Category: Romantic Suspense

Book Review: Girl In The Water by Dana Marton

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

When I was asked if I would like to review Dana Marton’s latest book, GIRL IN THE WATER, I agreed right away because she has always given me an all-around enjoyable and entertaining romantic suspense read. What a surprise I was in for! This story is more intense, dark, intricate and emotional than any of her previous works.

In the beginning of this story you are introduced to a man who only lives to drink and fight since his discharge from the Army. Ian Slaney blames himself for the death of his wife and twins while he was in Afghanistan. A world away in the Amazon rain forest, Daniela has grown up dirt poor, but happy with the dream of becoming a teacher. One day, a logger stops at her hut and Daniela is raped and becomes a prostitute like her mother. She is then trafficked to a whore house up the river when her mother drowns in a flood.

Their lives intersect with the murder of Ian’s friend and Army buddy, Finch. Finch had bought Daniela from the whore house to cook and clean for him. When she returns to find a dead body, she stays and pretends nothing has changed so she won’t have to return to her old life. But Finch has sent an S.O.S. out to Ian that he needs help and by the time Ian arrives he is dead. Ian must now deal with the mystery of Finch’s murder and what to do with Daniela.

They return to the U.S. and four years of growth and major changes occur. Ian is sober and working for the Civilian Personnel Recovery Unit of the DOD. Daniela has graduated from college. The secondary plot then pulls them back to Brazil to the area of Daniela’s youth for the recovery of a missing 7 month old baby of U.S. charity workers. The book takes off from here at a rapid pace revolving around stolen diamonds, helping trafficked children, and a romance that can no longer be denied.

Ms. Marton has written a romantic suspense novel that delivers a unique couple that both had to forgive themselves of their pasts to get to their HEA futures. It is also a unique and strong suspense novel filled with exotic locales, intrigue and danger. This is the third book in The Civilian Personnel Recovery Series, but is easily read as a standalone. This is a read that satisfied me on every level. This story is a banquet, not fast food. I recommend this book highly!

Book Review: Strike Back by Beth Rhodes

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I absolutely love reading a new to me author and the first book in her romantic suspense series blows me away! Beth Rhodes writes like a much more seasoned author with a perfect balance of romance and suspense. STRIKE BACK (A Hawk Elite Security Novel-Book One) features a couple who have been married for 20 years, which makes the romance unique. The suspense is fast paced and well plotted throughout.

Nathan Hawkins is a former Marine and co-owner with his wife, Stacy Hawkins, of Hawk Elite Security. When the story starts Nathan and Stacy are trying to vacation and reconnect in their favorite resort in Belize. Both are dealing privately with things they should be sharing. Hawk is going blind from an old brain injury and thinks Stacy would be better off without him and Stacy has been working hard to get back in-shape after raising their kids and wants to return to some field work.

As their personal lives are in turmoil, and Hawk has to leave for a short side trip, Stacy is befriended by Michael Richards. He is charming and attentive to the lonely Stacy, but he is not who or what he seems. A haunting case from Hawk’s past is coming back for revenge. Hawk is dealing with his loss of sight, Stacy is trying to prove her competence and they both need to have each other’s backs for what lies ahead.

These characters are so realistic. Hawk has always been a leader and protector and the sight issue makes him go through all possible emotions. Stacy loves being a mom and wife, but she wants to be out from behind a desk and in the field with Hawk. All the highs and lows are covered and these two work on their relationship. They both realize they are better together than apart. All the secondary characters in Hawk Security are just as interesting and hopefully will find their own matches in books to come.

Strike Back gives you a great realistic mature romance, exotic locales and a revenge suspense plot that keeps you turning the pages. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series!

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

Book Review: Kill Without Shame by Alexandra Ivy

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I got book two of the ARES Security series, KILL WITHOUT SHAME by Alexandra Ivy! Love these alpha friends who survived and escaped a Taliban prison and reading the romantic suspense each is featured in. Yes, there are a lot of these types of books out there right now, but Ms. Ivy gives you a fast paced read, entertaining mystery and a heroine who can stand up to and hold her own against her hero as they work out their relationship. Oh yeah, and hot sex!

Lucas St. Clair was born into a prestigious Shreveport family and was expected to excel and follow his father into a successful political career. His family had everything planned, but that future did not include Lucas’ girlfriend, the family’s gardener’s daughter, Mia. Rather than have his family mold Mia into their version of acceptable, he drove away and left her behind.

Mia Ramon has never forgiven Lucas for leaving without a word and breaking her heart, but in the intervening 15 years she has built her father’s lawn care business into a thriving high-end landscaping business. Lucas has kept track of her, but doesn’t believe he deserves a second chance with her until a detective interviews him in Houston about their mutual high school friend found dead outside the ARES office building clutching Mia’s picture. Lucas returns home to protect Mia at any cost and hopefully get her back into his life.

The men of ARES Security are all hot and sexy in their own way. Lucas being a born diplomat, but also well aware of his place in society and he will use it to his advantage. He can seem overbearing or arrogant at times, but Mia stands right up to him and goes toe-to-toe for what she wants. This is the difference between their relationship now and Mia trying to change for his parents approval before. I really enjoyed Ms. Ivy bringing Matt and Teagan in to help with this case. I can’t wait for their stories and Hauk’s mystery stalker continues from the first book.

