I am so excited to be sharing my Feature Post on this Blog Tour for this new series of Harlequin Intrigue books – TACTICAL CRIME DIVISION.
Perfect for fans of Criminal Minds and Blacklist…
Uncover the lives and loves of the FBI elite as they take on the toughest assignments. This is a new four-book miniseries featuring an ensemble cast of characters spread across 4 books, featuring 4 urgent cases, with one stellar team of crime solving experts.
The Tactical Crime Division—TCD—is a specialized unit of the FBI. Because of the growing concerns and need for ever increasing response time to criminal events, the FBI created a specialized tech and tactical team combing specialists from several active divisions that include: weapons, crime scene investigation, protection, negotiation and IT.
Each title can be read as a standalone novel, featuring a unique hard to solve crime case.
Keep following and I will be sharing a Feature Post and Book Review for each individual book in the series.
Until then, please enjoy this YouTube book trailer:
Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for this exciting new thriller and to share My Feature Post and Book Review for I MAY KILL YOU by Keith Dixon. This serial killer lets you know he is coming for you.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, an about the author section with the author’s social media links. Enjoy!
***
Book Blurb
Serial killers are secretive animals. They keep their deeds to themselves and hope never to be found.
But there’s a new man in town—a killer who warns people in advance he’s going to kill them, then does it, in a variety of unusual, even bizarre, ways.
Ex-policeman Ben Buckland wants to catch this man not because he’s on the list … but because his 15-year-old daughter is. And that’s just not fair.
Especially when the killer has sent out warnings to several hundred people …
***
My Book Review
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
I MAY KILL YOU by Keith Dixon is an intriguing new serial killer standalone thriller by a new to me author. The protagonist is an ex-DCI and the action moves along at a fast pace as he works to find the killer when his daughter is threatened.
Random people are receiving a letter in the mail that finishes with the final line – “I may kill you”.
Ex-DCI Ben Buckland left the police force three years ago in disgrace. He has been working a job he hates as a mall security guard when one of the elderly tenants in his building shows him a threatening letter. He takes it to DCI Serena Howarth at his old station and learns there have been many letters received throughout their town. When murders related to the letters are discovered and his daughter receives the same letter, the chase for a killer has now become personal.
Ben is able to figure out the way the killer will eliminate his targets, but he cannot figure out the why. As Ben consistently butts heads with the police, he is also helped by Serena as he works to find a way to stop the killer and save his daughter.
I really enjoyed this thriller. Ben is not your typical hero, but even with his moral flaws and failures, I was cheering for him and admired his love for his daughter. The killer in this book is known almost from the beginning as he tells his own story at intervals and yet it did not take away from the suspense. All the characters in this book are realistic and could walk right off the page, good and bad. This thriller moves along at an ever increasing pace to a climax that satisfies.
I enjoyed this thriller and can recommend it for an engaging and tension filled read. I will also be looking for other books by this author in the future.
***
About Keith Dixon
Keith Dixon was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the Midlands. He’s been writing since he was thirteen years old in a number of different genres: thriller, espionage, science fiction, literary. Two-time winner of the Chanticleer Reviews CLUE First in Category award for Private Eye/Noir novel, he’s the author of ten books in the Sam Dyke Investigations series and two other non-crime works, as well as two collections of blog posts on the craft of writing. His new series of Paul Storey Thrillers began in 2016.
When he’s not writing he enjoys reading, learning the guitar, watching movies and binge-inhaling great TV series. He’s currently resident in France.
I am so excited to be sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for Melinda Leigh’s CROSS HER HEART (Bree Taggart Book #1). This book has everything I look for in this genre and a protagonist I cannot wait to follow into future books!
Below you will find a book description, my book review and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!
***
Book Description
A homicide detective’s violent family history repeats itself in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, secrets, and retribution.
For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children. But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her.
***
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
CROSS HER HEART (Bree Taggert Book #1) by Melinda Leigh is the first book in a new romantic suspense/thriller series that has everything I look for in this genre. A strong, intelligent female protagonist, an engaging cast of secondary characters and a thrilling, intense plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat which all come together in this exceptional debut.
Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggart receives a call
for help from her younger sister, Erin. She drops everything and returns to her
hometown. When she arrives, it is to a nightmare which is eerily reminiscent of
her traumatizing childhood. Erin is dead and the main suspect is her estranged
husband, Justin who is missing. Bree vows to get justice for Erin and her
children.
Bree is not alone in her search for Justin. His best friend,
former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn knows Justin has
problems, but he loved Bree and he does not believe he is capable of murder. Bree
and Matt work together to uncover Erin’s secrets and to find Justin.
Bree and Matt do not realize how closely the killer is
watching. Once again, Bree’s family is in danger and she may be the next
Taggart in the line of fire.
