REVIEW: Danger in Plain Sight By Burt Weissbourd

  Title: Danger in Plain Sight (Callie James Thrillers #1)
  Author: Burt Weissbourd
  Publisher: Blue City Press
  Publication Date: September 2020
  Genre: Mystery / Thriller
  Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N | Audible

  Description: It took fourteen years to construct a safe world for her and her son--      and only one night for her ex to unravel it.

  Celebrated Seattle restaurateur Callie James is more than a little thrown when her ex-husband, French investigative reporter Daniel Odile-Grand, shows up after fourteen years asking for her help. Even more disturbing: as she throws him out, Daniel is deliberately hit by a car, hurled through the front window of her restaurant--broken, bloody and unconscious. He flees from the hospital and breaks into Callie's apartment, where he passes out. Reluctantly, Callie hides him. When she gets back to her restaurant, two assassins walk in, insisting that she find Daniel for them by tonight or pay the consequences.

Overwhelmed and hopelessly out of her depth, Callie hires the only man she knows who can help her: Cash Logan, her former bartender, a man she had arrested for smuggling ivory through her restaurant two years earlier, and who still hasn't forgiven her.

The assassins blow up her restaurant. It's Callie's nightmare. And the worst is yet to come as she and her unlikely, incompatible ally discover that the most perilous dangers are far closer to home than they'd imagined.

My Thoughts: The story started out really slow for me and there were a lot of characters to meet and get to know before anything of noteworthy importance happens. Callie James has rebuilt her life with her son after her marriage to a French philandering journalist ends with her pregnant and her husband not wanting anything to do with the child. Fast forward fourteen years and Callie has found success in Seattle with her restaurant and raising her son. Her life is moving forward as she wants it until the day her ex-husband comes into her restaurant asking for her help. She throws him out and after he is deliberately run down in front of her, Callie agrees to hide him. Getting to this point seemed to take a long time, but the story quickly takes off from here. She is confronted by some hired thugs looking for Daniel who threaten her and that’s just the beginning. Callie decides to seek the help of Cash, a former employee she turned in to the authorities for smuggling a few years prior. She knows he has connections and will know what to do.

I was really surprised Cash agreed to anything, especially helping Callie. He is pretty bitter and appears to carry a grudge. He demands an exorbitant amount of money and the deed to her restaurant in exchange for his help and, of course, Callie agrees. I really liked Cash and his associates, Doc and Andre. On the surface, they appear to be laid back without a care in the world but are really seasoned mercenaries who take their assignment of protecting Callie and her son seriously.

Things go from bad to worse when her restaurant gets blown up and it seems there is no where she can go and be safe. I understood why she was helping Daniel, but I really resented this character through most of the book. He cheats on her, flushes their marriage down the toilet and tells her she has no right to have a child he doesn’t want, but has the unmitigated gall to show up expecting her to help him because his latest investigative story has gotten the attention of some very bad people who are not going to sit back and allow themselves to be exposed by Daniel. Sucks to be you, Daniel. Luckily for him, Callie has a bigger heart and believes it’s important for her son to know his father.

My Final Verdict: I ended up enjoying this story, though the romance between Callie and Cash seemed ill-timed and out of place in this story. I feel that plot device would have better introduced in the second or third book. With their previous history, I had a hard time accepting their feelings were legitimate. I am curious to see where this series goes next and fans of the thriller genre will find this an enjoyable read.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Danger in Plain Sight from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Golden In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Golden in Death (In Death #50)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin Press
Publication Date: February 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive―and a terrifying weapon.

Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body―and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team―and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn’t been exposed―it’s time to look into Dr. Abner’s past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close―though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with either a madman―or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy all the various plots and investigations J.D. Robb creates for Eve Dallas and the Scooby gang. I find them all interesting and intriguing, but I have to say Golden in Death sets the bar really high for standing out in a crowd. Imagine living your life, doing your thing and the delivery of a seemingly innocuous package changes everything. Inside the package is a golden egg that, when opened, emits toxic fumes that kills everyone in close proximity. We’re not talking quick and painlessly either. These victims suffer…badly. I found that quite terrifying as we live in an age of just about everything you can think of can be delivered to your front door.

The first victim is a pediatrician who appears to have nothing in his past that would make him a target, but nevertheless, he is targeted and killed and it’s just the beginning for Eve and her crew as they piece together the evidence before the killer sends the next package.

Obviously, Eve will achieve victory, but I am still impressed after fifty installments in this series how she goes about investigating the clues. She’s smart, sharp and focused and she doesn’t stop. Where some details may get past others, Eve rarely, if ever, drops the ball. She is quick to realize how dangerous this case is for everyone and wastes no time ensuring those she cares for have their guard up. I love how far she has come from the Eve way back in the first book. She has learned to relationship, receiving and giving, and though most people usually baffle her or piss her off, it has been a great joy to see her growth. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to all readers as this series will appeal to fans of most genres. The plots are riveting, the characters are engaging, and each book just leaves me wanting more.

REVIEW: Milked by Lisa Doyle

  Title: Milked
  Author: Lisa Doyle
  Publisher: Simon & Fig
  Publication Date: November 2014
  Genre: Women’s Fiction
  Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

  Description: By and large, Amanda Keane makes pretty good decisions. Okay, she   might not have the best taste in men, but she’s got great friends, a good job, and an   independent spirit. That is, until her 30th birthday ushers in a whirlwind romance   with a sexy Irish musician who leaves her, not at the altar as she imagined, but   accidentally pregnant. And when he disappears, she’s downsized out of a job, her apartment is robbed, and lapsed health insurance coverage leaves her with a C-section to pay for, Amanda is launched headfirst into the life of a broke single mom. But her friend and uber successful ob-gyn, Joy, clues her in to an unlikely temp position with one of Chicago’s celebrity elite that just may be the answer to all her woes. Or could it be just the beginning?

