All Fired Up (Road to Love #3). By Lori Foster.

All Fired Up (Road to Love #3). By Lori Foster. 2019. HQN Books (ARC eBook).

Working as the office manager at Mustang Transport and considered a part of the Crews family, Charlotte Parrish has seen more than a fair share of trouble follow Brodie and Jack around. And as much as she loves them, she resolved long ago that the man she will give her heart to will be the exact opposite of the “bad boy.” But then Mitch Crews arrives in town.

Mitch is looking for a new start. He’s chosen Red Oak to begin a business and so that he can introduce himself to the two half-brothers he has never met. Mitch is a lot like Brodie and Jack, with a strong physique and protective nature, but he hasn’t had a lot of kindness shown to him in his life. So when Charlotte and the whole Crews bunch rally around him when his past comes after him, he’ll do anything to keep them out of harm’s way.

With this series, Foster delivers on tough, sexy and totally stand up guys. And I’ve loved the dynamic she’s set up between the love interests in each book. And whereas with the first two romances, where the Crews brothers coax their ladies into dropping their shields and accepting love, in All Fired Up it is Charlotte who convinces Mitch, who’s never felt like he belonged anywhere, that he’s found his home.

384 pages

 

Whiteout (Survival Instincts #1). By Adriana Anders.

Whiteout (Survival Instincts #1). By Adriana Anders. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

 

As summer at the South Pole is coming to an end, Angel Smith heads out to the supply arch the morning of her planned departure with plans to leave the winter-over crew of Burke-Ruhe a well-stocked kitchen. But in the dark tunnels among preserved food and ice cores, she witnesses a violent scene and barely escapes the attackers.

Suspicious of a series of events that began after he collected some ice cores, glaciologist, Ford Cooper, returns back from the ice fields only to find the station has been abandoned and all communications and power sources sabotaged. When he finds Angel and learns that the attackers did not retrieve what they were looking for, the two have no choice but to set out for another station, as they will soon become the hunted. In the most inhospitable place on earth, Angel and Ford push their strength and resilience to the limits in order to save themselves and thwart the plans of the mysterious Chronos Corporation.

From the first chapter I didn’t want to put this story down. With twists and turns along the way, Anders masterfully layers the tension generated not only by ruthless acts of people, but the very elements that surround Angel and Ford. Snow, ice, wind, frostbite, hypothermia, deep crevasses and the disorienting whiteness the vast Antarctic landscape presents, all works to elevate the world-building and the deepening relationship between two people forced into survival mode. Definitely a must for those who want an edge of your seat suspense with chemistry that burns.

**Does not include bonus novella by Katie Ruggle

412 pages

Driven to Distraction (Road to Love #1). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane.

Driven to Distraction (Road to Love #1). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane. 2018. Harlequin Audio. ISBN-13: 9781488205408 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 20 mins).

With each transport assignment Brody and Mary embark on, he proves to her that the chemistry building between them is undeniable.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Great narration
 
384 pages

Slow Ride (Road to Love #2). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane.

Slow Ride (Road to Love #2). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane. 2019. Harlequin Audio. ISBN-13: 9781488205859 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 18 mins).

This second installment in the Road to Love series delivers again on lovable rescue animals, sexual tension, and a bit of suspense in a fascinating backdrop for this opposites attract couple.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Great narration

384 pages

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1). By Katie Ruggle, Narrator: Callie Beaulieu.

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1). By Katie Ruggle, Narrator: Callie Beaulieu. 2019. Tantor Audio. ISBN-13: 9781494549831 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 50 mins).

Bounty hunter Molly Pax has worked hard to turn the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into a success. But when their suspected jewel-thief-of-a-mother jumps bail and puts the sisters’ home up as collateral, Molly is forced to take on her most dangerous assignment yet, with the hopes of a high enough payout to keep her and her sisters off the street. When rival bounty hunter, the ever-annoying (cheerful), always in the way (helpful), kinda good-looking (gorgeous) John Carmondy enters the fray, Molly finds it’s not such a hardship to keep her frenemy in her sights.

Ruggle starts off this series with a delightful jaunt into the world of bounty hunters and skip tracing. And while there are high stakes in this book, the romance is playful and the suspense element is fairly low key in regards to action. Not a bad thing, but may not appeal to some readers that are looking for more grittiness in this genre. Beaulieu’s narration does a great job of immersing you in this unique family of female bounty hunters.

336 pages

Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2). By Katie Ruggle.

Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2). By Katie Ruggle. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Cara Pax aspires to be a Kindergarten teacher, not a bounty hunter like the rest of her sisters. She’s uncomfortable with confrontation, so she contributes to the family business by doing behind-the-scenes computer research to help trace the skips. But ever since their own mother jumped bail and left the sisters in a jam, she has been feeling like she should do more to help. She probably shouldn’t have chosen to go after Henry Kavenski though. On paper, Kavenski would bring in the most money. Also on paper, Kavenski is a suspected murderer.

