ARC REVIEW Don't Breathe A Word by Christie Craig

Texas Justice #2, The Cold Case Unit of Anniston PD has a new case when they look into a young stripper's disappearance, the murder of her boyfriend, and the connection they had to the gang leader/drug dealer who killed Juan Acosta's wife and unborn baby. Juan already killed him in the line of duty but the large scar on his face serves as a daily reminder that he failed his family. Finding the person responsible for this cold case and maybe even finding the stripper alive will help, or so he hopes. But then there is his new neighbor and her daughter something just doesn't feel right he knows they are running from something but he doesn't know what and he's determined to find out.

Vikki Holloway gained guardianship of her niece, Bell, after her sister died in a hit and run. Vikki always suspected her sister's abusive husband as the culprit but never had proof and it seemed pointless to prove it after he died but then Vikki swore she saw him leave her apartment after ransacking it and then he called her threatening her. Scared for her niece she ran and with the help of AWCO they got new identities. After almost being found in Arizona they moved to Texas where she became Nikki Hanson and Bell became her daughter.

Juan felt intrigued by Nikki and her daughter and oddly protective of them too. He knew they were hiding something but the more he got to know them the more he felt inclined to help them, not even the truth scared him off it just made all the more determined to keep them safe. All the while Juan and his team mates are working his cold case which has suddenly become hot again with the only witness disappearing only to reappear and get shot at and put into a coma. Vikki is hesitant to accept any help from anyone but Juan isn't easily put off, the sexual attraction is one thing but Vikki starts to actually trust Juan. 

Overall, I loved this book. It was an exciting read with great characters, Bell is adorable. I loved the descriptive foreplay and then leaving the sex up to the reader's imagination it was just enough to satisfy me. It is a nicely balanced romantic suspense and it can be read as a standalone. I look forward to Connor's book next.     

ARC REVIEW Don't Close Your Eyes by Christie Craig

Texas Justice #1, Really I'm pretty easy all a book has to do is say the setting is in Texas and I'll more than likely pick it up, especially if it's a romantic suspense... or western/cowboy, historical or contemporary. Anyways, first book in a new series and a first time author for me. I loved it. It's a little slow moving at parts but it's a fantastic story with great characters who have plenty of baggage to complicate things and a pretty interesting mystery.

Mark Sutton is a hot tempered cop, as punishment he was sent to the cold case files along with two other misfits in the department, but the joke is on their susperiors they have solved more cold cases working together then ever. The three of them are working a case of a missing girl they were able to find when a woman walks into Marks office with a  peculiar case of her own.

Annie Lakes has had nightmare all her life, but recently with the discovery of a little girl found in a lake her dreams have come more frequent and more like a memory. When at a relative's funeral a cousin she hasn't seen in years mentions someone Annie can't remember but suddenly her dreams are more vivid and she's actually remembering a night long ago and a cousin who disappeared. From news reports she knows Mark Sutton is the man for the job. But with a gut feeling there's not much to go on. When Mark takes the case he becomes more intrigued her family is insular and keep to themselves and the more Mark tries to question them the more suspicious he grows that something did happen that night.

It's an instant attraction between Mark and Annie. Annie's past experience left her hesitant to start anything new but Mark's sweet seduction was hard for her to ignore and turn down. The closer to the truth they get someone starts to threaten Annie and Mark is determined to protect her even if it's against her own family even her own mother. Overall, it was a great story I really enjoyed it. It was a great suspense and the romance was really good too. I loved the secondary characters, Mark's partners in the cold case department and I hope to see their books soon.        

FOREVER SUMMER READING with Christie Craig

What’s in Christie Craig’s travel bag?

Between conferences, family visits, and weekend getaways, summer usually means a lot of hopping on planes and going places.  And there are several things that always fly the skies with me.

·       
T    The under-the-seat bag: Don’t tell anyone, but I’m short.  And getting a bag into the overhead bins can be real B with an itch for me. So, I love these under-the-seat bags that are easy to travel with and keep all my must-haves, like my computer (yes, I work on planes if I don’t have a nosy neighbor and am not working on a sexy scene) or a book, in reach. 

·      Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara:  Weekend getaways normally don’t require a lot of makeup.  But I will almost always add a touch of mascara.  And for the longest time I’ve been unhappy with my go-to mascara.  After trying about six different ones, I picked up this brand and know I’d found my favorite.

·       Olay Total Effects 7 in One Face Cream:  Growing up, we had a swimming pool, and I spent my share of time in the sun. And while I’m not the type to worry too much about a few lines on my face, I found I really like this anti-aging moisturizer. And it has sun screen in it so it a big win-win for summer. 

·        Chapstick:  The best beauty tip I’ve even gotten was to smile more. Nothing lights up a face more than a smile.  But nothing will stop me smiling more than dry and cracked lips. Keeping a chapstick in my purse helps keep my smiles coming.

·       Hand Lotion:  I was never a big lotion person until I heard that one of the first places a woman shows her age is on her hands. Since then, I’ve found I always keep some close by. And this one comes in a great purse size.

·        The book going with me on my next trip: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.  I can’t wait to read this one.  After telling another writer Friend, Colleen Thompson, about my upcoming book, Don’t Breathe a Word and its ties to domestic violence, she said I needed to read this one. And since every book she’s ever recommended appealed to me, I’m picking it up. I also found out that the book just sold movie rights. 

--

About Christie Craig: Christie Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-nine books. She is an Alabama native, a motivational speaker, and a writing teacher, who currently hangs her hat in Texas. When she’s not writing romance, she’s traveling, sipping wine, or penning bestselling young adult novels as C.C. Hunter. For more info on Christie and her books, please visit ChristieCraig.com.

Don't forget to check out her new book

Don’t Close Your Eyes

by Christie Craig 
 will hit shelves on August 28, 2018.

Book link

And don't forget to check out these other blogs from this week to find out more about Christie Craig!

Only One More Page

Seduced By A Book

Books Addict Romance