Thursday, December 28, 2017

ARC REVIEW Into the Night by Cynthia Eden


Book three of Cynthia Eden's Killer Instinct series. It a fantastic series about a department inside the the FBI that tracks down serial killers, each agent involved has had an up close and personal encounter with one. The lead in this group Samantha Dark was dating one, another member's brother was one, in this book Macey Night was the lone survivor of serial killer who was a colleague and friend. Even though she gave him a life threatening wound and the authorities presumed him dead Macey never stopped believing that he survived and never stopped looking for him; and now she thinks she found him. Bowen Murphy is Macey's partner and has since the beginning loved her, he has managed to keep his desires at bay because of her past and because they are partners but this cases pushes him to his breaking point and everything comes out, even his own torrid past. 
The premise of this one is very similar to that of one of her other book where the serial killer is focusing on other serial killers, but that is where the similarities end.  The "Profiler" has manipulated everything from the beginning with an ultimate goal, Bowen and Macey are trying to get to the bottom of it before he kills again. But it's not easy when they come across red herrings and plenty of twists and turns along the way. 

I love Cynthia Eden's characters they are all so wonderfully flawed and relatable it is easy to empathize and connect with them. The suspense is exactly how I like it fast paced, dark, and keeps you on edge the entire time. I was enjoying the story so much I forgot to make a prediction as to who the bad guy was. The romance is hot and heavy and Bowen is wooo, definitely one of my favorites from Cynthia Eden. Overall, it's another winner for me.  

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

ARC REVIEW The Duke of Her Desire by Sophie Barnes



Duke of Her Desire is book two of Sophie Barnes' Diamonds in the Rough series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The only thing you need to know for this book that happened in the previous book was what and where they were before Raphe Matthews inherited a title, which can be explained in about a sentence. Rafe and his new wife need some time alone so they arrange it where Coventry will be his sister's escort to all their social functions with the help of Coventry's mother and the girl's eccentric aunt.   
Amelia Matthews has no luck when it comes to deportment whenever she is around Coventry, she always finds herself in a situation that doesn't show her at her best. He is seemingly perfect and that alone makes her nervous and always manages to mess up around him and the fact that he manages to point it out as well is even more disconcerting. Amelia is willing to go along with the matchmaking her aunt and Coventry's mother have planned but Amelia has plans of her own. Now that she is in a place to help the children of St. Giles she will not be stopped, she's going to start a school and already has the property. When Coventry finds out about Amelia's plan he is proud of her endeavor and is willing to help, but when it turns out that someone doesn't want Amelia there he will protect her and not just because he promised her brother he would. 

Coventry alway thought that Amelia was the prettier of the two sisters but now that he's spending more time with her he finds that he actually wants to spend time with her even if they do end up arguing most of the time anyways. He has convinced himself he is not in the right place to court and eventually get married he has other obligations, but his feelings for Amelia make him want to rethink his stance on that. 

Overall, it was a good read. Coventry and Amelia had a nice romance both of their hard headedness and their inability to communicate with each other and not to mention jumping to conclusions (Amelia) get in the way of them finding their HEA much sooner. I love Sophie Barnes writing style, she has a great narrative going on switching the third person POV of Amelia and Coventry it gives great insight into the characters. The mystery was really good, I wish there was a little more to the romance. I liked the little tidbit letting us know what the third book is going to be about.      

Friday, December 22, 2017

ARC REVIEW Jake by J.S. Striker


Jake is book 10 in the Clan Legacy series by J.S. Striker. Jake was a secondary character in the last book Simon, TBH I really didn't like him in that book so I a little apprehensive about this one, but oh my, my perception of Jake really change after digging in to this book. Some years have past since the events of  Simon, the last book, Jake is now a seasoned pro at his job. He loves his life just the way it is an exciting job, love 'em and leave 'em with the ladies until his latest assignment the dreaded bodyguard duty of some stuck up heiress who tends to get kidnapped, a lot, just what he needed in his life (insert sarcasm) another stuck up self centered princess especailly one related to the last one he let into his life, who proceeded to stomp on his heart after she tired of him. Gabby isn't your typical heiress, oh sure she fashion savvy and knows all the right people but she has a secret, a dark secret she's only ever told one other person about. Up until a few months ago and her latest botched kidnapping attempt she realized it wasn't because of her family that she was being kidnapped but because of her, now if only she can figure Who? and Why? Her only course of action is to let them kidnap her again, but her new bodyguard might have something to say about that.