Thanks very much to Kensington Books, Zebra and Net Galley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review. Love this series!

Book Review: When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

When I want to curl up on the couch with a comfy blanket and tea to read without interruption, there are a few authors that I know I can sit down with their books and always be satisfied. Jayne Ann Krentz is one of those authors. WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE is one of those books.

Charlotte Sawyer is the average, steady, and some say naïve, director of activities at a senior retirement home. Her step-sister, Jocelyn is beautiful, adventurous and reckless. When Charlotte hears that Jocelyn’s best friend from her investment club has been found dead, she tries to contact Jocelyn at the retreat she is on. Jocelyn has disappeared and Charlotte is desperate to find her.

Max Cutler is starting his own P.I. firm after complete burnout from his criminal profiling job and his divorce that followed. He knows the job of finding out what really happened to Jocelyn’s friend won’t pay, but he is convinced to look into it. Charlotte is trying to find out what happened also and to find her sister so the two join forces.

There are two plotlines intertwined in this story. The investment club’s members are being targeted and disappearing and you have Jocelyn’s 16 year old rape case that was purposely derailed. Power, privilege, an escalating serial rapist and a friend that may not really be a friend all are fighting to silence Charlotte and Max.

Charlotte and Max were perfect together. Charlotte is very much the steady, optimistic character that isn’t boring, even though she believes she is, but you would want to have in your corner. Max is down and considers himself boring, but Charlotte sees him as steadfast and talented in his profession. The banter between these two had me smiling several times and the sex was well written. I liked that these characters weren’t looking for a relationship, but they fit.

I enjoyed this story and these characters as much as I knew I would. Sometimes in my romantic suspense reads, I don’t want super testosterone alpha males and either their matches in female form or the little woman that they rescue. Sometimes in my romantic suspense, I want normal, everyday characters that come together to become something more and when that happens it is great. Max has two ‘brothers’, so I expect this to be a trilogy.

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About the Author

The author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jayneannkrentz.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jayne-ann-krentz

Book Review: Till the Dead Speak by Jerri Alexander

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RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

TILL THE DEAD SPEAK by Jerri Alexander is the second book in her Killer Affections romantic suspense series. Murder, money laundering and old secrets are all set in an on-the-beach restaurant/bar under the sun in Malibu.

The owner of “The Cage” is found on the beach and ruled a suicide by drowning. Charlie was dying from cancer, but all his employees and friends knew he was terrified of the ocean and would never have killed himself that way. Part-time bartender, Lincoln ‘Linc’ Hawkins just doesn’t buy it and since he still has time off for rehab from the FBI, he decides to investigate for himself and the new owner, Charlies’ granddaughter, Samantha ‘Sam’ Anderson.

Sam did not even know Charlie existed until she is notified by his lawyer that he left “The Cage” and his home to her. When she tries to get information from her grandmother, she is stonewalled. The moment Linc picks her up at the airport there is an attempt to harm her and when they check out Charlie’s properties they have been trashed. Someone is searching for something and Linc and Sam have to figure out what as they try to fight the immediate attraction they have to each other because Sam plans to return to her life in Texas.

There are several mysteries that need answered and the author does so at a steady pace throughout the book. The title is very appropriate because everything past and present ties back to Charlie and his death. I loved the loving and fun relationship between Sam and her grandmother.

The romance was going well until they both backed off for differing reasons, but all their friends could see they should be together. I do feel they should have discussed their problems a bit sooner in the story because I feel their romance resolution came together a bit abruptly at the end. This book is part of a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I am also hoping I was reading an ARC, because it could use another proofread. A steady, entertaining romantic suspense otherwise.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com

Book Review: Kill Without Mercy (ARES Security, #1) by Alexandra Ivy

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

KILL WITHOUT MERCY (ARES Security, #1) by Alexandra Ivy is the first book in a new romantic suspense series that has definitely made it on to my must read list! I have read Alexandra Ivy’s paranormal romance books and enjoyed them, but this book is that step above that I am always looking for. The series follows five soldiers, who become a band of brothers that survive and escape a Taliban hellhole. They come home and form their own high tech security company, ARES Security.

Rafe Vargas, a covert ops specialist, is in Newton, Iowa to clear out his grandfather’s house. He just wants to get it done and return to his ranch and the life he is building in Houston with ARES Security. He runs into Annie White at the diner and is instantly drawn to her.

Annie White lived in Newton years ago with her father, who was dubbed the Newton Slayer. She is back because she is having visions that the killings have begun again, but how can that be? Rafe knows she is in danger and vows to protect her and catch the serial killer.

This story keeps you reading because the characters are interesting and you want to find out everything about them. The romance is hot and believable with a sexy alpha male and a beautiful, strong and yet troubled heroine. The plot keeps moving at a fast pace and there are several plot twists with a big twist at the end. I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to see who the next book features because this one was so good.

Thank you so much to Kensington Books, Zebra and Net Galley for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure and delight!