What is a man suppose to do when an earnest Cara Pax keeps interrupting his secret rendezvouses in parks and bars? As it turns out, he'll risk it all to keep her out of harm's way.

Cara is so darn nice, and Henry is a man of few words, but there is a clever charm about the pair. If you like Carol Higgins Clark’s Regan Reilly books, you’ll enjoy this series.

352 pages

Primary Suspect (Callahan Confidential #5). By Laura Scott

Primary Suspect (Callahan Confidential #5). By Laura Scott. 2018. Love Inspired Suspense. ISBN-13: 9781355081209 (paperback).

When Mitch Callahan, a firefighter turned arson investigator, turns up at the site of a recent fire at the request of his boss, he is broadsided by the dead body he finds, followed quickly by the 2x4 to the side of his face. Realizing he is being set up, Mitch flees the scene, but needs medical attention for the gash in his neck. Showing up at the ER he unwittingly involves the young widowed nurse Dana Petrie and the two quickly find themselves running for their lives from armed pursuit. Can Dana trust Mitch, the man who tried, but failed to save the life of her rookie firefighting husband three years ago? Or will the evidence building up against him prove that she has teamed-up with the bad guy?

Primary Suspect by Laura Scott is a quick read with a satisfying combination of action, suspense and second chances as Dana experiences a rekindling in her heart for her faith, purpose and chance at love. Both Scott’s Callihan Confidential series and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense stories are new to me and while this is book five, the story is easy enough to follow without having started at the beginning of the series. But I am curious about the rest of the Callahan clan.

224 pages

MOBIUS

Say You’re Sorry: Morgan Dane, Book 1 by Melinda Leigh

SUMMARY: Morgan Dane is pulling her life back together after the unexpected death of her husband, finally accepting a position in Scarlett Fall’s prosecutor’s office. But before she begins her new job, her babysitter is killed and Nick, her next door neighbor, is accused of the murder. Morgan’s gut tells her Nick is innocent, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Putting her career on hold, she asks an old friend, Lance Kruger who is an ex-cop turned private investigator, to help identify the real killer.

REVIEW: The pace is quick and the plot is strong. The Morgan-Lance relationship drives me a bit nuts, but there is promise it will improve over time. I’ll let you know when I finish book 2!

RATING: 4 out of 5           PAGES: 338

FBI/US Attorney Series by Julie James

A Lot like Love by Julie James (Book 20
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For a second book in a series, the author did a good job of bringing new and unique characters and different issues to the story (money laundering, prison fights, etc), while still dragging in the past characters for short cameos.

The female lead owns a wine store, and I enjoyed the discussions about wine, which made drinking wine seem so much more exciting than I remember it being. The male lead, an undercover agent, had a rough around the edges vibe which was a nice contrast. This is definitely an opposites attract situation.

Book 56 in 2018

Pages: 274

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About That Night by Julie James  (Book 3)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm still enjoying this series, though this book is lighter on the criminal justice elements and heavier on the romance. Luckily, it has a very charming and amusing love interest, so I didn't mind at all.

Book 57 read in 2018

Pages: 284

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Love Irresistibly by Julie James (Book 4)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The most adorable thing in this book is the MC's bestie. He's amusing on so many levels, and they have a charming friendship.

This one is also shy on drama, crime, suspense, and mystery, but it's a sweet romance with smart characters. I like that they don't do stupid stuff just to suit the storyline, which happens so often in romance novels.

Book 60 read in 2018

Pages: 274

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It Happened One Wedding by Julie James  (Book 5)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is definitely an opposites attract story, with again, less criminal elements, despite the undercover jobs of the male MC, but again, I didn't mind one bit. Each new novel seemed to lean further away from the suspense/mystery/crime drama side and closer to the romance side, which I didn't mind one bit, considering Julie James is a captivating author. She draws you in quick, and once you invest in her characters, you'd watch them paint bedrooms, fold laundry, and blow dry their hair (all things I don't enjoy), just because you can't stand to look away.

Book 62 read in 2018

Pages: 304

Something About You by Julie James

Something About You by Julie James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wouldn't have picked this book up if Nicole hadn't recommended it to me. Based on how obsessed she was by everything written by this author, I knew I should give it a try.

While this isn't my typical read, I absolutely enjoyed every second of this--I'm not even sure how to genre it--criminal romance? That doesn't sound quite right. Romantic Crime Drama? It's in the Janet Evanovich realm of crime meets romance, but it's a bit more serious and emotional, where Evanovich leans harder towards zany and hilarious.

I immediately started book 2, which is what's important. This was such an easy, delightful read after some of the heavy and lengthy books I've read lately. It follows the formula I would expect for a criminal justice romance, which I like, because let's face it, it's a good formula. If you need proof, then I refer you back to the 80 billion seasons of CSI, Bones, Law & Order, Castle, etc.

