Mercy Conde has all the confidence she needs in the corporate world of running her parents restaurants. What she lacks in confidence is her abilities Mercy Conde has all the confidence she needs in the corporate world of running her parents restaurants. What she lacks in confidence is her abilities and strength to take care of herself in dangerous situations. To prove to her parents she can do just that and take over their international business, she enroll in Brothers In Arms self defense course.
Vann Highrider is one third of the owners of Brothers In Arms. With Cherokee blood, he's known for his tracking skills. And certain activities around their company are raising his suspicions that may be related to their last case. His job however is distracted by Mercy, who can't seem to get any closer to her goals of getting physically stronger. So he takes her under his wing one on one to improve her skills.
This is a short quick read, the relationship between Vann and Mercy develops quite fast, and their connections are instantaneous. Although the threat to the company is related to the last book, you get enough background that you don't feel lost in the story. The suspense could be built upon a bit more but I still enjoyed the overall story.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
We know Nathan and Tamsyn from the first couple of books and this novella in the anthology gives us a glimpse on Beat of Temptation review... 5 stars!
We know Nathan and Tamsyn from the first couple of books and this novella in the anthology gives us a glimpse on how they came to be.
I loved every minute of this. It pulled at your heartstrings. Nate and Tammy recognized each other as mates when Tammy turned sixteen. Nate is stubborn and protective but only wants the best for his mate. His parents loved when they were also young but the mating bond wasn't strong enough to make them last. Nate didn't want that for himself and Tammy. He thinks he's doing what's best for her by holding back and let Tammy grow and expand her freedom in life experience. But all Tammy wants is to love Nate. It took a bit for Nate to come to his senses and everything about them was sweet and sexy. Love the flower scene and the epilogue with their twins. ...more
I've been waiting for Gabe's book ever since he appeared in The Guardian Angelinos series. I always imagined a heroine deserving of him enough but canI've been waiting for Gabe's book ever since he appeared in The Guardian Angelinos series. I always imagined a heroine deserving of him enough but can also bring him to his knees. A heroine that's strong enough to match him but also challenge him. And the author definitely delivered in Lila/Isadora.
Book 1 and 2 built up to this finale. Gabe thought he lost the woman he loved along with his only son. Until a woman shows up claiming to be Isadora and that his son is also alive and well. In a world of spies, Gabe is a lone wolf, who always have his guard up and does not trust anyone. So could he actually believe this woman? She looks, talks, walks, and carries herself differently from Isadora.
Lila Wickham has been so deep undercover for the last 5 years, she's no longer the same person. Now that she's free from her CIA duties, she wants to return to the man whom she left years ago, but would he believe her story let alone recognize her?
The premise behind this story is intriguing though you may have to suspend some disbelief to buy into it. I don't know much about CIA stuff but perhaps implantation devices could be done (scary thought). Gabe took a while to see who Lila really is, she knows things that only Isadora would know, but then again she's a spy. I found his resistance plausible. Would you believe someone who shows up claiming to be the person you loved and lost?
The tension toward the end is quite high as Gabe and Lila figure out who's behind the implants. I couldn't guess who the baddie is until they showed up at the doorstep.
Gabe and Lila are wonderful together. He's cocky, but loyal and protective. She's stronger than she used to be but also vulnerable in many ways. Rafe is a devil child, he's cute but kind of bratty. I love that Nino could take him under his wings.
Overall, a nice conclusion to Gabe's story that I've been waiting years for. I guess you can say it's worth the wait.
Francesca (Chessie) Rossi. Planner. Computer genius and Gabe Rossi's baby sister. Malcolm (Mal) Harris. Ex-con. Former spy and Gabe's friend.
T4.5 stars
Francesca (Chessie) Rossi. Planner. Computer genius and Gabe Rossi's baby sister. Malcolm (Mal) Harris. Ex-con. Former spy and Gabe's friend.
Their paths crossed when their flight to Florida got delayed, and their attraction ignited into a night of pleasure... Until Mal learned of Francesca's last name and bolted from their hotel room.
Little do they know that they're both needed by Gabe to work together to search for his son. We learned from the last book that Gabe had loved and lost a woman, then finding out that he has a son, who is somewhere in Cuba. Only problem is, Gabe can't set foot in Cuba or risk death. So he needs someone who knows Cuba like the back of his hand, and his sister with her computer skills to locate his son.
