ARC REVIEW The Third to Die by Allison Brennan

The first book in a new series by Alison Brennan, the Mobile Response Team is a new team not even fully formed yet that's lead by SAC Mathias Costa. Mathias is still trying to get his profiler and friends to not quit profiling and join the team and the cast that landed on his desk is just the one to do it, The Triple Killer. Kara Quinn is an undercover LAPD detective and due the the events of her last case she's on administrative leave. Her boss and friend recommended she get out of town, so she went home to Liberty Lake, Oregon. It turned out to not be quite the vacation she needed when she finds the body of a nurse by the lake the first victim of the Triple Killer.


Mathias and a few others go to Liberty Lake, the point of MRT is to help aid rural area PDs that aren't otherwise capable of handling situations like this. Ever three years this killer strikes they haven't yet determined victimology but it's the same way all three time and every crime scene is clean not evidence and what they have found isn't in the system. Mathias is determined to catch the guy this time. Kara having several good friends on the local PD force and being the one who found the first victim has a few idea she' not afraid to share. Mathias' initially thought she's could be trouble or she could be helpful and she is a little bit of both. Kara gives some helpful insight and the profiler digs deep enough to discover just who this person is and why he's killing. But, will they be able to stop him before he kills again?

This is mostly a mystery/thriller but there is a romantic element between Kara and Mathias. It's not a full on romance as there is no HEA. Like with the Lucy Kincaid series, I believe, the ongoing story of Mathias and Kara romance will go through the series. Overall, this was a great read. I enjoy Allison Brennan but I haven't read one of her books since before Luck Kincaid got her own series. I loved the flawed characters, Kara has a lot going on for her with her upbringing and her current career path. Their profiler Dr. Catherine Jones lost her sister to a serial killer recently and had a crisis of faith in her job. Mathias, well not much is said about him yet but I'm hopeful and Brennan doesn't disappoint. This was a fantastic first for the new series and I'm already looking forward to the next to see where she lead the MRT next.

ARC REVIEW Say No To The Duke by Eloisa James

The Wildes of Lidow Castle #4, A fun Historical Romance by Eloisa James. Boadicea "Betsy" Wilde has spent the last few years trying not to give anyone the impression that she takes after her mother, a mother who abandoned her children when she ran off with another man. Betsy's first year at a school taught her the rumors and whispers that were about her mother, her sister, and herself. Betsy was determined that not only was she nothing like her mother but she would prove the other girls wrong at school by getting more offers for marriage then any of them, and she did but she accepted no one.

Lord Jeremy Roden is a hero, but he doesn't feel like one. He charged his men into battle and lost every single one of his men. It was the fault of another cowardly man but Jeremy is blaming himself. To society, because he was the lone survivor, he's the coward but all the important people know the truth and he has the Wildes on his side. He's had a hard time coming home he thinks of himself as a failure. The only bright spot in his self inflicted misery is Betsy. He enjoys arguing with her and refusing to play billiards with her it isn't until the son of a Duke offers for her that Jeremy realizes he doesn't want to lose her.

Betsy decides she wants and adventure before she finally accepts this last marriage proposal but she needs someone's help,  she convinces Jeremy to finally play a game of billiards with her and if she wins he has to escort her, while she's dressed as a man, to some place where only men are allowed to go. After she wins he manages to talk her down from a five day drive to London to go to Whites to go to the nearby town to an auction but only with a chaperone. A whole group ends up going along with Betsy and Jeremy, and surprisingly enough not only does her aunt want to join her in dressing like a man so does her maybe future mother-in-law.

I loved the relationship between Betsy and Jeremy how they started as friends bickering back and forth and Betsy who never realized how much he likes her kept brushing off certain comments that is until he kissed her to prove he desired her. But because her feeling about her mother she never wanted to feel desire like that, that would prove she was just like her mother. Once Jeremy realizes just how deep his own feelings go he keeps asking Betsy to say no to the duke.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read with minimal drama and angst and what little there is is dealt with easily. I loved that Jeremy nicknamed Betsy, Queen Bess, saying it was far more appropriate for her than Betsy. Eloisa James is one of my absolute favorite historical romance writers, her characters are so real and the situations they find themselves in are always wonderful to read she's brilliant at what she does. I really can't wait for more Wildes to find their HEAs.   