It’s with serious trepidation that Amanda embarks on her surprisingly lucrative new career: underground wet nurse to the offspring of Chi-town’s rich and famous. Amanda must quickly understand how to live at the whims and mercy of the one percent as she deals with the irony of nursing – and loving – someone else’s child, while still making ends meet for her own daughter. And then there’s Cute Daycare Dad (aka Dan), who’s obviously interested in her. But can she afford to tell him what she really does for a living? Is her new job (something she thought went out with the 19th century) a shameful thing? Just another way of selling her body. Or does it have something to teach her after all?

A novel of motherhood, its many demands, and all the little triumphs along the way, MILKED is a warm and witty debut about making tough choices and traveling the roundabout road to happiness.

My Thoughts: This story isn’t like anything I have ever read and that’s probably why I found it so interesting and entertaining. This story is about a young woman who seems to have a good grasp on her life, good friends, good job but has never found the relationship and family she wants to settle down for. After a passionate fling with a hot, Irish musician, she finds herself pregnant and alone. Then to add insult to injury, she loses her job, her apartment is burglarized, and she is quickly running out of money. Just when things appear to be at their worst, her friend tells her about an opportunity for some temp work as a nanny with an elite Chicago family. A nanny with a special skill set that Amanda happens to have being a new mother herself. This family needs a wet nurse and Amanda is more than qualified as she has weaned her daughter, but her milk supply has not diminished. At first, I was shocked by the notion that this is something she would consider. I must be honest and say it took me several beats to wrap my mind around the idea of a stranger breast-feeding your child. Ironically, a lot of people would find it off-putting, so much so, that Amanda is expected to sign non-disclosure agreements to protect the privacy of the family she works for. What made this story interesting for me is how adept Amanda is and how much she enjoys the job.

I really liked Amanda and her determination to make a home for herself and her daughter, though I was glad when she finally relents and gets help tracking down the father so he can provide financial support. That was the only thing I did not like about this book was how long it took Amanda to go after him. She should have done it months earlier, but when she finally did, things went smoothly, and she is successful. I didn’t care for the families Amanda works for. I thought they treated Amanda poorly and though she only works for two families in this story, that was more than enough. What starts out as a way to put food on the table and keep a roof over her head inspires Amanda to become a lactation consultant, helping families who are struggling with breast-feeding and the anxiety that often compounds the problem.

Amanda’s love interest is Dan, a single father she meets at the day care center she takes her daughter to. They have an instant connection and I liked him, but he doesn’t know what Amanda’s nanny gig really entails and it would be an understatement to say it doesn’t go well when he finds out.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very entertaining story with characters I found easy to relate to and like. The story moved at a very enjoyable pace and though the idea of a wet nurse might be odd for some people, I applaud the author for tackling this subject and making it thought-provoking. I recommend this book to fans of women fiction who are looking for something a little different without taking too far a detour to the happy ending.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Milked from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Ghost and the Femme Fatale by Alice Kimberly

Title: The Ghost and the Femme Fatale (Haunted Bookshop Mystery #4) Author: Alice Kimberly
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: May 2008
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A film festival gone noir gives bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her ghostly companion a big screen caper to solve in this Haunted Bookshop mystery from Cleo Coyle, writing as Alice Kimberly.

The Movie Town Theater is holding its first ever Film Noir Festival, with Pen handling book sales for the guest speakers, including screen actress Hedda Geist. The legendary femme fatale has been out of the spotlight for decades. Unfortunately, the moment she steps back into it, she's nearly killed. Then other guests start to die, and Penelope wants to know why her little town's Film Noir weekend has taken a truly dark turn.

With local police on the wrong track, Penelope enlists the help of Jack Shepard, P.I. Okay, so Jack hasn't had a heartbeat since 1949, when he was gunned down in what is now Pen's store. But the hard-boiled ghost actually remembers Hedda's dark past and Penelope's sure he can help solve this case--even if he and his license did expire more than fifty years ago...

My Thoughts: This is such a cute series. Full of fluff and whimsy with a dash of humor and mild suspense. I enjoyed this offering that brings a film noir festival to town and a killer along with it. Jack is a hoot and I love his 1940’s vernacular, which would probably be inappropriate today, but hearing him refer to women as dames doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t seem to bother Penelope. My only real issue with this series is that Penelope can only see Jack when he takes her into his world while she is sleeping. In her world, she can only hear him. Otherwise, I like their chemistry and interactions. The supporting characters are interesting too.

The plot moves at a good pace and easy to follow. I recommend this series to readers who are looking for a break in between the more gritty and intense mysteries and thrillers they usually are drawn to. I wouldn’t classify this as a romance at all, but fans of paranormal romances may enjoy this for the flirtatious interactions between Jack and Penelope.

REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O'Leary

Title: The Switch

Author: Beth O’Leary
Publisher: Quercus
Publication Date: April 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena's tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it's time they swapped places...

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

Once Leena learns of Eileen's romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbors and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flat mates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn't as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbors, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?

My Thoughts: A charming story about a young woman and her grandmother and their plan to switch places for two months. Leena is on a forced leave of absence after bombing a major presentation at work. Leena’s grandmother, Eileen, is nearly 80, single and ready to mingle. Both feel a change of scenery would do them the world of good. Leena needs peace and tranquility and Eileen is looking to meet eligible men in the big city. Leena is also carrying a lot of resentment towards her mother over the death of her sister and Eileen is convinced that time together will help her daughter and granddaughter resolve those issues. Leena and Eileen both must navigate new surroundings to find their place and purpose.