Jake and Gabby start off with an extreme hate-on for each other but the sexual chemistry is still very much evident and it doesn't take long before they are going at each other. When Jake finds out her secret he's not phased he is still willing to risk his life to protect her. All they have to do is figure out who's behind the kidnapping and a way to fix Gabby, if there is a cure at all. I liked the chemistry between the two of them it was very hot. This one is well paced and very exciting to read. I kind of hope Raz gets his own story eventually. Overall, a very enjoyable story with great action and hot romance.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad vol 4 Earthlings on Fire

Suicide Squad

vol 4 Earthlings on Fire



DC Universe Rebirth
issues 16-20
by Rob Williams
art by: Tony S. Daniels, Sandu Florea, Neil Edwards, Stjepan Sejic, Tomeu Morey (colorist)





Story: Amanda Waller has really bit off more than she could chew when she acquires exactly what she wants, lucky for her Lex Luthor knows a lot more than she thinks he does. Waller thinks she can control Zod but he proves no one controls Zod. She just needs one mission to go right the one mission to finally take out The People and their own Suicide Squad, The Annihilation Brigade, and to lay a trap for the trader in her own ranks. Shortly after Waller thinks everything has gone well Zod breaks loose and starts reeking havoc in Belle Reve. The Suicide Squad barely contained him the first time and without the help of Hack they alone can not take him out.  


Art: The art was visually pleasing. I love the covers, especially Otto Schmidt's cover for Managing People, and there were quite a few individual panels I quite liked. "Alone" was probably the one I liked the least it didn't seem like it stayed consistent with the others it almost seemed like more time was spent on Zod, Eradicator, and Cyborg Superman then the rest of the characters.







Review:  Overall, it was a good story. I'll admit I did get teary eyed there. "Alone" while probably my least favorite art-wise was my favorite story-wise. In "Managing People" you discover that Waller knows what Boomarang did and I'm am just waiting for  the day Harley discovers it and tears him a new one. I love the unlikely romance between June and Waylon (still a better romance than Twilight as my son would say). And I'm still crossing my fingers that what happened isn't a permanent thing.      

ARC REVIEW Heart of Danger by Sidney Bristol




Sidney Bristol's Christmas novella Heart of Danger is a Aegis Group novella and also the start to a new spin off series Body of Danger. Val and Duke were introduced in the last Aegis book, Dangerous in Transit, but it is not imperative to read it each book is pretty much a stand-alone, but it is a pretty awesome book so I would recommend it anyways.

Val and Duke are spending Christmas in her hometown of La Playa in Colombia where the whole town goes all out for the holiday but once they get there they discover the entire town is too scared to even decorate. Val is determined to get to the bottom of it and Duke goes along with it to keep her safe. Even before Val started working with Duke she has had a crush on him, and Duke feels the same but they are both worried about crossing that boss/employee line and afraid they will ruin not only their working relationship but also their friendship. But dealing with the dangerous situation they found themselves in forces their hands and they finally admit their feelings, as they dig deeper into the problem with the town they discover it's bigger than they thought and now the whole valley might be in danger from their interference.

Overall, a great novella. I was hoping that Duke and Val would get their own story when I was reading Dangerous in Transit. I loved Abuela, oh my she was a hoot. Sidney took her time with the characters making sure they had a background and plenty of chemistry with each other in between the other book and this one without going into too much detail and distracting away from this story. The end really cracked me up, I don't think I've ever read an ending quite like that before.   

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Batman vol 4 The War of Jokes and Riddles

Batman

vol 4 The War of Jokes and Riddles


DC Universe Rebirth
issues 25-32
story by: Tom King
art by: Mikel Janin, Clay Mann, June Chung (colorist) 



Story: A year after Batman took up the cape and cowl a war hit Gotham between Joker and Riddler. In this volume he tells Selina his side and everything he learned by talking to as many of the participants involved as possible. He still feels guilt over what he had to do and has to tell someone. The Joker has lost the ability to laugh, nothing's funny anymore and he blames Batman for ruining his joke. The Riddler breaks out of prison so he can solve the one riddle he has yet to solve, Batman. Riddler originally goes to Joker so they can band together to kill the Bat, but Joker instead shoots him in the gut. Joker and Riddler gather up all the other villains and divide Gotham, showing no mercy to anyone who gets in the way. Deadshot and Deathstroke go at it shot to shot, head to head until then Batman and Gordon have been dealing with it the best way the could but that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Batman figured the only way to stop it was to pick a side, but whose side to pick????






