ARC REVIEW I See You by Mary Burton and a bonus novella Christmas Past

Criminal Profiler #2, Part of a series but can be read as a standalone like with most of Mary Burton books.  Burton's writing is engaging and thrilling and always keeps me on my toes, Written in third person the POV goes from protagonist to side characters and switches to first person POV for the antagonist, still keeping the identity of the baddie a secret 'til the end.

FBI Special Agent Zoe Spencer started of life as a dancer but due to an unfortunate accident she had to stop dancing which lead her to art and then to the FBI. Although she is a criminal profiler she also gets pulled onto cases requiring her artist talent and does forensic sketches or sculptures independently from her team. Most recently she was given a charred skull that was discovered by a reporter who was given a tip. A tip from the very person who put the body in there in the first place who was looking for some recognition after all this time.

Discovering who the skull belonged to puts her smack in the middle of the cold case investigation working side by side with her occasional lover Homicide Detective William Vaughn. The more questions they ask the more the killer gets nervous and soon the cold case is hot again with another murder, and another. Working together Vaughn and Zoe try to figure out what happened all those years ago and why the killer started up again, unless he never stopped.

Vaughn and Zoe keep it professional for the most part but soon realize what they have is not casual anymore but Zoe isn't sure she's ready to move on from the death of her husband with someone new someone with the same occupation. This case bring them closer than ever but catching this killer is going to make them both realize something big. Overall it's a really good read it keeps you going from start to finish. Mary Burton is one of my go to authors for romantic suspense and this one did not disappoint.





Originally published on 2012 in an anthology (Silver Bells) and is part of her Richmond Virginia series. It is a standalone novella but the only bad thing about this one is that it feels like it should be part of a full length novel. It feels like it's a follow-up to another story. Photographer and new mom Nicole Piper survived her manipulative and abusive husband but even from the grave he torments her. A letter written to her before his death that explains he wasn't the one who killed her friend but the identity is in a safe deposit box. Along with with Homicide Detective David Ayden, who was there the first time around her husband tormented her and helped safe her life, Nicole goes to find out the truth. David hasn't felt this way about a woman for a while after the death of his wife he never thought he could but now that the case is over he's free to pursue a relationship with her, that's if she's interested. David isn't about to let her go off and handle this on her own who knows what her psychotic, late husband set up for her and Nicole hesitant but accepts his help. Nicole feels the same as David but is afraid of her own judgement even though she's seen proof he's a good person. This Christmas is going to change her life but will it be for better or worse. Overall, despite the feeling like I was missing a whole other story it was a good read. It was intense and it's short enough you can just breeze right through it.

ARC REVIEW Her Last Word by Mary Burton

Her Last Word is a standalone romantic suspense and psychological thriller. Different from Burton’s other Romantic Suspense Her Last Word follows a slightly different formula. You have the main present day storyline interceded with short “Interview Files” that fills in the blanks further on what happened fourteen years ago. I loved how she did this, the interview files at times has a foreshadowing quality sometimes not as ominous just a clue as to who they will be talking to next and what their part was in the original case. This is more suspense/thriller than romance, it’s not until close to the end that the main characters get together, which I also liked because they spend most of the time focusing on the case and not their feelings for one another. The sexual chemistry does exist it’s quite amusing how many times someone else mentions the obvious attraction between them and when they finally do give in it’s pretty hot.

Gina Mason was a girl everyone liked until one night she disappeared. The only witness to the kidnapping was her younger cousin, Kaitlin Roe. Fourteen years later Gina still hasn’t been found and Kaitlin has returned to bring this cold case back to life. Kaitlin plans to do a podcast and bring focus back to Gina and see if maybe after all these years someone, somewhere has a clue to what happened. But soon after Kaitlin starts one of Gina’s best friends is murdered and Detective John Adler doesn’t think it’s a coincidence. Kaitlin not going to stop digging into her cousin’s disappearance even if it puts her into the cross hairs of a killer. Adler is determined to solve both cases and keep Kaitlin safe.

Overall, it’s an outstanding story. The characters are well written, aside from Kaitlin and Adler who are fantastic characters, Logan and Quinn were a nice addition to the story. Quinn’s unfavorable look on Kaitlin was a nice contrast to Adler’s unwavering belief in Kaitlin. Kaitlin and Adler are similar in their tenacity and while Adler may want to protect her he doesn’t treat Kaitlin like she’s inept. Kaitlin is no damsel in distress she is perfectly capable to handle herself and she doesn’t run off doing stupid things without thinking it through, after what happened to Gina she’s paranoid. All in all I loved this book.   