Anything but a Duke by Christy Carlyle

 The Duke's Den #2, I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book of the series, with it's atypical female character and a man who loves because of it. Diana Ashby, like her father is an inventor, unlike her father she's good at it. Diana is determined to invent useful items that people need she needs an investor with connections who she can sell her pneumatic cleaning devise. Aidan Iverson worked his way up in the world, abandoned at a workhouse at a young age and later ran away. Even with his two titled best friends and business partners of an exclusive gaming house certain doors are still closed to Aidan. His only course of action is to marry into society but with no idea who his people are not even a professional matchmaker won't take up the challenge. Diana is the first woman to ever submit her invention to the Lion's Den but gets turned down for the investment. The instant attraction between Aidan and Diana leads to them working together Aidan will invest in her cleaning devise and she helps him find a titled wife. But Aidan has no wish to find a titled wife anymore now that he's found Diana.

Overall, it was a quick and fun read. Diana seems really distant but to her her inventions come first she has no interest in marrying especially if it means she has to stop working in her workshop. And even though she does feel strongly for Aidan she's scared that she's not what he need and tries to keep her feelings under control. Aidan on the other hand doesn't hide his feeling for Diana he is full on in love mode almost right from the start. It was a good read, I enjoy this series I hope we do see Diana's brother make his match in a future book he was quite the character.   

ARC REVIEW The Infamous Duchess by Sophie Barnes

 Diamonds in the Rough #4, I was really looking forward to Viola's book and was all excited when I found out that she was being paired with Henry Lowell, heir to the Viscount Armswell and brother of the last books hero. I liked Henry, I liked how his determination to make Viola his wife grew from respect and liking her into unshakeable love. Viola had been burned once before and when she married her father's old friend, the Duke of Tremaine, and he died the next day and she was left all the money; the rumors about her started. She cared about what they were saying but there was nothing she could do to stop them so she built her hospital and went about her business never going out into society. But now the new Duke of Tremaine is finally coming back from the West Indies to rightfully take his place and contest the will in which he was left nothing but the entitled lands. Henry is determined to help Viola and with help from an unlikely source he sets out to completely ruin Tremaine.

Aside from Henry's method of wooing Viola, the romance was a little underwhelming. Viola was much better as a side character than a main character and as much as I love internal struggle this book lacked the chemistry and excitement of the previous books. Overall it was a nice read but not quite as good as the previous books. I hope I'm not the only one kinda hoping that Carlton Guthrie gets a turn at a HEA. 

ARC REVIEW The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Highland Brides #7, Lynsay Sands is a great author in whatever she writes and her books are fun to read; at one point the Buchanan brothers were standing around joking that the same stuff keeps happening to them that it's always money or madness that goes after them. Her women are strong willed and in this case with Evina MacLean, who has lead the family and the clan ever since her mother died and her father distanced himself from everything and even trains the younger soldiers, she's more than just emotionally strong. She's not afraid to take charge and get what needs to be done done. So when her father falls ill and nothing is working she seeks out the healer Rory Buchanan.

Conran Buchanan is the middle child and he has always been there for his brothers and sister when they need him, he is a jack of all trade but master of none. After a long day of collecting herbs for Rory one day he takes the time to wash away the day in a nearby waterfall when he's attacked and knocked unconscious. When he wakes up he's still naked and on MacLean land they are also calling him Rory, to save his brother from the same fate he plays along good thing he knows just enough to help the Laird MacLean.