This book is Melinda Leigh at her best! Bree and Matt are realistic,
multifaceted characters that work very well together and complement each other.
Bree and all the characters in this story come to life immediately. I found
Bree’s compassionate handling of Erin’s children to be a great example of her internal
character. The plot has a myriad of twists and turns that had me continually
surprised and turning the pages.
I highly recommend this first book in the Bree Taggert series and I am anxiously waiting for the next in the series!
***
Author Bio
#1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Over the next few years, she learned a few things about writing a book. The process was much more fun than analyzing financial statements, and she decided to turn her hobby into a career.
Her debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous publisher awards, including two Silver Falchions and three Golden Leaf Awards. She is a two-time RITA® Award Finalist and has earned three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations. Melinda’s books have sold over 8.5 million copies.
She holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate. She’s dabbled in Arnis stick fighting, studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and taught women’s self-defense. She lives near the beach with her family and a small herd of spoiled rescue pets. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.
Today I am excited for my turn on the April 2020 Harlequin Series Blog Tour. My Feature Post and Book Review is for Melissa Senate’s Special Edition book – WYOMING SPECIAL DELIVERY.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, a letter from the author, an excerpt from the book and an about the author section. Enjoy!
***
Book Description
Their feuding fathers never could have predicted this…
He came to claim the Dawson Family Ranch…but was Daisy Dawson’s heart part of the deal? Harrison McCord was sure he was the rightful owner of the Dawson Family Ranch. And delivering Daisy Dawson’s baby on the side of the road was a mere diversion. Still, when Daisy found out his intentions, instead of pushing him away, she invited him in, figuring he’d start to see her in a whole new light. But what if she started seeing him that way, as well?
WYOMING SPECIAL DELIVERY (Dawson Family Ranch Book #2) by
Melissa Senate is a contemporary romance and the newest addition to the Dawson
Family Ranch series. This story can easily be read as a standalone, but it was
so engaging that now I want to read about all the Dawson siblings.
Daisy Dawson is abandoned at the alter and decides to leave
on her own to her honeymoon hotel, but on the way her car breaks down and her
baby decides it is time to be born. Stuck on the side of the road and in labor,
the mystery man from Cabin 1 comes along just in time to help deliver Daisy’s
baby. She cannot thank him enough, until she returns home and finds out why he
is on the ranch.
Harrison McCord has come to settle a ten-year-old score for
his deceased father and terminally ill aunt. He is the rightful owner of the
Dawson Family Ranch. When Daisy returns, Harrison gets the family together and
tells them his reason for being on the ranch. The family is ready and willing
to fight him in court, but Daisy has another plan.
Can Daisy show Harrison what the ranch has meant to the
Dawson family for generations and help him change his mind about his father’s
last request? Will Harrison be able to keep this as strictly business and not
let his growing feelings for Daisy and her baby interfere with his decisions?
This is a cozy romance with no sex scenes, but a lot of love. The romance happens quickly with a lot of emotional ups and downs. I enjoy how Ms. Senate gave both Harrison and Daisy valid points of views and sides in the feud that had to be worked out for the HEA. This was an enjoyable read, but for me this plot would have been more realistic over a longer timeline.
I will be anxiously waiting for Daisy’s brothers’ stories and hoping they find all the love that Daisy wishes for them too.
***
A Letter from the Author
Dear Reader,
The nine-months-pregnant single heroine of Wyoming Special Delivery, Daisy Dawson, is one of six siblings and the only female. But when she goes into labor on the side of a Wyoming road in the dead of summer without a cell phone or a spare brother, she’s beyond grateful when the handsome, mysterious guest at her family’s dude ranch turns up—and delivers her baby boy.
But Harrison McCord has a secret reason for staying at the Dawson Family Ranch. A reason Daisy will not like one bit. Bringing her newborn son into the world, though, changes everything for the both of them.
I hope you enjoy Daisy and Harrison’s story. Feel free to write me with any comments or questions at MelissaSenate@yahoo.com and visit my website, melissasenate.com for more info about me and my books. For lots of photos of my cat and dog, friend me over on Facebook.
Happy spring and happy reading!
Warmest regards,
Melissa Senate
***
Excerpt
Late the next afternoon, Daisy stood in the farmhouse nursery with Noah and Sara and gasped as she looked around. She gently put down Tony’s infant carrier and unbuckled him, carefully cradling him along her arm as she stepped around the room. The nursery sure looked different than it had a day and a half ago. She’d had the basics of the room set up for a couple months now—the crib, the dresser with its changing pad, the glider—all gifts from Noah a few days after she’d told him she was pregnant. But now there were surprises everywhere. In one corner was an adorable plush child’s chair in the shape of a teddy bear for Tony to grow into. And someone had stenciled the wall facing the crib with the moon and stars. Tony’s name was also stenciled on his crib, which was Sara’s handiwork. And there were stacks of gifts in one corner that she knew were baby clothes and blankets and burp cloths. She wouldn’t have to buy anything for Tony for a long time.
