Avonna

Book Review: Melting Shadows by Rhea Rhodan

melting-shadows

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

This romantic suspense with added fantasy is hard to put down with two storylines happening in present day and OtherWhere. A love story between a former SEAL and a brilliant, socially stunted hidden beauty. Never confusing, the writing was crisp, fast paced and engaging. Ms. Rhodan has a new fan and I’ll be coming back for more!

Dr. Prudence “Prue” Marsh is a product of genetic engineering and was raised by her mother to show no emotions or weaknesses. Her brilliant mind has her developing new capabilities for Navy subs as a contractor and this has put her in danger from Albanian terrorists who want her program. While away from her farm, it is raided and all her rescued animal friends are killed. She refuses to be hidden in a government facility, so she is sent to finish her project in Max Delaney’s home bunker.

Max Delaney is a computer forensic analyst and a former SEAL. His continued work for the government is dependent on keeping Prue safe and happy until she can finish her project. Since he hasn’t found a woman who can refuse his charm yet, he accepts the assignment, but Prue isn’t like anyone else. Max’s sister, Sam befriends Prue and Max’s rescued Rottweiler war dog, Brutus instantly attaches himself to her, but Max just can’t figure his guest out.

As Prue’s backstory is slowly revealed, you cannot help but be completely drawn in to her horrible upbringing and understand why she escapes into the fantasy world of OtherWhere. All of the characters are in these blocks of fantasy and are similar to their present day counterparts. The worldbuilding in these sections is as strong as the rest of the book. The romance is built at a believable pace with me cheering for Prue at every turn of the plot. I love romantic suspense and this book went above and beyond. I recommend this book highly!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

Romance Documentary: Love Between The Covers

love-between-the-covers

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS DOCUMENTARY!

Love Between The Covers is an entertaining peek into the billion dollar per year Romance industry and how it continues to grow. Eloisa James (Mary Bly), Beverly Jenkins, Celeste Bradley, Susan Donovan, Len Barot, Nora Roberts and many others take us on a journey inside their lives as romance authors and the industry. What made this documentary especially interesting for me was that it covered all genres and diversities under the romance umbrella.

I started reading romances, probably like most others, by reading the books my mother had around the house if I ran out of library books. You would hide your ‘bodice rippers’ behind other books or wait to read ‘those’ books until you got home from school or work back in the 70’s because you knew someone would always say, “Oh, you read those books.” Thank goodness those times are behind us and everyone I know now proudly will tell you who they are reading and what type of romance it is.

I read just about anything, but I always return to my romance roots. That HEA is my drug of choice when the rest of my life is spinning out of control, stress at work is too much, or I just want to escape. Romance authors offer you a dream where no matter how difficult the obstacle, you can overcome it and find your happiness in the end. This is the contract I have with all my favorite romance authors: if you give me a great HEA, then I will keep coming back for more.

Book Review: Dead Reckoning by Stanalei Fletcher

dead-reckoning

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

DEAD RECKONING (Northstar Security #2) by Stanalei Fletcher is a fast paced, action packed romantic suspense with amnesia, a hurricane, the Russian Mafia, a Northstar operative, who is an ex-SEAL and a juvenile infatuation turning into mature love. This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Kellee O’Neal has amnesia and is a refugee from a hurricane destroying her home in Florida. She is afraid, but doesn’t know why. When a man approaches and seems to know her, she reluctantly follows because he says he works for her father and can take her home. As her memory slowly begins to return she remembers her juvenile crush on this man, but she is grown now and wants him to see her that way.

Egan Maddox is asked by Kellee’s father, the director of Northstar Security to locate Kellee since he hasn’t heard from her since the storm and hide her away from a threat from his past. Dealing with a girl he is both attracted to and responsible for, without her total trust is trouble waiting to happen.

Neither Egan nor Kellee know the true threat searching for them and the unknown secrets from the past can get them both killed. The Russian Mafia is closing in and Kellee is going to have to have to face truths about her family and hope her love for Egan is strong enough to carry her through.