Maclean as soon as he's better manipulates a situation in which Conran is caught compromising Evi. Sadly, Evi is shot with an arrow and his plan doesn't go as smoothly as he wanted. Conran's brother show up and the truth comes out and while everyone around is pushing for their marriage Conran is willing to go through the wedding because he genuinely like Evi he'll only go through it if that's what she wants too. So he has a couple of weeks before all his brothers arrive to woo Evi. Unfortunately the arrow to Evi's chest isn't the only attempt on her life and the Buchanans go on high alert to protect Evi and try and capture the culprit.

Overall, this was a fun and exciting read from a master at her trade. Her historicals and her paranormals always exceed my expectations. The characters are all loveable and easy to sympathize with. She creates situations that are humorous and intense with a great narrative and a picturesque setting.       

ARC REVIEW Crucible by James Rollins

 Sigma Force #14, Another hair raising, death defying, action packed, FANTASTIC read from James Rollins. If you haven't read the entire series yet I really recommend it, it's history, science, religion, and action adventure all rolled into one. Another nice thing, IMO, is I don't think you have to read the others to enjoy and follow this one. There are a few things references to a certain person in a past book but nothing to major, and the major characters are all established and there are quite a few characters to keep track of fortunately they are split into two groups, sometimes three, and with the third person POV you follow everyone, and in this books case you even follow the evolution of an AI.

Seichan and Monk's two daughters are missing, Kat is in the hospital barely hanging on, and now Monk, Gray, and their team have to track down a young woman and her AI before an overzealous group that goes back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition get their hands on it and unleash a new kind of hell on the world. Gray and Monk are torn between finding Seichan, who is pregnant with Gray's unborn baby,with Monk's two daughters and once again saving the world but the person who took them wants the AI too so in order to get them back they need the AI. It also helps that they know Seichan and what she's capable of, Monk's daughters couldn't be in better, safer hands even at eight months pregnant she's deadly.

I'm an emotional reader, I will laugh out loud in public at funny parts and I WILL bawl my eyes out if the situation calls for it. The beginning of this book and the end of the book had me in tears, big fat ugly tears. The rest of the time I was at the edge of my seat and holding my breath it was intense. It stands for reason that Rollins is one of my top five favorite authors he delivers, with every single book you get an action packed, emotional, educational, entertaining read. Each new book is my favorite and this is no exception this book wrecked me in all the best ways.   

SEASON'S READINGS Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler

Christmas Camp #1, This is a quintessential lighthearted Christmas romance where someone learns to appreciate the spirit of Christmas. Haley Hanson isn't really a Grinch, she really just indifferent to Christmas. She grew up poor and never really celebrated it, as an adult now she'd rather take her parents to the Bahamas then stick around all the Holiday craziness. Haley is in marketing and her next promotion depends on her next big client. Unfortunately the big client Haley brought in was given to a co-worker why, because it was a Christmas campaign for a Big old fashioned toy manufacturer. Haley's boss is willing to let her present her idea but she has to go to Christmas Camp.

Christmas Camp was founded by Ben Jacoby and his wife. They hold it every year at their inn the Holly Peak Inn and even now after the her death Ben continues to do it in her honor. What they wanted was a way to rejuvenate someone's holiday spirit, remind the of the magic of Christmas and that the most important thing during the season is family and friends, and a way of learning some new traditions. Haley goes figuring she came breeze  through the week work on her presentation at the same time get her certificate land the client and get her promotion. What really happens is that Haley finds her Christmas spirit and discovers what she really wants to do and falls in love with the innkeeper's son.

Jeff Jacoby loves Christmas, he loves his job as an architect, and he loves his father but after the death of his mother Jeff has put his personal life on hold to take care of Ben. Jeff wants Ben to sell the inn and move to Boston closer to him. Ben's getting older Christmas Camp is getting harder to do with only the housekeeper, Laura, to help and he's not making as much money as he needs to keep the place going. Jeff thinks his way is the best thing to do but Ben loves Christmas Camp to much to stop doing it but doesn't see another option that is until Haley discovers the problem and comes up with a brilliant idea. As Jeff helps Haley discover Christmas magic they start to fall in love but Jeff is an idiot and gets mad at her for wanting to help his father save Christmas Camp.