This story was easy to follow, and I liked Leena and Eileen a great deal. Leena takes after her grandmother in many ways and I enjoyed their interactions. They adjust very well to their respective situations and appear to thrive in their new surroundings. The supporting characters gives the story more depth and a sense of camaraderie and family.

My Final Verdict: A book about grabbing life by the tail and hanging on, relationships, forgiveness and second chances will interest readers of several genres.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Switch from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Accidental Tryst by Natasha Boyd

Title: Accidental Tryst (Charleston #1)

Author: Natasha Boyd
Publisher: Natasha Boyd LLC
Publication Date: March 2018
Genre: Chick-Lit / Romantic Comedy
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Meet Trystan Montgomery. Suit monkey, commitment-phobic serial dater. No more than three dates, unless he hasn't ... you know.

Emmy:
What a disaster! I only just made my flight to New York to help my uncle, and the phone I’m holding is not mine! It seems to belong to some commitment-phobic serial dater who’s never made it past four dates (according to the constant notifications he's getting from his fake dating profile...) And worse? I have a sinking feeling it’s that hot suit-monkey with the arctic grey eyes I just had a run-in with at the airport. Somehow, I have to persuade him not to get a new phone until I get back. My whole life is on that phone. It’s only a few days. Surely, we can handle it.

Trystan:
This is a joke, right? My life could not get more f*cked up. I’m in the middle of selling my company and on my way to a funeral and that hot mess hippie-chick stole my freaking phone. I’m not sure how she convinced me not to immediately walk into a smart phone store and get a new one, but now she’s going to have to play stand in and distract me while I deal with my long-avoided and estranged family. I don’t have my dating apps after all, and frankly she’s pretty funny. And sexy. And why can’t I stop texting her? And now we’re talking. And … look, I’ll admit that I usually run for the hills the morning after, but the morning after phone sex? That’s not really real, right?

My Thoughts: Equal parts cute and hilarious, new to me author Natasha Boyd delivers a keeper-shelf book that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy an entertaining story with relatable characters and hilarious situations. I thought Emmy and Trystan were amazing characters and their chemistry really sizzles, but funnily enough they don’t actually meet in person until the story is nearly over.

Thanks to the amazing technology of cell phones, Emmy and Trystan find themselves with each other’s cell phone and over 500 miles separating them. After a run-in at the airport, Emmy picks up Trystan’s phone by accident before boarding a flight to New York and now they have to share emails and text messages with one another to ensure they can each take care of what they need to do. The intimacy they create with one another through emails, texts and phone calls was really endearing for me and so fun to see, I honestly could not wait until they met in person.

My Final Verdict: As this is the first book in a series, I am hopeful that this won’t be the last we see of Emmy and Trystan.

REVIEW: The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

Title: The Misadventures of a Playground Mother (A School Gates Comedy, #2)
Author: Christie Barlow
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon  | BN | Audible

Description: New term. New dramas. New friendships. And that’s just the parents…

After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia.

Or… so she thought.

When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer.

As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…

My Thoughts: When I started this book, I had no idea it was the second book in a series. When I began reading, there was a slight struggle as the “getting to know you” bit the reader gets with meeting the characters already happened in the first book. Having said that, the author does an excellent job of bringing the reader up to speed so I didn’t feel I missed out on too much. This story picks up not long after the first book and centers on Rachel Young who has adjusted fairly well to her surroundings and found her place amongst all of the other school mothers.

I have to say that I’m not surprised that Rachel tries so hard to extricate herself from all things Penelope. I absolutely could not stand the woman and was surprised that Rachel spoke to her, much less interact with her on any level. The author does a fantastic job of giving the reader a good sense of Rachel’s irritation and frustration with Penelope throughout the story and there were some moments that made me roll with laughter. I love it when the villain gets their comeuppance.

I enjoyed the side relationships with the other couples and though I didn’t care for him at first, Penelope’s ex, Rupert turned out to be pretty decent. The story moved at a decent pace and once I got through the initial confusion was very easy to follow and stay entertained.

My Final Verdict: I really like this author’s voice. She has a wonderful ability of creating characters that are easy to like as well as dislike and stories that draw the reader in so completely, the reader can easily lose themselves between the pages for several hours. I recommend this story to fans of the chick-lit genre as well as readers who enjoy reading about the underdog beating adversity and coming out on top.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Misadventures of a Playground Mother from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Vendetta In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Vendetta in Death (In Death #49)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: September 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The predator becomes the prey in the newest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas.

She calls herself Lady Justice. And once she has chosen a man as her target, she turns herself into a tall blonde or a curvaceous redhead, makes herself as alluring and seductive as possible to them. Once they are in her grasp, they are powerless.

The first victim is wealthy businessman Nigel McEnroy. His company’s human resources department has already paid out settlements to a couple of his young victims—but they don’t know that his crimes go far beyond workplace harassment. Lady Justice knows. And in one shocking night of brutality, she makes him pay a much steeper price.

Now Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, are combing through the evidence of McEnroy’s secret life. His compulsive need to record his misdeeds provides them with a wide range of suspects, but the true identity of Lady Justice remains elusive. It’s a challenging case, made even more difficult by McEnroy’s widow, who reacts to the investigation with fury, denial, and threats. Meanwhile, Lady Justice’s criminal crusade is escalating rapidly, and if Eve can’t stop this vigilante, there’s no telling how much blood may be spilled…

My Thoughts: Rewind, repeat…here I go again. It gets more difficult with each installment of this series to come up with something new to say. Perhaps if I ever get to the point where I did not like the story (yeah, right), that will be the day, so until then, let me get my fan-girl pom-poms out and Rah Rah Rah this book. It took me 15 days to listen to the audio and honestly that seems to be a long time for a book I so thoroughly enjoyed, but I really savor these and highly recommend the audio format with Susan Ericksen as the narrator. Susan Ericksen IS EVE DALLAS! J.D. Robb knocks it out of the ballpark with the intriguing story lines and the development of the characters over 49 installments and counting (WOW!), but Susan Ericksen breathes life and personality into these characters through her amazing narration. She isn’t just reading the book; she’s performing the book. I feel like I’m in the car alongside Eve and Peabody.

