in so many ways but let’s start with the characters.  I loved the relationship between Ezra and Lena.  The attraction between Ezra and Lena is evident from the first time they meet.. I’ll admit that for  a couple of chapters I wondered if they would end up together or not, since Ezra resisted the urge to call Lena.   His reasons for not calling her made sense.   Believe me. Then there are Law, with all his secrets. Which gives him trouble.  And Hope.. My heart went out for her. She has been through so many things.  
I also liked that not all characters were pleasant.  Some were just annoying ( like a certain deputy.).  And the murderer? Burr.  Honestly.   I get goosebumps just thinking about him.
 
Then there are the suspense.  The suspense is there from page one.  And it just increased. There isn’t that many murders in the book, but  Ms. Walker uses a lot of small touches to ramp up the suspense.  And keep it there.  I liked how the murders affected the town.  The paranoia affect the whole city. The demands for an arrest. Kudos for the Sheriff department for not caving to the demands.    ( I could go on and on about it, but I wont, since that would stray into spoiler territory).

So.. What I didn’t like.  This book is the first book in a trilogy.  As in, the story arc spans over three books.  Which means that even if Ezra and Lena get their happy ending, the suspense part isn’t tied up.    No one in the book have an inkling who the killer is. Since book 2 is already out, and book 3 is coming soon this isn’t a big thing.  But if I had bought it in November? I would have been really mad at Shiloh Walker.

Recommended Series: The Ash Triology by Shiloh Walker

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 This is a new feature, and first up is Shiloh Walker’s chilling suspense series.

IF YOU HEAR HER:
Released in Oct -11

A CRY IN THE WOODS
The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration.
Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.

                                                                            

IF YOU SEE HER (Releases 01/31/2012)
A FACE IN THE MIRROR
Hope Carson may not look like a survivor, but she has escaped an abusive ex-husband and recovered from a vicious assault. Now she endures the painful memories and suspicious rumors surrounding her involvement in the attack. Her ex is a cop, so the last people she trusts are law enforcement officials—and she certainly doesn’t trust how the local DA makes her feel inside.
Remy Jennings should know better. He has no business falling for a woman who he suspects may have a deeply troubled mind. And even if he did make a move, she’d bolt like a frightened rabbit. But how can he deny a burning desire that threatens to consume him? As Hope’s past catches up with her in the worst way, Remy is determined to break through her defenses, earn her trust, and keep her safe in his arms—before it’s too late.

IF YOU KNOW HER
Releases 2/28/2012

A SHADOW IN THE WINDOW
Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. Come hell or high water, she intends to find her cousin’s killer. She returns to Ash, Kentucky, for answers. What she doesn’t expect is to ache with desire every time she sees Law Reilly. If any man can help her escape the nightmares for a while, it’s him. But can she allow herself to take comfort in those strong arms when a murderer still roams free?
Unknown to Nia, as she quietly slips into Law Reilly’s home, is that she’s being watched—by someone who is waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Timing is everything, though he can’t wait forever. If she’s not frightened, she soon will be. Nia has made a vow to find her cousin’s killer. She should be careful what she wishes for.

Excerpts from the books are available here