Mal is an experienced spy. Chessie on the other hand, is a rookie in all things undercover, including one night stands. She may have been raised in a family full of agents/cops/spies but she feels more comfortable in front of a computer. Now she has to use her wit to work with Mal to find her nephew. But how does she feel about working with a former criminal?
This book is packed with tension, emotion and suspense. I liked Mal and Chessie separately and together. Mal thinks that finding his happiness is hopeless while Chessie is determined to help him clear his name from a crime he didn't commit. For a rookie in the field, I thought Chessie handled herself and their dire situations quite well. She was just as badass as her brother!
It was heartbreaking and promising to learn more about Gabe's little family. Which is why I'm diving right into his book next!
Great read. You don't have to read the first book to understand what's going on in this one but it makes a better impact of the characters to read it in order....more
I love that Ms. Claire is going back to her suspense roots. Although this is till relatively more CR than RS, the moments of suspense are quite4 stars
I love that Ms. Claire is going back to her suspense roots. Although this is till relatively more CR than RS, the moments of suspense are quite tense and heighten the need to stay clear from the bad guys.
Kate Kingston is sent to Barefoot Bay to be protected from death threats that her father has received. Unbeknownst to her, those death threats were targeted toward her safety rather than her dad's. With his new security business, Gabe Rossi decides to pair her up with another client, Alec Petrov, who also needs to be undercover hiding away from the Russian mob. So now Kate finds herself one half of a newly married couple. Though all she wants to do is be by herself, study for the bar exam, and wants nothing to do with another man considering her bad divorce recently. She doesn't like being told what to do or be under another's "control" making decisions for her. That said, her stubbornness frustrated me at times when she put her live and Alec's in danger.
Alec Petrov is a tortured hero. Tortured by his past, always running from demons he can't escape. The Russian mob wants to own Alec, but Alec wants nothing to do with being used as a killer. Now he's off in paradise, hiding but also protecting a woman who he finds himself attracted to but thinks he's unworthy of.
The romance was slowly developed. The characters play intricate roles weaving the plot together.
The epilogue makes me want to jump right into Gabe's book, his pain was quite palpable, but I want to read Chessie's story as well so I guess I'll need to keep it in reading order....more
Enjoyed this one! Kept me guessing all throughout the story. I had a few guesses even though my number 1 suspect turned out to be wrong. It was a goodEnjoyed this one! Kept me guessing all throughout the story. I had a few guesses even though my number 1 suspect turned out to be wrong. It was a good twist to the plot.
Eve gotten away from a serial killer but now has dissociative amnesia, where she lost her memories of who she was, where she came from, and why she has this need to hide but also need to find out who she truly is. Hence, her reason to seek out LOST agency ran by Gabe Spencer along with his selected and trusted friends to help her find herself.
Gabe is used to people needing his help to find their loved ones, not to find their own identity, but when he saw Eve, he was pulled to her.
The search for the true Eve lead to Dauphin Island, where the past and present collide. There's a few characters that made my suspect list, the fun was in the guessing and the why's and how's. Now I can't wait to continue withe series as each member of LOST all has a dark and tragic past and story to be told! ...more
Six months ago, the CDC and its head researcher Lynne Harmony was trying to find a cure for a bacterial con4.5 stars
Excellent beginning to the series.
Six months ago, the CDC and its head researcher Lynne Harmony was trying to find a cure for a bacterial contagion found on a meteorite that was unleashed. The bacteria causes fever within hours and a change in the infected person's brain that either enhances some of their intelligence or turn them into sociopaths and serial killers, also known as Rippers. Lynne was infected in the first couple of weeks but she survived, along with having a glowing blue heart.
Now Lynne is on the run from a force that is out to hunt her down and possibly kill her. The bacteria has killed 90% of the population, and what's left of people are scattered around the the states forming rogue groups and gangs made for survival. One of those groups is Vanguard led by Jax Mercury and Lynne is determined to find him and seek his help.
There are rumors that Lynne is dangerous so people are reluctant to get close and risk getting infected. Jax doesn't take anything at face value as he leads a band of people to survive this disease. Knowing Lynne may be able to help find a cure, he gives her his protection. The last thing he expected was to get close or form any kind of relationship, especially during times of war.
