Avonna

Book Review: Scent of the Jaguar by S.E. Gilchrist

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SCENT OF THE JAGUAR (Deadly Forces #2) by S.E. Gilchrist had me on another action packed romantic suspense adventure in the steaming Amazon jungle. This book features Kitarna Ashford’s older sister, Bernie and the other band of passengers from their downed plane being hunted by mercenaries through the deadly jungle.

Bernadette “Bernie” Ashford is an archeologist on her way with her botanist sister to a new dig that could turn into an important major discovery. Before they make it to the site, the sister are warned through a static filled call from their father that their lives are in danger from “El Jaguar” and to leave the area immediately. As they are flying away over the vast jungle, Bernie realizes that the plane is too low and they are suddenly told to brace for a crash landing.

Zane MacIntosh was on a previous dig with Bernie and mysteriously disappeared the same day as a valuable artifact. Bernie cannot believe he is on the plane and is suspicious of his motives. She is sitting with Zane and his mother as the plane goes down. She gets a brief glimpse of her sister after the crash, but they get separated as the two groups flee from the mercenaries chasing them.

Zane and Bernie work together to get their group to safety. As they are being chased by mercenaries, they are also vulnerable to all the dangers of the Amazon. The heat, humidity, native bugs, reptiles and animals all add to the misery and despair as the group tries to survive. As Zane and Bernie learn to trust one another, they wonder if there is a traitor in their little group? Bernie keeps praying that Kit has survived and Zane’s mother seems to be more than a retired school teacher.

This is a suspenseful and action packed read that sets a fast pace with an ever increasing threat to the survivors. Zane and Bernie were well written, resourceful and realistic main characters. Zane’s mother was a surprise and an intriguing addition. The sex scenes fit well in the story. This is the second book in this duet of stories and can be read as a standalone, but if you are interested in the first book it is Beat of the Jungle by Erin Moira O’Hara. Both are excellent reads.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: The Black Fox by Gordon Bickerstaff

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

THE BLACK FOX (Lambeth Group Thriller Series #3) by Gordon Bickerstaff is a nonstop thriller that has hairpin plot twists, action-packed scenes that keep you turning the pages and characters that are complex, intense and memorable beyond the pages.

Zoe Tampsin has been ordered to take Dr. Gavin Shawlens into hiding.

The United States has deemed Gavin a national security threat of the highest order and are willing to send the CIA and Special Forces onto English soil to find and eliminate him if the English will not hand him over. The British government wants to hand him over, but to also find out what Gavin knows that is worth billions and an international incident. Zoe is a highly decorated and trained British Special Forces captain. She is tasked with keeping Gavin alive and hidden until he can remember what memories are so important to the Americans.

On the run, Zoe displays why she was code named the “Black Fox” in Bosnia. Friends old and new come to her and Gavin’s aid. The run to the climax is filled with ingenious tricks and strategic brilliance on Zoe’s part that just keep ramping up the suspense to a climax that gave me chills.

Mr. Bickerstaff has demonstrated his ability once again to write a thriller that grabs your attention and imagination. This is a fast paced read that surprised me many times with situational plot twists that I did not see how Zoe and Gavin could survive and a climatic secret that had me stunned. Zoe is brilliant, in deeds, action and character. Gavin is also brilliant, but in a very different way which makes the pairing work and these two characters fascinating. This book can be read as a standalone on-the-run thriller, but the depth of the characters is better appreciated by reading at least the previous book, Everything to Lose.

The Black Fox needs to be a “Must Read” on your TBR thriller list!

Book Review: Wicked Envy by Sawyer Bennett

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

WICKED ENVY (The Wicked Horse Vegas, #3) by Sawyer Bennett should be read using oven mitts! This is a menage-between-friends scorcher with a sizzling romance story and the extra benefit of mind-blowing sex throughout. This is definitely a keeper to read over and over on cold winter nights, or rainy spring nights, or in an air-conditioned summer bedroom at night, or on a crisp fall night with a cool breeze blowing in the windows.

Dane Hawthorne is a brilliant entrepreneur. After being raised in the foster care system, he starts his own biotech company that is worth millions and is on the brink of an invention that will change medical testing forever. In college, he met his two best friends, Avril and Andrew. The three are inseparable. Dane brings Avril into his company as the CFO and Andrew as the head of scientific development. Seventeen years after meeting, with all of life’s ups and downs, they are still together.

Avril Carrigan walks in on her finance with another woman in their bed. After listening in on Dane, who is a long time member at The Wicked Horse trying to get Andrew to the club, Avril decides that that is just what she needs to get over her anger and hurt. She wants to let loose and The Wicked Horse sounds like the perfect place.

As the three experience the debauchery at The Wicked Horse individually, they soon realize they want to experience it with each other, but that is crossing a huge line that could affect their long standing friendships forever.