I imagine I will likely devour everything by Julie James before proceeding back to my TBR, because she's has captured my attention. She makes everything about the story seem so smooth and easy, but the reality is writing a story is never those things. I like authors that have you so caught up in the story that you never stop to over-analyze anything, in terms of the writing or story structure. It means they've done their job well.

For those reasons, it gets 5 stars, even though I confess I'd be unlikely to reread this book, despite really enjoying it. The reality is that I can't reread them all anyway, and when it's a book I don't want to put down from start to finish, then it deserves all 5 stars.

Book 55 read in 2018

Pages: 307

"Fish Stick Fridays" by Rhys Ford

Opposites attract in this romantic suspense novel about a biker dude trying to do right by his eight-year-old niece and a wealthy bookstore owner in small town California.  Deacon Reid is trying to raise his dead sister's foul mouthed daughter away from the chaos they were both born into.  He buys a garage in Half Moon Bay and rents a house from Lang Harris, who owns a bookstore just down the street.  They both feel attraction when they meet but are wary of getting too close to each other due to mistrust in past relationships.  Then things blow up, people get shot, and craziness ensues.  But who is the target?  Unusual characters and a whodunit make this an above average read, but the little girl cussed so much that it was a distraction for me.  204 pages (Kindle edition).

"The Best Man" by L.A. Witt

Jon Beatty is trying his best to deal with being asked to be the best man at a wedding - his ex-boyfriend's wedding to a woman.  He reluctantly agrees even though he still has feelings for Craig, and the fiancee seems to hate him.  Then he meets Liam Sable, and Jon thinks his life may be getting back on track until someone starts to stalk him and cause him harm.  I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I liked this story and the writing.  I was surprised by the suspense angle to it since I thought it was going to be a regular romance, but it added nicely to the story.  251 pages (Kindle edition).

"A Hunted Man" by Jaime Reese

This is the second book in the Men of Halfway House series, and I didn't like it as much as the first, "A Better Man".  Cam is just out of prison for serving 10 years for manslaughter and has moved into Halfway House to adjust to life on the outside.  He's only 27, so he has no real skills or formal work experience.  Luckily, Matt, who runs Halfway House, gets him a job at a mom and pop coffee shop where Cam meets Hunter Donovan, Assistant State Attorney and regular customer.  Soon, Hunter is trying to clear Cam's name when he realizes that a drug cartel and dirty judge railroaded him into prison for what was clearly self-defense.  Then dangerous men start following Cam around, showing up at his work and even breaking into Halfway House and Hunter's home to get to him.  Action and suspense dominate the second half of the book, but I would have rather had it focus on Cam's adjustment to the real world and dealing with his PTSD after his abuse in prison.  Still, there were great supporting characters, especially Hunter's dad, and we got to see some of Matt and Julian from the first book.  I'll be reading book three soon.  378 pages.

"A Reason to Believe" by Diana Copland

This very well written mystery revolves around detective Matthew Bennett trying to solve the murder of a young girl in her own home.  He is directed to her body by an apparition who matches her description, which knocks him for a loop since he doesn't believe in the supernatural.  Not wanting to reveal what he saw to his fellow police officers, he reluctantly goes to see Kiernan Fitzpatrick, a medium who happens to be on tour in Matt's town.  Together, the two men visit the little girl's mother to get more information and all heck breaks loose when the media finds out.  Matt also has to deal with the homophobia of his supervisor and several coworkers and his lingering sadness over the shooting death of his boyfriend, who was also a detective, over a year ago.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book and can't recommend it enough.  Not only was the writing very good but so was the character development and sense of place.  Matt and Kiernan were quite different and intriguing main characters who find themselves drawn to each other while trying to find the girl's killer without getting killed themselves.  I will definitely try to read more my this author.  217 pages (Kindle edition).

Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Eve Dallas’s husband buys a building because it has good bones; don’t tear it down, just rebuild it.  This building revealed the death of twelve young girls and is a challenge to solve.  Detective Peabody is a lovely person and makes reading these more enjoyable.

Audio:  12 hrs. 20 min.

Print:  384 pages

Shelter Mountain by Robin Carr

(Posted for Diann Stark)

This is the second book in the Virgin River series:

An abused battered woman with her three year old son shows up in Virgin River looking for a place to stay the night. She is on her way to her ‘next stop’ to have their identity changed and disappear where her abusive husband will never find them. The only place that is open in this little town is the local bar, this is where she meets John “Preacher” Middleton. Preacher notices the woman is covered in bruises and he realizes he wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

Then Paige’s ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there’s one thing in the marines’ motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it’s that some things are worth fighting for.

Audio book: Reading time 11 hours and 50 minutes. 376 pages