It’s not difficult to figure out who the killer is in this story and though Eve does her job so well, I found myself agreeing with the killer’s philosophy throughout the book, though vigilantism is never a good option. I found myself feeling some empathy for her. I know…empathy for the killer? Whoa…I don’t condone it, but I definitely understood it and even better, so does Eve. It’s truly understandable to Eve and had Eve taken a different path in life, she could have become as insane and over the top as Lady Justice. This installment delivers great action and dialogue and there never seems to be enough interaction with all of the characters, but I can suck it up and deal.

My Final Verdict: So, once again, I highly recommend this series to fans of stories featuring very strong and thoroughly developed characters, interesting and exciting plots, and dialogue that is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and hilarious. But to get the full effect of Roarke’s Irish brogue, get the audio format and make sure the talented Susan Ericksen is the narrator. You won’t be disappointed.

REVIEW: Searching for Steven by Jessica Redland

Title: Searching for Steven (Whitsborough Bay, #1)
Author: Jessica Redland
Publisher: So Vain Books
Publication Date: June, 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit, Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When Sarah Peterson accepts her Auntie Kay’s unexpected offer to take over her florist’s shop, she’s prepared for a change of job, home and lifestyle. What she isn’t prepared for is the discovery of a scarily accurate clairvoyant reading that’s been missing for twelve years. All her predictions have come true, except one: she’s about to meet the man of her dreams. Oh, and his name is Steven.

Suddenly Stevens are everywhere. Could it be the window cleaner, the rep, the manager of the coffee shop, or any of the men she’s met online?

On top of that, she finds herself quite attracted to a handsome web designer, but his name isn't even Steven...

During this unusual search, will Sarah find her destiny?

My Thoughts: Searching for Steven by new to me author Jessica Redland is the first book in a series that all take place in the fictional town of Whitsborough Bay. I really liked this story and the author does a wonderful job of breathing life into not only the characters, but the town itself. A place a person can really feel at home at, whether they are just visiting or make Whitsborough Bay their home. Sarah Peterson grew up here and when she left to go to university, she didn’t look back. Sometimes life has a way of making you go home. After her long-term relationship ends (much later than it should have), Sarah receives an offer from her Aunt to take over her flower shop and make it her own. Seems old Auntie Kay has some oats of her own she is ready to sow and is embarking on her own adventure.

Sarah doesn’t hesitate too long before taking Auntie Kay up on her offer and chucks the loser boyfriend and the crap job into the bin and starts packing. Sarah and her two best friends find a tape of a reading she had twelve years ago. Everything on the tape has come true except for the bit that she will be meeting the man of dreams…and his name is Steven. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? I could not wait for Sarah to hustle her bustle and get up North to start this thrilling next chapter. When Sarah gets there, she discovers there are Stevens everywhere! And to complicate matters, she feels a strong attraction and connection to a man whose name is NOT Steven.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story as Sarah navigates all the changes in her life, which she does quite well, actually. I admired the speed at which she adapts to moving home and starting her own business, turning it into something just as special as Aunt Kay’s was. I loved getting to know all the characters in the story and I am sure they will be making reappearances in later books. Sarah’s search for Steven was hilarious, both online and offline. She feels she has to make an effort to find Steven though she is really attracted to Nick and to make things more complicated, the man she loved during university shows up again, apparently determined to give their relationship another go.

The story moves at a great pace and I was thoroughly entertained, while anticipating what would happen next. The characters were easy to relate to and I was wishing Nick’s name was Steven because I thought he was super awesome.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who love a sweet story about grabbing the brass ring and taking a chance at finding your destiny. Fans of the chick-lit and women’s fiction genres should put this entire series on the top of their to be read pile.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Searching for Steven from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: #PleaseRetweet by Emily Benet

Title: #PleaseRetweet
Author: Emily Benet
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: August 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction / Chick-Lit
Buy the Book: Amazon

Description: How to mess up your life in 140 characters…

Social media whizz kid, May Sparks has landed her dream job. Well, not quite, but the salary is great and all May has to do is handle the online profiles of C – list celebrities who have the tendency to say inappropriate things. Easy, right? #wrong

May’s clients include an ex big brother star (who she's definitely not going to sleep with #neversaynever), a disgraced TV presenter (who wants May to sort out his marriage as well as his Twitter account), and a woman who once flashed her boobs on X-factor. They're all relying on her to turn them into stars. But they're not going to make her job easy.

As May is sucked further and further into her job she begins to lose her grip on real life. Her friends don’t ‘like’ her Facebook posts anymore and even her gorgeous neighbor, who once seemed to be on the same wavelength, criticizes her career choice. Worse, May’s clients start getting trolled by an annoying tweep, who May happens to agree with.

Then May’s secret online identity is leaked, causing her to start trending on Twitter. It looks like the status update is over. Unless May can leave the superficial social media word behind and find her own voice again…

My Thoughts: In a world where so much of the thoughts and actions of the human race are driven by social media, this book could be a biography instead of a work of fiction. May Sparks is your typical social media aficionado. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram…she knows them all and uses them effectively to document her life, as most people who live in this digital society knows all too well. May accepts what she thinks is her dream job, managing the online profiles of celebrities who don’t play so nice online, without anyone finding out.