My review can also be found here: Ramblings From This Chick

ARC REVIEW The Dollmaker by Mary Burton

Mary Burton does it again, she creeped me out and had me fall in love. Sadly I missed the release of The Shark the first book in the Forgotten Files series but worry not it was not necessary to read it to read this one.

Firstly the romance aspect of the story was probably the easiest part of the story, Tessa and Dakota have been estranged for about half of their marriage. Tessa was best friends with Dakota's little sister who was murdered in college and it was never solved. Tessa and Dakota didn't met up again until years later and then had a whirlwind romance and quickly got married, but after being married for some time and a very difficult case that hit a little too close to home for police detective Dakota they started having issues. Not knowing what to do Tessa give an ultimatum, and when Dakota doesn't give in she leaves for Vietnam, identifying the soldiers in unmarked graves. But after eight months Tessa realizes what went wrong and is back and wants to start over with Dakota. Dakota is scared that Tessa will just leave again like she did last time. he isn't good about showing his emotions or anything and as much as he loves Tessa he's scared he'll get hurt again.

Now the good part, someone has been kidnapping woman and keeping them until finally kills them and he leaves them in a place they will be easily found but they are tattooed and dressed up to look like dolls. It's sick and twisted in it's own right but Tessa makes the connection that the victims were all connected and that she falls into that connection. With Tessa at risk Dakota steps up and does everything he possible can to protect her. The more they try to find out about The Dollmaker they more they discover that it goes farther back than they think.

Overall, Mary Burton is quickly becoming my go-to author for creepy and intense suspense with a touch of romance. I know I talked a bunch about the romance but I didn't want to spoil to much about the serial killer. This was a great one and I can't wait for more.  

ARC REVIEW Vulnerable by Mary Burton

Book four of the Morgans of Nashville series by Mary Burton and this one is just as creepy and suspenseful as the others. I have been waiting for Georgia's story since the beginning.

Georgia Morgan the youngest and only girl of the Morgan family, she is one of the forensic techs with Nashville PD and ever since the first book she has been pestering her oldest brother, Deke, who is in charge of the Homicide Department to let her handle some of the cold cases. Luck is on her side when Dalton Marlowe starts to put pressure on NPD to reopen his son's case. Deke gives the case to Georgia and Jake Bishop, Boston born with a dark past who previously came across as a bit of ass; but ever since Jake saw Georgia perform her cover of Faith Hill's Breathe on stage he sees her in a different light and is falling in love with her. Georgia is a little oblivious when it comes to Jake but then she realizes why he acts he way he does with her and she basically says why the hell not.

Mike Marlowe, Bethany Reed, and Amber Ryder all went into the Percy Warner Park for a science experiment; only Amber came out alive and she couldn't tell anyone what had happened because she claims to have amnesia. Georgia, all ready to start on her case, has called Amber to ask her questions. Five years and still no clue or bodies have been found. That is until a local girl is found dead, her body dumped in a cave and as Georgia is doing her thing collecting evidence she uncovers two more bodies hidden deeper in the cave. The two bodies are revealed to be Bethany and Mike. Amber's return has Dalton in a stir, he doesn't believe her amnesia story and blames her for his son's death. The more Jake and Georgia ask around the more they slowly discover the truth and with all their poking and prodding it has the culprit on edge.

Overall this was a great twisting and turning suspense, more suspense than romance but then again I love those. It does reveal something early on but then through out the book it has you wondering WTH! I really enjoyed this one. I love Mary Burton's style of writing and the connection she writes   between the characters themselves and the connection that you feel for the characters. I can't wait for more.        

ARC REVIEW I'll Never Let You Go by Mary Burton

Book Three of the Morgan's of Nashville series, yea! Oh my gosh this book! Alex Morgan the tight ass of the family shows a softer side when Leah Carson walks into his life. I loved this book it was constant sitting on the edge, anticipation of what's going to happen next. It had a Shyamalan kinda twist, well I wasn't expecting it, but then looking back I'm thinking how could I miss it. Mary Burton is great, I love her suspense, the romance plays second fiddle to the romance but the romance always feels sincere never rushed; her characters are realistic and strong. Even the sections from the pov of the killer gives more to the creepiness of the book.

Leah Carson had the courage to leave her abusive relationship, and what did it get her stabbed twenty-three times by her crazy ex-husband. Leah almost died if it wasn't for the fact that she slept with the phone under her pillow, 911 on speed dial, and an experienced police officer who kept her from bleeding out. Four years later she is getting to the point where she wants to move on with her life she is a vet at a local Nashville clinic. She still keeps a meticulous journal of the day's events more habit and OCD then paranoia these days she even is willing to start dating again.