“Ford and Rex did the moon and stars,” Noah said. “For novice stencilers who had to read the instructions twice and watch a tutorial, they did a great job.”
“And Zeke and Axel hit up BabyLand and bought that adorable polka-dot rug and the yellow floor lamp,” Sara added. “I didn’t even go with them to make sure they didn’t buy anything weird or clashing, and what they picked out is absolutely perfect.”
The room was so cozy and sweet. “You guys are going to make me cry,” Daisy managed to say around the lump in her throat as she surveyed the nursery. She used her free hand to swipe under her eyes.
She couldn’t say she and her brothers were close—well, except for Noah these days—but they were always there for her. And they’d all been there to meet Tony the day he was born. That was the one lucky thing to come out of her nonwedding—her whole family had already been at the ranch.
This place had always held bad memories for all the siblings, but after inheriting the ranch from their father, they’d all invested in rebuilding and renovating and reopening the Dawson Family Guest Ranch. Noah had done the lion’s share on his own; Daisy had been too pregnant to help much when she’d arrived a few months ago, and the four other Dawsons couldn’t get away from the ranch fast enough.
Ford had once said hell would freeze over be-fore he’d come back here, a sentiment shared by the other three brothers as well, but Ford, Rex, Axel and Zeke had surprised Noah and Daisy at the grand opening this past Memorial Day weekend. And now Axel was staying at the ranch for a bit. That meant three out of six Dawsons at the ranch at the same time. It was a start. And Daisy was going to run with it.
***
About the Author
Melissa Senate has written many novels for Harlequin and other publishers, including her debut, SEE JANE DATE, which was made into a TV movie. She also wrote seven books for Harlequin’s Special Edition line under the pen name Meg Maxwell. Melissa’s novels have been published in over twenty-five countries. She lives on the coast of Maine with her teenaged son, their sweet shepherd mix, Flash, and a comical lap cat named Cleo. Visit her website MelissaSenate.com.
TROUBLE (Dogwood Lane Book #3) by Adriana Locke is another
great contemporary romance in the Dogwood Lane series. This romance has another
of the lifelong friends meeting their match with all of the fun, sex and emotional
angst I have come to expect in Ms. Locke’s romances. This book can be read as a
standalone romance, but being set in a small-town all of the main characters crossover.
Penn Etling had a rough start growing up, but he is now the
laid-back, fun loving friend who is always willing to help. He is a player, but
everyone knows and understands what they will get from him. No harm and no
foul.
Avery Perry has moved to Dogwood Lane to live and work with
her aunt. She can no longer take the type of life she was expected to live in
L.A. as the daughter of a movie star. She is excited to make real friends who
want to know her without expectations. As she is attempting to hang a speaker,
she falls right into Penn’s arms. Avery knows guys like Penn and she is not
willing to go there. She wants a real relationship, not a one-night stand.
When these two come together the sparks fly, but is Penn
willing to give more of himself than ever before and stop his playboy ways? And
will Avery tell Penn the secret she is keeping and give him a chance to prove
he can change?
I absolutely love Penn. His hard body, bad boy persona, but
his soft heart are why all the girls want him and he is the perfect opposite
for Avery. And yet, they were not opposite in their emotional scars from their
upbringings. Avery is the type of heroine I like because even though she falls,
she is still willing to pull away and stick up for what she truly wants in her
life. All the secondary characters are fully fleshed out and many carry over
from the previous two books.
In this series, Ms. Locke has written realistic and fun
dialogue, sex scenes that sizzle and burn up the pages and characters in this
small-town setting that make you want to be friends with them all.
I recommend this contemporary romance and all the books in the series!
***
Author Biography
USA Today bestselling
author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly
obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys dreamed up by other authors,
she decided to create her own. She is the author of Tumble, the
first novel in her Dogwood Lane series; the Exception series; the Gibson
Brothers series; and the Landry Family series.
She resides in
the Midwest with her husband, her sons, two dogs, two cats, and a bird. She
spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and
cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice, and there’s always a
piece of candy in her pocket. Besides cinnamon gummy bears, boxing, and random
quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear
from you! Look for her at www.adrianalocke.com.
I am excited to be sharing my Feature Post and Book Review on this Blog Tour for SUGARCOATED (Hot Cakes Book #1) by Erin Nicholas.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, an excerpt from the book, author info and social media links. Enjoy!
***
Book Blurb
She’s
his best friend’s little sister. He’s known her all his life. He’s practically
part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the
other at this point.
Then
she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.
Now,
that was a surprise.
Aiden
is pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no.
To
say that he didn’t handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as
massive as the amount of work he’s going to have to do now to convince her that
he wants her. Forever.