Overall, this was a good read.  I really think it would be better as a movie. I watched The Christmas Prince and this year's sequel and wasn't that impressed with either and compared to Christmas Camp I preferred Christmas Camp and of course like with The Christmas Prince this book is getting a sequel, Christmas Camp Wedding. It was easy to read, heartfelt and funny; it has an adorable dog, and has side characters that really bring it all together. This is a good Holiday read and when NetFlix makes it into a movie I will watch it.       

ARC REVIEW A Duke Changes Everything by Christy Carlyle

The Duke's Den #1, Great story, great characters, great setup for the series. Nick Lyons was born the second son of a Duke but his father hated him never believed that he was legitimate; it wasn't true but his father made his life hell. It got so bad His mother had to run away with him to keep him safe. Now Nick is a self made man co-owner of a gaming hall and much to his dismay he's the new Duke of Tremayne. Thomasina  "Mina" Thorne was raised like a lady she on the other hand had other plans. Raised by her father the Steward to Enderley Castle and was taught everything she needed to know to run the land; her father also instilled in her an unwavering sense of loyalty to the land and its people so much so that when he died she seamlessly stepped into his role. Nick hates Enderley Castle it's filled with nothing but bad memories he plans to liquidate its assets and lease the house to the highest bidder but then he meets Mina Thorne.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I loved all the internal conflict that both Nick and Mina deal with. Nick with his memories of the house and Mina with her sense of duty to the house despite her own dreams and then them dealing with their feelings for each other and their very different stations.      

ARC REVIEW Escape Velocity by Jonathan Paul Isaacs

The Quantum War Series #1, New author for me, very impressed. I really enjoyed this one it's action packed and the characters are well written. It's third person POV but the focus switches between Lieutenant Wyatt Wills and his Staff Sergeant Laramie McCoy. The story kind of reminds me of Resident Evil (the movies) meets The Omega Man (Yes the Charlton Heston movie) but in space. I liked the world building the descriptive narrative was wonderfully done the characters have plenty of depth. Wyatt is dealing with guilt from the last mission that cost several people their lives and him his leg. Laramie, I loved her, she's a badass chick I pictured her looking something like Rhonda Rousey.

Wyatt's first mission back from medical leave is to take his team through the quantum gates from Proxima to Alpha Centari A and then on to the colonized planet of Juliet. All communication and interstellar travel between the two has stopped. Juliet has gone silent. What they find there is far more disturbing and deadly than dealing with pirates on Proxima.   

Overall, it was a great read. It has intense action the pacing is great. It does leave off with a bit of a teaser for the next book which has me hooked, I'll definitely read it. 

ARC REVIEW Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek by Anthony O'Neill

The Strange Case Continues..... Despite the 132 year difference this truly feels like a sequel the to original novella. Anthony O'Neill captured the feel, the dialogue, and the atmosphere of that time and of the first story. I always find myself fascinated with the Jekyll and Hyde story it's one of my favorite classics and I am always entertained by all the retellings of the original, especially the musical as long as it's not the Hasselhoff version.

Told from the first person POV of Mr. Utterson, like with the original, as he tries to uncover the truth about this person who claims to be his old friend Henry Jekyll. But he knows something nobody else knows something he can prove but the people who could corroborate his story are suddenly dying. I loved the dark and mysterious feel of the whole story as we see Utterson's descent into madness. The twist at the end was unsuspected and quite ingenious. Overall, between the story and where O'Neill took this and the overall feel of the book I completely enjoyed this one.