As they scavenge for food, weapons and supplies, they must fight off rival gangs and whoever is coming after Lynne.
This is the first book but the prequel Scorpius Rising lays the groundwork of how the disease spread and a little background on Lynne so I recommend reading it first before starting this one.
I really enjoyed the writing, the suspense and intensity in building up the story. There's a sense of urgency as they race against time to find a way out of their dire situation. The members of Jax's group each has secrets and I'm looking forward to finding out what they are....more
Fabulous, nonstop action. Rachel Grant knows how to hold a reader's attention. From beginning to end, you're gripped with a sense of urgency. Mara GarFabulous, nonstop action. Rachel Grant knows how to hold a reader's attention. From beginning to end, you're gripped with a sense of urgency. Mara Garrett thought she was facing a firing squad in North Korea when a US attorney, Curt Dominick, comes to her rescue. Seeing him as her hero, they fly back to the US but someone is after them. Whatever Mara saw in North Korea makes her a target. Curt Dominick has reasons to keep Mara close, and his interest goes beyond getting her to testify in a case against her uncle. What starts off as a rescue mission becomes a run for their lives, as mercenaries are after them, making sure what was found in North Korea never becomes public news.
Love the suspense chase and the romance that evolved between Mara and Curt. Another winner in the series....more
Someone has taken a fatal attraction to Mason Brown after seeing him on the news, rescuing two young children fro5 stars
I love every bit of this book!
Someone has taken a fatal attraction to Mason Brown after seeing him on the news, rescuing two young children from a burning home. Mason is injured after his heroic rescue and is in need of a home care nurse to change his bandage. In comes Gretchen Young, who wants to do more than just nurse his wounds. Rachel's senses go berserk when she meets Gretchen but she wasn't around long enough to decipher what makes her uncomfortable. It's not jealousy, at least not that she would admit to it. Rachel and Mason are still figuring out their relationship and what their next step should be. It was funny and sweet to watch Rachel figure her way in this and Mason being patient as always. On top of that, Mason's sister Marie, has had a breakdown at the psychiatric center where she's been staying. She's adamant and worried about their safety, and must find a way to get to her boys. Josh and Jeremy both have bigger roles in this book. It was nice to see them with Rachel too and see that their little "family" has grown together. Even Myrtle, cute and funny as always, gets a new friend.
It was obvious from the get go who the bad guy was, it was just a matter of seeing it play out and how the other characters become involved. There were several heartbreaking moments with the boys and their mother, I really felt for them and their situation. I was kept on edge towards the end as I was expecting something big to happen. The book resolved nicely and I loved the epilogue. I've come to love these characters and I'm glad there will be one more book after this. I rather not see the series end at all, but I'll take one book at a time!
Great wrap up to the Dean Brothers' stories, even though there are still some unanswered questions which will be in the spinoff I hope.
Jory and Piper Great wrap up to the Dean Brothers' stories, even though there are still some unanswered questions which will be in the spinoff I hope.
Jory and Piper were great characters and great together. Racing against the clock to disable the chip embedded in the brothers' spines, Piper must figure out the code with her computer skills to save their lives. Piper had some doubts about Jory as her loyalty is skewed and she's trying hard to connect to her father. But the more she learned, she has a hard time knowing who to trust. Yet she can't deny her attraction to Jory.
His brothers thought he had died but Jory is fighting hard to get back to them and saving their lives if he can't save his own. I love Jory's story and the sexy man that he is. He's protective and possessive without going into a-hole alpha territory. In fact, all the Dean brothers have the great balance of being alpha and no douche-baggery-ness.
The new twist in interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing what else is revealed....more
My first SB read and certainly not my last! Edge of the seat ride from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I'm thrown once agaMy first SB read and certainly not my last! Edge of the seat ride from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I'm thrown once again for a loop/twist. This kept me guessing not only of what or who is involved but especially to the history of our hero, who we don't learn the name of until late into the story. And I love the name! I'm ready for another one of her books. Sleep is overrated right?
Abandoned at an orphanage at a young age, John Palmer never knew the definition of love and never had any real connection to anyone. Until he met ChadAbandoned at an orphanage at a young age, John Palmer never knew the definition of love and never had any real connection to anyone. Until he met Chad and Duncan while recovering from his injuries sustained while serving his country. Months after the friends went their own way, Duncan gave John an opportunity to be part of a team again in the Lost and Found Investigative Services. With nothing to tie him down, John accepted the offer and moved to Colorado.
