Author: Avonna

Book Review: Kiss Me, Bite Me by Sayara St. Clair

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

KISS ME, BITE ME (Blood Kissed #1) by Sayara St. Clair is described as a vampire paranormal romance, but it does not become a paranormal romance until well over halfway through the story. Normally because of this delay I would be disappointed, but the author’s writing, dialogue and contemporary romance in the beginning of the book is very well written and kept me reading and enjoying Kayana and Greg’s story.

Kayana Castello Branco is a scientist who studies blood. She overcame an abusive childhood and has never been secure in herself. Her one long-term relationship was lukewarm and ended the moment she bumped into a gorgeous stranger at a conference, but of course, with her luck he is taken.

Eight months later, Greg Morgan cannot believe his good fortune. He once again has run into the beautiful woman he could not forget. He is now free and the sparks are flying. Both Kayana and Greg believe they are the other’s soulmate. Their relationship and sex are beyond perfect until Greg disappears.

When Greg reappears, both Kayana and Greg want to return to their perfect relationship, but Greg is having control issues over his newly turned reality. Fangs and an insatiable thirst for blood may ruin this romance.

I enjoyed Kayana and Greg and was pulled into their romance. They were both unlucky in love until they found each other and then it was explosive. There are explicit sex scenes, but they are well written and interwoven into the plot. The author has written realistic and witty dialogue that added to the emotional pull between the characters. It is hard to categorize this book because the paranormal turn starts so late in the book, but even with the switch, I still was satisfied with the hero and heroine’s HEA. My only problem was that I do not feel that the cover is right for this book based on Kayana’s description and Greg grew the fangs.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Her Last Word by Mary Burton

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Mary Burton is one of those authors that when I see she has a new book out, I have to grab it right away because I know I will be able to disappear for hours into a solid, intriguing plot with realistic, interesting characters for the length of the book. She never disappoints.

Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin Roe witnessed the abduction of her cousin, Gina Mason. There were four girls partying by the river. Two friends were picked up by a relative while Kaitlin and Gina stumbled towards Gina’s home. Scared to death, drunk and drugged when Gina was grabbed, the abductor told Kaitlin to run and she did. She only has vague memories of that night, but fourteen years of guilt.

Kaitlin has returned to Virginia to make a podcast of Gina’s disappearance. She will never forgive herself, but she hopes through new interviews to bring Gina’s cold case back to life, find out what really happened and bring Gina home. Kaitlin’s podcast interviews attract attention, but not everyone wants the truth to be known.

Detective John Adler is assigned a murder case that overlaps with Kaitlin’s interviews. Is it a coincidence or is the cold case leading to murder in the present day to cover up the past? As Adler works to solve the case, he also has to worry if Kaitlin could have provoked the killer to come for her next.

This book was written not only in chapters, but it is also divided by podcast interviews. The interviews add an interesting twist, because you do not know if the person being interviewed is telling the truth. Between the current plotline, the podcast interviews and Kaitlin’s memories of the past the mystery and suspense continually build. There are several red herrings and the ending was a surprise.

The relationship between Adler and Kaitlin was realistic with Adler not giving her certain information as it was an official investigation and her distrust of police since Gina’s disappearance. The romance was well paced and intertwined throughout the last half of story in a believable fashion. I was once again satisfied in every way with a Mary Burton book!

Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Embracing Her Heart by Melissa Foster

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Once again I can say when I sit down with a Melissa Foster contemporary romance, I am never disappointed. I might debate if the plot was or was not my favorite, but I am ALWAYS in love with her characters!

EMBRACING HER HEART (The Bradens & Montgomerys, #1) by Melissa Foster is a second chance contemporary romance that had me swooning over the hero and empathizing with the heroine. This book is part of the Love In Bloom romance collection which can all be read as standalones.

Grace Montgomery has returned to her small hometown for a three week vacation from her hectic life as a writer/producer in NYC. Years before, she graduated high school and could not get out of town fast enough even though she was leaving her loving family and high school boy friend behind. She was off to chase her dream and leave her small town ways behind.

Reed Cross has always loved working with his hands and becomes a leading historical preservationist. He is back home after is uncle suffers a heart attack. He has always felt something was missing in his life and when he has a chance encounter with Grace and her sisters it brings make memories he has been trying to forget.

They only have three weeks. Do they still feel the same even with the years they spent apart? Reed is home to stay, but Grace has commitments and a life she fought to achieve in NYC. She is no longer that small town girl. Can they make it work?

Grace and Reed are characters that could walk off the pages, they are so realistic. I especially love that there are no misunderstandings that they do not talk out. This whole story is about communicating and respect. I felt like Grace, being the oldest in my large family, I could not wait to run away to college. When you come home, you realize what is really important and childhood issues are not necessarily how you deal with your siblings as adults. The romance pacing is realistic and the sex scenes are hot. I can highly recommend this book for a heartwarming and sexy second chance romance!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Valentine: A Hearts and Kisses Romance by Jacquie Biggar

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

VALENTINE: A HEARTS AND KISSES ROMANCE by Jacquie Biggar is a sweet contemporary romance novella. A quick, easy read that gives you that HEA jolt you are looking for.

Valentine “Val” Hodgins is an architect with a hugely successful firm, who has buried himself in work since his divorce. When his great aunt falls ill with pneumonia, she asks him to come back home to look after her huge, old house, tenants and her dog, Cupid.