I love that this story is told in all three POVs because each friend brings a different personal reality to the relationship. The friends have a strong bond that changes and matures as the sexual and romantic relationships grow. Ms. Bennett surprised me with the two that become a romantic couple. She handled the other friend’s leaving the sexual menage with compassion and wisdom on his part. The sex in this book is explicit, kinky and frank. This is my favorite Wicked Horse Vegas book to date and I am looking forward to many more.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Murder Notes by Lisa Renee Jones

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

NOOOOOOO!!!

One of the best starts this year to a new Romantic Suspense series with fantastic characters and Lisa left me hanging!

MURDER NOTES (Lilah Love, #1) by Lisa Renee Jones had me quickly turning the pages and falling into the story to the exclusion of all else. Lilah Love is an FBI profiler with an extremely abrasive personality, foul mouth and a secret that could destroy her career. Also, she loves, but refuses to allow it, the gorgeous head of a multinational conglomerate, Kane Mendez, that when run by his father was more of an illegal Mexican cartel than corporation.

When Lilah starts looking into a series of murders, which she believes are assassinations, they lead her back to her hometown in the Hamptons. What becomes apparent to Lilah is that all the murders lead to a secret from her past that she believes was only between herself and Kane Mendez, her former lover. As the body count increases, so do taunting notes from the person who has been hiring the assassin. Lilah has to work this case without exposing her past, while catching a killer who may be from her own family or circle of friends.

Lilah Love, who calls herself “Murder Girl” is the type of character that I love to follow. An FBI profiler, but with a secret in her past that could destroy her future. She loves the “F” word and is confrontational, but she also loves to be a woman who dresses in designer clothes and loves her family. The sexual heat that flies between Lilah and Kane could spark a wild fire in a snow storm. I cannot wait to get the next book in this series! You need to read this book yourself and get ready for the next one, too.

Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to review this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I am anxiously awaiting more!

Book Review: Roll the Dice by Wayne Avrashow

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

ROLL THE DICE by Wayne Avrashow is a political novel that is entertaining and intriguing. A fictional story of an aging rock star who throws himself into the knockdown, drag-out political race for a U.S. Senate seat from Nevada.

Tyler Sloan is a rock and roll celebrity who has decided to run for office. He has led a rock and roll life full of sex, drugs, rehab and privilege, but he has also matured and runs a multi-million dollar fund. He is no stranger to politics. His father was the governor of California and just barely lost in his bid for President of the United States.

Tyler funds his campaign himself and will only accept the help of small, personal contributions. He refuses the campaign contributions of special interest groups and lobbyists. He runs as an independent and campaigns outside of the two major political machines. As past indiscretions come back to haunt him and his campaign, new intrigues can also threaten his run for office.

This was a great look behind the scenes of a major political campaign. Even written as a fictional account of a campaign, you get the feeling that all of these situations could happen today in real life. Tyler was a believable main character, strengths and flaws included, with secondary characters that were perfectly placed. This is a great fictional read for a political junkie like me, but it is advertised as a thriller. Not so much. A fast paced read, campaign and some political intrigue behind the scenes, but not what I would personally call a thriller.

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

Book Review: Wicked Wish by Sawyer Bennett

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

WICKED WISH (The Wicked Horse Vegas, #2) by Sawyer Bennett is a brother’s-best-friend contemporary erotic romance which is a little light on romantic plot, but heavy on sexual interaction and content. Ms. Bennett pushes me outside of my comfort zone and yet I am always pulled into her stories from the start.

Jorinda “Jori” Pearce is thrown out of her home and told by her husband that she is lacking in the bedroom. Jori returns to her hometown and her best friend, Elena to lick her wounds and re-evaluate her life. Elena and Jori decide a trip to The Wicked Horse for their masquerade night is just what Jori needs.

Walsh Brooks has it all. He owns a profitable casino, he is gorgeous and has his pick of any woman he wants. During the masquerade, Walsh sees a beauty with a feathered headdress that he wants to ride on a new machine in the club designed by his best friend, Micah. The experience is more than either could hope for until Walsh sees two scars on his feathered mystery woman.

Walsh is having the experience of his life with his best friend’s little sister. Though both have years of shared experiences, sex has always been considered off limits. Their secret relationship can only end in heartbreak or can it be more?

The writing and pacing are well done. This story does have explicit sex scenes which will make you squirm in your seat, especially the scenes with the mechanical machine in the club. I loved Walsh, but I felt Jori had little to no backbone. I prefer my heroines to stand up for themselves far more than happened in this story.

A hot button issue for some will be the fact that Jori is still married and not to the hero, even though her husband threw her out of their home. I do not mind that she was not divorced, HE THREW HER OUT, but I do wish she would not have made some of the relationship decisions she did with her ex.

A steamy addition to The Wicked Horse Vegas series!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.