Art: Mikel Janin did the main story line with June Chung as the Colorist. The Ballad of Kite Man done by Clay Mann and Jordie Bellaire (colorist) and Gabe Eltaeb (colorist).  For the most part I'm easy to please when it come to the art I think the only thing that really bugged me was how Riddler was drawn. I guess I'm just so use to the lean almost scrawny cerebral kind of guy instead of this Irish bruiser-ish type guy with his shirt all open. But Riddler has evolved quite a bit since Frank Gorshin played him, I'll get over it. Back to the art this has some pretty impressive and detailed two page spreads, I always like those. Overall it was very pleasing on the eyes and added so much to the story.     









Review: Overall, this was a fantastic read, it was a great story even if it did feel a little truncated it just gave you the details you needed to know. It was awesome to see Deathstroke and Deadshot fight it out. (Although I think Deathstroke would win.) I liked the interludes with Kite Man with his story and how he plays a major part in the story. For missing the first three volumes this one was real easy to pick up and read without having read the previous issues and normally I wouldn't have grabbed this one not having read the previous one but how could I turn down Joker vs. Riddler?! 







Wednesday, December 13, 2017

ARC REVIEW Once Upon A Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt



So this is the last of the Maiden Lane series, if I had known that before reading this I probably would have been a lot more disappointed with it than I am. I was kind of hoping that she was going to just keep writing and find a new story arc to follow. I am split on this, on one hand you have great Hoyt writing with witty dialogue and wonderful characters; on the other hand you have a really short romance that makes you feel cheated that these great characters didn't get more. With how strong the animosity Sarah has toward d'Arque you would think it would take longer for her to admit to herself that he's different. d'Arque is a shameless flirt and sometimes his humor is a bit crude, but it's so funny. They met once before (back in book 5) but it didn't matter Sarah had already made up her mind to hate him because he was a rake. To d'Arque Sarah was different because she didn't fall for his charm like every other woman out there, it was obvious she hated him but he gave her no reason to.
Fast forward some time it's Christmastime and d'Arque is taking his grandmother to her cousin house for the holiday when the carriage breaks down and they must seek refuge at a local house. Fortuitously d'Arque is acquainted with St. James unfortunately his grandmother's health isn't good to travel the rest of the way and they must stay where they are and celebrate Christmas with the St. James'. d'Arque sees this as an opportunity to change Sarah's opinion of him because no matter what he feels a strong attraction to her. Sarah had a bad experience with a rake in her past that has made her hate all rakes, but the more she talks to d'Arque the more she realizes there is so much more to him the just a rake, it's making her all confused her physical attraction to him and now she finds herself actually liking him. But Sarah is looking for a husband and d'Arque doesn't think he wants to get married, ever.

Overall, I did like the story and the characters but it felt so short and rushed, and it doesn't feel like it's the conclusion to a series.       

ARC REVIEW Dangerous in Transit by Sidney Bristol


More Alpha Team awesomeness! Sidney Bristol does it again an action packed, kick-ass story. This time Sidney Bristol whisks you away to the Islamic Nation of Mauritania in Africa. It's in the midst of a civil war, the PPM are trying to overthrow the elected President and make things the way they use to be in the strictest of terms where even slavery isn't a crime. In the midst of it is an American woman, Jackie Davis, and a team of doctors and nurses trying to help free some women and children from their captivity but they go from being the rescuers to being hostage victims. It was suppose to be a simple extraction for the Aegis Alpha Team but things just keep going from bad to worse as the civil war escalates and evidence shows up that it wasn't an accident that got Jackie captured in the first place.
Felix Larson, retired Royal Navy, isn't the one who normally handles the asset but this time he seems to be the only one who can handle the hard headed Jackie who questions every decision and wants to argue every point. Jackie doesn't know why out of all the guys on the team she feels like she can trust the straightforward Felix to tell her the truth and she willingly puts her life into his hands. Jackie doesn't want to wait to see if they make it out alive she wants to be with Felix just in case they don't make it. An action packed story about greed and power and the attempt to overthrow a government. It's not an easy case for any of the Aegis boys this go around and just when things finally seem to start to go there way Jackie discovers something that Felix had been hiding from her and it major enough to ruin their chances at a relationship.