I honestly didn’t understand the need for secrecy as I have long known that celebrities hire PR people to manage their online accounts not because they can’t but because they don’t have time. Isn’t that what PR are paid to do? Apparently in May’s world, nobody can find out, so of course, the reader already figures everyone will eventually find out. May’s clients aren’t people of integrity in the first place so trying to present them in a positive light online is going to be downright impossible to me.

This book swings between just OK and a good read for me. I liked May and though I thought her job was interesting, I got frustrated quickly at how she allows people to walk all over her, her clients, her boss, her client’s managers, friends, the list goes on and on. What I found annoying is that they are paying May’s company to provide them with an online presence they can’t pull off themselves because they lack human skills like kindness, honesty, restraint and manners but yet they are demanding of May, calling her round the clock, treating her like she’s their personal servant or at their beck and call. Her boss is a sycophantic dweeb, more interested in May taking on yet another client instead of looking out for his employee and having her back. Her friends resent the amount of time May spends on her tablet and phone (HELLO, IT’S HER JOB!) and even go so far as snub her by excluding her from her friend’s housewarming party. Her roommate and neighbors criticize her for the work she does, that she lacks integrity or values, somehow. Her family doesn’t really know the full extent of May’s job, so aren’t critical or negative, but when things get rough for May, she finds it hard to talk to them about what’s really going on.

I started enjoying the story more when things began getting worse for May. I was interested at how things would turn out for her and the path she would choose. I didn’t really understand what the big deal was when her identity was leaked, why people were so upset. For the most part, I thought these people really needed to get over themselves and get a life.

My Final Verdict: The story started out as just OK but became a good read. I liked May and was pleased with how everything turned out. Readers who enjoy stories featuring strong protagonists throughout the entire story and not just in the last few chapters may find themselves frustrated with May. Readers who enjoy stories where the underdog comes out on top will be happy with May’s choices and will be rooting for her as she crosses the finish line.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of #PleaseRetweet from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Picnics In Hyde Park by Nikki Moore

Title: Picnics in Hyde Park (#Love London #6)
Author: Nikki Moore
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Publication Date: August 2015
Genre: Chick Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: The last story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore! The perfect novel for reading in the sunshine… and falling in love with London.

A summer to remember or forget?

When Zoe Harper returns to the UK after five long years in New York, the last thing she expects is to find her younger sister Melody jobless, homeless, broke and dumped. Unfortunately, life has a way of delivering the unexpected. She should know that, given her ex-fiancé Greg’s faithless behavior.

Filled with rage and determined to get revenge on the infamous Reilly brothers for her sister’s heartbreak, as well as get some answers, Zoe hatches plan Nannygate. Unfortunately that means moving in with the gorgeous but uncaring music producer Matt Reilly to be nanny to his two adorable, complicated children. But something isn’t adding up, and over the course of the hot London summer, she starts to think that perhaps Matt isn’t so bad after all.

Let down by his last nanny and weighed down with guilt about his wife’s death three years before, wealthy but camera-shy Matt has spent a long time pushing people away, including his own kids. His stunning new nanny challenges him every single day in completely different ways, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing?

But what happens when you open your heart, and someone isn’t who you thought they were? And can it really be true love when it’s on the rebound, and starts off with a plan for revenge?

My Thoughts: I eventually liked this story but I had some problems with it in the beginning. I had a hard time with the fact Matt chucks Melody out of the house and her job without giving her a chance to explain. As her employer, I thought he handled it very poorly and thought he had some major character flaws and this was a big one. I also had a problem with Zoe’s motivations in going to Matt’s house to confront him. I personally felt it was impulsive and rash and not her place. When she is mistaken for an applicant for the nanny position and doesn’t set the record straight bothered me. Zoe is coming out of a very bad relationship and I suspected she was using her pain and outrage at the cheating fiancé to get revenge on Matt. When the plan of revenge was revealed, this book nearly became a wall-banger.

I had a hard time seeing these two flawed characters with major trust issues between them ever manage to become intimate, much less build anything solid together. As I read and got to know Zoe and Matt better, I began to warm up to them and empathize with them. Zoe brings a breath of fresh air into Matt’s world, though he really isn’t prepared for it or wants it. She gets him to see that he has withdrawn into himself since his wife’s death and that his children are suffering for it. Through Zoe’s efforts, Matt’s relationship with his children changes drastically for the better and that was wonderful to see. His relationship with his wife’s mother also improves.

In spite of her deceit in obtaining the job and continuing in the job, I admired that Zoe was committed to the welfare of the children and was really good with them. They bonded quickly and Zoe was able to draw them out of their shells too. It still bothered me that Matt never gave Melody a reason for her abrupt dismissal and acted without investigating what he had been told. It also bothered me how long Zoe waited to tell Matt the truth, the whole truth and I was frustrated at the consequences of her actions. All ends well, though the finale felt rushed and there is no closure between Melody and Matt. Perhaps this will be addressed in another book in this series.

My Final Verdict: Fans of chick-lit stories about forgiveness and second chances will enjoy this story. If deception, misunderstandings and miscommunication in the plot is frustrating to them, they may want to take a pass.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Picnics in Hyde Park from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Other Harlow Girl by Lynn Messina

Title: The Other Harlow Girl (Love Takes Root #2)
Author: Lynn Messina
Publisher: Potatoworks Press
Publication Date: September 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A woman in the British Horticultural Society! The very idea horrifies everyone, including ardent horticulturalist Lavinia Harlow, whose own name has been put forth for membership by the provoking Marquess of Huntly. He does it as a joke, of course, to get back at her for an imagined slight—well, to be fair, she had insulted his writing—and Vinnie, older sister to the infamous Harlow Hoyden, is far too sensible to rise to his ridiculous challenge.