ARC REVIEW Vampires Like It Hot by Lynsay Sands

Argeneau #28, I get excited everytime I see one of these books. This one is kind of a love triangle and I don't particularly care for those but I love where this one went with it. In the Dominican Republic toward the end of the season Raffaele and his two cousins Zanipolo and Santo are vacationing. Why would three immortals be on a tropical island? Santo needed a break from the normal after his time in captivity at the hands of the mad scientist he was suffering from PTSD and two Zani claimed where else would they find their lifemates. Also on the island, Jess Stewart, who is there for her cousin's wedding. Jess gets talked into going on a pirate ship to go feed the sharks little does she know that's an euphemism for feeding hungry immortals. Jess manages to escape the ship and swim for shore she wouldn't have made it but fortunately Raffe saw her out there and helped her the rest of the way. Jess doesn't want them to think she's crazy by spouting off about vampires so she omits that one detail from her story but because their ability to read minds they know the truth, well except Raffe because he can't read her. Since she is a possible lifemate for Raffe, he and his cousins will do anything to protect her especially since those rogue vampires keep coming after her and even keep the truth from her about who they really are. The truth is by far more complicated than anyone can guess.

In typical Lynsay Sands fashion the quirky immortals make things more difficult than they need to be but their hearts in the right place. I liked the spin on the love triangle trope, love triangle Argeneau style. Overall, another great Argeneau story. You can count on Lynsay Sands to be consistent in her writing the characters are all very amusing, especially side characters (Zanipolo is hysterical) and story has its ups and downs and the ending has a pretty good ending I wasn't expecting. I hope we get to see more of these guys.   

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Batman: The Court of Owls Saga

BATMAN: 

The Court of Owls Saga

DC Essential Edition

by Scott Snyder

Story: Bruce Wayne has plans for Gotham. A plan for the betterment of the city new housing more jobs but it's not completely altruistic he has several hidey holes and caches planned throughout all the new buildings all over the city. Not everyone agrees with Bruce's plans for the city and now he has gained the attention of an ancient society, The Court of Owls, the court has sentenced Bruce Wayne to death but Bruce doesn't die so easily. Finding the court becomes an obsession for Batman just as the court becomes obsessed with him.

Art: I really enjoyed the art by Greg Capullo. It's dark and it's gritty which fits in with the story but it's also very pretty it's easy to tell what's what especially in action sequences. The covers alone standout in my mind they captured the feel of the story. Great lines, great colors, it's fantastic art to go with a great story

Review: Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I always found the Court of Owls storyline intriguing. I mean how can a secret society of the richest most influential people run Gotham and Bruce Wayne not know anything about it. Granted he knows something about it, he has always suspected they had something to do with the death of his parents but at the time he found something but nothing and they have been silent for years until Bruce's proposal to improve Gotham. I loved the progression of the story. The torment of Batman and how he was able to compartmentalize everything and focus on what needed to be done. I love it when Batman gets this dark and emotional. 

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album - The Deluxe Edition

Batman/Catwoman
The Wedding Album
The Deluxe Edition

by; Tom King

issues #24, 44 & 50

Story/Art: I think the story is pretty self-explanatory, they are getting married each is writing a letter to the other the artwork as you read the letters alternating between the two was fantastic. It's their history from their very first meeting artwork recreated by Mikel Janín and all the other times they met showcasing the artwork from a variety of artist throughout the years; like Frank Miller, Amanda Conner, Tim Sale, Rafael Albuquerque, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, David Finch, Jose Villarrubia, Alex Sinclair, Hi-Fi, Clay Mann, Joёlle Jones and a whole bunch more.

Review: Bittersweet. I have always loved the idea of Batman and Catwoman together (blame Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer). But I always knew no matter how much they said they love each other they could never be happy together. The Catwoman ending of Injustice had it right, they can play act at the happily ever after but ultimately Selena would get bored. She may act altruistic at times because she's not evil at heart but she's still a villain; she can never truly be a hero inside this timeline. BUT then again I prefer the Batman and Talia ill-fated love story, when it was actually a love story before someone went and screwed that up, so what do I know. Overall, I really enjoyed this the love letters and the combination of all the different artwork. For being as short as it is it is mainly visual.