Overall, as always Sidney Bristol does a fantastic job with active setting and emotionally tying you to the characters. I found myself holding my breath at points because of stuff happening to the  secondary characters. I'm crossing my fingers at who the next couple is.  

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

ARC REVIEW Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler


SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series book 7 brings us the baby of the group Max Lowery. As the most recently  changed Max is still dealing with control issues. Max is lucky enough to find his One so early in his life, when he meets her and discovers that she too is a wolf shifter he feels even luckier until he realizes she doesn't even know that she is a shifter. Lana Mason felt a pull bring her home after graduation and she's glad she did after meeting Max; she feels an instant attraction with him and even though it's happening all so fast it doesn't scare her. For Lana the biggest issue they are having to face is her father's disapproval; Lana's Dad is one of Max's bosses, Deputy Chief Hal Mason. Max doesn't think it's going to be a problem they are destined to be together he's just going to have to deal with it, Max's main worry is that there seems to be a group of Hunters after Lana.

Lana is notified by Austin PD that her roommate was murdered, tortured first then executed. Max isn't worried about it too much at first until the Detective on the case tells him they found someone else who was murdered the same way, the guy in the picture the detective emailed Max is an Omega, that's when the warning bells start going off in his head. Lana isn't really taking it seriously, not knowing the full truth so Max tells her the truth, shows her he can shift. She is justifiably freaked out and upset. It isn't until she is chased around Downtown Dallas by these Hunters that she realizes he's right. But these Hunters are far more dangerous than they estimated and one of the team mates suffers for that miscalculation. 

The romance between Lana and Max (there initials are ML and LM, I thought that was cute) is pretty swift and easy until the whole I'm a werewolf thing. There is a good bit of build up for their relationship it's not just all sex. There is also a side story that has to deal with Max's character development and him dealing with his past and those emotions, it also shows the IA as not such an ahole. 

Overall, it was a great book I thoroughly enjoyed reading, I love the whole series, I can't wait until we finally get to the point where we find out who is behind the Hunters, and why the Omegas are changing into a more protective role. Paige Tyler has definitely weaved a great universe here, it's on going mystery of the Hunters and it's wonderful(ly hot) characters, memorable action, and fantastic romance. 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

ARC REVIEW The Demon Crown by James Rollins


I can not tell you how excited I was to get approved for this ARC. Seriously I squealed, loudly and threw in a happy dance. Why was I so excited? I was so excited because I freakin love this series, Sigma Force is one of my absolute favorites. James Rollins is amazing when it comes to weaving a mystery that ties together history and science in an action packed, intelligent, and suspenseful story. I, for one, greatly appreciate all the research Mr. Rollins does for each of his stories, with the fiction so close to the non-fiction, it really makes the whole thing seem so real. The characters are so real to me, through the previous twelve books I have come to know each of the characters and I love them. I have been TeamSeichan from the beginning and this is a very heavy Gray/Seichan book but for a damn good reason. It's a very emotional book for them, I'm tearing up just thinking about it. Kat and Monk go out into the field together for their own little adventure, Kowalski and Maria are still together, although Maria is mentioned in the book she isn't actually in it.

There was a biological attack on the Hawaiian Islands, in the form of huge wasps. I know it sounds like a cheesy B-rated Sy-Fy channel movie but believe me it's so much better. Gray, Seichand, Kowalski, a local fireman named Palu, a entomologist Ken Matsui, and a Japanese Intelligence agent Aiko handle things on the front lines trying to stop and eliminate the threat of world domination by way of these insects and the madman behind it all. While Kat, Monk, the Librarian of Congress Elena Delgado, and the entomologist for the National Zoo Sam Bennett tackle how these prehistoric insects came to be and how it connects to James Smithson the founder of the Smithsonian and a giant chunk of amber that went missing during WWII. I'm not going to say to much on the actual story because I don't want to give to much away and the blurb for this book is actually really good.