Determined to head off further scandal (her name has already been recorded in the betting book at Brooks's!), Vinnie dashes off a polite note refusing the honor—which she has every intention of sending. Really. Only she can't help but chafe at the way everyone keeps demanding that she decline at once, even the Marquess. Oh, especially the Marquess, whose perfection she finds intolerable. Who ever heard of a gentleman being so handsome and so intelligent and so well informed about foreign flora? Clearly, the man needs to be taken down a peg, and somehow, despite all twenty-four years of faultless propriety, Vinnie is just the hoyden to do it.

My Thoughts: I found this story to be as delightful and charming as the first book in this series. This story centers on Lavinia “Vinnie” Harlow, the sister of the Harlow Hoyden, who has been in mourning since the demise of her despicable fiancé in the first book. Her adventures with the exceedingly attractive Marquess of Huntly, exploding hoses, drainage systems and whether or not she should accept the nomination of membership into the British Horticultural Society (she really wants to, though everyone is telling her to decline) will give the reader several hours of entertainment.

Though it had been several years since I last visited with the Harlow sisters and the Duke of Trent, I was able to fall right back in to their lives as if it were only yesterday. The author does a brilliant job of drawing the reader into the story and the lives of the characters so seamlessly that it felt like I was sitting in the drawing room with them.

I loved Vinnie and the Marquess. Their chemistry is amazing and though society demands certain protocols for the women of the ton to observe when in mourning, I personally couldn’t wait until Vinnie could shed the black and be herself once more. The scene at the dowager’s ball when Vinnie and the Marquess dance was wonderful and though Vinnie’s anxiety about the other attendees and their judgments gave her pause, I was happy to see that she took a page out of her sister’s book and did it anyway.

My Final Verdict: The story flowed very smoothly and I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this book. I look forward to what the Harlow sisters get into next. London society will never be the same now that the Harlow sisters are there, and London is all the better for it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Other Harlow Girl from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Single Mums' Mansion by Janet Hoggarth

Title: The Single Mums’ Mansion (Single Mums Mansion #1)

Author: Janet Hoggarth
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When your husband moves out, move your best friends in...

Amanda Wilkie unexpectedly finds herself alone with her three children in a rambling Victorian house in London. Her husband leaves them, claiming he's just 'lost the love', like one might carelessly lose a glove.

A few months later, Amanda's heavily pregnant friend, Ali, crashes into her kitchen announcing her husband is also leaving. So, after Ali's baby Grace is born, they both move into Amanda's attic. And when Jacqui, a long-lost friend and fellow single mum, starts dropping by daily, the household is complete.

Getting divorced is no walk in the park, but the three friends refuse to be defined by it. And, as they slowly emerge out of the wreckage like a trio of sequin-clad Gloria Gaynors singing 'I Will Survive', they realize that anything is possible. Even loving again... Based on Janet's true story, The Single Mums' Mansion is a laugh-out-loud tour de force which will make you laugh, cry and treasure your best friends even more than before.

My Thoughts: The first in a series by new to me author Janet Hoggarth about the power of friendship and laughter to get you through the pain of divorce and healing your life to build again. The story started out very slow for me and dragged in several places, but I am glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a good read. I liked the characters and found them easy to relate to and cheer for.

Readers who enjoy stories featuring characters rising above the ashes of the chaos, pain and destruction in their lives and being empowered to move forward stronger than before will enjoy this offering.

REVIEW: Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver by Nic Tatano

Title: Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver (Jillian Spectre #2)
Author: Nic Tatano
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: There’s a new villain in town…

One who can manipulate dreams and reality to the point that people can’t tell the difference.

This is a job for Jillian Spectre.

The snarky eighteen year old redhead with paranormal powers has already saved the world once but now she’s under attack by a force that might be above her pay grade.

The Dream Weaver.

When Jillian’s own dreams are invaded she finds herself desperately trying to separate reality from fantasy – and struggle with a totally inappropriate crush on someone who isn’t her mind reading boyfriend, Ryan.

When her own soul is on the line as the Dream Weaver manipulates her, Jillian has one shot to save herself and the rest of the world… or she and the rest of the world could be trapped in their dreams forever.

My Thoughts: It was great to meet up with Jillian Spectre and her friends again. A lot has changed for them since they defeated Jillian’s evil father. He now lies comatose in a vegetative state, high school is a memory, Jillian is now a college freshman and she and Ryan are dating. The future is bright and exciting for Jillian, Roxanne, Ryan and Jake or it would be if they didn’t have to take on a siren and possibly a dream weaver with nefarious plans to continue her father’s work and destroy the world. As in the first book, I really enjoyed how these four young people come together as a team, using their powers to make them stronger as they fight the evil surrounding them.

I really enjoy this author’s voice. He does an amazing job breathing life into these characters, making them easy to relate to and very likable. It’s very easy for the reader to connect with these characters and care about them. He blends the tension of the story-line with equal and appropriate amounts of humor and romance that propels the story forward at a pace that keeps the reader engaged and interested. There were major plot twists with the villains that I was not expecting but really enjoyed.

My Final Verdict: I really hope this series doesn’t end here as I would love to know what Jillian experiences next, as well as what’s in store for Jillian’s mom and Fuzzball. I’m also curious as to what will become of Jillian’s father, as I really don’t think we have seen or heard the last of him. I hope there may be more in store for us.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Title: Waiting for Tom Hanks (Waiting for Tom Hanks #1)
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 2019
Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Can a romcom-obsessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching Sleepless in Seattle, and waiting for her movie-perfect meet-cute. If she could just find her own Tom Hanks—a man who’s sweet, sensitive, and possibly owns a houseboat—her problems would disappear, and her life would be perfect. But Tom Hanks is nowhere in sight.