Sierra Johnson dreamed of owning her own catering company until her boyfriend took off with her money and credit. Now she is working for the-boss-from-hell, care-taking an old house to help with the rent and trying to break her string of bad luck.

Val does not want to get involved with the quirky, fiery red-head, Sierra, but he just cannot seem to quit baiting her. Sierra cannot believe she is attracted to this aggravating man who has invaded her work and home life. Both have been burned in love. Can they trust in love again?

This novella has snappy dialogue and a fast to read length. No new plot twists, but an enjoyable HEA. A little reading delight with no sex but an entertaining romance.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Feature Post: Cold Justice Series Books #1-3 by Toni Anderson

  

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

This is one of my favorite Romantic suspense series!

The first three books are in a box set which makes it easy for you to download the start of this great series. Ms. Anderson is already up to book #10 in this series. When you have reading time, this is the series for you to start and fall in love with especially if you love Romantic suspense. Hot, sexy and intelligent heroes and heroines with nonstop suspense plots that will keep you turning the pages. (All of the books can be read as standalones, but there is some character crossover.)

***

A COLD DARK PLACE (Cold Justice, #1) – Mini Review

Mallory Rooney has worked her whole life to become an FBI agent and solve the abduction case of her identical twin from their bedroom when they were 9 years old. She believes in the justice system, not vigilantism. With the execution style death of a serial killer, Mallory begins to suspect a vigilante is using information from inside the FBI. She wants him stopped and jailed.

Alex Parker, former soldier, former CIA, now assassin for The Gateway Project has an agreement to ignore his conscience for three years and eliminate proven serial killers before they kill more victims and destroy more families in exchange for getting him out of a Moroccan Prison.

As the FBI tries to catch a serial killer who is abducting and killing young women from the same area Mallory’s sister was taken 18 years previously,  Alex meets Mallory. At first he is there to make sure she does not identify him as the vigilante, but he soon only wants to protect her as the killer has Mallory in his sites.

So many secrets, not just from Alex, but from everyone around Mallory. The ending was very satisfying. The suspense is nonstop and the romance is hot. I loved this book and cannot wait to continue on in this series.

***

COLD PURSUIT (Cold Justice, #2) – Mini Review

This book starts with an intense mall attack by terrorists while single mom, Vivi Vincent and her son, Michael are shopping and enjoying the holiday season. FBI agent Jeb Brennen is also in the mall with no weapon, while on vacation. A bomb goes off and then the shooting begins.

The plot continues to escalate at a heart-pounding rate. The terrorists find out Michael was hiding in a cabinet in the toy store during the attack and they do not know what he witnessed or heard. The danger continues far after the mall attack.

The characters are all complex, even the terrorists. Ms. Anderson brings to light how very complex the politics are in the Middle East with a surprising twist. The romantic elements are paced and handled realistically. The plot and action start with a bang and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

***

COLD LIGHT OF DAY (Cold Justice, #3) – Mini Review

Physicist Scarlett Stone’s father is dying in prison and she wants nothing more than to prove this former FBI agent wrongly accused and imprisoned. He was accused of being a spy for the Russians. Using a false identity, Scarlett gains access to the Russian ambassador’s Christmas party and attempts to bug the embassy, but sets the true spies on a deadly path to remain unknown.

Former Navy SEAL, now FBI Special Agent, Matt Lazio is attracted to Scarlett and when he finds out she lied to him about her identity he hunts her down. As agents from her father’s case begin to die, Matt wonders if the FBI still has a traitor and the true spy is still free.

Scarlett and Matt are a sizzling hot couple! The suspense plot keeps intensifying at a fast pace as the real spy fights to remain unknown. I really liked the plot twist at the end.

***

Toni Anderson – NY Times and USA Today international bestselling author.

Ms. Anderson writes dark, gritty Romantic suspense novels that have hit the Amazon and Nook Top 10 and iBooks Top 50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Before It’s Too Late by Sara Driscoll

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE (FBI K-9 #2) by Sara Driscoll is an edge-of-your-seat FBI K-9 crime thrill ride! I enjoyed the first book in this series and this addition to the series did not let me down. I had to continue turning the pages without stop anxious for the team to catch the killer, but also dreading the next type of asphyxia used on each victim.

As women go missing, their dogs are found with coded messages attached to their leashes all addressed to Special Agent Meg Jennings. As the FBI cryptanalysts decode the messages, Meg and Hawk, as well as the other FBI K-9 team members race to save the women from a horrific death. It is a deadly game in which each woman bears a striking resemblance to Meg.

Meg cannot let these women be substitutes for her any longer. She breaks the FBI rules and brings in her sister, Cara who is talented with codes and puzzles and Clay McCord a reporter who is extremely well versed in Civil War history to solve each clue sooner to give the team more time to rescue the abducted women.

When Cara and another woman are abducted, Meg is told by the killer she cannot use any law enforcement to help. Can she save her sister in time? Will she have to let another die in her place? These games have to end and it is time to unmask this killer who keeps killing Meg over and over again.

Meg and Hawk are such an interesting team. If you love dogs added to your stories, this is the series to follow. This is a suspense/thriller series with just a hint at romance for the future. It was great to follow all of the team again, but this book also goes more in depth into Meg and Cara’s private lives. This story is full of action, thrills and chilling methods used by the killer. (The first death is a primal fear of so many, including me.) I am looking forward to reading more of this series in the future!