This is a well written romantic suspense that has some surprising twists well placed in the plot. The romance is well paced and believable. The sexual tension is high between these two and is well written because it doesn’t feel like a tease or get overplayed. At times, some of the secondary characters seemed like caricatures and I did not stay completely in the story. It was a good read otherwise and I will continue with this author and series.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

Book Review: Almost Forever by Kathy Clark

almost-forever

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

ALMOST FOREVER is a well written romantic suspense that is the second book of the Austen Heroes book trilogy featuring three brothers who are all in law enforcement. This book is easily read as a standalone.

This story features Justin Archer, who has always been a by-the-book law officer to obtain his dream of becoming a Texas Ranger. He values his job above all else until he has to interview a beautiful, successful widow and mother. His job is to find out if Lori killed her husband eight years ago for control of their winery, but he has an instantaneous chemistry with her that is interfering with his usual professional demeanor. He has to trust his heart over his brain and look for a killer before Lori is blamed and imprisoned.

I enjoyed this story and characters, especially Granny. It is a fast read that covered all the romantic suspense bases of murder, secrets and hot sex. It does not go into new territory but keeps with the basic tenants of a romantic suspense. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Loveswept-Random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Beautiful Maids All In A Row by Jennifer Harlow

beautiful-maids-all-in-a-row

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!

Jennifer Harlow has written a serial killer that scared me to death with his control over himself and others, had me cheering for her main character, Iris Ballard’s strength and tenacity, crying for her loss and wishing that I had the next book in my hands right now. BEAUTIFUL MAIDS ALL IN A ROW is a definite keeper!

Dr. Iris Ballard was one of the top FBI profilers. She now teaches at a small college and uses an excessive amount of pills and vodka to hide from mistakes made two years ago. Right when she reaches a new low, Luke Hudson, her old partner shows up and offers her a chance to chase a new monster, “The Woodsman.”

“The Woodsman” has killed several professional women and never leaves a clue or trace to be followed. Control is his motivation. He makes contact with Iris in the hope of rattling her, but he also considers her his intellectual equal. Even when his identity becomes known, he is able to deflect his crimes on to others. All except Iris believe it is over. He has made everyone believe Iris is on the verge of a breakdown again. The game is on and Iris’ life could be on the line again.

This book was fast paced, chilling and one of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year. The characters could walk right off the page. “The Woodsman” made chills go up and down my spine. I am hoping Ms. Harlow continues with this series and soon!

Thanks so very much to Alibi-Random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was definitely my pleasure!

Book Review: More Than a Lawman by Anna J. Stewart

more-than-a-lawman

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Even though I read everything, Romantic Suspense is my favorite genre and when I find a great book and/or author to follow in this genre I shout it from the rooftops for my fellow readers. Here is MORE THAN A LAWMAN! The first book in the Honor Bound trilogy by new to me author Anna J. Stewart from Harlequin. Shouting from the rooftops!!!

This first book focuses on Eden St. Claire, who is a crime writer and a blogger dedicated to catching all killers, but especially serial killers after the death of one of her best friends, Chloe at the age of nine. Her remaining friends, Simon, now a prosecutor and Allie, now a criminal psychologist have all dealt with the trauma in differing ways. Eden has never forgiven herself for something she didn’t do the night Chloe disappeared.

Cole Delaney is a detective and was best friends with Eden’s brother growing up and has always cared about Eden. He wants Eden, but she has never wanted to be anything but best friends. When Eden’s blog “Eden On Ice” once again focuses attention on the serial killer known as the Iceman, Eden barely survives an attack and it will take all of Cole’s understanding and love to protect her from herself.

This book starts off with an amazing first scene and just keeps getting more intense from there. The plot has an original premise and keeps the twists and turns coming. The main Iceman plot is resolved along with the romance between Cole and Eden, but there is the trilogy plot of Chloe’s killer resurfacing which is carried over into the next book.

Eden’s reasons for not becoming involved with anyone and why she seems to have a death wish are so well written. She is an extremely complex character that even as you become exasperated with her, you understand her. Cole and Eden’s romance is well integrated into the plot and I feel was handled in a very realistic way. This romantic suspense worked on every level.

I can’t wait to get Ms. Stewart’s next installment of this trilogy!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.