When a movie starts filming in her neighborhood and Annie gets a job on set, it seems like a sign. Then Annie meets the lead actor, Drew Danforth, a cocky prankster who couldn’t be less like Tom Hanks if he tried. Their meet-cute is more of a meet-fail, but soon Annie finds herself sharing some classic rom-com moments with Drew. Her Tom Hanks can’t be an actor who’s leaving town in a matter of days...can he?

My Thoughts: You don’t have to be a fan of romcom’s or Tom Hanks to enjoy this book, but if you are, then this book will be a true delight! If the talented Nora Ephron were still with us, I would bet this book would already be optioned into a movie she is directing. There are definitely worse things in life to be hung up on than romcoms and Tom Hanks and our darling heroine, Annie, has set the bar pretty high looking for the perfect man. Her dream of becoming a screenwriter comes a bit closer when Annie lands a job on a movie set assisting the director. Her meet-cute with the lead actor, Drew, leaves Annie mortified and wishing she could crawl under a rock, but, hey, not everything in life is perfectly scripted with full hair and makeup.

I’m a complete sap for romcoms and Tom Hanks so I knew this book would appeal to me. It just had to! And though this isn’t my pick for the best book I have read in 2020 and it probably won’t win any awards of literary acclaim, I loved this book because it was pure fluff and fun. I loved the story, of course, but the characters were so easy to like and get to know. The plot flows beautifully and kept me engaged the entire time. I’ve never read anything else by this author but by the end of the first chapter, I found the sequel and have it ready to go. Yes, there’s a sequel because sometimes a good romcom needs more after that happily ever after and I’m still disappointed that I have yet to learn what happens to Annie and Sam after they leave the Empire State Building.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of all fiction because everyone needs a story to make them smile and that’s always a good thing.

REVIEW: Switch A Wish by M.B. Earnheardt

Title: Switch A Wish
Author: M.B. Earnheardt
Publisher: Three Worlds Press
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Chris and Amanda Claridge are that couple. They look happy. They live in a well-kept house, have three little girls and fit squarely into the traditional roles of a husband and wife.

Chris is a handsome college professor, and easily charms most everyone he meets. He loves his job and can’t wait to go to work each day. Amanda is a dedicated mother and caretaker. She tends to the kids and appreciates how important her job is, even if others don’t get it.

Underneath the surface of this functioning family, things are unraveling. Their marital problems are about to split them apart when something magical happens. Chris and Amanda make a bedtime wish that forces them to live the life of the other person.

Chris must pretend to be his wife as he takes on childcare and household chores. Amanda steps out of her heels and into Chris’ shoes to tackle his job as a college professor. The role reversal is a revelation for the couple. Neither one has it as good, or bad, as they expected.

Can Chris and Amanda’s newfound understanding of each other survive when the secrets come out? Or, did a magical wish just cost them their marriage? Will they be able to switch back?
Switch A Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.

My Thoughts: I truly believe the biggest problem facing most relationships is the inability to communicate because the couple has lost the ability to relate to one another. Various reasons cause the couple to drift apart, lose the spark that connects them not just intimately but what brought them together in the first place. Resentments build because frustrations are not being communicated and that’s when the trouble begins. Chris and Amanda are just such a couple. They’ve been together a long time and have three children. Amanda gave up her journalism career so she could take care of the home and the children and often is taken advantage of by her mother in law, running errands for her as well. Chris is a university professor who is focused on his career and promoting to the chair of his department. Amanda is frustrated because she doesn’t feel like Chris supports her and never seems to engage with her and the family. She thinks life would be better if they got a divorce. Chris is frustrated because Amanda doesn’t show him any affection and he can’t remember when the last time they had great sex was. He is considering having an affair with one of his students. One night while putting the kids to bed, they each make a wish that the other one understood them. The next morning, they wake up to discover they have switched bodies.

They now have to live life as their spouse and figure out how to do that without making things worse. Along the way, they learn that their spouse doesn’t have it as good as they thought and they realize that the love that brought them together hasn’t gone away, it just needs a freshening up. As secrets are revealed, Chris and Amanda have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.

My Final Verdict: I felt a lot of empathy for these characters and felt bad for the mess their relationship had become. I really enjoyed watching these characters struggle to figure out how they switched and wondering if they will ever be able to switch back. As both Chris and Amanda experience many realizations they never considered before and begin to fall in love with one other again, it gave me a good feeling to know that relationships are a lot of work, but worth it. I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a story that cuts to the heart of the matter with characters that are easy to relate to as their situation is all too realistic.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Switch A Wish from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Title: Pretty Girls
Author: Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon BN Audible

Description: Twenty years ago, Claire Scott's eldest sister, Julia, went missing. No one knew where she went - no note, no body. It was a mystery that was never solved, and it tore her family apart.

Now another girl has disappeared, with chilling echoes of the past. And it seems that she might not be the only one.

Claire is convinced Julia's disappearance is linked.

But when she begins to learn the truth about her sister, she is confronted with a shocking discovery, and nothing will ever be the same...

My Thoughts: This story was riveting and very intense, but also hard to read due to the subject matter. Those who are faint of heart may not be able to stomach the events that transpire in this story. The best word to describe what Claire Scott and her family have endured is horrific. After witnessing it all, I’m shocked that Claire, Lydia and their mother can form coherent thoughts much less rise above the evil they have endured and fight back.