Right
after he tells her that he’s bought the company that’s her bakery’s biggest competitor.
Maybe
if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole
we’re-rivals-in-business-now thing.
So, first “I’m in love with you”, then “take off your clothes”, then “I’m now your business adversary”.
Piece of cake.
***
“You can always count on Erin Nicholas for fun, sexy
contemporary romance.”―Melissa Foster,
New York Times bestselling author
Sugarcoated, an all-new sexy and laugh-out-loud standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is out now!
SUGARCOATED (Hot Cakes Book #1) by Erin Nicholas is
the first book in a new contemporary romance/romantic comedy series. This story
is a best friend’s little sister/friends-to-lovers mash-up with all the emotion,
humor and sexual chemistry I expect in a romance by Erin Nicholas.
Fluke, Inc. is a highly successful company started by five
college friends who sold their highly popular, original video game for millions.
Aiden and Camden grew up in a small town in Iowa, which is where they all become
involved in the purchase and rescue of the town’s largest employer – Hot Cakes.
Aiden is looking for an investment project so that he can
return home and claim his best friend’s sister and live happily ever after. The
opportunity to buy and save Hot Cakes to keep three hundred people employed in his
hometown pops up and he feels it is the perfect opportunity for Fluke, Inc. and
him. How can he tell Zoe he loves her, but he also bought her hated rival and
competition?
Zoe has been dreading Aiden’s return to town ever since he
turned down her surprise offering of her virginity on Christmas Eve. He is back
and shaking up everything she believes in and Zoe does not like change. As Zoe
begins to open up and believe in Aiden’s love, he is still hiding his other
reason for his return.
This is such a sweet and tasty treat of a romance. When I started this book, I thought Aiden and Zoe were so different, but they both ended up having the same fear. Ms. Nicholas’ dialogue is witty and her sexual tension and inuendo continue to ramp up the heat to a sexy and hot scene in Zoe’s bakery. The sexual banter and sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous. The introduction of Zoe’s friends and all the other men in Fluke, Inc. has you anticipating even more fun and sexy romance to come.
I recommend this first book in the Hot Cakes series and I
will definitely be waiting for more.
***
Excerpt
“Yes!” It was the wrong answer, he knew, even
as he said it. But it was true.
“You are so full of yourself!” She
frowned. “You actually thought I’d be waiting around, pining for you, didn’t
you?”
Maybe not crying herself to sleep
every night, but thinking about him? Yeah. Fuck. He hadn’t been able to get her
out of his mind for more than a few hours at a time. “It’s only been five
months,” he said. “Is it really crazy for me to think that you didn’t get your
virginity ‘taken care of’ yet?”
“Exactly! It’s been five months!” she said.
“You went twenty-five years without
sex, and you couldn’t go five more months?”
“Well, it’s not like you gave me an IOU!”
she shot back. “I had no idea when you were coming back, and I assumed your
answer would have still been no. So yeah, I moved on, Aiden.”
“Who was it?” he asked, noting his
tone was suddenly a little ominous.
“I’m not telling you that.” She
looked at him like he was insane.
“Tell me, Zoe.”
“No.”
“I’ll find out. This is Appleby. I’ll
probably know by the end of tonight.”
“You won’t.” She lifted her chin. “I
can promise you that.”
“Bet I do.”
“Why do you really even care? Now you
don’t have to do it.”
“Because you’re mine.”
Yeah, shit. See, he’d known
that was the wrong answer to give. Guys didn’t go around claiming women like
they were property or possessions. He knew that. He’d never had that urge
before. This woman was strong and independent and confident and certainly
didn’t need him for anything.
But the idea of another man touching
her, seeing her naked, making her feel the ultimate pleasure, made his blood
boil.
She stood, just staring at him. Then
she picked up a cake ball. And threw it at him. It hit him square in the red
tie and bounced back onto the table.
“You’re a jerk.”
Yeah, maybe he was. A nice guy would
probably just take all her explanations and excuses about why they shouldn’t be
together and admit his idea was crazy.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t
wipe away the sticky crumbs the cake ball left on his tie. He picked up the
ball and rounded the worktable.
Her eyes widened, and she backed up
as he came closer. He kept going. Until her back was against the front of the
fridge.
He didn’t say a word as he stopped
right in front of her, lifted his hand to cup her face, and leaned in.
Aiden ignored her hands on his chest.
She wasn’t pushing. She wasn’t pulling him closer either, but she wasn’t trying
to get away. She wasn’t lifting her knee to his balls. She wasn’t saying no.
He stared into her eyes for a long
moment. She could stop this. He knew she knew that.
She didn’t.
So he kissed her.
***
About Erin
Nicholas
New
York Times and USA
Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as
long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy,
contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,”
“steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and
happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her
husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who
will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who
claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).