Living with life in a wheelchair has been hard and he's accepted it for the most part. What he wonders though is if any woman would accept him, wheelchair and all, especially when Shannon Murphy came to work at their company. Little did John know that she has her eye on him this whole time.
Even though the feelings are mutual, John didn't want to pursue Shannon thinking she deserves better than him. When Shannon's life is threatened, John decides to put his expertise of camera surveillance to capture whoever is leaving behind signs that are threatening Shannon's safety.
The mystery stalker kept me guessing right up to the point until it was revealed and the writing as well as the depth to these characters kept me glued to the pages. Again, the struggles that these men live with and the scars they carry are portrayed realistically and wasn't prettied up.
Looking forward to reading the stories of the other brave men in the series....more
Genetically engineered in test tubes, the Dean brothers were made for military operations with hyper-abilities. Then they escaped from the place that Genetically engineered in test tubes, the Dean brothers were made for military operations with hyper-abilities. Then they escaped from the place that created them and the man whom they refer to as the commander.
Years later, one of the brothers, Shane Dean ends up in the hospital with no recollections of his past life, diagnosed with amnesia after being discovered with two other men who were dead. The only ties he had is through Josie Dean, his wife of two months and whom he left abruptly with no explanation two years ago. Now Josie wants a divorce and Shane will do anything to keep her. Then danger keeps following them at every step as Shane tries to fill in his memory gap.
The prologue started out really intriguing, the mystery of Shane's missing years heightened the suspense, but then action fluctuates throughout halfway in the book. Parts of the story were predictable, although I had my suspicion of (view spoiler)[Tom (hide spoiler)] what his true character was surprised me. The other Dean brothers were also very interesting so I'll continue to read about their story and learn more about the ticking time bomb on their backs....more
Packed with suspense and action, this was a very good read. The book had a very strong beginning though I thought it slowed quite a bit around the 20-Packed with suspense and action, this was a very good read. The book had a very strong beginning though I thought it slowed quite a bit around the 20-30% mark. My interest picked up again when we got introduced to Hero's family (yes that's the heroine's name) at their family dinner. This is family with lots of love and dynamics where you can tell they truly are a unit. Being a target for a serial killer, Hero is under the protection of FBI agent Luca Ramirez. Working as close they are, they're bound for sexual tension. Things do heat up not only between Luca and Hero, but also the plot towards the end. Just when you think you had it figured out, the author throws you for a loop and makes you second guess yourself. That's the thing I really liked about this book, it kept me on my toes and guessing every chapter. From the epilogue, it looks like Knox's (Hero's brother and also a champion fighter) book is up next? I hope Vince (Luca's partner) gets his own book too. He kept the tone of the book light when things were getting intense.
“Imagine a person created for you. Another being so in tune with you that their voice was the clearest you’ve ever heard in your mind.”
All her 5 stars
“Imagine a person created for you. Another being so in tune with you that their voice was the clearest you’ve ever heard in your mind.”
All her life, Ava Matheson heard voices. These voices classified her as crazy or mental. She couldn't keep relationships because over time, her energy become so huge they overwhelm the person she's with. And there's no explanation for it. As a last resort and referral, she makes her way to Istanbul in an attempt to figure out what's wrong with her. Instead of finding a solution, a whole new world opens up for Ava to discover a love unlike no other she has known before.
What I enjoy about this book is the creative world building. I didn't really know where the author was going with it. I just had to read and find out. The first quarter of the book felt a bit slow but the wonderful writing is what kept me reading. It picks up after that and you couldn't help but be glued to the pages.
I love the character development, especially with Ava. She's been hearing these voices all her life so it was easy to see her reactions to everything that unfolded. She questioned everything instead of accepting it at face value. I also understood her insecurities and I'm so glad that Malachi was patient enough to make her see she was worth it. A miracle.
Malachi... I love the family he has with his brothers, the connectedness they have. I love that he never backed down (well, except for when he confused what Damien said lol) and he never let Ava wavered either. The ending tore my heart out!
Warning: this book ends with a cliffhanger. I really really need book 2!
This was my first read by Elizabeth Hunter. I'll be sure to read everything on her backlist....more