Claire and her sister Lydia lead very different lives despite what they have gone through and their relationship is practically non-existent. After their older sister vanishes without a trace, Lydia’s life spirals into addiction and bad choices and Claire becomes a trophy wife of Paul, living a life of luxury. I had a hard time relating to Claire at first. She comes across as very spoiled, but I began to admire and respect her more after her husband is murdered. This is not a spoiler as this happens early in the story and segues into the rest of the story. Claire begins to undercover a lot of things she probably wishes she hadn’t, but it leads her on a discovery of what a sham her marriage and life are and reconnects her with her sister and reconciliation.

This story was very graphic and violent, but as horrified and disgusted as I felt at what was happening, I couldn’t look away. I had to know what was going to happen next and I had a lot of admiration at the courage both Claire and Lydia demonstrate to stop this evil from destroying more lives.

My Final Verdict: The road to justice and vindication is paved with the horror done to the victims and their families and in the end, I found the story satisfying and thrilling and heartbreaking.

REVIEW: Sweet Girl by Rachel Hollis

Title: Sweet Girl (The Girls #2)
Author: Rachel Hollis
Publisher: Lake Union Press
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Max Jennings is in a bad mood. It’s not anything you did; it’s just that secrets from her past make it her natural state of being. But she’s not going to talk about it or share her feelings, so don’t bother asking.

Max’s bad mood means that very few people actually truly understand her or know that her secret dream is to be a pastry chef. When a rare opportunity to work for world-famous Avis Phillips presents itself, Max jumps at the chance. Avis and her staff aren’t stingy with the tough love, so Max spends every spare minute practicing her craft. As she bakes brownies and custards, cookies and galettes, she builds an unlikely friendship with a man she once loathed and finds herself falling into something she’s spent the last six years avoiding. Will she let her painful past stand in the way, or will she muster the strength to forgive herself and realize her full potential?

My Thoughts: I first met Max Jennings in Party Girls, the first book in this series. Her bad mood and snarky attitude in this book came as no surprise to me as she was very snarky and cranky in the first book. However, instead of disliking her, I found her intriguing, independent and sassy. I was very curious why she kept most people at arm’s length with her biting sarcastic commentary or icy stare. She only allows a very small group of people into her inner circle, but if they piss her off, she would probably give them the boot to the curb too.

Max is still working in the same bar she worked at in the first book and life seems to be going pretty much as it always has. She plays her cards close to her chest so she doesn’t share her dream of being a pastry chef with anyone. When the opportunity unexpectedly presents herself, Max confides in the one person she never thought she would ever have a conversation with much less a friendship. Bennett Taylor is an extremely likable character and never lets Max’s bad mood or insults throw him off. Their banter is fun and illuminates the attraction they feel for one another but are trying so hard to hide not only from everyone around them, but from themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their adversarial (on Max’s part) relationship shift into friendship and then something much more meaningful.

As with the first book, this author does another excellent job of bringing these characters to life. I felt great empathy for Max when it’s revealed what happened to her to make her wrap her heart in chains. I found her behavior and reactions logical and I loved how she changes when she realizes the people she loves aren’t going to abandon her. There is a scene where Max is wallowing in self-pity and her best friends show up with snacks and decide it’s time for a Sandra Bullock marathon. Max isn’t very welcoming or receptive to them, but she has a hard time staying in a shell and allows herself to enjoy the moment, which allows the ice to begin to crack.

My Final Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was tickled to get to know Max and Taylor better. This story played on my emotions a little bit, so keep a box of tissues at the ready.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Sweet Girl from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Silent Scream by Karen Rose

Title: Silent Scream (Romantic Suspense #11)
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: When a teenage girl dies in a suspicious fire, Detective Olivia Sutherland is assigned to track down the arsonist. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation. Making her work even harder is sexy firefighter David Hunter. He's not only sharing the case but sparking memories of their long-ago night of passion, when feelings were left unspoken and hearts were broken.

David has his own ghosts, and a million regrets. But while he and Olivia try to face the wall of pain between them, a diabolical puppet master is pulling strings to make a group of twentysomethings do his bidding. Soon Olivia and David are scouring the city for a calculating criminal who seems tantalizingly close--and is moving in for the kill.

My Thoughts: I really like a series where the characters have deep connections with another, but I must admit it does begin to get difficult to keep it all straight. I remember reading about David in Eve’s story, but he has been a part of this series going all the way back to the first book. I just don’t remember him or Olivia for that matter. Happily, this did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the story and getting to know David and Olivia better, especially with their history.

David has decided to stay on in Minneapolis after coming out to help Eve. He’s starting a new life and is hoping he and Olivia can figure out where they went wrong all those years ago. Olivia doesn’t seem as eager to open that can of worms. She is very good at keeping people at arm’s length and her go-to reaction when people get too close is to run. It seems funny to me that a police detective can be so tough on the outside but so fragile and vulnerable on the inside. There is no other way to describe Olivia, however. She’s great at her job and it’s obvious to anyone who knows her how much of herself she puts in to her work, but you definitely get the sense that she’s holding back a bit of herself keeping it tucked away where no one can see.

The author does a fantastic job of not only creating characters that are so complex and interesting, but the plots of each story hold my attention, anticipation rising with the turn of each page. That is a major undertaking all on its own as a series can quickly get stale and boring after several books, but Karen Rose makes each story fresh, stimulating and riveting.

My Final Verdict: With eleven books in this series and so far, a total of twenty-four, there is so much more this author has to offer. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy the element of romance blended within the suspenseful background. Fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy the often dark and disturbing story lines and subject matter. Fans of these genres will be entertained regardless of what motivated them to read it. This series should be read in order to give the reader a greater understanding of each character without giving anything away.