Off the coast of Brazil, a team of scientists discovers a horror like no other, an island where all life has been eradicated, consumed and possessed by a species beyond imagination. Before they can report their discovery, a mysterious agency attacks the group, killing them all, save one, an entomologist, an expert on venomous creatures, Professor Ken Matsui from Cornell University. 
Strangest of all, this inexplicable threat traces back to a terrifying secret buried a century ago beneath the National Mall: a cache of bones preserved in amber. The artifact was hidden away by a cabal of scientists—led by Alexander Graham Bell—to protect humankind. But they dared not destroy it, for the object also holds an astonishing promise for the future: the very secret of life after death. 
Yet, nothing stays buried forever. An ancient horror—dormant in the marrow of those preserved bones—is free once more, nursed and developed into a weapon of incalculable strength and malignancy, ready to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world. 
To stop its spread, Commander Grayson Pierce of Sigma Force must survive a direct attack on the island of Maui. To be there first has always been the core mission of Sigma Force, a covert team forged to be America’s front line against emerging threats. But this time, even Sigma may not be able to decipher this deadly mystery, one that traces back to the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. 
With each new discovery, the menace they hunt is changing, growing, spreading—adapting and surviving every attempt to stop it from reconquering a world it once ruled. And each transformation makes it stronger . . . and smarter. 
Running out of time and options, Commander Grayson Pierce will be forced to make an impossible choice. To eradicate this extinction-level threat and expose those involved, he will have to join forces with Sigma’s greatest enemy—the newly resurrected Guild—even it if means sacrificing one of his own.
Okay, I'll say it, Rollins is so much better than Crichton. Don't get me wrong Michael Crichton is in my top 15, Eaters of the Dead is one of my favorites and Sphere is creepy as hell, but the way Rollins adds all the intense action on top of the scientific and historic mystery just makes it all so heart-poundingly good. The way he comes at the mystery from two different paths makes a thrill ride; intelligent, emotional, daring and an inventive storyline and it all leads up to an explosive and heart stopping conculsion. I absolutely love his writing his active setting, his character development, his plot twists, I especially love at the back of the book where he reveals just how much of the book is truth and what's fiction. I can not wax poetically enough about this book or the series.         

Monday, December 4, 2017

ARC REVIEW So Over You by Kate Meader


So Over You is book two in Kate Meader's Chicago Rebels series. Three half sisters, daughters of a hockey legend, who must work together to keep the hockey team. According to the requirements in the will the Rebels must make the playoffs that year or be sold out to a conglomerate. For two of the sister it's their legacy, one the managerial role and the other a coaching role. Irresistible You, the first book, is about the oldest sister Harper Chase, she is bound and determined to make it to the playoff this year and keep her team. I wouldn't say this is a standalone, but it could be the events of the first book have only a minor impact of this story but most of the emotional development between the sister happens in the first one. Isobel was the apple of her father's eye she was born to continue on his legacy on the ice and Isobel wanted nothing more than to be the best on the ice. Until her dreams came to an end after an accident now she just wants to coach. Vadim has to redeem himself after a knee injury but first he has to get back on the ice only one thing is standing in his way, the only woman who has ever mattered to him and the same one whose father blackballed him from the NHL.

To prove herself Isobel is assigned to privately coach Vadim so he can get back into skating form. Vadim thinks it's a bad idea not because she's a woman but he doesn't trust himself around her and Isobel can afford to have gossip that she's sleeping with players tied to her name especially if she wants the head coaching job. Isobel thinks she can handle coaching Vadim even if he still makes her feel all a flutter but after the one and only one time they were together left her wanting she didn't think they were compatible. Once Vadim finds this out he makes a point to prove to her that they are, over and over again. 

Their sexual attraction isn't the problem between one particularly cruel player on the team, Vadim's little sister and his mother, and the big one Isobel has the chance to play for the gold again. She was asked to audition for the NCAA, she told no one but Vadim expecting him to be excited for her only to get the opposite reaction. This is her last chance to achieve her dream and as much of a bastard her father was and even though he's dead she still feels like she's disappointing him by not playing hockey. Vadim and Isobel have a bunch of issues to work out before they can achieve their HEA.

Overall, I loved this one. Vadim be still my heart that smokin' hot Russian is not only great with kids but once he realizes he left Isobel wanting he sees his way into her heart again. There is a lot of personal growth in this book as with the first one and as always Kate Meader is exceptional with it and the sex is so freakin' hot. I very much recommend anything she written.