ARC REVIEW The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes

Diamonds in the Rough #3, The third and last of the Matthew siblings but not the last of the series. Don't worry each book can be read as a stand alone but it's nice if you have read the others. Juliette was the sickly one growing up after the death of their other sister they protected Juliette. Stuck in the house most of the time she had nothing to do but read, she grew to have a thirst for knowledge, particularly medicine, health, and the human body so when typhus broke out in her old neighborhood she knew right away what she wanted to do with her money. Juliette didn't just want to give St Agatha's Hospital her money and walk away she wanted to be able to have a say so on how her money was spent. Florian was content at being a doctor and the second born son but then his uncle gets elevated to Duke and names Florian as his heir and suddenly Florian is the most eligible bachelor in the country. As if the typhus epidemic wasn't bad enough and old enemy has shown his face again and this time his target is Florian.

Falling in love with Juliette was never part of the plan he feels like he's not good enough for her and the secret he's kept from everyone and the fact that he has received threats against those he loves keeps him from fully committing to her, no matter how much he may want to or how good she feels in his arms. Juliette is tired of being treated like she's made of glass, she knows she is made of sturdier things she can handle whatever problem that may come her way and convincing Florian that they are meant for each other just maybe the hardest thing ever. But when those threats come to fruition Florian will do anything to keep Juliette safe.

Overall, a fantastic read. I absolutely adore Juliette. Sophie Barnes is a great writer, the active setting transports you in time and I never have problems visualizing the story in my head with her books. The characters are strong willed and so caring the story draws you in and for me the heartfelt story and the character you end up really caring for made the whole book very much a fantastic read.     

ARC REVIEW Herokiller by Paul Tassi

Every now and then I give my romance brain a rest and enjoy something non-romance, this month it was Herokiller. The blurb compares it to Ready Player One, I don't know why it's not at all like it except for the fact that it's a futuristic world where an eccentric rich old guy has done something that everyone wants to join. This dystopian world I would compare this more to Running Man, Death Race 2050, and a little bit Gamer because entertainment is violence based; and then mixed with Mortal Kombat and Gladiator. The villainous eccentric rich old guy, Cameron Crayton, is a mix between Ken Castle from Gamer, the Chairman from Death Race and Commodus from Gladiator. Tie in all that with black-ops and espionage and you have this amazingly intense story.

Mark Wei is a former CIA spy, he's probably one of the only remaining spies still alive from the Second Cold War which he was instrumental in ending. But the cost of doing so lost him everything now he just drinks until he passes out and works out until he's exhausted enough to sleep. Until his former handler calls him back onto duty. Marks job now is to infiltrate Cameron Crayton's newest reality tv show The Crucible and find out who he is where he came from and if he's working with the Chinese. The Crucible is promised to be the most violent shows ever, it's an arena sport pitting person against person. Sixteen cities, one top fighter from each city. All sorts of people from everywhere fighting bare handed in whatever style they want; the top sixteen get the fortune and glory. In the end only one man is left standing because the big event between the last sixteen fighters is gladiator style, to the death. There are three parts to the story part one is intro and start of The Crucible, introduction to the top Sixteen. The second part is the top sixteen training gladiator style where there is bonding between the characters and of course spying. Part three is the intense, emotional, white-knuckling part where The Crucible starts and people you've grown to love die. Yeah it's one of those it's what to the death means people.

I loved Mark's character, there is so much to him. Intermittently throughout the book you see another part of him who he was before the Second Cold War and what happened to him during his time as a spy and what happened after to make him who he is today and you see all this through flashbacks, old recordings and him actually telling part of the story. Crayton was a perfect villain he also reminded me of Killian from Running Man heck Crayton even had dancers like Killian did in Running Man. I would love to see this as a movie or a four part miniseries (because part three is long) I can totally see Malcolm McDowell as Crayton. Overall, I think it's pretty obvious I loved this book. Paul Tassi has a great active setting, a great narrative, and he really pulls you in and emotionally ties you to the characters; and ooh, what a twist. I would definitely read more books if they had Mark Wei in them.