Alex Morgan works for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, other cops either tolerate him or despise him. His brother Deke has called him on his latest case; a torso is found, that's it just a torso that was also burnt to a crisp. Alex was called in because in in a bag close by was the business card for a vise cop, Deidre Jones that Alex just started investigating. The initial reason Alex asked Leah out was because she is friends with Deidre, but it wasn't the only reason, he feels a connection with her an attraction he hasn't ever felt with anybody ever before. Alex isn't the only one with ulterior motives, Deidre befriends Leah for reasons of her own, but before she could accomplish her mission she is murdered, stabbed twenty-three times.

Leah is becoming increasingly paranoid, things that her ex did before the escalated and tried to killer her have been happening again and now with Deidre killed in the same manner that almost took her life and especially since she found Deidre's body she's struggling to remain calm, after all her ex is dead. When Leah finally trust Alex enough to confide in him everything that's been happening, Alex finally tells her he doesn't think her ex is dead. The relationship between Alex and Leah is slow moving, the attraction is definitely there but the trust is slow going and Leah soon realises that when Alex commits himself to someone he does it wholeheartedly, he may not show his emotions, but it's all in the little things he does and nothing will stand in the way of him protecting Leah.

Overall, this is a great book for the season. It's creepy and intense a great nail biter.          

ARC REVIEW Be Afraid by Mary Burton

Be Afraid book two in Mary Burton's Morgans of Nashville series is aptly named. I was so caught up in the storyline I forgot to make a guess on who dunnit, and it was surprising. Much like the first one it focuses more on the mystery and suspense over the romance aspect. This is a weird story and I love it! The bad guy, the puppet master working the strings of other killers helping them along to follow through on their psychopathic fantasies is obviously a split personality, similar to Jekyll and Hyde, one named Madness and one named Reason. They start off the book with the murder of a local real estate agent.

In the last book, which it really does not matter if you have read or not the only thing about it that pertains to this story is the introduction to the Morgan family and the fact that the name is legendary with the Nashville PD. Rick Morgan and his dog a police trained Belgian Shepherd, Tracker; were both shot in the line of duty and have had time off coming back Rick goes into homicide and even though Tracker has officially retired still comes into work with Rick. Together with his new partner Bishop, who has a chip on his shoulder the size of Boston which is where he is from originally; work are called in on a case where the remains of a child are found wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in a trash bag at the bottom of a park fountain. Georgia Morgan the baby and only girl in the family and also the forensics expert for NPD wants this case solved, and since all the forensic artist have a backlog she asks visiting artist Jenna Thompson to do it.

Jenna Thompson is on voluntary leave from her own precinct after a case that hit to close to home for her. Now she is in Nashville researching her horrible past. When she was five Jenna's entire family was murdered only she was spared and taken by the killer and locked in a closet for nine days. She remembers the incident but there's one thing she is drawing a blank on and it has to do with a second man; a man she can draw except for his eyes she half thinks it's just a phantom someone her mind created. In helping Rick with the reconstructing she starts off a series of events that entwine everything and everyone.

Rick is automatically suspicious about Jenna she is hiding something but gives her the benefit of the doubt trusting her she will tell him in time, he is also very attracted to her. Jenna doesn't want to be attracted to Rick but its an attraction that can not be denied. Strange things are happening women are being murdered and then set on fire when one of the murders is found dead of an overdose it seems to be closed cut and dry but another happens and once again the murder is found dead. The key to the man behind it all was the one who got away.

This is one I could not put down. I would recommend this to any mystery thriller fan.

Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton

Cover Your Eyes new Romantic Suspense from Mary Burton. Wooo emphasis on the suspense. A mind bending thriller and I guessed wrong!! I always make a guess and most of the time (almost always) I guess right, not this time. It is an attention grabber, it enthralled me to the very end. Mary Burton is a magician with writing, she makes you look in one direction when she is leading you somewhere else completely. It is definitely a book that I will recommend to anyone who reads suspense, mystery and thrillers.

Rachel Wainwright is still a relatively new public defender she changed her major after her brother was wrongly convicted of a crime and wasn't exonerated until after his death in jail. Rachel has now devoted her time to helping people who were wrongly convicted. Her newest case is a man convicted of murder thirty years ago. He is on deaths bed and his only wish is to be free and spend his last moments with his son. Rachel wants to believes him she has gone over everything and thinks their is enough to cause reasonable doubt especially if she can get a DNA testing done on the evidence found. Rachel stirs up enough trouble that she has made herself a target.

Detective Deke Morgan is the son of the man who made his career on that case and as much as he doesn't want to believe Rachel something in his gut tells him she's right. Especially when more murdered woman fitting the same MO as the one from thirty years ago. To top it all off Deke is having very strong feelings for Rachel. Rachel has issues with trust but for some reason she feels safe with Deke. With new evidence popping up and more people dying Rachel and Deke work together to find out the truth.